UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 26, 2019
MeiraGTx Holdings plc
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Cayman Islands | 001-38520 | Not applicable | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
430 East 29th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10016
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
(646) 490-2695
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☒
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On February 26, 2019, MeiraGTx Holdings plc (the Company) entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with certain accredited investors (the Investors), pursuant to which the Company, in a private placement, agreed to issue and sell to the Investors an aggregate of 5,797,102 ordinary shares, nominal value $0.00003881 per share (the Ordinary Shares), at a purchase price of $13.80 per share (the Shares), for gross proceeds of approximately $80.0 million (the Private Placement).
The Company retained Evercore Group L.L.C. and Chardan Capital Markets LLC to serve as co-lead placement agents for the Private Placement. The financing was led by Johnson & Johnson Innovation JJDC, Inc. (JJDC), the investment arm of Johnson & Johnson, which made a $40.0 million equity investment in the Company through the Private Placement. As previously disclosed, the Company is party to a Collaboration, Option and License Agreement, dated January 30, 2019, with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund Ltd, one of the Companys investors, participated in the Private Placement as a purchaser. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement to continue to advance its pipeline of innovative gene therapy assets through clinical development, as well as for general purposes.
In connection with the Private Placement, the Company also entered into a Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 26, 2019 (the Registration Rights Agreement) with the Investors. Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is obligated to prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) a registration statement (the Registration Statement) to register for resale the Shares on or prior to July 31, 2019.
The foregoing descriptions of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Purchase Agreement and Registration Rights Agreement and may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties. Accordingly, the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement are incorporated herein by reference only to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Purchase Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and not to provide investors with any other factual information regarding the Company or its business, and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures in the Companys periodic reports and other filings with the SEC.
Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
Pursuant to the Private Placement described in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, which description is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02 in its entirety, on March 1, 2019, the Company sold the Shares to accredited investors, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), in reliance on the exemption from registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and corresponding provisions of state securities or blue sky laws. Each of the Investors represented that it was acquiring the Shares for investment only and not with a view towards, or for resale in connection with, the public sale or distribution thereof. Accordingly, the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.
Neither this Current Report on Form 8-K nor any exhibit attached hereto is an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy ordinary shares or other securities of the Company.
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Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 4, 2019
MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC | ||
By: | /s/ Richard Giroux | |
Name: | Richard Giroux | |
Title: | Chief Operating Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of February 26, 2019 by and among MeiraGTx Holdings plc, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company), and the Investors identified on Exhibit A attached hereto (each an Investor and collectively the Investors).
RECITALS
A. The Company and the Investors are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by the provisions of Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act); and
B. The Investors wish to purchase from the Company, and the Company wishes to sell and issue to the Investors, upon the terms and subject to the conditions stated in this Agreement, a certain number (the Shares) of ordinary shares of the Company, nominal value $0.00003881 per share (the Ordinary Shares).
C. Contemporaneously with the sale of the Shares, the parties hereto will execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the Registration Rights Agreement), pursuant to which the Company will agree to provide certain registration rights in respect of the Shares under the 1933 Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and applicable state securities laws.
In consideration of the mutual promises made herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries Controls, is controlled by, or is under common Control with, such Person.
Business Day means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open for the general transaction of business.
Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Ordinary Share Equivalents means any securities of the Company which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Ordinary Shares, including without limitation, any debt, preferred shares, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Ordinary Shares.
Companys Knowledge means the actual knowledge of the executive officers (as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) of the Company.
Control (including the terms controlling, controlled by or under common control with) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Environmental Laws has the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.
FDA has the meaning set forth in Section 4.32.
GAAP has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19.
Intellectual Property Rights has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16(a).
Investor Questionnaire has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.
IPO Registration Statement means the Companys registration statement (File No. 333- 224914), including a prospectus, as amended at the time it became effective on June 8, 2018, including the information deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the 1933 Act to be part of such registration statement at the time of its effectiveness.
Losses has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2.
Material Adverse Effect means a material adverse effect on (i) the assets, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the legality or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or (iii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
Material Contract means any contract, instrument or other agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound which is material to the business of the Company, including those that have been filed or were required to have been filed as an exhibit to the SEC Filings pursuant to Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K.
Nasdaq means The Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization, governmental authority or any other form of entity not specifically listed herein.
Placement Agents means Chardan Capital Markets LLC and Evercore Group L.L.C.
Press Release has the meaning set forth in Section 9.7.
Registration Rights Agreement has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
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Required Investors has the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
SEC means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
SEC Filings has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
Shares has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
Short Sales means all short sales as defined in Rule 200 of Regulation SHO under the 1934 Act (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable Ordinary Shares).
Subscription Amount means, as to an Investor, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Shares purchased hereunder as specified opposite such Investors name on Exhibit A attached hereto, under the column entitled Aggregate Purchase Price of Shares, in U.S. Dollars and in immediately available funds.
Subsidiary of any Person means another Person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its Board of Directors or other governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first Person.
Trading Day means a day on which Nasdaq is open for trading.
Transfer Agent has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7.
Transaction Documents means this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
USPTO has the meaning set forth in Section 4.16(a).
1933 Act has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
1934 Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2. Purchase and Sale of the Shares. On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company will issue and sell, and the Investors will purchase, severally and not jointly, the number of Shares set forth opposite the name of such Investor under the heading Number of Shares to be Purchased on Exhibit A attached hereto at a price per Share equal to $13.80.
3. Closing.
3.1. Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 6, the completion of the purchase and sale of the Shares (the Closing) shall occur remotely via exchange of documents and signatures at a time (the Closing Date) to be agreed to by the Company and the Investors, but in no event later than the third Trading Day after the date hereof, and of which the Investors will be notified in advance by the Placement Agents.
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3.2. On the Closing Date, each Investor shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the Subscription Amount via wire transfer of immediately available funds pursuant to the wire instructions delivered to such Investor by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date.
3.3. At or before the Closing, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Investor a number of Shares, registered in the name of the Investor, in the amount set forth opposite the name of such Investor under the heading Number of Shares to be Purchased on Exhibit A attached hereto.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Investors that, except as set forth in the schedules delivered herewith (the Disclosure Schedules) and except as described in the SEC Filings, which qualify these representations and warranties in their entirety:
4.1. Organization, Good Standing and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to own or lease its properties. The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property makes such qualification or leasing necessary unless the failure to so qualify has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Companys Subsidiaries (for purposes of this Agreement, as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the power and authority (corporate or other) to carry on its business as now conducted and to own or lease its properties. Each of the Companys Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property makes such qualification or leasing necessary unless the failure to so qualify has not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each of the Companys Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim.
4.2. Authorization. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority and has taken all requisite corporate action necessary for, and no further action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and shareholders is necessary for, (i) the authorization, execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, (ii) the authorization of the performance of all obligations of the Company hereunder or thereunder, and (iii) the authorization, issuance (or reservation for issuance) and delivery of the Shares. The Transaction
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Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability, relating to or affecting creditors rights generally and to general equitable principles.
4.3. Capitalization. Schedule 4.3 sets forth as of the date hereof (a) the authorized capital stock of the Company; (b) the number of shares of capital stock issued and outstanding; (c) the number of shares of capital stock issuable pursuant to the Companys stock plans; and (d) the number of shares of capital stock issuable and reserved for issuance pursuant to securities (other than the Shares) exercisable for, or convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Companys capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and none of such shares were issued in violation of any pre-emptive rights and such shares were issued in compliance in all material respects with applicable Cayman Islands, state and federal securities law and any rights of third parties. Except as described on Schedule 4.3 or as described in the IPO Registration Statement and the Companys filings pursuant to the 1934 Act (collectively, the SEC Filings), no Person is entitled to pre-emptive or similar statutory or contractual rights with respect to the issuance by the Company of any securities of the Company. Except as described on Schedule 4.3 or as described in the SEC filings, there are no outstanding warrants, options, convertible securities or other rights, agreements or arrangements of any character under which the Company is or may be obligated to issue any equity securities of any kind and except as contemplated by this Agreement. Except as described on Schedule 4.3 or as described in the SEC filings and except for the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no voting agreements, buy-sell agreements, option or right of first purchase agreements or other agreements of any kind among the Company and any of the securityholders of the Company relating to the securities of the Company held by them. Except as described on Schedule 4.3 or as described in the SEC filings and except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, no Person has the right to require the Company to register any securities of the Company under the 1933 Act, whether on a demand basis or in connection with the registration of securities of the Company for its own account or for the account of any other Person.
The issuance and sale of the Shares hereunder will not obligate the Company to issue Ordinary Shares or other securities to any other Person (other than the Investors) and will not result in the adjustment of the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of any outstanding security.
The Company does not have outstanding shareholder purchase rights or poison pill or any similar arrangement in effect giving any Person the right to purchase any equity interest in the Company upon the occurrence of certain events.
4.4. Valid Issuance. The Shares have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and paid for pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and shall be free and clear of all encumbrances and restrictions (other than those created by the Investors), except for restrictions on transfer set forth in the Transaction Documents or imposed by applicable securities laws.
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4.5. Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents and the offer, issuance and sale of the Shares require no consent of, action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Person, governmental body, agency, or official other than (a) filings that have been made pursuant to applicable state securities laws, (b) post-sale filings pursuant to applicable state and federal securities laws, (c) filings pursuant to the rules and regulations of Nasdaq and (d) the filing of the registration statement required to be filed by the Registration Rights Agreement, each of which the Company has filed or undertakes to file within the applicable time. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each Investor set forth in Section 5 hereof, the Company has taken all action necessary to exempt (i) the issuance and sale of the Shares and (ii) the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents from the provisions of any shareholder rights plan or other poison pill arrangement, any anti-takeover, business combination or control share law or statute binding on the Company or to which the Company or any of its assets and properties is subject that is or could reasonably be expected to become applicable to the Investors as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation, the issuance of the Shares and the ownership, disposition or voting of the Shares by the Investors or the exercise of any right granted to the Investors pursuant to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
4.6. Delivery of SEC Filings; Business. The Company has made available to the Investors through the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (the EDGAR system), true and complete copies of the SEC Filings. The Company has made all filings required to be made pursuant to the 1934 Act. The Company is engaged in all material respects only in the business described in the SEC Filings and the SEC Filings contain a complete and accurate description in all material respects of the business of the Company.
4.7. Use of Proceeds. The net proceeds of the sale of the Shares hereunder shall be used by the Company for working capital and general corporate purposes.
4.8. No Material Adverse Change. Since September 30, 2018, except as specifically set forth in a subsequent SEC Filing filed at least one Trading Day prior to the date hereof, (i) there has not been any event, occurrence, development or condition of any character that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) there have not been any changes in the authorized capital, assets, liabilities, financial condition, business, Material Contracts or operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that reflected in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except for any such changes in the ordinary course of business which have not had or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (iii) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders. No material event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists, or is reasonably expected to occur or exist, with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable Law that has not been publicly disclosed. Since September 30, 2018, the Company has not admitted in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, filed or consented to the filing against it of a petition in bankruptcy or a petition to take advantage of any insolvency act, made an assignment for the benefit of creditors, consented to the appointment of a receiver for itself or for the whole or any substantial part of its property, or had a petition in bankruptcy filed against it, been adjudicated a bankrupt, or filed a petition or answer seeking reorganization or arrangement under the federal bankruptcy laws or any other laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction.
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4.9. SEC Filings.
(a) The Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act, for the one year preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material). At the time of filing thereof, such SEC Filings complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act or 1934 Act, as applicable, and, as of their respective dates, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters received from the SEC or its staff.
