Distribution Agreement, dated May 28, 2021, by and among the Company, Piper Sandler & Co., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc

EX-1.1 2 d48172dex11.htm EX-1.1 EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

May 28, 2021

PIPER SANDLER & CO.

U.S. Bancorp Center

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

One South Street, 15th Floor

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

499 Park Avenue, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10022

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

200 Vesey Street

New York, New York 10281-8098

RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, Florida 33716

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As further set forth in this agreement (this “Agreement”), Prothena Corporation plc, an Irish public limited company (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell from time to time through Piper Sandler & Co., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (the “Agents”), as sales agents, the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.01 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”) (such shares to be sold pursuant to this Agreement, the “Shares”) on terms set forth herein. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitation set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement on the number of shares of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Agents shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Agents with respect to the issuance of the Shares.

1.    Representations and Warranties of the Company.

(a)    Except as disclosed in the Prospectus (as defined below) or the Registration Statement (as defined below), the Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agents that as of the date of this Agreement, each Representation Date (as defined in Section 3(o) below),


each date on which a Placement Notice (as defined in Section 2(a)(i) below) is given (each, a “Notice Date”), each date on which Shares are sold hereunder (each, an “Applicable Time”), and each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 2(a)(vii) below) as follows:

(i)    Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an automatic registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-254622), including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Ordinary Shares, to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement specifically relating to the Shares (the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Company has furnished to the Agents, for use by the Agents, copies of the prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, as amended when it became effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B or 462(b) of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act regulations (“Rule 433”), relating to the Shares, if any, that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (ii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i), in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

(ii)    Continuing Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has become effective under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement”

 

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(as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (“Rule 405”)) and the Shares have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on such automatic shelf registration statement. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities 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 (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

(iii)    No Material Misstatements or Omissions. The Prospectus when filed complied, and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, at the time it became effective or its date, as applicable, and as of each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 2(a)(vii) below), complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and as of each effective date and each Settlement Date, did not and will not contain any 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. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, did not and, as of each of the Settlement Date, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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 representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Agents furnished to the Company in writing by the Agents expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.

(iv)    Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. No Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as defined below, 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.

(v)    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 Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange 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 Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Securities Act, and (D) as of the date of this Agreement, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).

 

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(vi)    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 Securities Act) of the Shares 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.

(vii)    Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(viii)    Financial Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement 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. 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 or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly presents in all material respects the information called for and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(ix)    No Material Adverse Change in Business. Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its share capital.

(x)    Due Incorporation of the Company. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a public limited company under the laws of the

 

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Republic of Ireland and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required (or such equivalent concept to the extent it exists under the laws of such jurisdiction), whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xi)    Due Incorporation and Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include Prothena Biosciences Limited (formerly Neotope Biosciences Limited), Neotope Neuroscience Limited, Othair Prothena Limited, Prothena Biosciences Inc. and Prothena Finance Inc. (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing in good standing (or such equivalent concept to the extent it exists under the laws of such jurisdiction) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each 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 so qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock or share capital of each Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and not subject to calls for any additional payments (non-assessable) and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock or share capital of any Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. The only subsidiaries of the Company are the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020.

(xii)    Capitalization. The authorized and issued share capital of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the heading “Capital Structure” under the caption “Description of Share Capital” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements, employee benefit or equity incentive plans referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus). The issued share capital of the Company has been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and not subject to calls for any additional payments (non-assessable). None of the issued share capital of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any shareholder of the Company.

(xiii)    Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

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(xiv)    Authorization and Description of Shares. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and not subject to calls for any additional payments (non-assessable); and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The Ordinary Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. No holder of Shares will be subject to personal liability solely by reason of being such a holder.

(xv)    Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any Ordinary Shares registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, other than those rights that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(xvi)    Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its constitution, charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults 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 subsidiaries or any of their respective 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 and the Prospectus (including the issuance of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from the issuance of the Shares as described in the Prospectus 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 or any subsidiary 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 (i) any violation of the provisions of the constitution, charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity, except in the case of clause (ii) for such violations as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or

 

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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 or any of its subsidiaries.

(xvii)    Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any subsidiary’s principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in either case, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xviii)    Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any Governmental Entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect their respective properties or assets or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; and the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective properties or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xix)    Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required.

