EX-1.1 2 gern-ex1_1.htm UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT EX-1.1 EXHIBIT 1.1
Geron Corporation
(a Delaware corporation)
55,876,297 shares of Common Stock
Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase up to 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock
Underwriting Agreement
January 5, 2023
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
As representative (the "Representative") of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule A hereto,
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Geron Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Goldman is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) and pre-funded warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $0.001 per share (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”), set forth in Schedule A hereto and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 12,131,444 additional shares of Common Stock set forth in Schedule A hereto. The aforesaid 55,876,297 shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Securities”) and the Pre-Funded Warrants to purchase 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the 12,131,444 shares of Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.” The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants are hereinafter referred to as the “Warrant Shares.”
The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-269111) covering the public offering and sale of certain securities, including the Securities and the
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Warrant Shares, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1933 Act Regulations”), which automatic shelf registration became effective under Rule 462(e) under the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 462(e)”). Such registration statement, as of any time, means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto to such time, including the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B under the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 430B”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement;” provided, however, that the “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such registration statement as amended by any post-effective amendments thereto as of the time of the first contract of sale for the Securities, which time shall be considered the “new effective date” of such registration statement with respect to the Securities within the meaning of paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 430B, including the exhibits and schedules thereto as of such time, the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B. Each preliminary prospectus used in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, are collectively referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.” Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a final prospectus relating to the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The final prospectus, in the form first furnished or made available to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, are collectively referred to herein as the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (or any successor system)(“EDGAR”).
As used in this Agreement:
“Applicable Time” means 6:30 P.M., New York City time, on January 5, 2023 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representative.
“General Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the most recent preliminary prospectus (including any documents incorporated therein by reference) that is distributed to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule B(a) hereto, all considered together.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 405”)) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission
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or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B(b) hereto.
“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include all such financial statements and schedules and other information incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “1934 Act Regulations”), incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, at or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement.
Section 1.
Representations and Warranties.
(a)
Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time (as defined below) and any Date of Delivery (as defined below) (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i)
Registration Statement and Prospectuses. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule 405) and the Securities have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on such automatic shelf registration statement.
Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request from the Commission for preservation of documentation or additional information
Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of its effectiveness, each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the 1933 Act Regulations, the
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Applicable Time, the Closing Time and any Date of Delivery complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, and, in each case, at the Applicable Time, the Closing Time and any Date of Delivery complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when they became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.
(ii)
Accurate Disclosure. The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of such Prospectus or amendment or supplement, conformed and will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act. Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, on the date hereof, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Applicable Time and any Date of Delivery, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became effective or when such documents incorporated by reference were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, when read together with the other information in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, did not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
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The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information contained in the seventh, eighth and ninth paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).
(iii)
Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and as of each Applicable Time, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein. Any offer that is a written communication relating to the Securities made prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement by the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this paragraph only, of Rule 163(c) of the 1933 Act Regulations) has been filed with the Commission in accordance with the exemption provided by Rule 163 under the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 163”) and otherwise complied with the requirements of Rule 163, including without limitation the legending requirement, to qualify such offer for the exemption from Section 5(c) of the 1933 Act provided by Rule 163.
(iv)
Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (A) At the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act or form of prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the 1933 Act) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the 1933 Act, and (D) as of the Applicable Time, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).
(v)
Company Not Ineligible Issuer. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.
(vi)
Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, the accountants who certified the financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the
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General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. To the Company’s knowledge, Ernst & Young LLP is not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 with respect to the Company.
(vii)
Financial Statements. The financial statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at the dates indicated and the results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the periods specified (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments); said financial statements have been prepared in compliance with the requirements of the 1934 Act, as applicable, and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis (except for such adjustments to accounting standards and practices as are noted therein and except in the case of unaudited financial statements to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) during the periods involved. The selected financial data and the summary financial information, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein and the books and records of the Company. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations; and the Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement (including the exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by reference therein), the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (including exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by reference therein). The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(viii)
No Material Adverse Change in Business. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, (i) sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree or (ii) entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case otherwise than as set forth or
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contemplated in the General Disclosure Package; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package, there has not been (x) any change in the capital stock (other than as a result of (i) the exercise, if any, of stock options or the award, if any, of stock options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the Company’s equity plans that are described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (ii) the issuance, if any, of stock upon conversion of Company securities as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (y) any Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); as used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change or effect, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change or effect, in or affecting (i) the business, properties, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package, or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, including the issuance and sale of the Securities, or to consummate the transactions contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus;
(ix)
Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein); and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(x)
Good Standing of Subsidiaries. The Company has no significant subsidiaries (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission).