(b) Each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act, as of its issue date and as of the closing of any sale of securities pursuant thereto, did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.10. No Conflict, Breach, Violation or Default. The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents by the Company and the issuance and sale of the Shares in accordance with the provisions thereof will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of (a) any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Companys Articles of Association, both as in effect on the date hereof (true and complete copies of which have been made available to the Investors through the EDGAR system), or (b) assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties in Section 5, any applicable statute, rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or its Subsidiaries, or any of their assets or properties, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract, except, in the case of clauses (i)(b) and (ii) only, for such violations, conflicts or defaults as have not and would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. This Section does not relate to matters with respect to tax status, which are the subject of Section 4.12, and environmental laws, which are the subject of Section 4.16.
4.11. Compliance. The Company is not (i) in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company under), nor has the Company received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties
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is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or governmental body or (iii) in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
4.12. Tax Matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns required to have been filed by the Company or its Subsidiaries with all appropriate governmental agencies and have paid all taxes shown thereon or otherwise owed by them. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 4.18 below in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or its Subsidiaries has not been finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no material tax liens or claims pending, or to the Companys Knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective material assets or properties.
4.13. Title to Properties. Except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens, encumbrances and defects, except such as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, the Company and its Subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance and with no exceptions, except such as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.14. Certificates, Authorities and Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where failure to so possess would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or its Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.15. Intellectual Property. Except as expressly contemplated by the SEC Filings, the Company and its Subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, the patents and patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names and trade secrets described in the SEC Filings as necessary or material for use in connection with its business and which the failure to so have would have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the Intellectual Property Rights). There is no pending or, to the Companys Knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by any Person that the Companys business or the business of its Subsidiaries as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other
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proprietary rights of another. To the Companys Knowledge, there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights that would have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of its Intellectual Property Rights, except where failure to do so would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All material licenses or other material agreements under which the Company is granted Intellectual Property Rights are in full force and effect and, to the Companys knowledge, there is no material default by any other party thereto, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no reason to believe that the licensors under such licenses and other agreements do not have and did not have all requisite power and authority to grant the rights to the Intellectual Property Rights purported to be granted thereby. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Transaction Documents will not result in the alteration, loss, impairment of or restriction on the Companys or any of its Subsidiaries ownership or right to use any Intellectual Property Rights that is material to the conduct of the Companys business as currently conducted.
4.16. Environmental Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, Environmental Laws), has released any hazardous substances regulated by Environmental Law on to any real property that it owns or operates, or has received any written notice or claim it is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws; and to the Companys Knowledge, there is no pending or threatened investigation that would reasonably be expected to lead to such a claim.
4.17. Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the SEC Filings, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may reasonably be expected to become a party or to which any property of the Company is or may reasonably be expected to become the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or its Subsidiaries, could (i) reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) adversely affect or challenge the legality, validity or enforceability of the Transaction Documents. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Companys Knowledge, any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any action involving a judicially filed claim of violation of or liability under U.S. federal, state or foreign securities laws or a judicially filed claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the Companys Knowledge, there is not pending or threatened, any investigation by the SEC involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The SEC has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act.
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4.18. Financial Statements. The financial statements included in each SEC Filing comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing (or to the extent corrected by a subsequent restatement) and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of the dates shown and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, subject in the case of unaudited financial statements to normal, immaterial year-end audit adjustments, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (GAAP) (except as may be disclosed therein or in the notes thereto, and except that the unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and, in the case of quarterly financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q under the 1934 Act).
4.19. Compliance with Nasdaq Continued Listing Requirements. The Company is in compliance with applicable Nasdaq continued listing requirements. There are no proceedings pending or, to the Companys Knowledge, threatened against the Company relating to the continued listing of the Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq and the Company has not received any notice of, nor to the Companys Knowledge is there any reasonable basis for, the delisting of the Ordinary Shares from Nasdaq.
4.20. Brokers and Finders. Other than the Placement Agents, no Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or an Investor for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company. No Investor shall have any obligation with respect to any fees, or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees, in each case of the type contemplated by this Section 4.20 that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Transaction Documents.
4.21. No Directed Selling Efforts or General Solicitation. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any Person acting on its behalf has conducted any general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Regulation D (Regulation D) promulgated under the 1933 Act) in connection with the offer or sale of any of the Shares. The Company has offered the Shares for sale only to the Investors and certain other accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the 1933 Act.
4.22. No Integrated Offering. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any Person acting on its behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any Company security or solicited any offers to buy any Company security, under circumstances that would adversely affect reliance by the Company on Section 4(a)(2) for the exemption from registration for the transactions contemplated hereby or would require registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act.
4.23. Private Placement. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Investors set forth in Section 5, the offer and sale of the Shares to the Investors as contemplated hereby is exempt from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The issuance and sale of the shares does not contravene the rules and regulations of Nasdaq.
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4.24. No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
4.25. Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the Anti-Money Laundering Laws) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
4.26. No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, or affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a specially designated national or blocked person), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majestys Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions), nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, and the Crimea Region of the Ukraine (each, a Sanctioned Country); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person
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or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) 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. For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
4.27. Transactions with Affiliates. Except as disclosed in the SEC Filings, none of the executive officers or directors of the Company or its Subsidiaries and, to the Companys Knowledge, none of the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries is presently a party to any transaction with the Company (other than as holders of stock options and/or warrants, and for services as employees, officers and directors) that is required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the 1933 Act.
4.28. Internal Controls. The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the 1934 Act), which are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to the Companys principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities. Since the end of the Companys most recent audited fiscal year, there have been no significant deficiencies or material weakness in the Companys internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and no change in the Companys internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting. The Company is not aware of any change in its internal controls over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
4.29. Required Filings. Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the acquisition of the Shares contemplated hereby, no event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or its business, properties, operations or financial condition, which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly announced or disclosed (assuming for this purpose that the SEC Filings are being incorporated by reference into an effective registration statement filed by the Company under the 1933 Act).
4.30. Investment Company. The Company is not required to be registered as, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately following the Closing will not be required to register as, an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
4.31. Tests and Preclinical and Clinical Trials. The studies, tests and preclinical and clinical trials conducted by or, to the Companys Knowledge, on behalf of the Company that are described in the SEC Filings were and, if still pending, are being, conducted in all material respects in accordance with the protocols submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) or any foreign governmental body exercising comparable authority, procedures and
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controls pursuant to, where applicable, accepted professional and scientific standards, and all applicable laws and regulations; the descriptions of the studies, tests and preclinical and clinical trials conducted by or, to the Companys Knowledge, on behalf of the Company, and the results thereof, contained in the SEC Filings are accurate and complete in all material respects; the Company is not aware of any other studies, tests or preclinical and clinical trials, the results of which call into question the results described in the SEC Filings; and the Company has not received any notices or correspondence from the FDA, any foreign, state or local governmental body exercising comparable authority or any Institutional Review Board requiring the termination, suspension, material modification or clinical hold of any studies, tests or preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of the Company.
4.32. Labor. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is bound by or subject to any collective bargaining agreement or any similar agreement with any organization representing its employees. No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries exists or, to the Companys Knowledge, is threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers or contractors, that could have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as contemplated in the Company SEC Filings.
4.33. Passive Foreign Investment Company; Controlled Foreign Company. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries will be deemed to constitute a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of 26 USC §1297(a) or a controlled foreign company within the meaning of 26 USC §957.
4.34. Regulation M Compliance. The Company has not, and to the Companys Knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Shares, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.
4.35. No Disqualification Events. With respect to the Shares to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506 under the 1933 Act, none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering hereunder, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Companys outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an Issuer Covered Person and, together, Issuer Covered Persons) is subject to any of the Bad Actor disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a Disqualification Event), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Purchasers a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.
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4.36. Other Covered Persons. Other than the Placement Agents, the Company is not aware of any person (other than any Issuer Covered Person) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of any Shares.
4.37. Notice of Disqualification Events. The Company will notify the Investors in writing, prior to the Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person.
4.38. Full Disclosure. The written materials delivered to the Investors in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, when considered together with the SEC filings, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company understands and confirms that the Investors will rely on the foregoing representations in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.
5. Representations and Warranties of the Investors. Each of the Investors hereby severally, and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company that:
5.1. Organization and Existence. Such Investor is a validly existing corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company and has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company power and authority to enter into and consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and to invest in the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
5.2. Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by such Investor of the Transaction Documents to which such Investor is a party have been duly authorized and each has been duly executed and when delivered will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable against such Investor in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability, relating to or affecting creditors rights generally.
5.3. Purchase Entirely for Own Account. The Shares to be received by such Investor hereunder will be acquired for such Investors own account, not as nominee or agent, and not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in violation of the 1933 Act, and such Investor has no present intention of selling, granting any participation in, or otherwise distributing the same in violation of the 1933 Act without prejudice, however, to such Investors right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Shares in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed a representation or warranty by such Investor to hold the Shares for any period of time. Such Investor is not a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the 1934 Act or an entity engaged in a business that would require it to be so registered.
5.4. Investment Experience. Such Investor acknowledges that it can bear the economic risk and complete loss of its investment in the Shares and has such knowledge and experience in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment contemplated hereby.
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5.5. Disclosure of Information. Such Investor has had an opportunity to receive, review and understand all information related to the Company requested by it and to ask questions of and receive answers from the Company regarding the Company, its business and the terms and conditions of the offering of the Shares, and has conducted and completed its own independent due diligence. Such Investor acknowledges receipt of copies of the SEC Filings. Based on the information such Investor has deemed appropriate, and without reliance upon the Placement Agents, it has independently made its own analysis and decision to enter into the Transaction Documents. Such Investor is relying exclusively on its own sources of information, investment analysis and due diligence (including professional advice it deems appropriate) with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, the Shares and the business, condition (financial and otherwise), management, operations, properties and prospects of the Company, including but not limited to all business, legal, regulatory, accounting, credit and tax matters. Neither such inquiries nor any other due diligence investigation conducted by such Investor shall modify, limit or otherwise affect such Investors right to rely on the Companys representations and warranties contained in this Agreement.
5.6. Restricted Securities. Such Investor understands that the Shares are characterized as restricted securities under the U.S. federal securities laws inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable regulations such securities may be resold without registration under the 1933 Act only in certain limited circumstances.
5.7. Legends. It is understood that, except as provided below, certificates evidencing the Shares may bear the following or any similar legend:
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED UNLESS (I) SUCH SECURITIES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED FOR SALE PURSUANT TO THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, (II) SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 OR OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION, OR (III) THE COMPANY HAS RECEIVED AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO IT THAT SUCH TRANSFER MAY LAWFULLY BE MADE WITHOUT REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED.
If required by the authorities of any state in connection with the issuance of sale of the Shares, the legend required by such state authority.
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5.8. Accredited Investor. Such Investor is (a) an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the 1933 Act and (b) an Institutional Account as defined in FINRA Rule 4512(c) and has executed and delivered to the Company a questionnaire in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the Investor Questionnaire), which such Investor represents and warrants is true, correct and complete. Such investor is a sophisticated institutional investor with sufficient knowledge and experience in investing in private equity transactions to properly evaluate the risks and merits of its purchase of the Shares. Such Investor has determined based on its own independent review and such professional advice as it deems appropriate that its purchase of the Shares and participation in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (i) are fully consistent with its financial needs, objectives and condition, (ii) comply and are fully consistent with all investment policies, guidelines and other restrictions applicable to such Investor, (iii) have been duly authorized and approved by all necessary action, (iv) do not and will not violate or constitute a default under such Investors charter, bylaws or other constituent document or under any law, rule, regulation, agreement or other obligation by which such Investor is bound and (v) are a fit, proper and suitable investment for such Investor, notwithstanding the substantial risks inherent in investing in or holding the Shares.