(xx)    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 or issuance of the Shares 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 Securities Act, the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Exchange”), state securities laws, the laws of the Republic of Ireland or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).

(xxi)    Regulatory Matters; Possession of Licenses and Permits. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company has not received any FDA Form 483 notice of adverse finding, warning letter or other written correspondence or notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) or any other Governmental Entity alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws

 

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(as defined in clause (ii) below) or Authorizations (as defined in clause (iii) below); (ii) the Company is and has been in compliance with statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the Company for the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, labeling, promotion, storage, import, export or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the Company, including without limitation, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 301, et seq., similar laws of other Governmental Entities and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws (collectively, “Applicable Laws”); (iii) the Company possesses all licenses, certificates, approvals, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws and/or for the ownership of its properties or the conduct of its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (collectively, “Authorizations”) and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and the Company is not in violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (iv) the Company has not received written notice of any ongoing claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any Governmental Entity or third party alleging that any product, operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations, and to the Company’s knowledge, no such Governmental Entity or third party has threatened any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (v) the Company has not received written notice that any Governmental Entity has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, adversely modify or revoke any Authorizations and to the Company’s knowledge, no such Governmental Entity has threatened or intends to take such action; and (vi) the Company has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments (“Submissions”) as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and all such Submissions were true, complete, correct on the date filed (or were corrected, updated, modified, or supplemented by a subsequent Submission). Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its directors, officers, employees or agents has been convicted of any crime under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act or comparable laws of other Governmental Entities that could result in a material debarment or exclusion under 21 U.S.C. Section 335a or any similar Applicable Law, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its directors, officers, employees or agents has been the subject of an FDA debarment proceeding. The Company has not been nor is it now the subject of any pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened investigation by the FDA pursuant to its “Fraud, Untrue Statements of Material Facts, Bribery, and Illegal Gratuities” Final Policy set forth in 56 Fed. Reg. 46191 (September 10, 1991).

(xxii)    Studies and Tests. The preclinical and clinical studies and tests conducted by or, to the knowledge of the Company, on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries have been and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with experimental protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to all Applicable Laws and Authorizations; the descriptions of the results of such preclinical and clinical studies and tests contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the data derived from such preclinical and clinical studies and tests; except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any preclinical or clinical studies or tests, the results of which the Company believes reasonably call into question

 

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the research, preclinical or clinical study or test results described or referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus when viewed in the context in which such results are described; and the Company has not received any written notices or correspondence from any Governmental Entity requiring the termination, suspension or material modification of any preclinical or clinical study or test conducted by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries, as applicable.

(xxiii)    Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property owned by them and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or (B) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any notice of any claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, except for such claims as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxiv)    Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, have licenses to, or can acquire licenses on reasonable terms to, adequate patents, patent rights, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by them and, to the knowledge of the Company, as proposed to be conducted as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware (A) of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property arising by the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ business as now operated by them or (B) of any facts or circumstances which would render any issued patents within the Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries invalid, and in each case (A) and (B) which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxv)    Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or

 

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protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required for their operation under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances existing as of the date hereof that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(xxvi)    Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined under Rule 13-a15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or 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; (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; and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly presents in all material respects the information called for and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, 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 and adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange 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.

 

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(xxvii)    Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) with which it must comply as of the date hereof, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(xxviii)    Payment of Taxes. All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company and its subsidiaries, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been established by the Company and except where the failure to pay such taxes would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxix)    Transfer Taxes. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under Irish or Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

(xxx)    Insurance. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (A) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(xxxi)    Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon issuance of the Shares as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, as described in the Registration Statement 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”).

 

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(xxxii)    Absence of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the issue or sale or resale of the Shares or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

(xxxiii)    Anti-Bribery Laws. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries 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 any anti-bribery law (including, without limitation, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) and the UK Bribery Act 2010), 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 or the UK Bribery Act 2010 and the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act 2010 and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xxxiv)    Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(xxxv)    OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject or target 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, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the issuance of the Shares, 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 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.

 

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(xxxvi)    Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Agent and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the issuance of the Shares to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Agent.

(xxxvii)    Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.

