Voting Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2017, by and among Leap Therapeutics, Inc., HealthCare Ventures VIII, L.P., HealthCare Ventures IX, L.P. and HealthCare Ventures Strategic Fund, L.P
Exhibit 10.3
Execution Version
VOTING AGREEMENT
THIS VOTING AGREEMENT is made as of November 14, 2017 (the Agreement), by and among Leap Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and each of HealthCare Ventures VIII, L.P., HealthCare Ventures IX, L.P., and HealthCare Ventures Strategic Fund, L.P. (each, a Stockholder, and collectively, the Stockholders). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without definition shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Purchase Agreements (as defined below).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company is (a) entering into Purchase Agreements, each with substantially similar form, terms and conditions, dated as of the date hereof (as such agreements may hereafter be amended from time to time, the Purchase Agreements), with certain investors (the Buyers) that provide for, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, the sale by the Company to the Buyers of shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.001 (the Common Stock), and warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock and (b) issuing warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, each with substantially similar form, terms and conditions, dated as of the date hereof (the Warrants) with the Buyers; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Purchase Agreements and the Warrants, Section 2(c) of the Warrants shall not be applicable unless the requisite percentage approval of the stockholders of the Company has been obtained in accordance with the rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market (or any successor thereto) and therefore, the Company has agreed to call a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of seeking approval of the Companys stockholders for the approval of anti-dilution provisions of the Warrants (the Proposal);
WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, each Stockholder beneficially owns the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Stockholders name on Schedule I hereto (all such shares so beneficially owned and which may hereafter be acquired by such Stockholder prior to the termination of this Agreement, whether upon the exercise of options, conversion of convertible securities, exercise of warrants or by means of purchase, dividend, distribution or otherwise, being referred to herein as the Shares); and
WHEREAS, in order to induce the Company and the Buyers to enter into the Purchase Agreements, each Stockholder is willing to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Company and each Stockholder hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
TRANSFER AND VOTING OF SHARES; AND
OTHER COVENANTS OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1.1. Voting of Shares. From the date hereof until termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof (the Term), at any meeting of the stockholders of the Company, however called and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, and in any action by written consent of the stockholders of the Company, in either case at or pursuant to which the Proposal is to be considered and voted on by the stockholders of the Company, each Stockholder shall (a) appear at such meeting or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of establishing a quorum and (b) vote (or cause to be voted) the Shares (i) in favor of the Proposal and such other matters as may be necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreements (the Transactions) and (ii) against the approval or adoption of any proposal made in opposition to, or in competition with, the Proposal or the Transactions, and against any other action that is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to otherwise materially impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, discourage or adversely affect the consummation of the Transactions. If each Stockholder is the beneficial owner, but not the record holder, of any of the Shares, each Stockholder agrees to cause the record holder and any nominees to vote all of such Shares in accordance with this Section 1.1, including by executing such documentation as shall be requested by the record holder or any such nominee for purposes of giving voting instructions thereto.
SECTION 1.2. Grant of Irrevocable Proxy.
(a) Each Stockholder hereby irrevocably and unconditionally (to the fullest extent permitted by law) grants to, and appoints, the Company and each of its executive officers and any of them, in their capacities as officers of the Company (the Grantees), as each Stockholders proxy and attorney-in-fact (with full power of substitution and re-substitution), for and in the name, place and stead of each Stockholder, to vote the Shares, to instruct nominees or record holders to vote the Shares, or to grant a consent or approval or dissent or disapproval in respect of the Shares, in each case in accordance with Section 1.1 hereof and, in the discretion of the Grantees, with respect to any proposed adjournments or postponements of any meeting of stockholders of the Company at which any of the matters described in Section 1.1 hereof are to be considered.
