EX-10.4
Published on November 15, 2023
Exhibit 10.4
SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT
This SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this Agreement) is dated as of November 14, 2023 (the Effective Date), by and among Graphite Bio, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), and the individuals and entities listed on Exhibit A attached to this Agreement (each, a Purchaser and together, the Purchasers).
WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Merger Agreement), by and among the Company, Generate Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub), and LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (Surviving Corporation), a Delaware corporation, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Surviving Corporation, with the Surviving Corporation surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the Merger);
WHEREAS, following the Merger, the Company will change its name to LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.;
WHEREAS, the Closing (as defined below) is contingent upon, and shall be consummated simultaneously with, the closing of the Merger;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to sell to the Purchasers, and the Purchasers desire to purchase from the Company, severally and not jointly, an aggregate of up to $125 million of shares of Common Stock at a purchase price equal to the Purchase Price (defined below) in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Purchasers are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act (as defined below), and Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under the Securities Act;
WHEREAS, contemporaneously with the sale of the Shares (as defined below), the parties hereto will execute and deliver a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, pursuant to which the Company will agree to provide certain registration rights in respect of the Shares under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws;
WHEREAS, BofA Securities, Inc. (BofA), Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (Citigroup), Piper Sandler & Co. (Piper) and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. (William Blair) have been engaged as placement agents for the offering of the Shares on a best efforts basis.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, the Company and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
2023 SEC Reports shall mean (a) the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and (b) any Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, any Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K filed or furnished (as applicable) by the Company after December 31, 2022, together in each case with any documents incorporated by reference therein or exhibits thereto.
Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
Benefit Plan or Benefit Plans shall mean employee benefit plans as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and all other employee benefit practices or arrangements, including, without limitation, any such practices or arrangements providing severance pay, sick leave, vacation pay, salary continuation for disability, retirement benefits, deferred compensation, bonus pay, incentive pay, stock options or other stock-based compensation, hospitalization insurance, medical insurance, life insurance, scholarships or tuition reimbursements, maintained by the Company or to which the Company is obligated to contribute for employees or former employees.
Board of Directors means the board of directors of the Company.
Closing has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.
Closing Date has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 hereof.
Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Common Stock means the common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, of the Company.
Common Stock Equivalents means any securities of the Company which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.
Company has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
Company IT Systems has the meaning set forth in Section 3.30 hereof.
Company Regulatory Permits has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(c) hereof.
Control (including the terms controlling controlled by and under common control with) with respect to any Person shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Covered Person has the meaning set forth in Section 3.27 hereof.
Disclosure Document has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4 hereof.
Disqualification Event has the meaning set forth in Section 3.27 hereof.
Drug Regulatory Agency shall mean the FDA or other comparable governmental authority responsible for regulation of the research, development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labeling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation of drug products and drug product candidates.
Effective Date has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
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Environmental Laws has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15 hereof.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all of the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
FDA shall mean the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Financial Statements has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b) hereof.
Form S-4 has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.
GAAP has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b) hereof.
Governmental Authorizations has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11 hereof.
Health Care Laws means (a) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.) and Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 201 et seq.) and any other similar applicable law administered by the FDA or other comparable governmental authority responsible for regulation of the development, clinical testing, manufacturing, sale, marketing, distribution and importation or exportation of drug and biopharmaceutical products of similar nature to those developed by the Company and their implementing regulations; (b) Good Clinical Practice, regulations for studies that are submitted to regulatory authorities to support product approval; and (c) laws regulating the use or disclosure of personal data collected in the conduct of clinical trials, including Protected Health Information as defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 as amended at 45 CFR 164.103.
Intellectual Property has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a) hereof.
Material Adverse Effect shall mean any change, event, circumstance, development, condition, occurrence or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, (a) was, is, or would reasonably be expected to be, materially adverse to the business, financial condition, prospects, assets, liabilities, stockholders equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (b) materially delays or materially impairs the ability of the Company to comply, or prevents the Company from complying, with its obligations under this Agreement, the Merger Agreement or with respect to the Closing or would reasonably be expected to do so; provided, however, that none of the following will be deemed in themselves, either alone or in combination, to constitute, and that none of the following will be taken into account in determining whether there has been or will be, a Material Adverse Effect under subclause (a) of this definition:
(i) any change generally affecting the economy, financial markets or political, economic or regulatory conditions in the United States or any other geographic region in which the Company conducts business, provided that the Company is not disproportionately affected thereby;
(ii) general financial, credit or capital market conditions, including interest rates or exchange rates, or any changes therein, provided that the Company is not disproportionately affected thereby;
(iii) any change that generally affects industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, provided that the Company is not disproportionately affected thereby;
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(iv) changes in laws after the date hereof, provided that the Company is not disproportionately affected thereby;
(v) changes or proposed changes in GAAP after the date of this Agreement, provided that the Company is not disproportionately affected thereby; and
(vi) in and of itself, any failure by the Company to meet any published or internally prepared estimates of revenues, expenses, earnings or other economic performance for any period ending on or after the date of this Agreement (it being understood that the facts and circumstances giving rise to such failure may be deemed to constitute, and may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect to the extent that such facts and circumstances are not otherwise described in clauses (i)-(v) of the definition).
Merger has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
Merger Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
Merger Sub has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
National Exchange means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question, together with any successor thereto: the NYSE American, The New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market and the Nasdaq Capital Market.
Patents has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a) hereof.
Person shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or any other entity or organization.
Placement Agents means BofA, Citigroup, Piper and William Blair.
Purchase Price means the price per share equal to the per share price calculated by dividing (i) $231.6 million by (ii) the Company Outstanding Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as multiplied by the Exchange Ratio (as defined in the Merger Agreement) (which for purposes of clarity shall exclude any Securities issued pursuant to this Agreement, any Permitted Financing (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and the Parent Outstanding Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) as of immediately prior to the Effective Time).
Purchaser and Purchasers have the meanings set forth in the recitals hereof.
Purchaser Adverse Effect has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3 hereof.
Registration Rights Agreement has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(m) hereof.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
SEC has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
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SEC Reports has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8 hereof.
Securities means the Shares.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all of the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Shares means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to each Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.
Short Sales include, without limitation, (i) all short sales as defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, whether or not against the box, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, short sales, swaps, put equivalent positions (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act) and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and (ii) sales and other transactions through non-U.S. broker dealers or non-U.S. regulated brokers (but shall not be deemed to include the location and/or reservation of borrowable shares of Common Stock).
Standard Settlement Period means the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of trading days, on the Companys primary National Exchange with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of the applicable request to remove legends of Securities.
Surviving Corporation has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
Tax or Taxes shall mean any and all federal, state, local, foreign and other taxes, levies, fees, imposts, duties and charges of whatever kind (including any interest, penalties or additions to the tax imposed in connection therewith or with respect thereto), whether or not imposed on the Company, including, without limitation, taxes imposed on, or measured by, income, franchise, profits or gross receipts, and also ad valorem, value added, sales, use, service, real or personal property, capital stock, license, payroll, withholding, employment, social security, workers compensation, unemployment compensation, utility, severance, production, excise, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, transfer and gains taxes and customs duties.
Tax Returns shall mean returns, reports, information statements and other documentation (including any additional or supporting material) filed or maintained, or required to be filed or maintained, in connection with the calculation, determination, assessment or collection of any Tax and shall include any amended returns required as a result of examination adjustments made by the Internal Revenue Service or other Tax authority.
Transaction Agreements shall mean this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
Transfer Agent shall mean, with respect to the Common Stock, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC or such other financial institution that provides transfer agent services as proposed by the Company and consented to by the Purchasers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Willful Breach has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 hereof.
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2. Subscription
2.1 Purchase and Sale of Common Stock
On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase, an aggregate of up to $125 million of Shares.
Following the date of this Agreement, at any time prior to the Closing, additional Purchasers may join this Agreement to subscribe for any remaining unsubscribed balance of the Shares by executing a counterpart signature page hereto. Such Purchaser shall thereafter be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations hereunder, in each case without the need for any amendment to this Agreement other than to add such persons or entitys name and subscription amount to Exhibit A.
Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing , the Company shall issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, shall purchase from the Company, (a) that number of Shares equal to the dollar amount set forth opposite such Purchasers name on Exhibit A under the heading Aggregate Purchase Price divided by the Purchase Price, rounded down to the nearest whole share For the avoidance of doubt, Securities shall not refer to any shares of the capital stock of the Company that may be held by the Purchasers or any other holders of the capital stock of the Company or other securities of the Company.
2.2 Closing
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement, the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities (the Closing) contemplated hereby is contingent upon the concurrent consummation of the Merger. The Closing shall occur on the date of, and concurrently with and conditioned upon the effectiveness of the Merger and the Purchasers will be notified of such date at least ten (10) business days in advance by BofA (the Closing Date). The Closing shall occur remotely via exchange of documents and signatures. At the Closing, the Securities shall be issued and registered in the name of such Purchaser, or in such nominee name(s) as designated by such Purchaser, representing the number of Shares to be purchased by such Purchaser at such Closing as set forth in Exhibit A, in each case against payment to the Company of the purchase price therefor in full by wire transfer to the Company of immediately available funds, at or prior to the Closing, in accordance with wire instructions provided by the Company to the Purchasers prior to the Closing, to an account to be designated by the Company (which shall not be an escrow account). On the Closing Date, the Company will issue the Shares in book-entry form, free and clear of all restrictive and other legends (except as expressly provided in Section 4.11 hereof) and shall provide evidence of such issuance from the Companys Transfer Agent as of the Closing Date to each Purchaser. The failure of the Closing to occur on the Closing Date shall not terminate this Agreement or otherwise relieve any party of any of its obligations hereunder.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company hereby represents and warrants to each of the Purchasers and the Placement Agents that the statements contained in this Section 3 are true and correct as of the Effective Date, and will be true and correct as of the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date):
3.1 Organization and Power
The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of its properties or the nature of its business requires such qualification, except where such failure to be in good standing or to have such power and authority or to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof, the Companys only subsidiary is the Merger Sub. The Companys subsidiaries are duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and are validly
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existing and in good standing under the laws of their jurisdiction of incorporation and have the requisite power and authority to carry on their business as now conducted and to own or lease their properties. The Companys subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business as foreign corporations and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required unless the failure to so qualify has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
3.2 Capitalization.
As of the date hereof, the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the 2023 SEC Reports and, as of immediately prior to the Closing, the Company will have an authorized capitalization as disclosed in the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed by the Company with the SEC in connection with the Merger (together with any amendments thereof or supplements thereto, the Form S-4). The (i) outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and (ii) all outstanding warrants have been issued and granted in material compliance with all applicable securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company which have not been waived. There are no securities or instruments issued by or to which the Company is a party containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
3.3 Registration Rights
Except as set forth in the Transaction Agreements or as disclosed in the 2023 SEC Reports or the Form S-4, the Company is presently not under any obligation, and has not granted any rights, to register under the Securities Act any of the Companys presently outstanding securities or any of its securities that may hereafter be issued that have not expired or been satisfied.