(xi)
Capitalization. The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, other than as disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the heading “Description of Capital Stock” as of the dates referred to therein (other than the grant of additional options or other equity awards under the Company’s existing equity compensation plans, or changes in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise, vesting or conversion of securities exercisable for, or convertible into, shares of Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
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1933 Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B or as a result of the issuance of Securities)) and such authorized capital stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein at such time pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to Rule 430B). The description of the Securities in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects. Other than as set forth or described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), as of the dates referred to therein, the Company did not have outstanding any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or exchangeable for, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock or other securities.
(xii)
Authorization of Agreement. The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 6 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.
(xiii)
Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, including any statutory or contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, and will be registered pursuant to Section 12 of the 1934 Act. The Pre-Funded Warrants in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company in accordance with this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability. The Warrant Shares have been duly authorized and validly reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants in a number sufficient to meet the current exercise requirements. The Warrant Shares, when issued and delivered upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants in accordance therewith, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Warrant Shares is not subject to any preemptive or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase the Warrant Shares. The Securities conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package
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and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same.
(xiv)
Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the 1933 Act pursuant to this Agreement.
(xv)
Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts. The Company is not (A) in violation of its charter or bylaws or similar organizational documents, (B) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such default that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the Warrant Shares and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of (i) the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or (ii) any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity except, in the case of clause (ii), for any such violation that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company.
(xvi)
Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(xvii)
Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings pending, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, to which the Company is a party or to which any property of the Company is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; to the Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings or, to the Company’s knowledge, investigations that are required under the 1933 Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus that are not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus including any the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein; and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the 1933 Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so filed.
(xviii)
Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required.
(xix)
Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, state securities laws or the rules of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
(xx)
Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company possesses or has obtained, and is and has been in compliance with the terms of, all licenses, certificates, consents, orders, approvals, permits and other authorizations issued by, and has made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of its properties or the business of the Company as currently conducted by it as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (the “Permits”), except where the failure to possess, obtain, comply with or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All such Permits are in full force and effect, and the Company has not received written notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit nor has any reason to believe that such Permit will not be renewed in the ordinary course, and to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred, which allows, or after notice or lapse of time
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would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit, except in each case, except where such impairment or termination, or the failure to obtain any such renewal would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxi)
Studies, Tests and Trials. The clinical and preclinical studies, tests and trials conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Company, or in which the Company has participated with respect to its product candidates including, without limitation, any such studies, tests or trials that are described in, or the results of which are referred to in, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus were and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations to which they are subject, including without limitation all applicable Health Care Laws (as defined below).The description of the results of the studies, tests and trials contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are accurate in all material respects, and the Company has no knowledge of any other studies, tests or trials, the results of which could reasonably be expected to call into question in any material respect the results described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company has made all such material filings and obtained all such allowances or approvals as may be required by the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“FDA”) or any committee thereof or from any other U.S. or foreign government regulatory agency, or health care facility Institutional Review Board (collectively, the “Regulatory Agencies”) for the conduct of such studies, tests or trials, and the Company has not received any written notice of, or correspondence from, any Regulatory Agency requiring the termination, suspension or modification of any studies, tests or trials, other than ordinary course written communications with respect to modifications in connection with the design and implementation of such tests or trials, and, to the Company’s knowledge, there are no reasonable grounds for the same
(xxii)
Title to Property. The Company has good and marketable title in fee simple to all items of real property and good and valid title to all personal property (excluding Intellectual Property, as defined below) described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by it that are material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims, except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made of such property by the Company or (ii) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Any real property described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or Prospectus as being leased by the Company is held by the Company under valid, existing and enforceable leases, except those that (A) do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or (B) would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiii)
Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company owns, possesses valid and enforceable licenses for, or can acquire on reasonable terms by ownership or license all trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names,
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licenses, approvals, trade secrets, inventions, technology, know-how and other intellectual property and similar rights, including registrations and applications for registration thereof (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary or material to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to be conducted by them. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus:
(a) there are no ownership rights of third parties to any of the Intellectual Property Rights purported to be owned solely by the Company;
(b) the Company is not aware of any infringement, misappropriation, breach, default or other violation, or the occurrence of any event that would result in any of the foregoing, by any third parties of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company;
(c) there are no pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or claims by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to, or the violation of any of the terms of, any Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim;
(d) there are no pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or claims by others challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim; and
(e) there are no pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or claims by others that the Company infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates or conflicts with any Intellectual Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, except as would not individually or in the aggregate be material to the conduct of the business now conducted or proposed by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to be conducted by the Company.