5.9. Placement Agents. Such Investor hereby acknowledges and agrees that (a) each Placement Agent is acting solely as placement agent in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents and is not acting as an underwriter or in any other capacity and is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary for such Investor, the Company or any other person or entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, (b) neither of the Placement Agents has made and will not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character and has not provided any advice or recommendation in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, (c) neither of the Placement Agent has any responsibility with respect to (i) any representations, warranties or agreements made by any person or entity under or in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents, or the execution, legality, validity or enforceability (with respect to any person) thereof, or (ii) the business, affairs, financial condition, operations, properties or prospects of, or any other matter concerning the Company, and (d) neither of the Placement Agents will have any liability or obligation (including without limitation, for or with respect to any losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses or disbursements incurred by such Investor, the Company or any other person or entity), whether in contract, tort or otherwise, to such Investor, or to any person claiming through it, in respect of the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents.
5.10. No General Solicitation. Such Investor did not learn of the investment in the Shares as a result of any general solicitation or general advertising.
5.11. Brokers and Finders. No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or an Investor for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of such Investor.
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5.12. Short Sales and Confidentiality Prior to the Date Hereof. Other than consummating the transactions contemplated hereunder, such Investor has not, nor has any Person acting on behalf of or pursuant to any understanding with such Investor, directly or indirectly executed any purchases or sales, including Short Sales, of the securities of the Company during the period commencing as of the time that such Investor was first contacted by the Company, the Placement Agents or any other Person regarding the transactions contemplated hereby and ending immediately prior to the date hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Investor that is a multi-managed investment vehicle whereby separate portfolio managers manage separate portions of such Investors assets and the portfolio managers have no direct knowledge of the investment decisions made by the portfolio managers managing other portions of such Investors assets, the representation set forth above shall only apply with respect to the portion of assets managed by the portfolio manager that made the investment decision to purchase the Shares covered by this Agreement. Other than to other Persons party to this Agreement and their respective authorized representatives and advisors, such Investor has maintained the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for avoidance of doubt, nothing contained herein shall constitute a representation or warranty, or preclude any actions, with respect to the identification of the availability of, or securing of, available shares to borrow in order to effect Short Sales or similar transactions in the future.
5.13. No Government Recommendation or Approval. Such Investor understands that no United States federal or state agency, or similar agency of any other country, has reviewed, approved, passed upon, or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Company or the purchase of the Shares.
5.14. No Intent to Effect a Change of Control; Ownership. Such Investor has no present intent to effect a change of control of the Company as such term is understood under the rules promulgated pursuant to Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act and under the rules of Nasdaq. Except as set forth in its selling shareholder questionnaire that has been has executed and delivered to the Company in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the Selling Shareholder Questionnaire), which such Investor represents and warrants is true, correct and complete, as of the date hereof, neither the Investor nor any of its Affiliates is the owner of record or the beneficial owner of Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares.
5.15. No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Investor of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by such Investor of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Investor or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Investor is a party, or (iii) to such Investors knowledge, result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Investor, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Investor to perform its obligations hereunder.
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5.16. No Rule 506 Disqualifying Activities. Such Investor has not taken any of the actions set forth in, and is not subject to, the disqualification provisions of Rule 506(d)(1) of the 1933 Act.
5.17. Residency. Such Investor is a resident of the jurisdiction specified below its address on the Schedule of Investors.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in this Section 5 shall not modify, amend or affect such Investors right to rely on the Companys representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
6. Conditions to Closing.
6.1. Conditions to the Investors Obligations. The obligation of each Investor to purchase Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Investors satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by such Investor (as to itself only):
(a) The representations and warranties made by the Company in Section 4 hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (or to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of the date hereof and on the Closing Date, except to the extent any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation or warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants herein required to be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) The Company shall have obtained any and all consents, permits, approvals, registrations and waivers necessary for consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, all of which shall be in full force and effect.
(c) The Company shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement.
(d) The Company shall have filed with Nasdaq a Notification Form: Listing of Additional Shares for the listing of the Shares, a copy of which shall have been provided to the Investors.
(e) No judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of or by any court, or judge, justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court or judge, or any order of or by any governmental authority, shall have been issued, and no action or proceeding shall have been instituted by any governmental authority, enjoining or preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or in the other Transaction Documents.
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(f) There shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof.
(g) The Company shall have delivered to the Investors a Certificate, executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer or its Chief Financial Officer, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in subsections (a), (b), (d), (e), (f) and (j) of this Section 6.1.
(h) The Company shall have delivered to the Investors a Certificate, executed on behalf of the Company by its Chief Operating Officer, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company approving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the issuance of the Shares, certifying the current versions of the Articles of Association of the Company and certifying as to the signatures and authority of persons signing the Transaction Documents and related documents on behalf of the Company.
(i) The Investors shall have received an opinion from each of Latham & Watkins LLP, United States counsel for the Company, and Walkers, Cayman Islands counsel for the Company, and dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Placement Agents and the Investors and addressing such legal matters as the Investors may reasonably request.
(j) No stop order or suspension of trading shall have been imposed by Nasdaq, the SEC or any other governmental or regulatory body with respect to public trading in the Ordinary Shares.
(k) The Companys directors and officers shall have executed and delivered customary lock-up agreements for a period of 90 days, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Investors and the Placement Agents.
6.2. Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The Companys obligation to sell and issue Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment to the satisfaction of the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:
(a) The representations and warranties made by the Investors in Section 5 hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects when made, and shall be true and correct in all material respects on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if they had been made on and as of said date. The Investors shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and covenants herein required to be performed by them on or prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Each Investor shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement, an Investor Questionnaire and a Selling Shareholder Questionnaire.
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(c) Any Investor purchasing Shares at the Closing shall have paid in full its Subscription Amount to the Company.
6.3. Termination of Obligations to Effect Closing; Effects.
(a) The obligations of the Company, on the one hand, and the Investors, on the other hand, to effect the Closing shall terminate as follows:
(i) Upon the mutual written consent of the Company and Investors that agreed to purchase 55% of the Shares to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement;
(ii) By the Company if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2 shall have become incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been waived by the Company; or
(iii) By an Investor (with respect to itself only) if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 shall have become incapable of fulfillment, and shall not have been waived by the Investor;
provided, however, that, except in the case of clause (i) above, the party seeking to terminate its obligation to effect the Closing shall not then be in breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents if such breach has resulted in the circumstances giving rise to such partys seeking to terminate its obligation to effect the Closing.
(b) In the event of termination by the Company or any Investor of its obligations to effect the Closing pursuant to this Section 6.3, written notice thereof shall be given to the other Investors by the Company and the other Investors shall have the right to terminate their obligations to effect the Closing upon written notice to the Company and the other Investors. Nothing in this Section 6.3 shall be deemed to release any party from any liability for any breach by such party of the terms and provisions of this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents or to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.
7. Covenants and Agreements of the Company.
7.1. Reports. The Company will furnish to the Investors and/or their assignees such information relating to the Company as from time to time may reasonably be requested by the Investors and/or their assignees; provided, however, that the Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Investors, or to advisors to or representatives of the Investors, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Investors, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and any Investor wishing to obtain such information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.
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7.2. No Conflicting Agreements. The Company will not take any action, enter into any agreement or make any commitment that would conflict or interfere in any material respect with the Companys obligations to the Investors under the Transaction Documents.
7.3. Form D; Blue Sky Filings. The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Shares as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of an Investor. The Company shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Shares for, sale to each Investor at the Closing under applicable securities or Blue Sky laws of the states of the United States, and shall provide evidence of such actions promptly upon request of such Investor.
7.4. Reporting Status. The Company shall timely file all reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to the 1934 Act, and the Company shall not terminate its status as an issuer required to file reports under the 1934 Act even if the 1934 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder would otherwise permit such termination.
7.5. Compliance with Laws. The Company will comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of all governmental authorities.
7.6. Nasdaq Listing. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to continue the listing and trading of its Ordinary Shares on Nasdaq and, in accordance, therewith, will use commercially reasonable efforts to comply in all respects with the Companys reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of such market or exchange, as applicable.
7.7. Termination of Covenants. The provisions of Sections 7.1 through 7.5 shall terminate and be of no further force and effect on the date on which the Companys obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement to register or maintain the effectiveness of any registration covering the Registrable Securities (as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) shall terminate.
7.8. Removal of Legends. In connection with any sale or disposition of the Shares by an Investor pursuant to Rule 144 or pursuant to any other exemption under the 1933 Act such that the purchaser acquires freely tradable shares and upon compliance by the Investor with the requirements of this Agreement, if requested by the Investor, the Company shall cause the transfer agent for the Ordinary Shares (the Transfer Agent) to timely remove any restrictive legends related to the book entry account holding such Shares and make a new, unlegended entry for such book entry Shares sold or disposed of without restrictive legends, provided that the Company has received customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company in connection therewith. Subject to receipt by the Company of customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company in connection therewith, upon the earlier of such time as the Shares (i) have been registered under the 1933 Act pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) have been sold pursuant to Rule 144, or (iii) are eligible for resale under Rule 144(b)(1) or any successor provision, the Company shall (A) deliver to the Transfer Agent irrevocable instructions that the Transfer Agent
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shall make a new, unlegended entry for such book entry Shares, and (B) cause its counsel to deliver to the Transfer Agent one or more opinions to the effect that the removal of such legends in such circumstances may be effected under the 1933 Act. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its Transfer Agent and all DTC fees associated with such issuance.
7.9. Subsequent Equity Sales.
(a) From the date hereof until ninety (90) days after the Closing Date, without the consent of the Required Investors, the Company shall not (A) issue Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Shares Equivalents or (B) file with the SEC a registration statement under the 1933 Act relating to any Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Share Equivalents except pursuant to the terms of agreements to which the Company is currently a party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 7.8(a) shall not apply to (i) the issuance of the Shares hereunder, (ii) the issuance of Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Shares Equivalents upon the conversion or exercise of any securities of the Company outstanding on the date hereof or outstanding pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) below, (iii) the issuance of any Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Shares Equivalents pursuant to any Company stock-based compensation plans duly adopted for such purpose, by a majority of the non-employee members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the members of a committee of non-employee directors established for such purpose for services rendered to the Company, (iv) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register the offer and sale of securities on a newly adopted stock-based compensation plan or (v) the issuance of any Ordinary Shares or Ordinary Shares Equivalents in connection with a transaction with an unaffiliated third party that includes a bona fide commercial relationship with the Company (including any joint venture, marketing or distribution arrangement, strategic alliance, collaboration agreement or corporate partnering, intellectual property license agreement or acquisition agreement with the Company); provided, however, that the aggregate number of Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to clause (v) during the ninety (90) day restricted period shall not exceed 10% of the total number of Ordinary Shares issued and outstanding immediately following the Closing.
(b) The Company shall not, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that no Affiliate of the Company shall, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the 1933 Act) that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares in a manner that would require the registration under the 1933 Act of the sale of the Shares to the Investors, or that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Shares for purposes of the rules and regulations of any trading market such that it would require shareholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless shareholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.
7.10. Fees. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agent fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Investor) relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, any fees or commissions payable to the Placement Agents.
7.11. Short Sales and Confidentiality After the Date Hereof. Each Investor covenants that neither it nor any Affiliates acting on its behalf or pursuant to any understanding with it will execute any Short Sales during the period from the date hereof until the earlier of
22
such time as (i) after the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are first publicly announced or (ii) this Agreement is terminated in full. Each Investor covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company, such Investor will maintain the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction). Each Investor understands and acknowledges that the SEC currently takes the position that coverage of short sales of shares of the Ordinary Shares against the box prior to effectiveness of a resale registration statement with securities included in such registration statement would be a violation of Section 5 of the 1933 Act, as set forth in Item 239.10 of the 1933 Act Rules Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations compiled by the Office of Chief Counsel, Division of Corporation Finance.