(xxxviii)    Cybersecurity. (A) To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no material security breach or incident, unauthorized access or disclosure, or other compromise of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained, processed or stored by the Company and its subsidiaries, and any such data processed or stored by third parties on behalf of the Company and its subsidiaries), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”); and (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with applicable industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

(xxxix)    Maintenance of Rating. The Company has no debt securities or preferred stock that is rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act).

(xl)    PFIC Status. The Company does not believe that it was a “passive foreign investment company” for U.S. federal income tax purposes for its taxable year ended December 31, 2020.

(b)    Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Agents or to counsel for the Agents, in each case, in connection with the offering of the Shares, shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Agent as to the matters set forth herein.

 

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2.    Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.

(a)    At-the-Market Sales. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell through the Agents as sales agents, and the Agents agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to place for and on behalf of the Company, the Shares on the following terms and conditions; provided, however, that any obligation of the Agents to use such commercially reasonable efforts shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agents will be successful in placing Shares, and (ii) the Agents will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not place Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agents to use their commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Shares as required under this Section 2.

(i)    Each time that the Company wishes to issue the Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify the Agents by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (a “Placement Notice”) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number or dollar amount of Shares to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number or dollar amount of Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined below) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 2 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agents set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agents unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) of this Agreement, the Agents decline to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Shares have been sold, (iii) the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) below, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (v) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 7. The amount of any commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agents in connection with the issuance of the Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 2(a)(v) below. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agents will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agents and the Agents do not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which the Company’s Ordinary Shares is purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Ordinary Shares is listed or quoted.

 

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(ii)    The Shares are to be sold by the Agents on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Company and the Agents on any day that is a trading day for the Exchange (other than a day on which the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time). The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 2(a) shall be the market price for the Company’s Ordinary Shares sold by the Agents under this Section 2(a) at the time of such sale.

(iii)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may instruct the Agents by telephone (confirmed promptly by email) not to place the Shares if such sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by the Company in any such instruction. Furthermore, the Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Agents shall not be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to place, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (or committee of the Company’s Board of Directors) and notified to the Agents in writing. In addition, the Company or the Agents may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by email), suspend the offering of the Shares, whereupon the Agents shall so suspend the offering of Shares until further notice is provided to the other party to the contrary; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information, the Company and the Agents agree that (i) no sale of Shares will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the issuance of any Shares, and (iii) the Agents shall not be obligated to issue or offer to issue any Shares.

(iv)    Subject to the terms of the Placement Notice, the Agents may sell the Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through an Exchange. Subject to the terms of any Placement Notice, the Agents may only place Shares in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices and/or any other method permitted by law, subject to the prior written consent of the Company.

(v)    The compensation to the Agents for sales of the Shares, as an agent of the Company, shall be 3.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a), payable in cash (the “Sales Commission”); provided that the combined Sales Commission and reimbursement of the Agents for their out-of-pocket expenses pursuant to Section 3(g), including reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent’s counsel, shall not exceed 8.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares. The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, and reimbursement of expenses that the Agents may be entitled to pursuant to Section 3(g), shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).

(vi)    The Agents will provide written confirmation to the Company (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2), no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the

 

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Trading Day on which it has made sales of Shares hereunder, setting forth the number of Shares sold on such day, the volume-weighted average price of the Shares sold, and the Net Proceeds payable to the Company.

(vii)    All Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a) will be delivered by the Company to the Agents for the account of the Agents, against payment of the Net Proceeds therefor, by wire transfer of same-day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Piper Sandler & Co., U.S. Bancorp Center, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the second full business day following the date on which such Shares are sold, or at such other time and date as the Agents and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, each such time and date of delivery being herein referred to as a “Settlement Date.” Delivery of the Shares shall be made by credit through full fast transfer to an account or accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Agents or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto. On each Settlement Date, the Agents will deliver the Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, such Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to timely deliver duly authorized Shares on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 5 hereto, it will (i) hold the Agents harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable and documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company, (ii) reimburse the Agents for any losses incurred by the Agents attributable to such default and (iii) pay to the Agents (without duplication) any commission or other compensation to which the Agents would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

(b)    Maximum Amount. Under no circumstances shall the aggregate number or aggregate value of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement exceed: (i) the aggregate number and aggregate dollar amount of Ordinary Shares available for issuance and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement (including any limit set forth in General Instruction I.B.6 thereof, if applicable), (ii) the aggregate number of authorized but unissued Ordinary Shares that are available for issuance under the Company’s constitution or (iii) the aggregate number or aggregate dollar amount of Ordinary Shares for which the Company has filed any Prospectus Supplement in connection with the Shares (the lesser of (i), (ii) and (iii), the “Maximum Amount”).