Further, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, none of the Intellectual Property Rights used by the Company in its businesses has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company in violation of the rights of any persons.
The Company is the sole owner of the Intellectual Property Rights solely owned by it and has the valid and enforceable right to use such Intellectual Property Rights without the obligation to obtain consent to sublicense and without a duty of accounting to co-owner, as applicable.
Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not obligated to pay a material royalty, grant a license or option, or provide other material consideration to any third party in connection with the Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company. The
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Company has complied with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property Rights have been licensed to the Company, and all such agreements are in full force and effect.
The Company has taken all reasonable steps necessary to secure assignments to its respective title, rights and interests in and to the Intellectual Property Rights purported to be owned by the Company from its employees, consultants, agents and contractors. All employees, consultants, agents and contractors engaged in the development of Intellectual Property Rights on behalf of the Company have executed appropriate invention assignment agreements or terms whereby such employees, consultants, agents and contractors presently assign all of their right, title and interest in and to such Intellectual Property Rights to the Company, and to the Company’s knowledge, no such agreement has been breached or violated.
To the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company is in or has been in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company, except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.
The Company uses, and has used, commercially reasonable efforts to appropriately maintain all information intended to be maintained as a trade secret.
The Company has complied with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property Rights have been licensed to the Company, and all such agreements are in full force and effect. Imetelstat, the product candidate described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as under development by the Company, falls within the scope of the claims of one or more patents or patent applications owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Company.
Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no government funding, was used in the development of any Intellectual Property Rights that are owned or purported to be owned by the Company that would confer any governmental agency any claim or right of ownership to any such Intellectual Property Rights.
(xxiv)
Patents and Patent Applications. All patents and patent applications owned by or, to the knowledge of the Company, exclusively licensed to the Company have been duly and properly filed and each issued patent is being diligently maintained and is valid and enforceable; and
(a) the Company is not aware of any facts that would preclude the issuance of a valid and enforceable patent on any pending patent applications owned by or licensed to the Company;
(b) to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and the parties prosecuting such applications have complied with their duty of candor and disclosure to the
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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the “USPTO”), and all such requirements in the relevant foreign patent authority having similar requirements as the case may be, in connection with such patents and patent applications for which it has filing, prosecution and/or maintenance responsibilities;
(c) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no patent that contains claims that dominate (as such term is described in 35 U.S.C. §135 and 37 C.F.R. 41.100 to 41.208) with the issued or pending claims of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company;
(d) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no prior art material to any patent or patent application of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company that may render any U.S. patent or any U.S. patent issuing from a U.S. patent application held by the Company invalid or unenforceable; and
(e) the Company is not aware of any prior art or public or commercial activity or other facts required to be disclosed to the USPTO and any relevant foreign patent authority that were not disclosed and which would preclude the grant of a patent in connection with any such application or would reasonably be expected to form the basis of a finding of invalidity or unenforceability with respect to any patents that have been issued with respect to such applications.
