Voting Agreement, dated September 7, 2019, among Kiromic BioPharma, Inc., certain investors and certain stockholders
Exhibit 10.4
EXHIBIT F
FORM OF VOTING AGREEMENT
VOTING AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
1. | Voting Provisions Regarding the Board | 1 | ||||
1.1 Board Composition | 1 | |||||
1.2 Failure to Designate a Board Member | 2 | |||||
1.3 Removal of Board Members | 2 | |||||
1.4 No Liability for Election of Recommended Directors | 2 | |||||
1.5 No Bad Actor Designees | 2 | |||||
2. | Vote to Increase Authorized Common Stock | 3 | ||||
3. | Remedies | 3 | ||||
3.1 Covenants of the Company | 3 | |||||
3.2 Specific Enforcement | 3 | |||||
3.3 Remedies Cumulative | 3 | |||||
4. | Bad Actor Matters | 3 | ||||
4.1 Definitions | 3 | |||||
4.2 Representations | 4 | |||||
4.3 Covenants | 4 | |||||
5. | Term | 5 | ||||
6. | Miscellaneous | 5 | ||||
6.1 Additional Parties | 5 | |||||
6.2 Transfers | 5 | |||||
6.3 Successors and Assigns | 5 | |||||
6.4 Governing Law | 6 | |||||
6.5 Counterparts | 6 | |||||
6.6 Titles and Subtitles | 6 | |||||
6.7 Notices | 6 | |||||
6.8 Consent Required to Amend, Modify, Terminate or Waive | 7 | |||||
6.9 Delays or Omissions | 8 | |||||
6.10 Severability | 8 | |||||
6.11 Entire Agreement | 8 | |||||
6.12 Share Certificate Legend | 8 | |||||
6.13 Stock Splits, Stock Dividends, etc | 8 | |||||
6.14 Manner of Voting | 9 | |||||
6.15 Further Assurances | 9 | |||||
6.16 Dispute Resolution | 9 | |||||
6.17 Costs of Enforcement | 9 | |||||
6.18 Aggregation of Stock | 9 | |||||
6.19 Spousal Consent | 9 |
Schedule A | - | Investors | ||
Schedule B | - | Key Holders | ||
Exhibit A | - | Adoption Agreement | ||
Exhibit B | - | Consent of Spouse |
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VOTING AGREEMENT
THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this Agreement), is made and entered into as of this 7th day of September, 2019, by and among Kiromic, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), each holder of the Series B Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (Series B Preferred Stock or Preferred Stock) listed on Schedule A (together with any subsequent investors, or transferees, who become parties hereto as Investors pursuant to Subsections 6.1(a) or 6.2 below, the Investors), and those certain stockholders of the Company listed on Schedule B (together with any subsequent stockholders, or any transferees, who become parties hereto as Key Holders pursuant to Subsection 6.2 below, the Key Holders, and together collectively with the Investors, the Stockholders).
RECITALS
A. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Company and the Investors are entering into a Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) providing for the sale of shares of the Series B Preferred Stock, and in connection with that agreement the parties desire to provide the Investors with the right, among other rights, to designate the election of certain members of the board of directors of the Company (the Board) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. Voting Provisions Regarding the Board.
1.1 Board Composition. Each Stockholder agrees to vote, or cause to be voted, all Shares owned by such Stockholder, or over which such Stockholder has voting control, from time to time and at all times, in whatever manner as shall be necessary to ensure that at each annual or special meeting of stockholders at which an election of directors is held or pursuant to any written consent of the stockholders, subject to Section 5, the following persons shall be elected to the Board:
(a) One person who shall be designated by a majority of the holders of record as of the date hereof of shares of Series B Preferred Stock with a purchase price of at least $1,000,000 to serve as a director of the Company for so long as such holders of record continue to beneficially own not less than 25% of the issued and outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, which person is now designated to be Angelo Minotti or a person designated by him.