3.4 Authorization
The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into the Transaction Agreements and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of the Transaction Agreements. All corporate action on the part of the Company, its officers, directors and stockholders necessary for the authorization of the Securities, the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein has been taken. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the Purchasers and that this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Purchasers, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally or by general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Upon their respective execution by the Company and the other parties thereto and assuming that they constitute legal, valid and binding agreements of the other parties thereto, the Registration Rights Agreement will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally or by general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
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3.5 Valid Issuance
The Shares being purchased by the Purchasers hereunder, upon issuance pursuant to the terms hereof, against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will be issued free and clear of any liens or other restrictions (other than those under applicable state and federal securities laws). Subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by the Purchasers in Section 4 hereof, the offer and sale of the Securities to the Purchasers is and will be in compliance with applicable exemptions from (i) the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and (ii) the registration and qualification requirements of applicable securities laws of the states of the United States. The Company satisfies the registrant requirements for the use of a registration statement on Form S-3 to register the Shares for resale by the Purchaser under the Securities Act.
3.6 No Conflict
The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements by the Company, the issuance of the Shares and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) violate any provision of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, (ii) conflict with or result in a violation of or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation, a change of control right or to a loss of a benefit under any agreement or instrument, credit facility, franchise, license, judgment, order, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulations, applicable to the Company or its properties or assets, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations) and the rules and regulations of any self-regulatory organization to which the Company or its securities are subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.7 Consents
Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers, no consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order of or registration with, any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as (a) have been or will be obtained or made under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (b) are required to consummate the Merger as provided under the Merger Agreement, including stockholder approval of the issuance of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, (c) the filing of any requisite notices and/or application(s) to the National Exchange for the issuance and sale of the Securities and the listing of the Shares for trading or quotation, as the case may be, thereon in the time and manner required thereby, (d) are required to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements and (e) may be required under the securities, or blue sky, laws of any state jurisdiction in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company in the manner contemplated herein or such that the failure of which to obtain would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.8 SEC Filings; Financial Statements.
(a) The Company has filed or furnished, as applicable, all forms, statements, certifications, reports and documents required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act since June 24, 2021 (the SEC Reports). As of the time it was filed with the SEC (or, if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on the date of such filing), each of the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (as the case may be) and, as of the time they were filed,
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none of the SEC Reports contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As used in this Section 3.8, the term file and variations thereof shall be broadly construed to include any manner in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC.
(b) The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports (collectively, the Financial Statements) fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods therein specified, all in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) (except as otherwise noted therein, and in the case of unaudited financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC, and except that the unaudited financial statements may not contain footnotes and are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments) applied on a consistent basis unless otherwise noted therein throughout the periods therein specified. Except as set forth in the Financial Statements and/or SEC Reports, the Company has not incurred any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, except those in the ordinary course of business, consistent (as to amount and nature) with past practices since the date of such financial statements, none of which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.9 Absence of Changes
Except as otherwise stated or disclosed in the 2023 SEC Reports filed at least one business day prior to the date hereof, between December 31, 2022 and the date of this Agreement, (a) the Company has conducted its business only in the ordinary course of business (except for the execution and performance of this Agreement, the Merger Agreement and the discussions, negotiations and transactions related thereto) and (b) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect.
3.10 Absence of Litigation
As of the date hereof, and except as may be disclosed in the Form S-4, there is no action, suit, proceeding, arbitration, claim, investigation or inquiry pending or, to the Companys knowledge, threatened in writing by or before any governmental body against the Company which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, nor are there any orders, writs, injunctions, judgments or decrees outstanding of any court or government agency or instrumentality and binding upon the Company that have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date hereof and except as may be disclosed in the Form S-4, neither the Company, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any director or officer thereof, is, or within the last ten years has been, the subject of any action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws relating to the Company or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty relating to the Company.
3.11 Compliance with Law; Permits
The Company is not in violation of, and has not received any notices of violations with respect to, any laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations of any governmental body, court or government agency or instrumentality, except for violations which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has all required licenses, permits, certificates and other authorizations (collectively, Governmental Authorizations) from such federal, state or local government or governmental agency, department or body that are currently necessary for the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted, except where the failure to possess currently such Governmental Authorizations has not had and is not reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any written notice regarding any revocation or material modification of any such Governmental Authorization, which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, has had or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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3.12 Intellectual Property
(a) Intellectual Property means (a) United States, foreign and international patents, patent applications, including all provisionals, nonprovisionals, substitutions, divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, extensions, supplementary protection certificates, reexaminations, term extensions, certificates of invention and the equivalents of any of the foregoing, statutory invention registrations, invention disclosures and inventions (collectively, Patents), (b) trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, corporate names, brand names, URLs, trade dress, logos and other source identifiers, including registrations and applications for registration thereof, (c) copyrights, including registrations and applications for registration thereof, (d) software, including all source code, object code and related documentation, formulae, trade secrets, know-how, confidential information and other proprietary rights and intellectual property, whether patentable or not and (e) all United States and foreign rights arising under or associated with any of the foregoing used, sold, licensed or otherwise exploited by the in the operation of its business as presently conducted or reasonably expected to be conducted.
(b) To its knowledge, the Company solely and exclusively owns or has obtained valid and enforceable licenses for (or will do so reasonably promptly after giving effect to the Merger), free and clear of all liens or encumbrances, all Intellectual Property necessary for its business as now conducted and currently proposed to be conducted in the future as described in the 2023 SEC Reports and Form S-4, and, to the knowledge of the Company, the conduct of its current and proposed business does not infringe or misappropriate, in any material respect, any Intellectual Property of any third party. The Company has not received any written communications (in each case that has not been resolved) of any alleged infringement, misappropriation or breach of any Intellectual Property rights of others.
(c) There are no orders, settlement agreements or stipulations to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound that restricts the Companys rights to use any Intellectual Property in the operation of the business as currently conducted.
(d) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, there is no pending or, to the Companys knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others: (A) challenging the Companys rights in or to any Intellectual Property necessary for its business as now conducted and currently proposed to be conducted in the future as described in the 2023 SEC Reports and Form S-4, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim; or (B) challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any Intellectual Property necessary for its business as now conducted and currently proposed to be conducted in the future as described in the 2023 SEC Reports and Form S-4, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim.
(e) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has complied with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property has been licensed to the Company as described in the 2023 SEC Reports, and all such agreements are in full force and effect.
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(f) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company has taken reasonable and customary actions to protect its rights in, and to prevent the unauthorized use and disclosure of, material trade secrets and confidential business information (including confidential ideas, research and development information, know-how, formulas, compositions, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, research records, records of inventions, test information, financial, marketing and business data, supplier lists and information, and business plans) owned by the Company, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized use or disclosure of such material trade secrets and confidential business information.
3.13 Employee Benefits
Except as would not be reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each Benefit Plan has been established and administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, as amended, and other applicable laws, rules and regulations. The Company is in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations regarding employment, except for any failures to comply that are not reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no labor dispute, strike or work stoppage against the Company pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened which may interfere with the business activities of the Company, except where such dispute, strike or work stoppage is not reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.14 Taxes
The Company has filed all federal income Tax Returns and other Tax Returns required to have been filed under applicable law (or extensions have been duly obtained) and has paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except for those which are being contested in good faith and except where failure to file such Tax Returns or pay such Taxes would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No assessment in connection with United States federal tax returns has been made against the Company. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or reassessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
3.15 Environmental Laws.
The Company (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (Environmental Laws), (ii) has received all permits and other Governmental Authorizations required under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business and (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received since June 24, 2021, any written notice or other communication (in writing or otherwise), whether from a governmental authority or other Person, that alleges that the Company is not in compliance with any Environmental Law and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with the Companys compliance in any material respects with any Environmental Law in the future, except where such failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect To the knowledge of the Company: (i) no current or (during the time a prior property was leased or controlled by the Company) prior property leased or controlled by the Company
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has received since June 24, 2021, any written notice or other communication relating to property owned or leased at any time by the Company, whether from a governmental authority, or other Person, that alleges that such current or prior owner or the Company is not in compliance with or violated any Environmental Law relating to such property and (ii) the Company has no material liability under any Environmental Law.
3.16 Title
The Company has good and marketable title to all personal property owned by it that is material to the business of the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company. Except as disclosed in the 2023 SEC Reports or the Form S-4, any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company is held under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company, provided however, that the Company is currently in the process of winding down such leases. The Company does not own any real property.
3.17 Insurance
The Company carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance in such amounts and covering such risks that is customary for comparably situated companies and is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and assets, and each of such insurance policies is in full force and effect and the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the terms thereof. Other than customary end of policy notifications from insurance carriers, since June 24, 2021, the Company has not received any notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible: (i) cancellation or invalidation of any insurance policy or (ii) refusal or denial of any coverage, reservation of rights or rejection of any material claim under any insurance policy.
3.18 Nasdaq Stock Market
The issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol GRPH (it being understood that the trading symbol will be changed in connection with the Merger). As of the date hereof, there is no suit, action, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company by Nasdaq or the SEC, respectively, to prohibit or terminate the listing of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market or to deregister the Common Stock under the Exchange Act. The Company has taken no action as of the date hereof that is designed to terminate the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act.
3.19 Sarbanes-Oxley Act
The Company is, and since June 24, 2021 has been, in compliance in all material respects with applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
3.20 Regulatory.
(a) To the knowledge of the Company, the Company has operated its business and currently is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Health Care Laws.
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(b) There are no legal proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to an alleged material violation by the Company of any Health Care Laws including FDA regulations adopted thereunder, or any other similar law promulgated by a Drug Regulatory Agency.
(c) The Company holds all required Governmental Authorizations issuable by any Drug Regulatory Agency necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company as currently conducted, and, as applicable, the development, testing, manufacturing, processing, storage, labeling, sale, marketing, advertising, distribution and importation or exportation, as currently conducted (the Company Regulatory Permits), of any of its product candidates and no such Company Regulatory Permit has been (i) revoked, withdrawn, suspended, cancelled or terminated or (ii) modified in any adverse manner other than immaterial adverse modifications. The Company has timely maintained and is in compliance in all material respects with the Company Regulatory Permits and the Company has not, since June 24, 2021, received any written notice or other written communication from any Drug Regulatory Agency regarding (A) any material violation of or failure to comply materially with any term or requirement of any Company Regulatory Permit or (B) any revocation, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation, termination or material modification of any Company Regulatory Permit.
(d) To the best of the Companys knowledge, all the operations of the Company and all the manufacturing facilities and operations of the Companys suppliers of products and product candidates and the components thereof manufactured in or imported into the United States are in compliance with applicable FDA regulations, including current Good Manufacturing Practices, and meet sanitation standards set by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).