(c)    No Association or Partnership. Nothing herein contained shall constitute the Agents as an unincorporated association or partner with the Company.

(d)    Duration. Under no circumstances shall any Shares be sold pursuant to this Agreement after the date which is three years after the Registration Statement first became effective.

(e)    Market Transactions by Agents. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Agents have informed the Company that the Agents may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and this Agreement, effect transactions for its own account while this Agreement is in effect, provided, that (i) no sale for its own account shall take place

 

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while a Placement Notice is in effect (except to the extent the Agents may engage in sales of Shares purchased or deemed purchased from the Company as a “riskless principal” or in a similar capacity),(ii) the Company shall not be deemed to have authorized or consented to any such purchases or sales by the Agents and (iii) the terms of any such purchases or sales by the Agents shall not be governed by this Agreement. The Company consents to the Agents trading in the Ordinary Shares for the account of any of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement.

3.    Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agents as follows:

(a)    Amendments to Registration Statement and Prospectus. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Shares is required to be delivered by the Agents under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company agrees that it will: (i) notify the Agents promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference or amendments not related to the Shares, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus related to the Shares has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement (insofar as it relates to the transactions contemplated hereby) or Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agents’ request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agents’ reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the issuance of the Shares by the Agents (provided, however, that the failure of the Agents to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agents’ right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); (iii) not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Shares or a security convertible into the Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agents within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agents have not reasonably objected thereto in writing within two business days (provided, however, that (A) the failure of the Agents to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agents’ right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement), (B) the Company has no obligation to provide the Agents any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Agents an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing does not name the Agents or does not relate to a Placement or other transaction contemplated hereunder, and (C) the only remedy that the Agents shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to provide the Agents with such copy or the filing of such amendment or supplement despite the Agents’ objection shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement); (iv) furnish to the Agents at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (v) cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act.

(b)    Stop Order. The Company will advise the Agents, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of

 

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any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.

(c)    Continuing Amendments. During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered by the Agents under the Securities Act with respect to any Placement or pending sale of the Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports (taking into account any extensions available under the Exchange Act) and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agents to suspend the offering of Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; provided, however, that the Company may delay any such amendment or supplement if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, it is in the best interest of the Company to do so, provided that no Placement Notice is in effect during such time.

(d)    Qualification of the Shares. The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Agents reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any state or (ii) publish a prospectus pursuant to the Prospectus (Directive 2017/1129) Regulations (EU) 2017/2019 or the EU (Prospectus) Regulations 2019 (SI No 380/2019). The Company shall promptly advise the Agents of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

(e)    Copies of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agents and counsel for the Agents copies of the Registration Statement (which will include three complete manually signed copies of the Registration Statement and all consents and exhibits filed therewith), the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Agents may from time to time reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company’s obligations to provide such copies shall not apply to any filing applicable via EDGAR.

(f)    Section 11(a). The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder.

 

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(g)    Expenses. The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (i) all expenses (including stock or transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties allocated to the Agents) incurred in connection with the registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Shares to the Agents under this Agreement, (ii) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and counsel) in connection with the preparation, filing, and delivery of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Shares, the Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and the producing, word-processing and delivery of this Agreement and other underwriting documents or closing documents, including Blue Sky Memoranda (covering the states and other applicable jurisdictions) and including the cost to furnish copies of each thereof to the Agents, (iii) all filing fees, (iv) all fees and disbursements of the Agents’ counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the Agents or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions which the Agents shall designate, (v) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (vi) the filing fees and reasonable, actual and documented fees and disbursements of the Agents’ counsel incident to any required review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the issuance of the Shares, (vii) listing fees, if any, (viii) the cost and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “roadshow” undertaken in connection with marketing of the Shares, and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein; provided, that the Company shall reimburse the Agents for their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agents’ counsel in connection with this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and ongoing services in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.