To the extent that clause (a) above shall not be applicable, any member of the Board who would otherwise have been designated in accordance with the terms thereof shall instead be voted upon by all the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote thereon in accordance with, and pursuant to, the Restated Certificate.
For purposes of this Agreement, an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, trust or any other entity (collectively, a Person) shall be deemed an Affiliate of another Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, managing member, officer, director or trustee of such Person, or any venture capital fund or registered investment company now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners, managing members or investment advisers of, or shares the same management company or investment adviser with, such Person.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term Shares shall mean and include any securities of the Company that the holders of which are entitled to vote for members of the Board, including without limitation, all shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, by whatever name called, now owned or subsequently acquired by a Stockholder, however acquired, whether through stock splits, stock dividends, reclassifications, recapitalizations, similar events or otherwise.
1.2 Failure to Designate a Board Member. In the absence of any designation from the Persons or groups with the right to designate a director as specified above, the director previously designated by them and then serving shall be reelected if still eligible and willing to serve as provided herein and otherwise, such Board seat shall remain vacant.
1.3 Removal of Board Members. Each Stockholder also agrees to vote, or cause to be voted, all Shares owned by such Stockholder, or over which such Stockholder has voting control, from time to time and at all times, in whatever manner as shall be necessary to ensure that:
(a) no director elected pursuant to Subsections 1.1 or 1.2 of this Agreement may be removed from office unless (i) such removal is directed or approved by the affirmative vote of the Person(s), or of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of stock, entitled under Subsection 1.2 to designate that director; or (ii) the Person(s) originally entitled to designate or approve such director pursuant to Subsection 1.2 is no longer so entitled to designate or approve such director;
(b) any vacancies created by the resignation, removal or death of a director elected pursuant to Subsections 1.1 or 1.2 shall be filled pursuant to the provisions of this Section 1; and
(c) upon the request of any party entitled to designate a director as provided in Subsection 1.2(a) to remove such director, such director shall be removed.
All Stockholders agree to execute any written consents required to perform the obligations of this Section 1, and the Company agrees at the request of any Person or group entitled to designate directors to call a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing directors.
1.4 No Liability for Election of Recommended Directors. No Stockholder, nor any Affiliate of any Stockholder, shall have any liability as a result of designating a person for election as a director for any act or omission by such designated person in his or her capacity as a director of the Company, nor shall any Stockholder have any liability as a result of voting for any such designee in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
1.5 No Bad Actor Designees. Each Person with the right to designate or participate in the designation of a director as specified above hereby represents and warrants to the Company that, to such Persons knowledge, none of the bad actor disqualifying events
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described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) (each, a Disqualification Event), is applicable to such Persons initial designee named above except, if applicable, for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable. Any director designee to whom any Disqualification Event is applicable, except for a Disqualification Event to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable, is hereinafter referred to as a Disqualified Designee. Each Person with the right to designate or participate in the designation of a director as specified above hereby covenants and agrees (A) not to designate or participate in the designation of any director designee who, to such Persons knowledge, is a Disqualified Designee and (B) that in the event such Person becomes aware that any individual previously designated by any such Person is or has become a Disqualified Designee, such Person shall as promptly as practicable take such actions as are necessary to remove such Disqualified Designee from the Board and designate a replacement designee who is not a Disqualified Designee.
2. Vote to Increase Authorized Common Stock. Each Stockholder agrees to vote or cause to be voted all Shares owned by such Stockholder, or over which such Stockholder has voting control, from time to time and at all times, in whatever manner as shall be necessary to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock from time to time to ensure that there will be sufficient shares of Common Stock available for the exercise of any warrant and/or the conversion of all of the shares of Preferred Stock outstanding at any given time.
3. Remedies.
3.1 Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees to use its best efforts, within the requirements of applicable law, to ensure that the rights granted under this Agreement are effective and that the parties enjoy the benefits of this Agreement. Such actions include, without limitation, the use of the Companys best efforts to cause the nomination and election of the directors as provided in this Agreement.