7.12. Passive Foreign Investment Company; Controlled Foreign Corporation. Not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of Companys fiscal year, the Company will determine whether it and each of its Subsidiaries constitutes a passive foreign investment company (a PFIC) or a controlled foreign corporation (a CFC) as defined for U.S. tax purposes for such fiscal year and if Company determines it is a PFIC or CFC, will so advise each Investor. For each fiscal year of the Company, commencing with the first fiscal year for which it is determined to be a PFIC, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall no later than ninety (90) days after the end of such fiscal year, furnish each Investor with all information necessary for them to make a qualified electing fund (QEF) election, including (i) a PFIC Annual Information Statement under Section 1295(b) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the Code) and (ii) all information necessary for it to complete IRS Form 8621 (or a successor form). All information shall be provided in English. The Company will obtain the advice of one of the big four accounting firms to make the determinations and provide the information and statements as described in this paragraph.
8. Survival and Indemnification.
8.1. Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for the applicable statute of limitations.
8.2. Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and its Affiliates and their respective directors, officers, trustees, members, managers, employees and agents, and their respective successors and assigns, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, including without limitation reasonable attorney fees and disbursements and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any action, claim or proceeding, pending or threatened and the costs of enforcement thereof (collectively, Losses), to which such Person may become subject as a result of or relating to (a) any breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement made by or to be performed on the part of the Company under the Transaction Documents or (b) any action instituted against the Investor or its Affiliates by any stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of such Investor, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (unless such action is based upon a breach of such Investors representations, warranties or covenants under the Transaction Documents or any conduct by such Investor or its Affiliates which constitutes fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or malfeasance), and will reimburse any such Person for all such amounts as they are incurred by such Person.
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8.3. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further, that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for such indemnified party. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation. No indemnified party will, except with the consent of the indemnifying party, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any cause of action or similar right of any Investor or its Affiliates against the Company or others and any liabilities the Company may be subject to pursuant to law.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by a party hereto without the prior written consent of the Company or the Investors, as applicable, provided, however, that an Investor may assign its rights and delegate its duties hereunder in whole or in part to an Affiliate or to a third party acquiring some or all of its Shares in a transaction complying with applicable securities laws without the prior written consent of the Company or the other Investors, provided such assignee agrees in writing to be bound by the provisions hereof that apply to Investors. The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar business combination transaction in which the Ordinary Shares are converted into the equity securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed to have assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, the term Company shall be deemed
24
to refer to such Person and the term Shares shall be deemed to refer to the securities received by the Investors in connection with such transaction. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective permitted successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
9.2. Counterparts; Faxes; E-mail. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile or e-mail, which shall be deemed an original.
9.3. Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
9.4. Notices. Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given as hereinafter described (i) if given by personal delivery, then such notice shall be deemed given upon such delivery, (ii) if given by facsimile, then such notice shall be deemed given upon receipt of confirmation of complete transmittal, (iii) if given by mail, then such notice shall be deemed given upon the earlier of (A) receipt of such notice by the recipient or (B) three days after such notice is deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, and (iv) if given by an internationally recognized overnight air courier, then such notice shall be deemed given one Business Day after delivery to such carrier. All notices shall be addressed to the party to be notified at the address as follows, or at such other address as such party may designate by ten days advance written notice to the other party:
If to the Company:
MeiraGTx Holdings plc
430 East 29th Street, 10th Floor
New York, New York 10016
Attn: Rich Giroux
With a copy to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
200 Clarendon Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Attn: Peter N. Handrinos, Esq.
If to the Investors:
to the addresses set forth on the signature pages hereto.
9.5. Expenses. At the Closing, the Company has agreed to reimburse Johnson & Johnson Innovation-JJDC, Inc. up to $35,000 for its legal fees and expenses. Except as set forth herein to the contrary, the parties hereto shall pay their own costs and expenses in
25
connection herewith regardless of whether the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated; it being understood that each of the Company and each Investor has relied on the advice of its own respective counsel. In the event that legal proceedings are commenced by any party to this Agreement against another party to this Agreement in connection with this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents, the party or parties which do not prevail in such proceedings shall severally, but not jointly, pay their pro rata share of the reasonable attorneys fees and other reasonable documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the prevailing party in such proceedings.
9.6. Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and (a) prior to the Closing, Investors that agreed to purchase 55% of the Shares to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement and (b) following the Closing, the Required Investors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may not be amended and the observance of any term of this Agreement may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor unless such amendment or waiver applies to all Investors in the same fashion. No consideration (including any modification of any Transaction Document) shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the parties to this Agreement. For clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Investor by the Company and negotiated separately by each Investor, and is intended for the Company to treat the Investors as a class and shall not in any way be construed as the Investors acting in concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of Shares or otherwise. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this paragraph shall be binding upon (i) prior to Closing, each Investor and (ii) following the Closing, each holder of any Shares purchased under this Agreement at the time outstanding, and in each case, each future holder of all such Shares and the Company.
9.7. Publicity. Except as set forth below, no public release or announcement concerning the transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued by the Investors without the prior written consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), except as such release or announcement may be required by law or the applicable rules or regulations of any securities exchange or securities market, in which case the Investors shall allow the Company, to the extent reasonably practicable in the circumstances, reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Investor may identify the Company and the value of such Investors security holdings in the Company in accordance with applicable investment reporting and disclosure regulations or internal policies without prior notice to or consent from the Company. The Company shall not include the name of any Investor or any Affiliate or investment adviser of such Investor in any press release or public announcement (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include any SEC Filing to the extent such disclosure is required by SEC rules and regulations) without the prior written consent of such Investor. By 8:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the trading day immediately following the date this Agreement is executed, the Company shall issue a press release disclosing all material terms of transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the Press Release). No later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the first trading day following the Closing Date, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K attaching the press release
26
described in the foregoing sentence as well as copies of the Transaction Documents. In addition, the Company will make such other filings and notices in the manner and time required by the SEC or Nasdaq. The parties acknowledge that from and after the issuance of the Press Release, no Investor shall be in possession of any material, nonpublic information received from the Company or any of its respective officers, directors, employees or agents, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that is not disclosed in the Press Release. The Company shall not, and shall cause each of its officers, directors, employees and agents, not to, provide any Investor with any such material, nonpublic information regarding the Company from and after the filing of the Press Release without the express written consent of such Investor.
9.8. Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
9.9. Benefit of Agreement. Each of the Placement Agents is an intended third-party beneficiary of the representations and warranties of each Investor set forth in Section 5 of this Agreement.
9.10. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the signature pages, Exhibits, and the other Transaction Documents constitute the entire agreement among the parties hereof with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
9.11. Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.
9.12. Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in New York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court
27
has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
9.13. Independent Nature of Investors Obligations and Rights. The obligations of each Investor under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Investor, and no Investor shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Investor under any Transaction Document. The decision of each Investor to purchase Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such Investor independently of any other Investor. Nothing contained herein or in any Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Investor pursuant thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Investors as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Investors are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Investor acknowledges that no other Investor has acted as agent for such Investor in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Investor will be acting as agent of such Investor in connection with monitoring its investment in the Shares or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents. Each Investor shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Investor to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. The Company acknowledges that each of the Investors has been provided with the same Transaction Documents for the purpose of closing a transaction with multiple Investors and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Investor.
9.14. Limitation of Liability. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company acknowledges and agrees that the liability of an Investor arising directly or indirectly under any Transaction Document of any and every nature whatsoever shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of such Investor and that no trustee, officer, other investment vehicle or any other Affiliate of such Investor or any investor, shareholder or holder of shares of beneficial interest of such Investor shall be personally liable for any liabilities of such Investor.
[remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY: | MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC | |||||
By: | /s/ Richard Giroux | |||||
Name: Richard Giroux | ||||||
Title: Chief Operating Officer |
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INVESTOR: | JOHNSON & JOHNSON INNOVATION-JJDC, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ Asish K. Xavier | |||||
Name: Asish K. Xavier Title: Vice President, Venture Investments |
Investor Information | ||
Entity Name: | Johnson & Johnson Innovation JJDC, Inc. | |
Contact Person: | XXXX | |
Address: | 410 George Street, Suite 308 | |
City: | New Brunswick | |
State: | New Jersey | |
Zip Code: | 08901 | |
Telephone: | (XXX) XXX-XXXX | |
Facsimile: | ||
Email: | XXXX@XXXX.com | |
Copy of notices to: | XXXX XXXX Johnson & Johnson Innovation (JJDC) One Johnson & Johnson Plaza New Brunswick, NJ 08933 (XXX) XXX-XXXX XXXX@XXXX.com | |
Tax ID # or Social Security #: | XX-XXXXXXX | |
Name in which Shares should be issued: | Johnson & Johnson Innovation JJDC, Inc. |
30
INVESTOR: Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund LTD | ||||||
By: | /s/ James H. Mannix | |||||
Name: James H Mannix Title: C.O.O |
Investor Information | ||
Entity Name: | Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund LTD. | |
Contact Person: | XXXX | |
Address: | 51 Astor Place 10th Floor | |
City: | New York | |
State: | New York | |
Zip Code: | 10003 | |
Telephone: | (XXX) XXX-XXXX | |
Facsimile: | 646-205-5301 | |
Email: | XXXX@XXXX.com | |
Tax ID # or Social Security #: | XX-XXXXXXX | |
Name in which Shares should be issued: | Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund LTD |
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INVESTOR: 683 Capital Partners, LP | ||||||
By: | /s/ Ari Zweiman | |||||
Name: Ari Zweiman Title: Managing Member |
Investor Information | ||
Entity Name: | 683 Capital Partners, LP | |
Contact Person: | XXXX | |
Address: | 3 Columbus Circle, Ste 2205 | |
City: | New York | |
State: | New York | |
Zip Code: | 10019 | |
Telephone: | (XXX) XXX-XXXX | |
Facsimile: | ||
Email: | XXXX@XXXX.com | |
Tax ID # or Social Security #: | XX-XXXXXXX | |
Name in which Shares should be issued: | 683 Capital Partners, LP |
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INVESTOR: | OrbiMed Partners Master Fund Limited By: OrbiMed Capital LLC, Solely in its capacity as Investment Advisor | |||||
By: | /s/ Sven H. Borho | |||||
Name: Sven H. Borho Title: Managing Member |
Investor Information | ||
Entity Name: | OrbiMed Partners Master Fund Limited | |
Contact Person: | XXXX | |
Address: | 601 Lexington Avenue 54th FL | |
City: | New York | |
State: | NY | |
Zip Code: | 10022 | |
Telephone: | (XXX) XXX-XXXX | |
Facsimile: | ||
Email: | XXXX@XXXX.com | |
Tax ID # or Social Security #: | XX-XXXXXXX | |
Name in which Shares should be issued: | OrbiMed Partners Master Fund Limited |
33
INVESTOR: | The Biotech Growth Trust PLC By: OrbiMed Capital LLC, Solely in its capacity as Investment Manager | |||||
By: | /s/ Sven H. Borho | |||||
Name: Sven H. Borho Title: Managing Member |
Investor Information | ||
Entity Name: | The Biotech Growth Trust PLC | |
Contact Person: | XXXX | |
Address: | 601 Lexington Avenue 54th FL | |
City: | New York | |
State: | NY | |
Zip Code: | 10022 | |
Telephone: | (XXX) XXX-XXXX | |
Facsimile: | ||
Email: | XXXX@XXXX.com | |
Tax ID # or Social Security #: | XX-XXXXXXX | |
Name in which Shares should be issued: | The Biotech Growth Trust PLC |
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Schedule 4.3
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company is 1,288,327,750 ordinary shares.
(b) The number of issued and outstanding ordinary shares is 27,386,6321
(c) The number of shares of capital stock issuable pursuant to the Companys stock plan is 3,262,365 ordinary shares.