(xxv)
Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) the Company is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company has all permits, licenses or other approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with their requirements, (C) has not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except, in the case of any of clauses (A) or (B) above, for any such failure to comply or failure to receive required permits, licenses, other approvals or liability as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxvi)
Health Care Laws. The Company is, and at all times has been, in compliance with all applicable Health Care Laws except where the failure to be in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Health Care Laws” means (A) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, (B) federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. §1320a-7b(b)), the civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. §3729 et seq.), Sections 1320a-7 and 1320a-7a of Title 42 of the United States Code, the criminal false statements law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(a)), 18 U.S.C. Sections 286, 287, 1349 and the health care fraud criminal provisions under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.), the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1320-7h), and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such statutes, (C)
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HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, (D) Titles XVII (42 U.S.C. §1395 et seq.) and XIX (42 U.S.C. §1396 et seq.) of the Social Security Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and any applicable laws governing government funded or sponsored healthcare programs (E) the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, (F) all statutes, directives, rules or regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, quality, safety, accreditation, packaging, use, distribution, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, import, export or disposal of any product or product candidate manufactured, developed, tested, imported, exported, advertised, promoted, sold or distributed by the Company applicable to the business of the Company as currently conducted by it as described in the Registration Statement; (G) any and all other health care laws and regulations applicable to the business of the Company as currently conducted by it as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of (A) through (G) as may be amended from time to time. The Company has not received any FDA Form-483, written notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or written notice from any court or arbitrator or Governmental Entity or regulatory authority alleging or asserting material non-compliance by the Company with any applicable Health Care Laws or Permits required by any such Health Care Laws. The Company has not received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity of the Company is in material violation of any applicable Health Care Laws nor, to the Company’s knowledge, is any such claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action threatened. The Company has filed, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Health Care Laws, and all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and accurate on the date filed in all material respects (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission), except where the failures to file, maintain or submit the same would not, whether individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not a party to any corporate integrity agreements, deferred or non-prosecution agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, or similar agreements with or imposed by any governmental or regulatory authority except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Additionally, neither the Company nor any of its respective employees, officers, directors, or, to the knowledge of the Company, agents has been excluded, suspended or debarred from participation in any U.S. federal health care program or human clinical research or, to the knowledge of the Company, is subject to a governmental inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or other similar action that could reasonably be expected to result in debarment, suspension, or exclusion.
(xxvii)
Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or
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specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. The Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (other than as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The Company maintains an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the 1934 Act Regulations) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
(xxviii)
Payment of Taxes. The Company has filed all federal, state, local and foreign income, property and franchise tax returns which have been required to be filed and paid all taxes required to be paid through the date hereof and, to the extent that such taxes have become due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against them by a taxing authority, except, in each case, (A) as are being contested in good faith or (B) where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company which has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no knowledge of any federal, state or other governmental tax deficiency, penalty or assessment which has been asserted or threatened against it which would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(vi) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income, property and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxix)
Insurance. The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the Company reasonably believes are adequate for the use of its properties and as is customary for companies of similar size engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.
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(xxx)
Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
(xxxi)
Absence of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its affiliates has taken, or will take, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes, or might reasonably be expected, to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the 1934 Act.
(xxxii)
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(xxxiii)
Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(xxxiv)
OFAC. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or representative of the Company is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject or target, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is, of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the
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subject of comprehensive Sanctions (currently, the so-called Donetsk People's Republic, the so-called Luhansk People's Republic, Crimea regions of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, Syria and North Korea); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions prohibiting such funding or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. The Company represents and covenants that, except as detailed in the Prospectus, for the past five years, the Company has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not knowingly engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions prohibiting such dealings or transactions.
(xxxv)
Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.
(xxxvi)
Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.
(xxxvii)
No Rated Securities. The Company has no debt securities or preferred stock that is rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating agency” (as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act).
(xxxviii)
Information Technology. Except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company’s information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted, and to the knowledge of the Company are free and clear of all bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. For purpose of clarity, any third-party information technology systems over which the Company does not exercise control shall not be deemed to be the Company’s IT Systems. The Company has implemented and maintained or caused to be implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards designed to maintain and protect its material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all of the Company’s IT Systems, and the confidentiality of any personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or
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regulated data from which a person can be identified or potentially identified (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with its businesses, and to the Company’s knowledge there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigation relating to the same. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has, for the past three (3) years, and is presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all applicable judgments, orders, binding rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and material contractual obligations, in each of the foregoing cases as relating to the privacy and security of the Company’s IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data used in connection with its business from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has taken all necessary actions to comply with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation and all other applicable privacy laws and regulations with respect to Personal Data used in connection with its business.