(h)    Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the issuance of the Shares in the manner disclosed in the Prospectus.

(i)    Notice Restrictions on Future Sales. During the pendency of a Placement Notice given hereunder, the Company will provide the Agent with no less than two Trading Days’ written notice if it offers for sale, sells, contracts to sell, pledges, transfers, or grants any option for the issuance by the Company of any Ordinary Shares, or enter into any transaction which will result, directly or indirectly, in the disposition of Ordinary Shares (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise), or issue any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options or rights to purchase or acquire, Ordinary Shares, except that the Company shall not be required to provide the Agent with notice of: (i) the registration of the Shares and the issuances through the Agents pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) the issuance of Ordinary Shares through any dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan of the Company, (iii) the offer, issuance, grant or sales of Ordinary Shares (including restricted Ordinary Shares), options to purchase Ordinary Shares, restricted stock units or other equity awards issuable upon the exercise of options or other equity awards pursuant to any equity incentive plan, stock option plan, stock bonus plan, stock purchase plan, or other compensatory plan or arrangement described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and the Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of such outstanding options or vesting of such restricted stock units, (iv) the issuance of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the exercise of warrants, options or other derivative securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Ordinary Shares disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (v) the issuance of any Ordinary Shares as consideration for mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or joint ventures or strategic alliances occurring after the date of this Agreement, (vi) the filing of registration statements on Form S-8, (vii) the filing of a registration statement pursuant to any registration rights granted prior to the date hereof as disclosed in the Registration Statement, or (vii) the issuance of any Ordinary Shares offered and sold in a privately negotiated transaction to vendors, customers, investors, strategic partners or potential strategic partners and otherwise conducted in a manner so as not to be integrated with the offering of Placement Shares hereby.

 

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(j)    No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which constitutes: (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Ordinary Shares or any other security of the Company to facilitate the issuance or reissuance of the Shares, (ii) a violation of Regulation M. The Company shall notify the Agents of any violation of Regulation M by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors promptly after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation. The Company shall not invest in futures contracts, options on futures contracts or options on commodities, unless the Company is exempt from the registration requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “Commodity Act”), or otherwise complies with the Commodity Act. The Company will not engage in any activities bearing on the Commodity Act, unless such activities are exempt from the Commodity Act or otherwise comply with the Commodity Act.

(k)    No Other Broker. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company will not incur any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

(l)    Timely Securities Act and Exchange Act Reports. During any prospectus delivery period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file on a timely basis with the Commission such periodic and special reports as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

(m)    Internal Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries will maintain such controls and other procedures, including without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including without limitation, controls and

 

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procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, to ensure that material information relating to Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities.

(n)    Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Agents, and the Agents severally represent and agree that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Agents is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

(o)    Representation Date and Opinions of Counsel. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice, and thereafter during the term of this Agreement, each time the Company (A) files an amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares), (B) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act or files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and (C) files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial statements (other than an earnings release) under the Exchange Act, (each of the dates in (A), (B) and (C) are referred to herein as a “Representation Date”), the Company shall cause:

(i)    Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agents the opinion and negative assurance letter of such counsel, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents; provided however, only a negative assurance letter of such counsel shall be required for each subsequent Representation Date.

(ii)    McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP, Potomac Law Group, PLLC, Alston & Bird LLP, and Fish & Richardson P.C., intellectual property counsels for the Company, to each furnish to the Agents the opinion of such counsel, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents; provided however, the opinion of counsel shall only be required for the first Settlement Date.

(iii)    A&L Goodbody, Irish counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agents the opinion of such counsel, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the requirement to provide counsel opinions under this Section 3(o) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to issue Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Agents with opinions under this Section 3(o), then before the Agents issues any Shares pursuant to Section 2(a), the Company shall cause the opinions (including the opinion pursuant to Section 3(o) if not delivered on the date of the prior Form 10-K), comfort letter, certificates and documents that would be delivered on a Representation Date to be delivered.