(d) None.
1 | Does not include (i) 22,500 ordinary shares reserved in escrow for issuance in connection with an acquisition or (ii) 158,832 ordinary shares the company is obligated to issue in connection with a license agreement. |
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EXHIBIT A
Schedule of Investors
Investor Name and Address |
Number of Shares to be Purchased |
Aggregate Purchase Price of Shares | ||
Johnson & Johnson Innovation-JJDC, Inc. |
2,898,550 | $39,999,990.00 | ||
Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund LTD |
1,304,348 | $18,000,002.40 | ||
OrbiMed Partners Master Fund Limited |
859,085 | $11,855,373.00 | ||
The Biotech Growth Trust PLC |
372,800 | $5,000,002.20 | ||
683 Capital Partners, LP |
362,319 | $5,000,002.20 |
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EXHIBIT B
Registration Rights Agreement
[Filed Separately]
37
EXHIBIT C
Form of Investor Questionnaire
38
APPENDIX I
INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE
To: MeiraGTx Holdings plc
This Investor Questionnaire (Questionnaire) must be completed by each potential investor in connection with the offer and sale of the ordinary shares, nominal value $0.00003881 per share (the Securities), of MeiraGTx Holdings plc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company). The Securities are being offered and sold by the Company in the United States without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and the securities laws of certain states, in reliance on the exemptions contained in Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and on Regulation D promulgated thereunder and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. The Company must determine that a potential investor meets certain suitability requirements before offering or selling the Securities to such investor. The purpose of this Questionnaire is to assure the Company that each investor will meet the applicable suitability requirements. The information supplied by you will be used in determining whether you meet such criteria, and reliance upon the private offering exemptions from registration is based in part on the information herein supplied.
This Questionnaire does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. By signing this Questionnaire, you will be authorizing the Company to provide a completed copy of this Questionnaire to such parties as the Company deems appropriate in order to ensure that the offer and sale of the Securities will not result in a violation of the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state and that you otherwise satisfy the suitability standards applicable to purchasers of the Securities. All potential investors must answer all applicable questions and complete, date and sign this Questionnaire. Please print or type your responses and attach additional sheets of paper if necessary to complete your answers to any item.
PART A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Name of Beneficial Owner of the Securities: |
Business Address: | ||||||||||
(Number and Street) |
City: | State: | Zip Code: |
Telephone Number: |
If a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity:
Type of entity: _________________________
Country/State of formation: _____________________ Approximate Date of formation: __________________
Were you formed for the purpose of investing in the securities being offered? Yes ☐ No ☐
If an individual:
Residence Address: | ||||||||||
(Number and Street) |
City: | State: | Zip Code: |
Telephone Number: |
Age: | Citizenship: | Where registered to vote: |
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Set forth in the space provided below the state(s), if any, in the United States in which you maintained your residence during the past two years and the dates during which you resided in each state:
Are you a director or executive officer of the Company? Yes ☐ No ☐
Social Security or Taxpayer Identification No.: ________________
PART B. ACCREDITED INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE
In order for the Company to offer and sell the Securities in conformance with state and federal securities laws, the following information must be obtained regarding your investor status. Please initial each category applicable to you as a purchaser of Securities of the Company.
☐ | (1) | A bank as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act, or any savings and loan association or other institution as defined in Section 3(a)(5)(A) of the Securities Act whether acting in its individual or fiduciary capacity; | ||
☐ | (2) | A broker or dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act); | ||
☐ | (3) | An insurance company as defined in Section 2(a)(13) of the Securities Act; | ||
☐ | (4) | An investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a business development company as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of that act; | ||
☐ | (5) | A Small Business Investment Company licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration under Section 301(c) or (d) of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958; | ||
☐ | (6) | A plan established and maintained by a state, its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of a state or its political subdivisions, for the benefit of its employees, if such plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000; | ||
☐ | (7) | An employee benefit plan within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, if the investment decision is made by a plan fiduciary, as defined in Section 3(21) of such act, which is either a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company or registered investment adviser, or if the employee benefit plan has total assets in excess of $5,000,000 or, if a self-directed plan, with investment decisions made solely by persons that are accredited investors; | ||
☐ | (8) | A private business development company as defined in Section 202(a)(22) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940; | ||
☐ | (9) | An organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, a corporation, Massachusetts or similar business trust, or partnership, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Securities, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000; | ||
☐ | (10) | A trust, with total assets in excess of $5,000,000, not formed for the specific purpose of acquiring the Securities, whose purchase is directed by a sophisticated person who has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that such person is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investing in the Corporation; |
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☐ | (11) | A natural person whose individual net worth, or joint net worth with that persons spouse, at the time of his purchase exceeds $1,000,000 (exclusive of the value of that persons primary residence); | ||
☐ | (12) | A natural person who had an individual income in excess of $200,000 in each of the two most recent years, or joint income with that persons spouse in excess of $300,000, in each of those years, and has a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year; | ||
☐ | (13) | An executive officer or director of the Company; | ||
☐ | (14) | An entity in which all of the equity owners qualify under any of the above subparagraphs. If the undersigned belongs to this investor category only, list the equity owners of the undersigned, and the investor category which each such equity owner satisfies. |
PART C. BAD ACTOR QUESTIONNAIRE
1. | During the past ten years, have you been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor that is related to any securities matter? |
Yes | ☐ | (If yes, please continue to Question 1.a) | ||
No | ☐ | (If no, please continue to Question 2) |
a) | If your answer to Question 1 was yes, was the conviction related to: (i) the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) the making of any false filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC); or (iii) the conduct of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
2. | Are you subject to any court injunction or restraining order entered during the past five years that is related to any securities matter? |
Yes | ☐ | (If yes, please continue to Question 2.a) | ||
No | ☐ | (If no, please continue to Question 3) |
a) | If your answer to Question 2 was yes, does the court injunction or restraining order currently restrain or enjoin you from engaging or continuing to engage in any conduct or practice related to: (i) the purchase or sale of any security; (ii) the making of any false filing with the SEC; or (iii) the conduct of an underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer, investment adviser or paid solicitor of purchasers of securities? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
41
3. | Are you subject to any final order1 of any governmental commission, authority, agency or officer2(2) related to any securities, insurance or banking matter? |
Yes | ☐ | (If yes, please continue to Question 3.a) | ||
No | ☐ | (If no, please continue to Question 4) |
a) | If your answer to Question 3 was yes: |
i) | Does the order currently bar you from: (i) associating with an entity regulated by such commission, authority, agency or officer; (ii) engaging in the business of securities, insurance or banking; or (iii) engaging in savings association or credit union activities? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
ii) | Was the order (i) entered within the past ten years and (ii) based on a violation of any law or regulation that prohibits fraudulent, manipulative or deceptive conduct? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
4. | Are you subject to any SEC disciplinary order?3(3) |
Yes | ☐ | (If yes, please continue to Question 4.a) | ||
No | ☐ | (If no, please continue to Question 5) |
a) | If your answer to Question 4 was yes, does the order currently: (i) suspend or revoke your registration as a broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment adviser; (ii) place limitations on your activities, functions or operations; or (iii) bar you from being associated with any particular entity or class of entities or from participating in the offering of any penny stock? |
5. | Are you subject to any SEC cease and desist order entered within the past five years? |
Yes | ☐ | (If yes, please continue to Question 5.a) | ||
No | ☐ | (If no, please continue to Question 6) |
a) | If your answer to Question 5 was yes, does the order currently require you to cease and desist from committing or causing a violation or future violation of (i) any knowledge-based anti-fraud provision of the U.S. federal securities laws4 or (ii) Section 5 of the Securities Act? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
1 | A final order is defined under Rule 501(g) as a written directive or declaratory statement issued by a federal or state agency described in Rule 506(d)(1)(iii) under applicable statutory authority that provides for notice and an opportunity for a hearing, and that constitutes a final disposition or action by such federal or state agency. |
2 | You may limit your response to final orders of: (i) state securities commissions (or state agencies/officers that perform a similar function); (ii) state authorities that supervise or examine banks, savings associations or credit unions; (iii) state insurance commissions (or state agencies/officers that perform a similar function); (iv) federal banking agencies; (v) the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission; or (vi) the U.S. National Credit Union Administration. |
3 | You may limit your response to disciplinary orders issued pursuant to Sections 15(b) or 15B(c) of the Exchange Act or Section 203(e) or (f) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act). |
4 | Including (but not limited to) Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Section 15(c)(1) of the Exchange Act, and Section 206(1) of the Advisers Act or any other rule or regulation thereunder. |
42
6. | Have you been suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from association with a member of, a registered national securities exchange or a registered national or affiliated securities association? |
Yes | ☐ | (If yes, please describe the basis of any such suspension or expulsion and any related details in the space provided under Question 10 below)5 | ||
No | ☐ | (If no, please continue to Question 7) |
7. | Have you registered a securities offering with the SEC, made an offering under Regulation A or been named as an underwriter in any registration statement or Regulation A offering statement filed with the SEC? |
Yes | ☐ | (If yes, please continue to Question 7.a) | ||
No | ☐ | (If no, please continue to Question 8) |
a) | If your answer to Question 7 was yes: |
i) | During the past five years, was any such registration statement or Regulation A offering statement the subject of a refusal order, stop order or order suspending the Regulation A exemption? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
ii) | Is any such registration statement or Regulation A offering statement currently the subject of an investigation or proceeding to determine whether a stop order or suspension order should be issued? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
8. | Are you subject to a U.S. Postal Service false representation order entered within the past five years? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
9. | Are you currently subject to a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction with respect to conduct alleged by the U.S. Postal Service to constitute a scheme or device for obtaining money or property through the mail by means of false representations? |
Yes ☐ No ☐
10. | In the space provided below, describe any facts or circumstances that caused you to answer yes to any Question (indicating the corresponding Question number). Attach additional pages if necessary. |
5 | In providing additional information, please explain whether or not the suspension or expulsion resulted from any act or omission to act constituting conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade. |
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A. | FOR EXECUTION BY AN INDIVIDUAL: |
By: |
Print Name: |
|
Date |
B. | FOR EXECUTION BY AN ENTITY: |
Entity Name: |
By: |
Print Name: |
Title: |
|
Date |
C. | ADDITIONAL SIGNATURES (if required by partnership, corporation or trust document): |
Entity Name: |
By: |
Print Name: |
Title: |
|
Date |
Entity Name: |
By: |
Print Name: |
Title: |
|
Date |
44
EXHIBIT D
Form of Selling Shareholder Questionnaire
45
APPENDIX II
SELLING SHAREHOLDER NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE
|
Name of Selling Shareholder (please print) |
MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC
QUESTIONNAIRE FOR SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
IMPORTANT: IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED
This Questionnaire is being furnished to all persons or entities (the Investors) electing to purchase ordinary shares, nominal value $0.00003881 per share (Ordinary Shares), of MeiraGTx Holdings plc, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company) pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (the Purchase Agreement) to which this Questionnaire is an Appendix. This Questionnaire relates to certain information required to be disclosed in the registration statement (the Registration Statement) to be prepared by the Company for filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement entered into by and among the Company and the Investors (the Registration Rights Agreement) in connection with the Purchase Agreement. The Company must receive a completed Questionnaire from each Investor in order to include such Investors Ordinary Shares in the Registration Statement.
The furnishing of accurate and complete responses to the questions posed in this Questionnaire is an extremely important part of the registration process. The inclusion of inaccurate or incomplete disclosures in the Registration Statement can result in potential liabilities, both civil and criminal, to the Company and to the individuals who furnish the information. Accordingly, Investors are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement and related prospectus.
PLEASE GIVE A RESPONSE TO EVERY QUESTION, indicating None or Not Applicable where appropriate. Please complete, sign, and return one copy of this Questionnaire by facsimile, email or overnight courier as soon as possible.