(b) Each Stockholder hereby affirms that the irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 1.2 is given in connection with the execution of the Purchase Agreements and the proposed issuance of the Shares as contemplated thereby, and that such irrevocable proxy is given to secure the performance of the duties of each Stockholder under this Agreement. Each Stockholder hereby further affirms that the irrevocable proxy is coupled with an interest and may under no circumstances be revoked, except as otherwise set forth herein. Each Stockholder hereby ratifies and confirms all that the Grantees may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. The irrevocable proxy set forth in this Section 1.2 is executed and intended to be irrevocable in accordance with the provisions of Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Notwithstanding this Section 1.2, the proxy granted by each Stockholder shall be revoked upon termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
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(c) The Grantees may not exercise this irrevocable proxy on any other matter except as provided above.
SECTION 1.3. No Inconsistent Arrangements. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, from the date hereof until the record date for the stockholders meeting of the Company at which the Proposal is to be voted on by the stockholders of the Company, each Stockholder will not (a) directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, tender, encumber or otherwise dispose of in any manner any of the Shares, or consent or agree to do any of the foregoing, (b) directly or indirectly, limit its right to vote in any manner any of the Shares (other than as set forth in this Agreement), including without limitation by the grant of any proxy, power of attorney or other authorization in or with respect to the Shares (other than any such proxy, power of attorney or other authorization consistent with, and for purposes of complying with, the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof), by depositing the Shares into a voting trust, or by entering into a voting agreement, or consent or agree to do any of the foregoing or (c) take any action which would have the effect of preventing or disabling each Stockholder from performing its obligations under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Stockholder may sell or transfer any or all of the Shares to any Person (as defined below) in a private transaction at any time on or prior to the record date for such stockholders meeting of the Company, provided that the transferee of such Shares executes and delivers to the Company a Voting Agreement with respect to such transferred Shares containing substantially the same terms as this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 1.3, the term sell or transfer or any derivatives thereof shall include, but not be limited to, (A) a sale, transfer or disposition of record or beneficial ownership, or both and (B) a short sale with respect to the Shares or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring an offsetting derivative contract with respect to the Shares or substantially identical property, entering into or acquiring a futures or forward contract to deliver the Shares or substantially identical property or entering into any transaction that has the same effect as any of the foregoing.
SECTION 1.4. Stop Transfer. The Company shall issue stop-transfer instructions to the transfer agent for the Shares instructing the transfer agent not to register any transfer of Shares during the Term except in compliance with the terms of this Agreement.
SECTION 1.5. Additional Shares. Each Stockholder hereby agrees that, while this Agreement is in effect, such Stockholder shall promptly notify the Company of any new Shares acquired (whether upon the exercise of options, conversion of convertible securities, exercise of warrants or by means of purchase, dividend, distribution or otherwise) by such Stockholder after the date hereof.
SECTION 1.6. Disclosure. Each Stockholder hereby authorizes the Company to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including in any proxy statement filed with the SEC in connection with any meeting of stockholders of the Company at which the Proposal is to be considered and all documents and schedules filed with the SEC in connection with the foregoing, each Stockholders identity and ownership of the Shares and the nature of such Stockholders commitments, arrangements and understandings under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE II.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
Each Stockholder hereby represents and warrants to the Company as of the date hereof and as of the date of any stockholders meeting at which the Proposal is considered, including any adjournment or postponement thereof (or the date of the taking of any action by written consent with respect to the Proposal) as follows:
SECTION 2.1. Due Authorization, etc. Such Stockholder has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to take the actions contemplated hereby (including the granting of the irrevocable proxy pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof), all of which have been duly authorized by all action necessary on the part of such Stockholder. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Stockholder. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Stockholder and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws and except that the availability of equitable remedies, including specific performance, is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding for such remedy may be brought.
SECTION 2.2. No Violation. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the performance of this Agreement by such Stockholder will (a) require such Stockholder to file or register with, or obtain any material permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any governmental agency, authority, administrative or regulatory body, court or other tribunal, foreign or domestic, or any other entity, or (b) violate, or cause a breach of or default under, or conflict with any contract, agreement or understanding, any statute or law, or any judgment, decree, order, regulation or rule of any governmental agency, authority, administrative or regulatory body, court or other tribunal, foreign or domestic, or any other entity or any arbitration award binding upon such Stockholder, except for such violations, breaches, defaults or conflicts which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to impair or have an adverse effect on such Stockholders ability to satisfy its obligations under this Agreement or render inaccurate any of the other representations made by such Stockholder in this Agreement. No proceedings are pending which, if adversely determined, will have an adverse effect on such Stockholders ability to vote any of the Shares.