(p)    Representation Date and Comfort Letter. Prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and thereafter during the term of this Agreement, on each Representation Date to which a waiver does not apply, the Company shall cause KPMG LLP, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Agents (the “Accountants”), to deliver to the Agents a letter, dated as of such date and addressed to the Agents, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and stating the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents of the same tenor as the first such letter received hereunder.

(q)    Representation Date and Representation Certificate. Prior to the date of the First Placement Notice and thereafter during the term of this Agreement, on each Representation Date to which a waiver does not apply, the Company shall furnish to the Agents a certificate (the “Representation Certificate”), substantially in the form of Schedule 3 hereto and dated as of such date, addressed to the Agents and signed by the chief executive officer and by the chief financial officer of the Company.

(r)    Disclosure of Shares Sold. The Company shall disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K the number of the Shares sold through the Agents under this Agreement, the net proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.

(s)    Continued Listing of Shares. The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Ordinary Shares on the Exchange.

(t)    Notice of Changes. At any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice or the pendency of any sale of Shares, the Company shall advise the Agents as soon as practicable after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Agents pursuant to this Section 3.

(u)    Maximum Amount. The Company will not instruct the Agents to issue or otherwise attempt to issue Shares pursuant to this Agreement in excess of the Maximum Amount.

 

22


4.    Conditions of Agents’ Obligations. The obligations of the Agents hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy, as of the date of this Agreement, each Representation Date, each Notice Date, each Applicable Time, and each Settlement Date (in each case, as if made at such date) of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:

(a)    Continuing Amendments; No Stop Order. If filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act, the Company shall have filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b) under the Securities Act); the Registration Statement shall be effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Agents’ satisfaction.

(b)    Absence of Certain Events. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related Prospectus or such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c)    No Material Misstatement or Omission. The Agents shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Agents’ opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Agents’ opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

23


(d)    No Adverse Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its share capital; and there shall not have been any material change in the share capital (other than a change in the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants), or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Effect (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the effect of which, in any such case described above, in the Agents’ judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

(e)    No Rating Downgrade. On or after each Applicable Time (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s securities.

(f)    Compliance with Certain Obligations. The Company shall have performed each of its obligations under Section 3(o) – 3(q).

(g)    Opinion of Agents Counsel. On each Representation Date to which a waiver does not apply, there shall have been furnished to the Agents the opinion and negative assurance letter of Cooley LLP, counsel for the Agents, dated as of such Representation Date and addressed to the Agents, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters; provided however, the opinion of Cooley LLP shall only be required prior to the first Placement Notice, and thereafter, only a negative assurance letter of such counsel shall be required for each subsequent Representation Date.

(h)    Representation Certificate. On or prior to the first Placement Notice, the Agents shall have received the Representation Certificate in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel.

(i)    No Objection by FINRA. FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

(j)    Timely Filing of Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed by the Settlement Date, as the case may be, shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

 

24


(k)    Additional Documents and Certificates. The Company shall have furnished to the Agents and the Agents’ counsel such additional documents, certificates and evidence as they may have reasonably requested.

All opinions, certificates, letters and other documents described in this Section 4 will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agents and the Agents’ counsel. The Company will furnish the Agents with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agents shall reasonably request.

5.    Indemnification and Contribution.

(a)    Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Agent, their respective affiliates, directors, officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Agents may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon, in whole or in part:

(i)    an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the Rule 430B Information (as defined below) and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B promulgated under the Securities Act, and any other information deemed to be part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness, and at any subsequent time pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus), any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or any roadshow as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), or an omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made;

(ii)    any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein;

(iii)    any investigation or proceeding by any governmental authority, commenced or threatened (whether or not such Agent is a target of or party to such investigation or proceeding);

(iv)    any failure of the Company to perform its respective obligations hereunder or under law;

and will reimburse such Agent for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case of (i) through (iv) to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue

 

25


statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents specifically for use in the preparation thereof. “Rule 430B Information,” as used herein, means information with respect to the Shares and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430B.

In addition to its other obligations under this Section 5(a), the Company agrees that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon any statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in this Section 5(a), it will reimburse the Agents on a monthly basis for all reasonable, actual and documented legal fees or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the Company’s obligation to reimburse the Agents for such expenses and the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction. Any such interim reimbursement payments which are not made to the Agents within 30 days of a request for reimbursement shall bear interest at the WSJ Prime Rate (as published from time to time by the Wall Street Journal).