Latham & Watkins LLP
885 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022-4834
Attn: Sandy Kugbei
Fax: 212.751.4864 sandy.kugbei@lw.com
Unless stated otherwise, answers should be given as of the date you complete this Questionnaire. However, it is your responsibility to inform us of any changes that may occur to your situation. If there is any situation about which you have any doubt, or if you are uncertain as to the meaning of any terms used in this Questionnaire, please contact John Miller at 617.880.4651 or john.miller@lw.com or N. Danny Shulman at 212.906.4797 or n.danny.shulman@lw.com.
46
PART I SHARE OWNERSHIP
Item 1. Beneficial Ownership.
a. Deemed Beneficial Ownership. Please state the amount of securities of the Company you own on the date you complete this Questionnaire. (If none, please so state in each case.)
Amount Beneficially Owned1 |
Number of Common Shares Owned | |
Please state the number of shares owned by you or by family members, trusts and other organizations with which you have a relationship, and any other shares of which you may be deemed to be the beneficial owner1:
Total Shares: | ||
| ||
Of such shares: | ||
Shares as to which you have sole voting power: |
||
| ||
Shares as to which you have shared voting power: |
||
| ||
Shares as to which you have sole investment power: |
||
| ||
Shares as to which you have shared investment power: |
||
| ||
Shares which you will have a right to acquire before 60 days after the date you complete this questionnaire through the exercise of options, warrants or otherwise: |
||
|
Do you have any present plans to exercise options, warrants or otherwise acquire, dispose of or to transfer Ordinary Shares of the Company between the date you complete this Questionnaire and the date which is 60 days after the date in which the Registration Statement is filed?
Answer:
If so, please describe.
b. Pledged Securities. If any of such securities have been pledged or otherwise deposited as collateral or are the subject matter of any voting trust or other similar agreement or of any contract providing for the sale or other disposition of such securities, please give the details thereof.
Answer:
c. Disclaimer of Beneficial Ownership. Do you wish to disclaim beneficial ownership1 of any of the shares reported in response to Item 1(a)?
Answer:
47
If the answer is Yes, please furnish the following information with respect to the person or persons who should be shown as the beneficial owner(s)1 of the shares in question.
Name and Address of Actual Beneficial Owner |
Relationship of Such Person To You |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
d. Shared Voting or Investment Power over Securities. Will any person be deemed to have beneficial ownership over any of the Securities purchased by you pursuant to the Purchase Agreement?
Answer:
If the answer is Yes, please furnish the following information with respect to the person or persons who should be shown as the beneficial owner(s)1 of the Securities in question.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner |
Relationship of Such Person To You |
Number of Shares Beneficially Owned |
Item 2. Major Shareholders. Please state below the names of persons or groups known by you to own beneficially1 more than 5% of the Companys Ordinary Shares.
Answer:
Item 3. Change of Control. Do you know of any contractual arrangements, including any pledge of securities of the Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Company?
Answer:
Item 4. Relationship with the Company. Please state the nature of any position, office or other material relationship you have, or have had within the past three years, with the Company or its affiliates.
Name |
Nature of Relationship |
Item 5. Broker-Dealer Status. Is the Investor a broker-dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)?
☐ Yes.
☐ No.
If so, please answer the remaining questions under this Item 5.
Note that the Company will be required to identify any registered broker-dealer as an underwriter in the Registration Statement and related prospectus.
48
a. If the Investor is a registered broker-dealer, please indicate whether the Investor purchased its Ordinary Shares for investment or acquired them as transaction-based compensation for investment banking or similar services.
Answer:
Note that if the Investor is a registered broker-dealer and received its Ordinary Shares other than as transaction-based compensation, the Company is required to identify the Investor as an underwriter in the Registration Statement and related prospectus.
b. Is the Investor an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer? For purposes of this Question, an affiliate of a specified person or entity means a person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person or entity specified.
☐ Yes.
☐ No.
If so, please answer questions (i)-(iii) below under this Item 5(b).
i. Please describe the affiliation between the Investor and any registered broker-dealers:
ii. If the Ordinary Shares were received by the Investor other than in the ordinary course of business, please describe the circumstances:
iii. If the Investor, at the time of its receipt of Ordinary Shares, has had any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Ordinary Shares, please describe such agreements or understandings:
Note that if the Investor is an affiliate of a broker-dealer and did not receive its Ordinary Shares in the ordinary course of business or at the time of receipt had any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, to distribute the securities, the Company must identify the Investor as an underwriter in the Registration Statement and related prospectus.
Item 6. Nature of Beneficial Holding. The purpose of this question is to identify the ultimate natural person(s) or publicly held entity that exercise(s) sole or shared voting or dispositive power over the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).
a. Is the Investor a natural person?
☐ Yes.
☐ No.
b. Is the Investor required to file, or is it a wholly owned subsidiary of a company that is required to file, periodic and other reports (for example, Form 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K) with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act?
☐ Yes.
☐ No.
49
c. Is the Investor an investment company, or a subsidiary of an investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended?
☐ Yes.
☐ No.
If a subsidiary, please identify the publicly held parent entity:
d. If you answered no to questions (a), (b) and (c) above, please identify the controlling person(s) of the Investor (the Controlling Entity). If the Controlling Entity is not a natural person or a publicly held entity, please identify each controlling person(s) of such Controlling Entity. This process should be repeated until you reach natural persons or a publicly held entity that exercises sole or shared voting or dispositive power over the Registrable Securities:
***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SEC REQUIRES THAT THESE NATURAL PERSONS BE NAMED IN THE PROSPECTUS***
50
PART II CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
Item 7. Transactions with the Company. If you, any of your associates2, or any member of your immediate family3 had or will have any direct or indirect material interest in any transactions4 or series of transactions to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries was a party at any time since January 1, 2016, or in any currently proposed transactions or series of transactions in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries will be a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, please specify (a) the names of the parties to the transaction(s) and their relationship to you, (b) the nature of the interest in the transaction, (c) the amount involved in the transaction, and (d) the amount of the interest in the transaction. If the answer is none, please so state.
Answer:
Item 8. Third Party Payments. Please describe any compensation paid to you by a third party pursuant to any arrangement between the Company and any such third party.
Answer:
51
PART III PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling shareholders and any of their pledgees, donees, transferees, assignees or other successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their ordinary shares or interests in the ordinary shares on any exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded or in private transactions. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. The selling shareholders may use one or more of the following methods when disposing of the shares or interests therein:
| ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| through brokers, dealers or underwriters that may act solely as agents; |
| purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| privately negotiated transactions; |
| through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions entered into after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
| a combination of any such methods of disposition; and |
| any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The selling shareholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 or Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Act, if available, or Section 4(a)(1) under the Securities Act, rather than under this prospectus.
Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the selling shareholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated. The selling shareholders do not expect these commissions and discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.
The selling shareholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the ordinary shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell ordinary shares from time to time under this prospectus, or under a supplement or amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act amending the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus.
Upon being notified in writing by a selling shareholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of ordinary shares through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, we will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such selling shareholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such ordinary shares were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In addition, upon being notified in writing by a selling shareholder that a donee or pledgee intends to sell more than 500 ordinary shares, we will file a supplement to this prospectus if then required in accordance with applicable securities law.
52
The selling shareholders also may transfer the ordinary shares in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
In connection with the sale of the ordinary shares or interests in ordinary shares, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the ordinary shares in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell ordinary shares short after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the ordinary shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).
The selling shareholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. The maximum commission or discount to be received by any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or independent broker-dealer will not be greater than 8% of the initial gross proceeds from the sale of any security being sold.
We have advised the selling shareholders that they are required to comply with Regulation M promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, during such time as they may be engaged in a distribution of the shares. The foregoing may affect the marketability of the ordinary shares.
The aggregate proceeds to the selling shareholders from the sale of the ordinary shares offered by them will be the purchase price of the ordinary shares less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling shareholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of ordinary shares to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.
We are required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the registration of the shares. We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or otherwise.
We have agreed with the selling shareholders to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective until the earlier of (a) such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with the registration statement, (b) such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been previously sold or transferred in accordance with Rule 144 of the Securities Act, or (c) the date on which the ordinary shares covered by this prospectus may be sold or transferred by non-affiliates without any volume or manner-of-sale restrictions and without current public information limitations pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
* * *
The undersigned has reviewed the form of Plan of Distribution set forth above and does not have a present intention of effecting a sale in a manner not described therein.
_____ Agree _____ Disagree
(If left blank, response will be deemed to be Agree.)
53
The undersigned hereby represents that the undersigned understands, pursuant to Interpretation A.65 in the Securities and Exchange Commission, Division of Corporation Finance, Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations dated July 1997, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 1, that the undersigned may not make any short sale of the Ordinary Shares prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and further covenants to the Company that the undersigned will not engage in any short sales of such shares to be registered under the Registration Statement prior to its effectiveness.
54
SIGNATURE
The undersigned understands that the Company anticipates filing the Registration Statement within the time frame set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement. If at any time any of the information set forth in the responses to this Questionnaire has materially changed due to passage of time (other than due to the receipt of the Ordinary Shares set forth opposite the undersigneds name in the Schedule of Investors in the Purchase Agreement), or any development occurs which requires a change in any of the answers, or has for any other reason become incorrect, the undersigned agrees to furnish as soon as practicable to the individual to whom a copy of this Questionnaire is to be sent, as indicated and at the address shown on the first page hereof, any necessary or appropriate correcting information. Otherwise, the Company is to understand that the above information continues to be, to the best of the undersigneds knowledge, information and belief, complete and correct.
Upon any sale of Ordinary Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement, the undersigned hereby agrees to deliver to the Company and the Companys transfer agent the Certificate of Subsequent Sale set forth in Exhibit I hereto.
The undersigned understands that the information that the undersigned is furnishing to the Company herein will be used by the Company in the preparation of the Registration Statement.
Name of Investor: | ||||||||||
Date: | , 2018 | Signature: |
Print Name: |
Title (if applicable): |
Address: |
Street | ||
Street | ||
City State Zip Code | ||
Telephone Number | ||
Email Address |
55
FOOTNOTES
1. | Beneficial Ownership. You are the beneficial owner of a security, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act), if you, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise have or share: (1) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security, and/or (2) investment power, which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, such security. You are also the beneficial owner of a security if you, directly or indirectly, create or use a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling arrangement or any other contract, arrangement or device with the purpose or effect of divesting yourself of beneficial ownership of a security or preventing the vesting of such beneficial ownership. |
You are deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if you have the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security at any time within 60 days including, but not limited to, any right to acquire such security (a) through the exercise of any option, warrant or right, (b) through the conversion of a security, or (c) pursuant to the automatic termination of, or the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account, or similar arrangement.
Ordinarily, shares held in the name of your spouse or minor child should be considered as beneficially owned by you absent special circumstances to indicate that you do not have, as a practical matter, voting power or investment power over such shares. Similarly, absent countervailing facts, securities held in the name of relatives who share your home are to be reported as being beneficially owned by you. In addition, securities held for your benefit in the name of others, such as nominees, trustees and other fiduciaries, securities held by a partnership of which you are a partner, and securities held by a corporation controlled by you should be regarded as beneficially owned by you.
This definition of beneficial ownership is very broad; therefore, even though you may not actually have or share voting or investment power with respect to securities owned by persons in your family or living in your home, you should include such shares in your beneficial ownership disclosure and may then disclaim beneficial ownership of such securities.