(xxxix)
Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(xl)
Maintenance of Registration. The Company shall, at all times while the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act and any Pre-Funded Warrants are outstanding, use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a registration statement covering the issuance and sale of the Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Pre-Funded Warrants, when issued, will not be subject to resale and restrictions under the 1933 Act except to the extent that the Pre-Funded Warrants are owned by affiliates.
(xli)
Warrant Shares Reserved. The Company shall, at all times while any Pre-Funded Warrants are outstanding, reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of such Pre-Funded Warrants, the number of Warrant Shares that are initially issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of the then-outstanding Pre-Funded Warrants.
(xlii)
Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company delivered to the Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
Section 2.
Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a)
Initial Securities and Pre-Funded Warrants. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
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Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, that proportion of the number of Initial Securities and Pre-Funded Warrants set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities and Pre-Funded Warrants which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.
(b)
Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase an additional 12,131,444 shares of Common Stock, as set forth in Schedule A, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time from time to time upon notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representative, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.
(c)
Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, the Initial Securities and the Pre-Funded Warrants shall be made at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 140 Scott Dr, Menlo Park, CA 94025, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the second (third, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”). Delivery of the Initial Securities at the Closing Time shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct. The Pre-Funded Warrants shall be delivered to the purchasers of the Pre-Funded Warrants in definitive form, registered in such names and in such denominations as the purchasers of the Pre-Funded Warrants shall request in writing not later than the Closing Time. The Pre-Funded Warrants will be made available for inspection by the Representative on the business day prior to the Closing Time. The Company and the Representative shall instruct purchasers of the Pre-Funded Warrants to make payment for the Pre-Funded Warrants on the Closing Time to the Company by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company at a purchase price of $2.449 per Pre-Funded Warrant, in lieu of payment by the Underwriters for such Pre-Funded Warrants, and the Company shall deliver such Pre-Funded Warrants to
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such purchasers on the Closing Time in definitive form against such payment, in lieu of the Company’s obligation to deliver such Pre-Funded Warrants to the Underwriters; provided that the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than the Closing Time) pay $0.147 per such Pre-Funded Warrant to the Underwriters by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Representative. In the event that the purchasers of the Pre-Funded Warrants fail to make payment to the Company for all or part of the Pre-Funded Warrants on the Closing Time, the Representative may elect, by written notice to the Company, to receive shares of Common Stock in lieu of all or a portion of such Pre-Funded Warrants to be delivered to the Underwriters under this Agreement.
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above‑mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representative to the Company. Delivery of the Option Securities on each such Date of Delivery shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct.
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates or security entitlements for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities, the Pre-Funded Warrants and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Goldman, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities, the Pre-Funded Warrants or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
Section 3.
Covenants of the Company.
The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a)
Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B, and will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a
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proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the 1933 Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the 1933 Act Regulations (including, if applicable, by updating the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)).
(b)
Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative notice of such event, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or 1934 Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such
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document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
(c)
Delivery of Registration Statements. If requested, the Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d)
Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(e)
Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
(f)
Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(g)
Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”
(h)
Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock (including the Securities) on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
(i)
Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 75 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Goldman, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
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purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder, (B) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise, settlement or vesting of any warrant, right, option, restricted stock unit or other equity award, or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (C) any shares of Common Stock issued, or any options to purchase Common Stock, restricted stock units or other equity awards granted, in each case pursuant to existing equity compensation plans or arrangements of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (D) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to existing defined-contribution savings plans under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code (including any shares issued as Company matching contributions) referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (E) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (F) any shares of Common Stock issued to one or more counterparties in connection with the consummation of any strategic partnership, joint venture, collaboration or other strategic transaction, or the acquisition or license of any business products or technology, provided that the aggregate number of shares that the Company may sell or issue or agree to sell or issue pursuant to this clause (F) shall not exceed 5% of the total number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (G) the filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 (including any post-amendments to any such registration statement) in respect of any equity compensation plans or arrangements maintained by the Company. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 3(i), the Company shall be permitted to keep in effect the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated September 4, 2020, by and between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc. (the “B. Riley Agreement”), provided, however that no sales of Common Stock under the B. Riley Agreement shall be made during the 75-day restricted period.