3.2 Specific Enforcement. Each party acknowledges and agrees that each party hereto will be irreparably damaged in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed by the parties in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached. Accordingly, it is agreed that each of the Company and the Stockholders shall be entitled to an injunction to prevent breaches of this Agreement, and to specific enforcement of this Agreement and its terms and provisions in any action instituted in any court of the United States or any state having subject matter jurisdiction.
3.3 Remedies Cumulative. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
4. Bad Actor Matters.
4.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
(a) Company Covered Person means, with respect to the Company as an issuer for purposes of Rule 506 promulgated under the Securities Act, any Person listed in the first paragraph of Rule 506(d)(1).
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(b) Disqualified Designee means any director designee to whom any Disqualification Event is applicable, except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable.
(c) Disqualification Event means a bad actor disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) promulgated under the Securities Act.
(d) Rule 506(d) Related Party means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that is a beneficial owner of such first Persons securities for purposes of Rule 506(d) under the Securities Act.
4.2 Representations.
(a) Each Person with the right to designate or participate in the designation of a director pursuant to this Agreement hereby represents that (i) such Person has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Disqualification Event is applicable to such Person, any director designee designated by such Person pursuant to this Agreement or any of such Persons Rule 506(d) Related Parties, except, if applicable, for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable and (ii) no Disqualification Event is applicable to such Person, any Board member designated by such Person pursuant to this Agreement or any of such Persons Rule 506(d) Related Parties, except, if applicable, for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, each Investor makes no representation regarding any Person that may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the Companys voting equity securities held by such Investor solely by virtue of that Person being or becoming a party to (x) this Agreement, as may be subsequently amended, or (y) any other contract or written agreement to which the Company and such Investor are parties regarding (1) the voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (2) the investment power, which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, such security.
(b) The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investors that no Disqualification Event is applicable to the Company or, to the Companys knowledge, any Company Covered Person, except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(iiiv) or (d)(3) is applicable.
4.3 Covenants. Each Person with the right to designate or participate in the designation of a director pursuant to this Agreement covenants and agrees (i) not to designate or participate in the designation of any director designee who, to such Persons knowledge, is a Disqualified Designee, (ii) to exercise reasonable care to determine whether any director designee designated by such person is a Disqualified Designee, (iii) that in the event such Person becomes aware that any individual previously designated by any such Person is or has become a Disqualified Designee, such Person shall as promptly as practicable take such actions as are necessary to remove such Disqualified Designee from the Board and designate a replacement designee who is not a Disqualified Designee, and (iv) to notify the Company promptly in writing in the event a Disqualification Event becomes applicable to such Person or any of its Rule 506(d) Related Parties, or, to such Persons knowledge, to such Persons initial designee named in Section 1, except, if applicable, for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable.
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5. Term. This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall continue in effect until and shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (a) the consummation of the Companys first underwritten public offering of its Common Stock (other than a registration statement relating either to the sale of securities to employees of the Company pursuant to its stock option, stock purchase or similar plan or an SEC Rule 145 transaction); (b) the consummation of a sale of the Company and distribution of proceeds to or escrow for the benefit of the Stockholders in accordance with the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of the Company; or (c) termination of this Agreement in accordance with Subsection 6.8 below.
6. Miscellaneous.
6.1 Additional Parties.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company issues additional shares of Preferred Stock after the date hereof, as a condition to the issuance of such shares the Company shall require that any purchaser of such shares become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering (i) the Adoption Agreement attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A, or (ii) a counterpart signature page hereto agreeing to be bound by and subject to the terms of this Agreement as an Investor and Stockholder hereunder. In either event, each such person shall thereafter be deemed an Investor and Stockholder for all purposes under this Agreement.