(e) All clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of, or sponsored by, the Company or in which the Company or its respective product candidates, including the Company Product Candidates, have participated that are described in the 2023 SEC Reports or the results of which are referred to in the 2023 SEC Reports, were and, if still pending, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with standard medical and scientific research procedures and in compliance in all material respects with the applicable regulations of the Drug Regulatory Agencies and other applicable Health Care Laws, including, without limitation, 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58 and 312
(f) No Person involved in development of any data included in the Companys regulatory filings has been convicted of (or investigated for) any crime or engaged in conduct reasonably expected to result in exclusion under 42 U.S.C. Section 1302a-7 or any similar state law or regulation. None of the Company, and to the knowledge of the Company, any contract manufacturer with respect to any product candidate of the Company, or any of their respective officers, employees or agents has been convicted of any crime or engaged in any conduct that could result in a material debarment or exclusion (i) under 21 U.S.C. Section 335a or (ii) any similar applicable law.
(g) Except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no manufacturing site owned by the Company, and to the knowledge of the Company, no manufacturing site of a contract manufacturer, with respect to the Companys Product Candidates, (i) is subject to a Drug Regulatory Agency shutdown or import or export prohibition or (ii) has received any Form FDA 483, notice of violation, warning letter, untitled letter, or similar correspondence or notice from the FDA or other governmental authority alleging or asserting noncompliance with any applicable law, in each case, that have not been complied with or closed to the satisfaction of the relevant governmental authority, and, to the knowledge of the Company, neither the FDA nor any other governmental authority is considering such action.
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3.21 Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including policies and procedures sufficient to provide reasonable assurance (i) that the Company maintains records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the Companys transactions and dispositions of assets, (ii) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) that receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Board and (iv) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on the Companys financial statements. Except as disclosed in the Companys SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, the Company has not identified any material weaknesses in the design or operation of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. The Companys disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) are reasonably designed to ensure that all information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
3.22 Price Stabilization of Common Stock
The Company has not taken, nor will it take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to stabilize or manipulate the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
3.23 Investment Company Act
The Company is not, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Common Stock will not be, an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
3.24 General Solicitation; No Integration or Aggregation
Neither the Company nor any other person or entity authorized by the Company to act on its behalf has engaged in a general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D of the Securities Act) of investors with respect to offers or sales of Common Stock. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, sold, offered for sale, solicited offers to buy or otherwise negotiated in respect of, any security (as defined in the Securities Act) which, to its knowledge, is or will be (i) integrated with the Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement for purposes of the Securities Act or (ii) aggregated with prior offerings by the Company for the purposes of the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq Global Market.
3.25 Brokers and Finders
Other than the Placement Agents, neither the Company nor any other Person authorized by the Company to act on its behalf has retained, utilized or been represented by any broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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3.26 Reliance by the Purchasers
The Company acknowledges that each of the Purchasers will rely upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Companys compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of the Company set forth herein.
3.27 No Disqualification Events
No bad actor disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i)-(viii) of the Securities Act (a Disqualification Event) is applicable to the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Covered Person (as defined below), except for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(iiiv) or (d)(3), is applicable. Covered Person means, with respect to the Company as an issuer for purposes of Rule 506 promulgated under the Securities Act, any person listed in the first paragraph of Rule 506(d)(1). Other than the Placement Agents, the Company is not aware of any Person (other than any Covered Person) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
3.28 No Additional Agreements
The Company does not have any agreement or understanding with any Purchaser with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements other than as specified in the Transaction Agreements.
3.29 Anti-Bribery and Anti-Money Laundering Laws
Each of the Company, its subsidiary and any of their respective officers, directors, supervisors, managers, agents, or employees are and have at all times been in compliance with and its participation in the offering will not violate: (A) anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to, any applicable law, rule, or regulation of any locality, including but not limited to any law, rule, or regulation promulgated to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any other law, rule or regulation of similar purposes and scope or (B) anti-money laundering laws, including, but not limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title 18 US. Code sections 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and international anti-money laundering principles or procedures by an intergovernmental group or organization, such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, of which the United States is a member and with which designation the United States representative to the group or organization continues to concur, all as amended, and any Executive order, directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder
3.30 Company IT Systems; Cybersecurity
The Company and its subsidiaries own or have a valid right to access and use all computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites, and equipment used to process, store, maintain and operate data, information, and functions used in connection with the business of the Company and its subsidiaries (the Company IT Systems), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable backup, security and disaster recovery technology consistent in all material respects with applicable regulatory standards and customary industry practices. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
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Effect, (a) there has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to the Company IT Systems; (b) the Company has not been notified of, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any such security breach or other compromise of the Company IT Systems; (c) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented policies and procedures with respect to the Company IT Systems that are reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards; and (d) the Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of the Company IT Systems and to the protection of the Company IT Systems from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
3.31 Transactions with Affiliates and Employees
Except for the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the SEC Reports that is not so described.
3.32 No Other Representations or Warranties
Except for the representations and warranties of the Company expressly set forth in this Article 3, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company (i) expressly disclaims any representations or warranties of any kind or nature, express or implied, including with respect to the condition, value or quality of the Company or any of the assets or properties of the Company, and (ii) specifically disclaims any representation or warranty of merchantability, usage, suitability or fitness for any particular purpose with respect to any of the assets or properties of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in making the decision to invest in the Securities, the Purchasers will rely, and the Company agrees that the Purchasers may rely, on the information that has been provided in writing to Purchasers by the Company or on behalf of the Company, including the SEC Reports.
3.33 Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement is in full force and effect. The Company and, to the Companys knowledge, the Surviving Corporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into the Merger Agreement and to carry out and perform its respective obligations under the terms of the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and, to the Companys knowledge, the Surviving Corporation. The Merger Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company and, to the Companys knowledge, the Surviving Corporation, enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors generally or by general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Company agrees with the Purchasers that it will not, without the consent of the Purchasers who represent at least a majority of the Securities to be purchased pursuant to this Agreement, amend or modify the Merger Agreement in a manner materially adverse to the Purchasers, and no waiver thereunder shall have occurred that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the benefits the Purchaser would reasonably expect to receive under this Agreement.
3.34 Shell Company Status
The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1).
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4. Representations and Warranties of Each Purchaser
Each Purchaser, severally for itself and not jointly with any other Purchaser, represents and warrants to the Company and the Placement Agents that the statements contained in this Section 4 are true and correct as of the Effective Date, and will be true and correct as of the Closing Date:
4.1 Organization
Such Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now conducted.
4.2 Authorization
Such Purchaser has all requisite corporate or similar power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it will be a party and to carry out and perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. All corporate, member or partnership action on the part of such Purchaser or its stockholders, members or partners necessary for the authorization, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements to which it will be a party and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein has been taken. The signature of the Purchaser on this Agreement is genuine and the signatory to this Purchase Agreement, if the Purchaser is an individual, has the legal competence and capacity to execute the same or, if the Purchaser is not an individual, the signatory has been duly authorized to execute the same on behalf of the Purchaser. Assuming this Agreement constitutes the legal and binding agreement of the Company, this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against such Purchaser in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited or otherwise affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and/or similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally or by general equity principles (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
4.3 No Conflict
The execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements by such Purchaser, the purchase of the Securities in accordance with their terms and the consummation by such Purchaser of the other transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with or result in any violation of, breach or default by such Purchaser (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, conflict with, or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation, a change of control right or to a loss of a material benefit under (i) any provision of the organizational documents of such Purchaser, including, without limitation, its incorporation or formation papers, bylaws, indenture of trust or partnership or operating agreement, as may be applicable or (ii) any agreement or instrument, undertaking, credit facility, franchise, license, judgment, order, ruling, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulations, applicable to such Purchaser or its respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clause (ii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to materially delay or hinder the ability of such Purchaser to perform its obligations under the Transaction Agreements (such delay or hindrance, a Purchaser Adverse Effect).
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4.4 Consents
All consents, approvals, orders and authorizations required on the part of such Purchaser in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, the issuance of the Securities and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated herein have been obtained or made, other than such consents, approvals, orders and authorizations the failure of which to make or obtain, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Purchaser Adverse Effect.
4.5 Residency
Such Purchasers residence (if an individual) or offices in which its investment decision with respect to the Securities was made (if an entity) are located at the address immediately below such Purchasers name on the Schedule of Purchasers.
4.6 Brokers and Finders
Such Purchaser has not retained, utilized or been represented by any broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement whose fees the Company would be required to pay.
4.7 Investment Representations and Warranties
Each Purchaser hereby represents and warrants that, it (i) as of the date hereof, is a qualified institutional buyer (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) or an institutional accredited investor as that term is defined in Rule 501(a) under Regulation D promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act; or (ii) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be able to protect its own interests in connection with an investment in the Securities. Each Purchaser further represents and warrants that (x) it is capable of evaluating the merits and risk of such investment, and (y) that it has not been organized for the purpose of acquiring the Securities and is an institutional account as defined by FINRA Rule 4512(c). Such Purchaser understands and agrees that the offering and sale of the Securities has not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws and is being made in reliance upon federal and state exemptions for transactions not involving a public offering which depend upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of the investment intent and the accuracy of such Purchasers representations as expressed herein. Such Purchaser also understands that the offering meets (i) the exemptions from filing under FINRA Rule 5123(b)(1)(A) and (ii) the institutional customer exemption under FINRA Rule 2111(b).
4.8 Intent
Each Purchaser is purchasing the Shares solely for investment purposes, for such Purchasers own account and not for the account of others, and not with a view towards, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution or dissemination thereof in violation of applicable securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such Purchaser is subscribing for the Securities as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, such Purchaser has full investment discretion with respect to each such account, and the full power and authority to make the acknowledgements, representations and agreements herein on behalf of each owner of each such account. Each Purchaser has no present arrangement to sell the Securities to or through any person or entity. Each Purchaser understands that the Securities must be held indefinitely unless such Securities are resold pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available.
4.9 Investment Experience; Ability to Protect Its Own Interests and Bear Economic Risks
Each Purchaser, or such Purchasers professional advisors, have such knowledge and experience in finance, securities, taxation, investments and other business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of investments of the kind described in this Agreement, and the Purchaser has had an opportunity to seek, and has sought, such accounting, legal, business and tax advice as the Purchaser has considered necessary to make an informed investment decision. By reason of the business and financial experience of such Purchaser or his, her or its professional advisors (who are
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not affiliated with or compensated in any way by the Company or any of its affiliates or selling agents), such Purchaser can protect his, her or its own interests in connection with the transactions described in this Agreement. Purchaser acknowledges that it (i) is a sophisticated investor, experienced in investing in private placements of equity securities and capable of evaluating investment risks independently, both in general and with regard to all transactions and investment strategies involving a security or securities and (ii) has exercised independent judgment in evaluating its participation in the purchase of the Securities.
Each Purchaser acknowledges that it is aware that there are substantial risks incident to the purchase and ownership of the Securities, including those set forth in the Companys filings with the SEC. Alone, or together with any professional advisor(s), such Purchaser has adequately analyzed and fully considered the risks of an investment in the Securities and determined that the Securities are a suitable investment for the Purchaser. Each Purchaser is, at this time and in the foreseeable future, able to afford the loss of his, her or its entire investment in the Securities. Such Purchaser acknowledges specifically that a possibility of total loss exists.