(j)
Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and 1934 Act Regulations.
(k)
Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representative will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing
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Prospectuses listed on Schedule B hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representative. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representative as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(l)
Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners. The Company will deliver to the Representative, on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as the Representative may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing certification.
Section 4.
Payment of Expenses.
(a)
Expenses. The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any documentary, stamp, registration or similar issuance tax or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any interest and penalties (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vi) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged by the Company in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable and reasonably-documented fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters not to exceed $25,000, in connection with the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities and the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) hereof
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and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the Nasdaq Global Select Market; and (ix) the costs and expenses (including, without limitation, any damages or other amounts payable in connection with legal or contractual liability) associated with the reforming of any contracts for sale of the Securities made by the Underwriters caused by a breach of the representation contained in the third sentence of Section 1(a)(ii). It is understood that except as provided by this Section 4(a) and Section 4(b) hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters and any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities by the Underwriters.
(b)
Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative prior to the payment and delivery of the Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 (other than by reason of the failure to satisfy the condition set forth in Section 5(d) or termination pursuant to Sections 9(a)(i), 9(a)(ii), 9(a)(iv), 9(a)(v) and 9(a)(vi)), the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred by them, including the reasonable and reasonably-documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
(c)
Allocation of Expenses. The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement that the Company may make for the sharing of such costs and expenses.
Section 5.
Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
(a)
Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has become effective and, at the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated; and the Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Securities within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the 1933 Act Regulations without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the 1933 Act Regulations and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).
(b)
Opinion of Counsel for Company. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Time, of Cooley LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.
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(c)
Opinion of Intellectual Property Counsel for Company. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.
(d)
Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Time, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(e)
Officers’ Certificate. At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated.
(f)
Regulatory Certificate. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received a regulatory certificate, dated the Closing Time, of the Chief Medical Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.
(g)
Intellectual Property Certificate. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received an intellectual property certificate, dated the Closing Time, of the Chief Legal Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.
(h)
Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(i)
Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Representative shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (f) of this
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Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.
(j)
Exchange Listing. The Company shall have filed a Notification: Listing of Additional Shares with the Nasdaq Stock Market to satisfy the Company’s notification obligation under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(e)(2).
(k)
Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C hereto.
(l)
Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representative shall have received:
(i)
Opinion of Counsel for Company. If requested by the Representative, the opinion and negative assurance letter of Cooley LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.
(ii)
Opinion of Intellectual Property Counsel for Company. If requested by the Representative, the opinion of Bozicevic, Field & Francis LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, dated such date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.
(iii)
Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. If requested by the Representative, the opinion and negative assurance letter of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.
(iv)
Officers’ Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to section 5(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(v)
Regulatory Certificate. A certificate from the Chief Medical Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(f) hereof.
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(vi)
Intellectual Property Certificate. A certificate from the Chief Legal Officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(g)
(vii)
Bring-down Comfort Letter. If requested by the Representative, a letter from Ernst & Young LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof, except that the specified date in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.
(m)
Additional Documents. At the Closing Time and each Date of Delivery (if any), counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.
(n)
Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 6.
Indemnification.
(a)
Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”)), its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i)
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the
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offering of the Common Stock (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii)
against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii)
against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representative), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
(iv)
against any documentary, stamp, registration or similar issuance tax or stock transfer tax, including any interest and penalties, on the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(b)
Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(c)
Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability
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hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representative, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to one local counsel in any applicable jurisdiction) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d)
Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
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The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.
The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities and Pre-Funded Warrants set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
Section 8.
Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive.
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All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors, any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.
Section 9.
Termination of Agreement.
(a)
Termination. The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representative, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, or (iv) if trading generally on the NYSE Amex or the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Select Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (v) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
(b)
Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 10.
Default by One or More of the Underwriters.