6.2 Transfers. Each transferee or assignee of any Shares subject to this Agreement shall continue to be subject to the terms hereof, and, as a condition precedent to the Companys recognition of such transfer, each transferee or assignee shall agree in writing to be subject to each of the terms of this Agreement by executing and delivering an Adoption Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. Upon the execution and delivery of an Adoption Agreement by any transferee, such transferee shall be deemed to be a party hereto as if such transferee were the transferor and such transferees signature appeared on the signature pages of this Agreement and shall be deemed to be an Investor and Stockholder, or Key Holder and Stockholder, as applicable. The Company shall not permit the transfer of the Shares subject to this Agreement on its books or issue a new certificate representing any such Shares unless and until such transferee shall have complied with the terms of this Subsection 6.2. Each certificate instrument, or book entry representing the Shares subject to this Agreement if issued on or after the date of this Agreement shall be notated by the Company with the legend set forth in Subsection 6.12.
6.3 Successors and Assigns. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
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6.4 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware (the Governing Law).
6.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
6.6 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
6.7 Notices.
All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing shall be delivered both physically and via electronic mail and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt, or (a) personal delivery to the party to be notified, (b) when sent, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipients next business day, (c) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next business day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All notices to the Company shall be addressed as follows:
Kiromic Inc.
Fannin South Professional Building
7707 Fannin, St Suite 140
Houston, Texas 77054
Attn: Scott Dahlbeck
Phone: (713) 689-4450
Email: ***@***
a copy (which shall not constitute notice) shall also be sent physically and via e-mail to:
Norton Rose Fulbright
1301 McKinney St., Suite 5100
Houston, Texas 77010
Attn: Charles Powell
***@***
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If notice is given to the Investors, copies (which shall not constitute notice) shall also be sent physically and via e-mail to:
Avv. Giovanni Meliadò
Roma
Via G. Vico n.1 - 00196 Roma
***@***
Avv. Laura Porta
6.8 Consent Required to Amend, Modify, Terminate or Waive. This Agreement may be amended, modified or terminated (other than pursuant to Section 4.1) and the observance of any term hereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only by a written instrument executed by (a) the Company; (b) the Key Holders holding a majority of the Shares then held by the Key Holders; provided that such consent shall not be required if the Key Holders do not then own Shares representing at least 33% of the outstanding capital stock of the Company who are then providing services to the Company as officers, employees or consultants; and (c) the Investors. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(a) this Agreement may not be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term of this Agreement may not be waived with respect to any Investor or Key Holder without the written consent of such Investor or Key Holder unless such amendment, modification, termination or waiver applies to all Investors or Key Holders, as the case may be, in the same fashion;
(b) the provisions of Subsection 1.1(a) and this Subsection 6.8(b) may not be amended, modified, terminated or waived without the written consent of Angelo Minotti;
(c) the consent of the Key Holders shall not be required for any amendment, modification, termination or waiver if such amendment, modification, termination, or waiver either (A) is not directly applicable to the rights of the Key Holders hereunder; or (B) does not adversely affect the rights of the Key Holders in a manner that is different than the effect on the rights of the other parties hereto; and
(d) any provision hereof may be waived by the waiving party on such partys own behalf, without the consent of any other party.
The Company shall give prompt written notice of any amendment, modification, termination, or waiver hereunder to any party that did not consent in writing thereto. Any amendment, modification, termination, or waiver effected in accordance with this Subsection 6.8 shall be binding on each party and all of such partys successors and permitted assigns, whether or not any such party, successor or assignee entered into or approved such amendment, modification, termination or waiver. For purposes of this Subsection 6.8, the requirement of a written instrument may be satisfied in the form of an action by written consent of the Stockholders circulated by the Company and executed by the Stockholder parties specified, whether or not such action by written consent makes explicit reference to the terms of this Agreement.
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6.9 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power or remedy of such non-breaching or non-defaulting party nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or an acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default previously or thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character on the part of any party of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver on the part of any party of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
6.10 Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof shall in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.
6.11 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits hereto), the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of the Company and the other Transaction Agreements (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled.