SECTION 2.3. Ownership of Shares. Such Stockholder has good and marketable title to, and is the sole legal and beneficial owner (determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Exchange Act) of the Shares set forth opposite its name on Schedule I hereto, in each case free and clear of all liabilities, claims, liens, options, security interests, proxies, voting trusts, voting agreements, charges, participations and encumbrances of any kind or character whatsoever, except as may be imposed by federal, state or foreign securities laws and this Agreement. Such Stockholder has not previously assigned or sold any of the Shares to any third party. On the date hereof, the Shares set forth opposite such Stockholders name on Schedule I hereto constitute all of the Shares owned of record or beneficially by such Stockholder. Such Stockholder has sole voting power and sole power of disposition with respect to the Shares with no restrictions on its voting rights or rights of disposition pertaining thereto.
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SECTION 2.4. Voting Authority. Such Stockholder has full legal power, authority and right to vote all of the Shares owned of record and/or beneficially by such Stockholder in favor of the Proposal and the approval and authorization of the Transactions without the consent or approval of, or any other action on the part of, any other Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Stockholder has not entered into any voting agreement (other than this Agreement) with any Person with respect to any of the Shares, granted any Person any proxy (revocable or irrevocable) or power of attorney with respect to any of the Shares, deposited any of the Shares in a voting trust or entered into any arrangement or agreement with any Person limiting or affecting such Stockholders legal power, authority or right to vote the Shares on any matter. For purpose hereof, Person means any individual, corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, association, joint venture, governmental entity or any other entity or group (as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act).
SECTION 2.5. Reliance by the Company. Such Stockholder understands and acknowledges that the Company is entering into the Purchase Agreements in reliance upon such Stockholders execution and delivery of this Agreement and the representations and warranties of such Stockholder contained herein.
ARTICLE III.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 3.1. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the earliest of (i) immediately following a meeting of the Companys stockholders at which the Proposal is voted upon and approved by the Companys stockholders, which meeting is duly called and held for such purpose and at which a quorum was present and acting throughout, and (ii) the termination of the Purchase Agreements at any time prior to the consummation of the Closing contemplated under the Purchase Agreements. No such termination of this Agreement shall relieve any party hereto from any liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.
SECTION 3.2. Further Assurances. From time to time at the request of the Company and without further consideration, each Stockholder will execute and deliver to the Company such documents and take such action as the Company may reasonably deem to be necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions hereof.
SECTION 3.3. No Waiver. The failure of any party hereto to exercise any right, power or remedy provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity, or to insist upon compliance by any other party hereto with its obligations hereunder, or any custom or practice of the parties at variance with the terms hereof shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its right to exercise any such or other right, power or remedy or to demand such compliance.
SECTION 3.4. Specific Performance. Each Stockholder acknowledges that the Company will be irreparably harmed and that there will be no adequate remedy at law for a violation of any of the covenants or agreements of such Stockholder that are contained in this Agreement. It is
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accordingly agreed that, in addition to any other remedies which may be available to the Company upon the breach by any Stockholder of such covenants and agreements, the Company will have the right without the posting of a bond or other security to obtain injunctive relief to restrain any breach or threatened breach of such covenants or agreements or otherwise to obtain specific performance of any of such covenants or agreements against such Stockholder. Accordingly, should the Company institute an action or proceeding seeking specific enforcement of the provisions hereof, each Stockholder hereby waives the claim or defense that the Company has an adequate remedy at law and hereby agrees not to assert in any such action or proceeding the claim or defense that such a remedy at law exists.