If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder at the Closing Time, the Representative may in its discretion arrange for the Representative or another party or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representative does not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representative to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, the Representative notifies the Company that the Representative has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies the Representative that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Closing Time for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be
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made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the Representative's opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.
If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representative and the Company as provided above, the aggregate number of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one eleventh of the aggregate number of all the Securities to be purchased at the Closing, then the Company shall have the right to require each non defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at the Closing and, in addition, to require each non defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representative and the Company as provided above, the aggregate number of such Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one eleventh of the aggregate number of all of the Securities to be purchased at the Closing, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described above to require non defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 4 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Sections 6 and 7 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282; notices to the Company shall be directed to it at 919 East Hillsdale Blvd., Suite 250, Foster City, California 94404, attention of General Counsel (facsimile: (650) 473-7750), with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Cooley LLP, 3 Embarcadero Center, 20th Floor, San Francisco, California 94111, attention of Chadwick L. Mills (facsimile: (415) 693-2222).
Section 12.
No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, and does not constitute a recommendation, investment advice, or
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solicitation of any action by the Underwriters, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory, investment or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate, and (f) none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person.
This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 14.
Trial by Jury.
The Company and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 15.
Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a)
In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b)
In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime,
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Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
As used in this Section 15:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(a) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(b) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(c) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 16.
GOVERNING LAW.
THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.
Section 17.
Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity.
Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree
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not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this Agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.
Section 20.
Effect of Headings.
The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
GERON CORPORATION
By: /s/ John A. Scarlett
Name: John A. Scarlett, M.D.
Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC
By: /s/ Danielle Freeman
Name: Danielle Freeman
Title: Managing Director
For itself and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.
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The public offering price per share for the Securities shall be: (i) $2.45 in respect of the shares of Common Stock and (ii) $2.449 in respect of the Pre-Funded Warrants.
The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be: (i) $2.303 in respect of the shares of Common Stock, being an amount equal to the public offering price set forth above less $0.147 per share and (ii) $2.302 in respect of the Pre-Funded Warrants, being an amount equal to the public offering price set forth above less $0.147 per share underlying the Pre-Funded Warrant, in each case, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities and Pre-Funded Warrants but not payable on the Option Securities.
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Underwriter | Total Number of Initial Securities | Number of Pre-Funded Warrants |
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC | 30,731,964 | 13,750,000 |
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | 11,175,259 | 5,000,000 |
Wedbush Securities Inc. | 4,190,722 | 1,875,000 |
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated | 4,190,722 | 1,875,000 |
B. Riley Securities, Inc. | 2,793,815 | 1,250,000 |
Needham & Company, LLC | 2,793,815 | 1,250,000 |
Total | 55,876,297 | 25,000,000 |
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1.
The Company is selling 55,876,297 shares of Common Stock.
2.
The Company is selling 25,000,000 Pre-Funded Warrants.
3.
The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase an additional 12,131,444 shares of Common Stock.
4.
The public offering price per share for the Shares shall be: (i) $2.45 in respect of the shares of Common Stock and (ii) $2.449 in respect of the Pre-Funded Warrants.
5.
The estimated net proceeds to the Company after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions are $186.23 million.
(b) Free Writing Prospectuses
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, dated January 5, 2023
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List of Persons and Entities Subject to Lock-up
John A. Scarlett, M.D.
Olivia K. Bloom
Faye Feller, M.D.
Andrew J. Grethlein, Ph.D.
Anil Kapur
Dawn C. Bir
Karin Eastham
V. Bryan Lawlis, Ph.D.
John F. McDonald
Susan M. Molineaux, Ph.D.
Elizabeth G. O’Farrell
Robert J. Spiegel, M.D., FACP
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Exhibit A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
___________________, 2023
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282-2198
Re: Geron Corporation - Lock-UpAgreement
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, a stockholder and an officer and/or director of Geron Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), understands that Goldman Sachs & Co. LLCproposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), on behalf of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I thereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), with the Company providing for the public offering of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder and an officer and/or director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Underwriting Agreement that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date that is 75 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (subject to extensions as discussed below, the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, directly or indirectly, (i) 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 for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-up Securities, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall (1) no longer apply to the undersigned at such time as the undersigned ceases to be an officer and/or director of the Company,provided that in any such case, any transfers made are not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with Section 16 (“Section 16”) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), during the Lock-Up Period, and (2) not apply to the exercise of any option, warrant or other right to acquire shares of Common Stock on a cash basis or the conversion of any convertible security into securities of the Company, provided that in any such case, the Common Stock issued upon such exercise, settlement or conversion shall remain subject to the provisions of this lock-up agreement (“Lock-Up Agreement”).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions in this paragraph, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co.