2. | Associate. The term associate, as defined in Rule 14a-1 under the Exchange Act, means (a) any corporation or organization (other than the Company or any of its majority owned subsidiaries) of which you are an officer or partner or are, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (b) any trust or other estate in which you have a substantial beneficial interest or as to which you serve as trustee or in a similar capacity, and (c) your spouse, or any relative of yours or relative of your spouse living in your home or who is a director or officer of the Company or of any subsidiary. The term relative of yours as used in this Questionnaire refers to any relative or spouse of yours, or any relative of such spouse, who has the same home as you or who is a director or officer of any subsidiary of the Company. |
Please identify your associate referred to in your answer and indicate your relationship.
3. | Immediate Family. The members of your immediate family are deemed to include the following: your spouse; your parents; your children; your siblings; your mother-in-law or father-in-law; your sons- and daughters-in-law; and your brothers- and sisters-in-law. |
4. | Transactions. The term transaction is to be understood in its broadest sense, and includes the direct or indirect receipt of anything of value. Please note that indirect as well as direct material interests in transactions are to be disclosed. Transactions in which you would have a direct interest would include your purchasing or leasing anything (shares in a business acquired by the Company, office space, plants, Company apartments, computers, raw materials, finished goods, etc.) from or selling or leasing anything to, or borrowing or lending cash or other property from or to, the Company, or any subsidiary. |
56
Exhibit 1
Securities Act Sections Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations Section 239.10: An issuer filed a Form S-3 registration statement for a secondary offering of common stock which is not yet effective. One of the selling shareholders wanted to do a short sale of common stock against the box and cover the short sale with registered shares after the effective date. The issuer was advised that the short sale could not be made before the registration statement becomes effective, because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold at the time such sale is made. There would, therefore, be a violation of Section 5 if the shares were effectively sold prior to the effective date.
57
Exhibit I
CERTIFICATE OF SUBSEQUENT SALE
Computershare Trust Company, N.A.
RE: | Sale of Ordinary Shares of MeiraGTx Holdings plc (the Company) pursuant to the Companys Prospectus dated _____________, ____ (the Prospectus) |
Dear Sir/Madam:
The undersigned hereby certifies, in connection with the sale of Ordinary Shares of the Company included in the table of Selling Shareholders in the Prospectus, that the undersigned has sold the shares pursuant to the Prospectus and in a manner described under the caption Plan of Distribution in the Prospectus and that such sale complies with all securities laws applicable to the undersigned, including, without limitation, the Prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Selling Shareholder (the beneficial owner): |
Record Holder (e.g., if held in name of nominee): |
Book Entry Position or Restricted Share Certificate No.(s): |
Number of Shares Sold: |
Date of Sale: |
In the event that you receive a share certificate(s) or evidence of a book entry position representing more Ordinary Shares than have been sold by the undersigned, then you should return to the undersigned a newly issued certificate or book entry position for such excess shares in the name of the Record Holder and BEARING A RESTRICTIVE LEGEND. Further, you should place a stop transfer on your records with regard to such certificate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the undersigned executes and delivers to you and to the Company the certification set forth on Annex I, upon instructions from the Company, you should return to the undersigned a newly issued certificate or book entry position for such excess Ordinary Shares in the name of the Record Holder without any restrictive legend. In addition, no subsequent certification will be required to be delivered to you by the undersigned provided that the representations and warranties set forth on Annex I have been delivered to you and continue to be accurate.
Very truly yours, |
Dated: | By: |
Print Name: | ||||||||
Title: |
cc: | MeiraGTx Holdings plc |
430 East 29th Street, 10th Floor
New York, NY
Attn: Rich Giroux
58
Annex I
In connection with any excess shares to be returned to the Selling Shareholder upon a sale of Ordinary Shares of MeiraGTx Holdings plc (the Company) included in the table of Selling Shareholders in the Prospectus, the undersigned hereby certifies to the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. that:
1. In connection with the sale by the undersigned shareholder of any of the Ordinary Shares, the undersigned shareholder will deliver a copy of the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement to the purchaser directly or through the undersigned shareholders broker-dealer in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2. Any such sale will be made only in the manner described under Plan of Distribution in the Prospectus.
3. The undersigned shareholder will only sell the Ordinary Shares while the Registration Statement is effective, unless another exemption from registration is available.
4. The Company and its attorneys may rely on this letter to the same extent as if it were addressed to them.
5. The undersigned shareholder agrees to notify you immediately of any development or occurrence which to his, her or its knowledge would render any of the foregoing representations and agreements inaccurate.
All terms not defined herein are as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement entered into in [ ], 2019 among the Company and the Investors.
Very truly yours, |
Dated: | By: |
Print Name: | ||||||||
Title: |
59
Exhibit 10.2
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is made and entered into as of February 26, 2019 by and among MeiraGTx Holdings plc, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company), and the Investors named in that certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Investors (the Purchase Agreement). Capitalized terms used herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.
The parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Certain Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Investors means the Investors identified in the Purchase Agreement and any Affiliate or permitted transferee of any Investor who is a subsequent holder of Registrable Securities.
Confidential Treatment Request means any confidential treatment request submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 1933 Act) relating to certain exhibits to be filed with the Registration Statement.
Prospectus means (i) the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and by all other amendments and supplements to the prospectus, including post-effective amendments and all material incorporated by reference in such prospectus, and (ii) any free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
Register, registered and registration refer to a registration made by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or similar document in compliance with the 1933 Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such Registration Statement or document.
Registrable Securities means (i) the Shares and (ii) any other securities issued or issuable as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of the Shares, whether by merger, charter amendment or otherwise; provided, that, a security shall cease to be a Registrable Security upon (A) sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or (B) such security becoming eligible for sale without restriction (other than volume limitations) by the Investors pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the 1933 Act.
Registration Statement means any registration statement of the Company under the 1933 Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.
Required Investors means the Investors holding 55% of the Registrable Securities outstanding from time to time.
2. Registration.
(a) Registration Statements. Promptly following the date on which the Company becomes eligible to use a registration statement on Form S-3 to register the Registrable Securities for resale, but in no event later than July 31, 2019 (the Filing Deadline), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC one Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities. Subject to any SEC comments, such Registration Statement shall include the plan of distribution attached hereto as Exhibit A. Such Registration Statement also shall cover, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), such indeterminate number of additional shares of Ordinary Shares resulting from share splits, share dividends or similar transactions with respect to the Registrable Securities. Such Registration Statement shall not include any Ordinary Shares or other securities for the account of any other holder without the prior written consent of the Required Investors. Such Registration Statement (and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each request for acceleration of effectiveness thereof) shall be provided in accordance with Section 3(c) to the Investors prior to its filing or other submission. If a Registration Statement covering the Registrable Securities is not filed with the SEC on or prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount invested by such Investor for each 30-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the Filing Deadline for which no Registration Statement is filed with respect to the Registrable Securities. Such payments shall constitute the Investors exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. Such payments shall be made to each Investor in cash no later than three (3) Business Days after the end of each 30-day period (the Payment Date). Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Payment Date until such amount is paid in full. The Company shall take reasonable best efforts to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 following the date such form is available for use by the Company, provided that if at such time the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, the Company shall maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the SEC.
(b) Expenses. The Company will pay all reasonable expenses associated with each Registration Statement, including filing and printing fees, the Companys counsel and accounting fees and expenses, costs associated with clearing the Registrable Securities for sale under applicable state securities laws, listing fees, fees and expenses of one counsel to the Investors and the Investors reasonable expenses in connection with the registration, but excluding discounts, commissions and fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold.
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(c) Effectiveness.
(i) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to have the Registration Statements declared effective as soon as practicable. The Company shall notify the Investors by e-mail as promptly as practicable, and in any event, within forty-eight (48) hours, after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Investors with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby. If (A) a Registration Statement is not declared effective by the SEC prior to the earlier of (i) five (5) Business Days after the SEC informs the Company that no review of such Registration Statement will be made or that the SEC has no further comments on such Registration Statement and the SEC informs the Company that no review of any pending Confidential Treatment Requests will be made or that the SEC has granted any pending Confidential Treatment Requests or (ii) the 30th day after the Filing Deadline (or the 90th day if the SEC reviews such Registration Statement) (the Effectiveness Deadline) or (B) after a Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC, sales cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Companys failure to update such Registration Statement), but excluding any Allowed Delay (as defined below), then the Company will make pro rata payments to each Investor then holding Registrable Securities, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, in an amount equal to 1% of the aggregate amount invested by such Investor for each thirty (30)-day period or pro rata for any portion thereof following the date by which such Registration Statement should have been effective (the Blackout Period). Such payments shall constitute the Investors exclusive monetary remedy for such events, but shall not affect the right of the Investors to seek injunctive relief. The amounts payable as liquidated damages pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid monthly within three (3) Business Days of the last day of each month following the commencement of the Blackout Period until the termination of the Blackout Period (the Blackout Period Payment Date). Such payments shall be made to each Investor in cash. Interest shall accrue at the rate of 1% per month on any such liquidated damages payments that shall not be paid by the Blackout Payment Date until such amount is paid in full.
(ii) For not more than thirty (30) consecutive days or for a total of not more than sixty (60) days in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may suspend the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Section in the event that the Company determines in good faith that such suspension is necessary to (A) delay the disclosure of material non-public information concerning the Company, the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion of the Company, in the best interests of the Company or (B) amend or supplement the affected Registration Statement or the related Prospectus so that such Registration Statement or Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the case of the Prospectus in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (an Allowed Delay); provided, that the Company shall promptly (a) notify each Investor in writing of the commencement of an Allowed Delay, but shall not (without the prior written consent of an Investor) disclose to such Investor any material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay, (b) advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under such Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and (c) use reasonable best efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as practicable.
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(d) Rule 415; Cutback. If at any time the SEC takes the position that the offering of some or all of the Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement is not eligible to be made on a delayed or continuous basis under the provisions of Rule 415 under the 1933 Act or requires any Investor to be named as an underwriter, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to persuade the SEC that the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is a valid secondary offering and not an offering by or on behalf of the issuer as defined in Rule 415 and that none of the Investors is an underwriter. The Investors shall have the right to select one legal counsel designated by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to review and oversee any registration or matters pursuant to this Section 2(d), including participation in any meetings or discussions with the SEC regarding the SECs position and to comment on any written submission made to the SEC with respect thereto. No such written submission with respect to this matter shall be made to the SEC to which the Investors counsel reasonably objects. In the event that, despite the Companys reasonable best efforts and compliance with the terms of this Section 2(d), the SEC refuses to alter its position, the Company shall (i) remove from such Registration Statement such portion of the Registrable Securities (the Cut Back Shares) and/or (ii) agree to such restrictions and limitations on the registration and resale of the Registrable Securities as the SEC may require to assure the Companys compliance with the requirements of Rule 415 (collectively, the SEC Restrictions); provided, however, that the Company shall not agree to name any Investor as an underwriter in such Registration Statement without the prior written consent of such Investor. Any cut-back imposed on the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d) shall be allocated among the Investors on a pro rata basis and shall be applied first to any of the Registrable Securities of such Investor as such Investor shall designate, unless the SEC Restrictions otherwise require or provide or the Investors otherwise agree. No liquidated damages shall accrue as to any Cut Back Shares until such date as the Company is able to effect the registration of such Cut Back Shares in accordance with any SEC Restrictions applicable to such Cut Back Shares (such date, the Restriction Termination Date). In furtherance of the foregoing, each Investor shall provide the Company with prompt written notice of its sale of substantially all of the Registrable Securities under such Registration Statement such that the Company will be able to file one or more additional Registration Statements covering the Cut Back Shares. From and after the Restriction Termination Date applicable to any Cut Back Shares, all of the provisions of this Section 2 (including the Companys obligations with respect to the filing of a Registration Statement and its obligations to use reasonable best efforts to have such Registration Statement declared effective within the time periods set forth herein and the liquidated damages provisions relating thereto) shall again be applicable to such Cut Back Shares; provided, however, that (i) the Filing Deadline and/or the Qualification Deadline, as applicable, for such Registration Statement including such Cut Back Shares shall be ten (10) Business Days after such Restriction Termination Date, and (ii) the date by which the Company is required to obtain effectiveness with respect to such Cut Back Shares shall be the 60th day immediately after the Restriction Termination Date (or the 90th day if the SEC reviews such Registration Statement).