SECTION 3.5. Notice. Any notices, consents, waivers or other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been delivered: (a) upon receipt, when delivered personally; (b) upon receipt, when sent by facsimile (except notice may not be delivered to the Company via facsimile) or e-mail (provided confirmation of transmission is mechanically or electronically generated and, in the case of an email, a read receipt is received, and in each case kept on file by the sending party); or (c) upon receipt, when delivered by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service, in each case properly addressed to the party to receive the same. The addresses and facsimile numbers for such communications shall be:
(i) if to the Company, to:
Leap Therapeutics, Inc.
47 Thorndike St, Suite B1-1
Cambridge, MA 02141
Facsimile number: 617 ###-###-####
Email address: ***@***
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
One Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110-1726
Attn: Julio E. Vega, Esq.
Fax No.: (617) 341-7701
Email: ***@***
(ii) if to the Stockholders, as set forth in Schedule I hereto.
SECTION 3.6. Capacity. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, each Stockholder makes no agreement or understanding herein in any capacity other than in such Stockholders capacity as a record holder and beneficial owner of the Shares.
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SECTION 3.7. Expenses. Each of the parties hereto will pay its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement.
SECTION 3.8. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION 3.9. Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner to the end that obligations hereunder are fulfilled to the maximum extent possible.
SECTION 3.10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes any and all other prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
SECTION 3.11. Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and permitted assigns of the parties hereto. No assignment or delegation by any party to this Agreement of any obligations of such party under this Agreement shall operate to relieve or release such party from such obligations or from any liability hereunder for failure of such obligations to be performed in accordance with their respective terms.
SECTION 3.12. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement will be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in Delaware for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of this Agreement), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
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SECTION 3.13. Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of the Company and each Stockholder. If any material amendment or waiver is proposed to be made with respect to any other Voting Agreement, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that each Stockholder shall be afforded the opportunity to enter into or receive (as applicable) a comparable amendment or waiver with respect to this Agreement.
SECTION 3.14. Remedies Not Exclusive. All rights, powers and remedies provided under this Agreement or otherwise available in respect hereof at law or in equity will be cumulative and not alternative, and the exercise of any thereof by any party will not preclude the simultaneous or later exercise of any other such right, power or remedy by such party.
SECTION 3.15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and delivered to the other parties. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a .pdf format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or .pdf signature were the original thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| LEAP THERAPEUTICS, INC. | |
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| By: | /s/ Christopher Mirabelli, Ph.D. |
| Name: | Christopher Mirabelli, Ph.D. |
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Signature Page to Voting Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above.
| HEALTHCARE VENTURES VIII, L.P. | ||
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| By: HealthCare Partners VIII, L.P., its general partner | ||
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| By: HealthCare Partners VIII, LLC, its general partner | ||
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| By: | /s/ Augustine Lawlor |
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| Name: | Augustine Lawlor |
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| Title: | Managing Director |
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| HEALTHCARE VENTURES IX, L.P. | ||
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| By: HealthCare Partners IX, L.P., its general partner | ||
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| By: HealthCare Partners IX, LLC, its general partner | ||
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| By: | /s/ Augustine Lawlor |
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| Name: | Augustine Lawlor |
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| Title: | Managing Director |
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| HEALTHCARE VENTURES STRATEGIC FUND, L.P. | ||
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| By: HealthCare Strategic Partners, LLC, its general partner | ||
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| By: | /s/ Augustine Lawlor |
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| Name: | Augustine Lawlor |
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| Title: | Managing Director |
Signature Page to Voting Agreement
Schedule I
Name of Stockholder |
| Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
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HealthCare Ventures VIII, L.P. c/o Leap Therapeutics, Inc. 47 Thorndike St, Suite B1-1 Cambridge, MA 02141 |
| 2,618,406 |
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HealthCare Ventures IX, L.P. c/o Leap Therapeutics, Inc. 47 Thorndike St, Suite B1-1 Cambridge, MA 02141 |
| 2,515,607 |
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HealthCare Ventures Strategic Fund, L.P. c/o Leap Therapeutics, Inc. 47 Thorndike St, Suite B1-1 Cambridge, MA 02141 |
| 343,889 |
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