(b)    Agents Indemnification. The Agents, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Agents), but only insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agents specifically for use in the preparation thereof, it being understood and agreed that the only information furnished by the Agents for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus consists of the statements set forth in the seventh paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus, and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action.

(c)    Notice and Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel

 

26


reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that if, in the sole judgment of the Agents, it is advisable for the Agents to be represented by separate counsel, the Agents shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent the Agents, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the Agents as incurred (in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph in subsection (a) above).

The indemnifying party under this Section 5 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 5, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 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 the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (b) 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)    Contribution; Limitations on Liability; Non-Exclusive Remedy. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agents on the other from the offering of the Shares, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above 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 the Agents on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agents on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total commissions received by the Agents (before deducting expenses) from the issuance of the Shares. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the

 

27


omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Agents, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Agents shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

6.    Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including but not limited to the agreements of the Agents and the Company contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by the Agents hereunder.

7.    Termination of this Agreement.

(a)    The Company shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, through the Agents for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the Agents, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (ii) the provisions of Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(b)    The Agents shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(c)    Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 7, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earlier to occur of the issuance and sale of all of the Shares through the Agents on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, except that the provisions of Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

28


(d)    This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 7(a), (b) or (c) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 shall remain in full force and effect.

(e)    Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agents or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(a)(vii) of this Agreement.

8.    Default by the Company. If the Company shall fail at any Settlement Date to issue and deliver the number of Shares which it is obligated to issue hereunder, then this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of the Agents or, except as provided in Section 3(g) hereof, any non-defaulting party. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default, and the Company shall (A) hold the Agents harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Agents any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.

9.    Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and, if to the Agents, shall be delivered via overnight delivery services to (i) Piper Sandler & Co., U.S. Bancorp Center, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, with a copy to Piper Sandler General Counsel at 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402 and ############@pjc.com; Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Attention: General Counsel; Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., 499 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022, Attention: General Counsel; RBC Capital Markets, LLC, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281-8098, Attention: Michael Goldberg, Syndicate Director, Fax: (212) 428-6260; and Raymond James & Associates, Inc., 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716; and (ii) the Company at Prothena Corporation plc, 77 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Block C, Grand Canal Docklands, Dublin 2, D02 T804, Ireland, Attention: Secretary with a copy to Prothena Biosciences Inc, 331 Oyster Point Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA 94080, U.S.A., Attention: Tran Nguyen, CFO; or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing. Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

10.    Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 5. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Shares from the Agents.

11.    Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company, having been advised by counsel, acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Agents have been retained solely to act as sales

 

29


agents in connection with the issuance of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company (including any of the Company’s affiliates (including directors), equity holders, creditors, employees or agents, hereafter, “Company Representatives”), on the one hand, and the Agents on the other, has been created or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Agents have advised or are advising the Company on other matters and irrespective of the use of the defined terms “Agent” and “Agents;” (b) neither the Agents nor any of their respective affiliates (including directors), equity holders, creditors, employees or agents, hereafter, “Agent Representatives”) shall have any duty or obligation to the Company or any Company Representative except as set forth in this Agreement; (c) the price and other terms of any Placement executed pursuant to this Agreement, as well as the terms of this Agreement, are deemed acceptable to the Company and its counsel, following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Agents; (d) the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding, and in fact has evaluated, understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of any Placement Notice to be executed pursuant to this Agreement, and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (e) the Company has been advised that the Agents and the Agent Representatives are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Agents and the Agent Representatives have no obligation to disclose any such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship, or otherwise; (f) the Company has been advised that the Agents are acting, in respect of any Placement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Agents, and not on behalf of the Company; and (g) the Company and the Company Representatives waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that they may have against the Agents or any of the Agent Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in respect of any Placement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agree that the Agents and the Agent Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to the Company or any of the Company Representatives in respect of any person asserting any claim of breach of any fiduciary duty on behalf of or in right of the Company or any of the Company Representatives.

12.    Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(a)    In the event that any Agent that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Agent 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 Agent that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Agent becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Agent 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.