4.10 Tax Advisors
Such Purchaser has had the opportunity to review with such Purchasers own tax advisors the federal, state and local tax consequences of its purchase of the Securities set forth opposite such Purchasers name on Exhibit A, where applicable, and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Such Purchaser acknowledges that Purchaser shall be responsible for any of such Purchasers tax liabilities that may arise as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that the Company and any of its agents have not provided any tax advice or any other representation or guarantee regarding the tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.
4.11 Securities Not Registered; Legends
Such Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Securities are being offered in a transaction not involving any public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act, and such Purchaser understands that the Securities have not been registered under the Securities Act, by reason of their issuance by the Company in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and that the Securities must continue to be held and may not be offered, resold, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of by such Purchaser unless a subsequent disposition thereof is registered under the Securities Act or is exempt from such registration and in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. Such Purchaser understands that the exemptions from registration afforded by Rule 144 (the provisions of which are known to it) promulgated under the Securities Act depend on the satisfaction of various conditions including, but not limited to, the time and manner of sale, the holding period and on requirements relating to the Company which are outside of such Purchasers control and which the Company is under no obligation and may not be able to satisfy, and that, if applicable, Rule 144 may afford the basis for sales only in limited amounts. Such Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that it has been advised to consult legal counsel prior to making any offer, resale, transfer, pledge or disposition of any of the Securities. Such Purchaser acknowledges that no federal or state agency has passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities or made any findings or determination as to the fairness of this investment.
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Each Purchaser understands that the Securities may bear one or more legends in substantially the following form and substance:
THESE SECURITIES ARE BEING OFFERED TO INVESTORS WITHOUT REGISTRATION WITH THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT IN RELIANCE UPON REGULATION D PROMULGATED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE SECURITIES ACT). TRANSFER OF THESE SECURITIES IS PROHIBITED, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, OR PURSUANT TO AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.
In addition, stock certificates representing the Securities may contain a legend regarding affiliate status of the Purchaser, if applicable.
4.12 Placement Agents
Each Purchaser 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 Agreements and the issuance of the Securities to Purchaser and neither the Placement Agents nor any of their respective affiliates have acted as an underwriter or in any other capacity and is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary or financial advisor for such Purchaser, the Company or any other person or entity in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements and the issuance and purchase of the Securities, (b) each Placement Agent has not made and does not make any representation or warranty, whether express or implied, of any kind or character, or has not provided any advice or recommendation in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements or with respect to the Securities, nor is such information or advice necessary or desired, (c) each Placement Agent will not have 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 Agreements, 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) each Placement Agent will not 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 Purchaser, the Company or any other person or entity), whether in contract, tort or otherwise, to such Purchaser, or to any person claiming through it, in respect of the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Agreements, except in each case for such partys own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. No disclosure or offering document has been prepared by the Placement Agents or any of their respective affiliates in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities. Neither the Placement Agents nor any of their respective affiliates have made or make any representation as to the quality or value of the Securities and the Placement Agents and any of their respective affiliates may have acquired non-public information with respect to the Company which Purchaser agrees need not be provided to it.
4.13 Reliance by the Company
Such Purchaser acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of, and the Purchasers compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein.
4.14 No General Solicitation
The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser is purchasing the Securities directly from the Company. Purchaser became aware of this offering of the Securities solely by means of direct contact from the Placement Agents or directly from the Company as a result of a pre-existing, substantive relationship with the Company or the Placement Agents, and/or their respective advisors (including, without
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limitation, attorneys, accountants, bankers, consultants and financial advisors), agents, control persons, representatives, affiliates, directors, officers, managers, members, and/or employees, and/or the representatives of such persons. The Securities were offered to Purchaser solely by direct contact between Purchaser and the Company, the Placement Agents, and/or their respective representatives. Purchaser did not become aware of this offering of the Securities, nor were the Securities offered to Purchaser, by any other means, and none of the Company, the Placement Agents and/or their respective representatives acted as investment advisor, broker or dealer to Purchaser. The Purchaser is not purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television, radio or the internet or presented at any seminar or any other general advertisement or, to its knowledge, general solicitation, including any of the methods described in Section 502(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act.
4.15 No Reliance
The Purchaser further acknowledges that there have not been and Purchaser hereby agrees that it is not relying on and has not relied on, any statements, representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made to the Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company, any of its affiliates or any control persons, officers, directors, employees, partners, agents or representatives of any of the foregoing or any other person or entity (including the Placement Agents), expressly or by implication, other than the SEC Reports and those representations, warranties and covenants of the Company expressly set forth in this Agreement. Purchaser acknowledges that certain information provided by the Company was based on projections, and such projections were prepared based on assumptions and estimates that are inherently uncertain and are subject to a wide variety of significant business, economic and competitive risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the projections.
4.16 Access to Information
In making its decision to purchase the Securities, Purchaser has relied solely upon independent investigation made by Purchaser and upon the representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser has received such information as the Purchaser deems necessary in order to make an investment decision with respect to the Securities, including, with respect to the Company and the Merger. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Purchaser acknowledges that he, she or it has had the opportunity to review the 2023 SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Purchaser and the Purchasers professional advisor(s), if any, have had the opportunity to ask such questions, receive such answers and obtain such information as the Purchaser and such Purchasers professional advisor(s), if any, have deemed necessary to make an investment decision with respect to the Securities and that the Purchaser has independently made his, her or its own analysis and decision to invest in the Company.
4.17 Short Sales
Between the time the Purchaser learned about the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the public announcement of the offering, the Purchaser has not engaged in any Short Sales or similar transactions with respect to the Common Stock or any securities exchangeable or convertible for Common Stock, nor has the Purchaser, directly or indirectly, caused any person to engage in any Short Sales or similar transactions with respect to the Common Stock.
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4.18 Disqualification Event
To the extent the Purchaser is one of the covered persons identified in Rule 506(d)(1), the Purchaser represents that no disqualifying event described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i-viii) of the Securities Act (a Disqualification Event) is applicable to the Purchaser or any of its Rule 506(d) Related Parties (as defined below), except, if applicable, for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable. The Purchaser hereby agrees that it shall notify the Company promptly in writing in the event a Disqualification Event becomes applicable to the Purchaser or any of its Rule 506(d) Related Parties, except, if applicable, for a Disqualification Event as to which Rule 506(d)(2)(ii) or (iii) or (d)(3) is applicable. For purposes of this Section, Rule 506(d) Related Party shall mean a person or entity that is a beneficial owner of the Purchasers securities for purposes of Rule 506(d) of the Securities Act.
5. Covenants
5.1 Further Assurances
Each party agrees to cooperate with each other and their respective officers, employees, attorneys, accountants and other agents, and, generally, do such other reasonable acts and things in good faith as may be necessary to effectuate the intents and purposes of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions hereof and compliance with applicable law, including taking reasonable action to facilitate the filing of any document or the taking of reasonable action to assist the other parties hereto in complying with the terms hereof. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company and the Placement Agents will rely on the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Purchaser agrees to promptly notify the Company if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement are no longer accurate. Prior to the Closing, the Company agrees to promptly notify each Purchaser if any of the acknowledgments, understandings, agreements, representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement are no longer accurate.
5.2 Listing
The Company shall cause the Shares to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market prior to or at the Closing and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of its Common Stock on the Nasdaq Global Market.
5.3 Placement Agents Fees
The Surviving Corporation acknowledges that it has engaged each of the Placement Agents in its capacity as placement agent in connection with the sale of the Securities. The Surviving Corporation shall be responsible for the payment of any placement agents fees, financial advisory fees, or brokers commissions (other than for Persons engaged by any Purchaser), in each case payable to third parties retained by the Surviving Corporation, relating to or arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
5.4 Disclosure of Transactions and Other Material Information.
The Company shall, by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first (1st) business day immediately following the date of this Agreement, issue one or more press releases and/or file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (collectively, the Disclosure Document) disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the other Transaction Agreements and the Merger Agreement (and including as exhibits to such Current Report on Form 8-K the forms of the material Transaction Agreements (including, without limitation, the form of this Agreement and the form of the Registration Rights Agreement). Upon the issuance of the Disclosure Document, no Purchaser shall be in possession of any material, non-public information received from the Company or any of its officers, directors, or employees or agents, that is not disclosed in the Disclosure Document unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by such Purchaser. From and after the issuance of the Disclosure Document, the Company shall not provide
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material non-public information to any Purchaser, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by such Purchaser prior to any such disclosure. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Purchaser or any of its affiliates or advisers, or include the name of any Purchaser or any of its affiliates or advisers in any press release or filing with the SEC (other than the Registration Statement) or any regulatory agency, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (i) as required by the federal securities law in connection with (A) any registration statement contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement and (B) the filing of final forms of the Transaction Agreements with the SEC or pursuant to other routine proceedings of regulatory authorities, or (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of the Nasdaq Global Market, in which case the Company will provide the Purchaser with prior written notice (including by e-mail) of such disclosure under this clause (ii).
5.5 Integration
The Company has not sold, offered for sale or solicited offers to buy and 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 Securities Act) that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchasers, or that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any National Exchange such that it would require stockholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless stockholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.
5.6 Pledge of Securities
The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Securities may be pledged by a Purchaser in connection with a bona fide margin agreement or other loan or financing arrangement that is secured by the Securities. The pledge of Securities shall not be deemed to be a transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities hereunder, and no Purchaser effecting a pledge of Securities shall be required to provide the Company with any notice thereof or otherwise make any delivery to the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The Company hereby agrees to execute and deliver such documentation as a pledgee of the Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge of the Securities to such pledgee by a Purchaser; provided that any and all costs to effect the pledge of the Securities are borne by the pledgor and/or pledgee and not the Company.
5.7 Subsequent Equity Sales
From the date hereof until 45 days after the Closing Date, without the consent of BofA and the Purchasers of at least a majority of the Securities purchased or to be purchased hereunder, the Company shall not (a) issue shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents, or (b) file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to any shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Section 5.7 shall not apply to (i) the issuance of the Securities hereunder, (ii) the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement and registration of such Common Stock for resale as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (iii) the transactions contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement, (iv) the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of any options or warrants outstanding on the date hereof, (v) the issuance of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents to employees, directors or consultants pursuant to (a) any stock option or equity incentive or employee stock purchase plan in effect on the date hereof or such equity incentive plan that may be included and described in the Form S-4, or (b) any compensation agreements, (vi) the issuance of Common Stock in connection with acquisitions or strategic transactions, provided that any such issuance
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shall only be to a Person which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company in a business synergistic with the business of the Company, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities and (vii) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8; provided that the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued in accordance with clause (vi) of this Section 5.7 do not exceed 5% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after the issuance and sale of the Securities and closing of the Merger.
5.8 Use of Proceeds
The Company shall use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities for working capital and general corporate purposes.
5.9 Removal of Legends
(a) In connection with any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of the Shares by a Purchaser pursuant to Rule 144 or pursuant to any other exemption under the Securities Act such that the purchaser acquires freely tradable shares and upon compliance by the Purchaser with the requirements of this Agreement, if requested by the Purchaser, the Company shall request the Transfer Agent to 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 within the earlier of (i) two (2) business days and (ii) the Standard Settlement Period, in each case, of any such request therefor from such Purchaser, provided that the Company has timely received from the Purchaser customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company in connection therewith. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its Transfer Agent, its legal counsel and all DTC fees associated with such legend removal.
(b) Subject to receipt from the Purchaser by the Company and the Transfer Agent of customary representations and other documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Transfer Agent in connection therewith, upon the earliest of such time as the Shares (i) have been registered under the Securities 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, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.9(b) and within the earlier of (i) two (2) business days and (ii) the Standard Settlement Period, in each case, of any request therefor from a Purchaser accompanied by such customary and reasonably acceptable documentation referred to above, (A) deliver to the Transfer Agent irrevocable instructions that the Transfer Agent 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 Securities Act if required by the Transfer Agent to effect the removal of the legend in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Any shares subject to legend removal under this Section 5.9 may be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchaser by crediting the account of the Purchasers prime broker with the DTC System as directed by such Purchaser. The Company shall be responsible for the fees of its Transfer Agent and all DTC fees associated with such issuance.
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6. Conditions of Closing
6.1 Conditions to the Obligation of the Purchasers
The several obligations of each Purchaser to consummate the transactions to be consummated at the Closing, and to purchase and pay for the Securities being purchased by it at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement, are subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on and as of immediately prior to the Closing with the same force and effect as though made immediately prior to the Closing (it being understood and agreed by each Purchaser that for purposes of this Section 6.1(a), in the case of any representation and warranty of the Company contained herein (i) which is not hereinabove qualified by application thereto of a materiality standard, such representation and warranty need be true and correct only in all material respects or (ii) which is made as of a specific date, such representation and warranty need be true and correct only as of such specific date) and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by the Company of each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement as of immediately prior to the Closing.
(b) Performance. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed or observed by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) No Injunction. The purchase of and payment for the Securities by each Purchaser shall not be prohibited or enjoined by any law or governmental or court order or regulation and no such prohibition shall have been threatened in writing.
(d) Consents. The Company shall have obtained the consents, permits, approvals, registrations and waivers necessary for the consummation of the purchase and sale of the Securities and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreements.
(e) Transfer Agent. The Company shall have furnished all required materials to the Transfer Agent to reflect the issuance of the Shares at the Closing.
(f) Adverse Changes. Since the date hereof, no event or series of events shall have occurred that has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(g) No Amendments to Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement shall not have been amended or modified, and no waiver thereunder shall have occurred, that would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the benefits the Purchaser would reasonably expect to receive under this Agreement.
(h) Closing of Merger. All conditions precedent to the consummation of the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit thereof, and the Merger shall become effective concurrently with the Closing.
(i) Minimum Amount. The Purchasers under this Agreement or similar securities purchase agreements shall purchase, in the aggregate, at least $50 million in Shares at the Closing; provided, however, that if any Purchasers failure, inability or unwillingness to purchase at the Closing the Securities that such Purchaser has agreed pursuant to this Agreement to purchase at the Closing is the reason that this condition is not satisfied at the Closing, such Purchaser may not rely on this condition to excuse such failure, inability or unwillingness.
(j) Opinion of Company Counsel. The Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers and the Placement Agents the opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., dated as of the Closing Date in customary form and substance to be reasonably agreed upon with the Purchasers.
(k) Compliance Certificate. The Chief Executive Officer of the Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers at the Closing Date a certificate certifying that the conditions specified in Sections 6.1(a) (Representations and Warranties), 6.1(b) (Performance), 6.1(c) (No Injunction) and 6.1(n) (Listing Requirements) of this Agreement have been fulfilled.
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(l) Secretarys Certificate. The Secretary of the Company shall have delivered to the Purchasers at the Closing Date a certificate certifying (i) the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of the Company; (ii) the Bylaws of the Company; and (iii) resolutions of the Companys Board of Directors (or an authorized committee thereof) approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(m) Registration Rights Agreement. The Company shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the Registration Rights Agreement) to the Purchasers.
(n) Listing Requirements. The Common Stock shall be listed on a National Exchange and shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the SEC or the National Exchange from trading thereon nor shall suspension by the SEC or the National Exchange have been threatened, as of the Closing Date, either (i) in writing by the SEC or the National Exchange or (ii) by falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of the National Exchange (with a reasonable prospect of delisting occurring after giving effect to all applicable notice, appeal, compliance and hearing periods); and the Company shall have filed with Nasdaq a Notification Form: Listing of Additional Shares for the listing of the Shares and shall have received confirmation from Nasdaq that it has completed its review of such form with no objections to the transactions contemplated herein.
6.2 Conditions to the Obligation of the Company
The obligation of the Company to consummate the transactions to be consummated at the Closing, and to issue and sell to each Purchaser the Common Stock to be purchased by it at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement, is subject to the satisfaction or waiver in writing of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained herein of such Purchaser shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date, with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the Closing Date (it being understood and agreed by the Company that, in the case of any representation and warranty of such Purchaser contained herein which is not hereinabove qualified by application thereto of a materiality standard, such representation and warranty need be true and correct only in all material respects) and consummation of the Closing shall constitute a reaffirmation by such Purchaser of each of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of such Purchaser contained in this Agreement as of the Closing Date.
(b) Performance. Such Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all obligations and conditions herein required to be performed or observed by such Purchaser on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Injunction. The purchase of and payment for the Securities by such Purchaser shall not be prohibited or enjoined by any law or governmental or court order or regulation.
(d) Closing of Merger. All conditions precedent to the consummation of the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement shall have been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to the benefit thereof, and the Merger shall have become effective.
(e) Registration Rights Agreement. Such Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the Registration Rights Agreement to the Company.
(f) Payment. The Company shall have received payment, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the full amount of the purchase price for the number of Securities being purchased by such Purchaser at the Closing as set forth in Exhibit A.
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7. Termination
7.1 Conditions of Termination
This Agreement shall terminate and be void and of no further force and effect, and all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any further liability on the part of any party in respect thereof, upon the earlier to occur of (a) such date and time that the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, (b) with respect to any individual Purchaser, upon the mutual written agreement of the Company and such Purchaser, (c) if, on the Closing Date, any of the conditions of Closing set forth in Section 6 have not been satisfied as of the time required hereunder to be so satisfied or waived by the party entitled to grant such waiver, or are not capable of being satisfied and, as a result thereof, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not be and are not consummated, or (d) if the Closing has not occurred on or before the seven (7) month anniversary of the date of this Agreement (the Outside Date), other than as a result of a Willful Breach of a Purchasers obligations hereunder; provided, however, that nothing herein shall relieve any party to this Agreement of any liability for common law fraud or for any Willful Breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, obligation or other provision contained in this Agreement and each party will be entitled to any remedies at law or in equity to recover losses, liabilities or damages arising from any such Willful Breach. Upon the termination of this Agreement in accordance with this Section 7, except as set forth in the proviso to the immediately preceding sentence of this Section 7, this Agreement shall be void and of no further effect and any portion of the Purchase Price paid by any Purchaser to Company in connection herewith shall promptly (and in any event within one (1) business day) following such termination be returned to such Purchaser. Willful Breach means a deliberate act or deliberate failure to act, taken with the actual knowledge that such act or failure to act would result in or constitute a material breach of this Agreement. The Company shall notify Purchaser of the termination of the Merger Agreement promptly after the termination thereof.
8. Miscellaneous Provisions
8.1 Public Statements or Releases
Except as set forth in Section 5.4, neither the Company nor any Purchaser shall make any public announcement with respect to the existence or terms of this Agreement or the transactions provided for herein without the prior approval of the other parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to compliance with Section 5.4, nothing in this Section 8.1 shall prevent any party from making any public announcement it considers necessary in order to satisfy its obligations under the law, including applicable securities laws, or under the rules of any national securities exchange.
8.2 Interpretation
The words hereof, herein and hereunder and words of similar import when used in this Agreement will refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and section and subsection references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The headings in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and will not limit or otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they will be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation. The phrases the date of this Agreement, the date hereof and terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires, will be deemed to refer to the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement. The meanings
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given to terms defined herein will be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. All matters to be agreed to by any party hereto must be agreed to in writing by such party unless otherwise indicated herein. References to agreements, policies, standards, guidelines or instruments, or to statutes or regulations, are to such agreements, policies, standards, guidelines or instruments, or statutes or regulations, as amended or supplemented from time to time (or to successors thereto).
8.3 Notices
Any notices or other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be given (a) when delivered if personally delivered to the party for whom it is intended, (b) when delivered, if sent by electronic mail or facsimile with receipt confirmed during normal business hours of the recipient, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipients next business day, (c) three (3) days after having been sent by certified or registered mail, return-receipt requested and postage prepaid, or (d) one (1) business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next business day delivery, with written verification of receipt:
(a) If to the Company (on or prior to the Closing Date), addressed as follows:
Graphite Bio, Inc.
201 Haskins Way, Ste #210
South San Francisco, California
Attention: Kim Drapkin, Chief Executive Officer
Email: [Omitted]
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Goodwin Procter LLP
100 Northern Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Attention: Mitchell S. Bloom
Andrew H. Goodman
Tevia K. Pollard
Shoaib Ghias
Email: mbloom@goodinwlaw.com
agoodman@goodwinlaw.com
tpollard@goodwinlaw.com
sghias@goodwinlaw.com
If to the Company (following the Closing Date):
LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.
445 Marine View Ave., Ste. #320
Del Mar, California 92014
Attention: Evert Schimmelpennink, Chief Executive Officer
Email: [Omitted]
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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C.
One Market Plaza, Spear Tower, Suite 3300
San Francisco, California 94105
Attention: Ethan Lutske
Email: elutske@wsgr.com
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C.
12235 El Camino Real
San Diego, CA 92130
Attention: Dan Koeppen
Email: dkoeppen@wsgr.com
(b) If to any Purchaser, at its address set forth on Exhibit A or to such e-mail address, facsimile number or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 8.3.
Any Person may change the address to which notices and communications to it are to be addressed by notification as provided for herein.
8.4 Severability
If any part or provision of this Agreement is held unenforceable or in conflict with the applicable laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the invalid or unenforceable part or provisions shall be replaced with a provision which accomplishes, to the extent possible, the original business purpose of such part or provision in a valid and enforceable manner, and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain binding upon the parties hereto.
8.5 Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; Waiver of Trial by Jury
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to choice of laws or conflicts of laws provisions thereof that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction, except to the extent that mandatory principles of Delaware law may apply.
(b) The Company and each of the Purchasers hereby irrevocably and unconditionally:
(i) submits for itself and its property in any legal action or proceeding relating solely to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, to the general jurisdiction of the any state court or United States Federal court sitting in the City of New York, in the State of New York;
(ii) consents that any such action or proceeding may be brought in such courts, and waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the venue of any such action or proceeding in any such court or that such action or proceeding was brought in an inconvenient court and agrees not to plead or claim the same to the extent permitted by applicable law;
(iii) agrees that service of process in any such action or proceeding may be effected by mailing a copy thereof by registered or certified mail (or any substantially similar form of mail), postage prepaid, to the party, as the case may be, at its address set forth in Section 8.3 or at such other address of which the other party shall have been notified pursuant thereto;
(iv) agrees that nothing herein shall affect the right to effect service of process in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the right to sue in any other jurisdiction for recognition and enforcement of any judgment or if jurisdiction in the courts referenced in the foregoing clause (i) are not available despite the intentions of the parties hereto;
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(v) agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court may be enforced in the courts of any jurisdiction to which such party is subject by a suit upon such judgment, provided that service of process is effected upon such party in the manner specified herein or as otherwise permitted by law;
(vi) agrees that to the extent that such party has or hereafter may acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, such party hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement, to the extent permitted by law; and
(vii) irrevocably and unconditionally waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding in relation to this Agreement.
8.6 Waiver
No waiver of any term, provision or condition of this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed to be, or be construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such term, provision or condition or as a waiver of any other term, provision or condition of this Agreement.
8.7 Expenses
Except as otherwise agreed, each party shall pay its own out-of-pocket fees and expenses, including the fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants and consultants employed by such party, incurred in connection with the proposed investment in the Securities, the negotiation of the Transaction Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby.
8.8 Assignment
None of the parties may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement or designate another person (i) to perform all or part of its obligations under this Agreement or (ii) to have all or part of its rights and benefits under this Agreement, in each case without the prior written consent of (x) the Company, in the case of a Purchaser and (y) the Purchasers, in the case of the Company, provided that a Purchaser may, without the prior consent of the Company, assign its rights to purchase the Securities hereunder to any of its affiliates or to any other investment funds or accounts managed or advised by the investment manager who acts on behalf of Purchaser (provided each such assignee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and makes the same representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 hereof). In the event of any assignment in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the assignee shall specifically assume and be bound by the provisions of this Agreement by executing a writing agreeing to be bound by and subject to the provisions of this Agreement and shall deliver an executed counterpart signature page to this Agreement and, notwithstanding such assumption or agreement to be bound hereby by an assignee, no such assignment shall relieve any party assigning any interest hereunder from its obligations or liability pursuant to this Agreement.
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8.9 Confidential Information
(a) Each Purchaser 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), other than to such Persons affiliates, outside attorney, accountant, auditor or investment advisor only to the extent necessary to permit evaluation of the investment, and the performance of the necessary or required tax, accounting, financial, legal, or administrative tasks and services and other than as may be required by law.
(b) The Company may request from the Purchasers such additional information as the Company may deem reasonably necessary to evaluate the eligibility of the Purchaser to acquire the Securities, and the Purchaser shall promptly provide such information as may reasonably be requested to the extent readily available; provided, that the Company agrees to keep any such information provided by the Purchaser confidential, except (i) as required by the federal securities laws, rules or regulations and (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by other laws, rules or regulations, at the request of the staff of the SEC or regulatory agency or under the regulations of Nasdaq. The Purchaser acknowledges that the Company may file a form of this Agreement with the SEC as an exhibit to a periodic report or a registration statement of the Company.
8.10 Reliance by and Exculpation of BofA, Citigroup, Piper and William Blair as Placement Agents
(a) Each Purchaser agrees and acknowledges for the express benefit of each Placement Agent, its affiliates and its representatives that (i) such Placement Agent, its affiliates and its representatives have not made, and will not make any representations or warranties with respect to the Company or the offer and sale of the Securities, and such Purchaser will not rely on any statements made by such Placement Agent, orally or in writing, to the contrary, (ii) such Purchaser will be responsible for conducting its own due diligence investigation with respect to the Company and the offer and sale of the Securities, (iii) such Purchaser will be purchasing Securities based on the results of its own due diligence investigation of the Company and such Placement Agent and each of its directors, officers, employees, representatives, and controlling persons have made no independent investigation with respect to the Company, the Securities, or the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of any information supplied to the Purchaser by the Company, (iv) such Purchaser has negotiated the offer and sale of the Securities directly with the Company, and such Placement Agent will not be responsible for the ultimate success of any such investment and (v) the decision to invest in the Company will involve a significant degree of risk, including a risk of total loss of such investment. Each Purchaser further represents and warrants to each Placement Agent that it, including any fund or funds that it manages or advises that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities, is permitted under its constitutive documents (including, without limitation, all limited partnership agreements, charters, bylaws, limited liability company agreements, all applicable side letters with investors, and similar documents) to make investments of the type contemplated by this Agreement. This Section 8.10 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
(b) The Company agrees and acknowledges that the Placement Agents may rely on its representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained in this Agreement and each Purchaser agrees that the Placement Agents may rely on such Purchasers representations and warranties contained in this Agreement as if such representations and warranties, as applicable, were made directly to the Placement Agents.
(c) Neither the Placement Agents nor any of their respective affiliates or representatives (1) shall be liable for any improper payment made in accordance with the information provided by the Company; (2) makes any representation or warranty, or has any responsibilities as to the validity, accuracy, value or genuineness of any information, certificates or documentation delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant to the Transaction Agreements or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated therein; or (3) shall be liable (x) for any action taken, suffered or omitted by any of them in good faith and reasonably believed to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by the Transaction Agreements or (y) for anything which any of them may do or refrain from doing in connection with the Transaction Agreements, except in each case for such partys own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
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(d) The Company agrees that the Placement Agents, their respective affiliates and representatives shall be entitled to (1) rely on, and shall be protected in acting upon, any certificate, instrument, notice, letter or any other document or security delivered to any of them by or on behalf of the Company, and (2) be indemnified by the Company for acting as a Placement Agent hereunder pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in the Engagement Letters.
8.11 Third Parties
Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the parties to this Agreement any rights, remedies, claims, benefits, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, and no Person that is not a party to this Agreement (including, without limitation, any partner, member, shareholder, director, officer, employee or other beneficial owner of any party to this Agreement, in its own capacity as such or in bringing a derivative action on behalf of a party to this Agreement) shall have any standing as a third party beneficiary with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the Placement Agents are an intended third-party beneficiary of the representations and warranties of the Company and of each Purchaser set forth in Section 3, Section 4 and Section 6.1(j) and Section 8.10 respectively, of this Agreement and (b) the Purchasers and the Company acknowledge and agree that the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to seek to specifically enforce the Purchasers obligations to purchase the Securities hereunder and the Companys obligations to issue the Securities hereunder.
8.12 Independent Nature of Purchasers Obligations and Right
The obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under this Agreement. Nothing contained herein, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as, and the Company acknowledges that the Purchasers do not so constitute, a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group, and the Company will not assert any such claim with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Company acknowledges that the Purchasers are not acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company acknowledges and each Purchaser confirms that it has independently participated in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated hereby with the advice of its own counsel and advisors. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purpose. For reasons of administrative convenience only, certain Purchasers and their respective counsels have chosen to communicate with the Company through Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel to the Placement Agents. Each such Purchaser acknowledges that Latham & Watkins LLP has rendered legal advice to the Placement Agents and not to such Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, and that each such Purchaser has relied for such matters on the advice of its own respective counsel. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Purchaser.
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8.13 Equal Treatment of Purchasers
No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Purchaser to amend this Agreement or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the Purchasers. For clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Purchaser by the Company and negotiated separately by each Purchaser and shall not in any way be construed as the Purchasers acting in concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of shares of Common Stock or otherwise.
8.14 Counterparts
This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.
8.15 Entire Agreement; Amendments
This Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto respecting the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, negotiations, understandings, representations and statements respecting the subject matter hereof, whether written or oral. No modification, alteration, or change in any of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid or binding upon the parties hereto unless made in writing and duly executed by the Company and the Purchasers of at least a majority of the Securities purchased or to be purchased hereunder. 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 Purchaser without the written consent of such Purchaser unless such amendment or waiver applies to all Purchasers in the same fashion and provided that the consent of each Purchaser is required for (a) the waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.1(f), Section 6.1(g), Section 6.1(h) or Section 6.1(n) or (b) the amendment of the Outside Date, the Purchase Price (including, without limitation, any amendment to the Merger Agreement that would increase the Purchase Price) or the type of security to be issued hereunder. The Company, on the one hand, and each Purchaser, on the other hand, may by an instrument signed in writing by such parties waive the performance, compliance or satisfaction by such Purchaser or the Company, respectively, with any term or provision hereof or any condition hereto to be performed, complied with or satisfied by such Purchaser or the Company, respectively.
8.16 Survival
The covenants, representations and warranties made by each party hereto contained in this Agreement shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities in accordance with their respective terms. Each Purchaser shall be responsible only for its own representations, warranties, agreements and covenants hereunder.
8.17 Mutual Drafting
This Agreement is the joint product of each Purchaser and the Company and each provision hereof has been subject to the mutual consultation, negotiation and agreement of such parties and shall not be construed for or against any party hereto.
8.18 Additional Matters
For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and confirm that the terms and conditions of the Securities were determined as a result of arms-length negotiations.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
COMPANY: | ||
GRAPHITE BIO, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Kimberlee C. Drapkin |
Name: | Kimberlee C. Drapkin | |
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
[Signature Page to Subscription Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
PURCHASERS
EXHIBIT B
FORM OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the Agreement) is made as of [ ], by and among Graphite Bio, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the Company), and the several investors signatory hereto (each, an Investor and collectively, the Investors).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company is party to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 14, 2023 (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Merger Agreement), by and among the Company, Generate Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (Merger Sub), and LENZ Therapeutics, Inc. (Surviving Corporation), a Delaware corporation, (the Merger Agreement), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into the Surviving Corporation, with the Surviving Corporation surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the Merger);
WHEREAS, following the Merger, the Company will change its name to LENZ Therapeutics, Inc.;
WHEREAS, the Company and certain of the Investors are parties to a Subscription Agreement, dated as of November 14, 2023 (the Subscription Agreement), pursuant to which such Investors are purchasing shares of capital stock of the Company; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and the Subscription Agreement, and pursuant to the terms of the Subscription Agreement, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement in order to grant certain rights to the Investors as set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and promises set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
AGREEMENT
1. Certain Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms, for all purposes of this Agreement, shall have the meanings specified in this Section 1. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Subscription Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Subscription Agreement.
Affiliate has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that for purposes of this Agreement, the Investors and their Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company and its Affiliates, on the other, shall not be deemed to be Affiliates of one another.
Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Allowed Delay has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(ii).
Board means the board of directors of the Company.
Business Day means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close; provided, however, for clarification, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to stay at home, shelter-in-place, non-essential employee or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in the State of New York are generally open for use by customers on such day.
Common Stock means shares of the common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, of the Company.
Company has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Effective Date means the date that a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.1(a) is first declared effective by the SEC.
Effectiveness Deadline means, with respect to the Shelf Registration Statement or New Registration Statement, the sixtieth (60th) calendar day following the Closing Date (or, in the event the SEC reviews and has written comments to the Shelf Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, the ninetieth (90th) calendar day following the Closing Date); provided, however, that if the Company is notified by the SEC (either orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) that the Shelf Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Deadline as to such Shelf Registration Statement shall be the fifth (5th) Business Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates otherwise required above; provided, further, that if the Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the SEC is closed for business, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the SEC is open for business; provided, further, that if the SEC is closed for operations due to a government shutdown or lapse in appropriations, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended by the same amount of days that the SEC remains closed for operations; and provided, further, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the audited financial statements of any acquired company or other entity or pro forma financial statements that are required by the Securities Act to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement or New Registration Statement are unavailable as of the Effectiveness Deadline provided for above, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be delayed until such time as such financial statements are prepared or obtained by the Company, it being understood that such date shall in no event extend beyond the seventy-fifth (75th) calendar day following the Closing Date.
Effectiveness Failure has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
Effectiveness Period has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b)(i).
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder.
Filing Deadline has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Filing Failure has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
FINRA means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Form S-3 means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor or similar registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC that permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.
Free Writing Prospectus means an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to an offer of Registrable Securities.
Holder means any Investor or its permitted assignee owning or having the right to acquire Registrable Securities.
Losses has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).
Maintenance Failure has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
Merger Agreement has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
National Exchange means each of the following, together with any successor thereto: the NYSE American, The New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market and the Nasdaq Capital Market.
New Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Opt-Out Notice has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
Participating Holder means with respect to any registration, any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement.
Prospectus means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Shelf Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A or Rule 430B promulgated under the Securities Act), all amendments and supplements to such prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement, and all other material incorporated by reference in such prospectus.
Register, registered and registration refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement or document.
Registrable Securities means (i) the Shares and (ii) any Common Stock issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, Shares; provided, that the Holder has completed and delivered to the Company a selling stockholder questionnaire and any other information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may, from time to time, reasonably request for inclusion in a Registration Statement pursuant to applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Shares or any such Common Stock, as applicable, shall cease to be Registrable Securities for all purposes hereunder upon the earliest to occur of the following: (a) the sale by any Person of such Shares or any such Common Stock, as applicable, either pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144 or 145 (or any similar provision then in effect) (in which case, only such Shares or any such Common Stock, as applicable, sold shall cease to be Registrable Securities), (b) such Shares or any such Common Stock shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such Shares or any such Common Stock not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by Company and subsequent public distribution of such Shares or any such Common Stock shall not require registration under the Securities Act, or (c) such Shares or any such Common Stock shall cease to be outstanding.
Registration Delay Payments has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a).
Registration Statement means any registration statement of the Company that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement filed with, or to be filed with, the SEC under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, including the related Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including pre- and post-effective amendments, and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.
Remainder Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Required Holders means the Holders holding a majority of the Registrable Securities outstanding from time to time.
Rule 144 means Rule 144 as promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar successor rule that may be promulgated by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
Rule 145 means Rule 145 promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC having substantially the same effect as such Rule.
SEC means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
SEC Guidance means any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the SEC staff under the Securities Act; provided, that any such oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests are reduced to writing by the SEC.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar successor federal statute and the rules and regulations thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
Shares means (i) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to the Investors pursuant to the Subscription Agreement and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable at the closing of the Merger to the Investors in respect of all equity securities of the Surviving Corporation held by the Investors immediately prior to the closing of the Merger.
Shelf Registration Statement has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
Surviving Corporation has the meaning set forth in the recitals.
Transaction Agreements means this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement, all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreement executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder or thereunder.
2. Registration Rights.
2.1 Shelf Registration.
(a) Registration Statements. On or prior to the date ten (10) days following the Closing Date (the Filing Deadline), the Company shall prepare and file with
the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (or, if Form S-3 is not then available to the Company, on such form of registration statement as is then available to effect a registration for resale of the Registrable Securities), subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(c), for the resale of the Registrable Securities pursuant to an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the Shelf Registration Statement). Such Shelf Registration Statement shall, subject to the limitations of Form S-3, include the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities to be registered therein and shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to written comments received from the SEC upon a review of such Shelf Registration Statement) the Plan of Distribution substantially in the form of Annex A (which may be modified to respond to comments, if any, provided by the SEC). To the extent the staff of the SEC does not permit all of the Registrable Securities to be registered on the Shelf Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.1(a) or for any other reason any Registrable Securities are not then included in a Registration Statement filed under this Agreement, the Company shall (i) inform each of the Participating Holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement as required by the SEC and/or (ii) withdraw the Shelf Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a New Registration Statement), in either case covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the SEC, on Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering, unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will first be reduced by Registrable Securities not acquired pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (whether pursuant to registration rights or otherwise), and second by Registrable Securities acquired pursuant to the Subscription Agreement (applied, in the case that some Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Shares held by such Holders, subject to a determination by the SEC that certain Holders must be reduced first based on the number of Shares held by such Holders). In the event the Company amends the Shelf Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii)
above, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC, as promptly as allowed by the SEC or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more Registration Statements on Form S-3 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Shelf Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement (the Remainder Registration Statement). In no event shall any Participating Holder be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement unless in response to a comment or request from the staff of the SEC or another regulatory agency; provided, however, that if the SEC requests that a Participating Holder be identified as a statutory underwriter in the Registration Statement, such Holder will have an opportunity to withdraw from the Registration Statement.
(b) Effectiveness.
(i) The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to have the Shelf Registration Statement or New Registration Statement declared effective as soon as practicable but in no event later than the Effectiveness Deadline (including filing with the SEC a request for acceleration of effectiveness in accordance with Rule 461 promulgated under the Securities Act), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement or New Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (A) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold by the Holders, or (B) the date that all the Shares cease to be Registrable Securities (the Effectiveness Period); provided that the Company will not be obligated to update the Registration Statement and no sales may be made under the applicable Registration Statement during any Allowed Delay of which the Holders have received notice. The Company shall notify the Participating Holders of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement by e-mail as promptly as practicable, and shall, if requested provide the Participating Holders with copies of the final Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby.
(ii) For not more than forty-five (45) consecutive days or for a total of not more than ninety (90) days and on not more than two (2) occasions, in each case in any twelve (12) month period, the Company may suspend the use of any Prospectus included in any Registration Statement contemplated by this Section 2 if (A) the negotiation or consummation of a transaction by the Company is pending or an event has occurred, which negotiation, consummation or event, the Board reasonably believes, upon the advice of legal counsel, would require additional disclosure by the Company in the Registration Statement of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for keeping confidential and the non-disclosure of which in the Registration Statement would be expected, in the reasonable determination of the Board, upon the advice of legal counsel, to cause the Registration Statement to fail to comply with applicable disclosure requirements, or (B) the Company determines in good faith, upon advice of legal counsel, that such suspension is necessary to amend or supplement the 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 (1) notify each Participating Holder in writing of the commencement of an Allowed Delay, but shall not (without the prior written consent of a Participating Holder) disclose to such Participating Holder any material non-public information giving rise to an Allowed Delay, (2) advise the Participating Holders in writing to cease all sales under such Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay and (3) use commercially reasonable efforts to terminate an Allowed Delay as promptly as practicable.
(c) In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) register the resale of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form reasonably acceptable to the Holders and (ii) undertake to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 promptly after such form is available; provided that 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.
2.2 Expenses. The Company will pay all 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 and listing fees, but excluding discounts, commissions, fees of underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers or similar securities industry professionals with respect to the Registrable Securities being sold.
2.3 Company Obligations. The Company will use reasonable efforts to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms hereof, and pursuant thereto the Company will:
(a) prepare the required Registration Statement including all exhibits and financial statements required under the Securities Act to be filed therewith, and provide copies to and permit each Participating Holder to review each Registration Statement and all amendments and supplements thereto prior to their filing with the SEC and a reasonable opportunity to furnish comments thereon (it being acknowledged and agreed that if a Participating Holder does not object to or comment on the aforementioned documents, then the Participating Holder shall be deemed to have consented to and approved the use of such documents);
(b) file with the SEC a Registration Statement relating to the Registrable Securities including all exhibits and financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith, and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act;
(c) 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 Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the distribution of all of the Registrable Securities covered thereby;
(d) (i) notify the Participating Holders by facsimile or e-mail as promptly as practicable after any Registration Statement is declared effective and shall simultaneously provide the Participating Holders with copies of any related Prospectus to be used in connection with the sale or other disposition of the securities covered thereby (provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the EDGAR system), (ii) promptly notify the Participating Holders no later than one (1) trading day following the date (A) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or any order by the SEC preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary or final Prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for such purposes, (B) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction and (C) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction;
(e) promptly notify the Participating Holders, 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 (provided that such notice shall not, without the prior written consent of a Participating Holder, disclose to such Participating Holder any material nonpublic information regarding the Company), 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;
(f) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement, Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement such information as the Participating Holders reasonably request to be included therein relating to the plan of distribution with respect to such Registrable Securities, and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement, Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement, Free Writing Prospectus or post-effective amendment;
(g) furnish to each Participating Holder 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 Participating Holder, 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 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 Participating Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Holder that are covered by such Registration Statement;
(h) on or prior to the date on which the Registration Statement is declared effective, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify, or cooperate with the Participating Holders and their respective counsel, in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws of those jurisdictions within the United States as any Participating Holder or their respective counsel reasonably request in writing and do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary or advisable to keep such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) in effect during the Effectiveness Period, provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to taxation or general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(i) within two (2) Business Days after a Registration Statement which covers Registrable Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver to the transfer agent for such Registrable Securities (with copies to the Participating Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement) confirmation that such Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC;
(j) cooperate with each Participating Holder participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with FINRA or any other securities regulatory authority;
(k) otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 172 under the Securities Act, file any final Prospectus, including any supplement or amendment thereof, with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, promptly inform the Participating Holders 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 Participating Holders 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, an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;
(l) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of all Registrable Securities on each securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted and on each inter-dealer quotation system on which any of the Common Stock is then quoted; and
(m) 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 shares of Common Stock 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) the date as all of the Registrable Securities shall have been otherwise transferred, new certificates for such Shares not bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by Company and subsequent public distribution of such Shares shall not require registration under the Securities Act or (B) such date as all of the Registrable Securities shall have been resold; (ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act; and (iii) furnish 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 Exchange Act, (B) a copy of 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.
2.4 Obligations of the Investors.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Agreement, no Holder of Registrable Securities may include any of its Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement unless the Holder furnishes to the Company a completed and signed selling stockholder questionnaire in customary form that contains such information regarding Investor, the securities of the Company held by Investor and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities as shall be reasonably requested by the Company to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of any Registration Statement if such Investor elects to have any of its Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement. Each Holder who intends to include any of its Registrable Securities in the Registration Statement shall promptly furnish the Company in writing such other information as the Company may reasonably request in writing. Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that the information in the selling shareholder questionnaire or request for further information as described in this Section 2.4(a) will be used by the Company in the preparation of the Registration Statement and hereby consents to the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement. The Company shall not be obligated to file more than one post-effective amendment or supplement in any sixty (60) day period following the date such Registration Statement is declared effective for the purposes of naming Holders as selling security holders who are not named in such Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness.
(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. The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to (i) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and any Affiliate thereof, (ii) any FINRA affiliations, (iii) any natural persons who have the power to vote or dispose of the Common Stock and (iv) any other information as may be requested by the SEC, FINRA or any state securities commission. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, it will not commence a disposition of Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder has received (i) written confirmation from the Company of the availability of the Registration Statement, or (ii) copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or amended Registration Statement as described, and, in each case, has also received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or 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 2.1(b) or (ii) the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 2.3(d) and Section 2.3(e) hereof, such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities, until the Investor is advised by the Company that such dispositions may again be made and/or the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed and, if so directed by the Company, each Holder will deliver to the Company or destroy (at the Companys expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in its possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
2.5 Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Participating Holder who sells Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and its officers, directors, members, employees, and agents, successors and assigns, and each other person, if any, who controls such Participating Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expense (including reasonable attorney fees) (collectively, Losses), actually incurred, joint or several, to which they may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; or (ii) any violation by the Company or its agents of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act applicable to the Company or its agents and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with such registration; and will reimburse such Participating Holder who sells Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and each such officer, director, employee, agent or member and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Losses arise out of or are based upon (x) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in reliance upon or in conformity with information furnished by such Investor or any such controlling person in writing specifically for use in such Registration Statement or Prospectus (preliminary, final or summary) or any amendment or supplement thereto or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holders proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that each Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose and (y) the
use by a Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that such Prospectus is outdated or defective or (z) an Investors (or any other indemnified Persons) failure to send or give a copy of the Prospectus or supplement (as then amended or supplemented), if required, pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule) to the Persons asserting an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Registrable Securities to such Person if such statement or omission was corrected in such Prospectus or supplement.
(b) Indemnification by the Participating Holders. Each Investor agrees, severally but not jointly with any other Investor, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees, stockholders, agents, and each person who controls the Company (within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) against any Losses (i) arising out of, based on, or resulting from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (preliminary, final or summary) or any amendment or supplement thereto or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged 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, or a document incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing; or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holders proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) related to the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.
(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written 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, however, that such indemnified party shall, at the expense of the indemnified party, be entitled to counsel of its own choosing to monitor such defense); provided that, subject to the preceding sentence, 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, or (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, 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. The indemnification provided for under this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the indemnified party, or any officer, director, employee, agent, affiliate, or controlling person of such indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Shares.
(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 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 Securities 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 be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.
2.6 Effect of Failure to File and Obtain and Maintain Effectiveness of Registration Statement.
(a) Registration Delay Payments. If (i) any Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities required to be covered thereby and required to be filed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement is (A) not filed with the SEC on or before the Filing Deadline (a Filing Failure) or (B) not declared effective by the SEC on or before the applicable Effectiveness Deadline, (an Effectiveness Failure) or (ii) on any day after the applicable Effective Date (other than during an Allowed Delay) sales of all of the Registrable Securities required to be included on such Registration Statement cannot be made pursuant to such Registration Statement or otherwise, including, without limitation, because of the suspension of trading or any other limitation imposed by a National Exchange, a failure to keep such Registration Statement effective, a failure to disclose such information as is necessary for sales to be made pursuant to such Registration Statement, a failure to register a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock or a failure to maintain the listing of the Common Stock, but excluding the inability of any Investor to sell the Registrable Securities covered thereby due to market conditions (a Maintenance Failure) then, as partial relief for the damages to any holder by reason of any such delay in or reduction of its ability to sell the underlying shares of Common Stock (which remedy shall constitute the Investors exclusive monetary relief for such delay but shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in equity, including, without limitation, specific performance), the Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities relating to such Registration Statement an amount in cash equal to one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate Purchase Price (as such term is defined in the Subscription Agreement) of such Investors Registrable Securities whether or not included in such Registration Statement on each of the following dates: (i) the day of a Filing Failure; (ii) the day of an Effectiveness Failure; (iii) the initial day of a Maintenance Failure; (iv) on the thirtieth day after the date of a Filing Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Filing Failure is cured; (v) on the thirtieth day after the date of an Effectiveness Failure and every thirtieth day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Effectiveness Failure is cured; and (vi) on the thirtieth day after the date of a Maintenance Failure and every thirtieth
day thereafter (pro rated for periods totaling less than thirty days) until such Maintenance Failure is cured. The payments to which a holder shall be entitled pursuant to this Section 2.6 are referred to herein as Registration Delay Payments. Registration Delay Payments shall be paid monthly within ten (10) Business Days of the event or delay giving rise to such payment and each subsequent 30-day period, as applicable. In the event the Company fails to make Registration Delay Payments in a timely manner, such Registration Delay Payments shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month (prorated for partial months) until paid in full.
(b) Limitations on Registration Delay Payments. The parties agree that (1) notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Subscription Agreement, no Registration Delay Payments shall be payable with respect to any period after the expiration of the Effectiveness Period (as defined below) (it being understood that this sentence shall not relieve the Company of any Registration Delay Payments accruing prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period), and in no event shall the aggregate amount of Registration Delay Payments payable to an Investor exceed, in the aggregate, six percent (6.0%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Investor pursuant to the Subscription Agreement and (2) except with respect to (A) the initial day of failure to file a Registration Statement by the Filing Deadline and (B) the initial day of any Maintenance Failure, in no event shall the Company be liable in any thirty (30) day period for Registration Delay Payments under this Agreement in excess of one percent (1.0%) of the aggregate purchase price paid by the Investors pursuant to the Subscription Agreement.
2.7 Opt-Out Notice. Each Investor may deliver written notice (an Opt-Out Notice) to the Company requesting that such Investor not receive notices from the Company otherwise required by this Section 2; provided, however, that such Investor may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from an Investor (unless subsequently revoked), (i) the Company shall not deliver any notices pursuant to this Section 2 to such Investor and such Investor shall no longer be entitled to the rights associated with any such notice and (ii) each time prior to such Investors intended use of an effective Registration Statement, such Investor will notify the Company in writing at least two (2) Business Days in advance of such intended use, and if a notice of an Allowed Delay was previously delivered (or would have been delivered but for the provisions of this Section 2.7) and the related suspension period remains in effect, the Company will so notify such Investor, within one (1) Business Day of such Investors notification to the Company, by delivering to such Investor a copy of such previous notice of an Allowed Delay, and thereafter will provide such Investor with the related notice of the conclusion of such Allowed Delay immediately upon the conclusion thereof (which notices shall not contain any material, nonpublic information or subject such Investor to any duty of confidentiality).
3. Miscellaneous.
3.1 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. 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 state and federal courts located in the State 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 of the parties 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.
3.2 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. A Holder 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 Holder to such person; provided that such Holder complies with all laws applicable thereto and the provisions of the Subscription Agreement and provides written notice of assignment to the Company promptly after such assignment is effected, and such person agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein.
3.3 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 Holders, 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 the Common Stock is 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 to refer to such Person and the term Registrable Securities shall be deemed to include the securities received by the Holders in connection with such transaction unless such securities are otherwise freely tradable by the Holders after giving effect to such transaction.
3.4 Entire Agreement; Amendment. This Agreement and the other Transaction Agreements constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties with regard to the subjects hereof and thereof. Any previous agreements among the parties relative to the specific subject matter hereof are superseded by this Agreement. This Agreement may be
amended only by a writing signed by the Company and the Required Holders. 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 Holders.
3.5 Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made as set forth in Section 8.3 of the Subscription Agreement.
3.6 Third Parties. This Agreement does not create any rights, claims or benefits inuring to any person that is not a party hereto nor create or establish any third party beneficiary hereto; provided, that the indemnified parties are intended third party beneficiaries of Section 2.5.
3.7 Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.
3.8 Headings. The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.
3.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a .pdf format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or .pdf signature page were an original thereof.
3.10 Delays or Omissions. It is agreed that no delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach or default, or any acquiescence therein, or of any similar breach or default thereafter occurring; nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. It is further agreed that any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind or character of any breach or default under this Agreement, or any waiver of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in writing, and that all remedies, either under this Agreement, by law or otherwise, shall be cumulative and not alternative.
3.11 Consents. Any permission, consent, or approval of any kind or character under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing.
3.12 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. THE PARTIES HERETO AGREE THAT IRREPARABLE DAMAGE WOULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT THAT ANY OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT WERE NOT PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS SPECIFIC INTENT OR WERE OTHERWISE BREACHED. IT IS ACCORDINGLY AGREED THAT THE PARTIES SHALL BE ENTITLED TO AN INJUNCTION OR INJUNCTIONS, WITHOUT BOND, TO PREVENT OR CURE BREACHES OF THE PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT AND TO ENFORCE SPECIFICALLY THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF, THIS BEING IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER REMEDY TO WHICH THEY MAY BE ENTITLED BY LAW OR EQUITY, AND ANY PARTY SUED FOR BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY DEFENSE THAT A REMEDY IN DAMAGES WOULD BE ADEQUATE.
3.13 Construction of Agreement. No provision of this Agreement shall be construed against either party as the drafter thereof.
3.14 Section References. Unless otherwise stated, any reference contained herein to a Section or subsection refers to the provisions of this Agreement.
3.15 Variations of Pronouns. All pronouns and all variations thereof shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the context in which they are used may require.
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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 day and year first written above.
GRAPHITE BIO, INC. | ||
By: |
Name: |
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Title: |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement or caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement as of the day and year first written above.
[INVESTOR] | ||
By: |
Name: |
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Title: |
Annex A
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The selling stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock received after the date of this prospectus from a selling stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of common stock or interests in shares of common stock on any stock 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 stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of 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; |
| 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; |
| through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders 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 by applicable law. |
The selling stockholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the shares of common stock, from time to time, under this prospectus, or under an amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), amending the list of selling stockholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling stockholders under this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer the shares of common stock in other circumstances, in which case the transferees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling stockholders for purposes of this prospectus.
In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the selling stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The selling stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions 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 aggregate proceeds to the selling stockholders from the sale of the common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the common stock less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the selling stockholders 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 common stock to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.
The selling stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule, or another available exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
The selling stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the common stock or interests therein may be underwriters within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling stockholders who are underwriters within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealer or underwriter, and any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
We have advised the selling stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates. In addition, to the extent applicable, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the selling stockholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state securities laws, relating to the registration of the shares offered by this prospectus.
We have agreed with the selling stockholders to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part effective and to remain continuously effective until the earlier of (1) such time as all of the shares covered by this prospectus have been disposed of pursuant to and in accordance with such registration statement or (2) (B) the date that all the shares covered by this prospectus cease to be Registrable Securities.