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LLC, provided that: (1) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC receives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be; (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value; (3) in the case of clauses (i) through (iv) below, such transfers are not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission during the Lock-Up Period, (4) in the case of clauses (iv) and (v) below, if the filing of a report is required in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the circumstances described in such clauses; and (5) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers during the Lock-Up Period:
(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts; or
(ii) to the immediate family (as defined below) of the undersigned or to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned; or
(iii) to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity all of the beneficial ownership interests of which are held exclusively by the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned; or
(iv) pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement; or
(v) by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned upon the death of the undersigned.
As used herein, “immediate family” shall mean the spouse, domestic partner, lineal descendant, father, mother, brother, sister or any other person with whom the undersigned has a relationship by blood, marriage or adoption not more remote than first cousin.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions in this paragraph, the undersigned may also transfer the Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC if any such transfers are made by the undersigned: (i) pursuant to a written trading plan intended to meet the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (a “10b5-1 Plan”) that is in effect as of the date hereof; (ii) to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations of the undersigned upon exercise or vesting of stock options, restricted stock units or other equity awards, or in connection with the “net” or cashless exercise of stock options, pursuant to the Company’s equity compensation plans and arrangements; or (iii) pursuant to the conversion or sale of, or an offer to purchase, all or substantially all of the outstanding Common Stock, whether pursuant to a merger, tender offer or otherwise; provided,however, that in the case of any transfer described in clause (i) of this paragraph, it shall be a condition to the transfer that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that such transfer is being made pursuant to a previously adopted 10b5-1 Plan; provided further that in the case of any transfer described in clause (ii) of this paragraph, it shall be a condition to the transfer that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that such transfer is being made for tax withholding obligations; and provided further that in the case of any conversion or sale described in clause (iii) of this paragraph, in the event that such transaction is abandoned, the Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the restrictions hereunder.
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Furthermore, the undersigned may sell shares of Common Stock of the Company purchased by the undersigned on the open market following the public offering of the Shares if and only if (i) such sales are not required to be reported with the Securities Exchange Commission during the Lock-Up Period, or otherwise and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales during the Lock-Up Period.
In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions and provisos in this paragraph, the undersigned may also establish a new 10b5-1 Plan, provided that (i) no direct or indirect offers, pledges, sales, contracts to sell, sales of any option or contract to purchase, purchases of any option or contract to sell, grants of any option, right or warrant to purchase, or other disposals or transfers of any Lock-Up Securities may be effected pursuant to such 10b5-1 Plan during the Lock-Up Period and (ii) no public disclosure of the entry into such 10b5-1 Plan shall be voluntarily made by any person until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
The undersigned now has, and, except as contemplated above, for the duration of this Lock-Up Agreement will have, good and marketable title to the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims whatsoever.
The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that none of the Underwriters has made any recommendation or provided any investment or other advice to the undersigned with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement or the subject matter hereof, and the undersigned has consulted its own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory, tax and other advisors with respect to this Lock-Up Agreement and the subject matter hereof to the extent the undersigned has deemed appropriate.
This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
It is understood that, if (1) the Company notifies Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC that it does not intend to proceed with the public offering of the Shares, (2) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, (3) the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated for any reason prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares, or (4) the Underwriting Agreement for the public offering the Shares shall not have been executed by February 15, 2023, then this Lock-Up Agreement shall immediately be terminated and the undersigned shall automatically be released from all of his or her or obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
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Very truly yours,
________________________________________
Exact Name of Shareholder
________________________________________
Authorized Signature
________________________________________
Title
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Exhibit B
FORM OF PRE-FUNDED WARRANT
[Attached]
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