3. Company Obligations. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will, as expeditiously as possible:
(a) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and to remain continuously effective for a period that will terminate upon the earlier of
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(i) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement as amended from time to time, have been sold, and (ii) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold without restriction (other than volume limitations) pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or any successor thereto) promulgated under the 1933 Act (the Effectiveness Period) and advise the Investors promptly in writing when the Effectiveness Period has expired;
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement and the related Prospectus as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and to comply with the provisions of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;
(c) provide copies to and permit any counsel designated by the Investors to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto no fewer than three (3) days prior to their filing with the SEC and not file any document to which such counsel reasonably objects;
(d) furnish to each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in any Registration Statement (i) promptly after the same is prepared and filed with the SEC, if requested by the Investor, one (1) copy of any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, and each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a Prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto and such other documents as each Investor may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Investor;
(e) use reasonable best efforts to (i) prevent the issuance of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness and, (ii) if such order is issued, obtain the withdrawal of any such order at the earliest possible moment;
(f) prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use reasonable best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the Investors and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of such Registrable Securities for the offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions requested by the Investors and do any and all other commercially reasonable acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the distribution in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to (i) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(f), (ii) subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be so subject but for this Section 3(f), or (iii) file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction;
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(g) use reasonable best efforts to cause all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be listed on each securities exchange, interdealer quotation system or other market on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed;
(h) promptly notify the Investors, at any time prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, upon discovery that, or upon the happening of any event as a result of which, the Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing, and promptly prepare, file with the SEC and furnish to such holder a supplement to or an amendment of such Prospectus as may be necessary so that such Prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing;
(i) otherwise use reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the 1933 Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, promptly inform the Investors in writing if, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, the Company does not satisfy the conditions specified in Rule 172 and, as a result thereof, the Investors are required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with any disposition of Registrable Securities and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this subsection 3(i), Availability Date means the 45th day following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Companys fiscal year, Availability Date means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter);
(j) with a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of Rule 144 (or its successor rule) and any other rule or regulation of the SEC that may at any time permit the Investors to sell Ordinary Shares to the public without registration, the Company covenants and agrees to: (i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144, until the earlier of (A) six months after such date as all of the Registrable Securities may be sold without restriction by the holders thereof pursuant to Rule 144 or any other rule of similar effect or (B) such date as there are no longer Registrable Securities; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the 1934 Act; and (iii) furnish electronically to each Investor upon request, as long as such Investor owns any Registrable Securities, (A) a written statement by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act, (B) a copy of or electronic access to the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and (C) such other information as may be reasonably requested in order to avail such Investor of any rule or regulation of the SEC that permits the selling of any such Registrable Securities without registration; and
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(k) if requested by an Investor, cooperate with such Investor to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to an effective Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreements and applicable law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such certificates to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Investor may request.
4. Due Diligence Review; Information. If any Investor is required under applicable securities laws to be described in a Registration Statement as an underwriter, the Company shall, upon reasonable prior notice, make available, during normal business hours, for inspection and review by the Investors, advisors to and representatives of the Investors (who may or may not be affiliated with the Investors and who are reasonably acceptable to the Company) (collectively, the Inspectors), all pertinent financial and other records, and all other corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the Records) as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of such review, and cause the Companys officers, directors and employees, within a reasonable time period, to supply all such information reasonably requested by the Inspectors (including, without limitation, in response to all questions and other inquiries reasonably made or submitted by any of them), prior to and from time to time after the filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement for the sole purpose of enabling such Investor and its accountants and attorneys to conduct such due diligence solely for the purpose of establishing a due diligence defense to underwriter liability under the 1933 Act; provided, however, that each Inspector shall agree to hold in strict confidence and shall not make any disclosure (except to such Investor) or use of any Record or other information which the Company determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement or is otherwise required under the 1933 Act, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a final, non-appealable subpoena or order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c) the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other Transaction Document.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not disclose material nonpublic information to the Investors, or to advisors to or representatives of the Investors, unless prior to disclosure of such information the Company identifies such information as being material nonpublic information and provides the Investors, such advisors and representatives with the opportunity to accept or refuse to accept such material nonpublic information for review and any Investor wishing to obtain such information enters into an appropriate confidentiality agreement with the Company with respect thereto.
5. Obligations of the Investors.
(a) Each Investor shall furnish in writing to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor
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of the information the Company requires from such Investor if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement. An Investor shall provide such information to the Company at least two (2) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of such Registration Statement if such Investor elects to have any of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement.
(b) Each Investor, by its acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing of its election to exclude all of its Registrable Securities from such Registration Statement.
(c) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of either (i) the commencement of an Allowed Delay pursuant to Section 2(c)(ii) or (ii) the happening of an event pursuant to Section 3(h) hereof, such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Investor is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made.
(d) Each Investor covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the 1933 Act as applicable to it or an exemption therefrom in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement.
6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Investor and its officers, directors, members, employees and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who controls such Investor within the meaning of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, and will reimburse such Investor, and each such officer, director or member and each such controlling person for any legal or other documented, out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Investor or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus, (ii) the use by an Investor of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Investor in writing that such Prospectus is outdated or defective or (iii) an Investors failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required (and not exempted) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities.
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(b) Indemnification by the Investors. Each Investor agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, shareholders and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the 1933 Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees) resulting from any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or Prospectus or preliminary Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information furnished in writing by such Investor to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of an Investor be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expense paid by such Investor in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such Investor has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission) received by such Investor upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided that any person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such person unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses, (b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such person or (c) in the reasonable judgment of any such person, based upon written advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest exists between such person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the person notifies the indemnifying party in writing that such person elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such person); and provided, further that the failure of any indemnified party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the indemnifying party of its obligations hereunder, except to the extent that such failure to give notice shall materially adversely affect the indemnifying party in the defense of any such claim or litigation. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for fees or expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties. No indemnifying party will, except with the consent of the indemnified party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or conditioned, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement that does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation.
(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding paragraphs (a) and (b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient to hold it harmless, other than as expressly specified therein, then the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnified party
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and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act shall be entitled to contribution from any person not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 6 and the amount of any damages such holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.
7. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Investors. The Company may take any action herein prohibited, or omit to perform any act herein required to be performed by it, only if the Company shall have obtained the written consent to such amendment, action or omission to act, of the Required Investors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement may not be amended and the observance of any term hereof may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor, unless such amendment or waiver applies to all Investors in the same fashion.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 9.4 of the Purchase Agreement.
(c) Assignments and Transfers by Investors. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Investors and their respective successors and assigns. An Investor may transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more persons its rights hereunder in connection with the transfer of Registrable Securities by such Investor to such person, provided that (i) the Investor agrees in writing with the transferee or assignee to assign such rights and a copy of such agreement is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment; (ii) the Company is within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment, furnished with written notice of (A) the name and address of such transferee or assignee and (B) the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned; (iii) immediately following such transfer or assignment the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is restricted under the 1933 Act or applicable state securities laws; (iv) at or before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause (ii) of this sentence the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein and (v) such transfer shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Purchase Agreement.
(d) Assignments and Transfers by the Company. This Agreement may not be assigned by the Company (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the Required Investors, provided, however, that in the event that the Company is a party to a merger, consolidation, share exchange or similar business combination transaction in which Ordinary Shares are converted into the equity securities of another Person, from and after the effective time of such transaction, such Person shall, by virtue of such transaction, be deemed
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to have assumed the obligations of the Company hereunder, the term Company shall be deemed to refer to such Person and the term Registrable Securities shall be deemed to include the securities received by the Investors in connection with such transaction unless such securities are otherwise freely tradable by the Investors after giving effect to such transaction.
(e) Benefits of the Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective permitted successors and assigns of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.
(f) Counterparts; Faxes. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may also be executed via facsimile, which shall be deemed an original.
(g) Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are used for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
(h) Severability. Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof but shall be interpreted as if it were written so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereby waive any provision of law which renders any provisions hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
(i) Further Assurances. The parties shall execute and deliver all such further instruments and documents and take all such other actions as may reasonably be required to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and to evidence the fulfillment of the agreements herein contained.
(j) Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
(k) Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the choice of law principles thereof. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in New York County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this
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Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each party hereto anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit, action or proceeding and to the laying of venue in such court. Each party hereto irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the date first above written.
COMPANY: | MEIRAGTX HOLDINGS PLC | |||||
By: | /s/ Richard Giroux | |||||
Name: Richard Giroux | ||||||
Title: Chief Operating Officer |
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INVESTOR: | JOHNSON & JOHNSON INNOVATION-JJDC, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ Asish K. Xavier | |||||
Name: Asish K. Xavier | ||||||
Title: Vice President, Venture Investments |
INVESTOR: | OrbiMed Partners Master Fund Limited | |||||
By: OrbiMed Capital LLC, solely in its capacity as Investment Advisor | ||||||
By: | /s/ Sven H. Borho | |||||
Name: Sven H. Borho | ||||||
Title: Managing Member |
INVESTOR: | The Biotech Growth Trust PLC | |||||
By: OrbiMed Capital LLC, solely in its Capacity as Investment Manager | ||||||
By: | /s/ Sven H. Borho | |||||
Name: Sven H. Borho | ||||||
Title: Managing Member |
INVESTOR: 683 Capital Partners, LP | ||||||
By: | /s/ Ari Zweiman | |||||
Name: Ari Zweiman | ||||||
Title: Managing Member |
INVESTOR: Perceptive Life Sciences Master Fund LTD | ||||||
By: | /s/ James H. Mannix | |||||
Name: James H. Mannix | ||||||
Title: Chief Operating Officer |
Exhibit A
Plan of Distribution
We are registering ordinary shares previously issued to permit the resale of these ordinary shares by the holders of the ordinary shares from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling shareholders. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the ordinary shares, except that, if the ordinary shares are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling shareholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agents commissions.
The selling shareholders may sell all or a portion of the ordinary shares beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. The ordinary shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions,
| on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
| in the over-the-counter market; |
| in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; |
| through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; |
| ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| privately negotiated transactions; |
| short sales; |
| sales pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act; |
| broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share; |
| a combination of any such methods of sale; and |
| any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
If the selling shareholders effect such transactions by selling ordinary shares to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholders or commissions from purchasers of the ordinary shares for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which discounts, concessions or commissions as to particular underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the ordinary shares or otherwise, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in turn engage in short sales of our ordinary shares in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell ordinary shares short and deliver ordinary shares covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling shareholders may also loan or pledge ordinary shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The selling shareholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of our ordinary shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the ordinary shares from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or other applicable provisions of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may transfer and donate the shares of our ordinary shares in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.
The selling shareholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the ordinary shares may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the ordinary shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of shares of our ordinary shares being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling shareholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers.
Under the securities laws of some states, the ordinary shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the ordinary shares may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
There can be no assurance that any selling shareholder will sell any or all of the ordinary shares registered pursuant to the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.
The selling shareholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the ordinary shares by the selling shareholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the ordinary shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the ordinary shares. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the ordinary shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the ordinary shares.
We will pay all expenses of the registration of the ordinary shares pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or blue sky laws; provided, however, that the selling shareholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We will indemnify the selling shareholders against liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, or the selling shareholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling shareholders specifically for use in this prospectus or we may be entitled to contribution.
Once sold under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, the ordinary shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.