6.12 Share Certificate Legend. Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing any Shares issued after the date hereof shall be notated by the Company with a legend reading substantially as follows:
THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO A VOTING AGREEMENT, AS MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, (A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED UPON WRITTEN REQUEST FROM THE COMPANY), AND BY ACCEPTING ANY INTEREST IN SUCH SHARES THE PERSON ACCEPTING SUCH INTEREST SHALL BE DEEMED TO AGREE TO AND SHALL BECOME BOUND BY ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THAT VOTING AGREEMENT, INCLUDING CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP SET FORTH THEREIN.
The Company, by its execution of this Agreement, agrees that it will cause the certificates instruments, or book entry evidencing the Shares issued after the date hereof to be notated with the legend required by this Subsection 6.12 of this Agreement, and it shall supply, free of charge, a copy of this Agreement to any holder of such Shares upon written request from such holder to the Company at its principal office. The parties to this Agreement do hereby agree that the failure to cause the certificates, instruments, or book entry evidencing the Shares to be notated with the legend required by this Subsection 6.12 herein and/or the failure of the Company to supply, free of charge, a copy of this Agreement as provided hereunder shall not affect the validity or enforcement of this Agreement.
6.13 Stock Splits, Stock Dividends, etc. In the event of any issuance of Shares or the voting securities of the Company hereafter to any of the Stockholders (including, without limitation, in connection with any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, or the like), such Shares shall become subject to this Agreement and shall be notated with the legend set forth in Subsection 6.12.
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6.14 Manner of Voting. The voting of Shares pursuant to this Agreement may be effected in person, by proxy, by written consent or in any other manner permitted by applicable law. For the avoidance of doubt, voting of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement need not make explicit reference to the terms of this Agreement.
6.15 Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time after the date hereof, the parties agree to cooperate with each other, and at the request of any other party, to execute and deliver any further instruments or documents and to take all such further action as the other party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent of the parties hereunder.
6.16 Dispute Resolution. All disputes arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be finally settled under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce by one or more arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said Rules. Any such arbitration shall (i) be subject to the application of the Governing Law, (ii) take place in Paris, France and (iii) be conducted in English. Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to personal jurisdiction for any emergency injunction sought in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas or any court of the State of Texas having subject matter jurisdiction. However, subsequent to the emergency injunction hearing, the merits of the matter will be decided by the ICC as per the procedure set forth above.
Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to personal jurisdiction for any equitable action sought in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas or any court of the State of Texas having subject matter jurisdiction.
6.17 Costs of Enforcement. If any party to this Agreement seeks to enforce its rights under this Agreement by legal proceedings, the non-prevailing party shall pay all costs and expenses incurred by the prevailing party, including, without limitation, all reasonable attorneys fees.
6.18 Aggregation of Stock. All Shares held or acquired by a Stockholder and/or its Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement, and such Affiliated persons may apportion such rights as among themselves in any manner they deem appropriate.
6.19 Spousal Consent. If any individual Stockholder is married on the date of this Agreement, such Stockholders spouse shall execute and deliver to the Company a consent of spouse in the form of Exhibit B hereto (Consent of Spouse), effective on the date hereof. Notwithstanding the execution and delivery thereof, such consent shall not be deemed to confer or convey to the spouse any rights in such Stockholders Shares that do not otherwise exist by operation of law or the agreement of the parties. If any individual Stockholder should marry or remarry subsequent to the date of this Agreement, such Stockholder shall within thirty (30) days thereafter obtain his/her new spouses acknowledgement of and consent to the existence and binding effect of all restrictions contained in this Agreement by causing such spouse to execute and deliver a Consent of Spouse acknowledging the restrictions and obligations contained in this Agreement and agreeing and consenting to the same.
[Signature Page Follows]
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THE COMPANY:
KIROMIC, INC. |
By: | /s/ Maurizio Chiriva Internati | |
Name: | Maurizio Chiriva Internati | |
Title | Chief Executive Officer |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO VOTING AGREEMENT