 

30


(c)    As used in this section:

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: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) 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; and

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.

13.    Governing Law and Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement and any transaction contemplated by this Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related thereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflict of laws that would results in the application of any other law than the laws of the State of New York .THE COMPANY (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS AND AFFILIATES) 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.

14.    Submission to Jurisdiction, Etc. Each party hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, City of New York, in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any lawsuit, action or other proceeding in such courts, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such lawsuit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

15.    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile or electronic mail (including, without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

16.    Construction. The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof. References herein to any law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority shall be deemed to refer to such law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority as amended, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time and also to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. This Agreement

 

31


constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the Agents in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC

/s/ Tran B. Nguyen

Name:   Tran B. Nguyen
Title:   Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer


Confirmed as of the date first

above mentioned.

PIPER SANDLER & CO.
By:  

/s/ Neil Riley

  Name: Neil Riley
  Title: Managing Director
STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
By:  

/s/ Nathan Thompson

  Name: Nathan Thompson
  Title: Director
CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
By:  

/s/ Sage Kelly

  Name: Sage Kelly
  Title: Senior Managing Director
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Timothy Chung

  Name: Timothy Chung
  Title: Vice President
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Taylor Boyd

  Name: Taylor Boyd
  Title: Vice President


SCHEDULE 1

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE

No Facsimile and No Voicemail

 

From:    Prothena Corporation plc
To:   

Piper Sandler & Co.

 

Attention:

 

Neil A. Riley

############

Michael W. Bassett

############

Tom Wright

############

Jay A. Hershey

############

Date:

 

Subject:

  

 

Equity Distribution Agreement – Placement Notice

Gentlemen:   

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement between Prothena Corporation plc (“Company”), and Piper Sandler & Co., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., RBC Capital Markets, LLC, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (collectively, the “Agents” and each individually an “Agent”) dated May 28, 2021 (the “Agreement”), the Company hereby requests that Agents sell up to [                    ] shares of the Company’s ordinary shares, par value $0.01 per share, at a minimum market price of $[        ] per share. Sales should begin on the date of this Placement Notice and shall continue until all shares are sold.


SCHEDULE 2

NOTICE PARTIES

Prothena Corporation plc

Tran B. Nguyen

############

Randall Fawcett

############

Karin L. Walker

############

Piper Sandler & Co.

Neil A. Riley

############

Michael W. Bassett

############

Tom Wright

############

Jay A. Hershey

############


SCHEDULE 3

FORM OF REPRESENTATION CERTIFICATE

PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(q) OF THE AGREEMENT

[                    ]

PIPER SANDLER & CO.

U.S. Bancorp Center

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED

One South Street, 15th Floor

Baltimore, Maryland 21202

CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

499 Park Avenue, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10022

RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC

200 Vesey Street

New York, New York 10281-8098

RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.

880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, Florida 33716

To Whom It May Concern:

The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of Prothena Corporation plc, an Irish public limited company(the “Company”), does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 3(q) of the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated May 28, 2021 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), between the Company and Piper Sandler & Co., that to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned:

(i)    The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, as if made at and as of the date of the certificate, and the Company has complied in all material respects with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the date of the certificate;

(ii)    No stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof or the qualification of the Shares for Registration Statement, nor suspending or preventing the use of the base prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body;


(iii)    The Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and that all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken;

(iv)    The signer of this certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the base prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the base prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus),

(A)    each part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) contain, and contained when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, all statements and information required to be included therein, each part of the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, does not contain, and did not contain, when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state, and did not omit to state when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, does not include and did not include as of its date, or the time of first use within the meaning of the Securities Act, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state and did not omit to state as of its date, or the time of first use within the meaning of the Securities Act, a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading,

(B)    except as stated in the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its share capital, and except as disclosed in the base prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there has not been any change in the share capital (other than a change in the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares due to sales of Shares pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement and the issuance of shares of Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of equity awards or warrants), or any Material Adverse Effect (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company, and

(C)    except as stated in the base prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there is not pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company is a party before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, which might result in a Material Adverse Effect.


Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Equity Distribution Agreement.

 

PROTHENA CORPORATION PLC
By:  

 

Name:   Tran B. Nguyen
Title:   Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer