As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2014
(to be converted as described herein to
a corporation named)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 8071 | 27-4674207 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrants principal executive office)
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Daniel I. Goldberg, Esq.
Reed Smith LLP 599 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 Telephone: (212) 521-5400 Facsimile: (212) 521-5450 |
Brad L. Shiffman, Esq.
Blank Rome LLP 405 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10174 Telephone: (212) 885-5000 Facsimile: (212) 885-5001 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement is declared effective.
If any of the Securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, check the following box: x
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement for the same offering: o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement for the same offering: o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act Registration Statement number of the earlier effective Registration Statement for the same offering: o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o | Accelerated filer o | |
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company x |
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1) | Amount of Registration Fee (2) | ||||||
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (2) (3) | $ | 31,353,600 | $ | 4,039 | ||||
Representatives Warrants (4) | | | ||||||
Shares of Common Stock underlying Representatives Warrants (2) (5) | $ | 1,704,000 | $ | 220 | ||||
Total | $ | 33,057,600 | $ | 4,259 |
(1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(2) | Pursuant to Rule 416, the securities being registered hereunder include such indeterminate number of additional securities as may be issued after the date hereof as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
(3) | Includes shares of common stock the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any. |
(4) | No fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
(5) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(g) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the representatives warrants is $1,704,000, which is equal to 125% of $1,363,200 (5% of $27,264,000). |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION | DATED MARCH 18, 2014 |
This is a firm commitment initial public offering of 2,272,000 shares of common stock by Signal Genetics, Inc. No public market currently exists for our shares. We anticipate that the initial public offering price of our shares of common stock will be between $10.00 and $12.00 per share.
We have applied to list our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol SGNL. No assurance can be given that our application will be approved.
We are an emerging growth company under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and will be eligible for reduced public company disclosure requirements. See Summary Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company.
Our business and an investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See Risk Factors beginning on page 12 of this prospectus for a discussion of information that you should consider before investing in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Per Share | Total | |||||||
Public offering price | $ | $ | ||||||
Underwriting discounts and commissions (1) | $ | $ | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ |
(1) | The underwriters will receive compensation in addition to the underwriting discount. The registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, also registers for sale warrants to purchase shares of our common stock to be issued to the representative of the underwriters. We have agreed to issue the warrants to the representative of the underwriters as a portion of the underwriting compensation payable to the underwriters in connection with this offering. See Underwriting beginning on page 111 of this prospectus for a description of compensation payable to the underwriters, including a description of the warrants. |
We have granted a 45-day option to the underwriters to purchase up to 340,800 additional shares of common stock solely to cover over-allotments, if any.
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment therefor on or about , 2014.
, 2014
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus that we may specifically authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to offer and sell our securities. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.
For investors outside the United States: We have not and the underwriters have not done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside
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the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.
This prospectus includes statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. We believe that the data obtained from these industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies are reliable. The Company is ultimately responsible for all disclosure included in this prospectus.
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our securities, you should carefully read this entire prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes and the information set forth under the headings Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in each case included elsewhere in this prospectus. In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, the terms we, us, our and Signal Genetics refer to Signal Genetics LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods prior to the consummation of the corporate conversion (as described below), and such terms refer to Signal Genetics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods after the consummation of the corporate conversion. Except as disclosed in the prospectus, the consolidated financial statements and selected historical consolidated financial data and other financial information included in this registration statement are those of Signal Genetics LLC and its subsidiaries and do not give effect to the corporate conversion. We have provided definitions for some of the terms we use to describe our business and industry and other terms used in this prospectus in the Glossary of Terms beginning on page 122 of this prospectus.
Immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we will complete a number of transactions pursuant to which Signal Genetics, Inc. will succeed to the business of Signal Genetics LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries and the members of Signal Genetics LLC will become stockholders of Signal Genetics, Inc. In this prospectus, we refer to such transactions as the corporate conversion.
We are an emerging commercial stage, molecular diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer. Our mission is to develop, validate and deliver innovative diagnostic services that enable better patient-care decisions. We were founded in January 2010 and became the exclusive licensee in our licensed field to the renowned research on multiple myeloma performed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, or UAMS, in April 2010.
Multiple myeloma, or MM, is a hematologic, or blood, cancer that develops in the bone marrow and specifically affects the plasma cells of the bone marrow. Normal plasma cells produce immunoglobins, otherwise known as antibodies, which help the body fight infection and disease. In MM, the normal plasma cells become malignant and inhibit the production of normal blood cells and antibodies, including red blood cells, white blood cells and blood platelets, and crowd the bone marrow with malignant plasma cells, which produce an abnormal antibody called a monoclonal protein, or M protein. The hallmark characteristic of myeloma is a high level of M protein in the blood. MM can also cause soft spots in the bone known as osteolytic lesions. MM is the second most common blood cancer after leukemia and represents approximately 15% of all hematomalignancies. According to the American Cancer Society, or ACS, approximately 22,350 new cases of MM are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2013 and approximately 10,710 deaths from MM are expected to occur in the United States in 2013. More Americans will die from MM this year than from any other blood cancer. Although a relatively rare disease, MM is responsible for 2% of all cancer deaths in the United States each year and will kill more Americans than melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. There are an estimated 77,617 people currently living with MM in the United States. The five-year survival rate for people with MM is about 43%. The ACS estimates that the lifetime risk in the United States of getting MM is 1 in 149.
To date, there are no known causes of MM. The most significant risk factor for developing MM is age. According to Nature: International Weekly Journal of Sciences supplement on MM published on December 15, 2011 in volume 480, page S-33 through S-80, or Natures MM supplement, 96% of MM cases are diagnosed in people older than 45 years of age, and more than 63% are diagnosed in people older than 65 years of age. There are usually no early stage symptoms of MM and a suspicion of a MM diagnosis is often made incidentally through routine blood tests which reveal low numbers of red blood cells and high levels of protein. Once diagnosed, MM is classified into one of three categories in a process known as
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staging. Staging is the process of determining how widespread or advanced the cancer is. Under the International Staging System, or ISS, MM is classified into three stages based upon the presence of serum beta-2 microglobulin and serum albumin, which are blood proteins that are measured through a blood test. Staging is the key factor in a physicians determination of the course of treatment for a patient and that patients outlook or prognosis for recovery. Prognosis is typically based on the existence of different signs, symptoms and circumstances. Certain laboratory and clinical findings, or prognostic indicators, provide important information for myeloma, including when treatment should begin and what treatments to use, based upon a patients individual risk for relapse. However, those experts caring for MM patients have been faced with a staging system that predates the current era and a large amount of new genomic information that could assist in the staging process. The traditional approach which utilizes cytogenetic techniques, such as karyotyping and fluorescent in-situ hybridization, or FISH, for staging has not been able to accurately stage MM patients or fully assess the risk of relapse and classify MM. A more comprehensive and systematic approach is necessary to meet this unmet medical need.
Our flagship diagnostic service is the Myeloma Prognostic Risk Signature, or MyPRS®. The MyPRS® test is a microarray-based gene expression profile, or GEP, assay that tests for presence of specific groups of genes that can predict low or high level risk of early relapse. The MyPRS® test provides a whole-genomic expression profile of a persons myeloma. The GEP is a genetic fingerprint of a cancer, with each cancer being unique, just as each fingerprint is unique. Many recent studies show that the GEP of cancerous tumors can help make personalize treatment possible, and our MyPRS® test is the first one to be developed for multiple myeloma according to the 2007 John Shaughnessy paper in the Journal Blood. MyPRS® can be used at the time of initial myeloma diagnosis or when the patient has experienced a relapse to aid physicians in selecting the optimal treatment regime for each patients unique condition. Specifically the test helps allow:
| risk stratification to help distinguish patients with indolent myeloma that may not need treatment from those patients with aggressive MM that requires more aggressive treatment; and |
| identification of important genomic alterations that allow for myeloma sub classification that may affect the specific choice of therapies. |
We offer our MyPRS® test in our approximately 2,800 square foot state-of-the-art laboratory located in Little Rock, Arkansas, which has been certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988, or CLIA, to perform high complexity testing. We are either licensed, or not subject to licensure, and can thus perform our test using specimens collected in 48 of the 50 states. We are currently seeking a license in New York and Rhode Island for the MyPRS® test, which would enable us to perform MyPRS® testing for patients located in New York and Rhode Island. We are dedicated to making our extensively validated diagnostic services available to all patients who need them.
In addition, we are exploring, and peer-review studies are being conducted on, the use of our MyPRS® test as an indicator of progression to MM in patients with asymptomatic monoclonal gammopathies, or AMG, the precursor conditions to MM. There is, however, currently no projected timeline for our use of MyPRS® in AMG patients. For a discussion of MyPRS® in AMG patients see Market Opportunity, below.
Over the next 12 to 18 months, we intend to expand our test menu by adding tests that are used to help manage MM patients. There is a broad array of molecular and cytogenetic testing modalities that are utilized in the management of patients with MM, such as conventional cytogenetics, FISH, molecular tests, M protein serum test and flow cytometry (especially in the context of minimum residual disease testing for MM therapy response). We also plan to launch a targeted next generation gene sequencing service to assist our physician customers in further characterizing their MM patients and assisting with identifying the potential to use targeted therapies based upon the specific genetic mutations of their patients tumors. It is our intent to add such complementary services to our proprietary MyPRS® franchise to provide a more comprehensive suite of tests for our oncologist customers and their patients.
Over the past several decades, improved awareness and diagnostic testing technologies have led to an increase in the early diagnosis of cancer. Although the goals of these efforts were to decrease cancer mortality,
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national data demonstrate significant increases in early-stage disease, without a proportional decline in later-stage disease. What has emerged amongst clinicians and researchers has been an appreciation of the complexity of cancer. Cancers are heterogeneous and do not follow a uniform course. In some cases, cancer can lead to severe disease and death, and in other cases can be indolent. Unfortunately, identifying those patients who will likely die of something other than their particular cancer diagnosis is difficult.
Before 1990, treatment of MM was limited to the use of melphalan (a chemotherapeutic agent) and prednisone (a steroid), which were of marginal effectiveness. In 1986, high dose dexamethasone (a corticosteroid), which is used to induce plasma cell lysis, was introduced and in the early 1990s, induction therapy with vincristine, doxorubicin (a chemotherapeutic agent) and dexamethasone, followed by stem cell transplant after high dose melphalan was introduced and resulted in longer term remissions but patients always relapsed. Then, in 1999, thalidomide was added to existing regimens for MM. The first clinicians to attempt the use of thalidomide in the treatment of MM were at the UAMS. The initial use of thalidomide ultimately led to the development of Revlimid®, Celgenes blockbuster drug that is now part of most front-line therapies for the treatment of MM. In 2006, Velcade® was approved and added to existing regimens. Thalomid®, Revlimid® and Velcade® are now considered cornerstones of therapy in addition to stem cell transplant after bone marrow ablation.
Although new treatments for patients with MM have become available over the last 10 years, their use has not resulted in uniformly better outcomes, such as overall survival. In part, this is because MM is a disease with significant tumor heterogeneity at the molecular level. Specialists in MM have long recognized the need for diagnostic tests that accurately identify the mutations and genotype of each patient with MM in order to allow risk stratification, predict prognosis and response to treatment. Because it is impossible to use classic staging modalities such as clinical factors and cell morphology (the microscopic review of tumor material by a pathologist) to classify MM, physicians have used plasma cell labeling indices, chemical markers, imaging studies and genetic abnormalities at the chromosomal level ( e.g. , cytogenetics) to improve their ability to predict prognosis. Unfortunately, these tests provide limited information as to a particular MM patients prognosis and response to treatment. With the use of MyPRS® GEP, it has become possible to go beyond morphological and chromosomal level analysis and identify the individual MM genomic profile of each individual patient.
Unlike many forms of cancer, multiple myeloma is often asymptomatic, even in advanced stages. MM begins as a precursor condition known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS. It is estimated that more than 3% of the population of the United States 50 years of age or older have MGUS. Characterized by an excess of particular immunoglobulins or M proteins in the serum or urine with less than 10% plasma cells in the bone marrow, MGUS is not itself harmful to health. But every year, 1% of MGUS patients will develop MM.
Aside from the precursor condition MGUS, MM exists on a spectrum from asymptomatic or smoldering multiple myeloma, or AMM, to full-blown MM. Collectively, these precursor conditions, MGUS and AMM are referred to as AMG. Preventative treatment of every AMG patient is not a viable option. As noted in The Disperenzieri paper ( Blood October 2013), along with the prohibitive expense, many doctors worry that they could do more harm than good if they treat otherwise healthy people, the vast majority of whom will never develop MM. A 1988 clinical study discussed in Natures MM supplement, using the best treatments available at the time, concluded that treating patients even at the smoldering stage caused unnecessary side effects with no impact on survival time.
The applicability of our test for use in predicting MM progression from AMG could create a substantial increase in the potential patient population eligible for MyPRS® testing and as such represents an important pillar of our growth strategy. We estimate the total potential MM testing market at approximately 33,500 patients per year, including newly diagnosed and relapsed patients. We believe we currently service just over 2% of this market. We estimate that the addition of an AMG progression indication feature for the MyPRS® test could expand the MyPRS® addressable market to more than 130,000 patients per year. As a specialty focused diagnostic laboratory company, we hope for such opportunities to expand our service offerings for the benefit and convenience of physicians and patients.
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We believe the MyPRS® test is one of the most extensively validated molecular prognostic assays on the market today. There are more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications that substantiate the clinical validity and utility of the MyPRS® test. MyPRS® is the only GEP-based prognostic assay commercially available in the United States to determine which patients have a high-risk form of MM.
Additionally, the MyPRS® test provides oncologists with the molecular subtype of each patients particular form of MM. Molecular subtypes can be used to further stratify the level of risk severity of a patients MM as well as assist the physician in choosing the most appropriate therapy while potentially avoiding therapies that may be less beneficial or harmful.
Furthermore, MyPRS® provides a virtual karyotype (a characterization of the chromosomal complement of an individual or a species, including number, form and size of the chromosomes), that can identify cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with MM. The accuracy of this method was validated against a range of conventional cytogenetic techniques and was shown to have an accuracy of up to 89%. Certain cytogenetic abnormalities are commonly used, along with clinical and cell biology parameters in the traditional work up of MM patients for determining disease stage and to help guide therapy decisions for patients. The virtual karyotype algorithm in MyPRS® was designed to be an alternative to conventional methods that can be time consuming, expensive, subjective and can often fail to provide results due to the difficulties encountered when attempting to culture myeloma cells.
We are the exclusive licensee to the intellectual property developed at UAMSs Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, or MIRT, in our licensed field. MIRT is one of the largest centers in the world dedicated solely to MM and related diseases as well as to prevention and management of treatment related consequences, including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). UAMS developed a novel Total Therapy Approach, designed as a first line treatment for MM that includes a full array of treatment modalities. This approach is considered, by many in the oncology community, to have achieved positive results, particularly in patients diagnosed with low-risk MM who are treated at UAMS MIRT. A number of treatment improvements for myeloma patients were first discovered at MIRT. The physicians at MIRT routinely utilize our MyPRS® test to identify patients who may be eligible for provision of total therapy.
We are the exclusive provider of GEP based testing to UAMS. UAMS has a thirty-year history of clinical and research knowledge and experience. UAMS has treated more than 10,000 patients since the programs inception in 1989. UAMS has amassed more than 10,000 gene array samples, many of which were used to discover and validate the MyPRS® test. More than 90% of patients who are treated at UAMS continue to be actively followed by UAMS over the course of their lifetime many patients have been followed for more than 20 years.
Because of our exclusive relationship with UAMS, we are uniquely positioned to benefit from the breadth of clinical research and expertise developed at UAMS. We intend to continue to use this relationship to improve our MyPRS® test and develop additional indications for the MyPRS® test, as well as additional tests. Our relationship with UAMS also provides us with credibility within the oncology community beyond that related to the MyPRS® validation we have received in published articles, and we benefit from this association in our pursuit of additional collaborations with leading universities and research institutions.
We currently license, or own outright, ten (10) issued patents and twenty-six (26) pending patent applications, many of which protect and defend our exclusive ability to market the MyPRS® test as well as additional proprietary tests and treatments. We also have six registered U.S. trademarks to further differentiate our products and services in the marketplace.
There are four issued U.S. patents related to the MyPRS® test, which form the basis of our right to exclude others from practicing the MyPRS® test. The patents claim methods of gene expression-based
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classification for multiple myeloma using RNA from plasma cells, methods of identifying groups of genes that can distinguish normal and multiple myeloma plasma cells by isolating RNA from CD138 positive plasma cells and identifying differentially expressed genes, methods of diagnosing multiple myeloma by examining mRNA levels or chromosomal translocations of particular genes from plasma cells, and methods of determining the prognosis of a multiple myeloma patient by determining the copy number of the CKS1B gene in plasma cells. CKS1B is one of the genes in the 70 gene signature.
In addition to the issued U.S. patents, we have several pending patent applications in the U.S. and abroad directed to other aspects of the MyPRS® test. For example, one U.S. application, along with Canadian and European counterpart applications, describes the full 70 gene signature used in the MyPRS® test. Another pending U.S. application provides methods of prognosing subjects with MGUS using the 70 gene signature. We fully expect that additional advances will come out of our ongoing work and form the basis of additional intellectual property to protect and refine the MyPRS® test, through new patent filings, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights.
We currently focus our sales efforts exclusively on leading academic research hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. Given our limited selling and marketing capabilities, focusing our sales efforts on these academic research hospitals and clinics provides an efficient way to reach the largest segment of MM patients with our limited resources. Selling into academic research hospitals and clinics is a complex process that requires technical knowledge and the ability to engage in discourse to convince technical and administrative stakeholders to adopt new diagnostic tests or therapies. Our current sales person is well versed in the science and technology behind our MyPRS® test. We will continue to grow our sales force with expertise necessary to interface successfully with these institutions.
The extensive scientific evidence that substantiates the MyPRS® test is a key enabler for our sales effort that affords us access to the thought leaders within these institutions. The relationships that we build with the thought leaders at leading academic hospitals is a direct result of the quality of our science and the quality of our services and helps to secure continued access to these accounts and the MM patients they treat. It also affords us the opportunity to expand our offerings as we add additional services to our test menu.
We successfully obtained a positive Local Coverage Determination, or LCD, in March 2011 from the Arkansas Medicare Administrative Contractor, or MAC, which at the time was Pinnacle Medical Services for MyPRS®. The current MAC is Novitas Health Solutions. We have also received reimbursement approval from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas and we are an in-network provider to their patient population. We anticipate that with additional hiring of managed care professionals, we will be able to achieve positive coverage determinations from a majority of the major third-party payors in the United States. However, those efforts may take quite some time and may not be successful.
Our specimens are tested and interpreted by highly qualified oncology-focused laboratory professionals with more than 56 years of cumulative experience with gene expression-based diagnostic testing technology. Because our clinical staff is highly specialized in oncology, we are better positioned to consult with our oncologist customers to help them derive maximum value from the diagnostic and prognostic data generated by our tests.
Our goal is to deliver innovative diagnostic services that enable physicians to make better-informed treatment decisions regarding the care of their cancer patients. We intend to do this by:
| Expanding the U.S. market penetration of our MyPRS® test by increasing the geographic coverage of our sales force which currently consists of one employee; |
| Broadening the base of healthcare insurance companies that have approved reimbursements for MyPRS® |
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| Expanding the diagnostic indications for MyPRS® to include AMG, the precursor condition to MM; |
| Establishing partnerships with other reference laboratories to expand the market reach for MyPRS®; |
| Pursuing collaborations with pharmaceutical companies who focus on developing therapies to treat MM and its precursor disease; |
| Expanding our information technology infrastructure to further improve our customer service experience; |
| Continuing to leverage our relationship with UAMS via our exclusive license agreement; |
| Expanding our test offering with the addition of conventional tests used by physicians who care for MM patients; |
| Pursuing additional collaborations and in-licensing to expand our service offering; and |
| Continuing to reduce the costs associated with the development, manufacture and interpretation of our proprietary genomic tests and services. |
Our business and our ability to execute our business strategy are subject to a number of risks of which you should be aware before you decide to buy our common stock. In particular, you should carefully consider the following risks, which are discussed more fully in Risk Factors beginning on page 12 of this prospectus.
| We are an early stage company with a limited commercial history and a history of net losses; we expect to incur net losses in the future, and we may never achieve sustained profitability. |
| We may need to raise additional financing to meet our liquidity requirements. |
| If our CLIA certificate or any other required license or certification is lost, suspended or restricted, we may not be able to perform or get paid for any lab tests, temporarily or permanently. |
| A small number of test ordering sites account for most of the sales of our tests and services. If any of these sites orders fewer tests from us for any reason, our revenues could decline. |
| Our business depends on our ability to successfully develop and commercialize novel cancer diagnostic tests and services, which is time consuming and complex, and our development efforts may fail. |
| If we are unable to obtain regulatory clearance or approvals in the United States or if we experience delays in receiving clearance or approvals, our growth strategy may not be successful and our business may not be viable. |
| If we are unable to execute our marketing strategy for our cancer diagnostic tests and are unable to gain acceptance in the market, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenue to sustain our business. |
| We rely on a limited number of third parties for manufacture and supply of all of our laboratory instruments, tests and materials, and we may not be able to find replacement suppliers or manufacturers in a timely manner in the event of any disruption, which could adversely affect our business. |
| If our sole laboratory facility becomes damaged or inoperable, or we are required to vacate the facility, our ability to provide services and pursue our research and development efforts may be jeopardized. |
| We expect to continue to incur significant expenses to develop and market our diagnostic tests, which could make it difficult for us to achieve and sustain profitability. |
| If pathologists and oncologists decide not to order our diagnostic tests, we may be unable to generate sufficient revenue to sustain our business. |
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| We depend on certain collaborations with third parties for the supply of certain tissue samples and biological materials that we use in our research and development efforts. If the costs of such collaborations increase after we complete our initial public offering or our third-party collaborators terminate their relationship with us, our business may be materially harmed. |
| Our inability to attract, hire and retain a sufficient number of qualified sales professionals would hamper our ability to increase demand for our tests, to expand geographically and to successfully commercialize any other diagnostic tests or services we may develop. |
| We outsource our billing and collections to a third-party provider. Our provider may fail in its duties to us and thereby reduce our cash collections and harm our business. |
| Health care policy changes, including recently enacted legislation reforming the U.S. health care system, may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. |
| Our commercial success could be compromised if third-party payors, including managed care organizations and Medicare, do not provide coverage and reimbursement, breach, rescind or modify their contracts or reimbursement policies or delay payments for our molecular diagnostic tests. |
| We depend on Medicare and a limited number of private payors for a significant portion of our revenues and if these or other payors stop providing reimbursement or decrease the amount of reimbursement for our tests, our revenues could decline. |
| If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, were to begin requiring approval or clearance of our tests, we could incur substantial costs and time delays associated with meeting requirements for pre-market clearance or approval or we could experience decreased demand for, or reimbursement of, our tests. |
| If we were required to conduct additional clinical trials prior to continuing to offer our proprietary MyPRS® test or any other tests that we may develop as Laboratory Developed Tests, or LDTs, those trials could lead to delays or failure to obtain necessary regulatory approval, which could cause significant delays in commercializing any future tests and harm our ability to achieve sustained profitability. |
| If we are unable to maintain intellectual property protection, our competitive position could be harmed. |
| Our rights to use technologies licensed from third parties are not fully within our control, and we may not be able to sell our diagnostic tests and other services if we lose our existing rights or cannot obtain new rights on reasonable terms. |
| The NASDAQ Capital Market may not list our securities for quotation on its exchange which could limit investors ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions. |
| Our independent registered public accounting firm has expressed substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. |
| We have identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. If our internal control over financial reporting is not effective, we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or file our periodic reports in a timely manner, which may cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and may lead to a decline in our stock price. |
As a company with less than $1.0 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from specified disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include:
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| being permitted to provide only two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations disclosure; |
| not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting; |
| not being required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditors report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements; |
| reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation; and |
| exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. |
We may take advantage of these provisions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company if we have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenues, have more than $700.0 million in market value of our capital stock held by non-affiliates or issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. We may choose to take advantage of some, but not all, of the available exemptions. We have taken advantage of some reduced reporting burdens in this prospectus. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock.
In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This provision allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of some accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this extended transition period for adopting new or revised accounting standards. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
We were founded in New York as a Delaware limited liability company in January 2010 under the name Myeloma Health LLC. Signal Genetics LLC was formed as a Delaware limited liability company in December 2010. Effective January 1, 2011, all of the member interests in Myeloma Health LLC were exchanged for member interests in Signal Genetics LLC and Myeloma Health LLC became a wholly-owned subsidiary. Prior to the closing of this offering, Signal Genetics LLC will convert from a Delaware limited liability company to a Delaware corporation. We refer to this as the corporate conversion. In connection with the corporate conversion, each unit of Signal Genetics LLC will be converted into shares of common stock of Signal Genetics, Inc., the members of Signal Genetics LLC will become stockholders of Signal Genetics, Inc. and Signal Genetics, Inc. will succeed to the business of Signal Genetics LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries. See Corporate Conversion for further information regarding the corporate conversion.
Our principal executive offices are located at 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10065, and our telephone number is (212) 486-0040. We currently intend to relocate our principal executive offices to the County of San Diego, California upon completion of this offering. Our website address is www.signalgenetics.com . Information contained in our website does not form part of the prospectus and is intended for informational purposes only.
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Issuer |
Signal Genetics, Inc. |
Common stock offered by us |
2,272,000 shares (or 2,612,800 shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). |
Over-allotment option |
The underwriters have an option for a period of 45 days to purchase up to 340,800 additional shares of our common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. |
Common stock to be outstanding
immediately after this offering |
4,819,561 shares. If the underwriters over-allotment option is exercised in full, the total number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after this offering would be 5,160,361. |
Use of Proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds received from this offering to fund continued clinical development of AMG indication for our MyPRS® test and for expansion of our commercial organization, the establishment of our San Diego corporate headquarters, the hiring of an executive team to manage and grow our business, including a Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Commercial Officer, the repayment of funds advanced to us by Mr. LeBow to pay certain offering expenses, working capital and general corporate purposes. Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment grade, interest bearing instruments and U.S. government securities. See Use of Proceeds on page 45 . |
Representatives warrants |
The registration statement of which this prospectus is a part also registers for sale warrants to purchase 113,600 shares of our common stock to the representative of the underwriters as a portion of the underwriting compensation payable to the underwriters in connection with this offering. The warrants will be exercisable for a four-year period commencing one year following the closing of this offering at an exercise price equal to 125% of the initial public offering price of the common stock. Please see Underwriting Representatives Warrants for a description of these warrants. |
Risk Factors |
See Risk Factors beginning on page 12 and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in our securities. |
Proposed symbol and listing |
We have applied for listing of our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol SGNL. |
Unless we indicate otherwise, the number of shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering is based on the following:
| the conversion of approximately $26.0 million of aggregate principal amount of debt (as of March 18, 2014) into an aggregate of 2,365,743 Class C units, or the debt conversion; |
| the consummation of the corporate conversion, pursuant to which all of the outstanding Class A and Class C units of Signal Genetics LLC will be automatically converted into an aggregate of 2,547,561 shares of our common stock; |
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| 722,401 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance upon the vesting of other certain restricted stock unit awards to be issued to certain employees of the Company immediately prior to or simultaneously with this offering; and |
| excludes an additional 363,306 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the new equity incentive plan we intend to adopt immediately prior to this offering. |
Unless specifically stated otherwise, the information in this prospectus:
| assumes completion of the corporate conversion and debt conversion; |
| assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 340,800 shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any; |
| assumes no exercise of the warrants granted to Aegis Capital Corp. upon completion of this offering; and |
| assumes an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the front cover of this prospectus. |
| assumes that the restricted stock unit awards, which will be settled in cash or stock in the board of directors sole discretion, will be settled solely in stock. |
Assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, the maximum number of shares of our common stock which shall be issued pursuant to the corporate conversion and debt conversion, which shall underly the restricted stock unit awards to be issued immediately prior to or simultaneously with this offering and which shall be reserved for future issuance under the new equity incentive plan shall in no event exceed 3,633,267 shares.
A $1.00 decrease in the initial public offering price would result in the issuance of 2,602,317 Class C units in the debt conversion and an aggregate of 2,802,317 shares issued in the corporate conversion, comprised of 200,000 shares issued upon the conversion of the outstanding Class A units and 2,602,317 shares issued upon the conversion of the outstanding Class C units. The maximum number of shares of our common stock which would be issued pursuant to the corporate conversion and debt conversion, which would underly the restricted stock unit awards to be issued immediately prior to or simultaneously with this offering and which would be reserved for future issuance under the new equity incentive plan would in no event exceed 3,996,594 shares.
A $1.00 increase in the initial public offering price would result in the issuance of 2,168,598 Class C units in the debt conversion and an aggregate of 2,335,264 shares issued in the corporate conversion, comprised of 166,666 shares issued upon the conversion of the outstanding Class A units and 2,168,598 shares issued upon the conversion of the outstanding Class C units. The maximum number of shares of our common stock which would be issued pursuant to the corporate conversion and debt conversion, which would underly the restricted stock unit awards to be issued immediately prior to or simultaneously with this offering and which would be reserved for future issuance under the new equity incentive plan would in no event exceed 3,330,495.
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The following table sets forth our summary statement of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013 derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated financial data for the year ended December 31, 2011 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements not contained herein. Our financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The results indicated below are not necessarily indicative of our future performance. You should read this information together with the sections entitled Capitalization, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||
Statement of Operations Data:
|
||||||||||||
Net revenue | $ | 4,316,484 | $ | 4,406,042 | $ | 1,915,627 | ||||||
Operating expenses:
|
||||||||||||
Cost of revenue | 2,498,940 | 3,042,184 | 2,472,390 | |||||||||
Selling and marketing | 378,769 | 1,325,245 | 530,876 | |||||||||
General and administrative | 1,788,141 | 2,907,947 | 2,589,787 | |||||||||
Research and development | 96,847 | 225,378 | 103,317 | |||||||||
Lease abandonment | | 932,287 | | |||||||||
Gain on legal settlement | (250,000 | ) | | | ||||||||
Total operating expenses | 4,512,697 | 8,433,041 | 5,696,370 | |||||||||
Operating loss | (196,213 | ) | (4,026,999 | ) | (3,780,743 | ) | ||||||
Interest expense | (1,963,456 | ) | (1,591,341 | ) | (561,029 | ) | ||||||
Loss from continuing operations | (2,159,669 | ) | (5,618,340 | ) | (4,341,772 | ) | ||||||
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0 | | (1,592,945 | ) | (8,492,722 | ) | |||||||
Net loss | (2,159,669 | ) | (7,211,285 | ) | (12,834,494 | ) | ||||||
Dividend to member unit holder of Myeloma Health LLC | (285,000 | ) | (390,000 | ) | (140,000 | ) | ||||||
Net loss attributable to member of Signal Genetics LLC | $ | (2,444,669 | ) | $ | (7,601,285 | ) | $ | (12,974,494 | ) |
As of December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||
Actual | Pro Forma (1) |
Pro Forma, As
Adjusted (2) (3) |
||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data:
|
||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 209,348 | $ | 209,348 | $ | 22,107,566 | ||||||
Total assets | 3,672,626 | 3,672,626 | 24,915,826 | |||||||||
Total liabilities | 27,559,661 | 1,646,125 | 1,646,125 | |||||||||
Total members deficiency/stockholders equity | (23,887,035 | ) | 2,026,501 | 23,269,701 |
(1) | The pro forma gives effect to (i) the debt conversion (based on the debt outstanding as of December 31, 2013) and (ii) the corporate conversion. |
(2) | The pro forma, as adjusted balance sheet data reflects the items described in footnote (1) above and gives effect to our receipt of estimated net proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock that we are offering at an assumed initial public offering price of the common stock of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets, and total stockholders equity by $2,090,000, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. |
(3) | The pro forma as adjusted data is illustrative only and will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. |
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Any investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Investors should carefully consider the risks described below and all of the information contained in this prospectus before deciding whether to purchase our common stock. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by these risks if any of them actually occur. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks we face as described below and elsewhere in this prospectus.
We have a limited commercial history. Substantially all of our revenue has been derived from our MyPRS® testing services, which were launched in 2011. We have historically incurred substantial net losses. We incurred losses attributable to a member of Signal Genetics LLC of $2.4 million and $7.6 million for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. From our inception in April 2010 through December 31, 2013, we had a members deficiency of $23.9 million. Losses are continuing through the date of this prospectus. We expect our losses to continue as a result of ongoing research and development expenses and increased selling and marketing costs. These losses have had, and will continue to have, an adverse effect on our working capital, total assets and members equity. Because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with our research, development and commercialization efforts, we are unable to predict when we will become profitable, and we may never become profitable. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our inability to achieve and then maintain profitability would negatively affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
As described in Note 1 of our accompanying financial statements, our auditors have issued a going concern opinion on our December 31, 2013 financial statements, expressing substantial doubt that we can continue as an ongoing business for the next twelve months after issuance of their report based on our having suffered recurring losses from operations and having a net capital deficiency, as discussed in Note 1 of our accompanying financial statements. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we cannot continue as a viable entity, our stockholders may lose some or all of their investment in us.
We will need to secure additional financing in order to support our operations. We can provide no assurances that any additional sources of financing will be available to us on favorable terms, if at all. Our forecast of the period of time through which our current financial resources will be adequate to support our operations and the costs to support our general and administrative, selling and marketing and research and development activities are forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties.
We will also need to raise additional capital to expand our business to meet our long-term business objectives. Additional financing, which is not in place at this time, may be from the sale of equity or convertible or other debt securities in a public or private offering, from an additional credit facility or strategic partnership coupled with an investment in us or a combination of both. We may be unable to raise sufficient additional financing on terms that are acceptable to us, if at all. Our failure to raise additional capital and in sufficient amounts may significantly impact our ability to expand our business. For further discussion of our liquidity requirements as they relate to our long-term plans, see the section entitled Liquidity and Capital Resources Capital Resources and Expenditure Requirements.
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Maintaining and growing revenues from MyPRS® depends on the availability of adequate coverage and reimbursement for our tests from third-party payors, including government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, private insurance plans and managed care programs. Health care providers that order diagnostic services such as MyPRS® generally expect that those diagnostic services are covered and reimbursed by third-party payors for all or part of the costs and fees associated with the diagnostic tests they order. If such diagnostic tests are not covered and reimbursed then their patients may be responsible for the entire cost of the test, which can be substantial. Therefore, health care providers generally do not order tests that are not covered and reimbursed by third-party payors in order to avoid subjecting their patients to such financial liability. The existence of adequate coverage and reimbursement for the procedures performed with MyPRS® by government and private insurance plans is central to the acceptance of MyPRS® and any future services we provide. During the past several years, third-party payors have undertaken cost-containment initiatives including different payment methods, monitoring health care expenditures, and anti-fraud initiatives. In addition, the Centers for Medicine & Medicaid Services, or CMS, which administers the Medicare program, has taken the position that the algorithm portion of multi-analyte algorithmic assays, or MAAAs, such as MyPRS® is not a clinical laboratory test and is therefore not reimbursable under the Medicare program. Although this position is only applicable to tests with a CMS determined national payment amount, it is possible that the local MACs, who make coverage and payment determinations for tests like MyPRS® may adopt this policy and reduce payment for MyPRS®. If that were to happen, reimbursement might be made for each gene used in the MyPRS® test and coverage and the amount of reimbursement for the genes we use in MyPRS® would be uncertain. We may not be able to achieve or maintain profitability if third-party payors deny coverage or reduce their current levels of payment, or if our costs of production increase faster than increases in reimbursement levels. Further, many private payors use coverage decisions and payment amounts determined by CMS as guidelines in setting their coverage and reimbursement policies. Future action by CMS or other government agencies may diminish payments to clinical laboratories, physicians, outpatient centers and/or hospitals. Those private payors that do not follow the Medicare guidelines may adopt different coverage and reimbursement policies for MyPRS® and coverage and the amount of reimbursement under those polices is uncertain. For some governmental programs, such as Medicaid, coverage and reimbursement differ from state to state, and some state Medicaid programs may not pay an adequate amount for MyPRS® or may make no payment at all. As the portion of the U.S. population over the age of 65 and eligible for Medicare continues to grow, we may be more vulnerable to coverage and reimbursement limitations imposed by CMS. Furthermore, the health care industry in the United States has experienced a trend toward cost containment as government and private insurers seek to control health care costs by imposing lower payment rates and negotiating reduced contract rates with service providers. Therefore, we cannot be certain that our services will be reimbursed at a level that is sufficient to meet our costs.
Due to the early stage nature of our business and our limited selling and marketing activities to date, we have historically derived a significant portion of our revenue from a limited number of test ordering sites. In particular, the most significant portion of our revenue is generated from our MyPRS® test services provided at our clinical laboratory in Little Rock, Arkansas for UAMS. Revenue sourced either from or through UAMS accounted for approximately 83% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 86% of our revenue for the year ended December 31, 2012. Accounts receivable sourced from or through UAMS at December 31, 2013 and 2012 accounted for approximately 62% and 85%, respectively.
Our test ordering sites are largely hospitals and cancer centers. Oncologists and pathologists at these sites order the tests on behalf of their oncology patients or as part of a clinical trial sponsored by a pharmaceutical company in which the patient is enrolled. We generally do not enter into formal written agreements with such test ordering sites and, as a result, we may lose the business of any of these test ordering sites at any time.
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The specialized nature of our industry results in an inherent scarcity of experienced personnel in the field. Our future success depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel (including medical, scientific, technical, commercial, business, regulatory and administrative personnel) necessary to support our anticipated growth, develop our business and perform certain contractual obligations. Given the scarcity of professionals with the scientific knowledge that we require and the competition for qualified personnel among life science businesses, we may not succeed in attracting or retaining the personnel we require to continue and grow our operations. The loss of a key employee, the failure of a key employee to perform in his or her current position or our inability to attract and retain skilled employees could result in our inability to continue to grow our business or to implement our business strategy.
We intend to increase our operating expenses substantially as we add sales representatives to increase our geographic sales coverage, increase our marketing capabilities, conduct clinical trials and increase our general and administrative functions to support our growing operations. We will need to generate significant sales to achieve and maintain profitability and we might not be able to do so. Even if we do generate significant sales, we might not be able to become profitable or sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. If our sales grow more slowly than we anticipate or if our operating expenses exceed our expectations, our financial performance will likely be adversely affected.
Our revenue is derived primarily from our laboratory testing services. We currently offer our MyPRS® test through our CLIA-certified and state licensed laboratory. MyPRS® is not assigned a specific CPT code, but our local MAC and BCBS of Arkansas have established a specific payment amount for the test, which is billed under a nonspecific code. We are in varying stages of research and development for other diagnostic tests that we may offer. We do not currently offer any other testing services. If we are unable to increase sales of MyPRS® or to successfully develop and commercialize other diagnostic tests, we will not produce sufficient revenues to become profitable. Our laboratory testing services are expensive and may be a negative factor for reimbursement.
Our current business strategy focuses on discovering, developing and commercializing molecular diagnostic tests and services. We believe the success of our business depends on our ability to fully commercialize our existing diagnostic tests and services and to develop and commercialize new diagnostic tests. In particular, it is essential to our business strategy that we expand the indications for use of MyPRS®. The first additional indications for which we hope MyPRS® will be used include MGUS and AMM. Collectively, these precursor conditions are referred to as AMG. However, we may be unsuccessful and MyPRS® may never be used for these indications. We may not succeed because it may never be accepted by the oncologist community, third-party payors may not pay for it, and the recent peer-reviewed publication that could support these indications for MyPRS® may not be sufficient to drive adoption support coverage and reimbursement and the results may not be duplicated in additional studies.
In addition, prior to commercializing our diagnostic tests, we must undertake time-consuming and costly development activities, sometimes including clinical studies, and may be required to obtain regulatory clearance or approval, which may be denied. This development process involves a high degree of risk, substantial expenditures and will occur over several years. Our development efforts may fail for many reasons, including:
| failure of the tests at the research or development stage; |
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| difficulty in accessing archival tissue samples, especially tissue samples with known clinical results; or |
| lack of clinical validation data to support the effectiveness of the test. |
Tests that appear promising in early development may fail to be validated in subsequent studies, and even if we achieve positive results, we may ultimately fail to obtain the necessary regulatory clearances, approvals or coverage and reimbursement. There is substantial risk that our research and development projects will not result in commercially viable tests, and that success in early clinical trials will not be replicated in later studies. At any point, we may abandon development of a test or be required to expend considerable resources repeating clinical trials, which would adversely impact our ability to generate revenues from that test. In addition, as we develop tests, we will have to make significant investments in research, development and marketing resources. If a clinical validation study of a particular test fails to meet its endpoint, we might choose to abandon the development of that test. Further, our ability to develop and launch diagnostic tests will likely depend on our receipt of additional funding beyond that obtained by this IPO. If our discovery and development programs yield fewer commercial tests than we expect, we may be unable to execute our business plan, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
As part of our business strategy, we may pursue acquisitions of businesses and assets. We also may pursue strategic alliances and joint ventures that leverage our core technology and industry experience to expand our offerings or distribution. For example, we may seek to purchase or license proprietary tests for other cancer indications or tests that complement our current offering for MM patients. We have limited experience with acquiring other companies and limited experience with forming strategic alliances and joint ventures. We may not be able to find suitable partners or acquisition candidates, and we may not be able to complete such transactions on favorable terms, if at all. If we make any acquisitions, we may not be able to integrate these acquisitions successfully into our existing business, and we could assume unknown or contingent liabilities. Any future acquisitions also could result in significant write-offs or the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Integration of an acquired company also may disrupt ongoing operations and require management resources that would otherwise focus on developing our existing business. We may experience losses related to investments in other companies, which could have a material negative effect on our results of operations. We may not identify or complete these transactions in a timely manner, on a cost-effective basis, or at all, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, technology license, strategic alliance or joint venture.
To finance any acquisitions or joint ventures, we may choose to issue shares of our common stock as consideration, which would dilute the ownership of our stockholders. If the price of our common stock is low or volatile, we may not be able to acquire other companies or fund a joint venture project using our stock as consideration. Alternatively, it may be necessary for us to raise additional funds for acquisitions through public or private financings. Additional funds may not be available on terms that are favorable to us, or at all.
We currently offer our proprietary laboratory services in our CLIA-certified laboratory. Because we currently offer these tests and services solely for use within our laboratory, we believe we may market the tests as LDTs. Under current FDA enforcement policies and guidance, LDTs generally do not require FDA pre-market clearance or approval before commercialization, and we have marketed our LDTs on that basis. The FDA may, in the future, change this regulatory policy and require pre-market approvals, or PMAs, for LDTs. We may be unable to obtain PMAs for our tests, which could make it impossible for us to legally market our services, which would mean that our business may not be viable.
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We are an early-stage company and have engaged in only limited selling and marketing activities for MyPRS®. There is not currently widespread awareness or adoption of our MyPRS® testing system. Although we believe that MyPRS® represents a promising commercial opportunity, it may never gain significant acceptance in the marketplace and therefore may never generate substantial revenue or profits for us. This is also true for any additional diagnostic tests we may market. We will need to establish a market for our diagnostic tests and build that market through physician education and awareness programs. Gaining acceptance in medical communities requires publication in leading peer-reviewed journals of results from studies using our tests. The process of publication in leading medical journals is subject to a peer review process and peer reviewers may not consider the results of our studies sufficiently novel or worthy of publication. Failure to have our studies published in peer-reviewed journals would limit the adoption of our tests and future coverage and reimbursement decisions for our tests could be negatively affected.
Our ability to successfully market the diagnostic tests that we may develop will depend on numerous factors, including:
| whether health care providers believe our diagnostic tests are clinically useful; |
| whether the medical community accepts that our diagnostic tests are sufficiently sensitive and specific to be meaningful in patient care and treatment decisions; and |
| whether health insurers, government health programs and other third-party payors will cover and pay for our diagnostic tests and, if so, whether they will adequately reimburse us. |
If any of these do not occur, we could fail to achieve widespread market acceptance of our diagnostic tests and our business would be materially harmed, as would our financial condition and results of operations.
In recent years, there have been numerous advances in technologies relating to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. There are several new cancer drugs under development that may increase patient survival time. There have also been advances in methods used to analyze very large amounts of genomic information. We must continuously develop new tests and enhance our existing tests to keep pace with evolving standards of care. Our tests could become obsolete unless we continually innovate and expand them to demonstrate benefit in patients treated with new therapies. New cancer therapies typically have only a few years of clinical data associated with them, which limits our ability to perform clinical studies and correlate sets of genes to a new treatments effectiveness. We plan to use part of the proceeds to fund continued clinical development of the AMG indication for our MyPRS® test. We may experience research and development, regulatory, market or other difficulties that could delay or prevent our introduction of new or enhanced tests. The research and development process generally takes a significant amount of time from design stage to product launch, and we may have to abandon a test in which we have devoted substantial resources and time. We cannot be certain that any tests we seek to develop will prove to be effective; that we will be able to obtain, in a timely manner or at all, necessary regulatory approvals; that the tests we develop can be provided at acceptable costs, with appropriate quality or that they will be covered or reimbursed; or that, if developed, these tests will be successfully marketed and achieve community acceptance. If we cannot adequately demonstrate the applicability of our tests to new treatments, sales of our tests and services could decline, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our success depends on the markets confidence that we can continue to provide reliable, high-quality diagnostic tests. We believe that our customers are likely to be particularly sensitive to test defects and errors, such as false positive or false negative results which could affect the patients eventual diagnosis and/or
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treatment. As a result, the failure of our tests or services to perform as expected would significantly impair our reputation and the public image of our tests and services, and we may be subject to legal claims arising from any defects or errors.
The marketing of MyPRS® and any future diagnostic tests that we may develop involves an inherent risk that such tests may prove to be defective. In that event, we may voluntarily implement a market withdrawal of such tests or may be required to do so by a regulatory authority. A recall of MyPRS® or one of our future diagnostic tests, or a similar product or service offered by another provider, could impair sales of the services we market as a result of confusion concerning the scope of the recall or as a result of the damage to our reputation for quality and safety.
We rely on third parties for the manufacture and supply of all of our laboratory instruments, equipment and materials, such as reagents, microarray chips and disposable test kits, that we need to perform our specialized diagnostic services, and rely on a limited number of suppliers for certain laboratory materials and some of the laboratory equipment with which we perform our diagnostic services. We do not have long-term contracts with our suppliers and manufacturers that commit them to supply equipment and materials to us. Certain of our suppliers provide us with analyte specific regents, or ASRs, which serve as building blocks in the diagnostic tests we conduct in our laboratory. These suppliers are subject to regulation by the FDA, and must comply with federal regulations related to the manufacture and distribution of ASR products. Because we cannot ensure the actual production or manufacture of such critical equipment and materials, or the ability of our suppliers to comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, we may be subject to significant delays caused by interruption in production or manufacturing. If any of our third-party suppliers or manufacturers were to become unwilling or unable to provide this equipment or these materials in required quantities or on our required timelines, we would need to identify and acquire acceptable replacement sources on a timely basis. While we have developed alternate sourcing strategies for the equipment and materials we use, we cannot be certain that these strategies will be effective and even if we were to identify other suppliers and manufacturers for the equipment and materials we need to perform our specialized diagnostic services, there can be no assurance that we will be able to enter into agreements with such suppliers and manufacturers or otherwise obtain such items on a timely basis or on acceptable terms, if at all. If we encounter delays or difficulties in securing necessary laboratory equipment or materials, including consumables, we would face an interruption in our ability to perform our specialized diagnostic services and experience other disruptions that would adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We currently derive substantially all of our revenues from our laboratory testing services. We do not have any clinical reference laboratory facilities other than our facility in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our facilities and equipment could be harmed or rendered inoperable by natural or man-made disasters, including fire, flooding and power outages, which may render it difficult or impossible for us to perform our tests or provide laboratory services for some period of time. The inability to perform our tests or the backlog of tests that could develop if our facility is inoperable for even a short period of time may result in the loss of customers or harm to our reputation or relationships with collaborators, and we may be unable to regain those customers or repair our reputation in the future. Furthermore, our facilities and the equipment we use to perform our research and development work could be costly and time-consuming to repair or replace, which could further delay our ability to provide our testing services.
Additionally, a key component of our research and development process involves using biological samples and the resulting data sets and medical histories, as the basis for our diagnostic test development. In some cases, these samples are difficult to obtain. If the parts of our laboratory facility where we store these biological samples are damaged or compromised, our ability to pursue our research and development projects,
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as well as our reputation, could be jeopardized. We carry insurance for damage to our property and the disruption of our business, but this insurance may not be sufficient to cover all of our potential losses and may not continue to be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all.
Further, if our laboratory became inoperable, we may not be able to license or transfer our proprietary technology to a third party, with established state licensure and CLIA certification under the scope of which our diagnostic tests could be performed following validation and other required procedures, to perform the tests. Even if we find a third party with such qualifications to perform our tests, such party may not be willing to perform the tests for us on commercially reasonable terms. We may have to reapply for state licensure and CLIA certification if we are unable to find a third party with such qualifications.
Our growth has placed, and will continue to place, a significant strain on our management and on our operational and financial resources and systems. Failure to manage our growth effectively could cause us to over-invest or under-invest, and result in losses or weaknesses. Additionally, our anticipated growth will increase the demands placed on our suppliers, resulting in an increased need for us to carefully monitor for quality assurance. Any failure by us to manage our growth effectively could have an adverse effect on our ability to achieve our development and commercialization goals.
We hold a number of insurance policies, including product liability insurance, property insurance and workers compensation insurance. We intend to obtain directors and officers liability insurance. If the costs of maintaining adequate insurance coverage increase significantly in the future, our operating results and cash flow could be materially adversely affected. Likewise, if any of our current insurance coverage should become unavailable to us or become economically impractical, we would be required to operate our business without indemnity from commercial insurance providers. If we operate our business without insurance, we could be responsible for paying claims or judgments against us that would have otherwise been covered by insurance, which could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
Our principal competition comes from the existing mainstream diagnostic methods that pathologists and oncologists use and have used for many years. It may be difficult to change the methods or behavior of the referring pathologists and oncologists to incorporate our molecular diagnostic testing in their practices. However, we believe that we can introduce our diagnostic tests successfully due to their clinical utility and the desire of pathologists and oncologists to find solutions for more accurate diagnosis, prognosis and personalized treatment options for MM and AMG patients. But this is not certain and if the health care providers who are in a position to order our tests do not adopt them, it could adversely affect our business.
We also face competition from companies that currently offer or are developing products to profile genes, gene expression or protein biomarkers in various cancers. Personalized genetic diagnostics is a new area of science, and we cannot predict what tests others will develop that may compete with or provide results superior to the results we are able to achieve with the tests we develop. Our competitors include public companies such as NeoGenomics, Inc., Quest Diagnostics, Abbott Laboratories, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., bioTheranostics, Inc. (part of bioMérieux SA), Genomic Health, Inc., Myriad Genetics Inc., Qiagen N.V., Foundation Medicine, Inc. and Response Genetics, Inc., Cancer Genetics, Inc., and many private companies, including Agendia B.V. Another source of competition comes from other scientific teams attempting to develop GEP signatures utilizing other genes or a subset of the genes utilized in our MyPRS® test. Two groups of note include the French IFM-15 gene signature and the Netherlands EMC-92 gene signature which have been studied by independent groups and compared to the UAMS GEP test, or MyPRS®.
We provide services in a segment of the health care industry that is highly fragmented and extremely competitive. Any failure to respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards could impair our ability to attract and retain clients. This industry is characterized by rapid technological change. It is
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anticipated that competition will continue to increase due to such factors as the potential for commercial applications of biotechnology and the continued availability of investment capital and government funding for cancer-related research. Our competitors may succeed in developing diagnostic tests and/or services that are superior to our tests and technologies, including our pipeline tests. This could render our tests obsolete and, as a result, they might not be ordered, thus impairing the viability of our business.
We expect that pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies will increasingly focus attention and resources on the personalized diagnostic sector as the potential and prevalence increases for molecularly targeted oncology therapies approved by the FDA along with companion diagnostics. For example, the FDA has recently approved two such agents Xalkori crizotinib from Pfizer Inc. along with its companion anaplastic lymphoma kinase FISH test from Abbott Laboratories, Inc. and Zelboraf vemurafenib from Genentech USA Incorporated and Daiichi-Sankyo Inc. along with its companion B-RAF kinase V600 mutation test from Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. These two recent FDA approvals are only the second and third instances of simultaneous approvals of a drug and companion diagnostic, the first being the 1998 approval of Genentech, Inc.s Herceptin trastuzumab for HER2 positive breast cancer along with the HercepTest from partner Dako A/S.
We also face competition from companies such as Genoptix, Inc. (a Novartis AG company), Clarient, Inc. (a division of GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company), Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc., Intergrated Genetics (a LabCorp Specialty Testing Group) and Foundation Medicine, Inc., which offer products or services or have conducted research to develop genetic profiles, or genetic or protein biomarkers for various cancers. Additionally, projects related to cancer genomics have received increased government funding, both in the United States and internationally. As more information regarding cancer genomics becomes available to the public, we anticipate that more products and services aimed at predicting patient outcome as well as identifying targeted treatment options will be developed and that these products and services may compete with the services we offer. In addition, competitors may develop their own versions of our tests in countries where we did not apply for patents or where our patents have not issued and compete with us in those countries, including promoting the use of their test(s) by physicians or patients in other countries.
Many of our present and potential competitors have widespread brand recognition and substantially greater financial and technical resources and development, production and marketing capabilities than we do. Others may develop lower-priced, less complex tests that payors, pathologists and oncologists could view as functionally equivalent to our tests, which could force us to lower the list price of our tests and impact our operating margins and our ability to achieve profitability. In addition, technological innovations that result in the creation of enhanced diagnostic tools may enable other clinical laboratories, hospitals, physicians or medical providers to provide specialized diagnostic services similar to ours in a more patient-friendly, efficient or cost-effective manner than is currently possible. If we cannot compete successfully against current or future competitors, we may be unable to increase market acceptance and sales of our tests, which could prevent us from increasing or sustaining our revenues or achieving or sustaining profitability.
In recent years, we have incurred significant costs in connection with the development of our diagnostic tests. For the year ended December 31, 2013, our research and development expenses were $97,000, which was 2.2% of our net revenues, and our selling and marketing expenses were $379,000, which was 8.8% of revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2012, our research and development expenses were $225,000, which was 5.1% of our net revenues, and our selling and marketing expenses were $1.3 million, which was 30.1% of revenue. We expect our expenses to continue to increase, in absolute dollars, for the foreseeable future as we seek to expand the clinical utility of our diagnostic tests, and work to drive adoption of and reimbursement for our diagnostic tests and develop new tests. As a result, we will need to generate significant revenues in order to achieve sustained profitability.
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To increase awareness and adoption of our molecular diagnostic tests and services, we will need to educate oncologists and pathologists on the clinical utility, benefits and value of each type of test we provide through published papers, presentations at scientific conferences and one-on-one education sessions by members of our sales force. In addition, we will need to assure oncologists and pathologists of our ability to obtain and maintain adequate reimbursement coverage from third-party payors. We may need to hire additional commercial, scientific, technical, selling and marketing and other personnel to support this process. If our educational efforts fail and medical practitioners do not order our diagnostic tests or other tests we may develop, utilization of our tests in sufficient volume for us to achieve sustained profitability or, perhaps, viability, may not be possible.
Under standard clinical practice in the United States, tumor biopsies removed from patients are chemically preserved, embedded in paraffin wax and stored. Our clinical development relies on our ability to access these archived tumor biopsy samples, as well as information pertaining to their associated clinical outcomes. Other companies often compete with us for access. Additionally, the process of negotiating access to archived samples is lengthy, because it typically involves numerous parties and approvals to resolve complex issues such as usage rights, institutional review board approval, privacy rights, publication rights, intellectual property ownership and research parameters.
UAMS and other institutions provide us with tissue samples and other biological materials that we use in developing and validating our tests. We do not have written agreements with some of these third parties, and, in many of the cases in which the agreements are in writing, our relationships with such third parties are terminable on 30 days notice or less. Disagreements or disputes might cause delays or termination of the research, development or commercialization of testing systems or additional test indications, might lead to additional responsibilities or costs to us or might result in litigation or arbitration, any of which could divert management attention and resources and be time-consuming and expensive. If one or more of these suppliers terminate their relationship with us, we will need to identify other third parties to provide us with tissue samples and biological materials, which could result in a delay in our research and development activities and negatively affect our business. In addition, as we grow, research and academic institutions may begin to seek financial contributions from us, which may negatively affect our results of operations. Potential suppliers may elect not to work with us based on their assessment of our financial, regulatory or intellectual property position. Even if we establish new agreements, this may not result in the successful development of future testing systems or additional test indications.
Our success in implementing our business strategy depends largely on the skills, experience and performance of our Chairman of our board of directors, Bennett S. LeBow, key members of our President and executive management team and others in key management positions, including Samuel D. Riccitelli, our Chief Executive Officer. The collective efforts of each of these persons working as a team will be critical to us as we continue to develop our technologies, tests and research and development and sales programs. As a result of the difficulty in locating qualified new management, the loss or incapacity of existing members of our executive management team could adversely affect our operations. If we were to lose one or more of these key employees, we could experience difficulties in finding qualified successors, competing effectively, developing our technologies and implementing our business strategy. Our President and Chief Executive Officer, Samuel D. Riccitelli, and our key employee, Ryan Van Laar, Ph.D., have employment agreements. However, the existence of an employment agreement does not guarantee retention of members of our executive management team or our key employees and we may not be able to retain those individuals for the duration of or beyond the end of their respective terms. We do not maintain key person insurance on any of our employees except our Chief Executive Officer.
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In addition, we rely on consultants and advisors, including scientific and clinical advisors, to assist us in formulating our research and development and commercialization strategy. Our consultants and advisors may be employed by employers other than us and may have commitments under consulting or advisory contracts with other entities that may limit their availability to us.
Our success in selling our clinical laboratory services, diagnostic tests and any other tests or products that we are able to develop will require us to expand our sales force in the United States and internationally by recruiting additional sales representatives with extensive experience in oncology and close relationships with medical oncologists, surgeons, pathologists and other hospital personnel. To achieve our marketing and sales goals, we will need to substantially expand our sales and commercial infrastructure, with which to date we have had little experience. Sales professionals with the necessary technical and business qualifications are in high demand, and there is a risk that we may be unable to attract, hire and retain the number of sales professionals with the right qualifications, scientific backgrounds and relationships with decision-makers at potential customers needed to achieve our sales goals. We may face competition from other companies in our industry, some of whom are much larger than us and who can pay greater compensation and benefits than we can, in seeking to attract and retain qualified selling and marketing employees. If we are unable to hire and retain qualified selling and marketing personnel, our business will suffer.
In the future we may need to rely on manufacturing or laboratory facilities located outside the United States for our tests. Our MyPRS® and future test sales may be subject to certain risks, including:
| difficulty in obtaining, maintaining or enforcing intellectual property rights in some countries; |
| local business and cultural factors that differ from our normal standards and practices; |
| foreign currency exchange fluctuations; |
| additional U.S., and new foreign regulatory requirements; |
| impediments to the flow of foreign exchange capital payments and receipts due to exchange controls instituted by certain foreign governments and the fact that local currencies of some countries are not freely convertible; |
| geopolitical and economic instability and military conflicts; |
| difficulties in managing international partners; |
| burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws and treaties and changes in local laws and regulations, including tax laws; |
| increased financial accounting and reporting burdens; |
| difficulty in enforcing agreements, judgments and arbitration awards in foreign jurisdictions; and |
| adverse economic conditions in any jurisdiction. |
These factors could harm our business or results of operations.
The marketing, sale and use of our tests could lead to the filing of product liability claims were someone to allege that our tests failed to perform as designed. We may also be subject to liability for errors in the test results we provide to pathologists and oncologists or for a misunderstanding of, or inappropriate reliance upon, the information we provide. A product liability or professional liability claim could result in substantial damages and be costly and time-consuming for us to defend.
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Although we believe that our existing product and professional liability insurance is adequate, our insurers may fail to defend us or our insurance may not fully protect us from the financial impact of defending against product liability or professional liability claims. Any product liability or professional liability claim brought against us, with or without merit, could increase our insurance rates or prevent us from securing insurance coverage in the future. Additionally, any product liability lawsuit could damage our reputation, or cause current clinical partners and collaborators to terminate existing agreements and potential clinical partners to seek other partners, cause customers to terminate their relationship with us and potential customers to seek alternative testing solutions, any of which could impact our results of operations.
Our activities currently require the controlled use of potentially harmful biological materials and hazardous materials and chemicals. We cannot eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury to employees or third parties from the use, storage, handling or disposal of these materials. In the event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for any resulting damages, and any liability could exceed our resources or any applicable insurance coverage we may have. Additionally, we are subject to, on an ongoing basis, federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and specified waste products. The cost of compliance with these laws and regulations may become significant and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. In the event of an accident or if we otherwise fail to comply with applicable regulations, we could lose our permits or approvals or be held liable for damages or penalized with fines.
As our test volume grows, we will need to increase our testing capacity, implement increases in scale and related processing, customer service, billing, collection and systems process improvements and expand our internal quality assurance program and technology to support testing on a larger scale. We will also need additional certified laboratory scientists and other scientific and technical personnel to process these additional tests. Any increases in scale, related improvements and quality assurance may not be successfully implemented and appropriate personnel may not be available. As additional tests are commercialized, we will need to bring new equipment on line, implement new systems, technology, controls and procedures and hire personnel with different qualifications. Failure to implement necessary procedures or to hire the necessary personnel could result in a higher cost of processing or an inability to meet market demand. We cannot assure that we will be able to perform tests on a timely basis at a level consistent with demand, that our efforts to scale our commercial operations will not negatively affect the quality of our test results or that we will respond successfully to the growing complexity of our testing operations. If we encounter difficulty meeting market demand or quality standards for our tests, our reputation could be harmed and our future prospects and business could suffer, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Continuing concerns over United States health care reform legislation and energy costs, geopolitical issues, the availability and cost of credit and government stimulus programs in the United States and other countries have contributed to increased volatility and diminished expectations for the global economy. These factors, combined with low business and consumer confidence and high unemployment, precipitated an economic slowdown and recession. If the economic climate does not improve or continues to deteriorate, our business, including our access to patient samples and the addressable market for diagnostic tests that we may successfully develop, as well as the financial condition of our suppliers and our third-party payors, could be adversely affected, resulting in a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems for significant aspects of our operations. In addition, our third-party billing and collections provider depends upon telecommunications and
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data systems provided by outside vendors and information we provide on a regular basis. These information technology and telecommunications systems support a variety of functions, including test processing, sample tracking, quality control, customer service and support, billing and reimbursement, research and development activities and our general and administrative activities. Information technology and telecommunications systems are vulnerable to damage from a variety of sources, including telecommunications or network failures, malicious human acts and natural disasters. Moreover, despite network security and back-up measures, some of our systems are potentially vulnerable to physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses and similar disruptive problems. Despite the precautionary measures we have taken to prevent unanticipated problems that could affect our information technology and telecommunications systems, failures or significant downtime of our information technology or telecommunications systems or those used by our third-party service providers could prevent us from processing tests, providing test results to pathologists, oncologists, billing payors, processing reimbursement appeals, handling patient or physician inquiries, conducting research and development activities and managing the administrative aspects of our business. Any disruption or loss of information technology or telecommunications systems on which critical aspects of our operations depend could have an adverse effect on our business. Furthermore, we depend on FedEx as our courier. Any disruption in any of our mail services or transportation logistics could result in spoiled or lost samples, which could reduce revenue. Moreover, we are required to comply with laws governing the transmission, security and privacy of health information that require significant compliance costs, and any failure to comply with these laws could result in material criminal and civil penalties and civil liabilities.
Billing for laboratory tests is complicated and is subject to extensive and non-uniform rules and administrative requirements. Missing or incorrect information on requisitions adds complexity to and slows the billing process, creates backlogs and increases the aging of accounts receivable and bad debt expenses. Failure to timely or correctly bill may lead to our not being reimbursed for our services or an increase in aging of our accounts receivable. In addition, failure to comply with applicable federal and state laws relating to billing, including, but not limited, to the federal False Claims Act may lead to various penalties including civil and criminal fines and penalties, recoupment efforts, and exclusion from participation in Medicare and other federal health care programs. We rely heavily on a single third party to provide us with key software and services for our billing. If that third party is unable or unwilling to provide these services to us for any reason, fails to perform billing services accurately and completely, or violates the law, we may not be able to submit claims promptly or at all and we may be subject to an investigation and potential civil and criminal penalties. Delays in invoicing can lead to delays in revenue recognition, and inaccuracies in our billing could result in lost revenue. If we fail to adapt quickly and effectively to changes affecting our costs, pricing and billing, our profitability and cash flow will be adversely affected.
On March 1, 2013, most agencies of the federal government automatically reduced their budgets according to an agreement made by Congress in 2012 known as sequestration. Originally devised as an incentive to force Congressional agreement on budget issues, the sequestration order was approved on March 1, 2013 by the President of the United States. For claims submitted with dates of service or dates of discharge after April 1, 2013, these cuts will result in Medicare payments to health care providers, health care plans and drug plans being reduced by 2%.
In March 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively, PPACA, which makes a number of substantial changes in the way health care is financed by both governmental and private insurers. Among other things, PPACA:
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| Requires each medical device manufacturer to pay a sales tax equal to 2.3% of the price for which such manufacturer sells its medical devices, beginning in 2013. This tax may apply to some or all of the current tests that we offer and other tests which are in development. |
| Mandates a reduction in payments for clinical laboratory services paid under the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, or CLFS, of 1.75% for the years 2011 through 2015 and includes a productivity adjustment that reduces the Consumer Price Index, or CPI, market basket update beginning in 2011. These changes in payments apply to some or all of the clinical laboratory test services we furnish to Medicare beneficiaries. |
| Establishes an Independent Payment Advisory Board to reduce the per capita rate of growth in Medicare spending. The Independent Payment Advisory Board has broad discretion to propose policies, which may have a negative impact on payment rates for services, including clinical laboratory services, beginning in 2016, and for hospital services beginning in 2020. These proposals will automatically be implemented unless Congress enacts alternative proposals that achieve the same saving targets. |
While the ultimate impact of PPACA is unknown, it is likely to be extensive and may result in significant changes to coverage and reimbursement of our tests. Most of the laws provisions have already gone into effect or will go into effect in 2014. Congress has also proposed a number of legislative initiatives, including possible repeal of PPACA. At this time, it remains unclear whether there will be any changes made to PPACA, whether to certain provisions or its entirety.
PPACA, among other things, imposed cuts to the Medicare reimbursement for clinical laboratories. Medicare updates laboratory payment rates for inflation based on the CPI. PPACA includes a productivity adjustment that will reduce the CPI update. For 2014, the productivity adjustment for the CLFS is -0.8%. In addition, PPACA includes an additional 1.75 percentage points reduction in the CPI update for clinical laboratories for the years 2011 through 2015. The annual update for 2014 in CLFS rates following the productivity adjustment and reduction of 1.75 percentage points is -0.75%.
Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since PPACA was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the President signed into law the Budget Control Act of 2011, which, among other things, created the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to recommend proposals in spending reductions in Congress. The Joint Select Committee did not achieve a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, triggering the legislations automatic reduction to several government programs. This includes aggregate reductions to Medicare payments to providers and suppliers of 2%, starting in 2013. Subsequent annual reductions, currently scheduled for each year through 2021, are limited to 2% per fiscal year. The full impact on our business of PPACA and the new law is uncertain.
In addition, on February 22, 2012, the President signed the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, or MCTRJCA, which, among other things, mandated an additional change in Medicare reimbursement for clinical laboratory services. This legislation required CMS to rebase payment amounts under the Medicare CLFS, reducing them by 2% in 2013. The reduced 2013 amount served as the base for payment rates in 2014 and will serve as the base for payment rates in subsequent years.
Due to changes in the CLFS rates required by PPACA and MCTRJCA and because of sequestration, payment for clinical laboratory services have gone down by 4.89% from 2012 to 2013. In addition, unless Congress acts to end sequestration or make other changes to applicable law, payments for clinical laboratory tests will continue to be subject to reductions in 2014 and beyond. MACs have the authority to apply these cuts to locally determined payments for tests, such as MyPRS®, that are reported using unlisted CPT codes. Even though we use an unlisted CPT code to bill for MyPRS® and reimbursement is determined by the local MAC, these changes could affect our reimbursement.
If any of our laboratory services are paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, under the current statutory formula, the rates for these services would be updated annually. For the past several years, the application of the statutory formula would have resulted in substantial payment reductions if Congress had failed to intervene. In the past, Congress has passed interim legislation to prevent the decreases. On November 27, 2013, CMS issued its 2014 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, or the 2014 Final Rule. In the
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2014 Final Rule, CMS called for a reduction of approximately 20.1% in the 2014 conversion factor that is used to calculate physician reimbursement. This legislatively required reduction in physician payments was postponed until March 31, 2014, when President Obama signed into law on December 26, 2013 H.J. Res. 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which included the Pathway for the SGR Reform Act of 2013. This provided a short-term reprieve from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Cut. In order to pay for the cost of eliminating or delaying the required payment reduction, Congress would have to cut spending for other programs or raise revenues. In addition, there may be unrelated legislation (e.g., resulting from budget and debt ceiling negotiations) that may require spending cuts. In either case (e.g., offsetting the cost of maintaining physician payments at their current level and/or overall Medicare payment cuts due to budget negotiations), Medicare Physician Fee Schedule payments for clinical laboratory services could be reduced. We cannot predict whether such payments cuts will occur or whether other reductions in Medicare or Medicaid spending will be enacted. If any of our tests are paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Congress fails to act to offset legislatively required reductions in Physician Fee Schedule payments, the resulting decrease in payment could adversely impact our revenues and results of operations.
In addition, many of the CPT codes that we may use to bill our tests were recently revised by the AMA, effective January 1, 2013. The adoption of analyte specific codes will allow payors to better identify tests being performed. This could lead to limited coverage or non-coverage decisions or payment denials. In the 2014 Final Rule, CMS announced that it has decided to keep the new molecular codes on the CLFS. CMS has also announced that it will price the new codes using a gapfilling process by which it will refer the codes to the MACs to allow them to determine an appropriate price. In addition, it has also stated that it will not separately reimburse the algorithm portion of certain of the new codes for MAAAs, because it does not believe the algorithm qualifies as a clinical laboratory test. MACs are issuing payment and coverage decisions but the payment levels and the methodology for determining payment by Medicare and commercial health plans still remain largely unresolved. Our reimbursement could be adversely affected by any final CMS action in this area. Furthermore, CMS has given itself the authority to revise payment rates for all tests paid under the CLFS. It is anticipated that CMS will use this new authority to reduce payment for many clinical laboratory services. Even though we use an unlisted CPT code to bill for MyPRS® and reimbursement is determined by the local MAC, this authority could affect our reimbursement in the future. If CMS reduces reimbursement for new test codes or does not pay for the algorithmic portion of our MAAA tests, then our revenues will be adversely affected. There can be no guarantees that Medicare and other payors will establish positive or adequate coverage policies or reimbursement rates.
We cannot predict whether future health care initiatives will be implemented at the federal or state level, or how any future legislation or regulation may affect us. The taxes imposed by the new federal legislation and the expansion of governments role in the U.S. health care industry as well as changes to the reimbursement amounts paid by payors for diagnostic tests may reduce our profits and have a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. We expect continuing efforts on the part of payors to reduce reimbursement, to impose more stringent cost controls, and to reduce utilization of clinical test services. Moreover, Congress has proposed on several occasions to impose a 20% coinsurance on patients for clinical laboratory tests reimbursed under the CLFS, which would require us to bill patients for these amounts.
Pathologists and oncologists may not order our molecular diagnostic tests unless third-party payors, such as managed care organizations and government payors such as Medicare and Medicaid, pay a substantial portion of the test price. Coverage and reimbursement by a third-party payor may depend on a number of factors, including a payors determination that tests using our technologies are:
| experimental or investigational; |
| not medically necessary; |
| not appropriate for the specific patient; |
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| not cost-effective; |
| not supported by peer-reviewed publications; and/or |
| not included in clinical practice guidelines. |
Uncertainty surrounds third-party payor reimbursement of any test incorporating new technology, including tests developed using microarrays. Technology assessments of new medical tests and devices conducted by research centers and other entities may be disseminated to interested parties for informational purposes. Third-party payors and health care providers may use such technology assessments as grounds to deny coverage for a test or procedure. To our knowledge, no technology assessments have been performed on our tests to date. However, if any technology assessments on our tests are performed, they could conclude that our tests are not clinically useful and this could result in payor non-coverage decisions, which would adversely affect our business.
Because each payor generally determines for its own enrollees or insured patients whether to cover or otherwise establish a policy to reimburse our diagnostic tests, seeking payor approvals is a time-consuming and costly process. We cannot be certain that coverage for our tests will be provided in the future by additional third-party payors or that existing contracts, agreements or policy decisions or reimbursement levels will remain in place or be fulfilled under existing terms and provisions. If we cannot obtain coverage and reimbursement from private and governmental payors such as Medicare and Medicaid for our current tests, or new tests or test enhancements that we may develop in the future, our ability to generate revenues could be limited, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flow. Further, we have experienced in the past, and will likely experience in the future, delays and temporary interruptions in the receipt of payments from third-party payors due to missing documentation and other issues, which could cause delay in collecting our revenue.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we derived approximately 13% of our total revenue from private insurance, including managed care organizations and other health care insurance providers, 14% from government payor programs, most of which was derived from Medicare, and 73% from direct-bill customers, including hospitals and other laboratories. In addition, for the year ended December 31, 2012, we derived approximately 23% of our total revenue from private insurance, 11% from government payor programs, and 66% from direct-bill customers. Medicare and other third-party payors may withdraw their coverage policies or cancel their contracts with us at any time, review and adjust the rate of reimbursement or stop paying for our tests altogether, which would reduce our total revenues.
We face efforts by payors to control the cost, utilization and delivery of health care services including clinical laboratory tests. In the past, measures have been undertaken to reduce payment rates for and decrease utilization of the clinical laboratory industry generally. Because of the cost-trimming trends, third-party payors that currently cover and provide reimbursement for our tests may suspend, revoke or discontinue coverage at any time, or may reduce the reimbursement rates payable to us. Any such action could have a negative impact on our revenues, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. From time to time, Congress has, and may in the future, legislated reductions in or frozen updates to the Medicare CLFS. In addition, Congress may adopt policies limiting or excluding coverage for tests that we perform. Some of our tests may be reimbursed by Medicare under the Physician Fee Schedule, which is subject to adjustment on an annual basis. Medicaid reimbursement varies by state and is subject to administrative and billing requirements and budget pressures. PPACA includes several provisions that are intended to control utilization and payment, including provisions that reduce payments for services paid under the CLFS.
We are currently considered a non-contracting provider by a number of private third-party payors because we have not entered into a specific contract to provide our specialized diagnostic services to their insured patients at specified rates of reimbursement. If we were to become a contracting provider in the future,
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the amount of overall reimbursement we would receive is likely to decrease because we would be reimbursed less at a contracted rate than we would be at a non-contracted rate, which could have a negative impact on our revenues. Further, we may be unable to collect payments from patients beyond that which is paid by their insurance and will continue to experience lost revenue as a result.
Under current Medicare billing rules, claims for our tests performed on Medicare beneficiaries who were hospital patients when the tumor tissue samples were obtained and whose tests were ordered less than 14 days from discharge must be included in the payment that the hospital receives for the patient services provided. Accordingly, we must bill individual hospitals for tests performed on Medicare beneficiaries during these timeframes in order to receive payment for our tests. Because we generally do not have a written agreement in place with these hospitals that purchase these tests, we may not be paid for our tests or may have to pursue payment from the hospital on a case-by-case basis. This could be especially problematic for us if the hospital does not receive separate payment from Medicare for our test.
We record revenues net of contractual allowances. We estimate contractual allowances for non-contracted insurance companies based on our historical collection experience for each type of payor. In the event that the actual amount of payment received differs from the previously recorded estimate, an adjustment to revenue is made in the current period at the time of final collection and settlement. Our estimates of net revenue for non-contracted insurance companies are subject to change based on the contractual status and payment policies of the third-party payors with whom we deal. We regularly refine our estimates in order to make our estimated revenue as accurate as possible based on our most recent collection experience with each third-party payor. There can be no assurances that we will not be required to make similar adjustments to estimates with respect to contractual allowances in the future, which could adversely affect our results of operations, our credibility with financial analysts and investors, and our stock price.
We are subject to CLIA, a federal law regulating clinical laboratories that perform testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of disease. Our clinical laboratory must be certified under CLIA in order for us to perform testing on human specimens. In addition, our proprietary tests must also be categorized as part of our CLIA certification so that we can offer them in our laboratory. CLIA is intended to ensure the quality and reliability of clinical laboratories in the United States by mandating specific standards in the areas of personnel qualifications, administration, and participation in proficiency testing, patient test management, quality control, quality assurance and inspections. We have a current certificate under CLIA to perform high complexity testing. To renew this certificate, we are subject to survey and inspection every two years. Moreover, CLIA inspectors may make periodic inspections of our clinical reference laboratory outside of the renewal process.
The law also requires us to maintain a state laboratory license to conduct testing. Our laboratory is located in Arkansas and must have an Arkansas state license. Arkansas laws establish standards for day-to-day operation of our clinical reference laboratory, including the training and skills required of personnel and quality control. In addition, several other states require that we hold licenses to test specimens from patients in those states. Other states may have similar requirements or may adopt similar requirements in the future. Finally, we may be subject to regulation in foreign jurisdictions as we seek to expand international distribution of our tests.
If we were to lose our CLIA certificate or Arkansas laboratory license, whether as a result of a revocation, suspension or limitation, we would no longer be able to offer our tests, which would limit our
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revenues and harm our business. If we were to lose our license in other states where we are required to hold licenses, we would not be able to test specimens from those states.
Although FDA maintains that it has authority to regulate the development and use of LDTs, such as ours, as medical devices, it has not exercised its authority with respect to most LDTs as a matter of enforcement discretion. FDA does not generally extend its enforcement discretion to reagents or software provided by third parties used to perform LDTs, and therefore these products must typically comply with FDA medical device regulations, which are wide-ranging and govern, among other things: product design and development, product testing, product labeling, product storage, pre-market clearance or approval, advertising and promotion and product sales and distribution.
We believe that our MyPRS® test, as utilized in our laboratory testing, is an LDT. As a result, we believe that pursuant to FDAs current policies and guidance that FDA does not require that we obtain regulatory clearances or approvals for our LDT. The container we provide for collection and transport of tumor samples from a pathology laboratory or hospital to our clinical reference laboratory may be a medical device subject to FDA regulation but is currently exempt from pre-market review by FDA. While we believe that we are currently in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that FDA or other regulatory agencies would agree with our determination, and a determination that we have violated these laws, or a public announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations of these laws, could adversely affect our business, prospects, and the results of operations or financial condition.
Moreover, FDA guidance and policy pertaining to diagnostic testing is continuing to evolve and is subject to ongoing review and revision. A significant change in any of the laws, regulations or policies may require us to change our business model in order to maintain regulatory compliance. At various times since 2006, FDA has issued guidance documents or announced draft guidance regarding initiatives that may require varying levels of FDA oversight of our tests. For example, in June 2010, FDA announced a public meeting to discuss the agencys oversight of LDTs prompted by the increased complexity of LDTs and their increasingly important role in clinical decision-making and disease management, particularly in the context of personalized medicine. FDA indicated that it was considering a risk-based application of oversight to LDTs and that, following public input and discussion, it might issue separate draft guidance on the regulation of LDTs, which ultimately could require that we seek and obtain either pre-market clearance or approval of LDTs, depending upon the risk-based approach FDA adopts. The public meeting was held in July 2010 and further public comments were submitted to FDA through September 2010. FDA has stated it is continuing to develop draft guidance in this area. Section 1143 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, signed by the U.S. President on July 9, 2012, requires FDA to notify U.S. Congress at least 60 days prior to issuing a draft or final guidance regulating LDTs and provide details of the anticipated action.
We cannot provide any assurance that FDA regulation, including pre-market review, will not be required in the future for our tests, whether through additional guidance issued by FDA, new enforcement policies adopted by FDA or new legislation enacted by Congress. We believe it is possible that legislation will be enacted into law or guidance could be issued by FDA which may result in increased regulatory burdens for us to continue to offer our tests or to develop and introduce new tests. Given the attention Congress continues to give to these issues, legislation affecting this area may be enacted into law and may result in increased regulatory burdens on us as we continue to offer our tests and to develop and introduce new tests.
In addition, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, requested that its Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society make recommendations about the oversight of genetic testing. A final report was published in April 2008. If the reports recommendations for increased oversight of genetic testing were to result in further regulatory burdens, they could negatively affect our business and delay the commercialization of tests in development.
Any requirement of pre-market review could negatively affect our business until such review is completed and clearance to market or approval is obtained. FDA could require that we stop selling our tests pending pre-market clearance or approval. If FDA allows our tests to remain on the market but there is
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uncertainty about the validity of our tests, if they are labeled investigational by FDA or if the labeling claims FDA allows us to make are very limited, orders or reimbursement may decline. The regulatory approval process may involve, among other things, successfully completing additional clinical trials and making a 510(k) submission, or filing a PMA application with FDA. If FDA requires pre-market review, our tests may not be cleared or approved on a timely basis, if at all. We may also decide voluntarily to pursue FDA pre-market review of our tests if we determine that doing so would be appropriate.
Additionally, should future regulatory actions affect any of the reagents we obtain from vendors and use in conducting our tests, our business could be adversely affected in the form of increased costs of testing or delays, limits or prohibitions on the purchase of reagents necessary to perform our testing.
If FDA decides to require that we obtain clearance or approvals to commercialize our proprietary genetic-based tests, we may be required to conduct additional pre-market clinical testing prior to submitting a regulatory notification or application for commercial sales. Clinical trials must be conducted in compliance with FDA regulations or FDA may take enforcement action or reject the data. The data collected from these clinical trials may ultimately be used to support market clearance or approval for our tests. Even if our clinical trials are completed as planned, we cannot be certain that their results will support our test claims or that FDA or foreign authorities will agree with our conclusions regarding our test results. Success in early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and we cannot be sure that the later trials will replicate the results of prior trials and studies. If we are required to conduct pre-market clinical trials, whether using prospectively acquired samples or archival samples, delays in the commencement or completion of clinical testing could significantly increase our test development costs and delay commercialization. Many of the factors that may cause or lead to a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to delay or denial of regulatory clearance or approval. The commencement of clinical trials may be delayed due to insufficient patient enrollment, which is a function of many factors, including the size of the patient population, the nature of the protocol, the proximity of patients to clinical sites and the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial. Moreover, the clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that our tests are effective for the proposed indicated uses, which could cause us to abandon a test candidate and may delay development of other tests.
We may find it necessary to engage contract research organizations to perform data collection and analysis and other aspects of our clinical trials, which might increase the cost and complexity of our trials. We may also depend on clinical investigators, medical institutions and contract research organizations to perform the trials properly. If these parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations or meet expected deadlines, or if the quality, completeness or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or for other reasons, our clinical trials may have to be extended, delayed or terminated. Many of these factors would be beyond our control. We may not be able to enter into replacement arrangements without undue delays or considerable expenditures. If there are delays in testing or approvals as a result of the failure to perform by third parties, our research and development costs would increase, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory clearance or approval for our tests. In addition, we may not be able to establish or maintain relationships with these parties on favorable terms, if at all. Each of these outcomes would harm our ability to market our tests or to achieve sustained profitability.
We are subject to health care fraud and abuse regulation and enforcement by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. These health care laws and regulations include, for example:
| the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons or entities from soliciting, receiving, offering or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, in return for, to |
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induce or to arrange for the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any items or services for which payment may be made under a federal health care program such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs; |
| the federal physician self-referral prohibition, commonly known as the Stark Law, which prohibits physicians from referring Medicare or Medicaid patients to providers of designated health services with whom the physician or a member of the physicians immediate family has an ownership interest or compensation arrangement, unless a statutory or regulatory exception applies; |
| the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, which establishes federal crimes for knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program or making false statements in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items or services; |
| the federal False Claims Act, which prohibits, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent; |
| the federal Physician Payment Sunshine Act requirements under PPACA, which require manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies to report to HHS information related to payments and other transfers of value made to or at the request of covered recipients, such as physicians and teaching hospitals, and physician ownership and investment interests in such manufacturers. Payments made to physicians and research institutions for clinical trials are included within the ambit of this law; and |
| state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback, physician self-referral and false claims laws, which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers. |
We seek to comply with these laws. However, it is possible that we could be the subject of a government investigation regarding our compliance with these laws and that the government could take the position that we are not in compliance with one or more of them. In such case, we may be judged to be in violation of those laws and subject to civil and criminal penalties. In addition, many of these laws and regulations are vague or indefinite and have not been interpreted by the courts or regulatory agencies. These laws and regulations may be interpreted or applied by a prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial authority in a manner that could subject us to liability and/or require us to make changes in our operations.
We believe that federal and state governments continue to strengthen their enforcement efforts against health care fraud. In addition, PPACA increases the funding, power, penalties and remedies to pursue suspected cases of fraud and abuse and provides the government with expanded opportunities to pursue actions under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and the Stark Law. For example, PPACA narrowed the public disclosure bar under the False Claims Act, allowing increased opportunities for whistleblower litigation. In addition, the legislation modified the intent standard under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, making it easier for prosecutors to prove that alleged violators had met the requisite knowledge requirement. PPACA also requires providers and suppliers to report any Medicare or Medicaid overpayment and return the overpayment on the later of 60 days of identification of the overpayment or the date the cost report is due (if applicable), or all claims associated with the overpayment will become false claims. PPACA also provides that any claim submitted from an arrangement that violates the Anti-Kickback Statute is a false claim. Any action brought against us for violation of these laws or regulations, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our managements attention from the operation of our business. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of these laws and regulations, we may be subject to any applicable penalty associated with the violation, including civil and criminal penalties, damages and fines, and/or exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid or other state or federal health care programs, we could be required to refund payments received by us, and we could be required to curtail or cease our operations. Any of the foregoing consequences could seriously harm our business, our financial condition and results of operations.
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The federal Anti-Kickback Statute establishes criminal prohibitions against and civil penalties for the knowing and wilful solicitation, receipt, offer or payment of any remuneration, whether direct or indirect, in return for, to induce, or to arrange for the referral of patients or the ordering or purchasing of items or services payable in whole or in part under Medicare, Medicaid or other federal health care programs. Sanctions for violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute include criminal and civil penalties, such as imprisonment and/or criminal fines of up to $25,000 per violation, and civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation and up to three times the amount received from the healthcare program, and exclusion from the Medicare, Medicaid and other federal health care programs.
The Office of Inspector General, or OIG, has the authority to promulgate regulations referred to as safe harbors that define certain business relationships and arrangements that would not be subject to civil sanction or criminal enforcement under the Anti-Kickback Statute. Failure to comply with a safe harbor provision does not make the activity illegal. Rather, the safe harbors set forth specific criteria that, if fully met, will assure the entities involved of not being prosecuted criminally or civilly for the arrangement under the Anti-Kickback Statute.
Many states also have enacted statutes similar to the Anti-Kickback Statute, which may include criminal penalties, applicable to referrals of patients regardless of payor source, and may contain exceptions different from state to state and from the exceptions to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
The False Claims Act, imposes civil penalties for knowingly making or causing to be made false claims with respect to governmental programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, for services billed but not rendered, or for misrepresenting actual services rendered, in order to obtain higher reimbursement. Under the interpretation of certain courts, claims submitted for services furnished in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute or Stark Law could also violate the False Claims Act. Moreover, private individuals may bring qui tam or whistle blower suits against providers under the False Claims Act, which authorizes the payment of a portion of any recovery to the individual bringing suit. Such actions are initially required to be filed under seal pending their review by the Department of Justice. The False Claims Act generally provides for the imposition of civil penalties of $5,500 to $11,000 per claim and for treble damages, resulting in the possibility of substantial financial penalties for small billing errors that are replicated in a large number of claims, as each individual claim could be deemed to be a separate violation of the False Claims Act. Some states also have enacted statutes similar to the False Claims Act which may include criminal penalties, substantial fines, and treble damages. The Social Security Act provides financial incentives to states that enact state false claims acts that meet specified requirements. The OIG, in consultation with the Attorney General of the United States and the Department of Justice, determines whether a state false claims act meets these enumerated requirements to qualify for the added financial incentive. Due to certain changes in the law, including the enactment of PPACA, the OIGs specified requirements for obtaining financial incentives were revised effective March 2013. Because of these changes, states that formerly were approved for financial incentives were given until March 31, 2013 to bring their false claims acts up to date to conform with the changes to the law. Currently, the OIGs website indicates that the false claims acts of 28 states have been reviewed. Of those 28 states, OIG has determined that the state false claims acts of 15 states (California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington) meet the OIGs revised requirements.
Individuals or entities who have among other things (1) directly submitted, or caused to be submitted, claims which are improper or false; (2) arranged or contracted with an individual or entity that the person knows or should know is excluded from participation in federal health care programs; or (3) offered or received kickbacks may also be subject to monetary penalties or exclusion under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law, or the CMPL, at the discretion of the OIG. Penalties are generally not more than $10,000 for each item or service. However, under the CMPL, violators of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute provisions may also be subject to additional civil money penalties of $50,000 per violation. Violators are also subject to an assessment of up to three times the amount claimed for each item or service in lieu of damages sustained by
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the United States or a state agency because of such claim, or damages of up to three times the total amount of remuneration offered, paid, solicited, or received. In addition, any person or entity who violates this section may be excluded from participation in the federal or state health care programs.
The original Ethics in Patient Referrals Act of 1989, commonly referred to as the Stark Law, was enacted as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or OBRA, of 1989, and prohibited a physician from referring Medicare patients for clinical laboratory services to entities with which the physician (or an immediate family member) has a financial relationship, unless an exception applies. Sanctions for violations of the Stark Law may include denial of payment, refund obligations, civil monetary penalties and exclusion of the provider from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. In addition, the Stark Law prohibits the entity receiving the referral from filing a claim or billing for services arising out of the prohibited referral.
Provisions of OBRA 1993, known as Stark II, amended the Stark Law to revise and expand upon various statutory exceptions, expanded the services regulated by the statute to a list of Designated Health Services, and expanded the reach of the statute to the Medicaid program. Although CMS published Phase III of the Stark regulations on September 5, 2007, intending Phase III to be the final phase of the Stark rulemaking process, CMS continues to address the Stark Law as part of its annual rulemaking process for reimbursement under the Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule or under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System.
Finally, many states in which we operate have enacted self-referral statutes similar to the Stark Law. Such state self-referral laws may apply to referrals of patients regardless of payor source and may contain exceptions different from each other and from those contained in the Stark Law.
HIPAA expanded federal fraud and abuse laws by increasing their reach to all federal health care programs, establishing new bases for exclusions and mandating minimum exclusion terms, creating an additional statutory exception to the Anti-Kickback Statute for risk-sharing arrangements, requiring HHS to issue advisory opinions, increasing civil money penalties to $10,000 per item or service and assessments to three times the amount claimed, creating a specific health care fraud offense and related health fraud crimes, and expanding investigative authority and sanctions applicable to health care fraud. HIPAA also prohibits a provider from offering anything of value which the provider knows or should know would be likely to induce a federal health care program beneficiary to select or continue with the provider.
HIPAA includes a health care fraud provision prohibiting knowingly and willfully executing a scheme or artifice to defraud any healthcare benefit program, which includes any public or private plan or contract affecting commerce under which any medical benefit, item, or service is provided to any individual, and includes any individual or entity who is providing a medical benefit, item, or service for which payment may be made under the plan or contract. Penalties for violating this statute include criminal penalties, exclusion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, freezing of assets and forfeiture of property traceable to commission of a health care fraud.
Our operations are also subject to a variety of other federal and state fraud and abuse laws, principally designed to ensure that claims for payment to be made with public funds are complete, accurate and fully comply with all applicable program rules, and to prevent remuneration in exchange for referrals or purchases of items which may be reimbursed by the government or which may lead to overutilization, corruption of health care provider judgment, or a lack of transparency in costs or charges. Failure to remain in compliance with any of these rules could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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Under the administrative simplification provisions of HIPAA, HHS has issued regulations which establish uniform standards governing the conduct of certain electronic health care transactions and protecting the privacy and security of Protected Health Information, or PHI, used or disclosed by health care providers and other covered entities. Three principal regulations with which we are currently required to comply have been issued in final form under HIPAA: privacy regulations, security regulations and standards for electronic transactions.
The privacy regulations cover the use and disclosure of PHI by health care providers. It also sets forth certain rights that an individual has with respect to his or her PHI maintained by a health care provider, including the right to access or amend certain records containing PHI or to request restrictions on the use or disclosure of PHI. We have also implemented policies, procedures and standards to comply appropriately with the final HIPAA security regulations, which establish requirements for safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity and availability of PHI, which is electronically transmitted or electronically stored. The HIPAA privacy and security regulations establish a uniform federal floor and do not supersede state laws that are more stringent or provide individuals with greater rights with respect to the privacy or security of, and access to, their records containing PHI. As a result, we are required to comply with both HIPAA privacy regulations and varying state privacy and security laws. Almost all U.S. states now require notification to affected individuals and state authorities, as well as the media in certain cases, in the event of a breach of the security of personal information (including PHI in a few states), often with significant financial penalties for noncompliance.
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, or the HITECH Act, enacted pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or the ARRA, made sweeping changes to the health information privacy and security regulations of HIPAA by expanding the scope and application of the statute. These changes include, among other things, (i) establishing an affirmative obligation to provide patient data breach notification in the event of the unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of unsecured PHI; (ii) elaborating upon the standard for minimum necessary uses and disclosures of PHI by a covered entity (iii) restricting certain uses of PHI for marketing purposes (by expanding the definition of marketing activities requiring authorization); (iv) prohibiting certain sales of PHI; (v) establishing an affirmative obligation to provide an accounting of disclosures made for payment, treatment and health care operations (up to 3 years made through an electronic health record); (vi) requiring covered entities to agree to individuals requests to restrict disclosure of PHI in certain circumstances; (vii) applying the security regulations and certain provisions of the privacy regulations to business associates; and (viii) modifying an individuals right to access PHI in an electronic format. HHS issued modifications to the HIPAA Regulations, effective March 26, 2013, implementing some of these changes including the obligation to provide patient data breach notifications, which subject the Company to additional administrative requirements in the U.S. With regard to the accounting of disclosures, the HITECH Act provides for removing the exception in the existing HIPAA privacy regulations accounting of disclosures of PHI requirement for disclosures of PHI for payment, treatment, and health care operations purposes made through an electronic health record (within the past 3 years). HHS issued proposed regulations to implement this provision of the HITECH Act in May 2011, but those regulations have not been finalized.
The HITECH Act also implemented measures to strengthen enforcement of HIPAA and increased applicable penalties for HIPAA violations. Penalties are now tiered and range from $100 to $50,000 per violation with an annual cap for the same violations of $25,000 to $1,500,000. The Office for Civil Rights of the HHS, or OCR, has increased enforcement activities and has recently levied large penalties for violations. In addition, as mandated by the HITECH Act, OCR has begun an audit program to assess compliance by covered entities and their business associates with the HIPAA privacy and security rules and breach notification standards.
We seek to comply with HIPAA privacy regulations and state privacy laws. In addition, we are in the process of taking necessary steps to comply with HIPAAs standards for electronic transactions, which
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establish standards for common health care transactions. Given the complexity of HIPAA, the HITECH Act and state privacy restrictions, the possibility that the regulations may change, and the fact that the regulations are subject to changing and potentially conflicting interpretation, our ability to comply with HIPAA, the HITECH Act and state privacy requirements is uncertain and the costs of compliance are significant. To the extent that we or our third-party billing company submit electronic health care claims and payment transactions that do not comply with the electronic data transmission standards established under HIPAA and the HITECH Act, payments to us may be delayed or denied. Additionally, the costs of complying with any changes to HIPAA, the HITECH Act and state privacy restrictions may have a negative impact on our operations. We could be subject to criminal penalties and civil sanctions for failing to comply with HIPAA, the HITECH Act and state privacy restrictions, which could result in the incurrence of significant monetary penalties.
We are subject to income and other taxes in the United States. Significant judgment is required in evaluating our provision for income taxes. During the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. For example, there could be changes in the valuation of our deferred tax assets and liabilities or changes in the relevant tax, accounting, and other laws, regulations, principles and interpretations. Although we believe our tax estimates are reasonable, the final determination of tax audits and any related litigation could be materially different from our historical income tax provisions and accruals. The results of an audit or litigation, or the effects of a change in tax policy in the United States, could have a material effect on our operating results in the period or periods for which that determination is made.
Our ability to protect our proprietary discoveries and technologies affects our ability to compete and to achieve sustained profitability. Currently, we rely on a combination of issued U.S. patents, U.S. and foreign patent applications, copyrights, trademarks and trademark applications, confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements, licenses, work-for-hire agreements and invention assignment agreements to protect our intellectual property rights. We also maintain certain company know-how, trade secrets and technological innovations designed to provide us with a competitive advantage in the market place as trade secrets.
Currently, we are the worldwide exclusive licensee, in our licensed field, of 10 issued U.S. patents and 26 pending patent applications, which include both U.S. and foreign patent applications, relating to various aspects of our technology. Of the 26 pending patent applications, six are owned outright by Signal Genetics, LLC. Our exclusive field of use covers, inter alia, therapeutic, diagnostic, prognostic, and personalized medicine applications worldwide, excluding applications using fluorescence in situ hybridization, or FISH, and some claims directly covering DKK1 inhibitors and their uses.
While we intend to pursue additional patent applications, it is possible that our pending patent applications and any future applications may not result in issued patents. Even if patents are issued, third parties may independently develop similar or competing technology that avoids the claims of our patents or may challenge the validity of our patents. Further, we cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent the misappropriation of our trade secrets and other confidential information as well as the misuse of our patents and other intellectual property, particularly in foreign countries where we have not filed for patent protection.
From time to time the U.S. Supreme Court, other federal courts, the U.S. Congress or the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, as well as counterpart agencies and bodies in corresponding foreign jurisdictions, may change the standards of patentability and any such changes could have a negative impact on our business.
For instance, on October 30, 2008, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision that methods or processes cannot be patented unless they are tied to a machine or involve a physical transformation. The U.S. Supreme Court later reversed that decision in Bilski v. Kappos, or Bilski, finding that
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the machine-or-transformation test is not the only test for determining patent eligibility. The Court, however, declined to specify how and when processes are patentable. On March 20, 2012, in Mayo v. Prometheus, or Mayo, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Federal Circuits application of Bilski and invalidated a patent focused on a diagnostic process because the patent claim embodied a law of nature. On July 30, 2012, the USPTO released a memorandum entitled 2012 Interim Procedure for Subject Matter Eligibility Analysis of Process Claims Involving Laws of Nature, with guidelines for determining patentability of diagnostic or other processes in line with the Mayo decision. On June 13, 2013, in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, or Myriad, the Supreme Court held that a naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated, but cDNA is patent eligible because it is not naturally occurring. The Supreme Courts decision reversed in part and affirmed in part the earlier decision of the Federal Circuit that both isolated genes and cDNA were patent eligible, however, the Supreme Court specifically did not address the patentability of any method claims involving the use of such isolated genes. On March 4, 2014, the USPTO released a memorandum entitled 2014 Procedure For Subject Matter Eligibility Analysis Of Claims Reciting Or Involving Laws Of Nature/Natural Principles, Natural Phenomena, And/Or Natural Products. This memorandum provides guidelines for the USPTOs new examination procedure for subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. §101 for claims embracing natural products or natural principles. Although the guidelines do not have the force of law, patent examiners have been instructed to follow them.
Some aspects of our technology involve products and/or processes that may be subject to this evolving standard and we cannot guarantee that any of our pending claims will be patentable as a result of such evolving standards or that issued patents will be held valid, if challenged under these changing standards.
In addition, on February 5, 2010, the Secretarys Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society voted to approve a report entitled Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests. That report defines patent claims on genes broadly to include claims to isolated nucleic acid molecules as well as methods of detecting particular sequences or mutations. The report also contains six recommendations, including the creation of an exemption from liability for infringement of patent claims on genes for anyone making, using, ordering, offering for sale or selling a test developed under the patent for patient care purposes, or for anyone using the patent-protected genes in the pursuit of research. The report also recommended that the Secretary should explore, identify and implement mechanisms that will encourage more voluntary adherence to current guidelines that promote nonexclusive in-licensing of diagnostic genetic and genomic technologies. It is unclear whether the HHS will act upon these recommendations, or if the recommendations would result in a change in law or process that could negatively impact our patent portfolio or future research and development efforts.
Our ability to market certain of our tests and services, domestically and/or internationally, is in part derived from licenses to intellectual property which is owned by third parties. As such, we may not be able to continue selling our tests and services if we lose our existing licensed rights or sell new tests and services if we cannot obtain such licensed rights on reasonable terms. In particular, we in-license a portfolio of issued U.S. patents and pending U.S. and foreign applications as the worldwide exclusive licensee in our licensed field from UAMS.
We may also need to license other technologies to commercialize future diagnostic tests that we may offer. As may be expected, our business may suffer if, for example, (i) these licenses terminate; (ii) if the licensors fail to abide by the terms of the license, properly maintain the licensed intellectual property or fail to prevent infringement of such intellectual property by third parties; (iii) if the licensed patents or other intellectual property rights are found to be invalid or (iv) if we are unable to enter into necessary licenses on reasonable terms or at all. In return for the use of a third partys technology, we may agree to pay the licensor royalties based on sales of our products as well as other fees. Such royalties and fees are a component of cost of product revenues and will impact the margins on our tests.
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From time to time we may face intellectual property infringement, misappropriation, or invalidity/non-infringement claims from third parties. Some of these claims may lead to litigation. The outcome of any such litigation can never be guaranteed, and an adverse outcome could affect us negatively. For example, were a third party to succeed on an infringement claim against us, we may be required to pay substantial damages (including up to treble damages if such infringement were found to be willful). In addition, we could face an injunction, barring us from conducting the allegedly infringing activity. The outcome of the litigation could require us to enter into a license agreement which may not be under acceptable, commercially reasonable, or practical terms or we may be precluded from obtaining a license at all.
It is also possible that an adverse finding of infringement against us may require us to dedicate substantial resources and time in developing non-infringing alternatives, which may or may not be possible. In the case of diagnostic tests, we would also need to include non-infringing technologies which would require us to re-validate our tests. Any such re-validation, in addition to being costly and time consuming, may be unsuccessful.
Finally, we may initiate claims to assert or defend our own intellectual property against third parties. If one or more of our patents were held to be invalid or not infringed, we might not be able to exclude others from offering similar or identical tests to ours. Any intellectual property litigation, irrespective of whether we are the plaintiff or the defendant, and regardless of the outcome, is expensive and time-consuming, and could divert our managements attention from our business and negatively affect our operating results or financial condition.
Although we try to ensure that we, our employees, and independent contractors do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we, our employees, or independent contractors have used or disclosed intellectual property in violation of others rights. These claims may cover a range of matters, such as challenges to our trademarks, as well as claims that our employees or independent contractors are using trade secrets or other proprietary information of any such employees former employer or independent contractors.
In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and independent contractors who may be involved in the development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who in fact develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. Our and their assignment agreements may not be self-executing or may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property.
If we fail in prosecuting or defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in prosecuting or defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
We or our suppliers and/or manufacturers may become subject in the ordinary course of business to material litigation related to things, payor or customer disputes, professional liability, regulatory actions, intellectual property, employee-related matters, product liability and other potential claims, as well as investigations by governmental agencies and governmental payors relating to the specialized diagnostic services we provide. Responding to these types of claims, regardless of their merit, could result in significant expense and divert the time, attention and resources of our management. Legal actions could result in substantial monetary damages as well as significant harm to our reputation with our oncologist customers and with payors, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our
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laboratory directors and other laboratory professionals may be sued, or may be added as an additional party, under physician liability or other liability law for acts or omissions by our lab directors, laboratory personnel, and other employees and consultants, including but not limited to being sued for misdiagnoses or liabilities arising from the professional interpretations of test results. We may periodically become involved as defendants in medical malpractice and other lawsuits, and are subject to the attendant risk of substantial damage awards, in particular in connection with our MyPRS® test. Our laboratory directors are insured for medical malpractice risks on a claims-made basis under traditional professional liability insurance policies. We also maintain general liability insurance that covers certain claims to which we may be subject. Our general insurance does not cover all potential liabilities that may arise, including governmental fines and penalties that we may be required to pay, liabilities we may incur under indemnification agreements and certain other uninsurable losses that we may suffer. It is possible that future claims will not be covered by or will exceed the limits of our insurance coverage or that our insurers will refuse to defend us against claims. The suppliers and manufacturers of the diagnostic tests we perform, which are critical to the performance of our specialized diagnostic services, may be exposed to, or threatened with, future litigation by third parties having patent or other intellectual property rights alleging that their diagnostic tests infringe the intellectual property rights of these third parties. In such event, we could no longer have access to, or we may be prohibited from marketing or performing, such diagnostic tests unless we obtained a license from such third party. A license may not be available to us on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to license diagnostic tests that are important to our specialized diagnostic services, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
In the event that Bennett S. LeBow, our Chairman, through his control of LeBow Alpha, continues to control more than 50% of the outstanding voting power of our common stock following the offering, we will be classified as a controlled company within the meaning of the applicable stock exchange corporate governance standards. Under the rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market, or NASDAQ, a company of which more than 50% of the outstanding voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a controlled company and may elect not to comply with certain stock exchange corporate governance requirements, including:
| the requirement that a majority of the board of directors consists of independent directors; |
| the requirement that director nominees be selected, or recommended for the board of directors selection, either by a majority of the boards independent directors or a nominations committee comprised solely of independent directors; and |
| the requirement to have a compensation committee comprised solely of independent directors. |
Despite the availability of these exemptions, we have agreed with the underwriters that we will not rely on these exemptions for a period of two years following the offering. However, to the extent we still qualify, we may in the future elect to rely on these exemptions, and to the extent we do, our stockholders will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
In the event that and for so long as LeBow Alpha retains its ability to control over 50% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock following the offering, Mr. LeBow will retain the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and, through our board of directors, the ability to control decision-making with respect to our business direction and policies. Matters over which Mr. LeBow would, directly or indirectly, exercise control following this offering include:
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| the election of our board of directors and the appointment and removal of our officers; |
| mergers and other business combination transactions, including proposed transactions that would result in our stockholders receiving a premium price for their shares; |
| other acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or assets; |
| incurrence of indebtedness and the issuance of equity securities; |
| repurchase of stock and payment of dividends; and |
| the issuance of shares to management under our equity incentive plans. |
Even if Mr. LeBows ownership of our shares falls below a majority, he may continue to be able to strongly influence or effectively control our decisions.
Provisions in our corporate charter and our bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering may discourage, delay or prevent a merger, acquisition or other change in control of our company that stockholders may consider favorable, including transactions in which you might otherwise receive a premium for your shares. These provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our common stock, thereby depressing the market price of our common stock. In addition, because our board of directors is responsible for appointing the members of our management team, these provisions may frustrate or prevent any attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management by making it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors. Among other things, these provisions:
| the authorized number of directors can be changed only by resolution of our board of directors; |
| our bylaws may be amended or repealed by our board of directors or our stockholders; |
| stockholders may not call special meetings of the stockholders or fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
| our board of directors will be authorized to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined at the discretion of the board of directors and that, if issued, could operate as a poison pill to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that our board of directors does not approve; |
| our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, and therefore our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors; and |
| our stockholders must comply with advance notice provisions to bring business before or nominate directors for election at a stockholder meeting. |
Moreover, because we are incorporated in Delaware, we are governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a person who owns in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock from merging or combining with us for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person acquired in excess of 15% of our outstanding voting stock, unless the merger or combination is approved in a prescribed manner.
The initial public offering price of our common stock will be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per share after this offering. To the extent additional shares of common stock are subsequently issued, you will incur further dilution. Based on an assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, you will experience immediate dilution of $6.16 per
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share, representing the difference between our pro forma net tangible book value per share, after giving effect to this offering, and the assumed initial public offering price. In addition, purchasers of common stock in this offering will have contributed approximately 47% of the aggregate price paid by all purchasers of our stock but will own only approximately 47% of our common stock outstanding after this offering.
We anticipate that our securities will be listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market, a national securities exchange, upon consummation of this offering. Although, after giving effect to this offering, we expect to meet, on a pro forma basis, The NASDAQ Capital Markets minimum initial listing standards, which generally mandate that we meet certain requirements relating to stockholders equity, market capitalization, aggregate market value of publicly held shares and distribution requirements, we cannot assure you that we will be able to meet those initial listing requirements. If The NASDAQ Capital Market does not list our securities for trading on its exchange, we could face significant material adverse consequences, including:
| a limited availability of market quotations for our securities; |
| reduced liquidity with respect to our securities; |
| a determination that our shares of common stock are penny stock which will require brokers trading in our shares of common stock to adhere to more stringent rules, possibly resulting in a reduced level of trading activity in the secondary trading market for our shares of common stock; |
| a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our company; and |
| a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future. |
The National Securities Markets Improvement Act of 1996, which is a federal statute, prevents or preempts the states from regulating the sale of certain securities, which are referred to as covered securities. Because we expect that our common stock will be listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock will be covered securities. Although the states are preempted from regulating the sale of our securities, the federal statute does allow the states to investigate companies if there is a suspicion of fraud, and, if there is a finding of fraudulent activity, then the states can regulate or bar the sale of covered securities in a particular case. Further, if we were no longer listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market, our common stock would not be covered securities and we would be subject to regulation in each state in which we offer our securities.
If after listing we fail to satisfy the continued listing requirements of The NASDAQ Capital Market, such as the corporate governance requirements or the minimum closing bid price requirement, NASDAQ may take steps to de-list our common stock. Such a de-listing would likely have a negative effect on the price of our common stock and would impair your ability to sell or purchase our common stock when you wish to do so. In the event of a de-listing, we would take actions to restore our compliance with NASDAQs listing requirements, but we can provide no assurance that any such action taken by us would allow our common stock to become listed again, stabilize the market price or improve the liquidity of our common stock, prevent our common stock from dropping below the NASDAQ minimum bid price requirement or prevent future non-compliance with NASDAQs listing requirements.
The SEC has adopted rules that regulate broker-dealer practices in connection with transactions in penny stocks. Penny stocks are generally equity securities with a price of less than $5.00 (other than securities registered on certain national securities exchanges or authorized for quotation on certain automated quotation systems, provided that current price and volume information with respect to transactions in such securities is provided by the exchange or system). The OTCBB does not meet such requirements and if the price of our common stock is less than $5.00, our common stock will be deemed penny stocks. The penny stock rules require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, to
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deliver a standardized risk disclosure document containing specified information. In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to effecting any transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from those rules, a broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive (i) the purchasers written acknowledgment of the receipt of a risk disclosure statement; (ii) a written agreement to transactions involving penny stocks; and (iii) a signed and dated copy of a written suitability statement. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the trading activity in the secondary market for our common stock, and therefore stock holders may have difficulty selling their shares.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price for our common stock will be determined through negotiations with the underwriters. Although we have applied to have our common stock approved for listing on The NASDAQ Capital Market, an active trading market for our shares may never develop or be sustained following this offering. If an active market for our common stock does not develop, it may be difficult for you to sell shares you purchase in this offering without depressing the market price for the shares or at all.
Our stock price is likely to be volatile. The stock market in general and the market for smaller medical device companies in particular have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. As a result of this volatility, you may not be able to sell your common stock at or above the initial public offering price. The market price for our common stock may be influenced by many factors, including:
| the success of competitive products, services or technologies; |
| regulatory or legal developments in the United States and other countries; |
| developments or disputes concerning patent applications, issued patents or other proprietary rights; |
| the recruitment or departure of key personnel; |
| actual or anticipated changes in estimates as to financial results, development timelines or recommendations by securities analysts; |
| variations in our financial results or those of companies that are perceived to be similar to us; |
| changes in the structure of health care payment systems; |
| market conditions in the medical device sector; |
| general economic, industry and market conditions; and |
| the other factors described in this Risk Factors section. |
Securities research analysts, including those affiliated with our underwriters, establish and publish their own periodic projections for our business. These projections may vary widely from one another and may not accurately predict the results we actually achieve. Our stock price may decline if our actual results do not match securities research analysts projections. Similarly, if one or more of the analysts who writes reports on us downgrades our stock or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price could decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of our company or fails to publish reports on us regularly, our stock price or trading volume could decline. While we expect securities research analyst coverage, if no securities or industry analysts begin to cover us, the trading price for our stock and the trading volume could be adversely affected.
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Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after this offering, or the perception that these sales may occur, could materially and adversely affect the price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. The shares of common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market, except for any shares sold to our affiliates.
In connection with this offering, we, our officers and directors and holders of our outstanding common stock have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, not to issue, sell or transfer any shares of common stock for 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the consent of Aegis Capital Corp. However, Aegis Capital Corp. may release these shares from any restrictions at any time. We cannot predict what effect, if any, market sales of shares held by any stockholder or the availability of shares for future sale will have on the market price of our common stock.
Approximately 2,547,561 shares of common stock may be sold in the public market by existing stockholders on or about 181 days after [], 2014, subject to volume and other limitations imposed under the federal securities laws. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the completion of this offering, or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could materially impair our ability to raise capital through offerings of our common stock.
We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and may remain an emerging growth company for up to five years. For so long as we remain an emerging growth company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. These exemptions include:
| being permitted to provide only two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations disclosure; |
| not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting; |
| not being required to comply with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditors report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements; |
| reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation; and |
| exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. |
We have taken advantage of reduced reporting burdens in this prospectus. In particular, in this prospectus, we have not included all of the executive compensation related information that would be required if we were not an emerging growth company. We cannot predict whether investors will find our common stock less attractive if we rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of these accounting standards until they would otherwise apply to private companies. The Company has elected to avail itself of this extended transition period for adopting new or revised accounting standards and therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
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As a public company, and particularly after we are no longer an emerging growth company, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. The Sarbanes-
Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Capital Market and other applicable securities rules and regulations impose various requirements on public companies, including establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and corporate governance practices. Our management and other personnel will need to
devote a substantial amount of time to these compliance initiatives. Moreover, these rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. For example, we expect that these rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, which in turn could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors.
We are evaluating these rules and regulations, and cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs. These rules and regulations are often subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies. This could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404, we will be required to furnish a report by our management on our internal control over financial reporting. However, while we remain an emerging growth company, we will not be required to include an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. To achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, we will be engaged in a process to document and evaluate our internal control over financial reporting, which is both costly and challenging. In this regard, we will need to continue to dedicate internal resources, potentially engage outside consultants and adopt a detailed work plan to assess and document the adequacy of internal control over financial reporting, continue steps to improve control processes as appropriate, validate through testing that controls are functioning as documented and implement a continuous reporting and improvement process for internal control over financial reporting. Despite our efforts, there is a risk that we will not be able to conclude, within the prescribed timeframe or at all, that our internal control over financial reporting is effective as required by Section 404. If we identify one or more material weaknesses, it could result in an adverse reaction in the financial markets due to a loss of confidence in the reliability of our financial statements.
We do not anticipate paying future dividends on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, capital appreciation, if any, of our common stock will be your sole source of gain for the foreseeable future.
Net operating losses incurred by the Company as of December 31, 2013 have been used by the members to offset gains on other interests and are therefore not able to be carried forward to the Company.
In connection with the audit of the Companys consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 and our expanded reporting requirements related to this filing, we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a
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reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material weakness identified was due to a lack of accounting and finance personnel and the reliance on outside consultants. As such, our controls over financial reporting were not designed or operating effectively, and as a result there were adjustments required in connection with closing our books and records and preparing our December 31, 2013 and 2012 consolidated financial statements that were made by outside consultants.
In response to this material weakness, we plan to hire additional personnel with public company financial reporting expertise to build our financial management and reporting infrastructure, and further develop and document our accounting policies and financial reporting procedures. However, we cannot assure you that we will be successful in pursuing these measures or that these measures will significantly improve or remediate the material weakness described above. We also cannot assure you that we have identified all of our existing material weaknesses, or that we will not in the future have additional material weaknesses. We have not yet remediated our material weakness, and the remediation measures that we intend to implement may be insufficient to address our existing material weakness or to identify or prevent additional material weaknesses.
Neither we nor our independent registered public accounting firm has performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting during any period in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. It is possible that, had we and our independent registered public accounting firm performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, material weaknesses or significant control deficiencies may have been identified. However, for as long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of the exemption permitting us not to comply with the requirement that our independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
If we fail to remediate the material weakness or to meet the demands that will be placed upon us as a public company, including the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results, or report them within the timeframes required by law or stock exchange regulations. Failure to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could also potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. There is no assurance that we will be able to remediate the material weakness in a timely manner, or at all, or that in the future, additional material weaknesses will not exist or otherwise be discovered. If our efforts to remediate a material weakness are not successful, or if other material weaknesses or other deficiencies occur, our ability to accurately and timely report our financial position could be impaired, which could result in late filings of our annual and quarterly reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, restatements of our consolidated financial statements, a decline in our stock price, suspension or delisting of our common stock from the NASDAQ Global Market, and could adversely affect our reputation, results of operations and financial condition.
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This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include those that express plans, anticipation, intent, contingency, goals, targets or future development and/or otherwise are not statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and projections about future events and they are subject to risks and uncertainties known and unknown that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements.
In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology, such as expects, anticipates, intends, estimates, plans, believes, seeks, may, should, could, would, will or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Accordingly, these statements involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in them. Any forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed throughout this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference herein and therein and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus only. Because the risk factors referred to above could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, along with others, are described above under the heading Risk Factors. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict which factors will arise. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of each factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. We qualify all of the information presented in this prospectus, and particularly our forward-looking statements, by these cautionary statements.
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We estimate that the net proceeds from our issuance and sale of shares of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $21.3 million, (or approximately $25.0 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full), assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, and after repaying Mr. LeBow $1.0 million for funds he advanced to us to pay certain offering expenses.
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds from this offering by approximately $2.1 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering as follows:
| approximately $4.3 million to fund continued clinical development of AMG indication for our MyPRS® test; |
| approximately $7.4 million to expand our commercialization efforts; |
| approximately $3.2 million to establish our San Diego corporate headquarters; |
| approximately $2.6 million to enhance our executive team to manage and grow our business, including a Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Commercial Officer; and |
| approximately $3.8 million for working capital and general corporate purposes. |
This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions.
Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment grade, interest bearing instruments and U.S. government securities.
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We do not anticipate paying dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. We are not subject to any legal restrictions respecting the payment of dividends, except that we may not pay dividends if the payment would render us insolvent. Any future determination as to the payment of cash dividends on our common stock will be at our board of directors discretion and will depend on our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements and other factors that our board of directors considers to be relevant.
In connection with this offering, our board of directors and the holder of a majority of our outstanding units will elect to convert Signal Genetics LLC from a Delaware limited liability company to a Delaware corporation. In order to consummate such a conversion, a certificate of conversion will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. In connection with the corporate conversion, all outstanding Class A and Class C units of Signal Genetics LLC will be automatically converted into an aggregate of 2,547,561 shares of common stock of Signal Genetics, Inc. No U.S. federal taxable income or taxable gain is expected to be recognized by Signal Genetics, Inc. as a result of our conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation.
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The following table sets forth our capitalization, as of December 31, 2013:
| on an actual basis; |
| on a pro forma basis to give effect to the debt conversion and the corporate conversion as if they had occurred on December 31, 2013; and |
| on a pro forma as adjusted basis after giving effect to the debt conversion and the corporate conversion as if they had occurred on December 31, 2013, as adjusted for the sale of the shares of our common stock in this offering at the assumed public offering price of $11.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
You should consider this table in conjunction with Use of Proceeds, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our financial statements and unaudited pro forma financial information and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.
As of December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||
(unaudited) | ||||||||||||
Actual | Pro Forma (1) |
Pro Forma,
As Adjusted (1) |
||||||||||
Total Indebtedness | $ | 26,610,600 | $ | 697,064 | $ | 697,064 | ||||||
Class A units, no par value; 100,000 authorized and 72,500 issued and outstanding, actual; no Class A Units issued and outstanding, pro forma; and no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted. | 2,000,000 | (2) | | | ||||||||
Class B units, no par value; 50,000 authorized and 41,088 issued and outstanding, actual; no Class B units issued and outstanding, pro forma; and no Class B units issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted. | | | | |||||||||
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, actual; 2,537,594 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; 4,809,594 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma, as adjusted. | | 25,376 | 48,096 | |||||||||
Additional paid in capital | | 27,888,160 | 49,108,640 | |||||||||
Accumulated deficit | | (25,887,035 | ) | (25,887,035 | ) | |||||||
Members deficiency (excluding Class A Units) | (25,887,035 | ) | | | ||||||||
Total members deficiency/stockholders equity | (23,887,035 | ) | 2,026,501 | 23,269,701 | ||||||||
Total capitalization | $ | 2,723,565 | $ | 2,723,565 | $ | 23,966,765 |
(1) | A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share would increase or decrease total stockholders equity and total capitalization on a pro forma as adjusted basis by approximately $2,090,000, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. |
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(2) | This amount represents the capital contribution made by LeBow Alpha LLLP for Class A units, which has been broken out separately for the purposes of the capitalization table; however it is a component of the Companys members deficiency. |
The number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to this offering after giving effect to the debt conversion and the corporate conversion. The number excludes:
| 361,884 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the new equity incentive plan we intend to adopt immediately prior to this offering; |
| 719,575 shares reserved for the restricted stock unit awards to be issued to certain employees immediately prior to or simultaneously with the offering; and |
| 113,600 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants granted to Aegis Capital Corp. upon completion of this offering. |
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If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your interest will be immediately and substantially diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock after giving effect to this offering.
Our historical net tangible book value as December 31, 2013 was $(23,887,035). Historical net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2013 has not been provided due to the fact that at December 31, 2013 we were a limited liability company and did not have shares of Common Stock outstanding.
Our pro forma net tangible book value as of December 31, 2013 was $2,026,501, or $0.80 per share of our common stock. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, divided by the pro forma number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2013, which includes 2,537,594 shares after giving effect to the corporate conversion and debt conversion.
After giving effect to the sale of the shares in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value at December 31, 2013 would have been approximately $23,269,701, or $4.84 per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of approximately $4.04 per share to our existing stockholders, and an immediate dilution of $6.16 per share to investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering.
Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of our common stock in this offering and the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
The following table illustrates the per share dilution to investors purchasing shares in the offering:
Assumed initial public offering price per share | $ | 11.00 | ||||||
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2013 | $ | 0.80 | ||||||
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors | 4.04 | |||||||
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering | 4.84 | |||||||
Dilution per share to new investors | $ | 6.16 |
If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value will increase to $5.19 per share, representing an immediate dilution of $5.81 per share to new investors, assuming that the initial public offering price will be $11.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.
A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $11.00 per share would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by $2,090,000, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share by $0.43 per share, and the dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share to investors in this offering by $0.57 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.
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The following table summarizes, on a pro forma as adjusted basis as of December 31, 2013, the differences between the number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration and the average price per share paid by existing stockholders and by investors participating in this offering, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, at an assumed public offering price of $11.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range of this prospectus.
The number of shares of common stock that will be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 2,537,594 shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to this offering after giving effect to the debt conversion and the corporate conversion. The number excludes:
| 719,575 shares reserved for the restricted stock unit awards to be issued to certain employees immediately prior to or simultaneously with the offering; |
| 361,884 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the new equity incentive plan we intend to adopt immediately prior to this offering; and |
| 113,600 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants granted to Aegis Capital Corp. upon completion of this offering. |
If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the number of shares held by new investors will increase to 2,612,800, or 50.7% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding after this offering and the shares held by existing stockholders will be 2,537,594 but the percentage of shares held by existing stockholders will decrease to 49.3% of the total shares outstanding.
To the extent that the underwriters over-allotment option is exercised or any warrants or options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors.
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The following discussion and analysis should be read together with our financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements reflecting our current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. See Forward-Looking Statements for a discussion of the uncertainties, risks and assumptions associated with these statements. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those discussed in our forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth under Risk Factors and elsewhere in this prospectus.
We are an emerging commercial stage, molecular diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer. Our mission is to develop, validate and deliver innovative diagnostic services that enable better patient-care decisions.
We were founded in January 2010 and became the exclusive licensee in our licensed field to the renowned research on multiple myeloma performed at UAMS in April 2010. Our flagship service offering is the Myeloma Prognostic Risk Signature, or MyPRS®, test. The MyPRS® test is a microarray-based gene expression profile, or GEP, assay that tests for presence of specific groups of genes that can predict low or high level risk of early relapse in patients suffering from MM. The information provided by the MyPRS® test aids physicians in selecting the optimal treatment regime for each patients unique MM condition.
To our knowledge, we are the only company marketing a GEP test for assessing the status of MM in the United States. The MyPRS® test is protected by a substantial patent portfolio of issued and pending patents. Our proprietary estate consists of 10 issued patents and 26 pending patent applications, many of which protect and defend our exclusive ability to market the MyPRS® test as well as additional proprietary tests and treatments.
According to the American Cancer Society, ACS, and the National Cancer Institute, NCI, MM represents 1% of all cancers, 2% of all cancer related deaths and is the second most common blood cancer after leukemia representing approximately 15% of all hematomalignancies. Approximately 22,350 new cases of MM are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2013 and there are an estimated 77,617 people currently living with MM in the United States. The five-year survival rate for people with MM is about 43%. Additionally, MM begins as a precursor condition known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, or MGUS. It is estimated that more than 3% of the population of the United States 50 years of age or older have MGUS. MGUS is not itself harmful to health. But every year, 1% of MGUS patients will develop MM. Aside from the precursor condition MGUS, MM exists on a spectrum from asymptomatic or smoldering multiple myeloma, or AMM, to full-blown MM. Collectively, these precursor conditions, MGUS and AMM are referred to as asymptomatic monoclonal gammopathy or AMG. Today it is not possible to accurately predict which of the more than 3 million patients with an AMG diagnosis will convert to full blown MM. The risk of AMG progressing to MM is between 1% to 10% per year. A recent peer-reviewed publication demonstrated that our MyPRS® test was an independent predictor of the risk of progression from AMG to clinical MM. Further clinical study replicating these results will likely be necessary to enable broad market acceptance for the use of MyPRS® in MM precursor conditions. Nonetheless, the applicability of our test for use in predicting MM progression from AMG could potentially create a substantial increase in the patient population eligible for MyPRS® testing and as such represents an important pillar of our growth strategy. We estimate the total MM testing market at approximately 33,500 patients per year, including newly diagnosed and relapsed patients. We believe we currently service just over 2% of this market. We estimate that the addition of an AMG progression indication feature for the MyPRS® test could expand the MyPRS® addressable market to more than 130,000 patients per year. [Multiple Myeloma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up, Annals of Oncology, Moreau et al, 00:1-5, 2013 doi:10.1093/annonc/mdt297]
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Our growth strategy includes the following key elements:
| Expand the U.S. market penetration of our MyPRS® test by increasing the geographic coverage of our sales force which currently consists of one employee. |
| Broaden the base of health care insurance companies that have approved reimbursements for MyPRS®. |
| Expand the diagnostic indications for MyPRS® to include AMG, the precursor condition to MM. |
| Establish partnerships with other reference laboratories to expand the market reach for MyPRS®. |
| Pursue collaborations with pharmaceutical companies who focus on developing therapies to treat MM and its precursor disease. |
| Expand our information technology infrastructure to further improve our customer service experience. |
| Continue to leverage our relationship with UAMS via our exclusive license agreement. |
| Expand our test offering with the addition of conventional tests used by physicians who care for MM patients. |
| Pursue additional collaborations and in-licensing to expand our service offering. |
| Continue to reduce the costs associated with the development, manufacture and interpretation of our proprietary genomic tests and services. |
Our revenue is derived primarily from our laboratory testing services, and in particular from our MyPRS® testing services. We also derive a significant portion of our revenues from payments or reimbursements received from various payors, including Medicare, contracted insurance companies, directly billed customers (UAMS, pharmaceutical companies, reference laboratories and hospitals) and non-contracted insurance companies.
We believe a key challenge to achieving our growth strategy will be our ability to become contracted with additional payors beyond Medicare and Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield. In order to broaden our coverage policy approval to include a majority of the major health care insurance providers in the United States, we plan to hire experienced managed care professionals who can assist us with gaining contractual agreements with third-party payors. MyPRS® has been studied extensively and there are more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications that describe the validity and utility of the test. MyPRS® is one of the most extensively validated genomic assays available today. The MyPRS® assay has been validated on patient cohorts totaling over 4,500 patients, detailed in 17 peer-reviewed publications. Please visit our website at www.signalgenetics.com in the Publications section under the Physician Resources tab for a list of these publications. We intend to use these publications to create the clinical dossier that supports reimbursement approval by the majority of health care payors.
Other challenges to our growth strategy include: (1) the acceptance of our tests by the oncology community. For example, if medical oncologists do not adopt the use of MyPRS® to evaluate the risk of developing MM in patients with AMG, our growth strategy could be adversely affected, (2) if other tests that more accurately predict the severity of MM, the risk of progression of AMG to MM or the likelihood of response to therapy, are developed, physicians could stop ordering MyPRS®, adversely affecting our ability to generate revenue, and (3) payors, including our currently contracted payors, could reduce payment for MyPRS®.
We generate revenues primarily from the completion of assays processed through our CLIA certified laboratory under a specified contractual protocol. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had one major customer, UAMS. Revenue sourced either from or through UAMS accounted for approximately 83% and 86%, respectively, of net revenue.
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A significant portion of our revenues consist of payments or reimbursements received from various payors, including Medicare, contracted insurance companies, directly billed customers (UAMS, pharmaceutical companies, reference laboratories and hospitals) and non-contracted insurance companies. We report revenues from contracted payors and directly billed customers based on the contractual rate. Revenues from non-contracted payors are reported based on the amount expected to be collected, which is based on the historical collection experience of each payor or payor group, as appropriate. Our estimates of net revenue are subject to change based on the contractual status and payment policies of third-party payors with whom we deal. We regularly refine our estimates in order to make our estimated revenue as accurate as possible based on our most recent collection experience with each third-party payor.
Our cost of revenue consists primarily of the cost of materials, direct labor, costs associated with processing specimens including pathological review, quality control analyses, delivery charges necessary to render an individualized test result and depreciation and amortization expense. Costs associated with performing tests are recorded as the tests are processed.
Our selling and marketing expenses consist primarily of sales commissions and support costs, salaries and related employee benefits, travel, license fees and marketing costs.
Our general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related employee benefits, professional service fees and associated travel costs.
Our research and development expenses primarily include laboratory supplies, reagents, and consulting costs associated with developing and validating new testing services.
Interest expense primarily reflects interest on the notes payable to the related party.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures in the financial statements. Critical accounting policies are those accounting policies that may be material due to the levels of subjectivity and judgment necessary to account for highly uncertain matters or the susceptibility of such matters to change, and that have a material impact on financial condition or operating performance. While we base our estimates and judgments on our experience and on various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our financial statements require significant judgments and estimates. For additional information relating to these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 to our audited financial statements, appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
We recognize revenue from testing services in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (FASB ASC) 605, Revenue Recognition , which requires that four basic criteria be met before revenue can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred and title and the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the client or services have been rendered; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. The Company records revenues when the tests have confirmed results which are evidence that the services have been performed. Revenues are recorded on an accrual basis as the contractual obligations are completed and as a set of assays is processed through our laboratory under a specified contractual protocol. Revenues are billed to various payors, including Medicare, contracted insurance companies, directly billed customers (UAMS, pharmaceutical companies, reference laboratories and hospitals) and non-contracted
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insurance companies. The Company reports revenues from Medicare, contracted insurance companies and directly billed customers based on the contractual rate. The contractual rate is based on established, agreed upon rates between the Company and the respective payor and is the price invoiced by the Company. The Company reports revenues from non-contracted payors based on the amount expected to be collected which is based on the historical collection experience of each payor or payor group, as appropriate. The difference between the amount billed and the amount estimated to be collected from non-contracted payors is recorded as a contractual allowance at the same time the revenue is recognized, to arrive at reported net revenue. We do not record revenue from individuals for billings, deductibles or co-pays until cash is collected as collectability is not assured at the time services are provided, therefore there are no accounts receivable from self-payors. Gross revenues from individuals have been immaterial. Our estimates of net revenue for non-contracted insurance companies are subject to change based on the contractual status and payment policies of the third-party payors with whom we deal. We regularly refine our estimates in order to make our estimated revenue as accurate as possible based on our most recent collection experience with each third-party payor. We regularly review our historical collection experience for non-contracted payors and adjust our expected revenues for current and subsequent periods accordingly.
We record accounts receivable net of an alowance for doubtful accounts. We estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the aging of the accounts receivable and our historical collection experience for each type of payor. We have not had any bad debts from any of our contracted customers or noncontracted insurance companies, therefore there is no allowance for doubtful accounts recorded as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.
The following tables present our gross accounts receivable from customers outstanding by aging category reduced by total contractual allowances to arrive at the net accounts receivable balance at December 31, 2013 and 2012. Other than our direct bill customers, all of our receivables were pending approval by third-party payors as of the date that the receivables were recorded:
December 31, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||
0-30 Days | 31-60 Days | 61-90 Days | Over 90 | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Medicare | $ | 20,602 | $ | 41,204 | $ | 19,799 | $ | 86,876 | $ | 168,481 | ||||||||||
Contracted insurance companies | 20,000 | 10,000 | 14,000 | 54,352 | 98,352 | |||||||||||||||
Direct bill | 185,064 | 13,220 | 19,570 | | 217,854 | |||||||||||||||
Non-contracted insurance companies | 67,150 | 114,550 | 126,400 | 1,245,367 | 1,553,467 | |||||||||||||||
292,816 | 178,974 | 179,769 | 1,386,595 | 2,038,154 | ||||||||||||||||
Less: Contractual allowances | 35,952 | 70,426 | 73,886 | 863,880 | 1,044,144 | |||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | $ | 256,864 | $ | 108,548 | $ | 105,883 | $ | 522,715 | $ | 994,010 |
December 31, 2012 | ||||||||||||||||||||
0-30 Days | 31-60 Days | 61-90 Days | Over 90 | Total | ||||||||||||||||
Medicare | $ | 4,148 | $ | 4,158 | $ | 8,607 | $ | 48,576 | $ | 65,489 | ||||||||||
Contracted insurance companies | 4,750 | 6,320 | 1,580 | 147,296 | 159,946 | |||||||||||||||
Direct bill | 293,682 | 282,287 | 45,090 | 30,624 | 651,683 | |||||||||||||||
Non-contracted insurance companies | 75,050 | 103,375 | 57,369 | 691,154 | 926,948 | |||||||||||||||
377,630 | 396,140 | 112,646 | 917,650 | 1,804,066 | ||||||||||||||||
Less: Contractual allowances | 54,197 | 65,247 | 42,046 | 446,977 | 608,467 | |||||||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net | $ | 323,433 | $ | 330,893 | $ | 70,600 | $ | 470,673 | $ | 1,195,599 |
The days sales outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was 89 and 101 days, respectively. The decrease in the number of days is primarily due to an improvement in our internal billing processes as well as the collection rates from third-party providers.
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We recognize compensation expense in an amount equal to the estimated grant date fair value of each stock award over the estimated period of service and vesting. This estimation of the fair value of each stock-based grant or issuance on the date of grant involves numerous assumptions by management. The use of different values by management in connection with these assumptions could produce substantially different results.
Our management reviews our long-lived assets with finite useful lives for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. We recognize an impairment loss when the sum of the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be realized from the asset is less than its carrying amount. If an asset is considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. Considerable judgment is necessary to estimate the fair value of the assets and accordingly, actual results could vary significantly from such estimates. Our most significant estimates and judgments relating to the long-lived asset impairments include the timing and amount of projected future cash flows.
Deferred income taxes result primarily from temporary differences between financial and tax reporting. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates. Future tax benefits are subject to a valuation allowance when management is unable to conclude that our deferred tax assets will more-likely-than-not be realized from the results of operations. Our estimate for the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets requires management to make significant estimates and judgments about projected future operating results. If actual results differ from these projections or if managements expectations of future results change, it may be necessary to adjust the valuation allowance.
We have reviewed all recently issued standards and have determined they will not have a material impact on our financial statements or do not apply to our operations.
Revenue was $4,316,484 for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $89,558 or 2.0% compared to $4,406,042 for the same period in 2012. The decrease in revenue was due to a combination of the following:
| A $186,137 decrease in revenue sourced either from or through our major customer, UAMS. This revenue consisted of a 2% decrease in tests performed during the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012 (3,435 tests performed in 2013 versus 3,492 tests performed in 2012). The average sales price per test also decreased by $36.27 primarily due to the mix in both the type of test being performed (research versus clinical) and the type of payor category. |
| An increase of $96,579 in revenue sourced from non-UAMS customers that included a 63% decrease in revenue from pharmaceutical companies due to the completion of a clinical study in 2013 ($190,813 decrease) and an increase from other hospitals outside of UAMS of 86% ($287,392 increase). These revenues resulted from a 10% increase in the number of tests performed during the year ended December 31, 2013 as compared to the same period in 2012 (383 tests performed in 2013 versus 349 tests performed in 2012). This increase in volume also included a decrease of 70 tests for pharmaceutical companies due to the completion of the clinical study in 2013. Additionally, we experienced an increase in average selling price per test of $90.52. The increase in average sales price is primarily due to improvement in collection rates from third-party payors and better acceptance of our tests by insurance companies. |
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Cost of revenue was $2,498,940 (58% of sales) for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $543,244 or 17.9%, compared to $3,042,184 (69% of sales) for the same period in 2012. The primary reason for the decrease in costs was a reduction in the cost of materials after re-negotiating with our supplier and the reduction of operating costs through efficiencies at our laboratory. In addition, costs of revenue include a number of fixed costs that do not vary with revenue.
Selling and marketing expenses were $378,769 for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $946,476, or 71.4%, compared to $1,325,245 in the same period in 2012. The primary reason for the decrease in selling and marketing expenses was due to reduction of our sales staff. As discussed below under the caption Business Our Growth Strategy, we plan to expand our sales force and marketing expenditures once we complete this offering.
General and administrative expenses were $1,788,141 for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $1,119,806, or 38.5%, compared to $2,907,947 in the same period in 2012. The primary reason for the decrease was due to decreased legal costs primarily related to a tortuous interference case that was initiated in 2012 and eventually settled in August 2013 and the termination and settlement agreements of several management level employees during 2012.
Research and development expenses were $96,847 for the year ended December 31, 2013, a decrease of $128,531, or 57.0%, compared to $225,378 in the same period in 2012. The primary reason for the decrease in research and development expenses was due to the abandonment of certain research projects that were deemed to not be viable.
In the future, we expect research and development expenses to increase as we work to develop additional diagnostic tests and add indications to our MyPRS® test. We cannot estimate the amounts we will need to invest in order to achieve the new indications or new tests, nor do we know if we will be successful in these endeavors.
During the year ended December 31, 2012, we recorded approximately $932,000 as lease abandonment expense for costs associated with an operating lease that we are not using and have been unsuccessful in subleasing. There is a termination clause in the lease that we intend to exercise whereby we can terminate after August 2015.
In August 2013, we settled a suit in which we were the plaintiff for a tortuous interference claim regarding a potential acquisition and agreed to settle for a payment of at least $350,000. As of December 31, 2013, we have recorded a gain of $250,000 for the first payment we received in January 2014. We have not recorded the remaining future payments as either a receivable or a gain as of December 31, 2013 due to the uncertainty surrounding the gain contingency. The remaining gain will be recorded when the cash is collected.
Interest expense was $1,963,456 for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to $1,591,341 in the same period in 2012. The primary reason for the increase was due to increased borrowings on our note payable to the related party.
We had a net loss from discontinued operations of $1,592,945 for the year ended December 31, 2012. The primary reason for this loss was due to fact that all operations related to CC Health LLC were classified as discontinued operations, and this division was completely shut down by July 2012, as management determined that the expense of developing the divisions technology would be better spent on the Companys core business.
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For the foregoing reasons, we had a net loss attributable to member of Signal Genetics LLC of $(2,444,669) for the year ended December 31, 2013 compared to a net loss attributable to member of Signal Genetics LLC of $(7,601,285) for the year ended December 31, 2012.
We had cash of $209,348 at December 31, 2013 compared to $112,534 at December 31, 2012, and total current liabilities of $27,300,316 at December 31, 2013 compared to $23,602,183 at December 31, 2012. As of December 31, 2013 we had a working capital deficit of approximately $25,246,000.
Our principal sources of cash have included borrowings on our note payable to the related party. We expect that as our revenues grow, our operating expenses will continue to grow and, as a result, we will need to generate significant additional net revenues to achieve profitability.
The Company has no material commitments for capital expenditures at this time.
Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued a going concern opinion on our December 31, 2013 financial statements, expressing substantial doubt that we can continue as an ongoing business for the next twelve months after issuance of their report based on our having suffered recurring losses from operations and having a net capital deficiency, as discussed in Note 1 of our accompanying financial statements. Our ability to successfully continue is primarily dependent upon continued support from the majority member. The Company expects to seek additional financing and/or strategic investments prior to the offering or following the offering, depending on the proceeds generated by the offering. However, there can be no assurance that any additional financing or strategic investments will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. If events or circumstances occur such that the Company does not obtain additional funding, the Company will most likely be required to seek loans from its majority member who will become our majority stockholder (who is under no obligation to make any such loans to the Company) on similar terms as the Company has obtained in the past, seek additional debt or equity financing and/or reduce certain discretionary spending, which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys ability to achieve its intended business objectives. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. If we cannot continue as a viable entity, our stockholders may lose some or all of their investment in us.
The following table sets forth our net cash used in operations for the periods indicated:
Year Ended
December 31, |
||||||||
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Net loss from continuing operations | $ | (2,159,669 | ) | $ | (5,618,340 | ) | ||
Non-cash adjustments | 1,835,196 | 2,656,672 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities | (649,445 | ) | 1,608,322 | |||||
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations | (193,875 | ) | (1,654,812 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in operations | $ | (1,167,793 | ) | $ | (6,224,802 | ) |
We used $1,167,793 of net cash in operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2013. Non-cash adjustments primarily reflect non-cash accrued interest on the note to the related party of $1,936,881 offset by a $250,000 gain in legal settlement that was received subsequent to year end. Changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily reflect decreases in accounts receivable of $201,589 offset by an increase in inventory of $187,102, decreases in accounts payable and other accrued expenses of $279,734 and lease abandonment payable of $319,454. The primary reason for the decrease in accounts receivable was due to an improvement in our internal billing processes and the collection rate from third-party providers. Our days sales outstanding for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were 89 and 101 days, respectively. We do not know if collections will continue to improve or remain at these levels. Moreover, future collections may depend upon our ability to obtain in-network contracts with additional insurance providers. The increase in inventory was
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due primarily to the timing of the receipt of supplies during 2013 as compared to 2012. The decreases in accounts payable and accrued expenses were due to payments and reductions in fees for legal and consulting services and the decrease in lease abandonment payable was due to payments on the abandoned lease. The net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations was due to payments for remaining liabilities of the CC Health business.
We used $6,224,802 of net cash in operating activities in the year ended December 31, 2012. Non-cash adjustments primarily reflect non-cash accrued interest on the note to the related party of $1,560,270 and lease abandonment charges of $932,287. Changes in operating assets and liabilities primarily reflect a decrease in inventory of $166,392 offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $369,579 and a decrease in accounts payable and other accrued expenses of $1,294,809. The primary reason for the increase in accounts receivable is due to the increased revenues in 2012. The decrease in accounts payable and other accrued expenses was primarily due to cash inflow from operations primarily beginning in 2012. The net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations was primarily due to the net loss incurred for discontinued operations of $1,592,945 during the year.
We had $5,685 of net cash provided by investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2013 due primarily to decreases in security deposits.
We used $119,433 of net cash in investing activities in the year ended December 31, 2012 primarily due to purchases of property and equipment.
As of this time, we plan to focus on our growth strategies and do not plan on using a material amount of the net proceeds from this offering in investing activities.
We generated $1,258,922 of net cash from financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily due to the net proceeds of $2,105,731 on our note payable to the related party offset by $285,000 paid in distributions and $500,422 paid for deferred issuance costs.
We generated $5,805,573 of net cash from financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily due to proceeds of $6,635,000 on our note payable to the related party offset by $720,000 paid in distributions.
We have borrowed money to support operations from Mr. LeBow and from various entities owned by him. As of December 31, 2013, the aggregate amount payable under such notes is $26.6 million. The notes bear interest at 8% compounded monthly and are due on demand. Interest expense has been accrued and is included in the balance reflected on the balance sheet. The notes are collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Company.
In addition, we acquired certain property and equipment through the issuance of a note payable totaling approximately $182,000 of which the balance at December 31, 2013 is approximately $42,000. The note is payable in thirty-six monthly installments of $5,320 through August 2014. The effective interest rate of the notes is 3.4%. The related equipment is collateral for the note.
See above for a description of our note payable to the related party.
As of each of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we were contingently liable for a standby letter of credit for $50,000 issued as a security deposit on a lease. We have approximately $50,000 cash in a restricted account that is held as collateral for this letter of credit. Otherwise, we have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
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As of each of December 31, 2013 and 2012, other than our office and laboratory lease, employment agreements with key executive officers, a license agreement with UAMS and a services agreement with a third party to assist with collections from customers we had no material commitments other than the liabilities reflected in our financial statements.
In April 2012, the JOBS Act, was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Thus, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. The Company has elected to avail itself of the extended transition period for adopting new or revised accounting standards. As a result of this election, our financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with public company effective dates.
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We are an emerging commercial stage, molecular diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer. Our mission is to develop, validate and deliver innovative diagnostic services that enable better patient-care decisions. We were founded in January 2010 and became the exclusive licensee in our licensed field to the renowned research on multiple myeloma performed at UAMS in April 2010.
Multiple myeloma, or MM, is a hematologic, or blood, cancer that develops in the bone marrow and specifically affects the plasma cells of the bone marrow. Normal plasma cells produce immunoglobins, otherwise known as antibodies, which help the body fight infection and disease. In MM, the normal plasma cells become malignant and inhibit the production of normal blood cells and antibodies, including red blood cells, white blood cells and blood platelets, and crowd the bone marrow with malignant plasma cells, which produce an abnormal antibody called a monoclonal protein, or M protein. The hallmark characteristic of myeloma is a high level of M protein in the blood. MM can also cause soft spots in the bone known as osteolytic lesions. MM is the second most common blood cancer after leukemia and represents approximately 15% of all hematomalignancies. According to the American Cancer Society, or ACS, and the National Cancer Institute, NCI, approximately 22,350 new cases of MM are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2013 and approximately 10,710 deaths from MM are expected to occur in the United States in 2013. More Americans will die from MM this year than from any other blood cancer. Although a relatively rare disease, MM is responsible for 2% of all cancer deaths in the United States each year and will kill more Americans than melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. There are an estimated 77,617 people currently living with MM in the United States. The five-year survival rate for people with MM is about 43%. The ACS estimates that the lifetime risk in the United States of getting MM is 1 in 149. [American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org and National Cancer Institute: www.seer.cancer.gov]
To date, there are no known causes of MM. The most significant risk factor for developing MM is age. According to Nature: International Weekly Journal of Sciences supplement on MM published on December 15, 2011 in volume 480, page S-33 through S-80, or Natures MM supplement, 96% of MM cases are diagnosed in people older than 45 years of age, and more than 63% are diagnosed in people older than 65 years of age. There are usually no early stage symptoms of MM and a suspicion of a MM diagnosis is often made incidentally through routine blood tests which reveal low numbers of red blood cells and high levels of protein. Once diagnosed, MM is classified into one of three categories in a process known as staging. Staging is the process of determining how widespread or advanced the cancer is. Under the International Staging System, or ISS, MM is classified into three stages based upon the presence of serum beta-2 microglobulin and serum albumin, which are blood proteins that are measured through a blood test. Staging is the key factor in a physicians determination of the course of treatment for a patient and that patients outlook or prognosis for recovery. Prognosis is typically based on the existence of different signs, symptoms and circumstances. Certain laboratory and clinical findings, or prognostic indicators, provide important information for myeloma, including when treatment should begin and what treatments to use, based upon a patients individual risk for relapse. However, those experts caring for MM patients have been faced with a staging system that predates the current era and a large amount of new genomic information that could assist in the staging process. The traditional approach which utilizes cytogenetic analysis ( i.e. , karyotyping) and FISH, for staging has not been able to accurately stage MM patients or fully assess the risk of relapse and classify MM. A more comprehensive and systematic approach is necessary to meet this unmet medical need. [IMWG Consensus on Risk Stratification in Multiple Myeloma, Leukemia, Chng et al, advance online publication, 20 September 2013; (2013) doi: 10.1038/leu.2013.247 Myeloma Classification & Risk Assessment, Seminars in Oncology, Fonseca and Monge, Vol. 40, No. 5, October 2013, pg. 554.]
Our flagship service is the Myeloma Prognostic Risk Signature, or MyPRS®. The MyPRS® test is a microarray-based gene expression profile, or GEP, assay that tests for presence of specific groups of genes that can predict low or high level risk of early relapse. The MyPRS® test provides a whole-genomic expression profile of a persons myeloma. The GEP is a genetic fingerprint of a cancer, with each cancer being unique, just as each fingerprint is unique. Many recent studies show that the GEP of cancerous tumors can help make personalized treatment possible, and our MyPRS® test is the first one to be developed for multiple myeloma
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according to the 2007 Shaughnessy paper in the Journal Blood. MyPRS® can be used at the time of initial myeloma diagnosis or when the patient has experienced a relapse to aid physicians in selecting the optimal treatment regime for each patients unique condition. Specifically the test allows:
| risk stratification to help distinguish patients with indolent myeloma that may not need treatment from those patients with aggressive MM that requires more aggressive treatment; and |
| identification of important genomic alterations that allow for myeloma sub classification that may affect the specific choice of therapies. |
In the year ended December 31, 2013, we had total revenue of $4.3 million compared to $4.4 million in 2012.
The last two decades have brought significant changes in the management of patients with MM. More effective therapies have improved the outlook for patients and progress in analytical genomics has made it clear that MM is a heterogeneous condition with a variety of genomic alterations. However, we believe those experts caring for MM patients have been faced with an antiquated staging system that does not utilize new genomic information. We believe the traditional approach utilizing staging based on cytogenetic analysis ( i.e. , karyotyping) and FISH testing has not been adequate to fully assess risk and classify MM, and that a more comprehensive and systematic approach is necessary to optimize treatment of MM patients.
Our MyPRS® GEP signatures test enables physicians to obtain more complete information than has heretofore been available for the purposes of allowing optimal treatment and care due to the ability to more accurately predict a patients outcome and severity of disease. The ability to better predict patient outcomes is a valuable tool for physicians and patients to use to help establish an appropriate course of treatment for patients with MM. Both new patients and those with relapses of MM may benefit from our test. We believe the ability to better predict a patients outcome through the GEP signature could also enhance the ability of pharmaceutical and biotech companies to develop personalized treatments for MM.
Researchers at the UAMS developed a genomic profile test for patients with MM, which has been exclusively licensed for use by us. The test is a microarray-based test that predicts the prognosis of patients with MM and which provides guidance as to optimal patient management both at the time of initial diagnosis and at the time of relapse after treatment. The MyPRS® test took over 10 years to develop and its accuracy, validity and clinical utility have been demonstrated in over 4,500 patients and have been documented in 17 articles published in peer-reviewed U.S. and international medical journals. Based on the published medical literature, many experts in MM have concluded that the MyPRS® test should be used as part of routine patient management. [Complete remission in multiple myeloma examined as time-dependent variable in terms of both onset and duration in Total Therapy protocols, Hoering et el; Blood 2009 114: 1299-1305, The molecular characterization and clinical management of multiple myeloma in the post-genome era; Zhou et al, Leukemia, advance online publication, 6 August 2009; doi: 10.1038/leu.2009.160, Myeloma Classification & Risk Assessment; Fonseca & Monge; Seminars in Oncology; Vol. 40, No. 5, October 2013, pp. 554-566.]
The MyPRS® test is performed on cells obtained from MM patients and involves isolating malignant plasma cells from the bone marrow and extracting their RNA. Through the use of state-of-the-art microarray technology and the application of proprietary software to analyze raw genetic data, the MyPRS® test is able to determine the specific subtype of MM present and to predict the prognosis and risk of relapse after treatment.
We believe the published data supports performance of the MyPRS® GEP testing on patients with myeloma at the time of diagnosis and at the time of relapse after therapy. Even in patients without clinical symptoms, the altered expression levels of specific genes involved in bone destruction or cellular proliferation may be able to forecast prognosis. In clinically apparent myeloma, the test can help stratify patients according to survival probability with more accuracy than other available tests. In addition, when MyPRS® is performed at the time of relapse, it can help predict whether a patient has progressed to a high-risk gene profile. Thus, we advocate that newly diagnosed MM patients should obtain MyPRS® GEP analysis. Approximately 15% to 25% of this patient group will have a MyPRS® GEP profile that predicts relapse within a relatively short period of time. [Myeloma Classification & Risk Assessment; Fonseca & Monge; Seminars in Oncology;
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Vol. 40, No. 5, October 2013, pp. 554-566.] Those patients who relapse may be reassessed with the MyPRS® test at the time of relapse to help determine whether their MyPRS® GEP signature has changed. If this reassessment reveals a conversion to a high-risk gene profile, more aggressive therapeutic options may be warranted because a conversion to high-risk MM is correlated with a significant reduction in post-relapse survival.
The MyPRS® test is performed on RNA extracted from CD138 positive plasma cells obtained from the bone marrow of MM patients. This allows the precise determination of the percentage of CD138 positive plasma cells in the specimen and ensures sufficient genetic material will be available for GEP analysis. The purified RNA from the isolated plasma cells is fluorescently labeled and hybridized (or crossbred) to a whole-genome GeneChip® platform, containing over 54,000 complimentary genetic sequences. After all unbound RNA is washed away, the chip is scanned and the florescence intensity of each probe is quantified, resulting in a whole-genome expression profile. The MyPRS® assay utilizes the Affymetrix GeneChip® 3000Dx v.2 system, a state-of-the-art whole-genome microarray platform, specifically designed for clinical applications. The GeneChip® system has been extensively validated across thousands of publications and is an internationally recognized standard for microarray-based profiling of RNA from human tissues. The Affymetrix platform has been FDA cleared and CE marked by the European Commission for marketing within the European Union for a number of in vitro diagnostic uses.
Each patients bone marrow aspirate, isolated RNA and their normalized gene expression profile, undergoes a series of quality control checks throughout the process to ensure the integrity of the results generated. The final step in the MyPRS® test involves the use of proprietary statistical and bioinformatic algorithms that are the product of more than two decades of research at the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, or MIRT, at UAMS. After generation of a whole genome profile that passes quality assurance testing, MyPRS® algorithms are applied to generate a series of informative results:
| Prognosis: Quantification of the expression of 70 genes to help predict the patients prognosis and overall risk for relapse and survival. This can aid in the selection of the most appropriate therapeutic regime for each patient. |
| Molecular Subtype: Interrogation of 700 genes for the presence of specific alterations that may allow classification of MM into seven disease subtypes. This can further stratify a patients risk profile and has the potential to further identify the best therapeutic option for many patients. [The molecular classification of multiple myeloma; Zhan et al, Blood journal, September 15, 2006; 108:6, 2020-2028.] |
| Virtual Karyotype: Identification of MM cytogenetic abnormalities, or CA, through the MyPRS® virtual karyotype. MyPRS® virtual karyotype, based upon the expression levels of 816 genes, has an accuracy rate up to 89% when compared with conventional methods for assessing CA ( e.g. , metaphase karyotype and array-based comparative genomic hybridization). [Prediction of cytogenetic abnormalities with gene expression profiles; Zhou et al, Blood journal, prepublished online as Blood First Edition paper, April 10, 2012; D01 10.1182/blood-2011-10-388702.] This high rate of agreement with conventional karyotyping means that physicians may be able to use MyPRS® in cases where, for example, conventional karyotyping is not possible. |
The final result of the MyPRS® analysis process is a readily interpretable, well-referenced, gene expression profiling report which can aid the physicians ability to offer truly personalized treatment options.
We offer our MyPRS® test in our approximately 2,800 square foot state-of-the-art laboratory located in Little Rock, Arkansas, which has been certified under CLIA, to perform high complexity testing. Our laboratory is licensed to sell our test in 48 of the 50 states. We are currently seeking a license in New York and Rhode Island for the MyPRS® test, which would enable us to perform MyPRS® testing for patients located in New York and Rhode Island. We are dedicated to making our extensively validated diagnostic services available to all patients who need them.
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In addition, we are exploring, and peer-review studies are being conducted on, the use of our MyPRS® test as an indicator of progression to MM in patients with AMG, a precursor condition to MM. There is, however, currently no projected timeline for our use of MyPRS® in AMG patients. For a discussion of MyPRS® in AMG patients see Market Opportunity, below.
Over the next 12 to 18 months, we intend to expand our test menu by adding tests that are needed to manage MM patients. There is a broad array of molecular and cytogenetic testing modalities that are utilized in the management of patients with MM, such as conventional cytogenetics, FISH, molecular tests, M protein serum test and flow cytometry (especially in the context of minimum residual disease testing for MM therapy response). We also plan to launch a targeted next generation gene sequencing service to assist our physician customers in further characterizing their MM patients and assisting with identifying the potential to use targeted therapies based upon the specific genetic mutations of their patients tumors. It is our intent to add such complimentary services to our proprietary MyPRS® franchise to provide a more comprehensive suite of tests for our oncologist customers and their patients.
Over the past several decades, improved awareness and diagnostic testing technologies have led to an increase in the early diagnosis of cancer. Although the goals of these efforts were to decrease cancer mortality, national data demonstrate significant increases in early-stage disease, without a proportional decline in later-stage disease. What has emerged amongst clinicians and researchers has been an appreciation of the complexity of cancer. Cancers are heterogeneous and do not follow a uniform course. In some cases, cancer can lead to severe disease and death, in other cases can be indolent and in other cases patients die from non-cancer related causes irrespective of the aggressiveness of their disease. Unfortunately, identifying those patients who will likely die of something other than their particular cancer diagnosis is difficult. [Overdiagnosis and Overtreatment in Cancer: An Opportunity for Improvement; Esserman et al; JAMA, Published Online: July 29, 2013. Doi.10.1001/jama.2013.108415.]
One of the main goals in the care of those individuals diagnosed with cancer is to accurately predict the clinical course of the patient and the progression of the disease. Accurate predictions could provide physicians with the ability to predict more personalized therapeutic options for their cancer patients. The choice of therapy can change depending on many variables such as age, stage of disease, comorbidities and specific genetic mutations. According to Natures MM supplement, this is particularly true for MM patients whose therapeutic options can range from watchful waiting for those with low risk disease, to an intense regimen involving multimodality chemotherapies, one or more bone marrow or stem cell transplantations and experimental protocols through enrollment in new drug and new drug combination clinical trials for those with high risk disease.
Before 1990, treatment of MM was limited to the use of melphalan (a chemotherapeutic agent) and prednisone (a steroid), which were of marginal effectiveness. In 1986, high dose dexamethasone (a steroid), which is used to induce plasma cell lysis, was introduced and in the early 1990s, induction therapy with vincristine, doxorubicin (a chemotherapeutic agent) and dexamethasone, followed by stem cell transplant after high dose melphalan was introduced and resulted in longer term remissions but patients always relapsed. Then, in 1999, thalidomide was added to existing regimens for MM. The first clinicians to attempt the use of thalidomide in the treatment of MM were at the UAMS. The initial use of thalidomide ultimately led to the development of Revlimid®, Celgenes blockbuster drug that is now part of most front-line therapies for the treatment of MM. In 2006, Velcade® was approved and added to existing regimens. Thalomid®, Revlimid® and Velcade® are now considered cornerstones of therapy in addition to stem cell transplant after bone marrow ablation, a process whereby the human bone marrow cells are eliminated in preparation for a bone marrow transplant, performed using high-intensity chemotherapy and total body irradiation. [The Future of Drug Development and Therapy in Myeloma; Seminars in Oncology, Lonial and Boise, Vol. 40, No. 5, October 2013.]
Although new treatments for patients with MM have become available over the last 10 years, their use has not resulted in uniformly better outcomes, such as overall survival. In part, this is because MM is a disease with significant tumor heterogeneity at the molecular level. Specialists in MM have long recognized the need for diagnostic tests that accurately identify the mutations and genotype of each patient with MM in
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order to allow risk stratification, predict prognosis and response to treatment. Because classic staging modalities such as clinical factors and cell morphology (the microscopic review of tumor material by a pathologist) have very limited ability to classify MM, physicians have used plasma cell labeling indices, chemical markers, imaging studies and genetic abnormalities at the chromosomal level ( e.g. , cytogenetics) to improve their ability to predict prognosis. Unfortunately, even these tests provide limited information as to a particular MM patients prognosis and response to treatment. [Introduction: Recent Advances in the Understanding and Management of Multiple Myeloma; Seminars in Oncology, Jakubowiak: Vol. 40, No. 5, October 2013, pp. 535-536, Myeloma Classification & Risk Assessment; Fonseca & Monge; Seminars in Oncology; Vol. 40, No. 5, October 2013, pp. 554-566.]
Medical practitioners in the myeloma field agree that there is a critical need to utilize genetic risk stratification methods at the time of initial diagnosis because of the potential to enhance the ability to define and discriminate patients at high risk for early relapse from those at low risk for relapse in order to better personalize treatment of these patients according to their levels of risk and relapse. Armed with such a stratification algorithm, physicians could have a greater ability to individualize treatment options, improve therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcomes, minimize adverse effects, perform fewer diagnostic tests, decrease unnecessary treatments, and reduce the clinical and financial burden to health care systems and individual patients. Now, with the use of MyPRS® GEP, it has become possible to go beyond morphological and chromosomal level analysis and better identify the individual MM genomic profile of each individual patient. [Smoldering multiple myeloma requiring treatment: time for a new definition?; Dispenzieri et al, Blood Prepublished online October 21, 2013; doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-08-520890.]
Unlike many forms of cancer, multiple myeloma is often asymptomatic, even in advanced stages. MM begins as a precursor condition known as MGUS. It is estimated that more than 3% of the population of the United States 50 years of age or older have MGUS. [Prevalence of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance: A Systematic Review; Wadhera et al, Mayo Clin Proc. 2010; 85(10): 933-942.] Characterized by an excess of particular immunoglobulins or M proteins in the serum or urine with less than 10% plasma cells in the bone marrow, MGUS is not itself harmful to health. But according to the ACS and NCI, every year, 1% of MGUS patients will develop MM. According to Natures MM supplement, there is no way to identify those MGUS patients that will convert to MM; but due to the high mortality rate and speed of disease progression, clinicians are eager to identify those patients so they can start treating them as soon as is appropriate.
Aside from the precursor condition MGUS, MM exists on a spectrum from AMM to full-blown MM. Collectively, these precursor conditions, MM and AMM are referred to as AMG. Preventative treatment of every AMG patient is not a viable option. Along with the prohibitive expense, many doctors worry that they could do more harm than good if they treat otherwise healthy people, the vast majority of whom will never develop MM. A 1988 clinical study discussed in Natures MM supplement, using the best treatments available at the time, concluded that treating patients even at the smoldering stage caused unnecessary side effects with no impact on survival time. According to Natures MM Supplement, many researchers would like to test newer therapies on MGUS patients as well as those with early forms of MM but they agree that this should only be done if there is a way of accurately stratifying patients based on their risk of progression from the AMG state into the symptomatic stages of disease. This ability could allow them to avoid unnecessary treatment in AMG patients who will not progress to MM.
Recently, a scientific abstract was presented at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology, or ASCO, meeting that demonstrated, for the first time, the ability of our MyPRS® test to predict risk of progression from AMG to MM. The work was part of a multi-center, prospective, clinical study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute Southwest Oncology Group. The study was accepted for peer-reviewed publication in the journal Blood and was published online on October 21, 2013. The study demonstrated that the MyPRS® test was an independent predictor of the risk of progression from AMG to clinical MM. Further clinical study replicating these results will likely be necessary to enable broad market acceptance for the use of MyPRS® in MM precursor conditions. Nonetheless, the applicability of our test for use in predicting MM progression from AMG could potentially create a substantial increase in the patient population eligible for MyPRS® testing and as such represents an important pillar of our growth strategy. We estimate the total MM testing market at approximately 33,500 patients per year, including newly diagnosed and relapsed patients. We
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believe we currently service just over 2% of this market. We estimate that the addition of an AMG progression indication feature for the MyPRS® test could expand the MyPRS® addressable market to more than 130,000 patients per year.
As a specialty focused diagnostic laboratory company, we hope for such opportunities to expand our service offerings for the benefit and convenience of physicians and patients.
Our goal is to deliver innovative diagnostic services that enable physicians to make better-informed treatment decisions regarding the care of their cancer patients. We intend to do this by taking the following actions:
We intend to expand the user base of clinicians using our MyPRS® test through direct marketing and sales to academic hospitals and their out-patient clinics. To do this, we will expand our direct sales force. Our current selling and marketing efforts in the United States are handled by one sales person. We currently have relationships with a number of physicians at several of the large academic centers, other than UAMS, who use our MyPRS® test on their MM patients. By increasing our sales personnel we believe we can further penetrate the academic market and increase the number of physicians who use our test. Additionally we plan to further develop our marketing materials and increasingly utilize new forms of communication via the internet, in addition to more traditional methods of communication such as educational seminars to support our marketing efforts and to provide awareness about the clinical validity and clinical utility of MyPRS® for use in MM and hopefully in AMG.
Currently, Medicare has approved coverage and reimbursement for MyPRS® through a LCD promulgated by the Jurisdiction H MAC, which includes Arkansas, where the Companys laboratory is located. Accordingly, Medicare will pay for the tests we provide to Medicare patients if those tests are performed in accordance with the LCD coverage requirements. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas also has an approved coverage policy for MyPRS®. In order to broaden our coverage policy approval to include a majority of the major health care insurance providers in the United States, we plan to hire experienced managed care professionals who can assist us with gaining contractual agreements with third-party payors. MyPRS® has been studied extensively and there are more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications that describe the validity and utility of the test. We intend to use these publications to create the clinical dossier that supports reimbursement approval by the majority of health care payors. However, there is no assurance that our efforts will succeed and it is even possible that payors currently covering MyPRS® could withdraw their coverage.
In June 2013, an ASCO meeting abstract demonstrated for the first time the ability of our MyPRS® test to predict the risk that a patient with AMG would progress to develop MM. The research was based upon a clinical study sponsored by the Southwest Oncology Group, or SWOG. The study, which began in 2002 and stopped enrolling patients in April 2011, was designed, in part, to develop biomarkers that would inform physicians as to which AMG patients were more likely to progress to MM. A peer-reviewed publication based on this research recently issued in the January 2014 issue of the journal Blood. The paper demonstrated that our test was an independent predictor of progression to MM in AMG patients. We intend to fund additional retrospective and prospective clinical studies that we hope will replicate this finding and enable us to petition health care payors to expand the covered indications for our MyPRS® test to include AMG patients. Because patients are typically not diagnosed or treated for MM until they become symptomatic, we hope the ability to test AMG patients for risk of progression to MM will better allow physicians to make earlier therapeutic interventions with the hope of improving the long-term outcome of those patients.
Although a large fraction of MM patients are managed and treated in the academic hospital setting, we believe only a small fraction of AMG patients are seen and cared for in this setting. Due to the relative lack
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of severity of the disease, the majority of AMG patients are diagnosed and followed in the community oncology setting. In order to reach this potentially large AMG patient population, we intend to develop partnerships with a select group of reference laboratories whose principal business includes calling upon the community oncologist. This could result in wider market access for us while providing our select reference laboratory partners with a more differentiated test portfolio ( i.e. , which includes MyPRS®) that will appeal to community oncologists treating AMG patients.
There are a number of new molecular entities for the treatment of MM in various phases of clinical development. According to the website of the International Myeloma Foundation, there are more than 240 new therapies for MM in pre-clinical and phase I development. There are also a number of pharmaceutical companies with development programs for MM therapies. A study published by the International Myeloma Working Group in 2009 recommended that all clinical trials for drugs intended to treat MM consider incorporation of GEP into the correlative science studies to identify subgroups of high-risk disease. Historically, we have performed our MyPRS® testing for some of the major MM drug developers. We believe our expertise and diagnostic testing services can assist pharmaceutical companies in their clinical development efforts. We have secured two pharmaceutical company collaboration arrangements as of the date of this prospectus (one of which was completed in 2013). We intend to invest in business development and scientific resources in order to pursue additional collaborations with pharmaceutical companies.
Diagnostic testing is, at its core, an information service. As such, we require a robust information technology infrastructure to facilitate and expedite the receipt of orders, transmission of results, payor benefit and coverage information and a better understanding of how our test is being used by physicians. We currently maintain an information technology infrastructure that supports our operations, including a physician web portal, ResultsPX, which is a secure online environment for viewing patient results that includes a MyPRS® gene expression heatmap showing individual patients prognosis in relation to the database of those patients used to develop the test. An individual patients results can be viewed over time if the patient has had more than one test. We intend to add additional differentiated features to ResultsPX to enhance its capabilities. We plan to facilitate direct interfacing with our clients electronic medical record systems by building electronic medical record interfaces to enable paperless ordering and reporting. We also plan to invest in systems and processes to monitor the performance of our business operations and assess the quality levels of the services we provide to ensure we are meeting our commitments to our external customers.
We entered into a license agreement, or the License Agreement, with UAMS on April 1, 2010, as amended on September 1, 2010, September 14, 2010, October 2011 and December 1, 2011. Pursuant to the License Agreement, UAMS granted us a worldwide exclusive license, for our licensed field, with , inter alia , the right to sublicense, or assign the license in connection with a sale or transfer, including, until April 2020, the exclusive option to license the inventions, within our licensed field, conceived and reduced to practice in whole or in part by Drs. Bart Barlogie or John Shaughnessy. Our licensed field includes applications to malignant and nonmalignant human or animal pathologies, including but not limited to determining and/or identifying the presence, predisposition, effect of treatment, mode or type of treatment, type of patient susceptibility to treatment or prevention, progress of treatment, current and predicted clinical outcome, and/or therapeutic or prophylactic treatment and/or regimen. These uses, patent, and technology rights exclude using FISH, which is licensed to a third party. Our licensed patent rights also exclude certain claims directly covering DKK1 inhibitors and/or their uses. The License Agreement provides access to the clinical trial samples, such as biological material and annotated clinical outcome data associated with such clinical samples.
In consideration for this License Agreement, we agreed to pay UAMS $30,000 in annual minimum royalty fees on net sales to customers other than UAMS, of our diagnostic services that make use of licensed products, unless net sales exceed certain thresholds, in which case the additional royalty fee would range from
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2% to 4% percent. Royalty fee expense, included in the selling and marketing section of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $130,000 and $85,000, respectively.
We will continue to leverage our relationship with UAMS to advance our position in our licensed field, including diagnostic technology. For instance, the license grants us rights to certain clinical data as well as an exclusive option to license new inventions. Through the License Agreement, we are also able to control the maintenance of patents and prosecution of pending applications exclusively in our licensed field, and, in the case of applications that encompass FISH technology, together with UAMS and a third party. We pay 100% of the prosecution costs for gene expression profiling only patent cases. If we elect not to pursue a particular patent application, the rights to that patent revert to UAMS, and UAMS can take the necessary steps to prosecute and maintain the patent. In certain circumstances, such as where we do not exercise our option to license new inventions, UAMS may pursue a license to the new invention with a third party. The License Agreement also grants us the right to prosecute infringement actions, where the University does not intend to prosecute the infringement. Together with UAMS, we bear full responsibility for enforcement of patent rights against all claims of infringement by third parties and the right, but not the obligation to bring action against any alleged infringement of the licensed patents by third parties, bearing all costs. UAMS has the right to pursue any offensive enforcement we choose not to pursue at its own expense and we may agree with UAMS to pursue such action jointly, sharing all related costs.
The License Agreement terminates on the first to occur of: (i) the date of the expiration of the last to expire of the patents issued in any country, or (ii) termination of the agreement pursuant to its terms. UAMS may terminate the agreement 90 days after written notice to us if we do not cure or initiate steps to cure, a material breach or default. UAMS may also terminate this agreement at any time upon notice to us, if we challenge the validity of any of the patent rights granted to us under the license agreement. We may terminate the agreement for any reason, upon written notice to UAMS. We are obligated to indemnify UAMS against all liabilities to third parties, from claims arising in connection with the agreement and our (or our sublicensees) production, manufacture, use, sale, consumption or advertisement of licensed processes and licensed products, except claims that the licensed patent rights infringe third-party intellectual property rights and any claims arising out of negligent or willful misconduct of UAMS and its affiliates. We also are required to maintain comprehensive general liability insurance, appropriately covering these activities.
There are potential new diagnostic breakthroughs that may result from our collaboration with UAMS including next generation sequencing that may enable new understanding of MM and related disease and what treatments are most appropriate for each individual. However, there is no guarantee any such tests or services will ever be created or commercialized.
There are a number of conventional tests that oncologists use routinely in the care and staging of their MM and AMG patients. These include flow cytometry and cytogenetics. We anticipate ample opportunity for us to expand our testing menu to include some of these tests thus offering convenience to our customers (fewer patient sample draws, less sample splitting, less need for interacting with multiple diagnostic service providers) while providing additional growth opportunity for our company.
Targeted gene sequencing is of particular interest to physicians managing high-risk MM patients. These physicians are increasingly using non-conventional or targeted therapies on patients who fail (or develop resistance to) first line treatments. Many case studies are being published and presented at major conferences showing the importance of looking for specific genetic mutations in tumor DNA that are known to respond to a specific treatment even if that treatment is indicated for use in another cancer type, not MM. While the clinical implications of detecting specific DNA mutations in patients with multiple myeloma is still being determined, the utility and demand for personal patient genetic information for these patients tumors is growing rapidly. A number of major myeloma research groups, including UAMS, are applying whole-genome sequencing to patients with multiple myeloma in order to understand the genetic basis of disease development, progression and varying levels of treatment response.
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Initially, it is our plan to offer commercially available targeted DNA sequencing panels. We will expand our offering as scientific research uncovers new genetic mutations important to cancer patients. UAMS has a greater than 20-year history of using the latest technology to identify gene expression signatures of MM patients, and increasingly, single gene mutations that are related to multiple myeloma. It is our expectation that through our exclusive licensing arrangement with UAMS we will eventually add proprietary content to our targeted gene-sequencing offering and further differentiate our services.
We intend to pursue additional collaborations with leading universities and research institutions or in-licensing of services or technologies that could enable us to accelerate the implementation of our plans to expand the services we provide to oncologists. We expect to implement this plan by way of licensing of technology and know-how, investments in other companies, strategic collaborations, and other similar transactions. We expect these collaborations to provide us with early access to new technologies available for commercialization.
We intend to work closely with select key suppliers and partners to reduce the costs associated with key material components of our MyPRS® test. As we grow our business we anticipate achieving benefits of scale that will help to streamline our laboratory work processes and increase our purchasing power for instruments, reagents, laboratory supplies, logistical services and reimbursement services.
We believe our competitive strengths include:
We believe the MyPRS® test is one of the most extensively validated molecular prognostic assays on the market today based on our knowledge that the test has been validated in 17 separate and distinct patient test databases. Please visit our website at www.signalgenetics.com in the Publications section under the Physician Resources tab for a list of publications describing the use of MyPRS® on patients with MM. There are more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications that substantiate the clinical validity and utility of the MyPRS® test. MyPRS® is the only GEP-based prognostic assay commercially available in the United States to help determine which patients have a high-risk form of MM.
Additionally, the MyPRS® test provides oncologists with the molecular subtype of each patients particular form of MM. Molecular subtypes can be used to further stratify the level of risk severity of a patients MM as well as assist the physician in choosing the most appropriate therapy while avoiding therapies that may be less beneficial or harmful.
Furthermore, MyPRS® provides a virtual karyotype that can identify cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with MM. The accuracy of this method was validated against a range of conventional cytogenetic techniques and was shown to have an accuracy of up to 89%, as previously noted. This high rate of agreement with conventional karyotyping means that physicians may be able to use MyPRS® in cases where conventional karyotyping is not possible. Certain cytogenetic abnormalities are commonly used, along with clinical and cell biology parameters in the traditional work up of MM patients for determining disease stage and to help guide therapy decisions for patients. The virtual karyotype algorithm in MyPRS® was designed to be an alternative to conventional methods that can be time consuming, expensive, subjective and can often fail to provide results due to the difficulties encountered when attempting to culture myeloma cells.
We are the exclusive licensee to the intellectual property developed at UAMSs Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, or MIRT, in our licensed field. MIRT is one of the largest centers in the world dedicated solely to MM and related diseases as well as to prevention and management of treatment related consequences, including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). UAMS developed a novel Total Therapy Approach, designed as a first line treatment for MM that includes
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a full array of treatment modalities. This approach is considered, by many in the oncology community, to have achieved positive results, particularly in patients diagnosed with low-risk MM who are treated at UAMS MIRT. A number of treatment improvements for myeloma patients were first discovered at MIRT. The physicians at MIRT routinely utilize our MyPRS® test to identify patients who may be eligible for provision of total therapy.
We are the exclusive provider of GEP based testing to UAMS. UAMS has a thirty-year history of clinical and research knowledge and experience. UAMS has treated more than 10,000 patients since the programs inception in 1989. UAMS has amassed more than 10,000 gene array samples, many of which were used to discover and validate the MyPRS® test. More than 90% of patients who are treated at UAMS continue to be actively followed by UAMS over the course of their lifetime many patients have been followed for more than 20 years.
At this time, our business is dependent on our relationship with UAMS, our largest customer. UAMS pays us directly for tests they refer to us. They also refer patients whose private insurance reimburses us for the test(s) we perform for them. Revenue sourced either from or through UAMS accounted for approximately 83% and 86% of net revenues for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Because of our exclusive relationship with UAMS, we are uniquely positioned to benefit from the breadth of clinical research and expertise developed at UAMS. We intend to continue to use this relationship to improve our MyPRS® test and develop additional indications for the MyPRS® test, as well as additional tests. Our relationship with UAMS also provides us with credibility within the oncology community beyond that related to the MyPRS® validation we have received in published articles, and we benefit from this association in our pursuit of additional collaborations with leading universities and research institutions.
As of October 4, 2013, we license, or own outright, 10 issued patents (with various expiration dates ranging from 2022 to 2029) and 26 pending patent applications, many of which protect and defend our exclusive ability to market the MyPRS® test as well as additional proprietary tests and treatments. We also have six registered US trademarks to further differentiate our products and services in the marketplace, including the marks MyPRS® (Reg. No. 4,230,011) and MyPRS Plus® (Reg. No. 4,230,010).
There are four issued U.S. patents related to the MyPRS® test, which form the basis of our right to exclude others from practicing the MyPRS® test. U.S. Patent No. 7,668,659 claims methods of gene expression-based classification for multiple myeloma that include extracting total RNA from plasma cells. U.S. Patent No. 7,894,992 provides methods of identifying groups of genes that can distinguish normal and multiple myeloma plasma cells by isolating RNA from CD138 positive plasma cells, hybridizing the RNA to a microarray, identifying differentially expressed genes, and applying hierarchical clustering to identify groups of genes capable of discriminating normal and multiple myeloma plasma cells. The broadest claims of these two patents are not limited to particular gene sets.
U.S. Patent No. 7,983,850 provides methods of diagnosing multiple myeloma by examining mRNA levels or chromosomal translocations of particular genes from isolated plasma cells, thereby classifying the MM molecular subtype of the individual.
U.S. Patent No. 7,741,035 broadly covers the 70 gene signature used to predict the patients prognosis and overall risk for relapse and survival. Specifically, this patent provides methods of determining the prognosis of a multiple myeloma patient by determining the copy number of the CKS1B gene in plasma cells, where an increased level of this gene indicates a poor prognosis. CKS1B is one of the genes in the 70 gene signature.
In addition to the issued U.S. patents, above, we have several pending patent applications in the U.S. and abroad directed to other aspects of the MyPRS® test. For example, USSN 11/133,937 (published as US 20050260664), along with Canadian and European counterpart applications, describes the full 70 gene signature used in the MyPRS® test. USSN 14/039,728 provides methods of prognosing subjects with MGUS using the 70 gene signature. A new provisional application is directed to prognostic methods using an even smaller subset of only five genes, which can be used with limited numbers of plasma cells from either
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multiple myeloma or MGUS subjects (unpublished provisional application, USSN 61/825,396). Additionally, we have several other unpublished applications covering various other prognostic methods for use in multiple myeloma subjects.
Two U.S. patent applications are related to methods of detecting cytogenetic abnormalities using gene expression levels. USSN 13/810,705 (published as US 20130209446) recites methods of detecting cytogenetic abnormalities associated with multiple myeloma or MGUS by determining the gene expression level of certain genes that are copy number variant-dependent. USSN 13/524,589 (published as US 20130059746) provides methods of predicting the presence cytogenetic abnormalities associated with multiple myeloma by testing gene expression levels for subsets of genes in cells isolated from the subject. This application also claims software and systems for performing these methods.
We fully expect that additional advances will come out of our ongoing work and form the basis of additional intellectual property to protect and refine the MyPRS® test, through new patent filings, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights.
We currently focus our sales efforts exclusively on leading academic research hospitals and clinics throughout the United States. Given our limited selling and marketing capabilities, focusing our sales efforts on these academic hospitals provides an efficient way to reach the largest segment of MM patients with our limited resources. Selling into academic hospitals is a complex process that requires technical knowledge and the ability to engage in discourse to convince technical and administrative stakeholders to adopt new diagnostic tests or therapies. Our current sales person is well versed in the science and technology behind our MyPRS® test. We will continue to grow our sales force with expertise necessary to interface successfully with these institutions.
The extensive scientific evidence that substantiates the MyPRS® test is a key enabler for our sales effort that affords us access to the thought leaders within these institutions. The relationships that we build with the thought leaders at leading academic hospitals is a direct result of the quality of our science and the quality of our services and helps to secure continued access to these accounts and the MM patients they treat. It also affords us the opportunity to expand our offerings as we add additional services to our test menu.
An important milestone in the development of any new molecular diagnostic test is the ability to achieve routine reimbursement for the novel service. One of the more important third-party payors from which to achieve approval is Medicare. We successfully achieved a positive LCD for MyPRS® with the Jurisdiction H MAC in March 2011, which includes Arkansas, where the Companys laboratory is located. Accordingly, Medicare will pay for the MyPRS® tests we provide to Medicare patients, if those tests are performed in accordance with the LCD coverage requirements. We have also received reimbursement approval with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arkansas and we are an in-network provider to their patient population. We anticipate that with additional hiring of managed care professionals, we will be able to achieve positive coverage determinations with a majority of the major third-party payors in the United States. However, those efforts may take quite some time and may not be successful.
Our specimens are tested and interpreted by highly qualified oncology-focused laboratory professionals with more than 56 years of cumulative experience with gene expression-based diagnostic testing technology. Because our clinical staff is highly specialized in oncology, we are well-positioned to consult with our oncologist customers to help them derive maximum value from the diagnostic and prognostic data generated by our tests.
We offer our MyPRS® test services through our CLIA certified laboratory in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our primary sales market includes academic hospitals and associated out-patient centers, community based oncologists and pharmaceutical companies. Selling diagnostic testing services for cancer requires a
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knowledgeable and skilled sales force that can help oncologists and their clinical care team members understand the value of our testing services. It is our aim that our sales representatives have previous sales experience in the oncology field, including pharmaceutical sales experience or experience in the sales of medical diagnostic services, and have knowledge of academic centers and oncology practices in research institutions. As we expand our sales force, our sales force will be compensated through a combination of salaries and commissions based upon actual sales performance and periodic incentives, all at levels commensurate with each individuals qualifications, performance and responsibilities.
As of December 31, 2013, our sales team was comprised of one member and our selling and marketing efforts were directly overseen by our President and Chief Executive Officer. We intend to continue to expand our sales team as appropriate. Our sales strategy focuses on expanding the MyPRS® test services while acquiring new customers. Our sales approach is designed to understand our current and potential customers needs and to provide the appropriate solutions from our expanding range of diagnostic services.
We have developed a set of marketing materials to support our sales efforts. Our marketing materials provide a summary of our MyPRS® test along with practical information regarding how to order our tests. When creating our marketing materials we have focused on establishing a distinctive corporate brand and plan on continuing to build upon our strong MyPRS® brand.
We have implemented a commercially available and supported laboratory information system to perform tracking, evaluation, and reporting of laboratory specimens as they are analyzed. Hardware and software used in conjunction with this system are commercially available items that can easily be procured. We also make use of commercial software applications that allow for biostatistical analysis of data generated.
Specimen storage equipment consists of freezers to store frozen tissue specimens. These freezers are monitored via computerized probes on a continuous basis to ensure that temperatures are maintained at levels necessary to keep these specimens frozen. Should temperatures in any of the freezers move out of range due to mechanical failure an emergency alert is sent to us for response. These freezers are also supported by a freestanding emergency backup generator that will engage in the event of a general power outage in order to maintain freezer temperatures at necessary levels.
The primary competition for our MyPRS® test stems from the use of older diagnostic technologies to assess patient prognosis and to define high risk and low risk MM patients. These older technologies include various serum markers, karyotype analysis and FISH probes. Several independent groups have assessed the use of GEP versus various conventional methodologies and these studies have been published in peer-reviewed journals. For a select list of these publications, please visit our website at www.signalgenetics.com in the Publications section under the Physician Resources tab. It is our experience that whenever MyPRS® is compared to conventional techniques, the MyPRS® test shows superior ability to predict patient outcome. We believe that an active educational-based marketing campaign and additional sales personnel to deliver the message to potential new clients is needed to drive MyPRS® adoption by educating physicians as to the limitations of conventional testing modalities and the added benefits of MyPRS® testing. Additionally, there are a number of independent clinical studies that are underway that continue to compare our MyPRS® test to various conventional techniques, and we believe these new studies will also demonstrate the superiority of our MyPRS® test to predict patient prognosis. However, we cannot be sure that the data will support the superiority of MyPRS® and even if there is support, physicians may not adopt use of MyPRS® by incorporating it in to their molecular diagnostic work up of MM or AMG patients.
Another source of competition for our MyPRS® test stems from other scientific teams attempting to develop GEP signatures utilizing other genes or a subset of the genes utilized in the MyPRS® test. Two signatures of note include the French IFM-15 gene signature and the Netherlands EMC-92 gene signature which have been studied by independent groups and compared to the UAMS GEP test, MyPRS®. Based on previous head-to-head comparisons, we believe that the MyPRS® test is a superior predictor of patient outcome compared to any other published gene expression signature. However, there is no guarantee that in the future a GEP will not be commercially available that is superior to MyPRS®. If that happens, our commercialization efforts could be severely hampered.
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We are not currently aware of any company attempting to bring GEP based tests into the U.S. market. Additionally, we believe our intellectual property portfolio will provide protection for our exclusive ability to market GEP tests for MM in the U.S. Our success to date in establishing reimbursement coverage for our MyPRS® test may provide an additional competitive barrier to any new U.S. market entrant attempting to use GEP to predict prognosis in MM patients. This is because we believe any such test would have to be supported by evidence showing clinical validity and clinical utility that is of the same strength as the evidence supporting MyPRS®. Lastly, we are not aware of any pending clinical research utilizing a GEP to predict conversion from AMG to MM other than the SWOG study that used the MyPRS® test. However, there may be other academic or industry based scientists who are developing new genetic expression based predictive assays or other novel technology based assays that will be superior to MyPRS® test in predicting risk in patients with MM and/or AMG.
We compete largely on the basis of the quality of our tests, the significant number of peer-reviewed scientific publications that support the clinical validity and utility of our MyPRS® test, our turnaround time, the convenience of ordering our tests and the innovation of our results delivery platform.
We provide services in a segment of the health care industry that is highly fragmented and extremely competitive. Any failure to respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards could impair our ability to attract and retain clients. This industry is characterized by rapid technological change. Our actual and potential competitors in the United States and abroad may include biotechnology, genomic and diagnostic companies such as Novartis, Cancer Genetics, Inc. and NeoGenomics, Inc., large clinical laboratories, universities and other research institutions. Many of our potential competitors have considerably greater financial, technical, marketing, research and other resources than we do, which may allow these competitors to discover important information and develop technology before we do. It is anticipated that competition will continue to increase due to such factors as the potential for commercial applications of biotechnology and the continued availability of investment capital and government funding for cancer-related research. Our competitors may succeed in developing diagnostic products that are superior to our tests and technologies, including our pipeline products. Also, our competitors may succeed in developing technologies, products or services that are more effective than those that will be developed by us or that would render our technology or product candidates less competitive or obsolete.
In addition, our goal is to develop diagnostic tests and other services that impact the treatment of MM and other cancers. If those treatments change, it is possible that the demand for our services and products could significantly decline or cease altogether. The development of new or superior competing technologies, products or services, or a change in the treatment of MM and other cancers, could affect our competitive position and harm our business. Moreover, these competitors may offer broader services and/or product lines and have greater name recognition than us and may offer discounts as a competitive tactic.
Additionally, competitors may succeed in developing products and/or services that are approved by the FDA and/or they may market technologies, products or services that are more effective or commercially attractive than our tests and services or that render our technologies and current or potential tests and other services obsolete. Competitors may also develop proprietary positions that may prevent us from commercializing, or continue to commercialize current and future product candidates.
We also face competition from companies such as Genoptix, Inc. (a Novartis AG company), Clarient, Inc. (a division of GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company), Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc., Integrated Genetics (a LabCorp Specialty Testing Group) and Foundation Medicine, Inc., which offer products or services or have conducted research to develop genetic profiles, or genetic or protein biomarkers for various cancers. Additionally, projects related to cancer genomics have received increased government funding, both in the United States and internationally. As more information regarding cancer genomics becomes available to the public, we anticipate that more products aimed at predicting patient outcome as well as identifying targeted treatment options will be developed and that these products may compete with ours. In addition, competitors may develop their own versions of our tests in countries where we did not apply for patents or where our patents have not issued and compete with us in those countries, including promoting the use of their test(s) by physicians or patients in other countries.
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Research and development is crucial to the Companys development as we seek to expand our series of diagnostic tests for use by physicians that treat MM and other cancer patients. Our research and development expenses were $97,000 and $225,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, representing 2.1% and 2.7% of our total operating expenses for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Major components of our research and development expenses include supplies and reagents for our research activities, personnel costs, occupancy costs, equipment warranties and service, insurance, consulting, clinical research sponsorship and sample procurement costs. We also plan to invest in clinical research studies to further validate the clinical utility of MyPRS® to predict the risk that a patient with AMG would progress to developing MM and to facilitate the development and clinical utility validation of additional genetic characterization of MM patients. We expect research and development expenses to increase as we work to develop additional diagnostic tests and services or add indications, including new testing modalities such as targeted next generation gene sequencing and to study additional diagnostic and prognostic indicators for patients suffering from MM and its precursor conditions AMG, other hematomalignancies and solid tumor cancers. In the future, we expect research and development expenses to increase as we work to develop additional tests and services and add indications to our MyPRS® test. We cannot estimate the amounts we will need to invest in order to achieve the new indications or new services, nor do we know if we will be successful in these endeavors.
We rely on a combination of patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, license agreements, nondisclosure and other contractual provisions and technical measures to protect our intellectual property rights in our tests and services, technology and processes. We have substantial intellectual proprietary rights in at least four areas.
First, we exclusively license, in our licensed field, a patent portfolio from UAMS with numerous issued U.S. patents and pending U.S. and international patent applications related to the MyPRS® test. For a more detailed discussion of our licensing agreement with UAMS, see note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. For a discussion of the four issued U.S. patents and pending U.S. and foreign applications included in this licensed portfolio that are most closely related to the MyPRS® test, see Risk Factors Risk Related to our Intellectual Property Our substantial proprietary estate that protects our exclusive access to the MyPRS® test, above.
Second, the in-licensed UAMS portfolio includes issued U.S. patents and pending patent applications in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions in addition to those discussed above. USSN 13/138,099 (published as US 20120015906), together with counterpart Canadian, European, and Japanese applications, provides methods of prognosing a multiple myeloma subject using an 80 gene profile in isolated plasma cells from the subject. These methods can use plasma cells obtained from a subject before or after administration of a chemotherapeutic agent, such as bortezomib. USSN 13/068,008 (published as US 20110269638) is directed to methods of predicting post-relapse survival of a relapsed multiple myeloma patient by testing the level of gene expression of a group of particular multiple myeloma genes.
The additional issued patents from the UAMS portfolio include U.S. Patent No. 7,308,364, which includes methods of diagnosing multiple myeloma based on the expression levels of 14 genes in plasma cells. U.S. Patent Nos. 7,935,679, or the 679 patent, and 8,501,702, or the 702 patent, are directed to methods of treatment. The 679 patent is directed to methods of treating a subject with multiple myeloma by administering CKS1B antagonists, such as RNA-mediated interference, peptide nucleic acids, an antibody, or CKS1b antisense RNA. The 702 patent provides methods of preventing, repairing, reducing, or treating lytic bone lesions or inhibiting progression of a tumor in the bone of an individual with multiple myeloma by expressing a Wnt-3a ligand in the individual and blocking the activity of DKK1. U.S. Patent No. 7,723,301 provides methods of inhibiting the teratogenicity of an anti-neoplastic agent by administering Noggin, an anti-DKK1 antibody, LiCl, or Gsk3-inhibitor IX. U.S. Patent Nos. 7,094,886 and 7,696,150 provide claims to an isolated nucleic acid encoding Evi27, a novel protein with homology to the IL-17 receptor (together with vectors and host cells containing this nucleic acid) and methods of inhibiting Evi27 biological activity in a cell by contacting the cell with a soluble isoform of Evi27, respectively.
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Third, we own outright patent applications that were developed internally at Signal Genetics or acquired. These include USSN 13/498,965 (published as US 20130023434), together with corresponding Canadian and European applications, which provides methods of classifying biological samples from a cancer sample, related computer systems, as well as a 200 gene signature for breast cancer.
Fourth, we have and will continue to pursue the registration of our trademarks in the United States and internationally.
Through our clinical laboratory, we provide clinical services that utilize our proprietary trade secrets. In particular, we maintain trade secrets with respect to specimen accessioning, sample preparation and certain aspects of technical analysis. All of our trade secrets are kept under strict confidence and we take all reasonable steps, including the use of non-disclosure agreements and confidentiality agreements, to ensure that our confidential information is not unlawfully disseminated. We also conduct training sessions on the importance of maintaining and protecting trade secrets with our scientific staff and laboratory directors and supervisors.
Revenues from our clinical laboratory tests are derived from several different sources. Depending on the billing arrangement and applicable law, parties that reimburse us for our services include but are not limited to:
| third-party payors that provide coverage to enrollees, such as commercial insurers, managed care organizations and governmental payor programs; and |
| other authorized parties (such as hospitals or independent laboratories) that order the testing service and pay us for performing the ordered service. |
For the year ended December 31, 2013, we derived approximately 13% of our total revenue from private insurance, including managed care organizations and other health care insurance providers, 14% from Medicare, 73% from direct-bill customers, including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and other laboratories. For the year ended December 31, 2012, we derived approximately 23% of our total revenue from private insurance, 11% from Medicare, and 66% from direct-bill customers.
Where there is a coverage policy, contract or agreement in place, we bill the third-party payor, the hospital or referring laboratory where applicable. We also bill patients for deductibles and coinsurance or copayments, where applicable in accordance with the insurance policy or contractual terms. Where there is no coverage policy, contract or agreement in place, we pursue reimbursement from patients on a case-by-case basis. In each case we bill according to applicable Federal and state law, contractual requirements and any other regulations and payor rules and guidance governing coding, coverage and payment. However, it is possible that we may not be in compliance with all the requirements listed above. If we are not in compliance with all requirements, it is possible we could be subject to criminal civil penalties as described below.
At present, the only test for which we are reimbursed is the MyPRS® test. Reimbursement under the Medicare program for MyPRS® is made under the CLFS and is determined by our local MAC. We report MyPRS® using a non-specific CPT code called an unlisted code. Per guidance from our local MAC, in 2013 we began using a new CPT code 81599, Unlisted multianalyte assay with algorithmic analysis. Before 2012 we used another unlisted CPT code per the instructions of the Jurisdiction H MAC. The amount we are reimbursed under this code is subject to change by the MAC without notice and may also change based on changes in the law ( e.g. , annual payment updates for all laboratory codes).
If we are required to stop using an unlisted code and start using a CPT code that specifically describes MyPRS®, our payment rate may change because payment for codes that describe specific laboratory procedures are assigned national payment rates by CMS. If we are assigned such a code and believe the payment amount is not appropriate, at present, we have the ability to request reconsideration of any such payment amount once. Medicare can establish national payment amounts in one of two ways: (1) by crosswalking the payment amounts from one or more existing CPT codes to the new code ( e.g. , 1 unit of Code A plus three units of Code B plus one half unit of Code C), or (2) by requesting the MACs to develop a payment amount for the new code. Under this second methodology, after the MAC payment amounts are
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developed, Medicare reviews all the payment amounts and determines the median. Medicare then sets the median as the national limitation amount, or NLA, which is a cap on payment for the test. Any MAC which had set a payment amount lower than the median continues to pay at the lower amount after the NLA is set. There is a one-time opportunity to request reconsideration of the CMS payment amount which must occur immediately following the establishment of the NLA. After the reconsideration process, the payment amount cannot change except that Congress can enact legislation providing for yearly updates in payment amounts for laboratory codes ( e.g. , an increase or decrease of 0.5%). In billing Medicare for clinical laboratory services, we are required to accept, as payment in full, the lowest of our actual charge, the fee schedule amount for the state or local geographical area or the NLA. There are no Medicare patient coinsurance amounts for clinical laboratory tests. Notwithstanding its current policies, as described above, Medicare has proposed a new policy that would allow it to review the payment amounts for all tests paid under the CLFS. If this policy is finalized, CMS will begin reviewing all clinical laboratory tests on a rolling basis and, unlike today when clinical laboratory payments cannot be changed once established, payment amounts could be reduced periodically after the CMS review. If adopted, this policy could result in a decrease in reimbursement for any test we offer.
Medicare also has policies that limit when we can bill Medicare directly for our services and where we are required to bill another provider, such as a hospital which bills Medicare and makes payment to us under arrangement. When the testing that we perform is done on a specimen that was collected while the patient was in the hospital, as either an inpatient or outpatient, we are required with some possible exceptions, to bill the hospital for our services, rather than the Medicare program, if the service was ordered fewer than 14 days after the patients discharge from the hospital. These requirements are complex and time-consuming and may affect our ability to collect for our services, especially if the hospital does not receive separate payment for our test.
With respect to commercial payors, our reimbursement rates can vary based on whether we are considered to be an in-network provider, a participating provider, a covered provider or an out-of-network provider. These definitions can vary from insurance company to insurance company, but we are generally considered an out of network or non-participating provider in the vast majority of cases. It is not unusual for a company that offers highly specialized or unique testing to be an out of network provider. An in-network provider usually has a contracted arrangement with the insurance company or benefits provider. This contract governs, among other things, service-level agreements and reimbursement rates. In certain instances an insurance company may negotiate an in-network rate for our testing rather than pay the typical out-of-network rate. An in-network provider usually has rates that are lower per test than those that are out-of-network, and that rate can vary from a single digit percentage deduction discount to upwards of 25% to 30% percent lower than an out-of-network provider. The discount rate varies based on a variety of factors including the insurance company, the testing type and the specifics of the patients insurance plan.
In addition, as part of the MCTRJCA, Congress extended the special billing rule that allowed laboratories to bill Medicare for the technical component of certain pathology services furnished to patients of qualifying hospitals. Effective July 1, 2012, independent laboratories, like our laboratory, are required to bill for the technical component of these services when ordered by qualifying hospitals. Currently, none of our testing services are subject to this rule.
CPT codes are the main code set used by physicians, hospitals, laboratories and other health care professionals to report separately-payable clinical laboratory tests for reimbursement purposes. The CPT coding system is maintained and updated on an annual basis by the American Medical Association. There is no specific code to report microarray tests for oncology, such as our MyPRS® test. As described previously, we use an unlisted non-specific code to report MyPRS®. At present, there is no requirement for us to obtain a specific CPT code for MyPRS®, although there may be such a requirement in the future. If we do obtain a specific CPT code for MyPRS®, our reimbursement could go down due to the establishment of a national payment amount. However, if we do not obtain a specific code, our reimbursement may also go down because the MAC with jurisdiction in Arkansas can change our reimbursement without notice.
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If we do obtain a CPT code specific to MyPRS®, we would be assigned a code from a specific subset of codes for MAAAs. These tests typically use an algorithm applied to certain specific components to arrive at a score that is used to predict a particular clinical outcome. CMS has stated that it will not pay for the algorithmic portion of these tests, because the algorithm does not qualify as a clinical laboratory test. Instead, it will pay for only the specific analytes ( e.g. , genes) that are performed as part of the MAAA. CMS also stated it has plans to seek additional information about these codes in the future and it is not clear what position CMS will take in the future with respect to making payment for the algorithmic portion of MAAA tests. Its decision could adversely affect future reimbursement for such tests, including MyPRS® and other tests we may develop. Currently 100% of our revenue is derived from MyPRS®, which is a MAAA.
Changes in coding and reimbursement as described above could have an adverse impact on our revenues going forward. If CMS decides not to reimburse for the algorithm included in the MAAA tests, then we would only be able to bill Medicare for the specific genetic examinations that we perform, without the algorithms, and coverage and reimbursement would be uncertain. The introduction of the new codes, in combination with the other action being considered by CMS with regard to pricing, could result in a reduction in the payment that we receive for our tests and make it more difficult to obtain coverage from Medicare or other payors. There is no guarantee that Medicare and other payors will establish positive or adequate coverage policies or reimbursement rates. Please see the section entitled Legislative and Regulatory Changes Impacting Clinical Laboratory Tests for further discussion of certain legislative and regulatory changes to these billing codes and the impact on our business.
Although MyPRS® is a relatively new test, some third-party payors have established coverage and reimbursement policies for it and we have been able to receive reimbursement for MyPRS® from some payors, including major commercial third-party payors.
The current landscape with payors is generally as follows:
| Commercial Third-party Payors and Patient Pay . Where there is a coverage policy in place, we bill the payor and the patient in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and payor policies. Where there is no coverage policy in place, we pursue reimbursement on behalf of each patient on a case-by-case basis. Our efforts in obtaining reimbursement based on individual claims, including pursuing appeals or reconsiderations of claims denials, take a substantial amount of time, and bills may not be paid for many months, if at all. Specifically, if a third-party payor denies coverage after final appeal, payment may not be received at all. We are working to decrease risks of nonpayment by pursuing contractual arrangements with the majority of third-party payors. |
| Medicare and Medicaid . There is a positive coverage policy from Medicare and we are paid for MyPRS® when performed in accordance with the coverage requirements. However, our coverage could be withdrawn or revised in a way that reduces the amount of our current coverage. Based upon our prior experience, we believe that in the future as much as 30% to 40% of the future market for our tests may be derived from patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid. |
We cannot predict whether, or under what circumstances, payors will reimburse MyPRS® or any of our future tests. Payment amounts can also vary across individual policies. Denial of coverage by payors, or reimbursement at inadequate levels, would have a material adverse impact on market acceptance of our tests.
From time to time, Congress has revised the Medicare statute and the formulas it establishes for both the Medicare CLFS and the Physician Fee Schedule. The payment amounts under the Medicare fee schedules are important not only for our reimbursement under Medicare, but also because the schedule often is used as a basis for establishing the payment amounts set by other third-party payors. For example, state Medicaid programs are prohibited from paying more than the Medicare fee schedule limit for clinical laboratory services furnished to Medicaid recipients.
Under the statutory formula for CLFS amounts, increases are made annually based on the CPI for All Urban Consumers as of June 30 for the previous twelve-month period. As part of the Medicare Prescription
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Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, Congress eliminated the CPI for All Urban Consumers update from 2004 2008. In addition, for years 2009 through 2013, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, or MIPPA, mandated a 0.5% cut to the CPI for All Urban Consumers. Accordingly, the update for 2009 was reduced to 4.5% and negative 1.9% for 2010. PPACA, among other things, imposed additional cuts to the Medicare reimbursement for clinical laboratories. Specifically, PPACA replaced the 0.5% cut enacted by MIPPA with a productivity adjustment that will reduce the CPI update in payments for clinical laboratory tests. In 2011, the productivity adjustment was -1.2%. In addition, PPACA includes a separate 1.75% reduction in the CPI update for clinical laboratories for the years 2011 through 2015. The MCTRJCA mandated an additional change in reimbursement for clinical laboratory services payments. This legislation required CMS to reduce the Medicare CLFS by 2% in 2013, which in turn will serve as a base for 2014 and subsequent years. Due to changes in the law required by PPACA and the MCTRJCA and because of sequestration, payment for clinical laboratory services have gone down by 4.89% from 2012 to 2013. In addition, unless Congress acts to end sequestration or make other changes to applicable law, payments for clinical laboratory tests will be subject to additional reductions in 2014 and beyond. MACs have the authority to apply these cuts to locally determined payments for tests, such as MyPRS®, that are reported using unlisted CPT codes. Even though we use an unlisted CPT code to bill for MyPRS® and reimbursement is determined by the local MAC, these changes could affect our reimbursement.
MyPRS® is not paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. However, tests we may offer in the future may be paid under that fee schedule. If so, payment rates for such tests will continue to be subject to reductions based on the statutory formula unless Congress intervenes by implementing a temporary or permanent fix to prevent such reductions. For example, on November 27, 2013, CMS issued the 2014 Final Rule calling for a reduction of approximately 20.1% in the 2014 conversion factor that is used to calculate physician reimbursement. This legislatively required reduction in physician payments was postponed until March 31, 2014, when President Obama signed into law on December 26, 2013 H.J. Res. 59, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, which included the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013, providing a short-term reprieve from the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Cut. If Congress fails to act in future years to offset similar deductions, the resulting decrease in payment could adversely impact our revenues and results of operations. In addition, from time to time, CMS may request that the American Medical Associations Relative Value Scale Update Committee reexamine the relative values of certain pathology codes. The Relative Value Scale Update Committee is an expert panel that provides relative value recommendations to CMS for use in annual updates to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. These relative values are used by CMS to determine payments and CMS seeks to assess whether such codes are misvalued and an adjustment is necessary. We cannot predict at this time whether the Relative Value Scale Update Committee will recommend any changes affecting payment for clinical laboratory services and/or whether CMS will accept those recommendations.
Further, with respect to the Medicare Program, Congress has proposed on several occasions to impose a 20% coinsurance on patients for clinical laboratory tests reimbursed under the CLFS, which would require us to bill patients for these amounts. Because we do not contact patients directly and because patients may never have heard of us, it may be difficult or even impossible to collect any coinsurance amounts. In the event that Congress were to ever enact such legislation, the cost of billing and collecting for these services could exceed the amount actually received from the patient and effectively increase our costs of billing and collecting.
If we open up new laboratory locations, some of our Medicare claims could be subject to policies issued by other MACs. For example, if we open a laboratory in California, we would be subject to the policies of Noridian Administrative Services, the current MAC for California, Nevada, Hawaii and certain U.S. territories. In addition, Noridian could issue a decision to non-cover MyPRS®.
Our business is subject to extensive laws and regulations, the most significant of which are summarized below.
We are subject to CLIA, which is administered by CMS, and extends federal oversight to virtually all clinical laboratories by requiring certification by the federal government or by a federally-approved accreditation agency.
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Under CLIA, a laboratory is defined as any facility which performs laboratory testing on specimens derived from humans for the purpose of providing information for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of disease, or the impairment of, or assessment of health. CLIA also requires that we hold a certificate applicable to the type of work we perform and comply with certain standards. CLIA further regulates virtually all clinical laboratories by requiring compliance with various operational, personnel, facilities, administration, quality and proficiency requirements intended to ensure that their clinical laboratory testing services are accurate, reliable and timely. CLIA certification is also a prerequisite to be eligible to bill for services provided to governmental payor program beneficiaries. CLIA is user-fee funded. Therefore, all costs of administering the program must be covered by the regulated facilities, including certification and survey costs.
CLIA has specific conditions for certification. CLIA is intended to ensure the quality and reliability of clinical laboratories, including the accuracy, reliability and timeliness of patient test results performed in clinical laboratories in the United States, by mandating specific standards in the areas of personnel qualification, administration participation in proficiency testing, patient test management, quality control, quality assurance and inspections. CLIA regulations contain guidelines for the qualification, responsibilities, training, working conditions and oversight of clinical laboratory employees. In addition, specific standards are imposed for each type of test that is performed in a laboratory. The categorization of commercially marketed in vitro diagnostic tests under CLIA is the responsibility of the FDA. The FDA will assign commercially marketed test systems into one of three CLIA regulatory categories based on their potential risk to public health. Tests will be designated as waived, of moderate complexity or of high complexity. CLIA and the regulations promulgated thereunder are enforced through quality inspections of test methods, equipment, instrumentation, materials and supplies on a periodic basis. The sanction for failure to comply with CLIA requirements may be suspension, revocation or limitation of a laboratorys CLIA certificate, which is necessary to conduct business, as well as significant fines and/or criminal penalties. If a laboratory is certified as high complexity under CLIA, the laboratory is permitted to obtain analyte specific reagents, or ASRs, which are commercially marketed products that function as the building blocks of in vitro diagnostic tests and in-house diagnostic tests known as home brews. We received our CLIA certificate as a high complexity laboratory in 2011. To renew this certificate, we participate in periodic CLIA inspections approximately every two years. Our most recent CLIA inspection took place on January 18, 2013, and has resulted in certification for two years starting July 22, 2013, the date of expiration of the previous certification. Loss of our CLIA certification, change in CLIA or CLIA regulations or in the interpretation thereof, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are in the process of obtaining a license for our laboratory under New York State Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Health. New York and Rhode Island state laws and regulations also establish standards for the day-to-day operations of clinical laboratories, including physical facility requirements and equipment and quality control. New York and Rhode Island standards include proficiency testing requirements, even for a laboratory not located within the state. In addition, the New York Department of Health separately approves certain LDTs offered in New York State. The Company expects to obtain the requisite approvals for its LDTs in these states.
In addition to New York and Rhode Island, certain other states, including, California, Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, require that we hold licenses to test specimens from patients residing in those states even though we are physically located in Arkansas. We have obtained licenses in these states and believe we are in compliance with their applicable licensing laws.
From time to time, other states may require out of state laboratories to obtain licensure in order to accept specimens from such state. If we identify any other state with such requirements or if we are contacted by any other state advising us of such requirements, we intend to follow instructions from the state regulators as to how we should comply with such requirements.
Our clinical operations are also subject to regulation under state laws that may be more stringent than CLIA. State clinical laboratory laws generally require that laboratories and/or laboratory personnel meet
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certain qualifications. State clinical laboratory laws also generally require laboratories to specify certain quality controls and maintain certain records. For example, California requires that we maintain a state issued license and comply with California standards for our laboratory operations, including the standards for laboratory personnel and quality control. Additional states may require similar licenses in the future. Potential sanctions for violation of these state requirements include significant fines and the suspension or loss of various licenses, certificates and authorizations, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Finally, we may be subject to regulation in foreign jurisdictions, including in Europe and Asia, if we expand offering of our tests or distribution of our tests internationally.
HIPAA and its implementing regulations established comprehensive federal protection for the privacy and security of health information. The HIPAA standards apply to three types of organizations, or Covered Entities: health plans, health care clearing houses, and health care providers who conduct certain health care transactions electronically, or Standard Transactions. Covered Entities must have in place administrative, physical and technical safeguards to protect against the misuse of individually identifiable health information, or PHI. Additionally, some state laws impose privacy and security protections more stringent than HIPAAs and some states impose privacy and security obligations specifically applicable to clinical laboratories. Additionally, many states have implemented data breach laws requiring additional security measures for certain types of PHI and also public notification of the theft, breach or other loss of personal information. There are also international privacy laws, such as the European Data Directive and various national laws implementing the Data Directive, that impose restrictions on the access, use, and disclosure of health information and other types of identifiable personal information. All of these laws may impact our business. We are a Covered Entity subject to the HIPAA regulations because our testing services are reimbursable by insurance payors and we conduct Standard Transactions. We have an active program designed to address HIPAA regulatory compliance. This program will likely require periodic updating to comply with amendments to HIPAA. Regardless of our own Covered Entity status, HIPAA presently applies to many of the facilities and physicians with whom we do business and controls the ways in which we may obtain tissue specimens and associated clinical information from those facilities and physicians. We believe we have taken the steps required for us to comply with applicable health information privacy and confidentiality statutes and regulations under both federal and applicable state jurisdictions. However, we may not be able to maintain compliance in all jurisdictions where we do business. Our failure to comply with these privacy laws or significant changes in the laws restricting our ability to obtain tissue specimens and associated patient information could significantly impact our business and our future business plans.
Additionally, the HITECH Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the HHS require HIPAA covered entities, including clinical laboratories, to provide notification to affected individuals and to the Secretary of HHS, following discovery of a breach of unsecured PHI. In some cases, the HITECH Act requires covered entities to provide notification to the media of breaches. In the case of a breach of unsecured PHI at or by a business associate of a covered entity, the HITECH Act requires the business associate to notify the covered entity of the breach. The HITECH Act requires the Secretary of HHS to post on the HHS website a list of covered entities that experience breaches of unsecured PHI involving more than 500 individuals. The HITECH Act made other changes relating to the HIPAA privacy and security rules, including, among others, establishing that, effective February 17, 2010, the HIPAA security and certain privacy regulations apply directly to business associates and, consequently, that a business associates violation of the HIPAA regulations may result in government enforcement action directly against the business associate or the covered entity with whom the business associate contracts depending upon the nature of that business relationship. The regulations implementing this portion of the HITECH Act, however, were not issued until January 25, 2013, with a compliance date of September 23, 2013. We contract with business associates to provide certain services regulated by the HIPAA regulations and therefore must comply with the HIPAA regulations governing those business relationships.
In summary, we are required to comply with laws governing the transmission, security and privacy of health information that require significant compliance costs, and any failure to comply with these laws could result in material criminal and civil penalties.
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We are subject to the Stark Law, and restrictions under Californias Physician Ownership and Referral Act, or PORA. These restrictions prohibit us from billing a patient or any governmental or private payor for any test when the physician ordering the test, or any member of such physicians immediate family, has an investment interest in or compensation arrangement with us, unless the arrangement meets an exception to the prohibition.
Both the Stark Law and PORA contain an exception for referrals made by physicians who hold investment interests in a publicly traded company that has stockholders equity exceeding $75 million at the end of its most recent fiscal year or on average during the previous three fiscal years, and which satisfies certain other requirements. In addition, both the Stark Law and PORA contain an exception for compensation paid to a physician for personal services rendered by the physician. In the future we may develop compensation arrangements with other physicians for personal services, such as speaking engagements and specimen tissue preparation. We will structure these arrangements with terms intended to comply with the requirements of the personal services exception to Stark Law and PORA and other applicable laws.
However, we cannot be certain that regulators would find these arrangements to be in compliance with Stark Law, PORA or similar state laws. If we are deemed out of compliance by the applicable regulators, we would be required to refund any payments we receive pursuant to a referral prohibited by these laws to the patient, the payor or the Medicare program, as applicable.
Penalties for a violation of the Stark Law include: refunds of amounts collected by an entity in violation of the Stark Law, denial of payment for the services provided in violation of the prohibition, and civil penalties of up to $15,000 per service arising out of the prohibited referral. Additionally, a person who engages in a scheme to circumvent the Stark Laws prohibition may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $100,000. A violation of PORA is a misdemeanor and could result in civil penalties and criminal fines.
Other states have self-referral restrictions with which we have to comply that differ from those imposed by federal and California law.
While we have attempted to comply with these laws, it is possible that some of our financial arrangements with pathologist and other physicians could be subject to regulatory scrutiny at some point in the future, and we cannot provide assurance that we will be found to be in compliance with these laws following any such regulatory review.
The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for the purchase, lease or order of any health care item or service reimbursable under a governmental payor program. The definition of remuneration has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value, including gifts, discounts, credit arrangements, payments of cash, waivers of co-payments, ownership interests and providing anything at less than its fair market value. Recognizing that the Anti-Kickback Statute is broad and may technically prohibit many innocuous or beneficial arrangements within the health care industry, the HHS has issued a series of regulatory safe harbors. These safe harbor regulations set forth certain provisions, which, if met, will assure health care providers and other parties that they will not be prosecuted under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Although full compliance with these provisions ensures against prosecution under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the failure of a transaction or arrangement to fit within a specific safe harbor does not necessarily mean that the transaction or arrangement is illegal or that prosecution under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute will be pursued. For further discussion of the impact of federal and state health care fraud and abuse laws and regulations on our business, see the section entitled Risk Factors Risks Related to Our Business We are subject to federal and state health care fraud and abuse laws and regulations and could face substantial penalties if we are unable to, or if a tribunal has determined that we do not fully comply with such laws.
In addition to the administrative simplification regulations discussed above, HIPAA also created two new federal crimes: health care fraud and false statements relating to health care matters. The health care fraud statute prohibits knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any health care benefit program,
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including private payors. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from governmental payor programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The false statements statute prohibits knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for health care benefits, items or services. A violation of this statute is a felony and may result in fines, imprisonment or exclusion from governmental payor programs.
Finally, another development affecting the health care industry is the increased enforcement of the federal False Claims Act and, in particular, actions brought pursuant to the False Claims Acts whistleblower or qui tam provisions. The False Claims Act imposes liability on any person or entity that, among other things, knowingly presents, or causes to be presented, a false or fraudulent claim for payment by a federal governmental payor program. The qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act allow a private individual to bring actions on behalf of the federal government alleging that the defendant has defrauded the federal government by submitting a false claim to the federal government and permit such individuals to share in any amounts paid by the entity to the government in fines or settlement. In addition, various states have enacted false claim laws analogous to the federal False Claims Act, although many of these state laws apply where a claim is submitted to any third-party payor and not merely a governmental payor program. When an entity is determined to have violated the False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties ranging from $5,500 to $11,000 for each false claim.
Additionally, in Europe various countries have adopted anti-bribery laws providing for severe consequences, in the form of criminal penalties and/or significant fines, for individuals and/or companies committing a bribery offence. Violations of these anti-bribery laws, or allegations of such violations, could have a negative impact on our business, results of operations and reputation. For instance, in the United Kingdom, under the Bribery Act 2010, which went into effect in July 2011, a bribery occurs when a person offers, gives or promises to give a financial or other advantage to induce or reward another individual to improperly perform certain functions or activities, including any function of a public nature. Bribery of foreign public officials also falls within the scope of the Bribery Act 2010. Under the new regime, an individual found in violation of the Bribery Act 2010, faces imprisonment of up to 10 years. In addition, the individual can be subject to an unlimited fine, as can commercial organizations for failure to prevent bribery.
There are federal and state laws prohibiting fraudulent billing and providing for the recovery of non-fraudulent overpayments, as a large number of laboratories have been forced by the federal and state governments, as well as by private payors, to enter into substantial settlements under these laws. In particular, if an entity is determined to have violated the federal False Claims Act, it may be required to pay up to three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus civil penalties ranging from $5,500 to $11,000 for each separate false claim. While there are many potential bases for liability under the federal False Claims Act, such liability primarily arises when an entity knowingly submits, or causes another to submit, a false claim for reimbursement to the federal government. Submitting a claim with reckless disregard or deliberate ignorance of its validity could result in substantial civil liability. A current trend within the health care industry is the increased use of the federal False Claims Act and, in particular, actions under the False Claims Acts whistleblower or qui tam provisions to challenge providers and suppliers. Those provisions allow a private individual standing to bring actions on behalf of the government, alleging that the defendant has submitted a fraudulent claim for payment to the federal government. The government may join in the lawsuit, but if the government declines to do so, the individual may choose to pursue the lawsuit alone. The government must be kept apprised of the progress of the lawsuit. Whether or not the federal government intervenes in the case, it will receive the majority of any recovery. In addition, various states have enacted laws modeled after the federal False Claims Act.
Even though we believe we are in compliance with these laws and regulations, it is possible the government may determine that we are not in compliance, in which case we could be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
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The Physician Payment Sunshine Act, or the Sunshine Act, which was enacted as part of PPACA, requires applicable manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, or medical supplies covered under Medicare, Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program, to report annually to HHS payments or other transfers of value made by that entity, or by a third party as directed by that entity, to physicians and teaching hospitals, or to third parties on behalf of physicians or teaching hospitals, during the course of the preceding calendar year. Similar reporting requirements have also been enacted on the state level in the United States, and an increasing number of countries worldwide either have adopted or are considering similar laws requiring transparency of interactions with health care professionals. In addition, some states such as Massachusetts and Vermont impose an outright ban on certain gifts to physicians.
The final rule implementing the Sunshine Act, published on February 8, 2013, requires data collection on payments to begin on August 1, 2013. The first annual report, comprised of data collected from August 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013, is due March 31, 2014. Failure to comply with the reporting requirements can result in significant civil monetary penalties ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for each payment or other transfer of value that is not reported (up to a maximum per annual report of $150,000) and from $10,000 to $100,000 for each knowing failure to report (up to a maximum per annual report of $1 million). We believe that our laboratory is not an applicable manufacturer as that term is defined in the final rule implementing the Sunshine Act, and, therefore, we are not required to collect data on and report these payments. However, we cannot be certain that regulators will agree with our position. If we are deemed to be an applicable manufacturer subject to the Sunshine Act, we could be subject to civil monetary penalties for failing to comply with the requirements.
These laws could affect our promotional activities by limiting the kinds of interactions we could have with hospitals, physicians or other potential purchasers or users of our tests. Both the disclosure laws and gift bans could impose administrative, cost and compliance burdens on us.
The FDA regulates the sale or distribution in interstate commerce, of medical devices, including in vitro diagnostic test kits. The information that must be submitted to the FDA in order to obtain clearance or approval to market a new medical device varies depending on how the medical device is classified by the FDA. Medical devices are classified into one of three classes on the basis of the controls deemed by the FDA to be necessary to reasonably ensure their safety and effectiveness. Class I devices are subject to general controls, including labeling, listing, registration, and reporting. It may also include pre-market notification and adherence to the FDAs quality system regulation, which are device-specific good manufacturing practices. Class II devices are subject to general controls and special controls, such as performance standards and post-market surveillance. Class III devices are subject to most of the previously identified requirements as well as to PMA. Most in vitro diagnostic kits are regulated as Class I or Class II devices. Entities that fail to comply with FDA requirements can be liable for criminal or civil penalties, recalls, seizures, orders to cease manufacturing and restrictions on labeling and promotion.
The FDA presently requires clearance or approval of diagnostic test kits that are sold to laboratories, hospitals and doctors, considering them to be medical devices. However, diagnostic tests that are developed and performed by a CLIA-certified reference laboratory, known as home-brew, in-house or LDTs have not been regulated by FDA to date. The FDA has stated that it has the power to regulate LDTs such as the ones that we develop. Nevertheless, it has exercised enforcement discretion and not regulated most LDTs performed by high complexity CLIA certified laboratories. It is possible, perhaps likely, that FDA will decide to more actively regulate LDTs, which could lead to pre-market and post-market obligations. Section 1143 of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, signed by the President on July 9, 2012, requires FDA to notify Congress at least 60 days prior to issuing a draft or final guidance regulating LDTs and provide details of the anticipated action.
Class II devices are subject to FDAs general controls, and any other special controls as deemed necessary by FDA to provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device. Pre-market review and clearance by FDA for Class II devices are generally accomplished through the 510(k) pre-market notification procedure. Pre-market notification submissions are subject to user fees, unless a specific exemption
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applies. To obtain 510(k) clearance for a medical device (or for certain modifications to devices that have received 510(k) clearance), a manufacturer must submit a pre-market notification demonstrating that the proposed device is substantially equivalent to a previously cleared 510(k) device or to a pre-amendment device that was in commercial distribution before May 28, 1976, or a predicate device, for which FDA has not yet called for the submission of a PMA application. In making a determination that the device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device, FDA compares the proposed device to the predicate device or predicate devices and assesses whether the subject device is comparable to the predicate device or predicate devices with respect to intended use, technology, design and other features which could affect the safety and effectiveness. If FDA determines that the subject device is substantially equivalent to the predicate device or predicate devices, the subject device may be cleared for marketing. FDAs 510(k) clearance pathway generally takes from three to twelve months from the date the application is completed, but can take significantly longer. Moreover, in January 2011, FDA announced twenty-five specific action items it intended to take to improve transparency and predictability of the 510(k) program. We anticipate that the changes may also result in additional requirements with which manufacturers will need to comply in order to obtain or maintain 510(k) clearance for their devices. These additional requirements could increase the costs or time for manufacturers seeking marketing clearances through the 510(k) process. Moreover, the 510(k) process could result in a not-substantially equivalent determination, in which case the device would be regulated as a Class III device, discussed below.
Class III devices are those devices which are deemed by FDA to pose the greatest risk, such as life-sustaining, life-supporting or implantable devices, have a new intended use, or use advanced technology that is not substantially equivalent to that of a legally marketed device. Reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of Class III devices cannot be assured solely by the general controls and the other requirements described above. These devices are required to undergo the PMA process in which the manufacturer must demonstrate reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of the device to FDAs satisfaction. A PMA application must provide extensive preclinical and clinical trial data and also information about the device and its components regarding, among other things, device design, manufacturing and labeling. PMA applications (and supplemental PMA applications) are subject to significantly higher user fees than are 510(k) pre-market notifications. After approval of a PMA, a new PMA or PMA supplement is required in the event of a modification to the device, its labeling or its manufacturing process. The PMA process, including the gathering of clinical and nonclinical data and the submission to and review by FDA, can take several years.
A clinical trial may be required in support of a 510(k) submission and generally is required for a PMA application. These trials generally require an effective Investigational Device Exemption from FDA for a specified number of patients, unless the product is exempt from Investigational Device Exemption requirements or deemed a non-significant risk device eligible for more abbreviated Investigational Device Exemption requirements. The Investigational Device Exemption application must be supported by appropriate data, such as animal and laboratory testing results. Clinical trials may begin 30 days after the submission of the Investigational Device Exemption application unless FDA or the appropriate institutional review boards at the clinical trial sites place the trial on clinical hold.
After a device is placed on the market, regardless of the classification or pre-market pathway, it remains subject to significant regulatory requirements. Even if regulatory approval or clearance of a medical device is granted, FDA may impose limitations or restrictions on the uses and indications for which the device may be labeled and promoted. Medical devices may be marketed only for the uses and indications for which they are cleared or approved. Device manufacturers must also establish registration and device listings with FDA. A medical device manufacturers manufacturing processes and those of its suppliers are required to comply with the applicable portions of the Quality Systems Regulations, which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production, processes, controls, quality assurance, labeling, packaging and shipping of medical devices. Domestic facility records and manufacturing processes are subject to periodic unscheduled inspections by FDA. FDA also may inspect foreign facilities that export products to the United States.
Failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements can result in enforcement action by FDA, which may include any of the following sanctions: warning letters, fines, injunctions, civil or criminal penalties, recall or seizure of current or future products, operating restrictions, partial suspension or total
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shutdown of production, denial of 510(k) clearance or PMA applications for new products, or challenges to existing 510(k) clearances or PMA applications.
We believe that our LDTs would likely be regulated as either Class II or Class III devices. It is also possible that some may fall into one Class and some into the other. Accordingly, some level of pre-market review either a 510(k) or a PMA would likely be required for each test. While the data requirements are typically greater for Class III devices, the data required for Class II devices has increased, and it is likely that some amount of clinical data (retrospective or prospective or both) would be required for either type of submission. Currently, FDA is undertaking a review of the adequacy of the 510(k) process. It is difficult to predict what changes may result, but it should be assumed that any changes will increase, not decrease, the regulatory requirements.
If the FDA decides to regulate MyPRS® or any future test of ours, it could classify the test as a Class II or Class III device. This would mean that we would have to invest substantial time and resources into obtaining FDA approval and we might have to withdraw the applicable test from the market. This could adversely affect our operations, revenues and our potential to be a profitable or viable entity.
The FDA has stated that it intends to regulate some LDTs as devices. The FDA has said it will develop guidelines describing which tests would need to comply with device requirements. The degree to which in-house tests are regulated by the FDA has also been the focus of recent Congressional attention, and Congress is considering the introduction of legislation that would subject at least some such tests to pre-market review or approval by the FDA.
MyPRS® and the other tests being developed by the Company include the use of genes and determine whether a patient falls into a high or low risk for disease recurrence or response to a particular chemotherapy. The Company plans to continue to develop and offer these tests as LDTs unless it becomes clearer that these tests are subject to regulation by the FDA. We will continue to monitor both the FDA and Congress and we intend to comply with any new requirements that may apply.
We are subject to various regulatory requirements designed to ensure the quality and integrity of our non-clinical testing processes. Our standard operating procedures are written in accordance with applicable regulations and guidelines for operating in the United States. The industry standards for conducting preclinical laboratory testing are embodied in GLP regulations promulgated by the FDA. In the United States, non-clinical studies intended for FDA submission must be conducted in accordance with GLP regulations; foreign governments may require our North American clients to comply with certain regulatory requirements of other countries (in order to gain approval within these countries), such as regulations promulgated by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and in Europe, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. GLP regulations specify requirements for facilities, equipment, and professional staff and standardized procedures for conducting studies, including procedures for recording and reporting data and for managing study materials and records. We have established a required quality assurance program that monitors ongoing compliance with GLP regulations by auditing test data and reporting and conducting inspections of testing procedures.
Our business is also subject to regulation under state and federal laws regarding environmental protection and hazardous substances control, such as the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, or OSHA, the Environmental Protection Act, and the Toxic Substances Control Act. These regulations, among other things, require work practice controls, protective clothing and equipment, training and other measures designed to minimize exposure to chemicals and transmission of pathogens. We believe that we are in compliance with these and other applicable laws and that the costs of our ongoing compliance will not have a material adverse effect on our business. However, it is possible that the government will find that we are not in compliance with these requirements, which could have an adverse effect on our business and subject us to regulatory sanctions. In addition, statutes and regulations applicable to our business may be adopted which impose substantial costs to assure compliance or otherwise materially adversely affect our operations.
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Revenues for clinical laboratory testing services come from a variety of sources and depend significantly on the availability of third-party reimbursement, including from the Medicare and Medicaid programs, commercial insurers and managed care organizations. We are currently a Medicare laboratory services provider and intend to become a Medicaid laboratory services provider. We also receive reimbursement from third-party payors for our testing services. As is the case with health care services generally, the majority of payors pay for our testing services at varying levels that may be significantly lower or otherwise differ from our list prices. Obtaining reimbursement from third-party payors is both time consuming and expensive. Payment from third-party payors may not be sufficient to allow us to sell our services on a profitable and competitive basis.
Numerous states have enacted laws prohibiting business corporations, such as us, from practicing medicine and employing or engaging physicians to practice medicine, generally referred to as the prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine. These laws are designed to prevent interference in the medical decision-making process by anyone who is not a licensed physician. Violation of these laws may result in civil or criminal fines, as well as sanctions imposed against us and/or the professional through licensure proceedings.
Our laboratory is subject to federal, state and local regulations relating to the handling and disposal of regulated medical waste, hazardous waste and biohazardous waste, including chemical, biological agents and compounds, blood and bone marrow samples and other human tissue. Typically, we use outside vendors who are contractually obligated to comply with applicable laws and regulations to dispose of such waste. These vendors are licensed or otherwise qualified to handle and dispose of such waste.
OSHA has established extensive requirements relating to workplace safety for health care employers, including requirements to develop and implement programs to protect workers from exposure to blood-borne pathogens by preventing or minimizing any exposure through needle stick or similar penetrating injuries.
As of October 15, 2013, we had 12 employees, all of whom were full time employees. None of our employees is represented by a labor union, and we consider our relationship with our employees to be good. These employees include our President and Chief Executive officer and one direct sales professional.
We currently lease approximately 2,800 square feet of space in Little Rock, Arkansas for use as a clinical reference laboratory. The monthly rent is $6,350. This lease will expire in March 2014. The Company is currently negotiating the renewal of this lease on terms substantially similar to those under the current lease. Based on our current operational needs, we believe that such facilities are adequate for our laboratory operations for the near future.
We are subject to claims and legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of business from time to time. However, we are not currently subject to any claims or actions that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.
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Our business and affairs are organized under the direction of our board of directors, which currently consists of two members. Set forth below are our directors, director nominees and executive officers and their respective ages and positions as of the date of this prospectus:
Executive Officers and Directors | Age | Position(s) Held | ||
Bennett S. LeBow | 76 | Chairman of the Board | ||
Samuel D. Riccitelli | 55 | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
Robert Johnson | 36 | Chief Accounting Officer & Interim Chief Financial Officer | ||
David A. Gonyer, R. Ph. | 50 | Director Nominee | ||
Douglas A. Schuling | 53 | Director Nominee | ||
Robin L. Smith, M.D. | 49 | Director Nominee |
There are no family relationships among any of our directors, director nominees or executive officers. The executive officers and directors named above may act as authorized officers of the company when so deemed by resolutions of the company. Set forth below is a summary of the business experience of each of our directors, director nominees and executive officers identified above and our key employee:
Bennett S. LeBow. Mr. LeBow has served as the Chairman of our board of directors since our inception in January 2010 and is our founding member and the sole manager of Signal Genetics LLC. Mr. LeBow is the sole partner and has sole voting and dispositive power, of our principal shareholder, LeBow Alpha. Mr. LeBow is a private investor and currently serves as the Chairman and CEO of BSL Capital, Inc. Mr. LeBow also serves as the Chairman of the board of directors of Vector Group, Ltd., where he has been a director since 1986 and where he served as Executive Chairman from January 2006 until his retirement in December 2008. Mr. LeBow served as the Chairman of the Board Directors of Borders Group Inc. from May 2010 until January 2012 and Chief Executive Officer from June 2010 until January 2012. In February 2011, Borders Group Inc. filed a petition for protection under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Mr. LeBow received a B.A. in electrical engineering from Drexel University.
We selected Mr. LeBow to serve on our board of directors as Chairman due to the perspective and extensive experience he brings as our founder. Mr. LeBow brings to the board of directors significant executive leadership and operational experience in both the private and public sector.
Samuel D. Riccitelli. Mr. Riccitelli has served as our President and CEO and as a director on our board of directors since October 2012. From July 2011 to October 2012, and Mr. Riccitelli was an independent consultant. From October 2001 to June 2011, Mr. Riccitelli served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Genoptix, Inc., a publicly traded diagnostic services company focused on the needs of community hematologists and oncologists. From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Riccitelli served in a number of positions for Becton, Dickinson and Company, including most recently as a vice president and general manager and as a board member for BD Ventures, L.L.C., a venture capital fund. From 1989 to 1994, he served in a number of positions at Puritan-Bennett Corporation, including most recently as general manager. Mr. Riccitelli also serves on the board of directors of Exagen Diagnostics, Inc., where he has been a director since October 2011. Mr. Riccitelli received a B.A. in Biology from Washington and Jefferson College and a M.S. Eng. degree from The University of Texas in Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering.
We selected Mr. Riccitelli to serve on our board of directors because he brings to the board of directors extensive knowledge of the life sciences and biotechnology industries. He has served in senior corporate positions of companies in the biotechnology and diagnostic industries. Mr. Riccitelli has led the successful development and commercialization of a broad range of diagnostic services, medical devices, and information based product and services and is a named inventor on eight patents. His business experience provides him with a broad understanding of the operational, financial and strategic issues facing public companies.
Robert Johnson. Mr. Johnson has served as our Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer since September 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Johnson has served as senior tax accountant and
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controller at BSL Capital, Inc. since June 2010. From June 2008 to June 2010, Mr. Johnson served as a senior tax accountant and controller of CBIZ MHM, LLC. Mr. Johnson has 8 years of public accounting experience in tax planning and compliance. His experience primarily lies in taxation of pass-through entities and their interrelation in portfolio investment accounting and estate planning. Mr. Johnson is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Management Accountant and is a member of both the American Institute of CPAs and the Institute of Management Accountants Mr. Johnson received a B.S. in accounting and finance from The University of Central Florida and an MBA from The University of Miami, with a specialty in professional accounting.
David A. Gonyer, R. Ph. Mr. Gonyer has agreed to become a member of our board of directors immediately following this offering. Mr. Gonyer is a co-founder of Evoke Pharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused primarily on the development of drugs to treat gastrointestinal diseases, and has served as its President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of its board of directors since March 2007. From January 2004 to June 2007, Mr. Gonyer served as Vice President, Strategic and Product Development of Medgenex, Inc., a subsidiary of Victory Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on acquiring, developing and marketing products to treat pain and related conditions. From April 2000 to December 2004, Mr. Gonyer was a founder and Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Xcel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical focused on neurological disorders. From December 1996 to April 2000, Mr. Gonyer served as Director of Marketing at Elan/Dura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. From 1987 to 1996, Mr. Gonyer held a broad range of management positions in commercial operations, alliance/ partnership management, and regional sales at Eli Lilly & Company, a global pharmaceutical company. Mr. Gonyer serves as a member of the board of directors of Neurelis, Inc., a privately held neurological specialty pharmaceutical company, a position he has held since May 2010. Mr. Gonyer is a Registered Pharmacist and holds a B.Sc. in Pharmacy from Ferris State University School of Pharmacy.
We have selected Mr. Gonyer to serve on our board of directors because of his significant management experience, his extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry and his substantial knowledge with respect to developing and marketing pharmaceutical products.
Douglas A. Schuling. Douglas A. Schuling has agreed to become a member of our board of directors immediately following this offering. From April 1999 through May 2011, when he retired Mr. Schuling held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Genoptix Medical Laboratory, a specialized laboratory service provider focused on delivering diagnostic services to hematologists and oncologists. Since May 2011, Mr. Schuling has acted as an independent consultant. From 1997 to March 1999, Mr. Schuling held the position of Chief Financial and Operating Officer for Point-of-Care Systems, a venture capital backed clinical information systems company. From 1985 to 1997, Mr. Schuling held various positions at Nellcor Puritan Bennett, a research, development and manufacturing company, specializing in medical equipment and supplies, most recently as Hospital Group Controller. Mr. Schuling received his B.S. degree in accounting from Drake University.
We have selected Mr. Schuling to serve on our board of directors because of this extensive knowledge of the life sciences and biotechnology industries and his substantial financial and accounting background, having served as the chief financial officer of two other companies and controller of a third company.
Dr. Robin L. Smith. Dr. Robin Smith has agreed to become a member of our board of directors immediately following this offering. Dr. Smith has been the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the board of directors of NeoStem, Inc. since June 2, 2006, after first joining the company as Chairman of its Advisory Board in September 2005. She currently serves on the board of trustees of the NYU Langone Medical Center and is past chairman of the board for the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases where she headed up new development efforts and board member recruitment. Currently, Dr. Smith is the president and chairman of the board of The Stem for Life Foundation. She was also appointed to the board of directors, Science and Faith STOQ Foundation in Rome and the Capital Formation Committee of the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine. From 2003 to 2006, Dr. Smith was a consultant for multiple privately and publicly held companies. From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Smith served as President & Chief Executive Officer of IP2M, a multi-platform media company specializing in healthcare, which was sold to a publicly-traded company in February 2003. Previously, from 1998 to 2000, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer
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for HealthHelp, Inc., a National Radiology Management company. Dr. Smith received her M.D. degree from Yale University in 1992 and was presented with the Janet M. Glasgow Memorial Achievement Citation awarded by the American Medical Women's Association to women who graduate first in their class from medical school. She was also elected to Alpha Omega Alpha and chosen to be a Farr Scholar. She received her M.B.A. degree from the Wharton School of Business in the top 10% of her class in 1997.
We have selected Dr. Smith to serve on our board of directors because of her expertise in business development and medicine, which includes her extensive and diversified experience serving in executive and board level capacities for various medical enterprises and healthcare-based entities. Dr. Smith has acted as a senior advisor to, and investor in, companies where she has played a significant role in restructuring and/or growth.
Ryan Van Laar, Ph.D. Dr. Van Laar has served as our director of bioinformatics since February 2012. Prior to joining us, Dr. Van Laar served as the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of ChipDX from June 2008 to February 2012. From May 2008 to January 2012, Dr. Van Laar worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals as a bioinformatics scientist and facilitated the expansion of their oncology bioninformatics department and had the responsibility for identifying and developing oncology targets and biomarkers. From June 2005 to May 2008, Dr. Van Laar worked as a senior bioinformatician at Agendia where he developed novel diagnostic and prognostic multi-gene assays for breast and colon cancer, including the first FDA-cleared multi-gene oncology test, Mammaprint®. Dr. Van Laars work has been extensively published in 15 peer reviewed journals. Dr. Van Laar received his Ph.D. in molecular oncology from The University of Melbourne, Australia.
Our board of directors currently consists of two members, Messrs. LeBow and Riccitelli. Our board of directors has undertaken a review of its composition and its committees and the independence of each director. Based upon information requested from and provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, including family relationships, our board of directors has determined that neither Messrs. LeBow, nor Riccitelli is an independent director as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and NASDAQ. In making such determination, our board of directors considered the relationship that each such non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances that our board of directors deemed relevant in determining his independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director. Mr. Riccitelli is not an independent director under these rules because he is our Chief Executive Officer and Mr. LeBow is not an independent director under these rules because of his ownership in the company. Prior to consummation of this offering, the board of directors plans to increase the number of directors to five and appoint three independent directors as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and NASDAQ. Our director nominees, Douglas A. Schuling and Dr. Robin L. Smith, will be independent directors under the applicable rules of the SEC and Nasdaq.
Our Chairman, Mr. LeBow, is the sole member and has sole voting and dispositive power of the shares of LeBow Alpha LLLP, LeBow Alpha, a significant stockholder of the Company. In the event that LeBow Alpha retains over 50% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock following the offering, Mr. LeBow, as a result of his ownership of LeBow Alpha, will have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our directors, as well as the overall management and direction of our company. Furthermore, if LeBow Alpha retains over 50% of the voting power of our common stock following the offering, we will be classified as a controlled company under the corporate governance rules for NASDAQ-listed companies and we will be eligible to rely on exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements of NASDAQ including, without limitation, the requirement that a majority of our board of directors be independent and that we have a compensation committee and a nominating committee each comprised solely of independent directors. Despite the availability of these exemptions, we have agreed with the underwriters that we will not rely on these exemptions for a period of
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two years following the offering. However, to the extent we still qualify, we may in the future elect to rely on these exemptions, and to the extent we do, our stockholders will not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
Our board of directors will establish an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee effective upon the closing of this offering.
The members of our Audit Committee are expected to be Mr. Gonyer, Mr. Schuling and Dr. Smith, each of whom has been determined by our board of directors to be independent under applicable NASDAQ and SEC rules and regulations. Mr. Schuling will be the chair of the Audit Committee. Upon the closing of this offering, our Audit Committees responsibilities will include, among others:
| appointing, approving the compensation of, and assessing the independence of our registered public accounting firm; |
| overseeing the work of our independent registered public accounting firm, including through the receipt and consideration of reports from that firm; |
| reviewing and discussing with management and our independent registered public accounting firm our annual and quarterly financial statements and related disclosures; |
| monitoring our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures; |
| overseeing our internal audit function; |
| discussing our risk management policies; |
| establishing policies regarding hiring employees from our independent registered public accounting firm and procedures for the receipt and retention of accounting related complaints and concerns; |
| meeting independently with our internal auditing staff, if any, our independent registered public accounting firm and management; |
| reviewing and approving or ratifying any related person transactions; and |
| preparing the Audit Committee report required by Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, rules. |
All audit and non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, to be provided to us by our independent registered public accounting firm must be approved in advance by our Audit Committee.
Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Schuling is an audit committee financial expert as defined in applicable SEC rules. We believe that the composition of our Audit Committee will meet the requirements for independence under current NASDAQ and SEC rules and regulations.
The members of our Compensation Committee are expected to be Mr. Gonyer, Mr. Schuling and Dr. Smith, each of whom has been determined by our board of directors to be independent under current NASDAQ and SEC rules and regulations. Dr. Smith will be the chair of the Compensation Committee. Upon the closing of this offering, our Compensation Committees responsibilities will include, among others:
| reviewing and approving annually the corporate goals and objectives applicable to the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer, evaluating at least annually the Chief Executive Officers performance in light of those goals and objectives, and determining and approving the Chief Executive Officers compensation level based on this evaluation; |
| reviewing and approving the compensation of all other executive officers; |
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| reviewing and approving and, when appropriate, recommending to the board of directors for approval, incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans, and where appropriate or required, recommending for approval by the stockholders of the Company, the adoption, amendment or termination of such plans; and administering such plans; |
| reviewing and approving the executive compensation information included in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K and proxy statement; |
| reviewing and approving or providing recommendations with respect to any employment agreements or severance arrangements or plans; and |
| reviewing director compensation and recommending any changes to the board of directors. |
The members of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are expected to be Mr. Gonyer, Mr. Schuling and Dr. Smith, each of whom has been determined by our board of directors to be independent under current NASDAQ rules. Mr. Gonyer will be the chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Upon the closing of this offering, our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees responsibilities will include, among others:
| identifying and recommending candidates to fill vacancies on the board of directors and for election by the stockholders; |
| recommending committee and chairperson assignments for directors to the board of directors; |
| developing, subject to the board of directors approval, a process for an annual evaluation of the board of directors and its committees and to oversee the conduct of this annual evaluation; and |
| overseeing the Companys corporate governance practices, including reviewing and recommending to the board of directors for approval any changes to the documents and policies in the Companys corporate governance framework, including its Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. |
| monitoring compliance with the Companys Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, investigating alleged breaches or violations thereof and enforcing its provisions. |
Our principal stockholder also serves as the Chairman of our board of directors. Our board of directors does not have a lead independent director. Our board of directors has determined its leadership structure is appropriate and effective for us, given our stage of development.
Our board of directors monitors our exposure to a variety of risks through our Audit Committee. Our Audit Committee charter gives the Audit Committee responsibilities and duties that include discussing with management, the internal audit department and the independent auditors our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including our risk assessment and risk management policies.
We have adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our employees, officers, and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. These standards are designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote honest and ethical conduct. The code of business conduct and ethics and the written charter for the audit committee will be available on our website. The information that appears on our website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
None of our directors, director nominees or executive officers, nor any associate of such individual, is involved in a legal proceeding adverse to us or any of our subsidiaries or our joint ventures.
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The following table sets forth the information as to compensation paid to or earned by our President and Chief Executive Officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013. The persons listed in the following table are referred to herein as the named executive officers.
Name and Principal Position |
Fiscal
Year |
Salary | Bonus | Stock Award(s) (1) | Option Award(s) | All Other Compensation | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||
Samuel D. Riccitelli | 2013 | $ | 450,000 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 114,947 | $ | 564,947 | |||||||||||||||
2012 | $ | 75,000 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 75,000 |
(1) | Represents the aggregate date fair value of awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Mr. Riccitelli was granted 22,725 incentive units pursuant to his employment agreement. The grant was subject to a performance condition, as described below under Employment Agreements. |
Samuel D. Riccitelli. We entered into an employment agreement, or the CEO Agreement, as of October 31, 2012, as amended on October 9, 2013, with Samuel D. Riccitelli in connection with his appointment as our President and Chief Executive Officer. The CEO Agreement prohibits Mr. Riccitelli from engaging in any competitive activity, as described in the CEO Agreement, during his employment with us and for a period of one year following termination of his employment for any reason.
The CEO Agreement has an initial term of 3 years, and automatically renews for additional one-year terms. The CEO Agreement provides for, among other things, an annual base salary of $450,000, payable on a semi-monthly basis. It also provides that Mr. Riccitelli will be reimbursed for all reasonable business expenses, including travel and entertainment expenses incurred in the performance of his duties.
The CEO Agreement also provides for the following post-termination benefits: (a) unpaid base salary, all accrued paid time off, unreimbursed expenses, and any amount under any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement, then in effect, in the event his employment is terminated for cause, without cause, or due to disability or death or if Mr. Riccitelli resigns for any reason (as such terms are defined in the CEO Agreement), (b) all accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation in the event his employment is terminated without cause, for disability or death or if Mr. Riccitelli resigns for good reason (as such term in defined in the CEO Agreement), (c) monthly payments equal to his base salary for 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on when the termination occurs, plus full payment of COBRA premiums in the event that his employment is terminated without cause or if Mr. Riccitelli resigns for good reason and (d) in the case of disability, monthly payments equal to his base salary for 6 months (to be paid in equal installments over the applicable period immediately following termination of his employment), if and only if he does not receive any payments as a result of the short-term and long-term disability insurance benefits that the Company obtains on his behalf, pursuant to the terms of the CEO Agreement, in which case the Company will pay to Mr. Riccitelli, during the 6 month period, only the difference between the insurance payments provided to him and his base salary.
Under the CEO Agreement, at the time of his appointment, Mr. Riccitelli received a grant of 22,725 Class B incentive units (the Incentive Award) representing up to 20% of our outstanding equity as of December 31, 2013, which incentive units were to vest approximately 33% upon the closing of an offering of at least $25,000,000, which was reduced to $15,000,000 in an amendment to the CEO Agreement, or an Offering, and approximately 16% every six (6) months thereafter, provided that Mr. Riccitelli was employed as of such dates and had not received a notice of termination from the Company. The CEO Agreement further provided that the award would become fully vested upon a change in control that occurred after the closing of an Offering, or upon Mr. Riccitellis termination from employment without cause or by Mr. Riccitelli for good reason (as such terms are defined in the CEO Agreement) after his initial 90 days of employment but before the closing of the Offering.
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The CEO Agreement also provides for a corporate apartment in New York City solely at our expense during the period until we successfully complete a capital raise of at least $15,000,000. We agreed that we would pay for the income tax liability incurred by Mr. Riccitelli for receipt of such apartment.
Mr. Riccitelli and the Company have agreed to enter into an amended employment agreement in connection with this offering. While the compensation terms of the CEO Agreement will remain largely intact, Mr. Riccitelli has agreed to surrender the Incentive Award that was originally granted to him under the CEO Agreement and he will no longer be entitled to payment for a corporate apartment in New York City after March 31, 2014, when his current apartment lease expires. As described elsewhere in this prospectus, Mr. Riccitelli will receive a grant of restricted stock units of Signal Genetics, Inc. immediately prior to or simultaneously with the offering.
Robert Johnson. The Company has no compensation arrangements, written or otherwise, with Mr. Johnson.
We intend to adopt a stock incentive plan, the 2014 Plan, prior to the offering. The following description of the 2014 Plan is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the proposed plan, the form of which is being filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Purpose . We believe that the 2014 Plan will promote our long-term growth and profitability by (i) providing key people with incentives to improve stockholder value and to contribute to our growth and financial success through their future services, and (ii) enabling us to attract, retain and reward the best-available personnel.
Eligibility. Selected employees, officers, directors, and other individuals providing bona fide services to us or any of our affiliates, are eligible for awards under the 2014 Plan. The plan administrator may also grant awards to individuals in connection with hiring, retention, or otherwise before the date the individual first performs services for the Company or an affiliate. However, those awards will not become vested or exercisable before the date the individual first performs those services for us. Immediately following the offering, we will have three non-employee directors and twelve employees and other individuals providing bona fide services to us who are eligible to participate in the 2014 Plan.
Shares subject to the plan . The number of shares of common stock that we may issue pursuant to awards under the 2014 Plan is 1,085,707; provided, however, that no more than 900,000 shares of common stock may be issued in the form of full-value awards, and no more than 600,000 shares of common stock may be issued pursuant to incentive stock options intended to qualify under section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. The maximum number of shares of common stock subject to awards of any combination that may be granted under the 2014 Plan during any fiscal year to any one individual will be limited to 750,000 shares. These limits will be appropriately adjusted to reflect any stock dividends, split ups, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, share exchanges, and similar transactions. If any award, or portion of an award, under the 2014 Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable, is settled in cash without delivery of shares, or is forfeited or otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled as to any shares, or if any shares are repurchased by or surrendered to us in connection with any award, or if any shares are withheld by us, the shares subject to such award and the repurchased, surrendered and withheld shares will thereafter be available for further awards under the 2014 Plan other than incentive stock options.
Administration . The 2014 Plan is administered by our board of directors or by a committee or committees as the board may appoint from time to time. The plan administrator has the full authority and discretion to administer the 2014 Plan and to take any action that is necessary or advisable in connection with the administration of the plan, including without limitation the authority and discretion to interpret and administer the plan and any instrument or agreement relating to the plan or any award made thereunder. The plan administrators determinations will be final and conclusive.
Types of awards . The 2014 Plan provides for grants of stock options (including incentive stock options qualifying under Code section 422 and nonstatutory stock options), stock appreciation rights, restricted or unrestricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, other stock-based awards, or any combination of the foregoing. No awards have been granted under the 2014 Plan as of the date of this
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prospectus. The benefits or amounts that will be allocated to any participant or group of participants are indeterminable at this time because participation and the types of awards (including options) available under the plan are subject to the discretion of the plan administrator.
Stock options . The 2014 Plan allows the plan administrator to grant incentive stock options, as that term is defined in section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or nonqualified stock options. Only our employees or employees of our subsidiaries or any parent corporation may receive incentive stock option awards. Options must have an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the underlying shares on the date of grant. The option holder may pay the exercise price in cash or by check, by tendering shares of common stock, by a combination of cash and shares, or by any other means that the plan administrator approves. Generally, options granted under the 2014 Plan will have a 10 year term, however, the options will expire earlier if the option holders service relationship with us terminates.
Stock appreciation rights . The 2014 Plan allows the plan administrator to grant awards of stock appreciation rights, which entitle the holder to receive a payment in cash, in shares of common stock, or in a combination of both, having an aggregate value equal to the spread on the date of exercise between the fair market value of the underlying shares on that date and the base price of the shares specified in the grant agreement, multiplied by the number of shares specified in the award being exercised.
Stock awards . The 2014 Plan allows the plan administrator to grant stock awards to eligible participants in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or minimum consideration as may be required by law. A stock award may be denominated in common stock or other securities, stock-equivalent units or restricted stock units, securities or debentures convertible into common stock, or any combination of the foregoing and may be paid in common stock or other securities, in cash, or in a combination of common stock or other securities and cash, all as determined in the sole discretion of the plan administrator.
Performance awards . The 2014 Plan allows the plan administrator to grant performance awards which become payable in common stock or other securities, in cash, or in a combination of common stock or other securities and cash, on account of attainment of one or more performance goals established by the plan administrator. The plan administrator may establish performance goals relating to any of the following, as it may apply to an individual, one or more business units, divisions or subsidiaries, or on a Company-wide basis, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index covering multiple companies:
| Earnings or profitability metrics : including, but not limited to, earnings/loss (gross, operating, net, or adjusted); earnings/loss before interest and taxes, or EBIT; earnings/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA; profit margins; expense levels or ratios; in each case adjusted to eliminate the effect of any one or more of the following: interest expense, asset impairments, early extinguishment of debt, equity incentive compensation expense, changes in generally accepted accounting principles or critical accounting policies, or other extraordinary or non-recurring items, as specified by the plan administrator when establishing the performance goals; |
| Return metrics : including, but not limited to, return on investment, assets, equity or capital (total or invested); |
| Cash flow metrics : including, but not limited to, operating cash flow; cash flow sufficient to achieve financial ratios or a specified cash balance; free cash flow; cash flow return on capital; net cash provided by operating activities; cash flow per share; working capital; |
| Liquidity metrics : including, but not limited to, capital raising; debt reduction; extension of maturity dates of outstanding debt; debt leverage (debt to capital, net debt-to-capital, debt-to-EBITDA or other liquidity ratios) or access to capital; debt ratings; total or net debt; other similar measures approved by the plan administrator; |
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| Stock Price and Equity Metrics : including, but not limited to, return on stockholders equity; total stockholder return; revenue (gross, operating or net); revenues from sales; revenues from search model; revenue growth; stock price; stock price appreciation; market capitalization; earnings/loss per share (basic or diluted) (before or after taxes); price-to-earnings ratio; |
| Strategic Metrics : including, but not limited to, number of users, site traffic, conversion ratios, product research and development; regulatory filings or approvals; patent application or issuance; manufacturing or process development; sales or net sales; geographic coverage; market share; market penetration; inventory control; growth in assets; key hires; business expansion; acquisitions, divestitures, affiliate agreements, collaborations, licensing or joint ventures; financing; resolution of significant litigation; legal compliance or risk reduction. |
The plan administrator is authorized to make adjustments in the method of calculating attainment of performance measures and performance targets in recognition of: (A) extraordinary or non-recurring items; (B) changes in tax laws; (C) changes in generally accepted accounting principles or changes in accounting policies; (D) charges related to restructured or discontinued operations; (E) restatement of prior period financial results; and (F) any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss that is separately identified and quantified in our financial statements; provided that the plan administrators decision as to whether such adjustments will be made with respect to any covered employee, within the meaning of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, is determined when the performance targets are established for the applicable performance period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the plan administrator may, at its sole discretion, modify the performance results upon which awards are based under the 2014 Plan to offset any unintended results arising from events not anticipated when the performance measures and performance targets were established; provided, that such modifications may be made with respect to an award granted to any covered employee, only to the extent permitted by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code if the award was intended to constitute qualified performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Change in control . In the event of any transaction resulting in a change in control of the Company (as defined in the 2014 Plan), outstanding stock options and other awards that are payable in or convertible into our common stock will terminate upon the effective time of the change in control unless provision is made in connection with the transaction for the continuation, assumption, or substitution of the awards by the surviving or successor entity or its parent. In the event of such termination the holders of stock options and other awards under the 2014 Plan will be permitted immediately before the change in control to exercise or convert all portions of awards that are then exercisable or convertible or which become exercisable or convertible upon or prior to the effective time of the change in control. In the event that a change in control occurs after a performance-based stock award has been granted but before completion of the applicable performance period, a pro rata portion of such award will become payable (or a pro rata portion of the lapse restrictions will lapse, as applicable) as of the date of the change in control to the extent otherwise earned on the basis of achievement of the pro rata portion of the performance goals and performance targets relating to the portion of the performance period completed as of the date of the change in control.
Amendment and termination . The 2014 Plan will become effective as of the date that it is adopted by our stockholders, provided that such approval is obtained within twelve months before or after our board of directors approves the 2014 Plan. No award will be granted under the 2014 Plan after the close of business on the day before the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the plan. Our board of directors may terminate, amend or modify the 2014 Plan, or any portion thereof, at any time. Shareholder approval will be required to reprice any options or SARs under the 2014 Plan.
U.S. federal income tax consequences . The following is a general summary of the U.S. federal income tax treatment of stock options, which are authorized for grant under the 2014 Plan, based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code as of the date of this prospectus. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive and the exact tax consequences to any grantee will depend upon his or her particular circumstances and other facts. Participants must consult their tax advisors with respect to any state, local and non-U.S. tax considerations or particular federal tax implications of options granted under the 2014 Plan.
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Incentive stock options . An option holder recognizes no taxable income for regular income tax purposes as a result of the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option qualifying under section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Option holders who neither dispose of their shares within two years following the date the option was granted nor within one year following the exercise of the option will normally recognize a capital gain or loss upon a sale of the shares equal to the difference, if any, between the sale price and the purchase price of the shares. If an option holder satisfies such holding periods, upon a sale of the shares, we will not be entitled to any deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If an option holder disposes of shares within two years after the date of grant or within one year after the date of exercise (a disqualifying disposition), the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date and the option exercise price (not to exceed the gain realized on the sale if the disposition is a transaction with respect to which a loss, if sustained, would be recognized) will be taxed as ordinary income at the time of disposition. Any gain in excess of that amount will be a capital gain. If a loss is recognized, there will be no ordinary income, and such loss will be a capital loss. Any ordinary income recognized by the option holder upon the disqualifying disposition of the shares generally will result in a deduction by us for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Nonqualified stock options . Options not designated or qualifying as incentive stock options will be nonqualified stock options having no special tax status. An option holder generally recognizes no taxable income as the result of the grant of such an option. Upon exercise of a nonqualified stock option, the option holder normally recognizes ordinary income in the amount of the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of the shares on the exercise date. If the option holder is an employee, such ordinary income generally is subject to withholding of income and employment taxes. Upon the sale of stock acquired by the exercise of a nonqualified stock option, any gain or loss, based on the difference between the sale price and the fair market value on the exercise date, will be taxed as a capital gain or loss. No tax deduction is available to us with respect to the grant of a nonqualified stock option or the sale of the stock acquired pursuant to such grant. We generally should be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of ordinary income recognized by the option holder as a result of the exercise of a nonqualified stock option.
Section 162(m) . The Internal Revenue Code allows publicly held corporations to deduct compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the corporations principal executive officer and/or any of its three other most highly compensated executive officers for that applicable year (not counting, for this purpose, its principal financial officer) only if the compensation is payable solely based on the attainment of one or more performance goals and certain statutory requirements are satisfied. Since we are a privately held corporation, Section 162(m) does not currently apply to our compensation. Under the transition rules, in general, compensation paid under a plan that existed while we are private is exempt from the $1,000,000 deduction limit until the first annual meeting of our stockholders after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which our initial public offering occurs. We will take these transition rules into account when awarding compensation to our named executive officers. Following our initial public offering, grants of options or stock appreciation rights under our 2014 Plan are intended to qualify for the exemption. Grants of restricted shares or stock units that are made in the future under the 2014 Plan may qualify for the exemption if vesting is contingent on the attainment of objectives based on the performance criteria set forth in the plan and if certain other requirements are satisfied. Grants of restricted shares or stock units that vest solely on the basis of service cannot qualify for the exemption. To maintain flexibility in compensating officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, our compensation committee has not adopted a policy requiring all compensation to be deductible. Our compensation committee may approve compensation or changes to plans, programs or awards that may cause the compensation or awards to exceed the limitation under Section 162(m) if it determines that action is appropriate and in our best interests.
Foreign Participants . If any individual who receives a grant under the 2014 Plan is subject to taxation in countries other than the United States, the 2014 Plan provides that the plan administrator may make grants to such individuals on such terms and conditions as the plan administrator determines appropriate to comply with the laws of the applicable countries.
Section 102(b)(3) issuances . We have elected to issue our options and shares granted or issued to most of our Israeli participants (excluding our co-founders) in this plan under Section 102(b)(3) of the Israeli Income Tax Ordinance, which is the capital gains track. To comply with the capital gains track, all options and shares under the ESOP are granted or issued to a trustee and are held by the trustee for two years from
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the date of grant of the option. Under the capital gains track we are not allowed an Israeli tax deduction for the grant or issuance of the options or shares.
The following table provides information about the number of outstanding equity awards held by our named executive officers at December 31, 2013.
Stock Awards | ||||||||||||||||
Name |
Number of Shares Or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
(#) |
Market Value of Shares Or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested
($) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units Or Other Rights That Have Not Vested
(#) |
Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of Unearned Shares, Units Or Other Rights That Have Not Vested
($) |
||||||||||||
Samuel D. Riccitelli | 22,725 | 0 | (1) |
(1) | Mr. Riccitelli was granted 22,725 Class B incentive units pursuant to his employment agreement. The grant was subject to a performance condition, as described above under Executive Compensation Employment Agreements. |
Immediately prior to or simultaneously with this offering the Company intends to issue restricted stock unit awards to certain employees of the Company. The total number of shares underlying these awards will not exceed 724,452.
Mr. Riccitellis employment agreement, as amended, entitles him to receive certain payments upon the termination of his employment under certain circumstance as described below.
In the event Mr. Riccitelli is terminated for cause (as defined in his employment agreement), his sole remedy will be to collect any unpaid base salary, accrued PTO and unreimbursed expenses, as well as any amount arising from his participation in, or benefits under, any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement, payable in accordance with the terms thereof.
In the event Mr. Riccitellis employment is terminated by the Company without cause, he will be entitled to collect all unpaid base salary, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation (including any unpaid, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation from the immediately preceding year), accrued PTO, and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination. In addition, Mr. Riccitelli will be entitled to receive a severance payment equal to his then-current base salary for a period of three, six or twelve months (paid in equal monthly installments), depending upon the timing of such termination in relation to the Companys initial capital raise of $15.0 million. Mr. Riccitelli would also be entitled to reimbursement for COBRA premiums during the one year period, provided he elects such coverage, and subject to the conditions described in the employment agreement.
In the event Mr. Riccitelli is terminated on account of his disability or death, he will be (or his estate will be, as applicable) entitled to receive all unpaid base salary, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation (including any unpaid, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation from the immediately preceding year), accrued PTO, and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination. In the case of disability, Mr. Riccitelli will also be entitled to receive, for a period of six months, a series of monthly payments equal to his then-current monthly base salary; provided, however, that he shall not be entitled to receive these payments if he is receiving any payments as a result of short-term or long-term disability insurance benefits that the Company obtains on his behalf.
In the event Mr. Riccitelli terminates his employment for good reason (as defined in his employment agreement), then he will be entitled to receive all unpaid base salary, accrued annual bonus or incentive
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compensation (including any unpaid, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation from the immediately preceding year), accrued PTO and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination. He will also be entitled to the same severance payment and COBRA premiums that he would be entitled to receive in connection with a termination by the Company without cause.
In the event Mr. Riccitelli terminates his employment without good reason, then his sole remedy will be to collect any unpaid base salary, accrued PTO and unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination.
We currently do not pay compensation to our directors for their Board service. We are in the process of evaluating possible director compensation plans that would be appropriate for us as a public company. The non-employee directors did not receive any cash or equity compensation during 2013.
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The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock immediately prior to and immediately following the offering:
| each person who is known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock; |
| each of our directors; |
| each of our director nominees; |
| each of our named executive officers; and |
| all of our directors and executive officers as a group. |
The pre-offering percentage ownership information shown in the table is based upon 2,547,561 shares of common stock outstanding immediately prior to the offering, after giving effect to the debt conversion and the corporate conversion. The post-offering percentage is based upon 4,819,561 shares of common stock outstanding after completion of this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules include shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options, warrants or other rights that are either immediately exercisable or exercisable on or before [], 2014, which is 60 days after the date of this prospectus. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.
Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each of the individuals and entities listed in this table is 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10065.
Name of Beneficial | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned | Percentage Ownership (Pre-Offering) | Percentage Ownership (Post-Offering) | |||||||||
Executive Officers, Directors and Director Nominees
|
||||||||||||
Bennett S. LeBow (1) | 2,547,561 | 100 | % | 52.9 | % | |||||||
Samuel D. Riccitelli | | | | |||||||||
Robert Johnson | | | | |||||||||
David A. Gonyer | | | | |||||||||
Douglas A. Schuling | | | | |||||||||
Dr. Robin L. Smith | | | | |||||||||
All Executive Officers & Directors, as a group (3 persons) | 2,547,561 | 100 | % | 52.9 | % |
* | less than 1% |
(1) | Bennett S. LeBow is the sole partner of LeBow Alpha, which as of the date of this prospectus holds 72,500 Class A units and 16,833 Class B units. By virtue of his position with LeBow Alpha, he is deemed to be the beneficial owner of these units and has sole voting and dispositive power over the units. The number of shares reported for Mr. LeBow represents the number of shares he will receive in connection with the debt conversion and corporate conversion. |
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The following is a summary of transactions since January 1, 2012 to which we have been a party in which the amount involved exceeded the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of the average of our total assets at the end of the last two recent fiscal years and in which any of our executive officers, directors, director nominees or beneficial holders of more than five percent of our capital stock had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation arrangements which are described under the section of this prospectus entitled Management Non-Employee Director Compensation and Management Executive Compensation.
We and our subsidiaries, as borrowers, entered into a Secured Demand Promissory Note in the amount of $20,000,000 with LeBow Alpha, as lender, dated November 3, 2011 (the Original Promissory Note). Any unpaid principal under the Original Promissory Note bore interest at a rate of 8% per annum, compounded quarterly. In addition, interest was payable on any overdue installment of principal for the period overdue, on demand, at a rate equal to 11% per annum, compounded quarterly as of the last day of each calendar quarter. The Chairman of our board of directors, Bennett LeBow, is the sole partner of LeBow Alpha, our principal stockholder, and has sole voting and dispositive power over this entity.
The Original Promissory Note was amended from time to time to increase the principal amount of the borrowings thereunder and to include additional amounts owed to other LeBow-controlled entities as lenders, namely LeBow Gamma Limited Partnership (LeBow Gamma) and BSL Capital, Inc., from whom we have also borrowed money, from time to time.
On December 31, 2013, we entered into an Amended and Restated Secured Demand Promissory Note (the New Promissory Note) in the amount of $25,000,000 with LeBow Alpha to include all of the principal and interest then owed to LeBow Alpha and the other LeBow-controlled entities under the Original Promissory Note, as amended from time to time and to include certain loans that were made to the Company through December of 2013 by LeBow Alpha, LeBow Gamma and BSL Capital, Inc. Any unpaid principal under the New Promissory Note bears interest at a rate of 8% per annum, compounded quarterly. In addition, interest is payable on any overdue installment of principal for the period overdue, on demand, at a rate equal to 11% per annum, compounded quarterly as of the last day of each calendar quarter.
As of March 18, 2014, the total amount of indebtedness (including principal and interest) under the New Promissory Note is $27,023,171. As of the date of this prospectus, there was $23,683,380 in aggregate principal outstanding under the New Promissory Note. This is also the largest aggregate amount of principal outstanding under the Original Promissory Note, as amended, and the New Promissory Note since January 1, 2011.
Since January 1, 2011, we have repaid approximately $9,279,000 in principal and $1,182,000 in interest under the Original Promissory Note and the New Promissory Note.
The New Promissory Note (like the Old Promissory Note) contains customary representations and warranties and events of default, and includes a cross-default provision to any loan documents, as such term is defined in the Promissory Note, and which includes the Security Agreement (defined below).
We and our subsidiaries (which includes Myeloma Health LLC, Respira Health LLC, CC Health LLC and any future subsidiaries of the Company), as borrowers, entered into a Guaranty and Security Agreement with LeBow Alpha LLP, as lender and the Grantors party thereto, dated November 3, 2011 (the Guaranty and Security Agreement), pursuant to which each borrower agreed to guaranty the obligations of each of the other borrowers under the Promissory Note and to grant, in favor of the lender, a security interest in the collateral (as defined in the Guaranty and Security Agreement) and to pledge in favor of the lender, the issued and outstanding equity of all classes, or pledged collateral, of each borrower as set forth in a schedule to the Guaranty and Security Agreement. This agreement contains customary representations and warrants and covenants, and standard events of default, including that a default under such agreement constitutes a default under the Promissory Note.
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Prior to the completion of the corporate conversion, all of our outstanding equity securities were issued in the form of units of Signal Genetics LLC.
In connection with the debt conversion, and assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, we will issue 2,365,743 Class C units (a new class of units to be designated by the Company) to Bennett LeBow. In connection with the subsequent corporate conversion, the outstanding Class A and Class C units will be converted into 181,818 shares and 2,365,743 shares, respectively, for an aggregate of 2,547,561 shares of common stock of Signal Genetics, Inc.
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Before this offering, there was no public market for our securities and a significant public market for our securities may not develop or be sustained after this offering. As described below, approximately 2,547,561 shares currently outstanding will not be available for sale immediately after this offering due to certain contractual and securities law restrictions on resale. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after these restrictions lapse could cause the prevailing market price to decline and limit our ability to raise equity capital in the future.
Upon completion of this offering, we will have outstanding an aggregate of 4,819,561 shares of common stock (5,160,361 shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). In addition, we have reserved:
| 722,401 shares for issuance upon the vesting of certain restricted stock unit awards to be issued to certain employees of the Company immediately prior to or simultaneously with this offering; and |
| 363,306 shares for future issuance under the new equity incentive plan we intend to adopt immediately prior to this offering. |
Of these shares, the 2,272,000 shares sold in this offering (2,612,800 shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) will be freely transferable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares that are acquired by affiliates as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (Rule 144). The remaining 2,547,561 shares of common stock held by existing stockholders are restricted securities, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if registered or if their resale qualifies for exemption from registration described below under Rule 144 or 701 promulgated under the Securities Act.
As a result of contractual restrictions described below and the provisions of Rules 144, the shares sold in this offering and the restricted securities will be available for sale in the public market as follows:
| the 2,272,000 shares sold in this offering (2,612,800 shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) will be eligible for immediate sale upon the completion of this offering; and |
| approximately 2,547,561 restricted shares will be eligible for sale in the public market upon expiration of lock-up agreements 180 days after the date of this prospectus, which date may be extended in specified circumstances, subject in certain circumstances to the volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rule 144 and Rule 701. |
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act for at least 90 days a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months, would be entitled to sell those shares, subject only to the availability of current public information about us. A non-affiliated person who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least one year would be entitled to sell those shares without regard to the availability of current public information about us.
An affiliate of ours who has beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock for at least twelve months (or six months, provided that such sale occurs after we have been subject to the reporting requirements under the Exchange Act for at least 90 days) would be entitled to sell, within any three-month period, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of (i) 1% of shares of our common stock then outstanding and (ii) the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale.
Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates or persons selling shares on behalf of our affiliates are also subject to manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and the availability of current public information about us.
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Under Rule 701, common stock acquired upon the exercise of certain currently outstanding options or pursuant to other rights granted under our stock plans may be resold, to the extent not subject to lock-up agreements, (a) by persons other than affiliates, beginning 90 days after the effective date of this offering, and (b) by affiliates, subject to the manner-of-sale, volume limitations, current public information and filing requirements of Rule 144, in each case, without compliance with the holding period requirement of Rule 144. The Rule 701 shares held by our executive officers, directors and substantially all of our stockholders are, however, subject to lock-up agreements and will only become eligible for sale upon the expiration of the contractual lock-up agreements. The underwriters may release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements.
In connection with this offering, our directors and officers and all other holders of our outstanding equity securities, on an as converted basis, will agree not to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, without the prior written consent of Aegis Capital Corp., for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions. See the section entitled Underwriting.
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The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. holders (as defined below) of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to the initial public offering. This discussion is not a complete analysis of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences and does not address any tax consequences arising under any state, local or foreign tax laws, any income tax treaties, or any other U.S. federal tax laws, including U.S. federal estate and gift tax laws (except as specifically addressed herein with respect to U.S. federal estate taxes). This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code), U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), all as in effect on the date of the initial public offering. These authorities may change, possibly retroactively, resulting in tax consequences different from those discussed below. No rulings have been or will be sought from the IRS with respect to the matters discussed below, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a different position regarding the tax consequences of a non-U.S. holders acquisition, ownership or disposition of our common stock or that any such position would not be sustained by a court.
This discussion is limited to non-U.S. holders who purchase our common stock pursuant to this offering and who hold our common stock as capital assets within the meaning of Code Section 1221 (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a non-U.S. holder in light of the holders particular circumstances. It also does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may be relevant to non-U.S. holders subject to special rules under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including, without limitation, U.S. expatriates, banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax, brokers, dealers or traders in securities, commodities or currencies, partnerships or other pass-through entities (or investors in such entities), tax-exempt organizations, tax-qualified retirement plans, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax or the unearned income Medicare contribution tax, and persons holding our common stock as part of a straddle, hedge or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment.
WE RECOMMEND THAT PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS, ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATIES, OR ANY OTHER U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS).
As used in this discussion, a non-U.S. holder is any beneficial owner of our common stock who is not treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and is not:
| an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
| a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
| an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
| a trust if (i) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all its substantial decisions or (ii) the trust was in existence on August 20, 1996, was treated as a U.S. person prior to that date and validly elected to continue to be so treated. |
If any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the
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partnership. Partnerships and their partners should consult their tax advisors as to the tax consequences to them of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock.
As described in the section entitled, Dividend Policy, we do not anticipate paying dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. If we make a distribution of cash or other property with respect to our common stock, the distribution generally will constitute a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and will first be applied against and reduce a holders adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain from the sale of property.
Dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock that are not effectively connected to the holders conduct of a U.S. trade or business generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends, or a lower rate specified by an applicable tax treaty. To receive the benefit of a reduced treaty rate, a non-U.S. holder must furnish to us or our paying agent a valid IRS Form W-8BEN (or applicable successor form) certifying the holders qualification for the reduced rate. A non-U.S. holder may be required to obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number to claim treaty benefits. This certification must be provided to us or our paying agent prior to the payment of dividends and may be required to be updated periodically. Non-U.S. holders that do not timely provide us or our paying agent with the required certification, but which qualify for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty.
If a non-U.S. holder holds our common stock in connection with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and dividends paid on the common stock are effectively connected with the holders U.S. trade or business and, if an income tax treaty applies, the non-U.S. holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which the dividends are attributable, the non-U.S. holder will be exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax, if the appropriate certification is provided. To claim the exemption for effectively connected income, the non-U.S. holder must furnish to us or our paying agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form) prior to the payment of the dividends. Any dividends paid on our common stock that are effectively connected with a non-U.S. holders U.S. trade or business generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates in the same manner as if the holder were a resident of the United States, unless the holder is entitled to the benefits of a tax treaty that provides otherwise. A non-U.S. holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or a lower rate specified by an applicable tax treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year that are attributable to such dividends. Non-U.S. holders should consult any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Subject to the discussions below regarding backup withholding and foreign accounts, a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of our common stock unless:
| the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holders conduct of a trade or business in the United States; |
| the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or |
| our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or the non-U.S. holders holding period for our common stock and certain other requirements are met. |
Unless an applicable tax treaty provides otherwise, gain described in the first bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates
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in the same manner as if the holder were a resident of the United States. Non-U.S. holders that are foreign corporations also may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or a lower rate specified by an applicable tax treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year that are attributable to such gain. Non-U.S. holders should consult any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Gains described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a flat 30% rate (or a lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), but may be offset by U.S. source capital losses.
With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not and will not become a U.S. real property holding corporation. However, because the determination of whether we are a U.S. real property holding corporation generally depends on whether the fair market value of our U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of our other trade or business assets and our worldwide real property interests, there can be no assurance that we will not become a U.S. real property holding corporation in the future. In the event we do become a U.S. real property holding corporation, as long as our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, our common stock will constitute a U.S. real property interest only with respect to a non-U.S. holder that actually or constructively holds more than five percent of our common stock at some time during the shorter of the five-year period preceding the disposition or the non-U.S. holders holding period for our common stock. Any taxable gain generally will be taxed in the same manner as gain that is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, except that the branch profits tax will not apply.
We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the amount of dividends on our common stock paid to the holder and the amount of any tax withheld with respect to those dividends. These information reporting requirements apply even if no withholding was required because the dividends were effectively connected with the holders conduct of a U.S. trade or business, or withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable tax treaty. This information also may be made available under a specific treaty or agreement with the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is established.
Backup withholding, currently at a rate of 28%, generally will not apply to payments of dividends to a non-U.S. holder of our common stock provided the non-U.S. holder furnishes to us or our paying agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status (typically, by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI) or an exemption is otherwise established.
Payment of the proceeds from a non-U.S. holders disposition of our common stock made by or through a foreign office of a broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding, except that information reporting (but generally not backup withholding) may apply to those payments if the broker does not have documentary evidence that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S. holder, an exemption is not otherwise established and the broker is:
| a U.S. person, as defined in the Code; |
| a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business for a specified three-year period; or |
| a foreign partnership if at any time during its tax year (1) one or more of its partners are U.S. persons who hold in the aggregate more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership or (2) it is engaged in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. |
Payment of the proceeds from a non-U.S. holders disposition of our common stock made by or through the U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the non-U.S. holder certifies as to its non-U.S. status (such as by providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8ECI) or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Taxpayers may use amounts withheld as a credit against their U.S. federal income tax liability or may claim a refund if they timely provide certain information to the IRS.
Shares of common stock held (or deemed held) by an individual who is a non-U.S. holder at the time of his or her death will be included in such non-U.S. holders gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise, and thus may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.
Legislation enacted in 2010 will generally impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on dividends and the gross proceeds of a disposition of our common stock paid after December 31, 2012 to a foreign financial institution (whether holding stock for its own account or on behalf of its account holders/investors) unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners). The legislation will also generally impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on dividends and the gross proceeds of a disposition of our common stock paid after December 31, 2012 to any other foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification identifying the direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity.
Recent administrative guidance provides, however, that such withholding would generally apply only to dividends paid on or after January 1, 2014, and to other withholdable payments (including payments of gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our common stock) made on or after January 1, 2017. Under certain circumstances, a holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. Prospective investors are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible impact of these rules on their investment in our common stock.
WE RECOMMEND THAT PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS, ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATIES, OR ANY OTHER U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS).
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The following description of our capital stock and the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the certificate of incorporation and the bylaws that will be in effect upon the closing of this offering. We have filed copies of these documents with the SEC as exhibits to our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The descriptions of the common stock and preferred stock reflect changes to our capital structure that will occur prior to and upon the closing of this offering.
Upon the closing of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.
As of the date of this prospectus, Signal Genetics LLC had issued and outstanding 72,500 Class A units and 41,088 Class B units (23,520 of which were unvested) held by 3 holders of record. Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, we will issue 2,365,743 Class C units to Mr. LeBow in connection with the debt conversion. As part of the corporate conversion, the outstanding Class A units and Class C units will be automatically converted into 181,818 shares and 2,365,743 shares, respectively, for an aggregate of 2,547,561 shares of common stock of Signal Genetics, Inc.
The following description summarizes the terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as in effect immediately following the closing of this offering, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Common stock outstanding. Assuming the debt conversion and corporate conversion are consummated, and assuming an initial public offering price of $11.00 per share, there will be no more than 4,819,561 shares of our common stock outstanding, immediately following the consummation of this offering, but assuming no exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option and no exercise of outstanding options or warrants.
Voting rights. The holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders, except on matters relating solely to terms of preferred stock.
Dividend rights. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. See Dividend Policy.
Rights upon liquidation. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock, if any, then outstanding.
Other rights. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.
Our board of directors has the authority to issue preferred stock in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion right, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any class or series, without further vote or action by the stockholders. Although we have no present plans to issue any other shares of preferred stock, the issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares, could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock, could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the common stock, and could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change of control of us or an unsolicited acquisition proposal.
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Please see Underwriting Representatives Warrants for a description of the warrants we have agreed to issue to the representative of the underwriters in this offering, subject to the completion of the offering. We expect to enter into a warrant agreement in respect of the Representatives Warrants prior to the closing of this offering.
The provisions of Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws described below may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us.
We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:
| before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder; |
| upon completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or |
| on or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
In general, Section 203 defines business combination to include the following:
| any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
| any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; |
| subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; |
| any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or |
| the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loss, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation. |
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that:
| the authorized number of directors can be changed only by resolution of our board of directors; |
| our bylaws may be amended or repealed by our board of directors or our stockholders; |
| stockholders may not call special meetings of the stockholders or fill vacancies on the board of directors; |
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| our board of directors will be authorized to issue, without stockholder approval, preferred stock, the rights of which will be determined at the discretion of the board of directors and that, if issued, could operate as a poison pill to dilute the stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer to prevent an acquisition that our board of directors does not approve; |
| our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, and therefore our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors; and |
| our stockholders must comply with advance notice provisions to bring business before or nominate directors for election at a stockholder meeting. |
We have shares of common stock and preferred stock available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may utilize these additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to facilitate corporate acquisitions or payment as a dividend on the capital stock.
The existence of unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock may enable our board of directors to issue shares to persons friendly to current management or to issue preferred stock with terms that could render more difficult or discourage a third-party attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, thereby protecting the continuity of our management. In addition, the board of directors has the discretion to determine designations, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences of each series of preferred stock, all to the fullest extent permissible under the Delaware General Corporation Law and subject to any limitations set forth in our certificate of incorporation. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to issue preferred stock and to determine the rights and preferences applicable to such preferred stock is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible financings, acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock.
Our certificate of incorporation, which will become effective upon the closing of this offering, limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for any:
| breach of their duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders; |
| act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
| unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or |
| transaction from which the directors derived an improper personal benefit. |
These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under the federal or state securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.
Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law, and may indemnify employees and other agents. Our bylaws also provide that we are obligated to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding.
We have obtained a policy of directors and officers liability insurance.
We plan to enter into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. These agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors and officers for any and all expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees, retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel
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expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such directors or officers or on his or her behalf in connection with any action or proceeding arising out of their services as one of our directors or officers, or any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request provided that such person follows the procedures for determining entitlement to indemnification and advancement of expenses set forth in the indemnification agreement. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might provide a benefit to us and our stockholders. Our results of operations and financial condition may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling us, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.
Our Bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors.
Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time only by the board of directors, the Chairman of the board of directors or our Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of a Chief Executive Officer, our President, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock.
Our stockholders may only remove directors for cause. Our board of directors may elect a director to fill a vacancy, including vacancies created by the expansion of the board of directors. This system of electing and removing directors may discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of our directors. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Generally, the amendment of our certificate of incorporation requires approval by our board of directors and a majority vote of stockholders. Any amendment to our bylaws requires the approval of either a majority of our board of directors or approval of at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of our outstanding capital stock in elections of our board of directors.
We have applied to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol SGNL.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is VStock Transfer, LLC. Its address is 77 Spruce Street, Suite 201, Cedarhurst, New York, 11516.
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Aegis Capital Corp. is acting as the representative of the underwriters of the offering. We have entered into an underwriting agreement dated [], 2014 with the representative. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to each underwriter named below and each underwriter named below has severally and not jointly agreed to purchase from us, at the public offering price per share less the underwriting discounts set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table:
Underwriters | Number of Shares | |||
Aegis Capital Corp. | ||||
Total | 2,272,000 |
The underwriters are committed to purchase all the shares of common stock offered by us other than those covered by the option to purchase additional shares described below, if they purchase any shares. The obligations of the underwriters may be terminated upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the underwriting agreement. Furthermore, pursuant to the underwriting agreement, the underwriters obligations are subject to customary conditions, representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, such as receipt by the underwriters of officers certificates and legal opinions.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, and to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions specified in the underwriting agreement. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Over-allotment Option. We have granted the underwriters an over-allotment option. This option, which is exercisable for up to 45 days after the date of this prospectus, permits the underwriters to purchase a maximum of 340,800 additional shares (15% of the shares sold in this offering) from us to cover over-allotments, if any. If the underwriters exercise all or part of this option, they will purchase shares covered by the option at the public offering price per share that appears on the cover page of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount. If this option is exercised in full, the total offering price to the public will be $ and the total net proceeds, before expenses, to us will be $ .
Discount. The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds, before expenses, to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their over-allotment option.
Per Share |
Total Without
Over-allotment Option |
Total With
Over-allotment Option |
||||||||||
Public offering price | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Underwriting discount (7%) | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||
Non-accountable expense allowance (1%) (1) | $ | $ | $ |
(1) | The expense allowance of 1% is not payable with respect to the shares sold upon exercise of the underwriters over-allotment option. |
The underwriters propose to offer the shares offered by us to the public at the public offering price per share set forth on the cover of this prospectus. In addition, the underwriters may offer some of the shares to other securities dealers at such price less a concession of $ per share. After the initial offering, the public offering price and concession to dealers may be changed.
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We have paid an aggregate expense deposit of $50,000 to the representative for out-of-pocket-accountable expenses, which will be applied against the non-accountable expense allowance that will be paid by us to the underwriters in connection with this offering. The underwriting agreement, however, provides that in the event the offering is terminated, the $50,000 expense deposit paid to the representative will be returned to the extent such out-of-pocket accountable expenses are not actually incurred in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(C).
We have also agreed to pay the underwriters expenses relating to the offering, including (a) all Public Offering Systems filing fees associated with the review of the offering by FINRA; (b) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of our officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per individual, but no more than $15,000 in the aggregate; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of the shares of common stock under the blue sky securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the representative may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of blue sky counsel, it being agreed that such fees and expenses will be limited as follows: if the Offering is commenced on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board, the Company will make a payment of up to $15,000 to such counsel upon the commencement of blue sky work by such counsel and an additional payment of $5,000 to such counsel at Closing to cover such counsels fees and expenses; (d) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the Underwriting Agreement, any blue sky surveys and, if appropriate, any agreement among underwriters, selected dealers agreement, underwriters questionnaire and power of attorney), registration statements, prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final prospectuses as the representative may reasonably deem necessary; (e) the costs (up to $3,000) associated with bound volumes of the public offering materials as well as commemorative mementos and lucite tombstones; (f) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of securities offered under the securities laws of foreign jurisdictions designated by the underwriters; (g) the $21,775 cost associated with the use of Ipreos book-building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for this offering; and (h) upon successful completion of this offering, up to $20,000 of the representatives actual accountable road show expenses for the offering.
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the total underwriting discount, will be approximately $1,700,000.
Discretionary Accounts . The underwriters do not intend to confirm sales of the securities offered hereby to any accounts over which they have discretionary authority.
Lock-Up Agreements. We, our directors and executive officers and substantially all of our other stockholders expect to enter into lock up agreements with the representative prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, for a period of six months from the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part without the prior written consent of the representative, agree not to (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock owned or acquired on or prior to the closing date of this offering (including any shares of common stock acquired after the closing date of this offering upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of such securities); (2) file or caused to be filed any registration statement relating to the offering of any shares of our capital stock; or (3) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1), (2) or (3) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except for certain exceptions and limitations.
Representatives Warrants. We have agreed to issue to the representative warrants to purchase up to a total of 113,600 shares of common stock (5% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering, excluding the over-allotment). The warrants will be exercisable at any time, and from time to time, in whole or in part, during the four-year period commencing one year from the effective date of the offering, which period shall not extend further than five years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA
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Rule 5110(f)(2)(H)(i). The warrants are exercisable at a per share price equal to $ per share, or 125% of the public offering price per share in the offering. The warrants have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to a 180 day lock-up pursuant to Rule 5110(g)(1) of FINRA. The representative (or permitted assignees under Rule 5110(g)(1)) will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge, or hypothecate these warrants or the securities underlying these warrants, nor will they engage in any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of the warrants or the underlying securities for a period of 180 days from the effective date of the offering. In addition, the warrants provide for registration rights upon request, in certain cases. In addition, the warrants provide for registration rights upon request, in certain cases. The demand registration right provided will not be greater than five years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(H)(iv). The piggyback registration right provided will not be greater than seven years from the effective date of the offering in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(H)(v). We will bear all fees and expenses attendant to registering the securities issuable on exercise of the warrants other than underwriting commissions incurred and payable by the holders. The exercise price and number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrant exercise price or underlying shares will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below the warrant exercise price.
Right of First Refusal . Subject to certain limited exceptions, until twelve months from the effective date of the offering, the Representative has a right of first refusal to act as sole-booking running manager for each and every future public and private equity and public debt offerings during such twelve (12) month period of our company or any successor to or any subsidiary of our company.
NASDAQ Capital Market Listing . We have applied for the listing of our common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol SGNL.
Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Securities. A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters or selling group members, if any, participating in this offering and one or more of the underwriters participating in this offering may distribute prospectuses electronically. The representative may agree to allocate a number of shares and warrants to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the underwriters and selling group members that will make internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on these websites is not part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.
Determination of the Initial Public Offering Price . Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price was determined through negotiations between us and the representative of the underwriters. In addition to prevailing market conditions, the factors considered in determining the initial public offering price included the following:
| the information included in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representative; |
| the valuation multiples of publicly traded companies that the representative believes to be comparable to us; |
| our financial information; |
| our prospects and the history and the prospects of the industry in which we compete; |
| an assessment of our management, its past and present operations, and the prospects for, and timing of, our future revenues; |
| the present state of our development; and |
| the above factors in relation to market values and various valuation measures of other companies engaged in activities similar to ours. |
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An active trading market for our common stock may not develop. It is also possible that, after the offering, the shares will not trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.
Stabilization . In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate-covering transactions, penalty bids and purchases to cover positions created by short sales.
Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase shares so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum, and are engaged in for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the shares while the offering is in progress.
Over-allotment transactions involve sales by the underwriters of shares in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase. This creates a syndicate short position that may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of shares that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any short position by exercising their over-allotment option and/or purchasing shares in the open market.
Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of shares in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared with the price at which they may purchase shares through exercise of the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more shares than could be covered by exercise of the over-allotment option and, therefore, have a naked short position, the position can be closed out only by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that after pricing there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the shares originally sold by that syndicate member are purchased in stabilizing or syndicate covering transactions to cover syndicate short positions.
These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our shares or common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our shares or common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock in the open market may be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of these transactions. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. These transactions may be effected on The NASDAQ Capital Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Passive market making . In connection with this offering, underwriters and selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in our common stock on The NASDAQ Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of the shares and extending through the completion of the distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market makers bid, then that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded.
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the
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offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
This prospectus is not a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act, has not been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act. Accordingly, (i) the offer of the securities under this prospectus is only made to persons to whom it is lawful to offer the securities without disclosure under Chapter 6D of the Australian Corporations Act under one or more exemptions set out in section 708 of the Australian Corporations Act, (ii) this prospectus is made available in Australia only to those persons as set forth in clause (i) above, and (iii) the offeree must be sent a notice stating in substance that by accepting this offer, the offeree represents that the offeree is such a person as set forth in clause (i) above, and, unless permitted under the Australian Corporations Act, agrees not to sell or offer for sale within Australia any of the securities sold to the offeree within 12 months after its transfer for the offeree under this prospectus.
The information in this document does not constitute a public offer of the securities, whether by way of sale or subscription, in the Peoples Republic of China (excluding, for purposes of this paragraph, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region and Taiwan). The securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to legal or natural persons other than directly to qualified domestic institutional investors.
The information in this document has been prepared on the basis that all offers of common stock will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Directive 2003/71/EC (Prospectus Directive), as implemented in Member States of the European Economic Area (each, a Relevant Member State), from the requirement to produce a prospectus for offers of securities.
An offer to the public of common stock has not been made, and may not be made, in a Relevant Member State except pursuant to one of the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive as implemented in that Relevant Member State:
| to legal entities that are authorized or regulated to operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities; |
| to any legal entity that has two or more of (i) an average of at least 250 employees during its last fiscal year; (ii) a total balance sheet of more than €43,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statements) and (iii) an annual net turnover of more than €50,000,000 (as shown on its last annual unconsolidated or consolidated financial statement); |
| to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2(1)I of the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the company or any underwriter for any such offer; or |
| in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of common stock shall result in a requirement for the publication by the company of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. |
This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offering of financial securities ( offre au public de titres financiers ) in France within the meaning of Article L.411-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code ( Code monétaire et financier ) and Articles 211-1 et seq. of the General Regulation of the French Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). The common stock has not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.
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This document and any other offering material relating to the common stock has not been, and will not be, submitted to the AMF for approval in France and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in France.
Such offers, sales and distributions have been and shall only be made in France to (i) qualified investors ( investisseurs qualifiés ) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-1 to D.411-3, D. 744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation and/or (ii) a restricted number of non-qualified investors ( cercle restreint dinvestisseurs non-qualifiés ) acting for their own account, as defined in and in accordance with Articles L.411-2-II-2° and D.411-4, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code and any implementing regulation.
Pursuant to Article 211-3 of the General Regulation of the AMF, investors in France are informed that the common stock cannot be distributed (directly or indirectly) to the public by the investors otherwise than in accordance with Articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 to L.621-8-3 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.
The information in this document does not constitute a prospectus under any Irish laws or regulations and this document has not been filed with or approved by any Irish regulatory authority as the information has not been prepared in the context of a public offering of securities in Ireland within the meaning of the Irish Prospectus (Directive 2003/71/EC) Regulations 2005 (the Prospectus Regulations). The common stock has not been offered or sold, and will not be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectly in Ireland by way of a public offering, except to (i) qualified investors as defined in Regulation 2(l) of the Prospectus Regulations and (ii) fewer than 100 natural or legal persons who are not qualified investors.
The common stock offered by this prospectus have not been approved or disapproved by the Israeli Securities Authority (the ISA), or ISA, nor have such common stock been registered for sale in Israel. The shares and warrants may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Israel, absent the publication of a prospectus. The ISA has not issued permits, approvals or licenses in connection with the offering or publishing the prospectus; nor has it authenticated the details included herein, confirmed their reliability or completeness, or rendered an opinion as to the quality of the common stock being offered. Any resale in Israel, directly or indirectly, to the public of the common stock offered by this prospectus is subject to restrictions on transferability and must be effected only in compliance with the Israeli securities laws and regulations.
The offering of the common stock in the Republic of Italy has not been authorized by the Italian Securities and Exchange Commission ( Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa , CONSOB pursuant to the Italian securities legislation and, accordingly, no offering material relating to the common stock may be distributed in Italy and such securities may not be offered or sold in Italy in a public offer within the meaning of Article 1.1(t) of Legislative Decree No. 58 of 24 February 1998 (Decree No. 58), other than:
| to Italian qualified investors, as defined in Article 100 of Decree no. 58 by reference to Article 34-ter of CONSOB Regulation no. 11971 of 14 May 1999 (Regulation no. 1197l) as amended (Qualified Investors); and |
| in other circumstances that are exempt from the rules on public offer pursuant to Article 100 of Decree No. 58 and Article 34-ter of Regulation No. 11971 as amended. |
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Any offer, sale or delivery of the common stock or distribution of any offer document relating to the common stock in Italy (excluding placements where a Qualified Investor solicits an offer from the issuer) under the paragraphs above must be:
| made by investment firms, banks or financial intermediaries permitted to conduct such activities in Italy in accordance with Legislative Decree No. 385 of 1 September 1993 (as amended), Decree No. 58, CONSOB Regulation No. 16190 of 29 October 2007 and any other applicable laws; and |
| in compliance with all relevant Italian securities, tax and exchange controls and any other applicable laws. |
Any subsequent distribution of the common stock in Italy must be made in compliance with the public offer and prospectus requirement rules provided under Decree No. 58 and the Regulation No. 11971 as amended, unless an exception from those rules applies. Failure to comply with such rules may result in the sale of such common stock being declared null and void and in the liability of the entity transferring the common stock for any damages suffered by the investors.
The common stock has not been and will not be registered under Article 4, paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948), as amended (the FIEL) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements applicable to a private placement of securities to Qualified Institutional Investors (as defined in and in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 3 of the FIEL and the regulations promulgated thereunder). Accordingly, the common stock may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan other than Qualified Institutional Investors. Any Qualified Institutional Investor who acquires common stock may not resell them to any person in Japan that is not a Qualified Institutional Investor, and acquisition by any such person of common stock is conditional upon the execution of an agreement to that effect.
This document is not being distributed in the context of a public offer of financial securities ( oferta pública de valores mobiliários ) in Portugal, within the meaning of Article 109 of the Portuguese Securities Code ( Código dos Valores Mobiliários ). The common stock has not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal. This document and any other offering material relating to the common stock has not been, and will not be, submitted to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission ( Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários ) for approval in Portugal and, accordingly, may not be distributed or caused to distributed, directly or indirectly, to the public in Portugal, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to qualify as a public offer under the Portuguese Securities Code. Such offers, sales and distributions of common stock in Portugal are limited to persons who are qualified investors (as defined in the Portuguese Securities Code). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.
This document has not been, and will not be, registered with or approved by Finansinspektionen (the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority). Accordingly, this document may not be made available, nor may the common stock be offered for sale in Sweden, other than under circumstances that are deemed not to require a prospectus under the Swedish Financial Instruments Trading Act (1991:980) (Sw. lag (1991:980) om handel med finansiella instrument ). Any offering of common stock in Sweden is limited to persons who are qualified investors (as defined in the Financial Instruments Trading Act). Only such investors may receive this document and they may not distribute it or the information contained in it to any other person.
The common stock may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in
117
Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the common stock may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor any other offering material relating to the common stock has been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of common stock will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
This document is personal to the recipient only and not for general circulation in Switzerland.
Neither this document nor the common stock have been approved, disapproved or passed on in any way by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates, nor have we received authorization or licensing from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates or any other governmental authority in the United Arab Emirates to market or sell the common stock within the United Arab Emirates. This document does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of an offer or invitation. No services relating to the common stock, including the receipt of applications and/or the allotment or redemption of such shares, may be rendered within the United Arab Emirates by us.
No offer or invitation to subscribe for common stock is valid or permitted in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
Neither the information in this document nor any other document relating to the offer has been delivered for approval to the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom and no prospectus (within the meaning of section 85 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (FSMA)) has been published or is intended to be published in respect of the common stock. This document is issued on a confidential basis to qualified investors (within the meaning of section 86(7) of FSMA) in the United Kingdom, and the common stock may not be offered or sold in the United Kingdom by means of this document, any accompanying letter or any other document, except in circumstances that do not require the publication of a prospectus pursuant to section 86(1) FSMA. This document should not be distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part, nor may its contents be disclosed by recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom.
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of FSMA) received in connection with the issue or sale of the common stock has only been communicated or caused to be communicated and will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in the United Kingdom in circumstances in which section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to us.
In the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed at, persons (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (FPO), (ii) who fall within the categories of persons referred to in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth companies, unincorporated associations, etc.) of the FPO or (iii) to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated (together relevant persons). The investments to which this document relates are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to purchase will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.
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The validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Reed Smith LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Blank Rome LLP, New York, New York.
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2013 included in the Registration Statement have been so included in reliance on the report of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, (the report on the financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Companys ability to continue as a going concern) appearing in the Registration Statement, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of common stock we are offering to sell. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not include all of the information contained in the registration statement and the exhibits, schedules and amendments to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement and to the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus about the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference.
You may read and copy the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at the SECs public reference room, which is located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549. You can request copies of the registration statement by writing to the Securities and Exchange Commission and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the SECs public reference room. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet website, which is located at http://www.sec.gov , that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You may access the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part at the SECs Internet website. Upon completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.
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CD138+ | A cell surface marker identified through flow cytometry and bead-based cell sorting. | |
CE MARKING | A mandatory conformity marking for certain products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA) since 1995. | |
CMS | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; a U.S. federal agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid and the Childrens Health Insurance Program. | |
CLIA | Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988; federal regulatory standards that apply to all clinical laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States. | |
CYTOGENETICS | The branch of biology linking the study of genetic inheritance with the study of cell structure, especially for human chromosome analysis for the detection of inheritable diseases. | |
FISH | Fluorescence in situ Hybridization; a molecular cytogenetic technique that is used to detect chromosomal aberrations that include deletions, amplifications and translocations; DNA FISH probes are fluorescently labeled segments of DNA that are complementary to specific sequences on a chromosome. | |
HITECH | Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. | |
INDUCTION THERAPY | Treatment designed to be used as a first step toward shrinking the cancer and in evaluating response to drugs and other agents. Induction therapy is followed by additional therapy to eliminate whatever cancer remains. | |
KARYOTYPING | A laboratory technique whereby the chromosomes from one cell are visualized under a microscope to investigate the total number and structure of the chromosomes. Cells are obtained from an individual and are viewed during metaphase, a stage in cell division when chromosomes are condensed. The chromosomes are stained with a dye (Giemsa), resulting in a banding pattern of light and dark stripes, known as G-banding. The patterns are specific, allowing the viewer to identify each chromosome. | |
LDTs | Laboratory Developed Tests; assays developed in the laboratory for diagnostic or prognostic purposes. | |
LYSIS | The disintegration of a cell by rupture of the cell wall or membrane. | |
MCTRJCA | Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. | |
MIPPA | Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. | |
PMA | Pre-Market Approval; the FDA process of scientific and regulatory review to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Class III medical devices. | |
PPACA | Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. | |
RNA | Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins, although in some viruses RNA rather than DNA carries the genetic information. |
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F-1
Board of Directors and Members
Signal Genetics LLC
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Signal Genetics LLC and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 and the related consolidated statements of operations, members deficiency, and cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2013. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Signal Genetics LLC and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of two years in the period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has a net capital deficiency that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Managements plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
New York, New York
March 18, 2014
F-2
December 31,
2013 |
December 31,
2012 |
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash | $ | 209,348 | $ | 112,534 | ||||
Restricted cash | 50,180 | 50,086 | ||||||
Accounts receivable | 994,010 | 1,195,599 | ||||||
Inventory | 356,641 | 169,539 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 444,369 | 129,625 | ||||||
Current assets of discontinued operations | | 6,125 | ||||||
Total current assets | 2,054,548 | 1,663,508 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net | 928,026 | 1,071,572 | ||||||
Deferred issuance costs | 655,018 | | ||||||
Security deposits | 35,034 | 45,582 | ||||||
$ | 3,672,626 | $ | 2,780,662 | |||||
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS DEFICIENCY
|
||||||||
Current liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | 689,716 | $ | 814,854 | ||||
Note payable current portion | 42,046 | 61,387 | ||||||
Note payable related party | 26,568,554 | 22,525,942 | ||||||
Current liabilities of discontinued operations | | 200,000 | ||||||
Total current liabilities | 27,300,316 | 23,602,183 | ||||||
Note payable | | 42,046 | ||||||
Lease abandonment payable | 259,345 | 578,799 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies
|
||||||||
Members deficiency | (23,887,035 | ) | (21,442,366 | ) | ||||
$ | 3,672,626 | $ | 2,780,662 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31,
2013 |
December 31,
2012 |
|||||||
Net revenue | $ | 4,316,484 | $ | 4,406,042 | ||||
Operating expenses:
|
||||||||
Cost of revenue | 2,498,940 | 3,042,184 | ||||||
Selling and marketing | 378,769 | 1,325,245 | ||||||
General and administrative | 1,788,141 | 2,907,947 | ||||||
Research and development | 96,847 | 225,378 | ||||||
Lease abandonment | | 932,287 | ||||||
Gain on legal settlement | (250,000 | ) | | |||||
Total operating expenses | 4,512,697 | 8,433,041 | ||||||
Operating loss | (196,213 | ) | (4,026,999 | ) | ||||
Interest expense | (1,963,456 | ) | (1,591,341 | ) | ||||
Loss from continuing operations | (2,159,669 | ) | (5,618,340 | ) | ||||
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax benefit of $0 | | (1,592,945 | ) | |||||
Net loss | (2,159,669 | ) | (7,211,285 | ) | ||||
Dividend to member unit holder of Myeloma Health LLC | (285,000 | ) | (390,000 | ) | ||||
Net loss attributable to member of Signal Genetics LLC | $ | (2,444,669 | ) | $ | (7,601,285 | ) | ||
Basic and diluted net loss per unit:
|
||||||||
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to member of Signal Genetics LLC | $ | (27.20 | ) | $ | (68.40 | ) | ||
Net loss from discontinued operations attributable to member of Signal Genetics LLC | | (18.13 | ) | |||||
Net loss attributable to member of Signal Genetics LLC | $ | (27.20 | ) | $ | (86.53 | ) | ||
Average units outstanding basic and diluted | 89,891 | 87,847 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
Class A Units | Class B Units | Amount | ||||||||||
Balance January 1, 2012 | 72,500 | 31,030 | $ | (13,519,036 | ) | |||||||
Net loss | | | (7,211,285 | ) | ||||||||
Equity incentive compensation | | 22,725 | 7,955 | |||||||||
Cancellation of unvested equity incentive units | | (12,667 | ) | | ||||||||
Distributions | | | (720,000 | ) | ||||||||
Balance December 31, 2012 | 72,500 | 41,088 | (21,442,366 | ) | ||||||||
Net loss | | | (2,159,669 | ) | ||||||||
Distributions | | | (285,000 | ) | ||||||||
Balance December 31, 2013 | 72,500 | 41,088 | $ | (23,887,035 | ) |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31,
2013 |
December 31,
2012 |
|||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
Net loss | $ | (2,159,669 | ) | $ | (7,211,285 | ) | ||
Net loss from discontinued operations | | (1,592,945 | ) | |||||
Net loss from continuing operations | (2,159,669 | ) | (5,618,340 | ) | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss from continuing operations to net cash used in operating activities: | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 148,315 | 144,289 | ||||||
Equity incentive compensation expense | | 7,955 | ||||||
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | | 11,871 | ||||||
Non-cash interest on note payable related party | 1,936,881 | 1,560,270 | ||||||
Lease abandonment | | 932,287 | ||||||
Gain on legal settlement | (250,000 | ) | | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts receivable | 201,589 | (369,579 | ) | |||||
Inventory | (187,102 | ) | 166,392 | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (64,744 | ) | (33,470 | ) | ||||
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses | (279,734 | ) | (1,294,809 | ) | ||||
Lease abandonment payable | (319,454 | ) | (76,856 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities of discontinued operations | (193,875 | ) | (1,654,812 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in operating activities | (1,167,793 | ) | (6,224,802 | ) | ||||
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Purchases of property and equipment | (4,769 | ) | (106,913 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment | | 19,300 | ||||||
Increase in restricted cash | (94 | ) | (86 | ) | ||||
Decrease (Increase) in security deposits | 10,548 | (31,734 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | 5,685 | (119,433 | ) | |||||
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
|
||||||||
Cash transferred into a restricted account | | (50,000 | ) | |||||
Distributions | (285,000 | ) | (720,000 | ) | ||||
Repayment of note payable | (61,387 | ) | (59,427 | ) | ||||
Payments for deferred issuance costs | (500,422 | ) | | |||||
Proceeds from note payable related party | 12,566,183 | 6,635,000 | ||||||
Repayment of note payable related party | (10,460,452 | ) | | |||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 1,258,922 | 5,805,573 | ||||||
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH | 96,814 | (538,662 | ) | |||||
CASH:
|
||||||||
Beginning of period | 112,534 | 651,196 | ||||||
End of period | $ | 209,348 | $ | 112,534 |
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
Signal Genetics LLC (the Company) was originally formed as Myeloma Health LLC, in January 2010. Effective January 1, 2011 with the formation of Signal Genetics LLC, substantially all the members interests in Myeloma Health LLC were exchanged for members interests in Signal Genetics LLC and Myeloma Health LLC became a wholly-owned subsidiary. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, all intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The Company is a commercial stage, molecular diagnostic company focused on providing innovative diagnostic services that help physicians make better-informed decisions concerning the care of their patients suffering from cancer. In 2010 the Company became the exclusive licensee to the research on multiple myeloma (MM) performed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Myeloma Prognostic Risk Signature (MyPRS®) is based upon more than two decades of clinical research on nearly 10,000 MM patients who received their care at UAMS. The Company currently generates revenues from the performance of MyPRS® diagnostic tests, which was launched in April 2011.
Since its inception, the Company has devoted substantial effort in developing its product and has incurred losses and negative cash flows from operations, and at December 31, 2013 has a members deficiency of approximately $23,887,000. All financial support to-date has been provided by the majority member (see Note 7). The Company is forecasting continued losses and negative cash flows as it funds its selling and marketing activities and research and development programs.
These factors raise substantial doubt about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. The Companys ability to successfully continue is primarily dependent upon continued support from the majority member. In addition, the Company expects to seek additional financing and/or strategic investments. However, there can be no assurance that any additional financing or strategic investments will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. If events or circumstances occur such that the Company does not obtain additional funding, the Company will most likely be required to reduce certain discretionary spending, which could have a material adverse effect on the Companys ability to achieve its intended business objectives. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might be necessary if the Company is unable to continue as a going concern.
Use of Estimates The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in the Companys consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates in these financial statements have been made for revenue, depreciation of property and equipment and equity incentive compensation. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Cash The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity at date of purchase of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Companys cash is currently comprised only of cash on hand and deposits in banks. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had approximately $50,000 in a restricted cash account that was held as cash collateral against an outstanding letter of credit for security on a lease.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Company records accounts receivable net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company estimates an allowance for doubtful accounts based on the aging of the accounts receivable and the historical collection experience since the Companys inception for each type of payor. The Company has not had any bad debts from any of its contracted or noncontracted insurance companies, therefore there is no allowance for doubtful accounts recorded as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.
F-7
Inventory Inventory, which consists entirely of finished goods, is valued at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.
Property and Equipment Property and equipment is carried at cost. Expenditures for major additions and betterments are capitalized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Depreciation and amortization are calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from three to ten years. Upon sale or retirement of property and equipment, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is reflected in operations.
Long Lived Assets The Company reviews long-lived assets, consisting of property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable based on undiscounted cash flows. If long-lived assets are impaired, an impairment loss is recognized and is measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. No impairment charges were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.
Revenue Recognition Revenues that are derived from testing services are recognized in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (FASB ASC) 605, Revenue Recognition , which requires that four basic criteria be met before revenue can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred and title and the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the client or services have been rendered; (3) the price is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. The Company records revenues when the tests have confirmed results which are evidence that the services have been performed.
Revenues are recorded on an accrual basis as the contractual obligations are completed and as a set of assays is processed through our laboratory under a specified contractual protocol. Revenues are billed to various payors, including Medicare, contracted insurance companies, directly billed customers (UAMS, pharmaceutical companies, reference laboratories and hospitals) and non-contracted insurance companies. The Company reports revenues from Medicare, contracted insurance companies and directly billed customers based on the contractual rate. The contractual rate is based on established agreed upon rates between the Company and the respective payor and is the price invoiced by the Company. The Company reports revenues from non-contracted insurance companies based on the amount expected to be collected which is based on the historical collection experience of each payor or payor group, as appropriate. The difference between the amount billed and the amount estimated to be collected from non-contracted insurance companies is recorded as a contractual allowance at the same time the revenue is recognized, to arrive at reported net revenue. The Company does not record revenue from individuals for billings, deductibles or co-pays until cash is collected; as collectability is not assured at the time services are provided, therefore there are no accounts receivable from self-payors. Gross revenues from individuals have been immaterial. The Companys estimates of net revenue for non-contracted insurance companies are subject to change based on the contractual status and payment policies of the third-party payors with whom we deal. The Company regularly refines our estimates in order to make our estimated revenue as accurate as possible based on our most recent collection experience with each third-party payor. The Company regularly reviews our historical collection experience for non-contracted payors and adjusts our expected revenues for current and subsequent periods accordingly.
F-8
The table below shows the adjustments made to gross revenues to arrive at net revenues, the amount reported on our statements of operations:
Year Ended | ||||||||
December 31,
2013 |
December 31,
2012 |
|||||||
Gross revenues | $ | 5,090,739 | $ | 6,378,242 | ||||
Less: Contractual allowances | 774,225 | 1,972,200 | ||||||
Net revenues | $ | 4,316,484 | $ | 4,406,042 |
Contractual allowances recorded during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 represented approximately 15% and 31%, respectively, of gross revenues. The decrease in the percentage was primarily due to the increased revenues to direct-billed customers which increased to approximately 67% of gross revenues during the year ended December 31, 2013 from approximately 52% of gross revenues during the year ended December 31, 2012.
Cost of Revenue Cost of revenue represents the cost of materials, direct labor, costs associated with processing specimens including pathological review, quality control analyses, and delivery charges necessary to render an individualized test result. Costs associated with performing tests are recorded as the tests are processed.
License Fees The Company has licensed technology for patents for uses of a gene expression profiling (GEP) assay called MyPRS® and its related technology. Under the terms of the license agreement, the Company is required to pay a fee and royalties to UAMS. The license fees are calculated as a fixed percentage of the net revenue received from third parties that the Company generates by using this technology. The Company accrues for such license fees when incurred which is based on when revenue is collected. Such license fees are included in selling and marketing expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Selling and Marketing Expenses The Companys selling and marketing consist primarily of sales commissions and support costs, salaries and related employee benefits, travel, license fees and marketing costs.
General and Administrative Expenses The Companys general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries and related employee benefits, professional service fees, associated travel costs and depreciation and amortization expense.
Advertising costs The Company markets its services through its advertising activities in trade publications and on the internet. Advertising costs are included in selling and marketing expenses on the statements of operations and are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were approximately $1,000 and $67,000, respectively.
Research and Development The Company expenses costs associated with research and development activities as incurred. Research and development costs primarily include laboratory supplies, reagents and consulting costs. To date, the Company has not included an allocation of any indirect costs in research and development.
Income Taxes The Company is a limited liability company which is not a tax paying entity at the corporate level. Each member is instead individually responsible for their share of the Companys income or loss for income tax reporting purposes. Net operating losses incurred by the Company as of December 31, 2013 have been used by the members to offset gains on other interests and are therefore not able to be carried forward to the Company.
F-9
Applicable accounting guidance requires that a position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return be recognized in the financial statements when it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. A recognized tax position is then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Accounting provisions also require that a change in judgment that results in subsequent recognition, derecognition, or change in a measurement of a tax position taken in a prior annual period (including any related interest and penalties) be recognized as a discrete item in the period in which the change occurs. The Company regularly evaluates the likelihood of recognizing the benefit for income tax positions taken in various federal and state filings by considering all relevant facts, circumstances, and information available.
The Company classifies any interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense.
Equity Incentive Compensation The Company accounts for equity incentive compensation in accordance with FASB ASC 718, Stock Compensation . Equity incentive compensation expense for all equity-based compensation awards granted is based on the grant-date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718. The Company recognizes these compensation costs on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally the vesting period.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments The Companys management believes the carrying amounts of cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term maturity. The fair value of the note payable related party cannot be reasonably estimated as a result of the related party arrangement. The present value of the note payable at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $42,000 and $103,000, respectively.
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information and of Non-Cash Financing Transactions During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company paid approximately $1,209,000 and $20,000, respectively, in interest. Of the total paid in 2013 $1,182,000 was paid to related parties (see Note 7). In addition, at December 31, 2013, there are deferred issuance costs of approximately $155,000 included in accounts payable and accrued expenses.
Segment Reporting The Company operates as one segment.
Reclassification Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2012 financial statements to conform to the 2013 presentation.
Concentration of Credit Risk, Major Customers and Suppliers Cash is maintained at one financial institution and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits. The Company has never experienced any losses related to these balances.
During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had one major customer, UAMS. Revenue sourced either from or through UAMS accounted for approximately 83% and 86%, respectively, of net revenue. Accounts receivable sourced either from or through UAMS at December 31, 2013 and 2012 accounted for approximately 62% and 85%, respectively.
Inventory used in the Companys testing process is procured from one supplier. Any supply interruption or an increase in demand beyond the suppliers capabilities could have an adverse impact on the Companys business. Management believes it can identify alternative sources, if necessary, but it is possible such sources may not be identified in sufficient time to avoid an adverse impact on its business.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Other than as disclosed below, we have reviewed all recently issued standards and have determined they will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or do not apply to our operations.
F-10
In July 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-07, Health Care Entities (Topic 954): Presentation and Disclosure of Patient Service Revenue, Provision for Bad Debts, and the Allowance for Doubtful Accounts for Certain Heath Care Entities which requires certain health care entities to record the provision for bad debts associated with patient service revenue as a deduction from patient service revenue (net of contractual allowances and discounts). Additionally, those entities are required to provide enhanced disclosures about their policies for recognizing revenue and assessing bad debts. For nonpublic entities, the amendments were effective for the first annual period ending after December 15, 2012 with early adoption permitted and the presentation should be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented. The Company has adopted this guidance retrospectively in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.
In May 2011, the Company formed a new wholly-owned subsidiary, CC Health LLC, that on June 28, 2011 entered into and consummated the transactions contemplated by an Asset Purchase Agreement (the Purchase Agreement) with Diagnocure US, GP and Diagnocure Inc. (collectively, the Sellers), pursuant to which the Company purchased various assets relating to a clinical research study. During 2011, the Company further assessed the developmental stage of the studies and determined that the technology was not as far developed as originally believed. Management weighed the expected costs that would need to be incurred and the time period that would be involved to complete development and in early 2012, determined to discontinue the studies and instead concentrate on the Companys core business. Therefore at December 31, 2011, the Company impaired the remaining assets and began unwinding outstanding contracts pertaining to the CC Health LLC business. Operations were completely closed in the second quarter of 2012.
All operations related to CC Health LLC have been classified as discontinued operations in the accompanying statements of operations. Revenue included in discontinued operations was approximately $99,000for the year ended December 31, 2012. For the year ended December 31, 2012 the net loss from discontinued operations was approximately $1,593,000.
The remaining assets of discontinued operations consisted of accounts receivable as of December 31, 2012 and the remaining liabilities of discontinued operations consisted of accounts payable and accrued expenses as of December 31, 2012.
Property and equipment at December 31, 2013 and 2012, consists of the following:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Computer and lab equipment | $ | 1,320,091 | $ | 1,315,622 | ||||
Furniture and fixtures | 12,550 | 12,250 | ||||||
Leasehold improvements | 6,439 | 6,439 | ||||||
1,339,080 | 1,334,311 | |||||||
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization | 411,054 | 262,739 | ||||||
$ | 928,026 | $ | 1,071,572 |
Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $148,000 and $144,000, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company has incurred approximately $655,000 of direct costs related to the anticipated public offering of the Companys common stock. These costs have been recorded as a long-term asset until the related transactions are complete, at which time they will be treated as a reduction of the proceeds.
F-11
Accounts payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2013 and 2012, consists of the following:
2013 | 2012 | |||||||
Accounts payable | $ | | $ | 26,665 | ||||
Salaries and related taxes | 76,409 | | ||||||
Current portion of lease abandonment payable | 319,454 | 303,716 | ||||||
Legal fees | 48,415 | 249,167 | ||||||
Consulting | | 155,833 | ||||||
Deferred issuance costs | 154,596 | | ||||||
Other | 90,842 | 79,473 | ||||||
$ | 689,716 | $ | 814,854 |
Note Payable The Company has acquired certain property and equipment through the issuance of a note payable totaling approximately $182,000. The note is payable in thirty-six monthly installments of $5,320 through August 2014. The present value of the note payable at December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $42,000 and $103,000, respectively. The effective interest rate of the notes during 2013 and 2012 was 3.4%. The Company has collateralized the notes with the related equipment, which had a net book value of approximately $305,000 and $345,000 at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and is included in computer and lab equipment (see Note 4).
Note Payable Related Party During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company has been loaned the net amount of approximately $2,106,000 and $6,635,000, respectively, to support operations by its majority member through various entities owned by him. The notes bear interest at 8% compounded quarterly and are due on demand. Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $1,937,000 and $1,560,000, respectively, and has been accrued and included in the balance reflected on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the member loaned the Company approximately $10,461,000 which was used to repay interest of approximately $1,182,000 and principal of $9,279,000 to the other entities. These notes have the same terms as described above. All the notes are collateralized by substantially all assets of the Company. As of March 18, 2014, the total amount of indebtedness (including principal and interest) under the notes is $27,023,171.
In January 2011, the Company issued 29,500 units to three employees in connection with equity incentive agreements, 20,000 of the units vested in six month increments beginning with 33% in July 2011 and then 16% through July 2013, 7,500 of the units vested in six month increments beginning with 33% in April 2011 and then 16% through April 2013 and 2,000 of the units vested 25% on the first anniversary and then in thirty-six monthly increments through March 2016. All of these individuals were terminated during 2012 and their vested units (totaling 16,833) were repurchased by the majority member. The remaining unvested units (12,667) were cancelled. In December 2011, the Company issued 1,530 units to another employee in connection with an equity incentive agreement. The units vest 25% on the first anniversary and then in thirty-six monthly increments through December 2014.
In October 2012, the Company issued 22,725 units to the Chief Executive Officer which were subject to a performance condition, the Company closing a funding of at least $25 million. Once achieved, the units vest 33% upon the closing and then 16% every six months thereafter. Since the likelihood of achieving the performance condition on the grant date was not deemed probable, no equity incentive compensation had been recorded related to these units. On October 9, 2013, this equity incentive agreement was modified to reduce the funding target to $15 million which is deemed probable however the grant was determined to have a diminimus grant-date fair value.
F-12
All of the above units were recorded based upon their fair value on the date of grant and the weighted-average grant-date fair value of the units issued. The Company expensed approximately $8,000 during the year ended December 31, 2012 related to the 2011 grants. The unrecognized expense as of December 31, 2013 is diminimus.
LLC Agreement The Companys operating agreement defines the rights and obligations of its members. The members of the Company are not obligated personally for any debt, obligation or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a member. Upon liquidation of the Company, the assets of the Company will be distributed first to creditors, including notes payable to members, and then to the members as described below. The Company has authorized 100,000 Class A units and 50,000 Class B units. The Class B units consist entirely of equity incentive units (see Note 8) and are considered a profits interest. Upon liquidation, distributions will first be returned to Class A unit holders to the extent of their unreturned contribution account ($2,000,000) and then pro rata to all members. All units are entitled to one vote. Dissolution of the LLC will occur upon the earlier of a date approved by the members or December 31, 2060.
Distributions Distributions of $285,000 and $390,000 during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, were made to a member interest unit holder in Myeloma Health LLC, a subsidiary of the Company. The distribution was covered by a dividend made by the Company to Myeloma Health LLC.
Net Loss Per Unit The Company calculates net loss per unit in accordance with FASB ASC 260, Earnings Per Share. Basic net loss per unit is computed by dividing the net loss for the period by the weighted average number of units of members interests outstanding for the period. Diluted net loss per unit is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted average number of units of members interests and dilutive unit equivalents then outstanding. Unit equivalents consist of equity incentive units.
At December 31, 2013 and 2012, 23,520 and 24,255 equity incentive units were excluded from basic and diluted net loss per unit since they had not yet vested and due to the net loss incurred during the respective years.
Operating Leases The Company leases a laboratory and office facility under non-cancellable operating lease agreements, which expires in March 2014. The Company is currently in discussions with the landlord and intends to renew this lease for another annual period on the same terms. At December 31, 2013, the future minimum rental commitment under the operating lease excluding the abandoned lease described below is approximately as follows:
2014 | $ | 19,000 |
Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 was approximately $76,000 and $256,000, respectively. Of these totals for the year ended December 31, 2012, approximately $182,000 was included in discontinued operations. In addition, certain administrative functions are performed at an office location leased by the majority member at no charge to the Company. No amount has been charged for these functions as it is not deemed reasonable to estimate.
Lease Abandonment During the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded costs associated with an operating lease for which it had abandoned the use of the related property and has been unsuccessful in subleasing of approximately $932,000 which represented the present value of the remaining payments due under the lease. In the determination of such liability, the Company has taken into account a termination clause in the lease whereby they can terminate the lease after August 2015 as well as no estimated sublease income due to the Companys inability to date to sublet such space. At December 31, 2013 and 2012, the total liability is approximately $579,000 and $883,000, respectively. At December 31, 2013, the remaining
F-13
payments under the lease agreement consist of monthly installments ranging from approximately $27,000 $28,000 through August 2015.
Services Agreement The Company has entered into a systems and services agreement with a third party to assist with collections from customers which originally expired in February 2013 and was renewed until February 2014. The agreement contains automatic one year renewals, unless termination notice is given by either party. The Company pays $10,000 per month under the agreement.
Licensing Agreement The Company has entered into a licensing agreement with UAMS for the exclusive use of patents used in the GEP assay, MyPRS® and its related technology through April 2020. The agreement is effective through the earlier of the expiration of the related patents or termination of the agreement pursuant to its terms. The Company may terminate the agreement for any reason upon ninety days written notice. UAMS may terminate the agreement with ninety days written notice upon a material breach of the agreement by the Company or if the Company challenges the validity of any licensed patent in a court of competent jurisdiction. Under the terms of the license agreement, the Company is required to pay $30,000 in annual minimum royalty fees on sales to customers other than UAMS unless sales, as defined in the agreement, exceed certain thresholds in which case the additional royalty fee would range from 2% 4%. Total royalty fee expense, including that to UAMS and one-time charges, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 were approximately $30,000 and $85,000, respectively.
Employment Agreements The Company has employment contracts with two individuals, which provide for annual base salaries and potential bonuses. These contracts contain certain change of control, termination and severance clauses that require the Company to make payments to certain of these employees if certain events occur as defined in their respective contracts.
Letters of Credit At December 31, 2013, the Company was contingently liable for a standby letter of credit issued by a commercial bank for $50,000, for security on a lease. The Company has approximately $50,000 in a restricted cash account that is held as cash collateral for the letter of credit.
Cost-Containment Measures Both government and private pay sources have instituted cost-containment measures designed to limit payments made to providers of health care services, which include diagnostic test providers such as the Company, and there can be no assurance that future measures designed to limit payments made to providers will not adversely affect the Company.
Litigation The Company is, from time to time, involved in legal proceedings, regulatory actions, claims and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. As of December 31, 2013, the Company is not a defendant in any lawsuits.
Litigation Settlement In August 2013, the Company settled a suit in which they were the plaintiff for a tortuous interference claim regarding a potential acquisition and agreed to settle for a payment of at least $350,000. Of the total, $250,000 is to be paid no later than January 2014 and $100,000 is to be paid no later than January 2015. In addition if the defendants have made sales of their technology by the end of 2015, the Company will also be paid the lesser of 10% of the total sales as of the end of 2015 or $100,000. This payment is due to be received in January 2016. As of December 31, 2013, the Company recorded a receivable in prepaid expenses and other current assets and the related gain for the $250,000 which was received in January 2014. The Company has not recorded the remaining future payments as either a receivable or gain as of December 31, 2013 due to the uncertainty surrounding the gain contingency. The remaining gain will be recorded when the cash is collected.
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued.
F-14
, 2014
Until , 2014 (25 days after commencement of this offering), all dealers that buy, sell or trade shares of our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the obligation of dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
The following table sets forth all expenses to be paid by the registrant, other than estimated underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with our public offering. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the NASDAQ listing fee:
SEC registration fee | $ | 4,259 | ||
FINRA filing fee | 5,459 | |||
NASDAQ listing fee | 50,000 | |||
Legal fees and expenses | 600,000 | |||
Accounting fees and expenses | 300,000 | |||
Transfer agent and registrars fees and expenses | 10,000 | |||
Printing and engraving expenses | 100,000 | |||
Miscellaneous expenses | 630,282 | |||
Total | $ | 1,700,000 |
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes a court to award, or a corporations board of directors to grant, indemnity to directors and officers in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities, including reimbursement for expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.
Our certificate of incorporation provides for indemnification of our directors and executive officers to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, and our bylaws provide for indemnification of our directors and executive officers to the maximum extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law.
We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements will require us to indemnify these individuals to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law against liabilities that may arise by reason of their service to us and to advance expenses incurred as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. We also intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our future directors and executive officers.
In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us, within the meaning of the Securities Act, against certain liabilities.
During the last three years, we have issued unregistered securities to the persons described below. None of these transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. We believe that each transaction was exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering. The recipients both had access, through their relationship with us, to information about us.
In December 2011, we issued 1,530 Class B units, which are subject to time vesting conditions, to Dr. Van Laar, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement with the Company.
In October 2012, we issued 22,725 Class B units, as incentive units, to Mr. Riccitelli, pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement with the Company.
Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, we will issue 2,365,743 Class C units (a new class of units to be designated by the Company).
We intend to convert $26,023,171 aggregate principal amount of debt into an aggregate of 2,365,743 Class C units (a new class of units to be designated by the Company), or the debt conversion, prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement. The issuance of Class C units in the debt conversion will be exempt
II-1
from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of the exemption provided under Section 3(a)(9) as the exchange will be made by us with our existing security holders exclusively and no commission or other remuneration will be paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange. The issuance of common stock will also be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.
Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, we will convert from a Delaware limited liability company into a Delaware corporation, or the corporate conversion. At the time of the corporate conversion, all of the outstanding Class A and Class C units of Signal Genetics LLC will be automatically converted into an aggregate of 2,547,561 shares of our common stock. The issuance of common stock to our members in the corporate conversion will be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of the exemption provided under Section 3(a)(9) thereof as the common stock will be exchanged by us with our existing security holders exclusively and no commission or other remuneration will be paid or given directly or indirectly for soliciting such exchange. The issuance of common stock will also be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering.
We also intend to issue up to 722,401 shares pursuant to restricted stock units awards to be granted immediately prior to this offering. The issuance of these securities will also be exempt from registration under the Securities Act by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) thereof as a transaction not involving a public offering or Rule 701 promulgated under Section 3(b) of the Securities Act as a transaction pursuant to a compensatory benefit plan or contract relating to compensation.
The exhibits listed in the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this registration statement.
(a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement. |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
(2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
(4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser |
II-2
in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
(i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (§230.424 of this chapter); |
(ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
(f) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser. |
(h) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
(i) | The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that: |
(1) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
(2) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
II-3
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of New York, State of New York, on , 2014.
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC.
By: |
/s/ Samuel D. Riccitelli
Name: Samuel D. Riccitelli Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
We, the undersigned officers and directors of Signal Genetics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, hereby severally constitute and appoint Samuel D. Riccitelli, our true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as full to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature | Title | Date | ||
/s/ Samuel D. Riccitelli
Samuel D. Riccitelli |
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer) |
March 18, 2014 | ||
/s/ Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson |
Chief Accounting Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
March 18, 2014 | ||
/s/ Bennett S. LeBow
Bennett S. LeBow |
Chairman of the Board of Directors | March 18, 2014 |
Exhibit
Number |
Description of Exhibit | |
1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |
3.1 | Certificate of Formation of Signal Genetics LLC. | |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Signal Genetics LLC, dated as of January 1, 2011. | |
3.3 | First Amendment to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Signal Genetics LLC, dated as of January 27, 2011. | |
3.4* | Form of Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement. | |
3.5 | Form of Certificate of Incorporation of Signal Genetics, Inc. | |
3.6 | Form of Bylaws of Signal Genetics, Inc. | |
4.1 | Specimen Common Stock Certificate. | |
5.1* | Opinion of Reed Smith LLP. | |
10.1 | Assignment of Membership Interests between LeBow Alpha LLLP and Signal Genetics LLC, dated January 1, 2011. | |
10.2 | License Agreement between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Myeloma Health LLC, dated April 1, 2010. | |
10.2.1 | Letter Agreement between Signal Genetics LLC (f/k/a Myeloma Health, LLC), dated April 1, 2010. | |
10.3 | First Amendment to License Agreement between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Myeloma Health LLC, dated September 1, 2010. | |
10.3.1 | Letter Agreement between Signal Genetics LLC (f/k/a Myeloma Health, LLC), dated February 25, 2014. | |
10.4 | Second Amendment to License Agreement between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Myeloma Health LLC, dated September 14, 2010. | |
10.5 | Third Amendment to License Agreement between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Myeloma Health LLC, dated October 2011. | |
10.6 | Fourth Amendment to License Agreement between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Myeloma Health LLC, dated December 1, 2011. | |
10.7 | Reference Laboratory Services Agreement between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Clinical Laboratory and Signal Genetics LLC, dated March 21, 2011. | |
10.8 | Reference Laboratory Services Agreement for Research Specimens between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Myeloma Institute for Research Therapy and Signal Genetics LLC, dated March 21, 2011. | |
10.9 | Amended and Restated Secured Demand Promissory Note between Signal Genetics LLC, Myeloma Health LLC, Respira Health LLC and CC Health LLC and LeBow Alpha LLLP, dated December 11, 2013. | |
10.10 | Guaranty and Security Agreement between Signal Genetics LLC, Myeloma Health LLC, Respira Health LLC and CC Health LLC and LeBow Alpha LLLP, dated November 3, 2011. | |
10.11 | Employment Agreement between Signal Genetics LLC and Samuel D. Riccitelli, dated October 31, 2012. | |
10.12 | Incentive Units Agreement between Signal Genetics LLC and Samuel D. Riccitelli, dated October 31, 2012. | |
10.13 | Amendment to Employment Agreement and Incentive Units Agreement between Signal Genetics LLC and Samuel D. Riccitelli, dated October 9, 2013. | |
10.14 | Form of Indemnification Agreement between Signal Genetics, Inc. and each of its directors and executive officers. | |
10.15 | Form of 2014 Stock Incentive Plan. |
Exhibit
Number |
Description of Exhibit | |
10.16* | Form of Exchange Agreement. | |
10.17* | Form of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Signal Genetics, Inc. and Samuel D. Riccitelli. | |
21.1 | Subsidiaries of Signal Genetics, Inc. | |
23.1 | Consent of BDO USA, LLP. | |
23.2 | Consent of Reed Smith LLP (See Exhibit 5.1 above). | |
24.1 | Power of Attorney (Included in the signature page of this Registration Statement). | |
99.1 | Consent of director appointee to serve on board of directors (David A. Gonyer, R. Ph.). | |
99.2 | Consent of director appointee to serve on board of directors (Douglas A. Schuling). | |
99.3 | Consent of director appointee to serve on board of directors (Robin L. Smith, M.D.). |
* | To be filed by amendment. |
| Confidential treatment requested as to portions of the exhibit. Confidential materials omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
Exhibit 1.1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
between
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC.
and
AEGIS CAPITAL CORP.,
as Representative of the Several Underwriters
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
[_________], 2014
Aegis Capital Corp.
As Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 attached hereto
810 Seventh Avenue, 18 th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Signal Genetics, Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Company ”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “ Agreement ”) with Aegis Capital Corp. (hereinafter referred to as “ you ” (including its correlatives) or the “ Representative ”) and with the other underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such other underwriters being collectively called the “ Underwriters ” or, individually, an “ Underwriter ”) as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Shares.
1.1 Firm Shares.
1.1.1 Nature and Purchase of Firm Shares.
(i) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of [_________] shares (the “ Firm Shares ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”).
(ii) The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1 attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price of $[___] per Firm Share (93% of the per Firm Share offering price). The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof).
1.1.2 Firm Shares Payment and Delivery.
(i) Delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the third (3 rd ) Business Day following the effective date (the “ Effective Date ”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) (or the fourth (4 th ) Business Day following the Effective Date if the Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:01 p.m., Eastern time) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Blank Rome LLP, 405 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10174 (“ Representative Counsel ”), or at such other place (or remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “ Closing Date .”
(ii) Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of the certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”)) for the account of the Underwriters. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all of the Firm Shares. The term “ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York, New York.
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1.2 Over-allotment Option.
1.2.1 Additional Shares. The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters an option (the “ Over-allotment Option ”) to purchase up to an additional [________] shares of Common Stock, representing up to 15% of the Firm Shares sold in the Offering (the “ Additional Shares ”), for the purpose of covering over-allotment of such securities, if any. The purchase price to be paid per Additional Share shall be equal to the price per Firm Share set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter referred to together as the “ Public Securities ”. The offering and sale of the Public Securities is herein referred to as the “ Offering ”.
1.2.2 Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Additional Shares within 45 days after the Effective Date. The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any Additional Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which shall be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission, setting forth the number of Additional Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Additional Shares (the “ Option Closing Date ”), which shall not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of Representative Counsel or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Additional Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Additional Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters the number of Additional Shares specified in such notice and (ii) each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, shall purchase that portion of the total number of Additional Shares then being purchased that the number of Firm Shares as set forth in Schedule 1 opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representative, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
1.2.3 Payment and Delivery . Payment for the Additional Shares shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Additional Shares (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Additional Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Additional Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for applicable Additional Shares. The Option Closing Date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the Closing Date, the term “ Closing Date ” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and Additional Shares.
1.3 Representative’s Warrants .
1.3.1 Purchase Warrants . The Company hereby agrees to issue and sell to the Representative (and/or its designees) on the Closing Date an option (“ Representative’s Warrant ”) for the purchase of an aggregate of [_______] shares of Common Stock (which is equal to an aggregate of 5% of the Firm Shares sold in the Offering), for an aggregate purchase price of $100.00. The Representative’s Warrant agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Representative’s Warrant Agreement ”), shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, commencing on a date which is one (1) year after the Effective Date and expiring on the five-year anniversary of the Effective Date at an initial exercise price per share of Common Stock of $[___], which is equal to 125% of the public offering price of each Firm Share. The Representative’s Warrant Agreement and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof are sometimes hereinafter referred to together as the “ Representative’s Securities .” The Representative understands and agrees that there are significant restrictions pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 against transferring the Representative’s Warrant Agreement and the underlying shares of Common Stock during the one hundred eighty (180) days after the Effective Date and by its acceptance thereof shall agree that it will not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or hypothecate the Representative’s Warrant Agreement, or any portion thereof, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities for a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the Effective Date to anyone other than (i) an Underwriter or a selected dealer in connection with the Offering, or (ii) a bona fide officer or partner of the Representative or of any such Underwriter or selected dealer; and only if any such transferee agrees to the foregoing lock-up restrictions.
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1.3.2 Delivery . Delivery of the Representative’s Warrant Agreement shall be made on the Closing Date and shall be issued in the name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration Statement .
2.1.1 Pursuant to the Securities Act . The Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement, and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (File No. [_________]), including any related prospectus or prospectuses, for the registration of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “ Securities Act Regulations ”) and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement became effective (including the Preliminary Prospectus included in the registration statement, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of the Effective Date pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A of the Securities Act Regulations (the “ Rule 430A Information ”)), is referred to herein as the “ Registration Statement .” If the Company files any registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, then after such filing, the term “ Registration Statement ” shall include such registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b). The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission on the date hereof.
Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “ Preliminary Prospectus .” The Preliminary Prospectus, subject to completion, dated [_________], 2014, that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time is hereinafter called the “ Pricing Prospectus .” The final prospectus in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in the Offering is hereinafter called the “ Prospectus .” Any reference to the “most recent Preliminary Prospectus” shall be deemed to refer to the latest Preliminary Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.
“ Applicable Time ” means [_____] [a.m. / p.m.], Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement.
“ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act Regulations (“ Rule 433 ”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) relating to the Public Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Public Securities or of the Offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
“ Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “ bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 (the “ Bona Fide Electronic Road Show ”)), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule 2-B hereto.
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“ Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus ” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
“ Pricing Disclosure Package ” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Pricing Prospectus and the information included on Schedule 2-A hereto, all considered together.
2.1.2 Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed with the Commission a Form 8-A (File No. [___________]) providing for the registration pursuant to Section 12(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), of the shares of Common Stock; and such Form 8-A has become effective under the Exchange Act. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the shares of Common Stock under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.
2.2 Stock Exchange Listing. The shares of Common Stock have been approved for listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market (the “ NasdaqCM ”), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, delisting the shares of Common Stock from the NasdaqCM, nor has the Company received any notification that the NasdaqCM is contemplating terminating such listing, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.3 No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to institute, any proceedings with respect to such an order. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.
2.4 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.4.1 Compliance with Securities Act and 10b-5 Representation.
(i) Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus, including the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Prospectus, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this Offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date (if any), contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading.
(iii) The Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, as of the date of this Agreement, at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date (if any), did not, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus, and each such Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Pricing Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists solely of the following disclosure contained in the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus: (a) the second sentence of the second paragraph under the heading “Discounts” and (b) the first sentence under the heading “Stabilization” (collectively, the “ Underwriters’ Information ”).
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(iv) Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to the Underwriters’ Information.
2.4.2 Disclosure of Agreements . The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which either the Company or any Subsidiary (as defined below) is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental or regulatory agency, body or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or business (each, a “ Governmental Entity ”), including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.4.3 Prior Securities Transactions . Since January 1, 2012, no securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Preliminary Prospectus.
2.4.4 Regulations . The disclosures in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and all foreign laws, rules and regulations relating to the Company’s business as currently conducted or contemplated are correct and complete in all material respects and no other such laws, rules or regulations are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which are not so disclosed.
2.4.5 No Other Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the Offering other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and other materials, if any, permitted under the Securities Act and consistent with Section 3.2 below.
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2.5 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.5.1 No Material Adverse Change . Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, nor any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Change ”); (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company or any Subsidiary, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) no officer or director of the Company or any Subsidiary has resigned from any position with the Company or any Subsidiary.
2.5.2 Recent Securities Transactions, etc . Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities, other than shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of then outstanding options, warrants and convertible securities; (ii) incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money ; or (iii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.
2.6 Independent Accountants . To the knowledge of the Company, BDO USA, LLP (the “ Auditor ”), whose report is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Auditor has not, during the periods covered by the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
2.7 Financial Statements, etc . The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate and do not include certain information and footnote disclosure required by GAAP). Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information and the related notes, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and present fairly the information shown therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission), if any, comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. Each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, (c) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company, (d) other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the Company’s prior policies, made any grants under any stock compensation plan, and (e) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt.
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2.8 Authorized Capital; Options, etc . The Company had, at the date or dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth therein. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date , as of the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, there will be no stock options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company or any security convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell shares of Common Stock or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.9 Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.9.1 Outstanding Securities . All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no contractual rights of rescission or put rights with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or rights of participation of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized shares of Common Stock conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange such securities for shares of the Common Stock were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or “blue sky” laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such shares of Common Stock, exempt from such registration requirements.
2.9.2 Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement . The Public Securities and Representative’s Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities and Representative’s Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities and Representative’s Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities and Representative’s Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Representative’s Warrant Agreement has been duly and validly taken; the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representative’s Warrant have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when paid for and issued in accordance with the Representative’s Warrant and the Representative’s Warrant Agreement, such underlying shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and such shares of Common Stock are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company.
2.10 Registration Rights of Third Parties . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any options, warrants, rights or other securities exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Securities Act or to include any such securities in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement to be filed by the Company.
2.11 Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrant Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
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2.12 No Conflicts, etc . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Representative’s Warrant Agreement and all ancillary documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or as to which any property of the Company or any Subsidiary is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (as the same have been amended or restated from time to time, the “ Charter ”) or the by-laws of the Company or the formation documents of any Subsidiary (as the same may be amended or restated from time to time); or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Entity as of the date hereof (including, without limitation, those promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the “ FDA ”) or by any foreign, state or local Governmental Entity performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA), except in the cases of clauses (i) and (iii) for such breaches, conflicts or violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.
2.13 No Defaults; Violations . No material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is (i) in violation of any term or provision of its Charter or by-laws, or (ii) in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any Governmental Entity, except in the cases of clause (ii) for such violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.
2.14 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.14.1 Conduct of Business . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each of the Company and each Subsidiary has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, qualifications, registrations and permits (collectively, the “ Authorizations ”) of and from all Governmental Entities that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.14.2 Transactions Contemplated Herein . The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all Authorizations required in connection therewith have been obtained. No Authorization of, and no filing with, Governmental Entity is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Public Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement and the Representative’s Warrant Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”).
2.15 D&O Questionnaires . To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “ Questionnaires ”) completed by each of the Company’s directors, officers and principal shareholders immediately prior to the Offering (the “ Insiders ”) as supplemented by all information concerning the Company’s directors, officers and principal shareholders as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided to the Underwriters is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to become inaccurate and incorrect in any material respect.
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2.16 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings . There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, any executive officer or director of the Company which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or in connection with the Company’s listing application for the listing of the Public Securities on the NasdaqCM which is required to be disclosed.
2.17 Good Standing . Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify, singularly or in the aggregate, would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
2.18 Insurance . Each of the Company and each Subsidiary carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance (including, without limitation, as to directors and officers insurance coverage), with reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks which the Company believes are adequate, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
2.19 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.19.1 Finder’s Fees . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider or Subsidiary with respect to the sale of the Public Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.19.2 Payments Within Six (6) Months . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) any FINRA member; or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the six (6) months prior to the initial filing of the Registration Statement, other than the payment to the Underwriters as provided hereunder in connection with the Offering.
2.19.3 Use of Proceeds . None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.19.4 FINRA Affiliation . There is no (i) officer or director of the Company, (ii) beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180-day period immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement that is an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).
2.19.5 Information . All information provided by the Company in its FINRA questionnaire to Representative Counsel specifically for use by Representative Counsel in connection with its Public Offering System filings (and related disclosure) with FINRA is true, correct and complete in all material respects.
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2.20 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company nor any other person acting on behalf of the Company, has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company or any Subsidiary (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company or any Subsidiary to any material damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a Material Adverse Change or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary. Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company and each Subsidiary to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
2.21 Compliance with OFAC . Neither the Company, any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company nor any other person acting on behalf of the Company, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
2.22 Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and each Subsidiary are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
2.23 Forward-Looking Statements . No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in either the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
2.24 Officers’ Certificate . Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to Representative Counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.25 Lock-Up Agreements . Schedule 3 hereto contains a complete and accurate list of each of the Company’s officers, directors and each owner of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock) (collectively, the “ Lock-Up Parties ”). The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Representative an executed Lock-Up Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Lock-Up Agreement ”), prior to the execution of this Agreement.
2.26 Subsidiaries . The Company owns the membership interests in the following corporations, partnerships, limited liability partnerships, limited liability companies, associations or other entities: Myeloma Health LLC, Respira Health LLC and CC Health LLC (each a “ Subsidiary ” and collectively, the “ Subsidiaries ”). The Company has no other interest, nominal or beneficial, direct or indirect, in any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or other business entity. All of the outstanding membership interests of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, except to the extent set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, are owned by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any claim, lien, encumbrance, security interest, restriction upon voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, no director, officer, or key employee of the Company named in the Prospectus holds any direct equity, debt or other pecuniary interest in any Subsidiary or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any Person with whom the Company or any Subsidiary does business or is in privity of contract with, other than, in each case, indirectly through the ownership by such individuals of shares of Common Stock.
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2.27 Related Party Transactions.
2.27.1 Business Relationships . There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any Subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
2.27.2 No Unconsolidated Entities . There are no transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structure finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources required to be described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein which have not been described as required.
2.27.3 No Loans or Advances to Affiliates . There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.28 Board of Directors . The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus captioned “Management.” The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “ Exchange Act Regulations ”), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) applicable to the Company and the listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. At least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as “independent,” as defined under the listing rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC.
2.29 Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance.
2.29.1 Disclosure Controls . The Company has developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures that comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations, and such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents.
2.29.2 Compliance . The Company is, or at the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefor) with all of the material provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
2.30 Accounting Controls . The Company maintains systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations ) that comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are known to the Company’s management and that have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the ability of the Company to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud known to the Company’s management, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
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2.31 No Investment Company Status . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is and, after giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will be, required to register as an “investment company,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.32 No Labor Disputes . No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent. The Company is not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any Subsidiary plans to terminate employment with the Company or any Subsidiary.
2.33 Intellectual Property Rights . The Company owns or possesses or has valid rights in certain patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, software, databases, know-how, internet domain names, other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary confidential information systems, processes or procedures and similar rights (“ Intellectual Property Rights ”) relating to the conduct of the business of the Company as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. We have no reason to believe that the Intellectual Property license described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not valid, binding upon and enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company necessary for the conduct of its business as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will involve or give rise to any infringement of any Intellectual Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice alleging any such infringement, fee or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change, to the knowledge of the Company (A) there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company or any Subsidiary; (B) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary in or to any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts that would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.33, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (C) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and each Subsidiary and the Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company and each Subsidiary have not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts that would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.33, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (D) there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any Subsidiary infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other facts that would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.33, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and (E) no employee of the Company or any Subsidiary is in or has ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company or any Subsidiary and could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change. To the Company’s knowledge, all material technical information developed by and belonging to the Company or any Subsidiary that has not been patented or published has been kept confidential. To the Company’s knowledge, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described therein. The Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus contain in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence. To the Company’s knowledge, none of the technology employed by the Company or any Subsidiary has been obtained or is being used by the Company or any Subsidiary in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, officers, directors or employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.
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2.34 Taxes . Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such Subsidiary. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters, (i) no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or any Subsidiary, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or any Subsidiary. There are no material tax liens against the assets, properties or business of the Company or of any Subsidiary. The term “ taxes ” means all federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “ returns ” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.
2.35 Compliance with Environmental Laws . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, (i) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “ Hazardous Materials ”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ), (ii) each of the Company and each Subsidiary has all material permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with their requirements, (iii) there are no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any Subsidiary and (iv) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.
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2.36 ERISA Compliance . The Company, each Subsidiary and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ ERISA ”)) established or maintained by the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ ERISA Affiliate ” means, with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “ Code ”) of which the Company or any Subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification. The execution of this Agreement, or consummation of the Offering does not constitute a triggering event under any employee benefit plan or any other employment contract, whether or not legally enforceable, which (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent event) will or may result in any payment (of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration, increase in vesting, or increase in benefits to any current or former participant, employee or director of the Company or any Subsidiary other than an event that is not material to the financial condition or business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
2.37 Compliance with Laws . Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, each of the Company and each Subsidiary: (A) has operated and currently operates its business in substantial compliance with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the Company or any Subsidiary (“ Applicable Laws ”); (B) has not received any written notices, statements or other correspondence or notice from the FDA or any foreign, state or local Governmental Entity performing functions similar to the FDA or any other Governmental Entity alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any Authorizations; (C) possesses all material Authorizations and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (D) has not received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any Governmental Entity or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority or third party is threatening any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (E) has not received written notice that any Governmental Entity has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority is threatening such action; and (F) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct in all material respects on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission).
2.38 Smaller Reporting Company . As of the time of filing of the Registration Statement, the Company was a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act Regulations.
2.39 Industry Data . The statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.
2.40 Margin Securities . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns any “margin securities” as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ Federal Reserve Board ”), and none of the proceeds of the Offering will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security, for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the shares of Common Stock to be considered a “purpose credit” within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
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2.41 Clinical Studies . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has sponsored or financed any pre-clinical or clinical trials. All the trials referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus were investigator initiated trials. The Company has not received any written notices or statements from the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (“ EMA ”) or any other Governmental Entity imposing, requiring, requesting or suggesting a clinical hold, termination, suspension or material modification for or of any clinical or preclinical study. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any applications pending at the FDA.
2.42 Integration . Neither the Company, nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the Offering to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act.
2.43 Title to Real and Personal Property . Each of the Company and each Subsidiary has good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property that are material to the business of the Company and each Subsidiary, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, claims and defects that do not, singularly or in the aggregate, materially affect the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and do not interfere with the use made of such property by the Company or such Subsidiary; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and each Subsidiary, and under which the Company or any Subsidiary holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are, to the Company’s knowledge, in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of any material claim of any sort that have been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, which would result in a Material Adverse Change.
2.44 Confidentiality and Non-Competitions . To the Company’s knowledge, no director, officer, key employee or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject to any confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer that could materially affect his ability to be and act in his respective capacity of the Company or such Subsidiary or be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
2.45 Corporate Records . The minute books of the Company have been made available to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, and such books (i) contain minutes of all material meetings and actions of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders of the Company, and (ii) reflect all material transactions referred to in such minutes.
2.46 Emerging Growth Company. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly in or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”). “ Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act.
2.47 Testing-the-Waters Communications. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has (i) alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the written consent of the Representative and with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company confirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule 2-C hereto. “ Written Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
2.48 Electronic Road Show. The Company has made available a Bona Fide Electronic Road Show in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) of the Securities Act Regulations such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h) of the Securities Act Regulations) is required in connection with the Offering.
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3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration Statement . The Company shall deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2 Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1 Compliance . The Company, subject to Section 3.2.2, shall comply with the requirements of Rule 430A of the Securities Act Regulations, and will notify the Representative promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed; (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities and Representative’s Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the Registration Statement; and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the Offering of the Public Securities and Representative’s Securities. The Company shall effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and shall take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
3.2.2 Continued Compliance . The Company shall comply with the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Public Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“ Rule 172 ”), would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Public Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will 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; (ii) amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative notice of such event; (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Company will give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Date and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
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3.2.3 Exchange Act Registration . For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act, provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company. The Company shall not deregister any of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company.
3.2.4 Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it shall not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representative shall be deemed to have consented to each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representative. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Underwriters as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
3.2.5 Testing-the-Waters Communications. If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly notify the Representative and shall promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
3.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Registration Statements . The Company has delivered or made available or shall deliver or make available to the Representative and counsel for the Representative, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
3.4 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses . The Company has delivered or made available or will deliver or make available to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
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3.5 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Representative . The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus for at least nine (9) months after the Applicable Time, and shall notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.5 that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in (a) the Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (b) in the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.6 Review of Financial Statements. For a period of five (5) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent registered public accounting firm to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the three fiscal quarters immediately preceding the announcement of any quarterly financial information, provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company.
3.7 Non-Reliance on NASDAQ Controlled Company Exemptions . In the event that, after the Closing, the Company is classified as a “controlled company” under the corporate governance rules for NASDAQ-listed companies and is entitled to rely upon exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements of NASDAQ pursuant to such classification, for a period of two (2) years after the Effective Date, the Company will not rely on such exemptions.
3.8 Listing . The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain the listing of the Common Stock (including the Public Securities) on the NasdaqCM for at least three years from the date of this Agreement; provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company.
3.9 Financial Public Relations Firm . As of the Effective Date, the Company shall have retained a financial public relations firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative and the Company, which shall initially be [__________], which firm shall be experienced in assisting issuers in initial public offerings of securities and in their relations with their security holders, and shall retain such firm or another firm reasonably acceptable to the Representative for a period of not less than two (2) years after the Effective Date; provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company.
3.10 Reports to the Representative .
3.10.1 Periodic Reports, etc . For a period of three (3) years after the Effective Date, at the Representative’s request, the Company shall furnish to the Representative copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of any class of its securities and also promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission under the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations; (ii) a copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company; (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K prepared and filed by the Company; (iv) five copies of each registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act; (v) a copy of each report or other communication furnished to stockholders and (vi) such additional documents and information with respect to the Company and the affairs of any future subsidiaries of the Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request; provided the Representative shall sign, if requested by the Company, a Regulation FD compliant confidentiality agreement which is reasonably acceptable to the Representative and Representative Counsel in connection with the Representative’s receipt of such information. Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its EDGAR system or otherwise publicly filed or made available shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.10.1.
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3.10.2 Transfer Agent; Transfer Sheets . For a period of three (3) years after the Effective Date, the Company shall retain a transfer agent and registrar acceptable to the Representative (the “ Transfer Agent ”) and shall furnish to the Representative at the Company’s sole cost and expense such transfer sheets of the Company’s securities as the Representative may reasonably request, including the daily and monthly consolidated transfer sheets of the Transfer Agent and DTC; provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company. VStock Transfer LLC is acceptable to the Representative to act as Transfer Agent for the shares of Common Stock.
3.10.3 Trading Reports . For a period of three (3) years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall provide to the Representative, at the Company’s expense, such reports published by NasdaqCM relating to price trading of the Public Securities, as the Representative shall reasonably request; provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company.
3.11 Payment of Expenses
3.11.1 General Expenses Related to the Offering . The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of Public Securities to be issued and sold in the Offering with the Commission; (b) all Public Offering System filing fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (c) all fees and expenses relating to the listing of such Common Stock on the NasdaqCM and on such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Representative together determine; (d) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of the Company’s officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per individual and $15,000 in the aggregate; (e) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of the Public Securities under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of “blue sky” counsel, it being agreed that such fees and expenses will be limited to: (i) if the Offering is commenced on the Nasdaq Capital Market or on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board, the Company will make a payment of up to $15,000 to such counsel upon the commencement of “blue sky” work by such counsel and an additional payment of $5,000 at Closing); (f) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of the Public Securities under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate; (g) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the Underwriting Agreement, any Blue Sky Surveys and, if appropriate, any Agreement Among Underwriters, Selected Dealers’ Agreement, Underwriters’ Questionnaire and Power of Attorney), Registration Statements, Prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final Prospectuses as the Representative may reasonably deem necessary; (h) the costs and expenses of the public relations firm referred to in Section 3.9 hereof; (i) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering certificates representing the Public Securities; (j) fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent for the shares of Common Stock; (k) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; (l) to the extent approved by the Company in writing, the costs associated with post-Closing advertising of the Offering in the national editions of The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times ; (m) the costs (up to $3,000) associated with bound volumes of the public offering materials as well as commemorative mementos and lucite tombstones, each of which the Company or its designee will provide, including to the Representative, within a reasonable time after the Closing in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request; (n) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (o) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives; (p) the $21,775 cost associated with the Underwriters’ use of Ipreo’s book building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for the Offering; and (q) upon successful completion of the Offering, up to $20,000 of the Underwriters’ actual accountable “road show” expenses for the offering. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters, less the Advance (as such term is defined in Section 8.3 hereof), provided, however, that in the event that the Offering is terminated, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8.3 hereof.
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3.11.2 Non-accountable Expenses . The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses payable pursuant to Section 3.11.1, on the Closing Date it shall pay to the Representative, by deduction from the net proceeds of the Offering contemplated herein, a non-accountable expense allowance equal to one percent (1%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm Shares.
3.12 Application of Net Proceeds . The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application thereof described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
3.13 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders . The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth (15th) full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by an independent registered public accounting firm unless required by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.14 Stabilization . Neither the Company nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or shall take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under Regulation M of the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Public Securities.
3.15 Internal Controls . The Company shall maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.16 Accountants . As of the Effective Date, the Company shall retain an independent registered public accounting firm, as required by the Securities Act and the Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, reasonably acceptable to the Representative, and the Company shall continue to retain a nationally recognized independent registered public accounting firm for a period of at least three (3) years after the Effective Date; provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company. The Representative acknowledges that the Auditor is acceptable to the Representative.
3.17 FINRA . For a period of 90 days from the later of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, the Company shall advise the Representative (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is or becomes aware that (i) any officer or director of the Company, (ii) any beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180 days immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).
3.18 No Fiduciary Duties . The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and that none of the Underwriters or their affiliates or any selling agent shall be deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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3.19 Company Lock-Up Agreements .
3.19.1 Restriction on Sales of Capital Stock . The Company, on behalf of itself and any Subsidiary or successor entity of the Company, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the six (6) month anniversary thereof (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company (other than the Additional Shares and Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights) provided that either (a) such shares shall not vest during the Lock-Up Period or (b) the grantee of such shares will execute a Lock-Up Agreement; (ii) file or cause to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company other than a registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8; or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
The restrictions contained in this Section 3.19.1 shall not apply to (i) the Public Securities to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of a stock option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof, which is disclosed in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and Prospectus, (iii) the issuance by the Company of any security under any equity compensation plan of the Company, (iv) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock in the connection with mergers, acquisitions or joint ventures, and (v) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock to consultants in the Company’s ordinary course of business and not for capital raising transactions.
3.19.2 Restriction on Continuous Offerings . Notwithstanding the restrictions contained in Section 3.19.1, the Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, for a period of 12 months after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly in any “at-the-market” or continuous equity transaction, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company.
3.20 Release of D&O Lock-up Period . If the Representative, in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreements described in Section 2.25 hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three (3) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees if required by applicable law to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two (2) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
3.21 Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company shall use its best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, if necessary, to qualify the Public Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Public Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
3.22 Reporting Requirements . The Company, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and Exchange Act Regulations. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Public Securities as may be required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act Regulations.
3.23 Emerging Growth Company Status. The Company shall promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Public Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) fifteen (15) days following the completion of the Lock-Up Period.
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3.24 Press Releases . Prior to the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the Company shall not issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects (except for routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Representative is notified), without the prior written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Representative, such press release or communication is required by law.
3.25 Sarbanes-Oxley . The Company shall at all times comply with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in effect from time to time, provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company.
3.26 IRS Forms . If requested by the Representative, the Company shall deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), prior to or at the Closing Date, a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”) Form W-9 or an IRS Form W-8, as appropriate, together with all required attachments to such form.
4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Public Securities, as provided herein, shall be subject to (i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any; (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; and (iv) the following conditions:
4.1 Regulatory Matters .
4.1.1 Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information . The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:30 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at each of the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes shall have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated by the Commission. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A under the Securities Act Regulations.
4.1.2 FINRA Clearance . On or before the Effective Date, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.3 NasdaqCM Stock Market Clearance . On the Closing Date, the Company’s Common Stock (including the shares of Common Stock underlying the Additional Shares) shall have been approved for listing on the NasdaqCM. On the first Option Closing Date (if any), the Company’s Common Stock (including the Common Stock underlying the Additional Shares) shall have been approved for listing on the NasdaqCM.
4.2 Company Counsel Matters .
4.2.1 Closing Date Opinion of Counsel to the Company . On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Reed Smith LLP, and a written statement providing certain “10b-5” negative assurances, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, substantially in a form acceptable to the Representative.
4.2.2 Closing Date Opinion of Intellectual Property Counsel to the Company . On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds, P.C., intellectual property counsel to the Company, and a written statement providing certain “10b-5” negative assurances, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, substantially in a form acceptable to the Representative.
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4.2.3 Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel . On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of each counsel listed in Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, confirming as of the Option Closing Date, the statements made by such counsels in their respective opinions delivered on the Closing Date.
4.2.4 Reliance . In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to Representative Counsel if requested.
4.3 Comfort Letters.
4.3.1 Cold Comfort Letter . At the time this Agreement is executed you shall have received a cold comfort letter containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ comfort letters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to you and to Representative’s Counsel from the Auditor, dated as of the date of this Agreement.
4.3.2 Bring-down Comfort Letter . At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from the Auditor a letter, dated as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, to the effect that the Auditor reaffirms the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to Section 4.3.1, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable.
4.4 Officers’ Certificates.
4.4.1 Officers’ Certificate . The Company shall have furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (if such date is other than the Closing Date), of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer stating that (i) such officers have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and, in their opinion, the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, as of the Applicable Time and as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as of its date and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of the respective date thereof and as of the Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, (ii) since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) to the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects (except for those representations and warranties qualified as to materiality, which shall be true and correct in all respects and except for those representations and warranties which refer to facts existing at a specific date, which shall be true and correct as of such date) and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Company, or any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company, except as set forth in the Prospectus.
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4.4.2 Secretary’s Certificate . At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying: (i) that each of the Charter and by-laws is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; and (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
4.5 No Material Changes . Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and no material change in the capital stock or debt of the Company, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (ii) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company, any Subsidiary or any Insider before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; (iv) no action shall have been taken and no law, statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any Governmental Entity which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (v) no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (vi) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus nor any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.6 No Material Misstatement or Omission . The Underwriters shall not have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date that the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.7 Corporate Proceedings . All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of each of this Agreement, the Representative’s Warrant Agreement, the Public Securities, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, and the Prospectus and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement, the Representative’s Warrant Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
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4.8 Delivery of Agreements.
4.8.1 Effective Date Deliveries . On or before the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Lock-Up Agreements from each of the persons listed in Schedule 3 hereto.
4.8.2 Closing Date Deliveries . On the Closing Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative an executed copy of the Representative’s Warrant Agreement.
4.9 Additional Documents . At the Closing Date and at each Option Closing Date (if any), Representative Counsel shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling Representative Counsel to deliver an opinion to the Underwriters, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Public Securities and the Representative’s Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and Representative Counsel.
5. Indemnification.
5.1 Indemnification by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates and each of its and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, representatives and agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “ Underwriter Indemnified Parties ,” and each a “ Underwriter Indemnified Party ”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “ issuer information ” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated by reference therein, or (B) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or document incorporated by reference therein, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse the Underwriter Indemnified Party promptly upon demand for any legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, or preparing to defend, or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement in, or omission from any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information. This indemnity agreement is not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability, which the Company might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available at law or in equity to each Underwriter Indemnified Party.
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5.2 Indemnification by the Underwriter . Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Company’s directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “ Company Indemnified Parties ” and each a “ Company Indemnified Party ”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), to which such Company Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “ issuer information ” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “ issuer information ” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act Regulations, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information and shall reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.2, in no event shall any indemnity by an Underwriter under this Section 5.2 exceed the total discount and commission received by such Underwriter in connection with the Offering.
5.3 Procedure . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of that action; provided , however , that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 5 except to the extent it has been materially adversely prejudiced by such failure; and, provided , further , that the failure to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 5. If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party). After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under Section 5 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under 5.1 or the Representative in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 5.2, (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of the action or the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it 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 (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall be responsible for legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action; provided , however , that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time any such indemnified party (in addition to any local counsel), which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representative if the indemnified party under this Section 5 is an Underwriter Indemnified Party or by the Company if an indemnified party under this Section 5 is a Company Indemnified Party. Subject to this Section 5.3, the amount payable by an indemnifying party under Section 5 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action, investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 5 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party. Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated herein effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than forty-five (45) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least thirty (30) days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
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5.4 Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 5.1 or Section 5.2, then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid, payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and each of the Underwriters on the other hand from the Offering, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 5.4 is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) of this Section 5.4 but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to the statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the Offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discount and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement, omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company through the Representative by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriters’ Information. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 5.4 be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to above in this Section 5.4 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 5.4, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.4, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the total discount and commission received by such Underwriter in connection with the Offering less the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligation to contribute as provided in this Section 5.4 are several and in proportion to their respective underwriting obligation, and not joint.
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6. Default by an Underwriter.
6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Additional Shares . If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Shares or the Additional Shares, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Shares or Additional Shares with respect to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Shares or Additional Shares to which the default relates shall be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Additional Shares . In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 relates to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Additional Shares, you may in your discretion arrange for yourself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Shares or Additional Shares to which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Additional Shares, you do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or Additional Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to you to purchase said Firm Shares or Additional Shares on such terms. In the event that neither you nor the Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Shares or Additional Shares to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement will automatically be terminated by you or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided in Sections 3.10 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to the Additional Shares, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Shares; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
6.3 Postponement of Closing Date . In the event that the Firm Shares or Additional Shares to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter may thereby be made necessary. The term “ Underwriter ” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such shares of Common Stock.
7. Additional Covenants.
7.1 Board Composition and Board Designations . The Company shall ensure that: (i) the qualifications of the persons serving as members of the Board of Directors and the overall composition of the Board comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the Exchange Act and the listing rules of the NasdaqCM or any other national securities exchange, as the case may be, in the event the Company seeks to have any of its securities listed on another exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system, and (ii) if applicable, at least one member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the NasdaqCM.
7.2 Prohibition on Press Releases and Public Announcements . The Company shall not issue press releases or engage in any other publicity, without the Representative’s prior written consent, for a period ending at 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the first (l s t ) Business Day following the fortieth (40 th ) day after the Closing Date, other than normal and customary releases issued in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.
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7.3 Right of First Refusal . Provided that the Public Securities are sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Representative shall have an irrevocable right of first refusal (the “ Right of First Refusal ”), for a period of twelve (12) months after the Effective Date to act as sole bookrunner and managing underwriter, exclusive placement agent, exclusive financial advisor or in any other similar capacity, on the Representative’s customary terms and conditions, for each and every public or private equity or public debt offering (each, a “ Subject Transaction ”). The Company shall notify the Representative of its intention to pursue a Subject Transaction, including the material terms thereof, by providing written notice thereof by registered mail or overnight courier service addressed to the Representative. If the Representative fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to any Subject Transaction within ten (10) Business Days after the mailing of such written notice, then the Representative shall have no further claim or right with respect to the Subject Transaction. The Representative may elect, in its sole and absolute discretion, not to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to any Subject Transaction; provided that any such election by the Representative shall not adversely affect the Representative’s Right of First Refusal with respect to any other Subject Transaction. The terms and conditions of any such engagements shall be set forth in separate agreements and may be subject to, among other things, satisfactory completion of due diligence by the Representative, market conditions, the absence of a material adverse change to the Company’s business, financial condition and prospects, approval of the Representative’s internal committee and any other conditions that the Representative may deem appropriate for transactions of such nature.
8. Effectiveness of this Agreement and Termination Thereof.
8.1 Effectiveness of the Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective when both the Company and the Representative have executed the same and delivered counterparts of such signatures to the other party.
8.2 Termination . The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in your opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities; or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority; or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States securities markets; or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in your opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Shares or Additional Shares; or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or (viii) if the Representative shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Public Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Public Securities.
8.3 Expenses . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, except in the case of a default by the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 6.2 above, in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Underwriters their actual and accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable (including the fees and disbursements of Representative Counsel) up to $100,000 inclusive of the $50,000 advance for non-accountable expenses previously paid by the Company to the Representative (the “ Advance ”) and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters; provided, however, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any advance received by the Representative will be reimbursed to the Company to the extent not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(C).
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8.4 Survival of Indemnification . Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be in any way affected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
8.5 Representations, Warranties, Agreements to Survive . All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or (ii) delivery of and payment for the Public Securities.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Notices . All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so delivered or faxed and confirmed or if mailed, two (2) days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
Aegis Capital Corp.
810 Seventh Avenue, 18 th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attn: Mr. David Bocchi, Managing Director of Investment Banking
Fax No.: (212) 813-1047
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Blank Rome LLP
405 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Attn: Brad L. Shiffman, Esq.
Fax No.: (917) 332-3725
If to the Company:
Signal Genetics, Inc.
667 Madison Avenue – 14 th Floor
New York, New York 10065
Attention: Samuel D. Riccitelli, President and Chief Executive Officer
Fax No: (212) 319-3328
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Reed Smith LLP
599 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10174
Attention: Daniel I. Goldberg, Esq.
Fax No: (212) 521-5450
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9.2 Headings . The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
9.3 Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that:
(i) each Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature, each Underwriter has been retained solely to act as an underwriter in connection with the Offering and no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Underwriters has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether either the Representative has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;
(ii) the price of the Public Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arm’s-length negotiations with the Representative, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(iii) it has been advised that the Representative and their respective affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Underwriters have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship.
9.4 Research Analyst Independence . The Company acknowledges that each Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from its investment banking division and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriter’s research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of their investment banking division. The Company acknowledges that each Underwriter is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9.4 shall relieve the Underwriter of any responsibility or liability it may otherwise bear in connection with activities in violation of applicable securities laws, rules or regulations.
9.5 Amendment . This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
9.6 Entire Agreement . This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.7 Binding Effect . This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5.2 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives, heirs and assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from any of the Underwriters.
9.8 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
- 31 - |
9.9 Execution in Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
9.10 Waiver, etc . The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
[ Signature Page Follows ]
- 32 - |
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours, | |||
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC. | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
Confirmed as of the date first written
above, on behalf of itself and as
Representative of the several Underwriters
named on Schedule 1 hereto:
AEGIS CAPITAL CORP. | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
Title: |
- 33 - |
SCHEDULE 1
Underwriter |
Total Number of Firm Shares to be Purchased |
Number of Additional Shares to be Purchased if Over-Allotment Option is Fully Exercised |
||
Aegis Capital Corp |
S- 1 |
SCHEDULE 2-A
Pricing Information
Number of Firm Shares:
Number of Additional Shares:
Public Offering Price per Share:
Underwriting Discount per Share:
Proceeds to Company per Share (before expenses):
Underwriting Non-accountable expense allowance per Share:
S-2 A |
SCHEDULE 2-B
Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses
[None]
S-2 B |
SCHEDULE 2-C
Written Testing-the-Waters Communications
[None]
S-2 C |
SCHEDULE 3
List of Lock-Up Parties
Bennett S. LeBow
Samuel D. Riccitelli
Robert Johnson
Douglas Schuling
LeBow Alpha LLLP
Ryan van Laar
Robin L. Smith
David A. Gonyer
S- 3 |
EXHIBIT A
Form of Representative’s Warrant Agreement
[Reference is made to Exhibit [____] to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Number [________]) of Signal Genetics, Inc., which is incorporated by reference.]
Exhibit A |
EXHIBIT B
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
[_________]
Aegis Capital Corp.
810 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that Aegis Capital Corp. (the “ Representative ”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with Signal Genetics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), providing for the public offering (the “ Public Offering ”) of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “ Shares ”).
To induce the Representative to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the effective date of the registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) relating to the Public Offering and ending six (6) months after such date (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “ Lock-Up Securities ”); (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement relating to any Lock-Up Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Representative in connection with (a) transactions relating to Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering; provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Lock-Up Securities acquired in such open market transactions; (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (c) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution; or (d) if the undersigned, directly or indirectly, controls a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to any shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of similar equity interests in, the undersigned, as the case may be; provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) or (d), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Representative a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with this lock-up agreement.
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed or “friends and family” Shares that the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering; (ii) the Representative agrees that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, the Representative will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver; and (iii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of Lock-Up Securities not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this lock-up agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of such transfer.
Exhibit B |
No provision in this lock-up agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the exercise, exchange or conversion by the undersigned of any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into Shares, as applicable; provided that the undersigned does not transfer the Shares acquired on such exercise, exchange or conversion during the Lock-Up Period, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this lock-up agreement. In addition, no provision herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the entry into or modification of a so-called “10b5-1” plan at any time (other than the entry into or modification of such a plan in such a manner as to cause the sale of any Lock-Up Securities within the Lock-Up Period), or a sale of 100% of the Company’s outstanding Shares, a merger or other similar transaction involving the Company.
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Representative are relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by April 30, 2014, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares and warrants to purchase Shares to be sold thereunder, then this lock-up agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect.
Exhibit B |
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Representative.
Very truly yours, | ||
(Name - Please Print) | ||
(Signature) | ||
(Name of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print) | ||
(Title of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print) | ||
Address: | ||
Exhibit B |
EXHIBIT C
Form of Press Release
Signal Genetics, Inc.
[Date]
Signal Genetics, Inc. (the “ Company ”) announced today that Aegis Capital Corp., acting as representative for the underwriters in the Company’s recent public offering of the Company’s common stock, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to _________ shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers, directors or other securityholders] [an officer, director or securityholder] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on _________, 20___, and the shares may be sold on or after such date.
This press release is not an offer or sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer or sale is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Exhibit C |
Delaware | PAGE 1 | |
The First State |
I, JEFFREY W. BULLOCK, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THE ATTACHED IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION OF “SIGNAL GENETICS LLC”, FILED IN THIS OFFICE ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF DECEMBER, A.D. 2010, AT 6:20 O’CLOCK P.M.
/s/ Jeffrey W. Bullock | |||
Jeffrey W. Bullock, Secretary of State | |||
4910486 8100 | AUTHENTICATION: 8415030 | ||
101165226 | DATE 12-09-10 | ||
You may verify this certificate online | |||
at corp.delaware.gov/authver.shtml |
State of Delaware | |
Secretary of State | |
Division of Corporations | |
Delivered 06:20 PM 12/08/2010 | |
FILED 06:20 PM 12/08/2010 | |
SRV 101165226 – 4910486 FILE |
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
OF
SIGNAL GENETICS LLC
The undersigned, an authorized natural person, for the purpose of forming a limited liability company, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 18, Title 6 of the Delaware Code and the acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and known, identified, and referred to as the “Delaware Limited Liability Company Act”), hereby certifies that:
FIRST: The name of the limited liability company (hereinafter called the “Limited Liability Company’) is:
Signal Genetics LLC
SECOND: The address of the registered office and the name and the address of the registered agent of the Limited Liability Company required to be maintained by Section 18-104 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act are:
Corporation Service Company
2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400
Wilmington, Delaware 19808
Executed on September 21, 2010.
/s/ John E. Andrews | |
John E. Andrews | |
Authorized Person |
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC
a Delaware Limited Liability Company
Dated as of January 1, 2011
Units representing limited liability company interests in Signal Genetics, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, have not been registered with or qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any securities regulatory authority of any state. The Units are being issued in reliance upon exemptions from such registration or qualification requirements. The Units cannot be sold, transferred, assigned or otherwise disposed of except in compliance with the restrictions on transferability contained in this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Signal Genetics, LLC, as may be amended or restated from time to time, and applicable federal and state securities laws.
Table of Contents
Page | ||
ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION | 1 | |
1.01 | Certain Definitions | 1 |
1.02 | Construction | 1 |
ARTICLE II. ORGANIZATION | 1 | |
2.01 | Continuation of the Company | 1 |
2.02 | Name | 1 |
2.03 | Registered Office; Registered Agent | 1 |
2.04 | Principal Office | 2 |
2.05 | Purpose; Powers | 2 |
2.06 | Fiscal Year; Tax Year | 2 |
2.07 | Foreign Qualification Governmental Filings | 2 |
2.08 | Term | 2 |
ARTICLE III. MEMBERS; DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS | 2 | |
3.01 | Members | 2 |
3.02 | Restrictions on the Transfer of Units | 3 |
3.03 | Representations and Warranties | 3 |
3.04 | Liability to Third parties | 4 |
3.05 | Meetings of Members | 4 |
ARTICLE IV. INTERESTS | 6 | |
4.01 | Interests | 6 |
4.02 | Cancellation of Prior Membership Interests | 6 |
4.03 | Return of Contribution | 6 |
4.04 | Withdrawal of Capital | 6 |
4.05 | Capital Accounts | 7 |
4.06 | Nature of Distributions | 7 |
4.07 | Profits Interest | 7 |
ARTICLE V. DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS | 7 | |
5.01 | Distributions | 7 |
i |
5.02 | Tax Distributions | 9 |
5.03 | Allocations | 9 |
5.04 | Withholding | 13 |
ARTICLE VI. MANAGEMENT | 13 | |
6.01 | Management | 13 |
6.02 | Board of Managers | 13 |
6.03 | Officers | 14 |
6.04 | Indemnification; Limitation of Liability | 15 |
6.05 | Directors and Officers’ Insurance | 16 |
6.06 | Opportunities | 16 |
6.07 | Duties | 16 |
ARTICLE VII. OTHER RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS | 16 | |
7.01 | Drag-Along Rights | 16 |
7.02 | Reserved | 17 |
ARTICLE VIII. RIGHTS OF MEMBERS; CONFIDENTIALITY; CERTIFICATES; LEGENDS | 18 | |
8.01 | Access to Information | 18 |
8.02 | Tax Matters | 18 |
8.03 | Confidentiality | 18 |
8.04 | Certificates | 19 |
8.05 | Legends | 19 |
ARTICLE IX. TAXES | 20 | |
9.01 | Tax Returns | 20 |
9.02 | Tax Elections | 20 |
9.03 | Tax Matters Partner | 21 |
ARTICLE X. BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS | 21 | |
10.01 | Maintenance of Books and Records | 21 |
10.02 | Reports | 21 |
10.03 | Bank Accounts | 21 |
ii |
ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION | 21 | |
11.01 | Dissolution | 21 |
11.02 | Liquidation and Termination | 22 |
11.03 | Cancellation of Filing | 22 |
ARTICLE XII. GENERAL PROVISIONS | 23 | |
12.01 | Notices | 23 |
12.02 | Entire Agreement; Supersedure | 23 |
12.03 | Effect of Waiver or Consent | 23 |
12.04 | Amendment or Modification | 23 |
12.05 | Binding Effect | 23 |
12.06 | Governing Law; Severability | 24 |
12.07 | Further Assurances | 24 |
12.08 | Waiver of Certain Rights | 24 |
12.09 | Counterparts | 24 |
Schedule I | Definitions |
Exhibit A | Members, Initial Capital Accounts and Units |
iii |
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC
This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) of SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), is made and entered into by and among LeBow Alpha LLLP, a Delaware limited liability limited partnership (the “ Initial Member ” and, collectively with any Person subsequently admitted to the Company as a Member in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the “ Members ” ), effective as of [____], 2011 (the “ Effective Date ”).
ARTICLE
I.
DEFINITIONS; CONSTRUCTION
1.01 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the terms set forth in Schedule I have the meanings set forth therein.
1.02 Construction. Whenever the context requires, the gender of all words used in this Agreement includes the masculine, feminine, and neuter. All references to Articles and Sections refer to articles and sections of this Agreement, and all references to Exhibits are to exhibits attached hereto, each of which is made a part hereof for all purposes. The words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision and the word “including” means “including, but not limited to.” All accounting terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings accorded them in accordance with GAAP and, except as expressly provided herein, all accounting determinations will be made in accordance with such accounting principles in effect from time to time.
ARTICLE
II.
ORGANIZATION
2.01 Continuation of the Company. The Company was organized as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of the Certificate of Formation of the Company (the “ Certificate of Formation ”) in the office of the Secretary of State pursuant to the Act on September 21, 2010 and the entering into of the Limited Liability Company Agreement dated as of September 21, 2010 (the “ Initial Agreement ”) by the Initial Member. The Members desire to continue the Company for the purposes and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. The Initial Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement. Except as provided herein, the rights, duties and liabilities of each Member shall be as provided in the Act.
2.02 Name . The name of the Company is “Signal Genetics, LLC” or such other name as the Board of Managers may elect from time to time and set forth in the Company’s Certificate of Formation, as amended. Company business will be conducted in such name or such other names that comply with applicable law as the Board of Managers may select from time to time.
2.03 Registered Office; Registered Agent. The registered office of the Company in the State of Delaware will be the initial registered office designated in the Certificate of Formation or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Board of Managers may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law. The registered agent of the Company in the State of Delaware will be the initial registered agent designated in the Certificate of Formation, or such other Person or Persons as the Board of Managers may designate from time to time in the manner provided by law.
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2.04 Principal Office. The principal office of the Company will be at 667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10065 or such other location as the Board of Managers may designate from time to time, which need not be in the State of Delaware.
2.05 Purpose; Powers. The purpose for which the Company is continued is to have and exercise all powers and to conduct such business activities as are permitted to limited liability companies by the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company will have all powers permitted to be exercised by a limited liability company organized in the State of Delaware.
2.06 Fiscal Year; Tax Year. The fiscal year of the Company (the “ Fiscal Year ”) for financial statement and federal income tax purposes will end on December 31 st unless otherwise determined by the Board of Managers or required under the Code.
2.07 Foreign Qualification Governmental Filings. Prior to the Company’s conducting business in any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware, the Board of Managers will cause the Company to comply, to the extent procedures are available, with all requirements necessary to qualify the Company as a foreign limited liability company in such jurisdiction. Each Officer is authorized, on behalf of the Company, to execute, acknowledge, swear to and deliver all certificates and other instruments as may be necessary or appropriate in connection with such qualifications. Further, each Member agrees to execute, acknowledge, swear to and deliver all certificates and other instruments that are necessary or appropriate to qualify, or, as appropriate, to continue or terminate such qualification of, the Company as a foreign limited liability company in all such jurisdictions in which the Company may conduct business.
2.08 Term . The Company commenced on the date the Certificate of Formation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and the term of the Company will continue in existence until the dissolution of the Company pursuant to this Agreement. The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation pursuant to the Act and this Agreement.
ARTICLE
III.
MEMBERS; DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS
3.01 Members. As of the Effective Date, the Members are the sole members of the Company. The names, addresses, initial Capital Accounts of, and number and class of Units held by the Members are set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein. The Board of Managers is hereby authorized to complete or amend Exhibit A to reflect the admission of additional Members, the withdrawal of a Member, the change of address of a Member, the change in Capital Contributions of a Member, changes to the number and class of Units of a Member, and changes to any other information called for by Exhibit A , and to correct or amend Exhibit A or cause such Exhibit to be corrected or amended. Such completion, correction or amendment may be made from time to time as and when the Board of Managers considers it appropriate.
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3.02 Restrictions on the Transfer of Units.
(a) General . No Member may Transfer, or cause or allow to be Transferred, directly or indirectly, any Units except in accordance with this Section 3.02 and, in all cases other than pursuant to a Permitted Transfer, without the prior approval of the Board of Managers in its sole and absolute discretion. Any attempted Transfer of any Units other than in accordance with this Section 3.02 is void and will not be recognized by the Company.
(b) Conditions to Transfer . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Transfer of Units may be effected by any Member unless: (i) such Transfer is in compliance with the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws, and, if requested by the Board of Managers in its reasonable discretion, such transferring Member has delivered an opinion of such Member’s counsel to the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such Transfer is either exempt from the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable securities laws of any state or that such registration requirements have been complied with, (ii) such Transfer would not cause the Company to have more than 450 Members immediately following such Transfer or to otherwise become subject to the reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and (iii) such Transfer would not cause the Company to be treated as an association or “publicly traded partnership” taxable as a corporation and would not make the Company ineligible for “safe harbor” treatment under section 7704 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. As a further condition to being admitted as a Member of the Company, any Person receiving a Transfer of any Units in accordance with the terms set forth herein must agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement by executing and delivering a counterpart signature page to this Agreement. The Board of Managers will determine in its sole discretion whether the foregoing conditions have been satisfied and may, in its sole discretion, waive any such conditions. Any attempted Transfer by a Person of any Units other than in accordance with this Section 3.02(b) is void and will not be recognized by the Company.
3.03 Representations and Warranties.
Each Member hereby represents and warrants to the Company and each other Member that:
(a) such Member has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder;
(b) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement do not conflict with any other agreement or arrangement to which such Member is a party or by which it is or its assets are bound;
(c) all property contributed to the Company by such Member, and any property thereafter to be contributed to the Company by such Member, has been or will be duly and lawfully acquired and will be contributed to the Company without any liens or encumbrances;
(d) such Member is and will be acquiring its Units for investment purposes only for his or its own account and not with a view to the distribution, reoffer, resale, or other disposition not in compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws;
(e) such Member alone or together with his or its representatives, possesses such expertise, knowledge, and sophistication in financial and business matters generally, and in the type of transactions in which the Company proposes to engage in particular, that such Member is capable of evaluating the merits and economic risks of acquiring and holding Units, and that such Member is able to bear all such economic risks now and in the future;
3 |
(f) such Member has had access to all of the information with respect to his or its Units that such Member deems necessary to make a complete evaluation thereof;
(g) such Member’s decision to acquire Units for investment has been based solely upon the evaluation made by such Member;
(h) such Member is aware that he or it must bear the economic risk of such Member’s investment in the Company for an indefinite period of time because Units have not been registered under the Securities Act or under the securities laws of any state, and, therefore, such Units cannot be sold unless they are subsequently registered under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws or an exemption from registration is available;
(i) such Member is aware that only the Company can take action to register Units in the Company and that the Company is under no such obligation and does not propose or intend to attempt to do so other than pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
(j) such Member is aware that this Agreement provides restrictions on the ability of a Member to Transfer Units, and such Member will not seek to effect any Transfer other than in accordance with such restrictions; and
(k) such Member is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act.
3.04 Liability to Third parties. No Member, Manager or Officer will have any personal liability for any obligations or liabilities of the Company, whether such liabilities arise in contract, tort or otherwise, except to the extent that any such liabilities or obligations are expressly assumed in writing by such Member, Manager or Officer. Nothing in this Section 3.04 comprises or will be construed as an agreement by the Company to indemnify or hold harmless any Member, Manager or Officer.
3.05 Meetings of Members.
(a) Place of Meetings . Meetings of Members shall be held at the principal place of business of the Company, unless another location is designated by the Board of Managers or by a Member Majority. If not held at the principal place of business of the Company, meetings of Members may be held at any place within or outside the State of Delaware designated by the Board of Managers or a by a Member Majority, or may instead be held solely by means of remote communication authorized by and in accordance with the Act.
(b) Purpose of Meetings . Meetings of the Members for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by this Agreement, may be called by a Member Majority or shall be called by a majority of the members of the Board of Managers. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted at any meeting of Members shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
4 |
(c) Quorum; Adjourned Meetings and Notice Thereof . Members holding, collectively, a majority of all Units entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law or this Agreement. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum and the votes present may continue to transact business until adjournment. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the Members, the Members holding Units representing a majority of the Units represented in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Member of record entitled to vote thereat.
(d) Voting . When a quorum is present at any meeting of Members, the vote of the Members holding Units representing a majority of all of the Units having the right to vote present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the Act or this Agreement, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
(e) Proxies . At each meeting of the Members, each Member having the right to vote may vote in person or may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such Member and bearing a date not more than three (3) years prior to said meeting, unless said instrument provides for a longer period. All proxies must be filed with the Company at the beginning of each meeting in order to be counted in any vote at the meeting.
(f) Notice of Member’s Meetings . Whenever Members are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which notice shall state the date and hour, the place (if any) and the means of remote communications (if any) of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Except as otherwise provided by law, the written notice of any meeting shall be given to each Member entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting via mail, facsimile or electronic mail. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Member at such Member’s address as it appears on Exhibit A .
(g) Conduct of Member Meetings . The President, or in his absence an Officer or Manager designated by the Board of Managers, shall preside at all meetings of Members. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Board of Managers shall have the power to set procedural rules, including without limitation rules respecting time allotted to the Members to speak, governing all aspects of the conduct of such meetings.
(h) Member Action by Written Consent without a Meeting . Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, any action required to be taken at a meeting of Members of the Company (or any subset thereof), or any action which may be taken at any meeting of such Members, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be (i) signed by the Members holding Units having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary (in accordance with this Agreement) to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Units entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and (ii) delivered to the Company by delivery to its principal place of business or an Officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Members are recorded.
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ARTICLE
IV.
INTERESTS
4.01 Interests.
(a) General . Each Member’s membership interest in the Company will be represented by its Capital Account and by Units issued by the Company to such Member. Units shall be classified as Class A Units or Class B Units. As of the Effective Date, 100,000 Class A Units are authorized and 72,500 Class A Units are issued and outstanding, and 50,000 Class B Units are authorized and 20,000 Class B Units are issued and outstanding. Additional Units (including Class B Units) may be issued from time to time as may be determined by the Board of Managers and, in connection therewith, the Board of Managers may create additional series or classes through subdivision or by issuance of Units of such class or series. For tax reporting purposes with respect to the Units, the Company shall use the value assigned to the initial Capital Account for such Units set forth on Exhibit A .
(b) Initial Capital Contributions . LeBow Alpha LLLP has made or may in the future make Capital Contributions to the Company in an aggregate amount equal to $2,000,000 [including capital contributions initially made to Myeloma Health LLC (“Myeloma Health”) a subsidiary of the Company and transferred to the Company. The Members agree that expenses incurred by LeBow Alpha LLLP on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company prior to or after the date hereof, including, among other things, expenses incurred in connection with the formation of the Company and preparation and negotiation of that certain License Agreement by and between Myeloma Health and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and any other licensing, sales or other agreements for the benefit of the Company or any subsidiary, shall be treated as Capital Contributions to the Company for purposes of this Section 4.01(b) . No Capital Contribution shall be made during such period with respect to Class B Units.
(c) Additional Capital Contributions . No Member will be (i) permitted to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without the approval of the Board of Managers, or (ii) required to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company without the written consent of such Member.
4.02 Cancellation of Prior Membership Interests. All membership interests of the Company, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date, are hereby cancelled and extinguished as of the Effective Date without further action of any Member.
4.03 Return of Contribution. Except as provided in this Agreement, a Member is not entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. Any unrepaid Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of the other Members. A Member is not required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return the other Members’ Capital Contributions.
4.04 Withdrawal of Capital. No Member has the right to withdraw any part of its Capital Contribution from the Company or receive the return of any part of its interest in the Company prior to its dissolution and liquidation pursuant to Article XI hereof.
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4.05 Capital Accounts. The Company will maintain for each Member a separate Capital Account with respect to such Member in accordance with the rules of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv) and as set forth in this Agreement. The initial Capital Accounts of the Members as of the Effective Date shall be as set forth on Exhibit A .
4.06 Nature of Distributions. Any distributions made to Members during any year pursuant to Article V shall be considered drawings of money against their distributive shares of income for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.731-1(a)(1)(ii).
4.07 Profits Interest. The Company and the Members acknowledge and agree that the rights of the holders of Class B Units to receive distributions shall be considered to be issued in connection with the performance of services to the Company. The Company and each Member agree to treat any Class B Units as a separate “Profits Interest” within the meaning of Rev. Proc. 93-27, 1993-2 C.B. 343. Absent a change in law, the Company shall treat a Member holding a Profits Interest as the owner of such Profits Interest from the date such Profits Interest is granted, and shall file its IRS form 1065, and issue appropriate Schedule K-ls to such Member, allocating to such Member its distributive share of all items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit associated with such Profits Interest as if it were fully vested. Each such Member agrees to take into account such distributive share in computing its Federal income tax liability for the entire period during which it holds the Profits Interest. Except as required pursuant to a “Determination” as defined in Code Section 1313(a) or a change in law, the Company and each Member agree not to claim a deduction (as wages, compensation or otherwise) for the fair market value of such Profits Interest issued to a Member, either at the time of grant of the Profits Interest, or at the time the Profits Interest becomes substantially vested. The undertakings contained in this Section 4.07 shall be construed in accordance with Section 4 of Rev. Proc. 2001-43, 2001-2 C.B. 191. The provisions of this Section 4.07 shall apply regardless of whether or not the holder of a Profits Interest files an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code.
ARTICLE
V.
DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
5.01 Distributions.
(a) Operating Distributions . Available Cash will be distributed to the Members at such times as may be determined by the Board of Managers as follows:
(i) the Class A Percentage (as defined in Schedule I hereto) of such Available Cash to the holders of Class A Units pro rata in accordance with the number of Class A Units held by such holders; and
(ii) the Class B Percentage (as defined in Schedule I hereto) of such Available Cash to the holders of Class B Units pro rata in accordance with the number of Class B Units held by such holders.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the Board of Managers may make a special bonus payment to the holders of Class B Units from time to time in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Managers in its sole discretion. Any such special bonus shall be treated as a “guaranteed payment” under Section 707(c) of the Code.
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(b) Capital Proceeds Distributions . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 5.01(a) and subject to Sections 5.01(d) and (e) , upon the occurrence of a Liquidity Event or a Liquidation Event, any resulting net proceeds from each such Liquidity Event or Liquidation Event, as the case may be, will be distributed to the Members, after the repayment of all accrued but unpaid interest and all principal on any outstanding loans made by a Member to the Company, in the following order of priority:
(i) first, to the holders of Class A Units pro rata in accordance with, and to the extent of, the respective balances of such holders’ Unreturned Contribution Accounts (including without limitation the amount of any capital contributions to Myeloma Health LLC by the holders of any Class A Units which has not been returned by means of a distribution from Myeloma Health LLC); and
(ii) thereafter, as follows:
(A) the applicable Class A Percentage of the remainder of such net proceeds to the holders of Class A Units pro rata in accordance with the number of Class A Units held by such holders; and
(B) the applicable Class B Percentage of the remainder of such net proceeds to the holders of Class B Units pro rata in accordance with the number of Class B Units held by such holders.
(iii) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the Board of Managers may make a special bonus payment to the holders of Class B Units under this Section 5.01(b)(iii) in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Managers in its sole discretion. Any such special bonus shall be treated as a “guaranteed payment” under Section 707(c) of the Code.
(iv) The Members acknowledge that prior to any distribution of proceeds hereunder from a Liquidity Event or a Liquidation Event for Myeloma Health, the holders of certain Units of Myeloma Health may be entitled to a preferred return in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Operating Agreement of Myeloma Health then in effect.
(c) Valuation of Non-Cash Property . Whenever any distribution provided for in Section 5.01(a) or (b) shall be payable in securities or property other than cash, then the value of such distribution shall be the fair market value of such distribution as determined in good faith by the Board of Managers, except that any publicly-traded securities to be distributed to Members will be valued as follows ( provided , however , that in the event that the distribution being valued pursuant to this Section 5.01(c) is made in connection with a Liquidity Event that is not a Liquidation Event, and the definitive transaction documents for such Liquidity Event provide for a different method of valuation, the method of valuation set forth in such documents, not the provisions of this Section 5.01(c) , shall control):
(i) The value of securities not subject to investment letter or other similar restrictions on free marketability shall be determined as follows:
(A) if traded on a securities exchange, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on such exchange over the thirty (30)-day period ending three (3) calendar days prior to the closing; and
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(B) if actively traded over-the-counter, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid or sale prices (whichever are applicable) over the thirty (30)-day period ending three (3) calendar days prior to the closing.
(ii) The method of valuation of securities subject to investment letter or other restrictions on free marketability (other than restrictions arising solely by virtue of a Member’s status as an Affiliate or former Affiliate) shall be to make an appropriate discount from the market value determined as above in Section 5.01(c)(i) to reflect the approximate fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of Managers.
(d) Distributions Made in Error . Any distributions pursuant to Section 5.01(a) or (b) made in error or in violation of Section 18-607(a) of the Act, will, upon demand by the Board of Managers, be returned to the Company.
(e) Additional Limitations . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.01 , no Member shall be entitled to receive distributions in respect of any income or gain arising (i) with respect to a new Member, prior to such Member’s admission, and (ii) with respect to a Member who receives a new or increased interest in the Company, prior to such issuance or increase to the extent attributable to such issuance or increase (in each case, as reasonably determined by the Board of Managers). Distributions in respect of any income or gain arising prior to such admission, issuance or increase shall be made based upon the membership interests of the Members (including the number and class of Units held by such Members) at the time such income or gain arises, net of any deductions or losses, as reasonably determined by the Board of Managers. This Section 5.01(e) shall be interpreted and implemented consistently with the principles set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(g).
5.02 Tax Distributions. To the extent the Board of Managers determines that the Company has Available Cash, the Company shall make one or more distributions to each Member at least ten (10) business days before each estimated tax payment due date (i.e., April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15) with respect to a taxable year, in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such Member’s Assumed Tax Liability; provided if the amount of Available Cash is not sufficient to make the foregoing payments in full, the amount that is available will be distributed in the same proportion as if the full amounts were available with the balance being payable as the Board of Managers reasonably determines such amounts are available for distribution. Distributions made pursuant to this Section 5.02 will be treated as advances of distributions to be made under Sections 5.01(a) , 5.01(b) and 11.02 of this Agreement and will be credited against and reduce future distributions to be made to each Member under Sections 5.01(a) , 5.01(b) and 11.02 .
5.03 Allocations.
(a) Profits and Losses .
(i) Profits and Losses will be determined and allocated with respect to each Fiscal Year of the Company as of the end of such Fiscal Year, at such times as the Company assets are revalued in accordance with the definition of Gross Asset Value and at such other times as determined appropriate by the Board of Managers. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V , an allocation to a Member of a share of Profits or Losses will be treated as an allocation of the same share of each item of income, gain, loss or deduction that is taken into account in computing Profits or Losses. Subject to the other provisions of this Article V , for purposes of adjusting the Capital Accounts of the Members, the Profits and Losses for any Fiscal Year or other period will be allocated among the Members in a manner such that the Adjusted Capital Account of each Member, immediately after making such allocation is, as nearly as possible, equal (proportionately) to the distributions that would be made to such Member pursuant to Section 5.01(b) if the Company were dissolved, its affairs wound up and its assets sold for cash equal to their Gross Asset Value, all Company liabilities were satisfied (limited with respect to each nonrecourse liability to the Gross Asset Value of the asset securing such liability), and the net assets of the Company were distributed in accordance with Section 5.01(b) to the Members immediately after making such allocation.
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(ii) Notwithstanding Section 5.03(a)(i) , but subject to Section 5.03(b) :
(A) Profits, if any, shall first be allocated in proportion to, and to the extent of, the distributions of Available Cash for such Fiscal Year under Section 5.01(a) hereof (excluding for this purpose any distributions that are treated as “guaranteed payments” under Section 5.01(a) ); and
(B) Profits and Losses, and to the extent necessary, individual items of income, gain, loss or deduction of the Company, arising in the year in which a Liquidation Event occurs or arising from the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets, or if necessary and to the extent allowable, recognized in prior years, will be allocated such that, to the extent possible, the balance in each Member’s Adjusted Capital Account is equal to the amount that each such Member is entitled to receive under Section 11.02(c)(iii) .
(b) Regulatory Allocations . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 5.03(a) , the following special allocations will be made in the following order of priority:
(i) Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during a Fiscal Year, then each Member will be allocated items of Company income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary, for subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2). This Section 5.03(b)(i) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(f) and will be interpreted consistently therewith.
(ii) Member Minimum Gain Chargeback . If there is a net decrease in Member Minimum Gain attributable to a Member Nonrecourse Debt during any Fiscal Year, each Member who has a share of the Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(5), will be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for such taxable year (and, if necessary, subsequent years) in an amount equal to such Member’s share of the net decrease in Member Minimum Gain attributable to such Member Nonrecourse Debt, determined in a manner consistent with the provisions of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(g)(2). This Section 5.03(b)(ii ) is intended to comply with the partner nonrecourse debt minimum gain chargeback requirement of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i)(4) and will be interpreted consistently therewith.
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(iii) Qualified Income Offset . If any Member unexpectedly receives an adjustment, allocation, or distribution of the type contemplated by Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) or (6), items of income and gain will be allocated to all such Members (in proportion to the amounts of their respective deficit Adjusted Capital Accounts) in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the deficit balance in the Adjusted Capital Account of such Member as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 5.03(b)(iii) shall be made if and only to the extent that such Member would have an Adjusted Capital Account deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article V have been tentatively made as if this Section 5.03(b)(iii) were not in this Agreement. It is intended that this Section 5.03(b)(iii) qualify and be construed as a “qualified income offset” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).
(iv) Limitation on Allocation of Net Loss . If the allocation of Losses to a Member as provided in Section 5.03(a) hereof would create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account deficit, there will be allocated to such Member only that amount of Losses as will not create or increase an Adjusted Capital Account deficit. The Losses that would, absent the application of the preceding sentence, otherwise be allocated to such Member will be allocated to the other Members in accordance with their relative proportion of Units, subject to the limitations of this Section 5.03(b)(iv) .
(v) Certain Additional Adjustments . To the extent that an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset consistent with Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a distribution to a Member in complete liquidation of its Units, the amount of such adjustment to the Capital Accounts will be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis), and such gain or loss will be specially allocated to the Members in accordance with their Units in the Company in the event that Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Members to whom such distribution was made in the event that Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.
(vi) Nonrecourse Deductions . The Nonrecourse Deductions for each Fiscal Year will be allocated to the Members in the same manner that distributions would be made to the Members pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(i) .
(vii) Member Nonrecourse Deductions . The Member Nonrecourse Deductions will be allocated in accordance with Treasury Regulations 1.704-2(i) each year to the Member that bears the economic risk of loss (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-2) for the Member Nonrecourse Debt to which such Member Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable.
(viii) Curative Allocations . The allocations set forth in Sections 5.03(b)(i) through (vii) hereof (the “ Regulatory Allocations ”) are intended to comply with certain requirements of Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2(i). It is the intent of the Members that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations will be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss, credit or deduction pursuant to this Section 5.03(b)(viii) . Therefore, notwithstanding Section 5.03(a) , the Board of Managers will make such offsetting special allocations of Company income, gain, loss or deduction so that, to the extent possible, the net amount of such allocations of other items pursuant to this Section 5.03(b)(viii) and the Regulatory Allocations to each Member will be equal to the net amount that would have been allocated to each such Member if the Regulatory Allocations had not occurred.
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(c) Tax Allocations .
(i) Except as provided in Section 5.03(c)(ii) hereof, for income tax purposes under the Code and the Treasury Regulations, each Company item of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit will be allocated between the Members as its correlative item of “book” income, gain, loss, deduction or credit is allocated pursuant to this Article V .
(ii) Notwithstanding Section 5.03(c)(i), tax items with respect to Company assets that are contributed to the Company with a Gross Asset Value that varies from its basis in the hands of the contributing Member immediately preceding the date of contribution will be allocated between the Members for income tax purposes pursuant to Treasury Regulations promulgated under Code Section 704(c) so as to take into account such variation. The Company will account for such variation under any method approved under Code Section 704(c) and the applicable Treasury Regulations as chosen by the Board of Managers. If the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to the definition of “Gross Asset Value” herein, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit with respect to such Company asset will take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such Company asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in a manner consistent with Code Section 704(c) and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder under any method approved under Code Section 704(c) and the applicable Treasury Regulations as chosen by the Board of Managers; provided , that, with respect to the Company assets owned on the Effective Date, the Company shall use the “Traditional Method” as described in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-3(b). Allocations pursuant to this Section 5.03(c)(ii) are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and will not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Member’s Capital Account or share of net Profits, net Losses and any other items or distributions pursuant to any provision of this Agreement.
(d) Other Provisions .
(i) For any Fiscal Year or other period during which any Units are transferred between the Members or to another Person, the portion of the Profits, Losses and other items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit that are allocable with respect to such Units will be apportioned between the transferor and the transferee under any method allowed pursuant to Section 706 of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations as determined by the Board of Managers.
(ii) In the event that the Code or any Treasury Regulations require allocations of items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit different from those set forth in this Article V , the Board of Managers is hereby authorized to make new allocations in reliance on the Code and such Regulations, and no such new allocation will give rise to any claim or cause of action by any Member.
(iii) For purposes of determining a Member’s proportional share of the Company’s “excess nonrecourse liabilities” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.752-3(a)(3), each Member’s interest in Profits will be allocated to such Member in the same manner that a distributions would be made such Member pursuant to Section 5.01(b)(iii) .
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(e) Valuation; Revaluation . Valuations will be made by the Board of Managers or by independent third parties appointed by the Board of Managers and deemed qualified by the Board of Managers to render an opinion as to the value of the Company’s assets, using such methods and considering such information relating to the investments, assets and liabilities of the Company as the Board of Managers or independent third party, as the case may be, may determine in the discretion of the Board of Managers.
5.04 Withholding. The Company may withhold distributions or portions thereof if it is required to do so by any applicable rule, regulation, or law, and each Member hereby authorizes the Company to withhold from or pay on behalf of or with respect to such Member any amount of federal, state, local or foreign taxes that the Board of Managers determines that the Company is required to withhold or pay with respect to any amount distributable or allocable to such Member pursuant to this Agreement. Any amounts withheld pursuant to this Section 5.04 will be treated as having been distributed to such Member. In addition, to the extent that the cumulative amount of such withholding for any period exceeds the distributions to which such Member is entitled for such period, the amount of such excess will be considered a loan from the Company to such Member, with interest accruing at the Interest Rate plus 2%. Any income from such deemed loan will not be allocated to or distributed to the Member requiring such loan. Such loan may, at the option of the Board of Managers, be satisfied (i) out of distributions to which such Member would otherwise be subsequently entitled, or (ii) by the immediate payment in cash to the Company of such excess amount. The Board of Managers, on behalf of the Company, may take any other action it determines to be necessary or appropriate in connection with any obligation or possible obligation to impose withholding pursuant to any tax law or to pay any tax with respect to a Member. Each Member hereby unconditionally and irrevocably grants to the Company a security interest in such Member’s Units to secure such Member’s obligation to pay to the Company any amounts required to be paid pursuant to this Section 5.04 . Each Member will take such actions as the Company may request in order to perfect or enforce the security interest created hereunder. Each Member will furnish the Board of Managers with such information as may reasonably be requested by the Board of Managers from time to time to determine whether withholding is required, and each Member will promptly notify the Board of Managers if such Manager determines at any time that it is subject to withholding
ARTICLE
VI.
MANAGEMENT
6.01 Management. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by applicable law, the power and authority to manage, direct and control the Company will be vested exclusively in the Board of Managers. The Board of Managers will have full, complete and exclusive authority to manage, direct and control the business, affairs and properties of the Company, and to perform any and all other acts or activities customary or incident to the management of the Company’s activities. Unless expressly authorized to do so by the provisions hereof or by action of the Board of Managers, no Member in his, her or its capacity as a Member may claim or exercise any authority to act, or to enter into any contract or agreement, on behalf of, or bind, the Company
6.02 Board of Managers.
(a) Composition . There will be one (1) member of the Board of Managers, or such greater number as may be designated from time to time by a Member Majority. The members of the Board of Managers shall be elected by a Member Majority. The initial member of the Board of Managers shall be Bennett S. LeBow. Members of the Board of Managers need not be Members of the Company.
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(b) Meetings; Quorum . Meetings of the Board of Managers may be held at such place or places (which need not be in the State of Delaware) and at such times as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Managers; provided , that absent such determination, meetings of the Board of Managers shall be held at the Company’s principal place of business. Special meetings of the Board of Managers may be called by any member of the Board of Managers on at least forty-eight (48) hours notice (which notice may be in writing or by any oral, telephonic or electronic means which conveys actual notice) to each other Manager. At every meeting of the Board of Managers, the presence (in person, by telephone or by proxy, which proxy must be revocable at any time) of a majority of all of the members of the Board of Managers will be necessary to constitute a quorum. Meetings may be held in person, by telephone, or any other means by which the members of the Board of Managers can hear each other. Any member of the Board of Managers attending or participating in a meeting of the Board of Managers will be deemed to have waived any notice requirement unless his presence at such meeting was for the sole purpose of objecting to the failure of notice.
(c) Written Consent in Lieu of Meeting . Any action permitted or required by applicable law or this Agreement to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Managers may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent in writing, setting forth the action to be taken, is signed by all of the members of the Board of Managers. Such consent will have the same force and effect as an affirmative vote at a duly constituted meeting which is cast by those members of the Board of Managers who have signed the consent, and the execution of such consent will constitute attendance or presence in person at a meeting of the Board of Managers.
(d) Decisions Made by Vote . Except as otherwise set forth herein, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Managers present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, will be necessary for the adoption of any resolution, the making of any decision, the delegation of any authority, or the taking of any action by the Company.
(e) Vacancies . Subject to Section 6.02(a) , vacancies in the Board of Managers occurring for any reason will be filled by the Members having a right to elect such member of the Board of Managers. A member of the Board of Managers elected to fill any vacancy will hold office until the end of the term of his predecessor and thereafter until his successor has been elected and qualified.
(f) Removal and Resignation . Any member of the Board of Managers may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, only by a Member Majority. Any member of the Board of Managers may resign at any time, such resignation to be made in writing and to take effect immediately, or on such later date as may be specified in such written notice, without acceptance.
(g) Reimbursement and Remuneration . Unless otherwise agreed by a Member Majority, members of the Board of Managers will not be compensated for acting in such capacity, but will be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in furtherance of the business or management of the Company.
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6.03 Officers. The Board of Managers may, from time to time, designate one or more Persons to be officers of the Company, with such titles as the Board of Managers may assign to such Persons (each an “ Officer ”). No Officer need be a Member or Manager or a resident of the State of Delaware. Officers so designated will have such authority and perform such duties as the Board of Managers may, from time to time, delegate to them and, unless otherwise specified by the Board of Managers, will have the authority and responsibilities generally held by officers of a Delaware corporation holding the same titles. Any number of offices may be held by the same Person. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the Officers of the Company will be fixed from time to time by the Board of Managers or pursuant to contracts approved by the Board of Managers. Each Officer shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead or until such Officer’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Any Officer may resign as such at any time. Such resignation will be made in writing and will take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at the time of its receipt by the Board of Managers. Any Officer may be removed as such, either with or without cause, by the Board of Managers, in its sole discretion, subject (if applicable) to the terms and conditions of such Officer’s employment or consulting agreement with the Company or its Subsidiary. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company may be filled by the Board of Managers.
6.04 Indemnification; Limitation of Liability.
(a) Except as limited by applicable law and subject to the provisions of this Section 6.04 , each Member, Manager and Officer of the Company (each an “ Indemnitee ”) will not be liable for, and will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against, any and all losses, liabilities and reasonable expenses (which shall be paid as incurred), including attorneys’ fees, arising from proceedings in which such Indemnitee may be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its being a Member, Manager or Officer of the Company, or by reason of its involvement in the management of the affairs of the Company, whether or not it continues to be such at the time any such loss, liability or expense is paid or incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Indemnitee will be held harmless or indemnified under this Section 6.04 for any losses, liabilities or expenses arising out of the fraud, intentional misconduct, or knowing or reckless breach of Indemnitee’s obligations under this Agreement, or bad faith of such Indemnitee. The rights of indemnification provided in this Section 6.04 are in addition to any rights to which an Indemnitee may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law.
(b) Except as limited by applicable law, expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in defending any proceeding (except a proceeding by or in the right of the Company against such Indemnitee) will be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding, upon receipt of a written undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnitee to repay such amount if such Indemnitee is determined pursuant to this Section 6.04 or adjudicated to be ineligible for indemnification, which undertaking will be an unlimited general obligation of the Indemnitee but need not be secured unless so determined by the Board of Managers.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 6.04 will inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal representatives of each Indemnitee.
(d) Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 6.04 will be made only out of the assets of the Company and will in no event cause any Member to incur any personal liability nor shall it result in any liability of the Members to any third party.
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6.05 Directors and Officers’ Insurance. The Company will purchase and maintain director and officer liability insurance in the amount approved by the Board of Managers on behalf of any Person who is or was a Member, member of the Board of Managers, or Officer of the Company against any liability asserted against him or incurred by him in any capacity identified in Section 6.04 or arising out of his status as an Indemnitee, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against that liability under Section 6.04 .
6.06 Opportunities. The Company hereby acknowledges that no Member or Manager of the Company or its subsidiaries shall be required to bring to the Company any interest in, or offer to the Company an opportunity to participate in, and the Company shall have no right to any, business opportunities that are presented to such Person.
6.07 Duties. In the exercise of rights and performance of duties hereunder, each Member and each member of the Board of Managers will, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, have no fiduciary duties to the Company or, in the case of a member of the Board of Managers, to any Member.
ARTICLE
VII.
OTHER RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS
7.01 Drag-Along Rights.
(a) Drag-Along . If (i) a Member Majority elects to Transfer to any Person or Persons (collectively, a “ Drag-Along Transferee ”), other than in respect of an Permitted Transfer, in a bona fide arms’-length transaction or series of related transactions (including by way of a purchase agreement, tender offer, merger or other business combination transaction or otherwise) all of the Units held by such Member Majority on the date thereof (an “ Exit Sale ”), then such Member Majority may, subject to the other provisions of this Section 7.01 , require all other Members and holders of Units (the “ Minority Members ”) to sell or transfer all, but not less than all, of their Units (“ Minority Units ”) for the aggregate consideration and on the terms set forth in this Section 7.01 and to vote for, consent to, raise no objections to and take all actions reasonably required, necessary or desirable in connection with, such Exit Sale.
(i) Minority Units . Subject to Section 7.01(b) , each Minority Member shall transfer all of its Minority Units on the same terms and conditions applicable to, and for the same type of consideration payable to, the Member Majority at a price calculated in accordance with Section 7.01(a)(ii) .
(ii) Allocation of Consideration . Allocation of the aggregate purchase price payable for the Minority Units in an Exit Sale will be determined by assuming that the aggregate purchase price for all Units is distributed to all Members in accordance with Section 5.01(b) hereof and that the amount that would be distributed to the each of the Members will be paid to such Members in consideration for sale of its Units.
(b) Terms of Sale . In connection with an Exit Sale, each Member shall execute such documents, and make such representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities, as are executed and made by the Member Majority with respect to the Company; provided , that any such indemnification or other obligation assumed in connection with such Exit Sale shall be several (rather than joint) and pro rata as among the Members in accordance with the number of Units held by such Members, other than with respect to representations made individually by a Member (e.g., representations as to title or authority or representations qualified by the individual knowledge of such Member).
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(c) Notice of Sale . The rights set forth in Section 7.01 may be exercised by a Member Majority at any time by giving written notice (the “ Drag-Along Notice ”) to each other Member, at least thirty (30) days prior to the date on which the Member Majority expects to consummate the Exit Sale. In the event that the terms and/or conditions set forth in the Drag-Along Notice are thereafter amended in any respect, the Member Majority shall give written notice (an “ Amended Drag-Along Notice ”) of the amended terms and conditions of the proposed Transfer to each other Member. Each Drag-Along Notice and Amended Drag-Along Notice shall set forth: (i) the name and address of the Drag-Along Transferee, (ii) the proposed amount and form of consideration and terms and conditions of payment offered by the Drag-Along Transferee, and (iii) all other material terms of the proposed transaction, including without limitation the expected closing date of the transaction.
7.02 Reserved.
(a) Tag-Along Notice Initial Public Offering.
(a) Immediately prior to the effective date of an Initial Public Offering, all of the Units will be converted into securities of the same class as the equity securities offered in such Initial Public Offering (the “ Publicly Offered Securities ”), subject to the approval of the Board of Managers. Each Member’s Units will be converted into that number of equity securities having a value equal to the amount that such Member would be deemed to have received if the Company (or a successor thereto) had been liquidated following the sale of all its assets for fair market value, as determined by the underwriters, immediately prior to the effective date of the Initial Public Offering and the proceeds in such deemed liquidation distributed under Section 11.02 hereof. The market value of the equity securities being distributed will be deemed to be the price at which the Publicly Offered Securities are initially sold by the underwriters.
(b) The terms of the Initial Public Offering and of the Publicly Offered Securities will be determined by the Board of Managers.
(c) If the Company effects any registration in connection with an underwritten public offering (including the Initial Public Offering) of its equity securities (whether pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise), each holder of securities of the Company will, if requested by the Company, enter into an agreement with the Company and the underwriter or underwriters of such offering (in form reasonably acceptable to the Company) pursuant to which such holder will agree not to sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, any equity securities of the Company, or of any security convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity security of the Company (in each case, other than as part of such underwritten public offering), within seven (7) days before, or ninety (90) days (or one hundred eighty (180) days in the case of an Initial Public Offering) after, the effective date of such registration. The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the securities of the Company subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said 180-day or 90-day period.
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ARTICLE
VIII.
RIGHTS OF MEMBERS; CONFIDENTIALITY; CERTIFICATES; LEGENDS
8.01 Access to Information. In addition to the other rights specifically set forth in this Agreement, each Member will have access to all information to which a Member is entitled to have access pursuant to the Act.
Audits. No Member (other than a Member that is a Manager or Officer of the Company, in his or her capacity as such) will have the right to conduct, or cause to be conducted, an audit of the books and records of the Company.
8.02 Tax Matters.
The Company shall cooperate with the Members and use commercially reasonable efforts to assist the Members and their respective Affiliates in (i) the timely preparation of tax returns and other reports required to be filed by the Members and their respective Affiliates and related parties with any national, federal, provincial, state, local or foreign taxing authority that relates to their interest in the Company, as applicable, (ii) obtaining all requested information, records, and documents related to the Company and its subsidiaries that are reasonably necessary to the computation of taxes of the Members and their respective Affiliates or such Persons’ compliance with any applicable tax laws, and (iii) the preparation for and defense of any audits or other disputes with any governmental tax authority regarding any taxes or tax returns that relate to their interest in the Company.
8.03 Confidentiality. Each Member agrees that the provisions of this Agreement, all understandings, agreements and other arrangements between and among the Members, and all other non-public information received from or otherwise relating to the Company or its business will be confidential, and will not be disclosed or otherwise released to any other Person (other than any Member, Manager, Officer or other agent of the Company) or otherwise used for any purpose by such receiving Member (except in connection with its management and administration of its investment in the Units), without the written consent of a majority of the members of the Board of Managers. Except as may be required by applicable law, neither the Company nor any Member shall issue a press release or public announcement or otherwise make any disclosure to any third party concerning this Agreement or any proprietary, confidential or other non-public information or trade secrets relating to the business practices of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that such Member receives pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (the “ Confidential Information ”), without the prior written approval of the Board of Managers; provided , however , that nothing in this Agreement shall restrict any of the Members from disclosing information (a) that is already publicly available, (b) that was known to the disclosing party on a non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure by the disclosing party, (c) that is required or appropriate in response to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, provided that such Member will use reasonable efforts to notify the Company and the other Members in advance of such disclosure so as to permit the Company and the other Members to seek a protective order or otherwise contest such disclosure, and such Member will use reasonable efforts to cooperate, at the expense of the Company, with the Company and the other Members in pursuing such protective order, (d) to such Member’s officers, directors, managers, members, investors, employees, partners, auditors, counsel or other representatives, so long as such Persons are required to maintain the confidentiality of the Confidential Information and provided that the Member remains responsible for any breach of this provision by such Persons, or (e) to Persons from whom releases, consents or approvals are required, or to whom notice is required to be provided, pursuant to any requirement of law. If any announcement is required by law to be made by any party hereto, prior to making such announcement such party will deliver a draft of such announcement to the other parties and shall give the other parties reasonable opportunity to comment thereon.
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8.04 Certificates.
(a) Certificates . The Company may, at the discretion of the Board of Managers, issue to each Member a certificate signed by a Manager or Officer of the Company certifying the number of Units represented by the certificate owned by such Member.
(b) Signatures on Certificates . Any or all of the signatures on any certificate may be a facsimile. In case any Manager or Officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be a Manager or Officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if he were such Manager or Officer at the date of issue.
(c) Lost Certificates . The Board of Managers may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming the certificate of Units to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Managers may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates to deliver to the Company a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Company with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
(d) Transfers of Certificates . Upon surrender to the Company, or the transfer agent of the Company, of a certificate for Units duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, the Company shall issue a new certificate to the Person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
(e) Fixing Record Date . In order that the Company may determine the Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the Members, or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to company action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of Units or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Managers may fix a record date which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. A determination of Members of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting.
(f) Registered Unit Holders . The Company shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any Units as the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim or interest in such Units on the part of any other Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, save as expressly provided by the laws of the State of Delaware
8.05 Legends. Any certificate representing Units of the Company shall bear a legend substantially similar to the following:
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“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR JURISDICTION AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND SUCH LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS THEREOF.”
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS SET FORTH IN THE AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC DATED AS OF ________, 2010. A COPY OF SUCH AGREEMENT SHALL BE FURNISHED WITHOUT CHARGE BY THE ISSUER TO THE HOLDER HEREOF UPON WRITTEN REQUEST.”
ARTICLE
IX.
TAXES
9.01 Tax Returns. The Board of Managers will cause to be prepared and filed all necessary federal, state and local income tax returns for the Company, including making the elections described in Section 9.02 . Each Member will furnish to the Board of Managers all pertinent information in its possession relating to Company operations that is necessary to enable the Company’s income tax returns to be prepared and filed. The Board of Managers will prepare or cause to be prepared all federal, state and local tax returns on a timely basis and will furnish to each Member a copy of Schedule K-1 for such Member and, if requested by a Member, a copy of the related returns that are actually filed.
9.02 Tax Elections. The Company will make the following elections in the appropriate manner:
(a) to adopt the calendar year as the Company’s Fiscal Year;
(b) to adopt the accrual method of accounting;
(c) if a distribution of Company property as described in Section 734 of the Code occurs or if a transfer of a Unit as described in Section 743 of the Code occurs, on request by notice from the transferring Member (if a transfer) or any Member (if a distribution), to elect, pursuant to Section 754 of the Code, to adjust the basis of Company properties; and
(d) any other election the Board of Managers may deem appropriate and in the best interests of the Members.
It is the intent of the Members that the Company be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, for state and local franchise and income tax purposes. Neither the Company nor any Member may make an election for the Company to be excluded from the application of the provisions of subchapter K of chapter 1 of subtitle A of the Code or any similar provisions of applicable state or local law or to be treated as a corporation, and no provision of this Agreement will be construed to sanction or approve such an election.
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9.03 Tax Matters Partner. The “tax matters partner” within the meaning of Code Section 6231(a)(7) shall be selected by the Board of Managers, subject to replacement from time to time by the Board of Managers. The “tax matters partner” will take such action as may be necessary to cause each other Member to become a “notice partner” within the meaning of Section 6231(a)(8) of the Code. The “tax matters partner” will inform each other Member of all significant matters that may come to its attention in its capacity as “tax matters partner” by giving notice thereof reasonably promptly after becoming aware thereof and, within a reasonable time, will forward to each other Member copies of all significant written communications it may receive in that capacity. The “tax matters partner” may take any action contemplated by Sections 6222 through 6231 of the Code with the consent of the Board of Managers; provided , however , that (i) the “tax matters partner” shall not take any action left to the determination of an individual Member under Sections 6222 through 6231 of the Code and (ii) the “tax matters partner” shall not agree to any settlement without the approval of the Board of Managers. The Company shall reimburse the “tax matters partner” for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in the discharge of its duties.
ARTICLE
X.
BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
10.01 Maintenance of Books and Records. The books of account for the Company and other records of the Company will be located at the principal office of the Company or such other place as the Board of Managers may deem appropriate, and will be maintained on an accrual basis in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, except that the Capital Accounts of the Members will be maintained in accordance with Section 4.05 .
10.02 Reports. The Company will cause to be prepared or delivered to Members or the Board of Managers such reports as the Board of Managers may require. The Company will bear the costs of such reports.
10.03 Bank Accounts. The Board of Managers will cause the Company to establish and maintain one or more separate bank or investment accounts for Company funds in the Company name with such financial institutions and firms as the Board of Managers may select and with such signatories thereon as the Board of Managers may designate.
ARTICLE
XI.
DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION
11.01 Dissolution. The Company will dissolve and its affairs will be wound up upon the first to occur of any of the following (each, a “ Liquidation Event ”):
(a) the consent of a majority of Board of Managers; or
(b) the occurrence of any other event causing dissolution of the Company under the Act;
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provided , however , that, upon dissolution pursuant to clause (b) of this Section 11.01 , any or all of the remaining Members may elect to continue the business of the Company within ninety (90) days of the occurrence of the event causing such dissolution. The death, resignation, withdrawal, bankruptcy, insolvency or expulsion of any Member will not dissolve the Company.
11.02 Liquidation and Termination. On dissolution of the Company, a majority of the Board of Managers may appoint one or more Persons as liquidator(s). The liquidator will proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein. The costs of liquidation will be borne as a Company expense. Until final distribution, the liquidator will continue to operate the Company properties with all of the power and authority of the Members. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(a) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final liquidation, the liquidator will cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Company’s assets, liabilities, and operations through the last day of the calendar month in which the dissolution occurs or the final liquidation is completed, as applicable;
(b) the liquidator will pay from Company funds all of the debts and liabilities of the Company (including, without limitation, all expenses incurred in liquidation) or otherwise make reasonable provision therefor (including, without limitation, the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine); and
(c) the Company will dispose of all remaining assets as follows:
(i) the liquidator may sell any or all Company property, and any resulting gain or loss from each sale will be computed and allocated to the Members pursuant to Section 5.01(b) ;
(ii) with respect to all Company property that has not been sold, the fair market value of that property will be determined and the Capital Accounts of the Members will be adjusted to reflect the manner in which the unrealized income, gain, loss, and deduction inherent in property that has not been reflected in the Capital Accounts previously would be allocated among the Members if there were a taxable Transfer of that property for the fair market value of that property on the date of distribution; and
(iii) thereafter, Company property will be distributed among the Members in accordance with Section 5.01(b) . All distributions made pursuant to this Section 11.02(c)(iii) will be made by the end of such taxable year (or, if later, within ninety (90) days after the date of such liquidation).
(d) All distributions in kind to the Members will be made subject to the liability of each distributee for its allocable share of costs, expenses and liabilities theretofore incurred or for which the Company has committed prior to the date of termination and those costs, expenses and liabilities will be allocated to the distributee pursuant to this Section 11.02 .
11.03 Cancellation of Filing. On completion of the distribution of Company assets as provided herein, the Company will be terminated, and the Board of Managers (or such other Person or Persons as may be required) will cause the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation and of any other filings made as provided in Section 2.07 and will take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company.
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ARTICLE
XII.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
12.01 Notices. Except as to notices under Section 3.05(f) or Section 6.02(b) (which notices shall conform to and be governed by the provisions of such sections), all notices, requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given under this Agreement will be in writing and will be given either by depositing such writing in the United States mail, addressed to the recipient, postage paid and certified with return receipt requested, or by depositing such writing with a reputable overnight courier for next day delivery, or by delivering such writing to the recipient in person, by courier or by facsimile transmission. A notice, request or consent given under this Agreement (other than notices governed by Section 3.05(f) or Section 6.02(b) ) will be effective on receipt by the Person to receive it; provided , however , that any notice sent by United States mail shall, if not sooner received, be deemed received within five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the United States mail. All notices, requests and consents to be sent to a Member will be sent to or made at the addresses given for that Member on the list attached hereto as Exhibit A or such other address as that Member may specify by notice to the Company. Any notice, request or consent to the Company will be given to each other Member.
12.02 Entire Agreement; Supersedure. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Members relating to the Company and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to the Company, whether oral or written.
12.03 Effect of Waiver or Consent. A waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by that Person of its obligations with respect to the Company will not constitute a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Person of the same or any other obligations of that Person with respect to the Company. Failure on the part of a Person to object to any act of any Person or to declare any Person in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long such failure continues, will not constitute a waiver by that Person of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable limitations period has expired.
12.04 Amendment or Modification. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by a written instrument that is adopted by the Board of Managers; provided , however , that in no event shall this Agreement be amended, supplemented, or otherwise modified (a) to require any Member to make any additional Capital Contribution to the Company without that Member’s prior written consent or (b) in a manner that would adversely affect a Member’s rights disproportionately to any other Member without such Member’s prior written consent. For the avoidance of doubt, any increase in the number of Managers constituting the Board of Managers effected in accordance with Section 6.01(a) shall not be deemed to adversely affect any Member’s rights under this Agreement. No Member approval is required for any amendment made by the Board of Managers to Exhibit A in accordance with Section 3.01 .
12.05 Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on Transfer set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement will be binding on and inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.
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12.06 Governing Law; Severability. This Agreement is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflict-of-laws rule or principle that might refer the governance or the construction of this Agreement to the law of another jurisdiction. Each of the Members hereby agrees to (i) the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware and (ii) service of process in accordance with Section 12.01 . If any provision of this Agreement or its application to any Person or circumstance is held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances will not be affected thereby, and such provision will be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.
12.07 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, each Member will execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and such transactions.
12.08 Waiver of Certain Rights. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each Member irrevocably waives any right it might have to maintain any action for dissolution of the Company, or to maintain any action for partition of the property of the Company.
12.09 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatories had signed the same document. All counterparts will be construed together and constitute the same instrument.
[Signature Pages Follow ]
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IN WITNESS THEREOF, the Company and the undersigned Members have executed this Agreement effective as of the Effective Date.
COMPANY: | ||
SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC | ||
/s/ Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Member | ||
MEMBERS: | ||
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP, | ||
a Delaware limited liability limited partnership | ||
By: | LeBow Holdings, Inc., a Nevada Corporation, its General Partner | |
/s/ Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Bennett S. LeBow | ||
President |
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SCHEDULE I
DEFINITIONS
“ Act ” means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and any successor statute, as amended from time to time.
“ Adjusted Capital Account ” means, with respect to any Member, the balance, if any, in such Member’s Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year, after giving effect to the following adjustments:
(a) add to such Capital Account any amounts which such Member is obligated to restore pursuant to this Agreement or is deemed to be obligated to restore to the Company pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c) or the penultimate sentence of each of Treasury Regulations sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and
(b) subtract from such Capital Account such Member’s share of the items described in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), (5) and (6).
The foregoing definition of Adjusted Capital Account is intended to comply with the provisions of Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.
“ Affiliate ” of a Person means (i) any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the first Person and (ii) if such Person is an individual, any member of such Person’s immediate family (which shall include any spouse, lineal ancestor or descendant or sibling) or any trust, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other entity established for the benefit of such Person and/or his or her family member(s). For purposes of this definition, “control” means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
“ Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof
“ Amended Drag-Along Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.08 .
“ Assumed Tax Liability ” means an amount with respect to a Fiscal Year, as determined in good faith by the Board of Managers for each Member, that is equal to the excess, if any, of (i) an amount sufficient to satisfy such Member’s federal, state and local income tax liability with respect to the cumulative income or gain allocated to such Member for tax purposes pursuant to Section 5.03(c)(i) for such Fiscal Year plus the amount of any taxable income recognized upon the receipt of any “guaranteed payment” under Section 5 hereof over (ii) the cumulative distributions made to such Member by the Company within such Fiscal Year pursuant to Sections 5.01 and 5.02 of this Agreement, including for the avoidance of doubt, any “guaranteed payments” made pursuant to such sections. In determining the Assumed Tax Liability for any Member, the Board of Managers shall, at its discretion, take into account the amount of any guaranteed payment made to such Member for the Fiscal Year and the income recognized by such Member for the Fiscal Year on account of such guaranteed payment. For each Member, the Assumed Tax Liability will be based on the Assumed Tax Rate that is applicable to the income or gain allocated to such Member.
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“ Assumed Tax Rate ” means with respect to any Member, an amount, as determined in good faith by the Board of Managers for each Member (based upon information provided by such Member to the Board of Managers), that is equal to the highest marginal income tax rate (taking into account federal, state and local income taxes, which the Board of Managers estimates is applicable to such Member, and taking into account the potential deductibility of state and local income taxes in determining federal income tax liability) applicable to the tax allocations made pursuant to Section 5.03(c) , utilizing the rates for ordinary income or capital gain depending on the character of the income and gain.
“ Available Cash ” means the gross cash proceeds from the Company’s operations (including sales and dispositions of property whether or not in the ordinary course of business) and any net cash proceeds from any issuance of equity or refinancing of debt or new debt issuance, less amounts used to pay or establish reserves for all Company expenses, royalties, licensing fees, patent expenses, debt payments, capital improvements, replacements, future acquisitions and investments and contingencies, all as reasonably determined by the Board of Managers; provided , however , that Available Cash shall not include the net cash proceeds from any Liquidity Event or Liquidation Event.
“ Board of Managers ” means the Board of Managers that manages and controls the Company as set forth in Article VI .
“ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday on which banks in New York are authorized or obligated by law to close.
“ Capital ” means the amount of cash and the net fair market value of any property contributed to the Company by the Members pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
“ Capital Account ” means the Capital Account maintained for each Member on the Company’s books and records in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) To each Member’s Capital Account there will be added (i) the amount of cash and the Gross Assets Value of any other asset contributed by such Member to the Company pursuant to Article IV hereof, (ii) such Member’s allocable share of Profits and any items in the nature of income or gain that are specially allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.03(a) and (b) hereof or other provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by such Member or which are secured by any property distributed to such Member.
(b) From each Member’s Capital Account there will be subtracted (i) the amount of cash and the Gross Asset Value of any other Company assets distributed to such Member pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, (ii) such Member’s allocable share of Losses and any other items in the nature of expenses or losses that are specially allocated to such Member pursuant to Section 5.03(a) and (b) or other provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) liabilities of such Member assumed by the Company or which are secured by any property contributed by such Member to the Company.
(c) In the event any Unit is Transferred in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the transferee will succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the transferred Unit.
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(d) Determination of the amount of any liability for purposes of subparagraphs (a) and (b) above will take into account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations.
(e) The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to the maintenance of Capital Accounts are intended to comply with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2 and will be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with such Treasury Regulations. In the event that the Board of Managers determines that it is prudent to modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any additions or subtractions thereto, are computed in order to comply with such Treasury Regulations, the Board of Managers may make such modification, provided that it is not likely to have a material effect on the amounts distributable to any Member pursuant to Article XI hereof upon the dissolution of the Company.
“ Capital Contribution ” means any amount of Capital contributed to the Company by a Member pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Any reference to the Capital Contributions of a Member will include the Capital Contributions made by a predecessor holder of the Units of such Member.
“ Certificate of Formation ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 .
“ Class A Percentage ” means the percentage obtained by dividing, at any particular time, the number of issued and outstanding Class A Units by the total number of issued and outstanding Units.
“ Class A Unit ” means an interest in the Company designated by the Board of Managers as a Class A Unit.
“ Class B Percentage ” means the percentage obtained by dividing, at any particular time, the number of issued and outstanding Class B Units by the total number of issued and outstanding Units. “ Class B Unit ” means an interest in the Company designated by the Board of Managers as a Class B Unit.
“ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“ Company ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“ Company Minimum Gain ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d)(1) for the phrase “partnership minimum gain.”
“ Confidential Information ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04 .
“ Depreciation ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to an asset for such Fiscal Year or other period, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of such Fiscal Year or other period, Depreciation will be an amount that bears the same ratio to such beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other period bears to such beginning adjusted tax basis. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the federal income tax depreciation, amortization or other cost recovery deduction for such Fiscal Year or other period is zero, Depreciation will be determined with reference to such beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the Board of Managers.
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“ Drag-Along Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(c) .
“ Drag-Along Transferee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(a) .
“ Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“ Entity ” means any corporation, limited liability company, general partnership, limited partnership, venture, trust, business or statutory trust, unincorporated association, estate or other entity.
“ Fiscal Year ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06 .
“ GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United States.
“ Gross Asset Value ” means, with respect to any asset, the asset’s adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:
(a) The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Member to the Company is the gross fair market value of such asset, as determined by the Board of Managers.
(b) The Gross Asset Value of all Company assets immediately prior to the occurrence of any event described in subparagraphs (i) through (v) below may be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values, as determined by the Board of Managers using such reasonable method of valuation as it may adopt, as of the following times:
(i) the acquisition of any additional Units in the Company by a new or existing Member in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution, if the Board of Managers reasonably determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative Units of the Members in the Company;
(ii) the distribution by the Company to a Member of more than a de minim is amount of Company assets as consideration for a Unit in the Company, if the Board of Managers reasonably determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative Units of the Members in the Company;
(iii) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g);
(iv) the grant of Units in the Company as consideration for the provision of services to or for the benefit of the Company by an existing Member acting in his capacity as a Member, or by a new Member acting in his capacity as a Member or in anticipation of becoming a Member of the Company, if the Board of Managers reasonably determines that such adjustment is necessary or appropriate to reflect the relative Units of the Members in the Company; and
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(v) at such other times as the Board of Managers may reasonably determine necessary or advisable in order to comply with Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-1(b) and 1.704-2.
(c) The Gross Asset Value of any Company asset distributed to a Member is the gross fair market value of such asset (taking section 7701(g) of the Code into account) on the date of distribution as determined by the Board of Managers.
(d) The Gross Asset Values of Company assets will be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704- 1(b)(2)(iv)(m), except that Gross Asset Values will not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (b) above is made in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d).
(e) If the Gross Asset Value of a Company asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subsection (b) or (d) above, such Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset for purposes of computing Profits and Losses.
“ Holder ” means any holder of Units at the time of conversion of such Units into Publicly Offered Securities in connection with a Initial Public Offering.
“ Indemnitee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03(a) .
“ Initial Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01 .
“ Initial Public Offering ” means a public offering and sale of securities of the Company (or a successor entity) for cash pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
“ Interest Rate ” means a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (a) varying rate per annum that is equal to the interest rate publicly quoted by JPMorgan Chase Bank (or its successor) from time to time as its prime commercial or similar reference interest rate, with adjustments in that varying rate to be made on the same date as any change in that rate, compounded annually, and (b) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law.
“ Liquidation Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01 .
“ Liquidity Event ” means (i) any Liquidation Event, (ii) the sale, conveyance, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition of the Company by means of a consolidation, equity exchange, merger or other form of Company reorganization with any other entity in which the Members prior to the consolidation, merger or other reorganization own less than a majority of the voting securities of the surviving entity, (iv) any transaction or series of related transactions following which the Members prior to such transactions own less than a majority of the voting securities of the Company, (v) an Initial Public Offering, and (vi) unless otherwise determined by the Board of Managers, (A) a recapitalization of the Company involving the issuance of debt and/or equity securities of the Company or (B) a sale or license of material assets of the Company outside of the ordinary course of business.
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“ Manager ” means any member of the Board of Managers.
“ Member ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph hereof.
“ Member Majority ” means the Members holding, collectively, Units representing a majority of all Units, voting together as a single class.
“ Member Minimum Gain ” means an amount, with respect to each Member Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Minimum Gain that would result if such Member Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i) with respect to “partner minimum gain.”
“ Member Nonrecourse Debt ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(b)(4) for the phrase “partner nonrecourse debt.”
“ Member Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-2(i) for the phrase “partner nonrecourse deductions.”
“ Minority Member ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(a) .
“ Nonrecourse Deductions ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(1) and 1.704-2(c).
“ Nonrecourse Liability ” has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.704-2(b)(3) and 1.752-1(a)(2).
“ Officer ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02 .
“ Permitted Transfer ” means, with respect to any Member, a Transfer (i) to the Company, (ii) to an Affiliate of such Member, or (iii) to a Permitted Transferee.
“ Permitted Transferee ” means, with respect to a natural person, a trust, corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity, all of the beneficial interests in which are held directly or indirectly by such person or one or more members of such person’s immediate family (which shall include his or her spouse, ex-spouse, parents, siblings, descendants, and parents or spouses of descendants); provided , however , that during the period any such trust, corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity holds any right, title or interest in any Unit, no person or entity other than such person or such person’s Family Members may be or become beneficiaries, shareholders, members or limited or general partners or owners thereof.
“ Person ” means any individual or Entity.
“ Profits ” and “ Losses ” means, for each Fiscal Year or other period, an amount equal to the Company’s taxable income or loss for such year or period determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) will be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments:
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(a) Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of Profits and Losses will increase the amount of such income and/or decrease the amount of such loss;
(b) Any expenditure of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of Profits and Losses, will decrease the amount of such income and/or increase the amount of such loss;
(c) Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Company assets where such gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes will be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the Company assets disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of such Company assets differs from its Gross Asset Value;
(d) In lieu of the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such income or loss, Depreciation will be taken into account for such Fiscal Year or other period;
(e) To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any asset included in Company assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a distribution other than in liquidation of a Member’s Units, the amount of such adjustment will be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases the basis of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and will be taken into account for the purposes of computing Profits and Losses;
(f) If the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted in accordance with subparagraph (b) or subparagraph (c) of the definition of “Gross Asset Value” above, the amount of such adjustment will be taken into account in the taxable year of such adjustment as gain or loss from the disposition of such asset for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition of Profits and Losses, any items that are specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03(b) will not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses. The amounts of the items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Section 5.03(b) hereof will be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in this definition of Profits and Losses.
“ Publicly Offered Securities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.03(a) .
“ Regulatory Allocations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(b)(viii) .
“ SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ Secretary of State ” means the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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“ Transfer ” means a disposition, sale, assignment, transfer, exchange, pledge or the grant of a security interest or other encumbrance.
“ Treasury Regulations ” means temporary and final Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.
“ Units ” means the units representing the limited liability company interests of the Company, including without limitation the Class A Units and Class B Units.
“ Unreturned Contribution Account ” shall mean an account maintained with respect to each Member which shall be increased by the cumulative Capital Contributions made by such Member under Article IV hereof and which shall be decreased by the cumulative distributions made to such Member under Section 5.01(b)(i) and Section 5.01(b)(iii) with respect to a Member.
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EXHIBIT A
Members, Initial Capital Accounts and
Units
As of January 1, 2011
Name and Address |
Initial Capital
Account |
Number and
Class of Units |
||||
LeBow Alpha LLLP | ||||||
c/o BSL Capital | $ | 2,000,000 | 72,500 Class A | |||
667 Madison Avenue | ||||||
14 th Floor | ||||||
New York, NY 10065 | ||||||
Joe Hernandez | N/A | 20,000 Class B | ||||
Reserved for future issuance | N/A | 30,000 Class B | ||||
Total | _______ |
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FIRST AMENDMENT
TO
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
SIGNAL GENETICS LLC
This FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”) of SIGNAL GENETICS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is executed as of January 27, 2011, by the sole member of the Board of Managers of the Company (the “ Board of Managers ”).
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
A. The Members have entered into that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company dated as of January 1, 2011 (the “ Agreement ”).
B. Pursuant to Section 12.04 of the Agreement, the Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by a written instrument that is adopted by the Board of Managers.
C. The sole member of the Board of Managers desires to amend the Agreement as provided herein.
AMENDMENT
1. The third sentence in Section 4.01(a) of the Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:
“As of the date of the this Agreement, 100,000 Class A Units are authorized and 72,500 Class A Units are issued and outstanding, 50,000 Class B Units are authorized and 29,500 Class B Units are issued and outstanding.”
2. Exhibit A to Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety by the Exhibit A attached hereto.
3. Except as set forth in this Amendment, there are no supplements, amendments, revisions or other modifications to the Agreement. All other terms and conditions of the Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference and shall remain in full force and effect and apply fully to this Amendment.
4. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws principles thereof.
[Signature Page Follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the sole member of the Board of Managers has executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.
By: | /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | |
Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Manager |
EXHIBIT A
Members, Initial Capital Accounts and Units
Initial Capital | Number and | ||||||
Name and Address | Account | Class of Units | |||||
LeBow Alpha LLLP
c/o BSL Capital
|
$ | 2,000,000 | 72,500 Class A | ||||
Joe Hernandez | N/A | 20,000 Class B | |||||
Anthony P. Albino | N/A | 7,500 Class B | |||||
Greg Richards | N/A | 2,000 Class B | |||||
Total | 102,000 |
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Exhibit 3.5
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC.
The undersigned, a natural person, for the purposes of organizing a corporation for conducting the business and promoting the purposes hereinafter stated, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the laws of the State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 1, Title 8 of the Delaware Code and the acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and known and referred to as the “ DGCL ”), hereby certifies that:
ARTICLE I: | The name of this Corporation is Signal Genetics, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”). |
ARTICLE II: | The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1811 Silverside Road, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19810. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is Vcorp Services, LLC. |
ARTICLE III: | The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the DGCL. |
ARTICLE IV: | A. The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have the authority to issue is 55,000,000 shares consisting of: |
1. 50,000,000 shares of common stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”); and
2. 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, with a par value of $0.01 per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”).
B. Each holder of Common Stock, as such, shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held of record by such holder on all matters on which stockholders generally are entitled to vote; provided, however, that, except as otherwise required by law, holders of Common Stock, as such, shall not be entitled to vote on any amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) that relates solely to the terms of one or more outstanding series of Preferred Stock if the holders of such affected series are entitled, either separately or together with the holders of one or more other such series, to vote thereon pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designations relating to any series of Preferred Stock) or pursuant to DGCL.
C. The Board of Directors is authorized, subject to any limitations prescribed by law, to provide for the issuance of the shares of Preferred Stock in series and, by filing a certificate pursuant to the applicable law of the State of Delaware, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon. The number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock without a vote of the holders of the Preferred Stock, or of any series thereof, unless a vote of any such holders is required pursuant to the certificate or certificates establishing the series of Preferred Stock.
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ARTICLE V: | The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be as specified in the Bylaws of the Corporation, but such number may from time to time be increased or decreased in such manner as may be prescribed by the Bylaws. In no event shall the number of directors be less than the minimum prescribed by law. The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide. Directors need not be stockholders. |
ARTICLE VI: | In addition to the powers and authority expressly conferred upon them by statute or by this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, the directors are hereby empowered to exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation. |
ARTICLE VII: | The Board of Directors is expressly empowered to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders shall also have the power to adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment, alteration or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders shall require, in addition to any votes of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by this Certification of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election or directors, voting together as a single class. |
ARTICLE VIII: | A director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this ARTICLE VIII shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment. |
ARTICLE IX: | Each person (and the heirs, executors or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The right to indemnification conferred in this ARTICLE IX shall also include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in connection with any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. The right to indemnification conferred in this ARTICLE IX shall be a contract right. The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide indemnification to such of the employees and agents of the Corporation to such extent and to such effect as the Board of Directors shall determine to be appropriate and authorized by the DGCL. The rights and authority conferred in this ARTICLE IX shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may otherwise have or hereafter acquire. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this ARTICLE IX, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, nor, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, any modification of law, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this ARTICLE IX in respect of any acts or omissions occurring prior to such amendment, repeal, adoption or modification. |
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ARTICLE X: | Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws of the Corporation may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the DGCL) outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation or in the Bylaws of the Corporation. |
ARTICLE XI: | The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation by the affirmative vote of the majority of the holders of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class in any manner now or hereafter permitted by the DGCL and all rights of the stockholders of the Corporation are granted subject to this reservation. |
ARTICLE XII: | The name and mailing address of the incorporator are as follows: Samuel D. Riccitelli, 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, NY, 10065. |
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the Undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation under the laws of the State of Delaware, do make, file and record this Certificate, and do certify that the facts herein stated are true, and I have accordingly hereunto set my hand this [__] day of [__], 2014.
BY: | ||
NAME: | Samuel D. Riccitelli |
[ Siganture page to Signal Genetics, Inc. Certification of Incorporation ]
Exhibit 3.6
BYLAWS
OF
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC.
ARTICLE
1
OFFICES
Section 1.01. Registered Office. The registered office of Signal Genetics, Inc. (hereinafter, the “Corporation”) shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware 19810.
Section 1.02. Other Offices . The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
Section 1.03. Books . The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE
2
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.01. Time and Place of Meetings . All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairman in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors).
Section 2.02. Annual Meetings . An annual meeting of the stockholders, commencing with the year 2015, shall be held for the election of directors and to transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any annual meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.03. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President of the Corporation and may not be called by any other person. Business transacted at any special meeting of the stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice. The Board of Directors may postpone, reschedule or cancel any special meeting of stockholders previously scheduled by the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, such holders may call, pursuant to the terms of the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Article 4 hereto, special meetings of holders of such Preferred Stock.
Section 2.04. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings; Waivers of Notice .
(a) Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (if such date is different from the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting) and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (“Delaware Law”), the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, such notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. Except as otherwise provided herein or permitted by applicable law, notice of stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the stockholders at their address appearing on the books of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, notice of meetings may be given to stockholders by means of electronic transmission in accordance with applicable law.
(b) Any meeting of the stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, if any. Unless these Bylaws otherwise require, when a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
(c) A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Any stockholder so waiving notice of the meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of the meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
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Section 2.05. Quorum . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, and subject to Delaware Law, the presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have adjourn the meeting in the manner provided in Section 2.04, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. A quorum once established, shall not be broken by the subsequent withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. Shares of stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation, or any subsidiary of the Corporation, to vote stock, including but not limited to its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 2.06. Voting; Proxies .
(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to Delaware Law, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each outstanding share of capital stock of the Corporation held by such stockholder. Any share of capital stock of the Corporation held by the Corporation shall have no voting rights. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, in all matters other than the election of directors, the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specific circumstances, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders by the holders of stock entitled to vote in the election of directors.
(b) Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders, or to express consent or dissent to a corporate action in writing without a meeting, may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, appointed by an instrument in writing, subscribed by such stockholder or by his attorney thereunto authorized, or by proxy sent by cable, telegram or by any means of electronic communication permitted by law, which results in a writing from such stockholder or by his attorney, and delivered to the secretary of the meeting. No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless said proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by delivering to the Secretary of the Corporation a revocation of the proxy or a new proxy bearing a later date.
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(c) Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot. Votes may be cast by any stockholder entitled to vote in person or by his proxy. In determining the number of votes cast for or against a proposal or nominee, shares abstaining from voting on a matter (including elections) will not be treated as a vote cast, but will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum. A non-vote by a broker will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum but not for purposes of determining the number of votes cast.
(d) All other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of stock of the Corporation which are present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.
Section 2.07. Inspector of Elections; Opening and Closing the Polls . The Board of Directors by resolution shall appoint one or more inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the presiding officer of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law. The presiding officer of the meeting shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting.
Section 2.08. Written Consent of Stockholders Without a Meeting . Any action to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action to be so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered (by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this Section 2.08, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation as aforesaid. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall, to the extent required by applicable law, be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing, and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for notice of such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation.
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Section 2.09. Organization . At each meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or in the Chairman's absence or if one shall not have been elected, the director designated by the vote of the majority of the directors present at such meeting, shall act as chairman of, and preside at, the meeting. The Secretary, or in the Secretary's absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
Section 2.10. Order of Business . The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.
Section 2.11. Nomination of Directors . Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible to serve as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.11, who shall be entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.11. Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60 th ) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90 th ) day in advance of the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to such anniversary date or delayed more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date then to be timely such notice must be received by the Corporation no later than the later of the close of business on the seventieth (70 th ) day prior to the date of the meeting or the close of business on the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was made. In no event shall the public announcement of the new meeting date commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period). Such stockholder's notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such stockholder, and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially and of record) by such stockholder and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, as of the date of the stockholder’s notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (iii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (iv) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the proposing stockholder’s notice, by or on behalf of such stockholder with respect to the Corporation’s securities, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder with respect to the Corporation's securities, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed; (v) a representation that the proposing stockholder is a holder of record of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, and (vi) a representation whether the proposing stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the nomination and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the stockholders in support of the nomination. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder's notice of nomination that pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible to serve as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this bylaw. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.11.
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Section 2.12. Notice of Business . At any meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.12, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.12. In addition, any proposal of business must be a proper matter for stockholder action. For business to be properly brought before a stockholder meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60 th ) day, nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90 th ) day in advance of the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to such anniversary date or delayed more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date then to be timely such notice must be received by the Corporation no later than the later of the close of business on the seventieth (70 th ) day prior to the date of the meeting or the close of business on the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was made. In no event shall the public announcement of the new meeting date commence a new notice time period (or extend any notice time period). A stockholder’s notice to the secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, (c) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially and of record) by such stockholder and owned by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, as of the date of the stockholder’s notice, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the stockholder and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the proposing stockholder’s notice, by or on behalf of such stockholder with respect to the Corporation’s securities, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder with respect to the Corporation's securities, and a representation that the stockholder will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (f) a representation that the proposing stockholder is a holder of record of the shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose the business specified in the notice, (g) a representation whether the proposing stockholder intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve the proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from the stockholders in support of the proposal, (h) any material interest of the stockholder in such business, and (i) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal and pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Notwithstanding anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a stockholder meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.12. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of the Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, provisions of this Section 2.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.12.
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Section 2.13. Proxy Rules . The foregoing notice requirements of Section 2.12 shall be deemed satisfied by a stockholder with respect to business other than a nomination if the stockholder has notified the Corporation of his, her or its intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.
Section 2.14. Effect of Noncompliance . Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary: (i) no nominations shall be made or business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article 2, and (ii) unless otherwise required by law, if a stockholder intending to propose business or make nominations at an annual meeting pursuant to this Article 2 does not provide the information required under this Article 2 to the Corporation promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, or the proposing stockholder (or a qualified representative of the proposing stockholder) does not appear at the meeting to present the proposed business or nominations, such business or nominations shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business or nominations may have been received by the Corporation. The requirements of this Article 2 shall apply to any business or nominations to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder whether such business or nomination are to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. The requirements of this Article 2 are included to provide the Corporation notice of a stockholder’s intention to bring business or nominations before an annual meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any stockholder the requirement to seek approval from the Corporation as a condition precedent to bringing any such business or making such nominations before an annual meeting.
ARTICLE
3
DIRECTORS
Section 3.01. General Powers . Except as otherwise provided by Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may adopt such rules and procedures, not inconsistent with the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, Delaware Law or other applicable law as it may deem proper for the conduct of its meetings and the management of the Corporation
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Section 3.02. Number, Election and Term of Office. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three (3) nor more than eleven (11) directors, with the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders next following the annual meeting at which such director was elected. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section 3.03. Quorum and Manner of Acting . Unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws require a greater number, the presence of a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors the directors present thereat shall adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 3.04. Time and Place of Meetings . The Board of Directors shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors (or the Chairman in the absence of a determination by the Board of Directors).
Section 3.05. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 3.07 herein or in a waiver of notice thereof signed by any director who chooses to waive the requirement of notice.
Section 3.06. Regular Meetings . After the place and time of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall have been determined and notice thereof shall have been once given to each member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.
Section 3.07. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be called by the Chairman of the Board, President or Secretary on the written request of three or more directors. Notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director at least three days before the date of the meeting in such manner as is determined by the Board of Directors.
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Section 3.08. Committees . The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors or by applicable law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matter: (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by Delaware Law to be submitted to the stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, at all meetings of such committee, a majority of the then authorized members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at the meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the committee.
Section 3.09. Action by Consent . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions, are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 3.10. Telephonic Meetings . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or such committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 3.11. Resignation . Any director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation of any director shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
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Section 3.12. Vacancies . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors may be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office (although less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director. Each director so elected shall hold office until the earlier of the expiration of the term of office of the director whom he or she has replaced, a successor is duly elected and qualified or the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in accordance with Delaware Law. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, when one or more directors shall resign from the Board, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such future vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in the filling of the other vacancies.
Section 3.13. Removal . No director may be removed from office by the stockholders except for cause with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Section 3.14. Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the compensation of directors, including fees and reimbursement of expenses.
Section 3.15. Preferred Stock Directors . Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, the election, term of office, filing of vacancies, removal and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the terms of the resolutions applicable thereto adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, and such directors so elected shall not be subject to the provisions of Sections 3.02, 3.12 and 3.13 of this Article 3 unless otherwise provided therein.
ARTICLE
4
OFFICERS
Section 4.01. Principal Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall include a president, a treasurer and a secretary. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect a chairman (who must be a director), one or more vice chairmen (who must be a director), a chief executive officer and one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and other officers. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
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(d) President . The President shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the operations of the corporation. The President shall have the power to affix the signature of the Corporation to all contracts that have been authorized by the Board of Directors. The President shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree to or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
(e) Treasurer . The Treasurer shall supervise and be responsible for all the funds and securities of the Corporation, the deposit of all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in depositories of the Corporation, borrowings and compliance with the provisions of all indentures, agreements and instruments governing such borrowings to which the Corporation is a party, the disbursement of funds of the Corporation and the investment of its funds, and in general shall perform all of the duties incident to the office of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree to with the President or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
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(g) Secretary . The powers and duties of the Secretary are: (i) to act as Secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors, of the committees of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders and to record the proceedings of such meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; (ii) to see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; (iii) to act as custodian of the seal of the Corporation and affix the seal or cause it to be affixed to all certificates of stock of the Corporation and to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; (iv) to have charge of the books, records and papers of the Corporation and see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and (v) to perform all of the duties incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary shall, when requested, counsel with and advise the other officers of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as such officer may agree to with the President or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4.02. Election; Term of Office; Vacancy; and Remuneration . Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Any vacancy in any office shall be filled in such manner as the Board of Directors shall determine. The remuneration of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.03. Subordinate Officers . The Board of Directors may delegate to any principal officer the power to appoint and to remove any such subordinate officers, agents or employees.
Section 4.04. Removal . Except as otherwise permitted with respect to subordinate officers, any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by the majority vote of the members of the Board of Directors then in office.
Section 4.05. Resignations . Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors (or to a principal officer if the Board of Directors has delegated to such principal officer the power to appoint and to remove such officer) of such person’s resignation. The resignation of any officer shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4.06. Powers and Duties . The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties incident to each of their respective offices and such other duties as may from time to time be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE
5
CAPITAL STOCK
Section 5.01. Certificates for Stock; Uncertificated Shares . The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates of the same class and series shall be identical. Every holder of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or Vice President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an assistant Secretary of such Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. A Corporation shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.
Section 5.02. Transfer of Shares . Shares of the stock of the Corporation may be transferred on the record of stockholders of the Corporation by the holder thereof or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney upon surrender of a certificate therefor properly endorsed or upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of uncertificated shares or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney and upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form, unless waived by the Corporation.
Section 5.03. Authority for Additional Rules Regarding Transfer. The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of the stock of the Corporation, as well as for the issuance of new certificates in lieu of those which may be lost or destroyed, and may require of any stockholder requesting replacement of lost or destroyed certificates, bond in such amount and in such form as they may deem expedient to indemnify the Corporation, and/or the transfer agents, and/or the registrars of its stock against any claims arising in connection therewith.
Section 5.04. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
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ARTICLE
6
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
Section 6.01. Right to Indemnification . The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (a “Covered Person”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such Covered Person. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.3, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Covered Person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Covered Person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Covered Person was authorized in the specific case by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
Section 6.02. Prepayment of Expenses . The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a Covered Person in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Covered Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Covered Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI or otherwise.
Section 6.03. Nonexclusivity of Rights . The rights conferred on any Covered Person by this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Covered Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 6.04. Other Sources . The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Covered Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such Covered Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.
Section 6.05. Amendment or Repeal . Any right to indemnification or to advancement of expenses of any Covered Person arising hereunder shall not be eliminated or impaired by an amendment to or repeal of these Bylaws after the occurrence of the act or omission that is the subject of the civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification or advancement of expenses is sought.
Section 6.06. Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses . This Article VI shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify and to advance expenses to persons other than Covered Persons when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.
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ARTICLE
7
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 7.01. Fixing the Record Date .
(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes the record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote therewith at the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
Section 7.02. Dividends . Subject to limitations contained in Delaware Law and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 7.03. Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall commence on January 1 and end on December 31 of each year. The fiscal year of the Corporation may be changed by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.04. Corporate Seal . The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or otherwise reproduced.
Section 7.05. Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation . The Board of Directors may authorize any person, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote at and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any Corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.
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Section 7.06. Form of Records . Any records maintained by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account, and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device or method, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time.
Section 7.07. Amendments . These Bylaws or any of them, may be altered, amended or repealed, or new Bylaws may be made, by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special meeting thereof or by the Board of Directors. Unless a higher percentage is required by the Certificate of Incorporation as to any matter which is the subject of these Bylaws, all such amendments must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of the total voting power of all outstanding securities of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class or by a majority of the Board of Directors.
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Exhibit 4.1
ASSIGNMENT OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
THIS ASSIGNMENT OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of January 1, 2011, made by and among LEBOW ALPHA LLLP, a Delaware limited liability limited partnership (“LeBow Alpha”), and SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Signal”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, LeBow Alpha holds 60,000 Class A Units and 10,000 Class B Units in Myeloma Health LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Myeloma Health”), as evidenced by and pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Myeloma Health LLC, dated as of June 30, 2010 (as such agreement may have been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Myeloma Health LLC Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, in connection with the reorganization of Myeloma, pursuant to which Myeloma will become a majority owned subsidiary of Signal, LeBow Alpha has agreed to exchange its 60,000 Class A Units in Myeloma for the Signal Membership Interests (as hereinafter defined) in Signal; and
WHEREAS, LeBow Alpha has agreed to transfer, convey and assign to Signal 60,000 Class A Units in Myeloma Health (the “Assigned Interests”) in consideration for membership interests in Signal, all in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement:
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Assignment and Acceptance of Assigned Interests; Consideration.
(a) LeBow Alpha hereby transfers, conveys and assigns to Signal the Assigned Interests. Signal accepts from LeBow Alpha the Assigned Interests and agrees to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of the Myeloma Health LLC Agreement. LeBow Alpha shall take all actions reasonably required by Myeloma Health to transfer and assign the Assigned Interests to Signal pursuant to the terms hereof, including, without limitation, requesting that Myeloma Health’s records be amended to reflect such transfer and assignment.
(b) In consideration of the assignment of the Assigned Interests to Signal, Signal hereby agrees to issue to LeBow Alpha 72,500 Class A Membership Units in Signal (the “Signal Membership Interests”), as evidenced by and pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Signal Genetics, LLC, effective as of [January 1, 2011] (as such agreement may have been amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Signal Genetics LLC Agreement”).
(c) The assignment of the Assigned Interests to Signal and the issuance of the Signal Membership Interests to LeBow Alpha shall be effective as of January 1, 2011 (the “Effective Date”).
Section 2. Representations and Warranties . (a) LeBow Alpha hereby represents and warrants to Signal that, as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date:
(i) it is a limited liability limited partnership duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of [Delaware];
(ii) it has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by LeBow Alpha and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of LeBow Alpha, enforceable against LeBow Alpha in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity;
(iv) it is the owner of the Assigned Interests being assigned hereunder free and clear of any liens and security interests or other encumbrances or restrictions (other than as set forth under the Myeloma Health LLC Agreement), and it has not directly or indirectly assigned, transferred, hypothecated or pledged its interest in the Assigned Interests.
(v) Upon the consummation of the assignment of the Assigned Interests to Signal, Signal will be duly and validly admitted as, and have all of the rights of, a Member of Myeloma Health in accordance with the terms of the Myeloma Health LLC Agreement; and
(b) Signal represents and warrants to LeBow Alpha that, as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date:
(i) it is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;
(ii) it has the requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Signal and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Signal, enforceable against Signal in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity;
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(iv) Upon the consummation of the issuance of the Signal Membership Interests to LeBow Alpha, LeBow Alpha will be duly and validly admitted as, and have all of the rights of a Member of, Signal in accordance with the terms of the Signal Genetics LLC Agreement
Section 3. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective, heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
Section 4. Modification and Waiver . No supplement, modification, waiver or termination of this Agreement or any provisions hereof shall be binding unless executed in writing by all parties hereto.
Section 5. Counterparts . Any number of counterparts of this Agreement may be executed. Each counterpart will be deemed to be an original instrument and all counterparts taken together will constitute one agreement.
Section 6. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP | ||
a Delaware limited liability limited partnership By: LeBow Holdings, Inc., a Nevada Corporation | ||
By: | /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | |
Name: Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Title: President | ||
SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | |
Name: Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Title: Manager |
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Exhibit 10.2
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
LICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS LICENSE AGREEMENT (this “ AGREEMENT ”) is made by and between the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a public institution of higher education having principal offices at 2404 North University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72207, United States of America (hereinafter “ UNIVERSITY ”), and Myeloma Health LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having a principal office at 667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, New York 10065 (hereinafter “ LICENSEE ”), as of the EFFECTIVE DATE (as later defined herein).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, UNIVERSITY is the owner of certain PATENT RIGHTS (as later defined herein) relating to INVENTIONS (as later defined herein) and has the right to grant licenses under said PATENT RIGHTS;
WHEREAS, UNIVERSITY desires to have the PATENT RIGHTS developed and commercialized to benefit the public and is willing to grant licenses thereunder;
WHEREAS, UNIVERSITY has certain TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS (as later defined herein); and
WHEREAS, LICENSEE desires to obtain a license under the PATENT RIGHTS and the TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE (the “ PARTIES ” or singularly a “ PARTY ”), in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1 - EFFECTIVE DATE
This AGREEMENT shall be effective as of April 1, 2010 (hereinafter the “ EFFECTIVE DATE ”), subject to approval by the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas.
ARTICLE 2 - DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this AGREEMENT, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
2.1 | “ CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION ” shall mean the earlier to occur of (a) a sale of a majority of the outstanding equity interests of LICENSEE to a third party, or (b) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of LICENSEE to a third party; provided , however , that a CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION shall not include (i) any underwritten public offering of securities by LICENSEE or any of its affiliates, or (ii) entry into any joint venture by LICENSEE or any of its affiliates. |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
2.2 | “ CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ” shall have the meaning in Article 16.1. |
2.3 | “ FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE ” shall mean the initial transfer by or on behalf of LICENSEE or any sublicensee of LICENSEE of a LICENSED PRODUCT to a third party or the initial practice of a service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS by or on behalf of LICENSEE or any sublicensee of LICENSEE for a third party, in either case, in exchange for cash or some equivalent to which value can be assigned for the purpose of determining NET SALES. |
2.4 | “ HIPAA ” shall have the meaning in Article 9.3. |
2.5 | “ INVENTION ” means any invention or discovery having application within the LICENSED FIELD in the TERRITORY whether or not patentable or copyrightable, including but not limited to processes, methods, software, formulae, techniques, compositions of matter, devices, and improvements thereof and know-how relating thereto, in each case which is conceived and reduced to practice during the TERM in whole or in part by Bart Barlogie, MD, Ph.D. or John Shaughnessy, Ph.D. |
2.6 | “ LICENSED FIELD ” shall mean those applications of the PATENT RIGHTS and/or the TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS with respect to nonmalignant and malignant human or animal pathologies, including but not limited to, determining and/or identifying the presence, predisposition, effect of treatment, mode or type of treatment, type of patient, susceptibility to treatment or prevention, progress of treatment, current and predicted clinical outcome, and/or therapeutic or prophylactic treatment and/or regimen; provided , however , that the LICENSED FIELD shall exclude applications of the PATENT RIGHTS and/or the TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing licensed exclusively to a third party and listed in APPENDIX B. |
2.7 | “ LICENSED PROCESS ” shall mean any process, which is covered in whole or in part by an issued, unexpired claim or a pending claim in the PATENT RIGHTS. |
2.8 | “ LICENSED PRODUCT ” shall mean any product or part thereof which: |
(a) is covered in whole or in part by an issued, unexpired claim or a pending claim in the PATENT RIGHTS in the country in which any such product or part thereof is made, used or sold; or
(b) is manufactured by using a process or is employed to practice a process which is covered in whole or in part by an issued, unexpired claim or a pending claim in the PATENT RIGHTS in the country in which any LICENSED PROCESS is used or in which such product or part thereof is used or sold.
2 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
2.9 | “ LICENSEE ” is understood to include all affiliates of LICENSEE. An affiliate of LICENSEE shall mean any corporation or other business entity controlled by, controlling, or under common control with LICENSEE. For this purpose, “control” means direct or indirect beneficial ownership of at least fifty percent (50%) of the voting securities, or a right to receive at least fifty percent (50%) of the income of such entity; provided that, if local law requires a minimum percentage of local ownership of at least fifty per cent (50%) of the voting securities, control will be established by direct or indirect beneficial ownership of one hundred per cent (100%) of the maximum ownership percentage that may, under such local law, be owned by foreign interests. |
2.10 | “ NET EQUITY RETURN ” shall have the meaning in Article 5.1(f). |
2.11 | “ NET SALES ” shall mean the gross revenues received by LICENSEE or any sublicensee of LICENSEE from the sale to a third party of LICENSED PRODUCTS and services utilizing LICENSED PROCESSES in the TERRITORY, less amounts subject to returns, credits, allowances, retroactive price reductions and discounts actually granted; rebates to governmental or managed care organizations, packing, insurance, freight out, taxes or excise duties imposed on the transaction; wholesaler discounts and cash discounts; provided that, in the event that any particular LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS is sold in a country in the TERRITORY as part of a combination, bundle or kit with products, processes or services other than LICENSED PRODUCTS, or services utilizing LICENSED PROCESSES, NET SALES of such LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS shall be determined by (a) multiplying the net revenue of the combination, bundle or kit (that is, the gross revenue received less such applicable deductions as are permitted in the calculation of NET SALES) by the fraction A ÷ (A + B); where A is the average selling price during the period in question in the country in question for the LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS sold separately and B is the average selling price during the period in question in the country in question for the remaining products, processes or services in the combination, bundle or kit, when such products are sold separately from the LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS (in each case as the average selling price is documented by the records of the seller of such LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS), or (b) in the event that any products, processes or services contained in the combination, bundle or kit are not sold separately, the NET SALES from sales of such combination, bundle or kit allocated to the LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS shall be determined in a fair and equitable manner based upon the relative values of each component of such combination, bundle or kit as determined by mutual agreement of UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE or, if applicable, a sublicensee of LICENSEE. “NET SALES” shall not include amounts for any LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS furnished to a third party for which payment is not intended to be received, including, but not limited to, for use in research, clinical trials and for distribution as promotional and free goods. Furthermore, “NET SALES” shall not include amounts from sales or other dispositions of LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing, LICENSED PROCESS (i) between LICENSEE and any sublicense, or (ii) between a sublicensee of LICENSEE and any affiliate or sublicensee of such sublicense, unless such sublicensee or affiliate of such sublicense, as the case may be, is an end-user of such LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS. No deductions shall be made for commissions paid to individuals regularly employed by LICENSEE or by any sublicensee of LICENSEE and on its payroll, or for cost of collections. |
2.12 | “ PATENT RIGHTS ” shall mean all of the following: |
(a) | the United States and foreign patents and/or patent applications listed in Appendix A attached hereto, and to the extent UNIVERSITY is legally able to grant such rights and the grant of such rights does not conflict with rights granted to third parties, any other patent and/or patent application owned or controlled by UNIVERSITY as of the EFFECTIVE DATE disclosing any invention or discovery in the LICENSED FIELD conceived and reduced to practice in whole or in part by Bart Barlogie, M.D., Ph.D. or John Shaughnessy, Ph.D., and corresponding foreign patents and/or foreign patent applications; and |
3 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
(b) | United States and foreign patents issued from the patent applications listed in Appendix A and from any patent application that is a divisional, continuation, continuation-in-part (but only to the extent supported in the specification, and entitled to the priority date of, the parent application), and any reexamination and reissue of any patent and/or patent application listed in Appendix A and any divisional, continuation, continuation-in-part (but only to the extent supported in the specification, and entitled to the priority date of, the parent application), reexamination and reissue issued from such an application and any foreign patent issued from any corresponding foreign patent application |
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, PATENT RIGHTS shall exclude any United States and foreign patents that (i) claim the benefit of the priority of one or more of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/348,238; 60/355,386; 60/403,075; 60/573,669; 60/606,319; 60/857,220; 60/857,456; and 60/873,840, and (ii) that issue with claims directly covering DKK1 inhibitors and/or their uses.
As used in this AGREEMENT, the term “patent” means (i) valid and enforceable unexpired letters patent (including inventor’s certificates) including,. without limitation, any substitution, extension (such as supplementary protection certificates), registration, confirmation, reissue, re-examination, renewal or any like filing thereof, and (ii) pending applications for letters patent, including without limitation any continuation, continuation-in-part (but only to the extent supported in the specification, and entitled to the priority date of, the parent application) or division thereof and any provisional application, and any foreign counterpart and all patents that issue therefrom; provided that if a pending application for letters patent has not issued as an issued patent within [****] ([****]) years after the filing date from which such patent application takes priority, such pending application shall not be a PATENT RIGHT for purposes of this AGREEMENT unless such pending application later issues as an issued patent at which time the issued patent shall be reinstated as a PATENT RIGHT hereunder.
2.13 | “ PHI ” shall have the meaning in Article 9.3. |
2.14 | “ SUCCESS PAYMENT ” shall have the meaning in Article 5.1(f). |
4 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
2.15 | “ TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS ” shall mean (a) data and information with respect to the clinical samples obtained in clinical trials having application within the LICENSED FIELD, including but not limited to Clinical Trial UARK98-026 (TT-2) and Clinical Trial UARK2003-33 (TT-3), and the patients from whom the samples were obtained, including but not limited to, diagnosis and clinical outcome; (b) nucleic acids and/or derivatives thereof derived from such clinical samples, and data and information derived from analyzing nucleic acids obtained from such clinical samples including but not limited to genomic data and expression levels of mRNA and/or, by virtue of the conversion of mRNA to protein, the protein derived from CD-138-enriched plasma cells from patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell dyscrasias, in each case that is in the possession or control of UNIVERSITY; and (c) any trade secret right, bailment right, or copyright in any of the following: UNIVERSITY technical information, patient data, know-how, processes, procedures, compositions, devices, method formulae, protocols, techniques, software, designs, drawings or other data relating to the LICENSED FIELD, which are not covered by the PATENT RIGHTS. |
2.16 | “ TERM ” shall have the meaning in Article 14.1. |
2.17 | “ TERRITORY ” shall mean the world. |
2.18 | “ UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES ” shall have the meaning in Article 5.1(d). |
ARTICLE 3 - GRANT
3.1 Subject to the terms and conditions of this AGREEMENT, UNIVERSITY hereby grants to LICENSEE an exclusive right and license in the TERRITORY in the LICENSED FIELD to practice under the PATENT RIGHTS and the TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS and to make, have made, use, offer for sale, sell and import LICENSED PRODUCTS or the practice of services utilizing the LICENSED PROCESSES. Such licenses are hereby granted for the TERM.
3.2 (a) For a period of ten (10) years following the EFFECTIVE DATE and subject to the provisions of Article 4, LICENSEE shall have, and UNIVERSITY hereby grants to LICENSEE, an exclusive option to license any INVENTION pursuant to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of this AGREEMENT.
(b) LICENSEE shall have one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the date UNIVERSITY provides written notice to LICENSEE of an INVENTION, which notice shall contain reasonable detail describing the scope and basis of such INVENTION, to provide written notice to UNIVERSITY that LICENSEE is exercising the option granted by UNIVERSITY to LICENSEE pursuant to Article 3.2(a), In the event that LICENSEE elects to exercise such option, the PARTIES agree to enter into good faith negotiations regarding commercially reasonable financial terms and conditions of an exclusive license agreement.
(c) In the event that (i) LICENSEE fails to exercise its option regarding the INVENTION described in Article 3.2(a) within the one hundred twenty (120) calendar day period described in Article 3.2(b), (ii) the PARTIES fail to reach agreement with respect to the terms and conditions of the license agreement with respect to such INVENTION after UNIVERSITY’s notification to LICENSEE provided in accordance with Article 3,2(b) hereinabove, or (iii) the ten (10) year period of exclusivity set forth in Article 3.2(a) has expired without an exclusive license having been granted with respect to such INVENTION, UNIVERSITY shall have the right to enter into license agreements concerning such INVENTION with third parties.
5 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
3.3 (a) LICENSEE and sublicensees of LICENSEE, shall have the right to grant sublicenses consistent with this AGREEMENT; provided that LICENSEE shall be responsible for the operations of its sublicensees relevant to this AGREEMENT as if such operations were carried out by LICENSEE, including the payment of royalties whether or not paid to LICENSEE by a sublicensee of LICENSEE. LICENSEE further agrees to deliver to UNIVERSITY a true and correct copy of each sublicense granted by LICENSEE, and any modification or termination thereof, within thirty (30) calendar days after execution, modification, or termination, which UNIVERSITY shall maintain in confidence per the terms of Article 16; provided that LICENSEE may redact portions of any such sublicense that are unrelated to the obligations of LICENSEE under the terms of this AGREEMENT. Upon termination of this AGREEMENT, any and all existing sublicenses granted by LICENSEE shall be handled in accordance with Article 14.6.
(b) If, during the TERM, UNIVERSITY receives a proposal from a third party to develop a LICENSED PRODUCT or practice a service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS, UNIVERSITY may give written notice to LICENSEE identifying such LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS, as applicable, together with sufficient details of such proposal to permit a meaningful evaluation by LICENSEE. LICENSEE will evaluate the proposal and, if LICENSEE has not developed, does not have under development and does not intend to develop such a LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS and, in LICENSEE’s reasonable opinion, it is commercially reasonable to develop the third party proposed LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS, LICENSEE will initiate good faith negotiations with such third party regarding the terms of a sublicense to permit such third party to develop such proposed LICENSED PRODUCT or service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS. LICENSEE will provide information to UNIVERSITY regarding the status of negotiations with such third patty and, if a sublicense agreement is entered into between LICENSEE and such third party, LICENSEE will deliver a copy of such sublicense to UNIVERSITY in accordance with Article 3.3(a).
3.4 LICENSEE understands that the PATENT RIGHTS may have been developed under a funding agreement with the government of the United States of America (the “ GOVERNMENT ”) and, if so, that the GOVERNMENT may have certain rights relative thereto, including rights retained by the United States government in accordance with P.L. 96-517, as amended by P.L. 98-620. This AGREEMENT is explicitly made subject to the GOVERNMENT’s rights under any agreement and any applicable law or regulation. If there is a conflict between an agreement, applicable law or regulation and this AGREEMENT, the terms of such funding agreement with the GOVERNMENT, applicable law or regulation shall prevail. LICENSEE further agrees that, in all such cases of United States Government funded research, any products embodying such UNIVERSITY inventions, or produced through the use of such UNIVERSITY inventions, will be manufactured substantially in the United States unless UNIVERSITY, at request of LICENSEE, obtains a waiver from the Federal agency under whose funding agreement the invention was made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 204.
6 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
3.5 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, UNIVERSITY reserves the right to make and to use, and to grant nonexclusive licenses to non-profit entities to make and to use, for research purposes only and not for any commercial purpose, the technology and the subject matter described and claimed in the PATENT RIGHTS and the TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS.
ARTICLE 4 - DUE DILIGENCE
4.1 | LICENSEE shall use commercially reasonable efforts to accomplish the following: |
(a) on or before ninety (90) calendar days after the EFFECTIVE DATE provide UNIVERSITY a reasonably detailed description of the LICENSEE’S corporate documents and its current business plan;
(b) develop a non-FDA approved commercially viable genetic test for multiple myeloma as soon thereafter as commercially feasible;
(c) make a FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE of a LICENSED PRODUCT or provide commercial services utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS; and
(d) bring one or more LICENSED PRODUCTS and/or services utilizing LICENSED PROCESS (ES) for an indication or indications other than multiple myeloma to market during the TERM of this AGREEMENT.
LICENSEE hereby agrees to notify UNIVERSITY in a timely trimmer if: (1) unexpected delays are anticipated in achieving the non-FDA approved commercially viable genetic test for multiple myeloma and/or (ii) if LICENSEE anticipates that a FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE will not occur. The efforts of a sublicensee of LICENSEE shall be considered as efforts of LICENSEE.
7 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
4.2 If, in the sole, good faith, reasonable judgment of UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY believes that LICENSEE has failed to materially perform its obligations in accordance with Articles 4.1 (a) through (d) above, UNIVERSITY may provide written notice of default to LICENSEE thereof, which notice shall specify in detail the material basis for UNIVERSITY’S belief that LICENSEE is in default, and LICENSEE has not has not taken steps during the ninety (90) calendar day period after receipt of such written notice to cure such default, UNIVERSITY, at its sole option, may terminate this AGREEMENT pursuant to Article 14.2 hereof or, upon delivery of a second written notice to LICENSEE, may convert the exclusive license granted hereunder to a nonexclusive license; provided that, after the second anniversary of the EFFECTIVE DATE, if LICENSEE disputes UNIVERSITY’s belief that LICENSEE has failed to perform such obligations, LICENSEE may refer the dispute to resolution in accordance with Article 13, and such termination pursuant to Article 14.2 will not proceed or such conversion of the exclusive license to a nonexclusive license pursuant to this Article 4.2 will not be effective unless and until the dispute is resolved in favor of UNIVERSITY. Any exercise of such right of termination shall constitute UNIVERSITY’S sole and exclusive remedy in respect of any alleged failure of LICENSEE to perform in accordance with Articles 4.1 (a) through (d) of this AGREEMENT. In making this decision, UNIVERSITY shall take into account the normal course of such activities conducted by similarly situated licensees developing similar products and services and shall take into account the efforts of LICENSEE as described in reports provided hereunder to UNIVERSITY by LICENSEE. Notwithstanding anything in this AGREEMENT to the contrary, in the event that the license granted hereunder is converted from an exclusive license to a nonexclusive license in accordance with this Article 4.2 and the UNIVERSITY grants a nonexclusive license under any PATENT RIGHTS to a third party, LICENSEE’s obligations to pay, or to reimburse the UNIVERSITY, for patent preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance costs with respect to the PATENT RIGHTS shall be allocated pro rata among all licensees and LICENSEE’s payment obligations for such patent costs shall be reduced accordingly.
ARTICLE 5 - ROYALTIES AND OTHER CONSIDERATION
5.1 For the rights, privileges and license granted by UNIVERSITY to LICENSEE hereunder, LICENSEE shall reimburse patent costs and pay royalties and other considerations to UNIVERSITY in the manner hereinafter provided until the earlier of (x) the end of the term of the last to expire of the PATENT RIGHTS and (y) the date that this AGREEMENT is earlier terminated:
(a) Licensing Fee. LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY:
(i) On or before thirty (30) calendar days after the EFFECTIVE DATE, a nonrefundable, not creditable (including against royalties or patent costs) initial license fee of [****] Dollars ($[****]);
(ii) On or before the first anniversary of the EFFECTIVE DATE, a nonrefundable, not creditable (including against royalties or patent costs) second license fee of [****] Dollars ($[****]);
(iii) On or before the second anniversary of the EFFECTIVE DATE, a nonrefundable, not creditable (including against royalties or patent costs) third license fee of [****]Dollars ($[****]); and
8 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
(iv) Within thirty (30) calendar days after the FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE of the first of either a LICENSED PRODUCT and/or a first service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS in a cancer field other than multiple myeloma (e.g. breast cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, and all other cancers included in the LICENSED FIELD), LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY a non-refundable and not creditable (including against royalties or patent costs), additional licensing fee of [****] Dollars ($[****]) for such additional cancer field. For the avoidance of doubt, the payment under this Article 5.1(a) (iv) shall only be paid with respect to the first such additional cancer field for which the Company makes a FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE.
(b) Annual Maintenance Fee . Commencing on the first anniversary of the EFFECTIVE DATE and continuing on each anniversary of the EFFECTIVE DATE thereafter until the date of FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE, LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY a non-refundable, annual maintenance fee of [****] Dollars ($[****]) due and payable on or before each such anniversary date; provided , however , that the annual maintenance fee payable hereunder shall be fully creditable against any patent cost reimbursement owed to UNIVERSITY by LICENSE pursuant to Article 5.1(e) or 7. For the avoidance of doubt, no annual maintenance fee shall be payable after a first LICENSED PRODUCT and/or a first service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS achieves FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE.
(c) Minimum Annual Royalty . LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY a minimum annual royalty of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) (or the applicable prorated amount for the first and last year such minimum annual royalty due if less than a full calendar year) beginning in the calendar year after a first LICENSED PRODUCT and/or a first service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS achieves FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE; provided that if the balance due to UNIVERSITY by LICENSEE pursuant to Article 5.1(e) and 7.1 is zero, the minimum annual royalty due under this Article 5.1(c) shall be Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000). Any amount paid under this Article 5.1(c) shall not be refundable, but shall be fully creditable against both royalties due on NET SALES in the calendar year in which the payment was made and/or the patent cost reimbursement balance due to UNIVERSITY by LICENSE pursuant to Article 5.1(e) or 7.1. The Minimum Annual Royalty shall be paid not later than sixty (60) calendar days after the end of each applicable calendar year.
(d) Royalty . LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY the following running royalties (“ UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES ”), to be paid within sixty (60) calendar days after the end of the calendar quarter in which NET SALES accumulated, subject, if appropriate, to the adjustment described below in this Article 5.1(d):
(i) four percent (4%) of cumulative NET SALES of less than [****] Dollars ($[****]); and
(ii) two percent (2%) of cumulative NET SALES greater than [****] Dollars ($[****]).
9 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
No multiple or cumulative royalties shall be payable because any LICENSED PRODUCT or any service utilizing LICENSED PROCESS, its manufacture, use, lease or sale are or shall be covered by more than one patent application or patent of the PATENT RIGHTS. If in any given year LICENSEE has additional third party royalties due on any LICENSED PRODUCT and/or any service utilizing LICENSED PROCESSES in the LICENSED FIELD, the UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES described in this Article 5.1(d) shall be decreased by the amount of such third party royalties, but in no event shall the UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES payable in any given year be decreased by more than fifty percent (50%). For clarity, and in accordance with the definition of NET SALES, LICENSEE shall pay UNIVERSITY royalties on NET SALES of LICENSED PRODUCTS of any sublicensee of LICENSEE from sales of LICENSED PRODUCTS or any service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS by such sublicensee.
(e) Reimbursement of Patent Prosecution Costs . As used in this Article 5.1(e) and Article 7, “prosecution and maintenance” shall be deemed to exclude any costs associated with interferences or oppositions, requests for reexamination, and reissue or extension and any kind of inter partes proceedings and litigation, and protection and maintenance of TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS, unless LICENSEE specifically agrees in writing to assume such costs prior to the costs being incurred.
(i) In accordance with LICENSEE’s obligations under Articles 5.1(b), 5.1(c) and 7, with respect to patent applications and patents within the PATENT RIGHTS, LICENSEE shall reimburse UNIVERSITY for (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the gene expression profiling only patent costs, (ii) fifty percent (50%) of combination of gene expression profiling and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) patent costs, and (iii) zero percent (0%) of the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-only patent costs incurred by UNIVERSITY and paid to third parties in connection with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications and patents.
(ii) Before the EFFECTIVE DATE, UNIVERSITY shall represent, warrant and provide LICENSEE a separate letter signed by an authorized representative of UNIVERSITY certifying as to the total amount of such out-of-pocket costs incurred by UNIVERSITY prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE and owed by LICENSEE to UNIVERSITY hereunder (which costs shall be capped for periods prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE at the amount stated in such certification). For clarity, the patent costs incurred. by UNIVERSITY prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE shall be deemed paid off incrementally pursuant to the set off provisions under the provisions of Articles 5.1(b) and 5.1(c), as applicable, including with respect to the timing of such payments.
10 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
(iii) Regarding LICENSEE’S reimbursements the patent cost incurred by UNIVERSITY after the EFFECTIVE DATE, UNIVERSITY shall invoice LICENSEE approximately every ninety (90) days for LICENSEE’S share of the ongoing patent costs. UNIVERSITY shall attach copies of all third party invoices in support of UNIVERSITY’s invoices to LICENSEE and shall represent to LICENSEE (A) as to the total amount of such out-of-pocket costs incurred after the EFFECTIVE DATE and (B) that such invoices are accurate, true and reflect the patent attorney invoices. LICENSEE shall submit payment for these UNIVERSITY invoices on or before forty-five (45) calendar days from the date of each UNIVERSITY invoice in accordance with Article 15.1 regarding payments to UNIVERSITY.
(f) Success Payment . UNIVERSITY shall receive a success payment (“ SUCCESS PAYMENT ”) in the event of a CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION in accordance with this Article 5.1(1). The amount of the SUCCESS PAYMENT shall be equal to the product of (i) the Applicable Percentage set forth in the table below opposite the calendar year in which the closing of the CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION occurs multiplied by (ii) the NET EQUITY RETURN.
Calendar Year | Applicable Percentage |
2010 | 7.0% |
2011 | 5.0% |
2012 | 3.0% |
2013 | 2.0% |
2014 | 1.0% |
2015 and thereafter | 0.0% |
For purposes of this AGREEMENT, “ NET EQUITY RETURN ” shall mean the amount, determined as of the closing date of the CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION equal to (A) the aggregate fair market value of cash or securities received by LICENSEE in such CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION, minus (B) the aggregate amount of capital invested in LICENSEE prior to such CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION minus (C) if such CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION involves a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of LICENSEE, all outstanding debt of LICENSEE that is not assumed by the transferee of such assets. For the avoidance of doubt, any SUCCESS PAYMENT made pursuant to this Article 5.1(f) shall not reduce or offset any other payment obligation of LICENSEE to UNIVERSITY, unless otherwise agreed between UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE. If applicable and unless otherwise agreed by the PARTIES, the SUCCESS PAYMENT shall be paid at the closing of the CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION in cash and securities in the same ratio of cash and securities as is received by LICENSEE at the closing of such CHANGE OF CONTROL TRANSACTION.
11 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
5.2 All amounts payable hereunder by LICENSEE shall be paid in full, without deduction of taxes or other fees which may be imposed by any government and which shall be paid by LICENSEE.
5.3 In the event that LICENSED PRODUCTS and/or services utilizing LICENSED PROCESSES are sold in currencies other than United States dollars, NET SALES shall be calculated in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles. NET SALES in currencies other than United States dollars shall be converted into United States dollars using the average of the buy and sell rates for such currencies with respect to United States dollars published in The Wall Street Journal on the first and last days of the calendar quarter period in which such NET SALES accrued (or, if not published on such days, the first and last publication days for The Wall Street Journal during such calendar quarter period). If an exchange rate for any particular currency is not published in The Wall Street Journal, the rate of exchange to be used for such currency shall be determined using the average of the buy and sell rates for such currency with respect to United States dollars that generally are accepted in the industry on the first and last days of the calendar quarter period in which such NET SALES accrued. Payments due to UNIVERSITY pursuant to Article 5.1(d) shall be calculated based on the NET SALES in United States dollars as calculated above. In the event that restrictions or prohibitions imposed by a national or international government authority preclude conversion of a national or international currency into United States dollars, UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE shall consult to find a prompt and acceptable solution.
5.4 All UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES and other payments due under this AGREEMENT if overdue shall bear interest until payment at a per annum rate two percent (2%) above the prime rate in effect at Citibank N.A. on the due date and the UNIVERSITY shall he entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs related to the administration or enforcement of this AGREEMENT, including collection of royalties or other payments, following such failure to pay. The payment of such interest shall not foreclose the UNIVERSITY from exercising any other right it may have as a consequence of the failure of LICENSEE to make any payment when due.
ARTICLE 6 - RECORDS AND REPORTS
6.1 LICENSEE shall keep full, true and accurate books of account containing all particulars that may be necessary for the purpose of showing the amounts due and payable to UNIVERSITY hereunder. Said books of account shall be kept at LICENSEE’s principal place of business or the principal place of business of the appropriate operating subsidiary of LICENSEE to which this AGREEMENT relates. Said books and the supporting data shall be open, to the extent relevant to the licenses granted hereunder, at all reasonable times for four (4) years following the end of the calendar year to which they pertain, to the inspection of UNIVERSITY or its agents for the purpose of verifying LICENSEE’s royalty statement or compliance in other respects with this AGREEMENT. The cost of such inspection by UNIVERSITY shall be at UNIVERSITY’s expense unless such inspection leads to the discovery of a greater than ten percent (10%) discrepancy in reporting to UNIVERSITY’s detriment, in which case LICENSEE agrees to pay the full cost of such inspection actually incurred by UNIVERSITY. If, based on the results of such inspection, additional payments are owed by LICENSEE under this AGREEMENT; any such undisputed additional payments shall be made within sixty (60) calendar days after the date on which such inspection report is delivered to LICENSEE.
12 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
6.2 LICENSEE shall report to UNIVERSITY the date of FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE of a LICENSED PRODUCT or the initial practice of a service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS within thirty (30) calendar days after such date.
6.3 Prior to the FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE, LICENSEE shall make semiannual progress reports to UNIVERSITY regarding LICENSEE’s development activities with respect to LICENSED PRODUCTS and/or the practice of a service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS including progress toward achievement of the milestones listed in Article 4. These reports, until the date of FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE of a LICENSED PRODUCT or the initial practice of a service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS, shall be due following the EFFECTIVE DATE within sixty (60) calendar days after December 31 and June 30 of each year.
6.4 After the date of FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE of a LICENSED PRODUCT or the initial practice of a LICENSED PROCESS, LICENSEE, within sixty (60) calendar days after March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year, shall deliver to UNIVERSITY true and accurate reports, giving such particulars of the business conducted by LICENSEE or sublicenses with respect to LICENSED PRODUCTS and service utilizing LICENSED PROCESSES during the preceding three-month period under this AGREEMENT as shall be pertinent to a royalty accounting hereunder. These shall include at least the following:
(a) | quantity of LICENSED PRODUCTS manufactured and sold by LICENSEE; |
(b) | quantity of LICENSED PRODUCTS manufactured and sold by each sublicensee; |
(c) | total receipts for LICENSED PRODUCTS sold by LICENSEE; |
(d) | total receipts by LICENSEE for LICENSED PRODUCTS sold by each sublicensee; |
(e) | receipts for all services utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS used or sold by LICENSEE |
(f) | receipts for all services utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS used or sold by each sublicensee; |
(g) | deductions applicable as set forth in Article 2.11; |
13 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
(h) | adjustments to UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES, if any, pursuant to Article 5.1(d) and/or Article 8.6; |
(i) | total UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES due; |
(j) | and names and addresses of each sublicensee of LICENSEE. |
6.5 With each such report submitted, LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY the UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES and other amounts then due and payable under this AGREEMENT. If no UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES or other amounts shall be due, LICENSEE shall so report.
ARTICLE 7 - PATENT PROSECUTION
7.1 UNIVERSITY shall apply for, seek prompt issuance of, and maintain during the term of this Agreement the PATENT RIGHTS unless otherwise agreed by the LICENSEE and any third. party that is also a licensee with respect to a patent application or patent within such PATENT RIGHTS, provided , however , that LICENSEE and, if applicable, any such third party licensee shall: (i) agree upon and select patent counsel to be used by the UNIVERSITY (and shall select new patent counsel from time to time as LICENSEE, UNIVERSITY and any such third party licensee may agree) and (ii) have the opportunity to review and comment on decisions to be made or answers to examiner comments, which comments shall be duly considered and included in any proposed amendments. UNIVERSITY shall keep LICENSEE regularly updated of the status of the patent application filings. UNIVERSITY agrees to consult LICENSEE to determine in which countries the application has to be extended and to extend the patent application in the countries selected- by LICENSEE and any applicable third party licensee of the PATENT RIGHTS. UNIVERSITY shall diligently file, prosecute and maintain the patent applications. The prosecution, filing and maintenance of all PATENT RIGHTS patents shall be the primary responsibility of UNIVERSITY as set forth in this Article 7, provided that this Article 7 shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Article 5.1(e) of this Agreement.
7.2 UNIVERSITY shall, at the request of the LICENSEE and/or any third party that is also a licensee with respect to a patent application or patent within the PATENT RIGHTS, file, prosecute and maintain patent applications and patents covered by the PATENT RIGHTS in foreign countries if available. LICENSEE shall notify UNIVERSITY within six (6) months of any operative deadline of its decision to request UNIVERSITY to file foreign counterpart patent applications or to proceed to interference, appeal, inter partes, ex partes proceeding or any kind of litigation. The notice concerning foreign filing must be in writing and must identify the countries desired. Failure by LICENSEE to so notify UNIVERSITY within the six (6) months period is an election by LICENSEE not to request UNIVERSITY to secure foreign patent rights with respect to such PATENT RIGHTS. UNIVERSITY has the right to file patent applications at its own expense in any country LICENSEE and/or applicable third party licensees have not included in its list of desired countries, and those applications and resulting patents, if any, are not included in the licenses granted under this Agreement.
14 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
7.3 UNIVERSITY agrees and covenants that it will not prosecute any patent application that contains claims covering DKK1 inhibitors and/or their uses and that also contains claims that do not cover DKK1 inhibitors and/or their uses, without the prior written consent of LICENSEE, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
ARTICLE 8 - INFRINGEMENT
8.1 Notification . Each Party shall promptly notify the other in writing of any known or suspected third party infringement of any PATENT RIGHTS in the LICENSED FIELD or if any action for a declaration of non-infringement or invalidity of any PATENT RIGHTS is made by a third party, or if any allegation of infringement of third party patents is made against either Party, an affiliate, or a sublicensee as a result of the manufacture, use or sale of a LICENSED PRODUCT or LICENSED PROCESS.
8.2 UNIVERSITY Right to Prosecute . UNIVERSITY will protect the PATENT RIGHTS from infringement and prosecute infringers when, in its sole judgment, such action may be reasonably necessary, proper and justified. If LICENSEE shall have supplied UNIVERSITY with reasonable written evidence demonstrating infringement of a PATENT RIGHT in the LICENSED FIELD by a third party, LICENSEE may by notice request UNIVERSITY to take steps to protect the PATENT RIGHT. UNIVERSITY, at its sole discretion and at its own expense, may initiate proceedings in response to alleged infringement but is under no obligation to do so. UNIVERSITY shall notify LICENSEE within sixty (60) days of the receipt of such notice whether UNIVERSITY intends to prosecute the alleged infringement. If UNIVERSITY notifies LICENSEE that it intends to so prosecute, UNIVERSITY shall, within three (3) months of its notice to LICENSEE either (i) cause such infringement to terminate, or (ii) initiate legal proceedings against the infringer.
8.3 LICENSEE Right to Prosecute . In the event UNIVERSITY notifies LICENSEE that UNIVERSITY does not intend to prosecute said infringement LICENSEE may, upon notice to UNIVERSITY, initiate legal proceedings against the alleged infringer at LICENSEE’S expense.
8.4 Settlement . No Party shall enter into any settlement, consent judgment or other voluntary final disposition of any infringement action without the prior written consent of the other Parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that LICENSEE shall be permitted to enter into a sublicense with any third party without requiring prior written consent of any party hereto.
15 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
8.5 Cooperation . Each Party agrees to cooperate reasonably in any action under this Article 8 which is controlled by the other Party, provided that the LICENSEE reimburses the UNIVERSITY for any reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by UNIVERSITY at the request of the controlling party. The LICENSEE shall keep the cooperating party informed of the progress of such proceedings and shall make its counsel available to the cooperating party. The cooperating party shall also be entitled to independent counsel in such proceedings but at its own expense, said expense to be offset against any damages received by the Party bringing suit in accordance with Article 8.6.
8.6 Recovery. Upon payment by LICENSEE of costs incurred by either LICENSEE or UNIVERSITY in any action for infringement, or defense of any proceedings challenging the validity, of any patent under the PATENT RIGHTS, LICENSEE may utilize a set-off for all such litigation-related costs against royalty owed but not to exceed fifty percent (50%) of royalties owed in a given year, with carry-over of set-off to future years of this AGREEMENT. Any recovery of damages by LICENSEE or UNIVERSITY, as applicable, from each patent enforcement or defense action shall be first applied to reimburse LICENSEE and UNIVERSITY, as applicable, for such litigation costs not paid from royalties, then to reimburse UNIVERSITY for royalties set-off and the balance, if any, shall be shared equally between the parties.
ARTICLE 9 - PRODUCT LIABILITY
9.1 LICENSEE shall at all times during the TERM, indemnify, defend and hold UNIVERSITY, its trustees, directors, officers, employees and affiliates, harmless against all claims, proceedings, demands and liabilities of any kind whatsoever, including legal expenses and reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of the death of or injury to any person or persons or out of any damage to property, or resulting from the production, manufacture, sale, use, consumption or advertisement by LICENSEE or any sublicensee of LICENSEE of any LICENSED PRODUCT and/or any service utilizing a LICENSED PROCESS, or arising from any obligation of LICENSEE hereunder, excepting claims that the PATENT RIGHTS infringe third party intellectual property and any claims arising out of negligence or willful misconduct of UNIVERSITY, its trustees, directors, officers, employees and affiliates.
9.2 From the date of FIRST COMMERCIAL SALE and thereafter during the TERM, LICENSEE shall obtain and carry in full force and effect commercial, general liability insurance, which shall protect LICENSEE and UNIVERSITY with respect to events covered by Article 9.1 above. Such insurance shall be written by a reputable insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Arkansas, shall list UNIVERSITY as an additional named insured thereunder, shall be endorsed to include product liability coverage and shall require thirty (30) calendar clays written notice to be given to the insured parties prior to any cancellation or material change thereof. The limits of such insurance shall not be less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence with an aggregate of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for personal injury or death, and one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence with an aggregate of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for property damage, LICENSEE shall provide UNIVERSITY with Certificates of Insurance evidencing the same.
16 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
9.3 EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, UNIVERSITY, ITS TRUSTEES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AFFILIATES MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS AND EXTEND NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, VALIDITY OF PATENT RIGHTS CLAIMS, ISSUED OR PENDING, AND THE ABSENCE OF LATENT OR OTHER DEFECTS, WHETHER OR NOT DISCOVERABLE. NOTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS A REPRESENTATION MADE OR WARRANTY GIVEN BY UNIVERSITY THAT THE PRACTICE BY LICENSEE OF THE LICENSE GRANTED HEREUNDER SHALL NOT INFRINGE THE PATENT RIGHTS OF ANY THIRD PARTY. IN NO EVENT SHALL A PARTY OR ITS TRUSTEES, DIRECTORS, MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AFFILIATES, AS APPLICABLE, BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING ECONOMIC DAMAGE OR INJURY TO PROPERTY AND LOST PROFITS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SUCH FIRST PARTY SHALL BE ADVISED, SHALL HAVE OTHER REASON TO KNOW, OR IN FACT SHALL KNOW OF THE POSSIBILITY.
ARTICLE 10 - EXPORT CONTROLS; HIPAA
10.1 It is understood that UNIVERSITY is subject to United States laws and regulations controlling the export of technical data, computer software, laboratory prototypes and other commodities (including the Arms Export Control Act, as amended, and the Export Administration Act of 1979), and that its obligations hereunder are contingent on the compliance with applicable United States export laws and regulations. The transfer of certain technical data and commodities may require a license from the cognizant agency of the United States GOVERNMENT and/or written assurances by LICENSEE that LICENSEE shall not export data or commodities to certain foreign countries without prior approval of such agency. UNIVERSITY neither represents that a license shall not be required nor that, if required, it shall be issued.
10.2 UNIVERSITY represents and warrants to LICENSEE that UNIVERSITY is the sole owner of the PATENT RIGHTS and TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS and, as of the EFFECTIVE DATE, has the right and authority to grant the rights and licenses granted to LICENSEE set forth in this AGREEMENT, subject to certain retained rights of the United States government. In addition, and without limitation on the foregoing, UNIVERSITY represents and warrants that any information contained in the TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS that is or may be considered protected health information (“ PHI ”), including, without limitation, information that would identify human research subjects, has been and will be maintained by UNIVERSITY in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“ HIPAA ”), as amended, and its implementing regulations, and that UNIVERSITY has (or shall collect and maintain) all authorizations required under HIPAA and other applicable laws permitting UNIVERSITY to disclose such PHI to LICENSEE as contemplated by this AGREEMENT. LICENSEE may use or further disclose such PHI to the extent permitted under this AGREEMENT, HIPAA and its implementing regulations, and other applicable laws.
17 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
ARTICLE 11 - NON-USE OF NAMES
LICENSEE shall not use the name of UNIVERSITY, nor any adaptation thereof, in any advertising, promotional or sales literature without prior written consent of UNIVERSITY, except that LICENSEE may state that it is licensed by UNIVERSITY under one or more of the patents and/or patent applications within the PATENT RIGHTS.
ARTICLE 12 - ASSIGNMENT
Neither PARTY may assign this AGREEMENT or any part hereof without the express written consent of the other PARTY, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided , however , that LICENSEE may, upon written notice to UNIVERSITY, assign this AGREEMENT without consent of UNIVERSITY in connection with the sale or transfer of the majority of LICENSEE’s equity securities or of all or substantially all of LICENSEE’s assets to which this AGREEMENT relates, whether as part of a merger, acquisition, asset sale, operation of law or otherwise; provided further that LICENSEE’s assignee agrees in writing to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this AGREEMENT. Furthermore, LICENSEE may, upon written notice to UNIVERSITY, assign this AGREEMENT without consent to any of its affiliates; provided that such affiliate agrees in writing to be bound by all the terms and conditions of this AGREEMENT. Failure of assignee to so agree shall be grounds to terminate this AGREEMENT by UNIVERSITY in accordance with Article 14.2.
ARTICLE 13 - DISPUTE RESOLUTION
13.1 Except for the right of either PARTY to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a temporary restraining order, a preliminary injunction, or other equitable relief to preserve the status quo or prevent irreparable harm, and any dispute regarding the validity or enforceability of any patent within the PATENT RIGHTS, any and all claims, disputes or controversies arising under, out of, or in connection with this AGREEMENT which the PARTIES shall be unable to resolve within sixty (60) calendar days shall be mediated in good faith. Either PARTY may, at any time, advise the other PARTY of a claim, dispute, or controversy in writing, which describes in reasonable detail the nature of such dispute. By not later than thirty (30) calendar days after recipient has received such notice of dispute, (a) each PARTY shall select for itself a representative who shall have the authority to bind such PARTY and shall additionally have advised the other PARTY in writing of the name and title of such representative and (b) the PARTIES shall mutually select a mediation firm and each PARTY’s representatives shall schedule a date with such firm for a mediation hearing. The PARTIES shall enter into good faith mediation and shall share the costs equally. If the representatives of the PARTIES have not been able to resolve the dispute within thirty (30) business days after such mediation hearing, the PARTIES shall have the right to pursue any other remedies legally available to resolve such dispute.
18 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
13.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Article 13 shall be construed to waive any rights or timely performance of any obligations existing under this AGREEMENT or the sovereign immunity of the UNIVERSITY or the State of Arkansas.
ARTICLE 14 - TERM AND TERMINATION
14.1 The term of this AGREEMENT (the “ TERM ”) shall extend from the EFFECTIVE DATE until the earlier of (a) the last to expire of the PATENT RIGHTS and (b) the termination of this AGREEMENT pursuant to Article 14.2 or Article 14.3. Notwithstanding the termination or expiration of this AGREEMENT, Articles 6.1 (for the period set forth therein), 13.1, 13.2, 14.1 (second sentence), 14.5, 14.6, 15.1, 16.1, 16.2, 17.2, 17.4, 17.6, 17.7 and 17.10 shall survive termination or expiration of this AGREEMENT.
14.2 Upon any material breach of, or material default under, this AGREEMENT by LICENSEE, UNIVERSITY may terminate this AGREEMENT by ninety (90) calendar days written notice to LICENSEE. Said notice shall become effective at the end of such period unless during said period LICENSEE shall cure, or initiate steps intended to cure, such material breach or material default.
14.3 LICENSEE shall have the right to terminate this AGREEMENT any time upon ninety (90) calendar days written notice to UNIVERSITY.
14.4 UNIVERSITY shall have the right to terminate this AGREEMENT upon ninety (90) days written notice to LICENSEE if LICENSEE challenges the validity of any patent within PATENT RIGHTS in a court of competent jurisdiction.
14.5 Upon termination of this AGREEMENT for any cause, nothing herein shall be construed to release either PARTY of any obligation matured prior to the effective date of such termination. LICENSEE may, after the effective date of such termination, sell all LICENSED PRODUCTS and parts thereof that it may have on hand at the date of termination, provided that it pays any UNIVERSITY ROYALTIES due thereon as provided in this AGREEMENT.
14.6 Upon termination of this AGREEMENT for any reason, any sublicensee of LICENSEE not then in default under the terms of the sublicense agreement between LICENSEE and such sublicensee shall become a direct licensee of UNIVERSITY with respect to the rights licensed by LICENSEE to such sublicensee hereunder.
19 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
ARTICLE 15 - PAYMENTS, NOTICES AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
15.1 Any payment, notice or other communication to a PARTY pursuant to this AGREEMENT shall be sufficiently made or given one (1) business day after the date of mailing if sent to such PARTY by a nationally-recognized overnight courier or three (3) days after the date of mailing if sent to such PARTY by certified first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to it at its address below or as it shall designate by written notice given to the other PARTY:
If to LICENSEE:
Myeloma Health LLC
667 Madison Avenue, 14
th
Floor
New York, NY 10065
with a copy to:
Latham & Watkins LLP
555 Eleventh Street, N.W., Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004
Attention: Stuart Kurlander, Esq.
If to UNIVERSITY - Reports, Notices or other communication:
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
UAMS BioVentures
4301 West Markham Street #831
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Attention: Charles Cook
With copy to:
Williams & Anderson, LLP
111 Center Street, 22nd Floor
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Attention: Harold J. Evans
If to UNIVERSITY - Payments, Checks and Remittance Stubs:
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Treasurer’s Office
4301 West Markham Street #560
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
20 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
ARTICLE 16 - CONFIDENTIALITY
16.1 “ CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ” means all information of any kind whatsoever (and all tangible and intangible embodiments thereof of any kind whatsoever) which is owned or controlled by such PARTY, is disclosed by such PARTY to the other PARTY pursuant to this AGREEMENT, and (if disclosed in writing or other tangible medium) is marked or identified as confidential at the time of disclosure to the receiving PARTY or (if otherwise disclosed) is identified as confidential at the time of disclosure to the receiving PARTY and reduced to writing and delivered to the receiving PARTY within thirty (30) calendar days after disclosure.
16.2 A PARTY receiving CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION of the other PARTY shall not, except as otherwise hereinafter provided, disclose such CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION to any person, firm, company or other entity or organization not a party to this AGREEMENT without the written consent of the PARTY that furnished such CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION. The receiving PARTY shall treat such CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION with no less security with respect to third parties than it would treat its own CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, and will use such CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION only in accordance with the terms and conditions of this AGREEMENT. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the receiving PARTY shall be permitted to disclose such CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION (a) to its employees engaged in fulfilling such PARTY’s obligations and exercising such PARTY’s rights under this AGREEMENT and (b) if LICENSEE is the receiving PARTY, to its affiliates and/or sublicensees to the same extent that LICENSEE can provide CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION to its employees as provided in this AGREEMENT. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION of a PARTY shall not include information which the receiving PARTY can establish by written documentation (i) to have been publicly known prior to disclosure of such information by the disclosing PARTY to the receiving PARTY, (ii) to have become publicly known, without fault on the part of the receiving PARTY, subsequent to disclosure of such information by the disclosing PARTY to the receiving PARTY, (iii) to have been received by the receiving PARTY at any time from a source, other than the disclosing PARTY, rightfully having possession of and the right to disclose such information free of confidentiality obligations to the disclosing PARTY, (iv) to have been otherwise known by the receiving PARTY free of confidentiality obligations prior to disclosure of such information by the disclosing PARTY to the receiving PARTY, or (v) to have been independently developed by employees or agents of the receiving PARTY without access to or use of such information disclosed by the disclosing PARTY to the receiving PARTY. The PARTIES acknowledge that the foregoing exceptions shall be narrowly construed and that the obligations imposed upon each PARTY shall be relieved solely with respect to such Confidential Information of the disclosing PARTY which falls within the above exceptions.
21 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
ARTICLE 17 - GENERAL
17.1 Legal Compliance. LICENSEE shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations in connection with its activities pursuant to this AGREEMENT.
17.2 Patent Marking. LICENSEE agrees to mark the LICENSED PRODUCTS sold in the United States with all applicable United States patent numbers. All LICENSED PRODUCTS shipped to or sold in other countries shall be marked in such a manner as to conform to the patent laws and practice of the country of manufacture or sale.
17.3 Waiver. Neither PARTY may waive or release any of its rights or interests in this AGREEMENT except in writing. Failure to assert any right arising from this AGREEMENT shall not he deemed or construed to be a waiver of such right.
17.4 Integration. This AGREEMENT constitutes the entire agreement between the PARTIES relating to the subject matter thereof, and all prior and contemporaneous negotiations, representations, agreements, and understandings are merged into, extinguished by, and completely expressed by it.
17.5 Effect of Agreement. This AGREEMENT is binding upon the PARTIES hereto, and shall inure to the benefit of the PARTIES. UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE intend that only UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE will benefit from, and are entitled to enforce the provisions of, this AGREEMENT and that no third party beneficiary is intended under this AGREEMENT.
17.6 Construction and Interpretation. This AGREEMENT and its effect are subject to and shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Arkansas without regard to its choice of law principles. The drafting and negotiation of this AGREEMENT have been participated in by counsel for each of the PARTIES, and any rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguity is to be resolved against the drafting PARTY shall not be applied to the interpretation of this AGREEMENT.
17.7 Severability. The provisions of this AGREEMENT are severable, and in the event that any provisions of this AGREEMENT shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable under any controlling body of the law, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof.
17.8 Execution and Counterparts. This AGREEMENT may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original. All counterparts together shall constitute one and the same original.
17.9 Authority. Each PARTY represents and warrants for itself that the individual executing this AGREEMENT on its behalf is authorized to do so and to bind the PARTY on whose behalf he is signing to the terms, obligations and conditions set forth herein.
22 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
17.10 Modification or Amendment. This AGREEMENT may not be modified or amended except in writing signed by all PARTIES hereto.
17.11 Further Assurance and Documents. The PARTIES, and each of them, agree to execute any and all additional documents and to do all things reasonably necessary to carry out and implement the provisions of this AGREEMENT.
23 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the PARTIES hereto have caused this AGREEMENT to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS |
MYELOMA HEALTH LLC | |||
/s/ Ann Kemp | /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | |||
By: Ann Kemp | By: Bennett S. LeBow | |||
Title: Vice President for Administration | Title: Manager | |||
Date: | 4/1/10 | Date: | 4/1/10 |
24 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
APPENDIX A
PATENT RIGHTS
“Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling ” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | USPTO Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publications |
Overseas
Patents |
102-08-1 |
60/348,238; 60/355,386; 60/403,075; 10/289,746 | US-2003-0175753-A1 | 7,668,659 | WO2003/053215 | |
I02-08 CIP |
10/409,004 |
US-2003-0232364-A1 | |||
I02-08 CIP2 |
10/454,263 | US-2004-0009523-A1 | 7,308,364 | ||
I02-08 CIP2/D |
12/001,110 |
US-2008-0234139-A1 | |||
I02-08 CIP3/D |
12/012,302 |
US2008-0293578-A1 | |||
I02-08 CIP3/PCT |
PCT/US2005/031038 |
WO 2006/028867 | |||
I02-08 CIP4 |
11/110,209 |
US-2005-0282192-A1 | |||
I02-08 CIP5 |
12/587,383 |
25 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
“Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of Multiple Myeloma to Predict Disease Progression” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publications |
Overseas
Patents |
I07-01 |
60/847,220; 11/904,151 |
US-2008-0280779-A1 |
|||
I07-01 PCT |
PCT/US2007/020732 |
WO 2008/039475 |
|||
I07-06 |
60/873,840; 11/999,766 |
US-2008-0234138-A1 |
|||
I07-06PCT |
US2007/025053T |
WO 2008/073290 |
|||
I07-06 CIP (09-30) |
12/587,156 |
||||
I07-24 |
60/857,456; 11/983,113 |
US-2008-0187930-A1 | |||
I07-24 PCT |
US2007/023404 |
WO2008/057545 |
|||
I07-24 EPO |
07861764.4 |
PUBLISHED | |||
I07-24 JAP |
2009-536276 |
||||
I07-24 CIP |
12/148,985 |
US-2008-0274911-A1 |
|||
I07-24 CIP/PCT |
PCT/US2009/002552 |
WO 2009-131710 |
Other Patents and Patent Applications | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publications |
Overseas
Patents |
I98-18 |
60/180,374; 09/778,971 |
US 2002-0102639A1 |
7,094,886 | ||
I98-18PCT |
PCT/US01/03518 – EPO 01908810.3 |
WO 2001/57202 | |||
I98-18 Div |
11/128,403 |
US-2005-0208572-A1 |
Allowed | ||
I07-19 |
60/873,134; 11/999,301 |
US-2008-0193515-A1 |
|||
I07-19PCT |
PCT/US2007/024901 |
WO 2008/070112 | |||
I07-08 |
11/846,854 |
US-2009-0060903-A1 |
|||
I05-24 |
60/702,944; 11/494,335 |
US-2007-0027175-A1 |
|||
I05-24 PCT |
PCT/US2006/029212; No National filings |
WO2007/016254 |
26 |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
APPENDIX B
The following patent application is excluded from the PATENT RIGHTS and has application solely to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing:
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications |
I04-12-1 and I04-12 CIP | Application # 11/147,829 |
The following patent applications are included in PATENT RIGHTS and apply to both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing and the LICENSED FIELD:
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications |
I02-08 CIP2/D | U.S. Patent Application #12/001,110 |
I02-08 CIP3/PCT | PCT/US2005/031038 |
I02-08 CIP5 | U.S. Patent Application #12/587,383 |
I04-12 PCT | PCT/US2005/017731 |
I04-12 EPO | EPO #5780069 |
I04-12 CIP/PCT | PCT/US2006/022303 |
I04-12 CIP/EPO | EPO #6772563 |
I07-01 PCT | PCT/US2007/020732 |
I07-06 | U.S. Patent Application #11/999,766 |
I07-06 PCT | US2007/025053T |
I07-06 CIP (09-30) | U.S. Patent Application #12/587,156 |
I07-24 CIP | U.S. Patent Application #12/148,985 |
I07-24 CIP/PCT | PCT/US2009/002552 |
April 01, 2010 |
|
Myeloma Health LLC
Anthony P. Albino, Ph.D.
667 Madison Avenue, 14
th
Floor
New York, New York 10065
Dear Dr. Albino:
In accordance with Article 5.1(e), Reimbursement of Patent Prosecution Costs, of the License Agreement, dated April 01, 2010, between Myeloma Health, LLC and the Board of Trustees of the university of Arkansas (“University”), Myeloma Health, LLC shall reimburse the University for (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the gene expression profiling only patent costs, (ii) fifty percent (50%) of combination of gene expression profiling and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) patent costs, and (iii) zero percent (0%) of the fluorescence in situ-hybridization (FISH)-only patent costs incurred by University and paid to third parties in connection with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications and patents.
The purpose of this letter is to warrant and certify (i) the total amount of such out-of-pocket costs incurred by University prior to the Effective Date; and (ii) detail the amount owed by Myeloma Health, LLC to the University in accordance with the provisions of paragraph one above.
As of invoices received from third parties by the University on March 29, 2010, for the patent applications listed in Appendix A (attached hereto) of the License Agreement, dated April 01, 2010, between Myeloma Health, LLC and the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas:
(i) | Total Patent Costs: $388,657.09 |
(ii) | Myeloma Health: $331,425.59 |
a. | $120,179.00 – I02-08 Patent Family |
b. | $48,576.00 – I04-12 Patent Family |
c. | $68,434.50 – I07-00 Patent Family & IpEngines Analysis |
d. | $94,233.09 – Additional Patent Rights desired by Myeloma Health, LLC |
Invoicing and reimbursements of the patent cost incurred by University after the Effective Date shall be accomplished in accordance with Article 5.1(e)(iii) of the License Agreement.
Warrant and Certify by:
/s/ Michael G. Douglas, Ph.D.
Michael G. Douglas, Ph.D.
Director, UAMS Bio Ventures
Cc: |
Latham & Watkins LLP
Attention: Stuart Kurlander, Esq. |
Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION COPY |
FIRST AMENDMENT TO LICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS FIRST AMENDMENT (this “ AMENDMENT ”), made as of September 1, 2010 amends the certain License Agreement, effective as of April 1, 2010 (the “ AGREEMENT ”), entered into by and between the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a public institution of higher education having principal offices at 2404 North University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72207, United States of America (hereinafter “ UNIVERSITY ”), and Myeloma Health LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having a principal office at 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10065 (hereinafter “ LICENSEE ”), and shall be effective as of the EFFECTIVE DATE (as such term is defined in the AGREEMENT ).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE wish to amend the AGREEMENT to recognize that the following patent applications, identified by UNIVERSITY disclosure numbers: I09-08 and I09-08PCT (the “ I09-08 FILINGS ”), I09-29 (the “ I09-29 FILINGS ”), I10-07 (the “ I10-07 FILINGS ”), I10-14 (the “ I10-14 FILINGS ”), I10-19 (the “ I10-19 FILINGS ”) and I11-01 (the “ I11-01 FILINGS ”) are within the scope of the PATENT RIGHTS (as such term is defined in the AGREEMENT) under Section 2.12(a).
NOW, THEREFORE, UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE hereby amend the AGREEMENT as follows:
1. | UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE acknowledge and agree that the I09-08 FILINGS, I09-29 FILINGS, I10-07 FILINGS, I10-14 FILINGS and I10-19 FILINGS are within the scope of the PATENT RIGHTS under Section 2.12(a). As a consequence, Appendix A shall be revised to include the following new table entries: |
“ Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients ” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publication | Overseas Patents |
I09-08 | US61/204,154 | Pending | |||
I09-08PCT | PCT/US2010/000002 | Pending |
“ High IL6R and Myeloma Resistance to Thalidomide” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publication | Overseas Patents |
I09-29 | US61/278,878 | Pending |
“ High-Risk Myeloma Is Associated with Global Elevation of miRNAs and Overexpression of EIF2C2/AG02” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publication | Overseas Patents |
I10-07 |
US61/283,521 |
Pending |
“A 14 Gene Signature Distinguishing Ultra High Risk from Manageable GEP70 High Risk Disease Represent Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publication | Overseas Patents |
I10-19 |
Provisional filed June 04, 2010 |
Pending |
“Identification of Genes Coding for Plasma Membrane Reccptors Overexpressed on Cancer Calls as a Result of Copy Number Gains: Thrombin Receptor (PAR1) as a Biomarker and Therapeutic Target” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publication | Overseas Patents |
I11-01 |
Provisional to be filed |
2. | Appendix B shall be revised to include the following new table entry under the heading “The following patent applications are included in PATENT RIGHTS and apply to both fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing and the LICENSED FIELD:” |
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications |
I09-29 | US61/278,878 |
3. | UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE acknowledge and agree that the patent costs incurred by UNIVERSITY and paid to third parties in connection with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance, as of invoices received: |
a. | as of the EFFECTIVE DATE are as follows: |
(i) | I09-08 FILINGS: $10,037, |
(ii) | I09-29 FILINGS: $2,462, |
(iii) | I10-07 FILINGS: $1,116, |
(iv) | I10-14 FILINGS: $3,485, |
(v) | I10-19 FILINGS: $1,371, and |
(vi) | I11-01 FILINGS: $4,822 |
b. | after the EFFECTIVE DATE are as follows: |
(i) | I09-08 FILINGS:, |
(ii) | I09-29 FILINGS:, |
(iii) | I10-07 FILINGS:, |
(iv) | I10-14 FILINGS:, |
(v) | I10-19 FILINGS:, and |
(vi) | I11-01 FILINGS:. |
The amount of such patent costs that LICENSEE shall reimburse to UNIVERSITY shall be determined in accordance with Section 5.1(e) (i) (the “ I09-08, I09-08PCT, I09-29, I10-07, I10-14, I10-19 and I11-01 PATENT COSTS ”).
4. | UNIVERSITY shall amend the separate letter signed by an authorized representative of UNIVERSITY pursuant to Section 5.1(e) (ii) to include the I09-08, I09-08PCT, I09-29, I10-07, I10-14, I10-19 and I11-01 PATENT COSTS incurred by UNIVERSITY prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE. |
5. | LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY: |
a. | the patent costs for the I09-08, I09-08PCT, I09-29, I10-07, I10-14, I10-19 and I11-01 PATENT COSTS incurred by UNIVERSITY prior to the EFFECTIVE DATE in accordance with Section 5.1(e)(ii). |
b. | the patent costs for the I09-08, I09-08PCT, I09-29, I10-07, I10-14, I10-19 and I11-01 PATENT COSTS incurred by UNIVERSITY after the EFFECTIVE DATE in accordance with Section 5.1(e)(iii) |
6. | Except as provided herein above, all other terms and conditions of the AGREEMENT remain the same and in effect. |
(Signature page follows)
EXECUTION COPY |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the PARTIES hereto have caused this AMENDMENT to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE | MYELOMA HEALTH LLC | |||
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS | ||||
/s/ Ann Kemp | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |||
By: | Ann Kemp | By: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | Vice President for Administration | Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: | 8/26/10 | Date: | 8/19/10 |
[Signature Page to First Amendment to License Agreement]
Exhibit 10.3.1
|
February 25, 2014
Sam Riccitelli
President & CEO
Myeloma Health, LLC
667 Madison Avenue, 14
th
Floor
New York, NY 10065
Dear Mr. Riccitelli,
In accordance with Article 5.1(e), Reimbursement of Patent Prosecution costs, of the License agreement, dated April 01,2010, between Myeloma Health, LLC and the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas (“University”), Myeloma Health, LLC shall reimburse the University for (i) one hundred percent (100%) of the gene expression profiling only patent costs, (ii) fifty percent (50%) of combination of gene expression profiling and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) patent costs, and (iii) zero percent (0%) of the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-only patent costs incurred by University and paid to third parties in connection with the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of patent applications and patents.
The purpose of this letter is to warrant and certify (i) the total amount of such out-of-pocket costs incurred by University prior to the Effective date; and, (ii) detail the amount owed by Myeloma Health, LLC to the University in accordance with the provisions of paragraph one above.
As of invoices received from third parties by the University on March 29, 2010, for the patent applications listed in Appendix A (attached hereto) of the License Agreement, dated April 01, 2010, between Myeloma Health, LLC and the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas:
(i) Total Patent Costs: $388,654.09
(ii) Myeloma Health:
$331,422.59
a. $120,179.00 — 102-08 Patent
Family
b. $ 48,576.00 — 104-12 Patent Family
c. $ 68,434.50 — 107-00 Patent Family &
IpEngines’ Analysis
d. $ 94,233.09 — Additional Patent Rights desired by Myeloma Health, LLC
Page 2
As of August 30, 2010, additional patent filings and invoices on existing patent filings which are included in the first amendment to the License Agreement, dated September 1, 2010, between Myeloma Health, LLC and the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas are as follows:
(iii) Total Patent Costs: $25,755
(iv) Myeloma Health:
$23,293
a. $10,037 — 109-08 Patent Family
b. $ 2,462 — 109-29 Patent Family
c. $ 1,116 — 110-07 Patent Family
d. $ 3,485 — 110-14 Patent Family
e. $ 1,371 — 110-19 Patent Family
f. $ 4,822 — 111-01 Patent Family
Invoicing and reimbursements of the patent costs incurred by University after the Effective Dates shall be accomplished in accordance with Article 5.1(e) (iii) of the License Agreement, and Amendment thereto.
Warrant and Certify by:
/s/ Marie Chow, Ph.D.
Marie Chow, Ph.D.
Interim Director, UAMS BioVentures
Exhibit 10.4
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
AMENDMENT #2 to the LICENSE AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT (“ Amendment ”) is made by and between the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a public institution of higher education having principal offices at 2404 North University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72207, United States of America (hereinafter “ University ”), and Myeloma Health LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having a principal office at 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10065 (hereinafter “ Licensee ”).
WITTNESSETH
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2010, the University and Licensee entered a license agreement (“ Agreement ”).
WHEREAS, the University and Licensee wish to amend the Agreement for clarity.
Amendments
NOW, THEREFORE, the University and Licensee, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, hereby agree as follows:
1. | This Amendment is made effective as of September 14, 2010 (“ Second Amendment Date ”). |
2. | Article 2.4 of the Agreement shall be replaced as follows: |
“ HIPAA ” shall have the meaning in Article 10.2.
3. | Article 2.5 of the Agreement shall be replaced as follows: |
“ INVENTION ” means any invention or discovery that is within the subject matter of the PATENT RIGHTS and has application within the LICENSED FIELD in the TERRITORY whether or not patentable or copyrightable, including but not limited to processes, methods, software, formulae, techniques, compositions of matter, devices, and improvements thereof and know-how relating thereto, in each case which is conceived and reduced to practice during the TERM in whole or in part by Bart Barlogic, MD, Ph.D. or John Shaughnessy, Ph.D.
4. | Article 2.13 of the Agreement shall be replaced as follows: |
“ PHI ” shall have the meaning in Article 10.2.
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
5. | Article 2.15 of the Agreement shall be replaced as follows: |
“ TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS ” shall mean data and information within the subject matter of the PATENT RIGHTS and has application within the LICENSED FIELD in the TERRORITY with respect to (a) clinical samples obtained in clinical research having application within the LICENSED FIELD (but excluding clinical samples obtained in clinical research under third party agreements entered into after the Second Amendment Date), including but not limited to clinical research under University Protocol UARK91-04 and data and information corresponding to the patients from whom the samples were obtained, including but not limited to, diagnosis and clinical outcome; (b) nucleic acids and/or derivatives thereof derived from such clinical samples, and data and information derived from analyzing nucleic acids obtained from such clinical samples including but not limited to genomic data and expression levels of mRNA and/or, by virtue of the conversion of mRNA to protein, the protein derived from CD-138-enriched plasma cells from patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell dyscrasias, in each case that is in the possession or control of UNIVERSITY; and (c) any trade secret right, bailment right, or copyright in any of the following: UNIVERSITY technical information, patient data, know-how, processes, procedures, compositions, devices, method formulae, protocols, techniques, software, designs, drawings or other data relating to the LICENSED FIELD. Notwithstanding the foregoing, data and information provided under this Agreement shall be provided in a manner consistent with the HIPAA authorizations and written consent forms, when applicable. For patient data for which no authorization has been obtained, only de-identified data will be provided. For the sake of clarity, TECHNOLGY RIGHTS to which UNIVERSITY has granted and is granting to LICENSEE an exclusive license under Article 3.1 of the Agreement includes, without limitation, the historical Multiple Myeloma Gene Expression Database and the related historical patient outcome data.
6. | Article 5.1(b) of the Agreement is hereby amended to add the following at the end of such Article: |
UNIVERSITY hereby waives and agrees that LICENSEE is under no obligation to pay the payment of [****] Dollars ($[****]) by LICENSEE that was due under this Article 5.1(b) on April 1, 2011 anniversary of the EFFECTIVE DATE.
7. | Article 5.1(e)(ii) of the Agreement is hereby deleted, and UNIVERSITY hereby waives and agrees that LICENSEE is under no obligation to pay any amounts under said Article 5.1(e)(ii). |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
8. | Article 10.2 of the Agreement shall be replaced as follows: |
UNIVERSITY represents and warrants to LICENSEE that UNIVERSITY is the sole owner of the PATENT RIGHTS and TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS and, as of the EFFECTIVE DATE, has the right and authority to grant the rights and licenses granted to LICENSEE set forth in this AGREEMENT, subject to certain retained rights of the United States government and certain third party research sponsors as set forth in Schedule 10.2. In addition, and without limitation on the foregoing, UNIVERSITY represents and warrants that any information contained in the TECHNOLOGY RIGHTS that is or may be considered protected health information (“ PHI ”), including, without limitation, information that would identify human research subjects, has been and will be maintained by UNIVERSITY in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, including without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“ HIPAA ”), as amended, and its implementing regulations, and that UNIVERSITY has (or shall collect and maintain) all authorizations required under HIPAA and other applicable laws permitting UNIVERSITY to disclose such PHI to LICENSEE as contemplated by this AGREEMENT. LICENSEE may use or further disclose such PHI to the extent permitted under this AGREEMENT, HIPAA and its implementing regulations, and other applicable laws.
9. | The Agreement shall be amended to include a new Schedule 10.2, attached hereto as Schedule 10.2. |
10. | All other terms and conditions of the Agreement that have not been amended herein shall remain in full force and effect. |
11. | The recitals and preamble set forth prior to the enumerated sections of this Amendment are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and made a part of this Amendment as if fully set forth herein. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS |
MYELOMA HEALTH LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Barbara A. Goswick | By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |
Name: | Barbara A. Goswick | Name: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | VP for Finance and CFO | Title: | President and CEO |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
SCHEDULE 10.2
THIRD PARTY RESEARCH SPONSORS
(a) | Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial Agreement, by and among the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Bart Barlogie, MD, PhD, and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., effective as of January 26, 2004. |
(b) | Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial Agreement, by and among the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Bart Barlogie, MD, PhD, and Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., with a partial title of “Data Management and Collection, Database entry, Bioinformatics, Gene Expression Profiling and Statistical Analysis related to Phase II Study.” |
Exhibit 10.5
AMENDMENT #3 to the LICENSE AGREEMENT
This Amendment No . 3 (“Amendment No. 3”) is made by and between the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a public institution of higher education having principal offices at 2404 North University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72207 (hereinafter “University”), and Myeloma Health LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having a principal office at 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10065 (hereinafter “Licensee”).
WITTNESSETH
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2010, the University and Licensee entered into a License Agreement (“AGREEMENT”).
WHEREAS, the University and Licensee wish to amend the Agreement to add to the scope of the PATENT RIGHTS (as such term is defined in the AGREEMENT) any patent applications filed by or on behalf of UNIVERSITY which disclose the inventions or discoveries of UNIVERSITY disclosure number 2011-30.
Amendments
NOW, THEREFORE, the University and Licensee, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, hereby agree as follows:
1. | This Amendment is made effective as of October _____, 2011 (“Third Amendment Date”). |
2. | UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE acknowledge and agree that any patent applications filed by or on behalf of UNIVERSITY which disclose the inventions or discoveries of UAMS Disclosure Number 2011-30 shall be added to the scope of the PATENT RIGHTS under Section 2.12(a). As a consequence, Appendix A shall be revised to include the following new table entries: |
“CACYBP as a Therapeutic Target for Multiple Myeloma and Other Malignanices” | |||||
UAMS Disclosure # | Applications | Publications | U.S. Patents | Overseas Publications | Overseas Patents |
2011-30 | Pending | Pending |
3. | Within ninety (90) days of the Third Amendment Date, LICENSEE shall pay to UNIVERSITY a one-time payment of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), which payment shall be in addition to any payments due under the AGREEMENT. |
4. | All other terms and conditions of the Agreement that have not been amended herein shall remain in full force and effect. |
5. | The recitals and preamble set forth prior to the enumerated sections of this Amendment are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and made a part of this Amendment as if fully set forth herein. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS |
MYELOMA HEALTH LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Ann Kemp | By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |
Name: | Ann Kemp | Name: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | Vice President for Administration | Title: | President and CEO |
Exhibit 10.6
AMENDMENT #4 to the LICENSE AGREEMENT
This Amendment (“ Amendment ”) is made by and between the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, a public institution of higher education having principal offices at 2404 North University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas 72207 (hereinafter “ University ”), and Myeloma Health LLC, a Delaware limited liability company having a principal office at 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10065 (hereinafter “ Licensee ”).
WITTNESSETH
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2010, the University and Licensee entered into a license agreement (“ Agreement ”),
WHEREAS, the University and Licensee wish to amend the Agreement.
Amendments
NOW, THEREFORE, the University and Licensee, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants contained herein, hereby agree as follows:
1. | This Amendment is made effective as of ___12/1/11 _______. |
2. | Article 7.1 of the Agreement shall be replaced as follows: |
(a) LICENSEE shall have the obligation, exclusive right and license, in the name of and on behalf of UNIVERSITY, to apply for, prosecute, seek prompt issuance of, maintain, and pay all costs associated with, during the term of this Agreement, the PATENT RIGHTS (including, without limitations, all applications included therein) listed in Appendix A, including, without limitation, all United States and foreign patents issued from the patent applications listed in Appendix A and from any patent application that is a divisional, continuation, continuation-in-part (but only to the extent supported in the specification, and entitled to the priority date of, the parent application), and any reexamination and reissue of any patent and/or patent application listed in Appendix A and any divisional, continuation, continuation-in-part (but only to the extent supported in the specification, and entitled to the priority date of, the parent application), reexamination and reissue issued from such an application and any foreign patent issued from any corresponding foreign patent application (“Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS”). The prosecution, filing and maintenance of the Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS patents and applications shall be the primary responsibility of LICENSEE, including payment of all costs associated therewith; provided, however, that UNIVERSITY shall have reasonable opportunities to advise LICENSEE and shall cooperate with LICENSEE in such prosecution, filing and maintenance as requested by LICENSEE. LICENSEE shall have the right to select counsel to prosecute the Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS, subject to approval by UNIVERSITY which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. LICENSEE shall consult with UNIVERSITY prior to taking any action which is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect upon the UNIVERSITY’S rights in the Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS. Copies of all Patent Office actions shall be provided at their time of receipt and copies of responses thereto shall be provided to UNIVERSITY and its designated patent counsel prior to their filing and with sufficient time for UNIVERSITY and its designated patent counsel to provide comments and recommendations if deemed necessary, which comments and recommendations will be duly considered by LICENSEE in the prosecution and maintenance of the Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS. LICENSEE shall apply for and use its reasonable good faith efforts to prosecute and seek prompt issuance of the Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS in the United States and in such foreign countries as shall be agreed to by UNIVERSITY and LICENSEE, in a timely and reasonably prudent business manner. LICENSEE shall use good faith efforts to maintain the Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS during the term of this Agreement in such countries as LICENSEE deems necessary in the exercise of its reasonably prudent business judgment; provided that UNIVERSITY shall be notified prior to the abandonment of any patent or patent application included in the Appendix A PATENT RIGHTS. UNIVERSITY reserves the right to prosecute and maintain, at its sole expense, any patent or patent application included in the PATENT RIGHTS that is abandoned by LICENSEE (except for purposes of filing continuation applications) and LICENSEE shall have no license or rights to such patents or patent applications.
(b) UNIVERSITY shall apply for, seek prompt issuance of, and maintain during the term of this Agreement the PATENT RIGHTS listed in Appendix B (“Appendix B PATENT RIGHTS”) unless otherwise agreed by the LICENSEE and any third party that is also a licensee with respect to a patent application or patent within such Appendix B PATENT RIGHTS, provided , however , that LICENSEE and, if applicable, any such third party licensee shall: (i) agree upon and select patent counsel to be used by the UNIVERSITY (and shall select new patent counsel from time to time as LICENSEE, UNIVERSITY and any such third party licensee may agree) and (ii) have the opportunity to review and comment on decisions to be made or answers to examiner comments, which comments shall be duly considered and included in any proposed amendments. UNIVERSITY shall keep LICENSEE regularly updated of the status of the patent application filings. UNIVERSITY agrees to consult LICENSEE to determine in which countries the application has to be extended and to extend the patent application in the countries selected by LICENSEE and any applicable third party licensee of the Appendix B PATENT RIGHTS. UNIVERSITY shall diligently file, prosecute and maintain the patent applications. The prosecution, filing and maintenance of all Appendix B PATENT RIGHTS patents shall be the primary responsibility of UNIVERSITY as set forth in this Article 7, provided that this Article 7 shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Article 5.1(e) of this Agreement.
3. | All other terms and conditions of the Agreement that have not been amended herein shall remain in full force and effect. |
- 2 - |
4. | The recitals and preamble set forth prior to the enumerated sections of this Amendment are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety and made a part of this Amendment as if fully set forth herein. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS |
MYELOMA HEALTH LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Ann Kemp | By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |
Name: | Ann Kemp | Name: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | Vice President for Administration | Title: | President and CEO |
- 3 - |
Exhibit 10.7
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
REFERENCE LABORATORY SERVICES AGREEMENT
This Reference Laboratory Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) made this March 21, 2011, by and between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES’ Clinical Laboratory (hereinafter called “UAMS”) and SIGNAL GENETICS LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, (hereinafter called “LABORATORY”) with reference to the following facts:
WHEREAS, UAMS operates a clinical laboratory to benefit the patients it services and requires the services of a qualified reference laboratory capable of furnishing gene array diagnostic testing services which the hospital is unable to perform in its own laboratory;
WHEREAS, Signal Genetics (LABORATORY) operates a clinical laboratory in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is engaged in the business of providing gene array testing services and pursuant to the terms set forth herein, desires to provide such laboratory services to UAMS; and
WHEREAS, UAMS desires to engage LABORATORY to provide gene array diagnostic testing to UAMS; and,
NOW THEREFORE, UAMS and LABORATORY agree as follows:
1. | TERM |
The initial term of the Agreement shall commence March 21, 2011, and terminate March 20, 2014, (the “Initial Term”). The Agreement may be renewed by agreement of the parties each year for additional twelve (12) month terms (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”). The parties agree to provide written notice of its intent to the other of its intent to renew the Agreement at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the current Term.
2. | TERMINATION |
2.1 | UAMS has the right to terminate this Agreement immediately, without payment of termination fee or penalty, in the event of LABORATORY’S (i) gross negligence, (ii) willful misconduct, (iii) sanction by CMS, OIG or other governmental entity, conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude or illegal acts, (iv) filing by or against LABORATORY of a petition in bankruptcy or in equity for receivership or for reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as now or hereafter amended, which filing is not withdrawn or vacated within thirty (30) days and/or (v) a material breach of any of its obligations under this Agreement which breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such alleged breach, or (vi) at will by providing sixty (60) days written notice. |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
2.2 | LABORATORY has the right to terminate this Agreement, without payment of termination fee or penalty, in the event of UAMS’s (i) gross negligence, (ii) willful misconduct, (iii) conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude or illegal acts, (iv) filing by or against UAMS of a petition in bankruptcy or in equity for receivership or for reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as now or hereafter amended, which filing is not withdrawn or vacated within thirty (30) days and/or (v) a material breach of any of UAMS’ obligations under this Agreement which breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such alleged breach, or (vi) at will by providing sixty (60) days written notice. |
3. | OBLIGATIONS UPON TERMINATION. |
LABORATORY agrees to provide UAMS with transitional services after the date of termination on a time and materials basis as determined and agreed to by the parties in writing. Termination shall not relieve, release or discharge either party hereto from any obligation, debt or liability which may have accrued prior to the termination of this Agreement, and which remains to be performed upon the date of the termination, including but not limited to the obligation of LABORATORY to provide the specified services to UAMS and the obligation of UAMS to provide compensation to LABORATORY. In particular, in the event the Agreement is terminated for any reason, UAMS will pay LABORATORY and LABORATORY will be entitled to retain all outstanding fees for services performed by LABORATORY.
4. | TESTING SERVICES |
4.1 | LABORATORY agrees to perform gene array clinical diagnostic testing services associated with LABORATORY’s proprietary gene expression profile analysis [and known as My PRS] as are ordered by UAMS during the Term of this Agreement. LABORATORY will process specimens and provide all technical personnel, materials and equipment necessary to perform the gene array test. |
4.2 | UAMS hereby agrees that LABORATORY shall be the exclusive provider to UAMS during the Term of the gene array diagnostic testing services that are the subject of this Agreement. However, there is no guarantee of a minimum quantity of tests UAMS will request from LABORATORY during the term of this agreement. |
4.3 | Testing services shall be performed in accordance with the guidelines and notices set forth in the then current Signal Genetics Test catalog and applicable federal state and municipal law. |
- 2 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
5. | ADDITIONAL SERVICES |
5.1 | Specimen Pick Up and Report Delivery - LABORATORY will provide a reference specimen pick up and report delivery service to UAMS on an as needed basis Monday through Friday of each week. Results will, in most cases, be available to UAMS within [****] of the time the specimen is submitted to the LABORATORY through secure access to Signal Genetics website. |
5.2 | Supplies - LABORATORY will provide, at no additional charge, routine supplies necessary for the collection, preparation and preservation of specimens to be submitted to LABORATORY for testing pursuant to this Agreement and to the extent the provision of such supplies does not conflict with fraud and abuse regulations or statutes. |
5.3 | Consultation - LABORATORY staff shall be available to consult with UAMS by telephone during normal LABORATORY working hours to discuss LABORATORY’S procedures and to explain test results. |
5.4 | Unsatisfactory Specimens and Unsatisfactory Results - if LABORATORY cannot analyze a specimen because of improper collection or degradation in process, or is unable to obtain satisfactory test results, LABORATORY will notify UAMS. LABORATORY will only charge UAMS for those specimens on which it is able to obtain a satisfactory result. |
6. | DATA INTERPRETATION |
6.1 | Data Interpretation . UAMS shall be responsible for physician review and interpretation of the gene array diagnostic test data provided by LABORATORY (collectively, the “Professional Services”) for Molecular Diagnostic Tests ordered by UAMS. |
7. | FEES |
7.1 | UAMS shall pay LABORATORY for each gene array test performed and resulted on a Medicare patient at the rate of [****]% of the Scheduled Hospital Medicare reimbursement rate in effect at the time of performance of the test (the “Fee”). |
7.2 | LABORATORY shall invoice UAMS for the gene array tests performed on Medicare patients by the 5th of the month. UAMS will pay within thirty (30) days of receipt of an invoice. |
- 3 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
Invoices shall be mailed to:
UAMS Medical Center
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Services
Administrative Director
4301 West Markham St. Slot 502
Little Rock, AR 72205
7.3 | No fee will be incurred by UAMS for gene array clinical diagnostic tests performed on non-Medicare patients. UAMS will clearly tag or otherwise indicate on each work order whether or not such specimen is for a non-Medicare patient. Gene array tests for research purposes may be performed for UAMS and billed pursuant to a separate agreement. |
8. | BILLING |
8.1 | UAMS shall be responsible for billing Medicare for tests performed by LABORATORY for UAMS’ Medicare patients. |
8.2 | LABORATORY shall be responsible for billing third party payors or patients for all tests performed by LABORATORY on non-Medicare patients. UAMS shall promptly provide to LABORATORY all relevant billing information required for LABORATORY to bill third party payors or patients for tests in respect of non-Medicare patients. |
9. | ACCREDITATION OF TESTING SITES |
Testing performed hereunder shall be performed at the LABORATORY’S testing facility located in Little Rock, Arkansas or at another similar facility of LABORATORY. The facility is and shall remain a duly licensed clinical laboratory under applicable federal, state and municipal law, failure to maintain accreditation could result in immediate termination of this agreement.
10. | CHANGE IN LAW OR REGULATION |
The terms of this Agreement are intended to be in compliance with all federal, state and local statutes, regulations and ordinances applicable on the date the Agreement takes effect. Should legal counsel for either party reasonably conclude that any portion of this Agreement is or may be in violation of such requirements, or subsequent enactments by federal, state or local authorities, or if any such change materially alters the amount or method of compensating LABORATORY for testing performed for UAMS or for any other party, or materially increases the cost of LABORATORY’s performance hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate upon THIRTY (30) days notice thereof to the other party, unless within said THIRTY (30) day period the parties agree to such modifications of the Agreement as may be necessary to establish compliance with such authorities or to reflect such change in compensation or cost.
- 4 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
11. | STATUS AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR |
LABORATORY is, and shall at all times be deemed to be, an independent contractor and shall be wholly responsible for the manner in which it performs the services required of it by the terms of this Agreement. LABORATORY is entirely responsible for compensating staff, subcontractors, and consultants employed by LABORATORY. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating the relationship of employer and employee, or principal and agent, between UAMS and LABORATORY or any of LABORATORY’S employees, agents, consultants, or subcontractors. LABORATORY and UAMS assume exclusively the responsibility for the acts of their respective employees, agents, consultants, or subcontractors as they relate to the services to be provided during the course and scope of their employment. LABORATORY, its agents, employees, consultants, or subcontractors, shall not be entitled to any rights or privileges of UAMS employees and shall not be considered in any manner to be UAMS employees and UAMS, its agents, employees, consultants or subcontractors, shall not be considered in any manner to be LABORATORY employees.
12. | FORCE MAJEURE |
LABORATORY shall not be liable for any claims or damages if such claims or damages result or arise out of a failure or delay that is due to any act beyond the control of the LABORATORY.
13. | WARRANTY |
LABORATORY warrants to UAMS that all services provided hereunder shall be performed in accordance with established and recognized clinical laboratory testing procedures and with reasonable care in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. No other warranties are made by laboratory. In no event shall LABORATORY be responsible for any consequential or special damages of UAMS or of any third party.
14. | NON-DISCRIMINATION |
All services provided by LABORATORY hereunder shall be in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or veteran status.
- 5 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
15. | INDEMNIFICATION |
The parties agree that each party hereto is not responsible for the negligent acts or omissions of the agents or employees of the other party. This agreement shall not be construed to require any party to indemnify any other party from its negligence, acts, or omissions. The Arkansas Constitution precludes UAMS, as a sovereign entity, from entering into agreements to indemnify any third party. This Agreement shall not be construed as or constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity of the State of Arkansas or its entities thereof, including UAMS; nor shall it constitute a waiver of the legal requirements for filing a claim against the State of Arkansas, its entities or UAMS, which must be filed with the Arkansas State Claims Commission.
16. | COMPLIANCE |
16.1 | LABORATORY shall comply with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) requirements related to eligibility for participation in Federal and State health care programs, any failure to comply or sanction of LABORATORY by CMS, OIG or any other governmental entity is cause for immediate termination of this agreement. |
16.2 | LABORATORY and UAMS shall review all organization, employees, subcontractor agents and physicians for eligibility against General Services Administration and OIG Parties Excluded from Federal Programs Lists and Cumulative Sanction Lists respectively to ensure that Ineligible Persons are not employed or retained to provide services related to this Agreement. Ineligible Persons may include both entities and individuals and are defined as any individual or entity who: |
a. | Is currently excluded, suspended, debarred or otherwise ineligible to participate in the Federal or State health care programs; or |
b. | Has been convicted of a criminal offense related to the provision of health care items or services and has not been reinstated in the Federal or State health care programs after a period of exclusion, suspension, debarment, or ineligibility. |
16.3 | LABORATORY and UAMS both acknowledge that Ineligible Persons, as defined in Section [16.2.a. and 16.2.b.], shall be excluded from providing federally and State funded health care services covered by this Agreement. LABORATORY shall promptly notify UAMS of any limitation or governmental action initiated against LABORATORY that would materially affect this Agreement. |
- 6 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
17. | CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION |
17.1 | All information or data relating to the business or operations of any party to this Agreement acquired by any other party hereto in connection with this Agreement shall be treated as confidential by the acquiring party, and shall not, unless otherwise required by law or the requirements of any accrediting agency, be disclosed by the acquiring party without the prior written permission of the party hereto to whom the information in question relates. This provision shall survive termination of this Agreement. |
17.2 | LABORATORY shall have the right to designate and make oral or published reference to its status as a contracting laboratory in accordance with UAMS policies. (See Administrative Guide 13.1.01.) |
17.3 | Each of the parties represents and warrants to the other party that it will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (“Applicable Laws”), including, but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) privacy regulations, the HIPAA standard transactions and security regulations (as of the effective dates of those regulations). Failure by either party to comply with any applicable law shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement. Each party agrees that, upon request of the other party, it shall provide written verification of compliance with all applicable laws and confirm its full licensure and certification to the extent appropriate to its then current operations. |
18. | INSURANCE |
LABORATORY shall maintain sufficient insurance coverage to enable it to meet its obligations created by this Agreement and by law, including, without limitation, Commercial General Liability, workers compensation and professional liability insurance each on customary terms and conditions (including price and coverage amounts).
19. | NOTICE |
All notices hereunder shall be in writing, dated and signed by the party giving the same. Each notice shall be either (i) delivered in person to the address of the party for whom it is intended at the address of such party as shown below, or (ii) delivered to the United States Postal Service in a secure and sealed envelope or other suitable wrapper addressed to the Party for whom it is intended at the address of such Party as provided below, with sufficient postage affixed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, (iii) sent by facsimile with a confirmation sheet, or (iv) delivered to a nationally recognized overnight courier service that traces any such notice. The effective date of such notice shall be the date of delivery in the event of delivery in accordance with (i), (iii) or (iv) and five (5) days after deposit in the U.S. Mail in the event of delivery in accordance with (ii). The address at which any Party hereto is to receive notice may be changed from time to time by such Party by giving notice of the new address to all other parties hereto. The addresses of the Parties, until changed in accordance with the foregoing, are:
- 7 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
UAMS: | University Of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | |
4301 West Markham Street, Mail Slot 557 | ||
Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 | ||
Attn: Richard A. Pierson | ||
Vice Chancellor for Clinical Programs | ||
Facsimile: (501) 686-8365 | ||
With a Copy to: | Office of General Counsel | |
U of A System | ||
2404 North University Avenue | ||
Little Rock, AR 72207 | ||
Facsimile: (501) 686-2517 | ||
LABORATORY: | SIGNAL GENETICS LLC | |
667 Madison Avenue 14th Floor | ||
New York, NY 10065 | ||
Attn: Joe Hernandez |
20. | AMENDMENT |
This Agreement may not be amended nor any rights hereunder waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties.
21. | PAYMENT OF COSTS |
Except as otherwise set forth herein, the parties shall each pay their own costs incurred in negotiating this Agreement and in consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, including any fees or commission payable to any party representing them in connection with arranging or negotiating this Agreement and transactions contemplated hereby.
22. | HEADINGS |
The headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience or reference only and shall not affect any of the provisions of this Agreement.
- 8 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
23. | REFERENCES |
References made in this Agreement, including use of a pronoun, shall be deemed to include, where applicable, masculine, feminine, singular or plural, individuals, partnerships or corporations.
24. | GOVERNING LAW |
This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties under this agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Arkansas, without regard to conflict of law, rules applied in such state. Any and all controversies, disputes, disagreements or claims (collectively “Claims”) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall first be attempted to be resolved by the parties.
25. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
This Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto, the other agreements referred to herein (in each case incorporated herein by this reference) contain the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any and all prior agreement, arrangements, and understandings, whether oral or written, between the parties.
26. | BINDING EFFECT |
This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and, except as otherwise prohibited, their respective successors and assigns. Nothing contained in this Agreement, or implied herefrom, is intended to confer upon any other person or entity any benefits, rights, or remedies.
27. | ASSIGNMENT |
Neither LABORATORY nor UAMS may assign all or any portion of their respective rights or delegate any portion of their duties hereunder without the written consent of the other Parties; provided, however, that with sixty (60) days prior written notice to UAMS (A) LABORATORY may collaterally assign this Agreement to its lenders, (B) LABORATORY may assign this Agreement in whole or in part to any direct or indirect subsidiary of LABORATORY so long as LABORATORY retains its obligations under this Agreement and (C) LABORATORY may assign this Agreement to the purchaser in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of its assets or equity interests. All of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns and legal representatives. If this Agreement is assigned by LABORATORY, UAMS shall have the right to terminate upon providing thirty (30) days written notice to LABORATORY, its successors, or assigns.
- 9 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
28. | SEVERABILITY |
If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is void, illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and the provisions that are determined to be void, illegal or unenforceable shall be limited so that they shall remain in effect to the extent permissible by law.
29. | THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES |
This Agreement is intended only to benefit the named parties, and there is no intent to create any rights, interest, or benefits for any other third parties.
30. | EFFECTIVE DATE |
This Agreement shall be effective March 21, 2011, and only after it is signed by an authorized officer of LABORATORY.
- 10 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names as their official acts by their respective office, each of who is duly authorized to execute the same.
SIGNAL GENETICS LLC
(“LABORATORY”) |
||||
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR
MEDICAL SCIENCES (“UAMS”) |
||||
By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |||
President and CEO | By: | /s/ Sue Scott | ||
(Title) | Sue Scott, MHSA, MT(ASCP) | |||
Administrative Director | ||||
8/10/11 | Department of Pathology and | |||
(Date Accepted by LABORATORY) | Laboratory Services | |||
By: | /s/ Richard A. Pierson | |||
Richard A. Pierson | ||||
Vice Chancellor for Clinical Programs | ||||
The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | ||||
By: | /s/ Melony Goodhand | |||
Melony Goodhand, JD, CPA, MS | ||||
Vice Chancellor for Finance | ||||
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.8
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
REFERENCE LABORATORY SERVICES AGREEMENT
FOR RESEARCH SPECIMENS
This Reference Laboratory Services Agreement (the “Agreement”) made this March 21, 2011, by and between The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MEDICAL SCIENCES’ Myleoma Institute for Research Therapy (MIRT) (hereinafter called “UAMS”) and SIGNAL GENETICS LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (hereinafter called “LABORATORY”) with reference to the following facts:
WHEREAS, UAMS operates a research laboratory to benefit the patients it services and requires the services of a qualified reference laboratory capable of furnishing gene array testing services;
WHEREAS, Signal Genetics LLC, (LABORATORY) operates a clinical laboratory in Little Rock, Arkansas, and is engaged in the business of providing gene array testing services and pursuant to the terms set forth herein, desires to provide such gene array testing for research purposes to UAMS; and
WHEREAS, UAMS desires to engage LABORATORY to provide gene array testing for research purposes to UAMS; and,
NOW THEREFORE, UAMS and LABORATORY agree as follows:
1. | TERM |
The initial term of the Agreement shall commence March 21, 2011, and terminate March 20, 2014, (the “Initial Term”). The Agreement may be renewed by agreement of the parties each year for additional twelve (12) month terms (each a “Renewal Term” and together with the Initial Term, the “Term”). The parties agree to provide written notice to the other of its intent to renew the Agreement at least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the current Term.
2. | TERMINATION |
2.1 | UAMS has the right to terminate this Agreement immediately, without payment of termination fee or penalty, in the event of LABORATORY’S (i) gross negligence, (ii) willful misconduct, (iii) conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude or illegal acts, (iv) filing by or against LABORATORY of a petition in bankruptcy or in equity for receivership or for reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as now or hereafter amended, which filing is not withdrawn or vacated within thirty (30) days and/or (v) a material breach of any of its obligations under this Agreement which breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such alleged breach, (vi) at will by providing sixty (60) days written notice. |
- 1 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
2.2 | LABORATORY has the right to terminate this Agreement, without payment of termination fee or penalty, in the event of UAMS’s (i) gross negligence, (ii) willful misconduct, (iii) conviction of crimes involving moral turpitude or illegal acts, (iv) filing by or against UAMS of a petition in bankruptcy or in equity for receivership or for reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code, as now or hereafter amended, which filing is not withdrawn or vacated within thirty (30) days and/or (v) a material breach of any of UAMS’ obligations under this Agreement which breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after receipt of written notice of such alleged breach, (vi) at will by providing sixty (60) days written notice. |
3. | OBLIGATIONS UPON TERMINATION. |
LABORATORY agrees to provide UAMS with transitional services after the date of termination on a time and materials basis as determined and agreed to by the parties in writing. Termination shall not relieve, release or discharge either party hereto from any obligation, debt or liability which may have accrued prior to the termination of this Agreement, and which remains to be performed upon the date of the termination, including but not limited to the obligation of LABORATORY to provide the specified services to UAMS and the obligation of UAMS to provide compensation to LABORATORY. In particular, in the event the Agreement is terminated for any reason, UAMS will pay LABORATORY and LABORATORY will be entitled to retain all outstanding fees for services performed by LABORATORY.
4. | TESTING SERVICES |
4.1 | LABORATORY agrees to perform the gene array testing services associated with LABORATORY’s proprietary gene expression profile analysis [and known as My PRS] as are ordered by UAMS for research purposes during the Term of this Agreement. LABORATORY will process specimens and provide all technical personnel, materials and equipment necessary to perform the gene array test. |
4.2 | UAMS hereby agrees that LABORATORY shall be the exclusive provider to UAMS during the Term of the gene array testing services that are the subject of this Agreement. LABORATORY recognizes UAMS has the right to perform the test for research purposes. However, and there is no guarantee of a minimum quantity of tests UAMS will request from LABORATORY during the term of this agreement. |
- 2 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
4.3 | Testing services shalt be performed in accordance with the guidelines and notices set forth in the then current Signal Genetics Test catalog and applicable federal state and municipal law, including CLIA certification. |
5. | ADDITIONAL SERVICES |
5.1 | Specimen Pick Up and Report Delivery - LABORATORY will provide a reference specimen pick up and report delivery service to UAMS on an as needed basis Monday through Friday of each week. Results will, in most cases, be available to UAW within [****] of the time the specimen is submitted to the LABORATORY through secure access to Signal Genetics website. |
5.2 | Supplies - LABORATORY will provide, at no additional charge, routine supplies necessary for the collection, preparation and preservation of specimens to be submitted to LABORATORY for testing pursuant to this Agreement and to the extent the provision of such supplies does not conflict with fraud and abuse regulations or statutes. |
5.3 | Consultation - LABORATORY staff shall be available to consult with UAMS by telephone during normal LABORATORY working hours to discuss LABORATORY’S procedures and to explain test results. |
5.4 | Unsatisfactory Specimens and Unsatisfactory Results - If LABORATORY cannot analyze a specimen because of improper collection or degradation in process, or is unable to obtain satisfactory test results, LABORATORY will notify UAMS. LABORATORY will only charge UAMS for those specimens on which it is able to obtain a satisfactory result. |
6. | DATA INTERPRETATION |
6.1 | Data Interpretation - UAMS shall be responsible for physician review and interpretation of the gene array test data provided by LABORATORY (collectively, the “Professional Services”) for gene array Tests ordered by UAMS. |
7. | FEES |
7.1 | UAMS shall pay LABORATORY for the gene array test performed on a research sample at a rate of $[****] per test (the “Fee”). |
7.2 | LABORATORY shall invoice DAMS for the gene array tests performed on research samples by the 5th of the month. UAMS will pay within thirty (30) days of receipt of an invoice. |
- 3 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
Invoices shall he mailed to:
Director of Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs Myeloma Institute for
Research and Therapy
UAMS
4301 West Markham St. Slot #815
Little Rock, AR 72205
With a copy to:
Chief Operating Officer
Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy
UAMS
4301 West Markham St. Slot #816
Little Rock, AR 72205
7.3 | Gene array diagnostic tests performed for clinical use are performed under a separate agreement. |
8. | BILLING |
8.1 | UAMS shall be responsible for billing research grants for reimbursement of these tests. |
8.2 | LABORATORY shall not be responsible for any billing for tests related to research samples and shall not bill any research subjects, their insurance, or any third party. |
9. | ACCREDITATION OF TESTING SITES |
Testing performed hereunder shall be performed at the LABORATORY’S testing facility located in Little Rock, Arkansas or at another similar facility of LABORATORY. The facility is and shall remain a duly licensed clinical laboratory under applicable federal, state and municipal law.
10. | CHANGE IN LAW OR REGULATION |
The terms of this Agreement are intended to be in compliance with all federal, state and local statutes, regulations and ordinances applicable on the date the Agreement takes effect. Should legal counsel for either party reasonably conclude that any portion of this Agreement is or may be in violation of such requirements, or subsequent enactments by federal, state or local authorities, or if any such change materially alters the amount or method of compensating LABORATORY for testing performed for UAMS or for any other party, or materially increases the cost of LABORATORY’s performance hereunder, this Agreement shall terminate upon THIRTY (30) days notice thereof to the other party, unless within said THIRTY (30) day period the parties agree to such modifications of the Agreement as may be necessary to establish compliance with such authorities or to reflect such change in compensation or cost.
- 4 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
11. | STATUS AS AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR |
LABORATORY is, and shall at all times be deemed to be, an independent contractor and shall be wholly responsible for the manner in which it performs the services required of it by the terms of this Agreement. LABORATORY is entirely responsible for compensating staff, subcontractors, and consultants employed by LABORATORY. This Agreement shall not be construed as creating the relationship of employer and employee, or principal and agent, between UAMS and LABORATORY or any of LABORATORY’S employees, agents, consultants, or subcontractors. LABORATORY and UAMS assume exclusively the responsibility for the acts of their respective employees, agents, consultants, or subcontractors as they relate to the services to be provided during the course and scope of their employment. LABORATORY, its agents, employees, consultants, or subcontractors, shall not be entitled to any rights or privileges of UAMS employees and shall not be considered in any manner to be UAMS employees and UAMS, its agents, employees, consultants or subcontractors, shall not be considered in any manner to be LABORATORY employees.
12. | FORCE MAJEURE |
LABORATORY shall not be liable for any claims or damages if such claims or damages result or arise out of a failure or delay that is due to any act beyond the control of the LABORATORY.
13. | WARRANTY |
LABORATORY warrants to UAMS that all services provided hereunder shall be performed in accordance with established and recognized clinical laboratory testing procedures and with reasonable care in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. No other warranties are made by LABORATORY. In no event shall laboratory be responsible for any consequential or special damages of UAMS or of any third party.
14. | NON-DISCRIMINATION |
All services provided by LABORATORY hereunder shall be in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or veteran status.
- 5 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
15. | INDEMNIFICATION |
The parties agree that each party hereto is not responsible for the negligent acts or omissions of the agents or employees of the other party. This agreement shall not be construed to require any party to indemnify any other party from its negligence, acts, or omissions. The Arkansas Constitution precludes UAMS, as a sovereign entity, from entering into agreements to indemnify any third party. This Agreement shall not be construed as or constitute a waiver of sovereign immunity of the State of Arkansas or its entities thereof, including UAMS; nor shall it constitute a waiver of the legal requirements for filing a claim against the State of Arkansas, its entities or UAMS, which must be filed with the Arkansas State Claims Commission.
16. | COMPLIANCE |
16.1 | LABORATORY shall comply with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) requirements related to eligibility for participation in Federal and State health care programs. |
16.2 | LABORATORY and UAMS shall review all organization, employees, subcontractor agents and physicians for eligibility against General Services Administration and OIG Parties Excluded from Federal Programs Lists and Cumulative Sanction Lists respectively to ensure that Ineligible Persons are not employed or retained to provide services related to this Agreement. Ineligible Persons may include both entities and individuals and are defined as any individual or entity who: |
a. | Is currently excluded, suspended, debarred or otherwise ineligible to participate in the Federal or State health care programs; or |
b. | Has been convicted of a criminal offense related to the provision of health care items or services and has not been reinstated in the Federal or State health care programs after a period of exclusion, suspension, debarment, or ineligibility. |
16.3 | LABORATORY and UAMS both acknowledge that Ineligible Persons, as defined in Section [16.2a. and 16.2.b.], shall be excluded from providing federally and State funded health care services covered by this Agreement. LABORATORY shall promptly notify UAMS of any limitation or governmental action initiated against LABORATORY that would materially affect this Agreement. |
- 6 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
17. | Confidential information |
17.1 | All information or date relating to the business or operations of any party to this Agreement acquired by any other party hereto in connection with this Agreement shall be treated as confidential by the acquiring party, and shall not, unless otherwise required by law or the requirements of any accrediting agency, be disclosed by the acquiring party without the prior written permission of the party hereto to whom the information in question relates. This provision shall survive termination of this Agreement. |
17.2 | LABORATORY shall have the right to designate and make oral or published reference to its status as a contracting laboratory in accordance with UAMS policies. (see Administrative Guide 13.1.01.) |
17.3 | Each of the parties represents and warrants to the other party that it will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations (“Applicable Laws”), including but not limited to, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPPAA”) privacy regulations, the HIPAA standard transactions and security regulations (as of the effective dates of those regulations). Failure by either party to comply with any applicable law shall be considered a material breach of this Agreement. Each party agrees that upon request of the other party, it shall provide written verification of compliance with all applicable laws and confirms its full licensure and certification to the extent appropriate to its then current operations. |
18. | insurance |
LABORATORY shall maintain sufficient insurance coverage to enable it to meet its obligations created by this Agreement and by law, including, without limitation, Commercial General Liability, workers compensation and professional liability insurance each on customary terms and conditions (including price and coverage amounts).
19. | Notice |
All notices hereunder shall be in writing, dated and signed by the party giving the same. Each notice shall be either (i) delivered in person to the address of the party for whom it is intended and the address of such party as shown below, or (ii) delivered to the United States Postal Service in a secure and sealed envelope or other suitable wrapper addressed to the Party for whom it is intended at the address of such Party as provided below, with sufficient postage affixed, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, (iii) sent by facsimile with a confirmation sheet, or (iv) delivered to a nationally recognized overnight courier service that traces any such notice. The effective date of such notice shall be the date of delivery in the event of delivery in accordance with (i), (iii) or (iv) and five (5) days after deposit in the U.S. Mail in the event of delivery in accordance with (ii). The address at which any Party hereto is to receive notice may be changed from time to time by such Party by giving notice of the new address to all other parties hereto. The addresses of the Parties, until changed in accordance with the foregoing, are:
- 7 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
UAMS: | University Of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | |
4301 West Markham Street, Mail Slot 557 | ||
Little Rock, AR 72205-7199 | ||
Attn: Richard A. Pierson | ||
Vice Chancellor for Clinical Programs | ||
Facsimile: (501) 686-8365 | ||
With a Copy to : | Office of General Counsel | |
U of A System | ||
2404 North University Avenue | ||
Little Rock, AR 72207 | ||
Facsimile: (501) 686-2517 | ||
LABORATORY: | SIGNAL GENETICS LLC 667 | |
Madison Avenue 14th Floor | ||
New York, NY 10065 | ||
Attn: Joe Hernandez |
20. | AMENDMENT |
This Agreement may not be amended nor any rights hereunder waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties.
21. | PAYMENT OF COSTS |
Except as otherwise set forth herein, the parties shall each pay their own costs incurred in negotiating this Agreement and in consummating the transactions contemplated hereby, including any fees or commission payable to any party representing them in connection with arranging or negotiating this Agreement and transactions contemplated hereby.
22. | HEADINGS |
The headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience or reference only and shall not affect any of the provisions of this Agreement.
23. | REFERENCES |
References made in this Agreement, including use of a pronoun, shall be deemed to include, where applicable, masculine, feminine, singular or plural, individuals, partnerships or corporations.
- 8 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
24. | GOVERNING LAW |
This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties under this agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Arkansas, without regard to conflict of law, rules applied in such state. Any and all controversies, disputes, disagreements or claims (collectively “Claims”) arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement shall first be attempted to be resolved by the parties.
25. | ENTIRE AGREEMENT |
This Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto, the other agreements referred to herein (in each case incorporated herein by this reference) contain the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any and all prior agreement, arrangements, and understandings, whether oral or written, between the parties.
26. | BINDING EFFECT |
This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and, except as otherwise prohibited, their respective successors and assigns. Nothing contained in this Agreement, or implied herefrom, is intended to confer upon any other person or entity any benefits, rights, or remedies.
27. | ASSIGNMENT |
Neither LABORATORY nor UAMS may assign all or any portion of their respective rights or delegate any portion of their duties hereunder without the written consent of the other Parties; provided, however, that with sixty (60) days prior written notice to UAMS (A) LABORATORY may collaterally assign this Agreement to its lenders, (B) LABORATORY may assign this Agreement in whole or in part to any direct or indirect subsidiary of LABORATORY so long as LABORATORY retains its obligations under this Agreement and (C) LABORATORY may assign this Agreement to the purchaser in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of its assets or equity interests. All of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns and legal representatives. If this Agreement is assigned by LABORATORY, UAMS shall have the right to terminate upon providing thirty (30) days written notice to LABORATORY, its successors, or assigns.
28. | SEVERABILITY |
If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is void, illegal or unenforceable, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and the provisions that are determined to be void, illegal or unenforceable shall be limited so that they shall remain in effect to the extent permissible by law.
- 9 - |
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED UNDER
C.F.R. SECTIONS 200.80(b)(4), 200.83 AND 230.406.
[****] INDICATES OMITTED MATERIAL THAT IS THE
SUBJECT OF A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST
FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
THE OMITTED MATERIAL HAS BEEN FILED
SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION.
29. | THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES |
This Agreement is intended .only to benefit the named parties, and there is no intent to create any rights, interest, or benefits for any other third parties.
30. | EFFECTIVE DATE |
This Agreement shall be effective March 21 2011 and only after it is signed by an authorized officer of LABORATORY.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to he executed in their names as their official acts by their respective officers, each of who is duly authorized to execute the same.
SIGNAL GENETICS LLC
(“LABORATORY”) |
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR
MEDICAL SCIENCES (“UAMS”) |
|||
By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | By: | /s/ Aubrey J. Hough Jr. | |
Aubrey J. Hough Jr. | ||||
President & CEO | Associate Dean for Special Programs | |||
(Title) | And Translational Research. | |||
Distinguished Professor of Pathology | ||||
8/10/11 | ||||
(Date Accepted by LABORATORY) | ||||
By: | /s/ Bart Barlogie | |||
Bart Barlogie M.D, Ph.D | ||||
The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences | ||||
By: | /s/ Melony Goodhand | |||
Melony Goodhand, JD, CPA, MS | ||||
Vice Chancellor for Finance | ||||
Chief Financial Officer |
- 10 - |
Exhibit 10.9
AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURED DEMAND PROMISSORY NOTE
$25,000,000.00 | December 11, 2013 |
FOR VALUE RECEIVED , on demand as permitted herein, SIGNAL GENETICS LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Signal ”), MYELOMA HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Myeloma Health ”), RESPIRA HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Respira ”) and CC HEALTH LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Signal, Myeloma Health, Respira, CC Health and each other Person who becomes a party to this Note by execution of a joinder in the form of Exhibit 1 attached hereto, are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the “Borrowers” and individually as a “ Borrower ”), each having an office at 667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor, New York, New York 10065, promises to pay to the order of LEBOW ALPHA LLLP , a Delaware limited liability limited partnership (the “ Lender ”), at its offices at c/o BSL Capital, 667 Madison Avenue 14th Floor, New York. NY 10065, or at such other place as Lender may designate in writing, the principal sum of the lesser of (A) TWENTY FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($25,000,000.00), or (13) the principal amount of loans (the “ Loans ”) outstanding hereunder, as conclusively evidenced on the grid attached hereto as Schedule I.
This Note and all obligations of Borrowers hereunder are secured by a Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith, made by Borrowers to Lender (as amended, restated, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”).
This Note amends, restates, replaces and supersedes the Secured Demand Promissory Note in the original principal amount of $20,000,000, dated November 3, 2011 (the “ Existing Note ”), made by the Borrowers in favor of Lender. This Note is being delivered in substitution for and replacement of, and not in satisfaction of, the Existing Note. This Note is not intended to extinguish, release or otherwise discharge Borrower’s obligations under the Existing Note and is not intended to be a novation of Borrower’s obligations thereunder
1. | Interest; Prepayment . |
(a) Interest on this Note shall be payable on the unpaid principal amount hereof, computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a 360-day year, at a rate per annum which shall be equal to eight percent (8.0%) per annum, compounded quarterly as of the last day of each calendar quarter.
(b) Interest, at the rate described above, shall be payable on demand, at maturity (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and upon the making of any prepayment, as hereinafter provided. In addition, interest shall be payable on any overdue installment of principal for the period overdue, on demand, at a rate equal to eleven percent (11.0%) per annum, compounded quarterly as of the last day of each calendar quarter. In no event shall interest exceed the maximum legal rate permitted by law. All payments, including insufficient payments, shall be credited, regardless of their designation by Borrowers, first to collection expenses due hereunder, then to outstanding late charges, then to interest due and payable but not yet paid, and the remainder, if any, to principal. All payments by Borrowers or any endorser of this Note on account of principal, interest or fees hereunder shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America, in immediately available funds.
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(c) The Loans may be prepaid by Borrowers, in whole or in part, at any time without penalty or premium.
2. | Advances; Schedule 1 . |
Lender will advance the principal amount of each Loan to the Borrowers within two Business Days after receipt from the Borrower Representative of a request therefor specifying the amount of the Loan requested and the allocation of such Loan among the Borrowers, which requests may be made by the Borrower Representative at any time prior to the date on which Lender has made demand for repayment of the Loans in accordance with Section 3 hereof. Lender is hereby authorized by Borrowers to enter and record on Schedule I attached hereto the amount of each Loan made under this Note and each payment of principal thereon without any further authorization on the part of Borrowers or any endorser or guarantor of this Note. To the extent interest is not paid when due. Lender is authorized and directed to enter the amount of such interest as a Loan on Schedule 1. The entry of a Loan on said schedule shall be prima facie and presumptive evidence of the entered Loan and its conditions. Lender’s failure to make an entry, however, shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligations of Borrowers or any endorser or guarantor of this Note.
3. Loans Due on Demand . Notwithstanding any terms in this Note to the contrary, the enumeration in this Note of specific obligations of Borrowers to Lender and/or conditions to the availability of funds under this Note shall not be construed to qualify, define, or otherwise limit Lender’s right, power. or ability, at any time, under applicable law, to demand the payment of all Loans outstanding under this Note within five Business Days of written notice of such demand to the Borrower.
4. Borrower Representative . Each Borrower hereby designates and appoints Signal as its representative and agent on its behalf (the “ Borrower Representative ”) for the purposes of issuing notices, delivering certificates, giving instructions with respect to the disbursement of the proceeds of the Loans, giving and receiving all other notices and consents hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents and taking all other actions (including in respect of compliance with covenants) on behalf of any Borrower or the Borrowers under this Note, the Security Agreement and any other document, certificate, agreement, instrument or statement delivered to Lender in connection with any of the foregoing (each a “ Loan Document ” and collectively, the “ Loan Documents ”). Borrower Representative hereby accepts such appointment. Lender may regard any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document from Borrower Representative as a notice or communication from all Borrowers. Each warranty, covenant, agreement and undertaking made on behalf of a Borrower by Borrower Representative shall be deemed for all purposes to have been made by such Borrower and shall be binding upon and enforceable against such Borrower to the same extent as if the same had been made directly by such Borrower.
- 2 - |
5. | Representations and Warranties . |
Borrowers, jointly and severally, hereby represent and warrant as of the date of this Note, as follows:
(a) Each Borrower is a limited liability company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of its state of organization.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Note and the transactions contemplated hereunder (i) are all within each Borrower’s limited liability company powers, (ii) have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action, (iii) are not in contravention of law or the terms of any Borrower’s certificate of formation, operating agreement, by-laws, or other organizational documentation, or any indenture, agreement or undertaking to which any Borrower is a party or by which any Borrower or its property are bound and (iv) will not result in the creation or imposition of, or require or give rise to any obligation to grant, any lien, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any property of any Borrower.
(c) This Note constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrowers enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditor’s rights generally and by general equitable principles.
6. | Events of Default . |
Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder:
(a) a Borrower shall fail to make any payment of (i) principal outstanding hereunder on demand as demand is permitted hereunder, or (ii) following three (3) Business Days’ written notice, interest on this Note or any fee provided for herein on demand as demand is permitted hereunder;
(b) default by any Borrower in the performance or observance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in this Note and such default shall have continued for a period of ten (10) days after notice thereof to Borrower Representative;
(c) any representation or warranty made by a Borrower in any Loan Document shall prove to have been incorrect, untrue or misleading in any material respect;
(d) any material provision of any Loan Document shall for any reason cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against any Borrower or the Loan Documents shall for any reason cease to create a valid security interest in the collateral purported to be covered thereby or such security interest shall for any reason (other than the failure of Lender to take any action within its control) cease to be a perfected security interest;
(e) a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at law or in equity) is filed against any Borrower or all or any part of its properties and such petition or application is not dismissed within forty five (45) days after the date of its filing or any Borrower shall file any answer admitting or not contesting such petition or application or indicates its consent to, acquiescence in or approval of, any such action or proceeding or the relief requested is granted sooner;
- 3 - |
(f) any Borrower makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors or a case or proceeding under the bankruptcy laws of the United States of America now or hereafter in effect or under any insolvency, reorganization, receivership, readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law or statute of any jurisdiction now or hereafter in effect (whether at a law or equity) is filed by any Borrower or for all or any part of its property.
7. | Remedies . |
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, at the election of Lender, the aggregate principal balance of this Note, together with the then accrued and unpaid interest thereon (the “Default Amount”), shall become due and payable immediately (an “Acceleration”); provided , that , upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 6(e) or 6(f), the Default Amount shall automatically become immediately due and payable.
EACH BORROWER HEREBY AFFIRMS, ACKNOWLEDGES AND RATIFIES THAT ALL AMOUNTS DUE UNDER THIS NOTE ARE PAYABLE ON DEMAND, WHICH DEMAND MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME BY LENDER IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER AN EVENT OF DEFAULT HAS OCCURRED.
8. | Joint and Several . |
The obligations of the Borrowers hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are joint and several.
9. | Governing Law . |
THIS NOTE WILL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT BE APPLICABLE UNDER PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW) AS TO ALL MATTERS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, MATTERS OF VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION, EFFECT AND PERFORMANCE.
10. | Submission to Jurisdiction . |
Each of the parties submits to the jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in New York, New York, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Note and any Loan Document and agrees that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court. Each party also agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court.
- 4 - |
11. | No Waiver . |
No failure or delay on the part of Lender in exercising any right, power, or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power, or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy hereunder. The rights and remedies provided herein are cumulative, and are not exclusive of any other rights, powers, privileges, or remedies, now or hereafter existing, at law or in equity or otherwise
12. | Waiver of Jury Trial . |
EACH OF BORROWERS AND LENDER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY THIS NOTE, ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, THE LOANS EVIDENCED BY THIS NOTE OR THE ACTIONS OF BORROWERS AND LENDER IN THE NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT THEREOF.
13. | Notices . |
Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be mailed by prepaid registered or certified mail, timely deposited with an overnight courier such as Federal Express, or delivered against receipt (including by confirmed facsimile transmission), at the addresses set forth in Section 1 of this Note or to such other address as the party may have furnished in writing in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Any notice or other communication shall be deemed to have been given, made and received upon receipt; provided, that any notice or communication that is received other than during regular business hours of the recipient shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next business day of the recipient.
14. | Amendment . |
This Note may not be modified, changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally but only by agreement or discharge in writing and signed by Lender and Borrower Representative. The acceptance by Lender of payment of any sum payable hereunder after the due date of such payment shall not be a waiver of Lender’s right to either require prompt payment when due of all other sums payable hereunder or to declare a default for failure to make prompt payment.
15. | Costs and Expenses . |
Borrowers shall reimburse Lender for all costs and expenses incurred by Lender and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to Lender in connection with administration and enforcement of Lender’s rights hereunder and under the other Loan Documents. Borrowers shall also pay any and all taxes (other than taxes on or measured by net income of the holder of this Note) incurred or payable in connection with the execution and delivery of this Note and the Loan Documents.
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16. | Amendments . |
No amendment, modification, or waiver of any provision of this Note nor consent to any departure by any Borrower therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Lender and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
17. | Waiver . |
Borrowers hereby waive presentment, notice of demand for payment, protest, notice of dishonor and all other notices of a like nature with respect to this Note.
18. | Successors and Assigns . |
This Note shall be binding upon Borrowers and their respective successors and assigns.
19. | Cautions . |
Captions and section titles contained herein are inserted as a matter of convenience and for reference only and are not intended to define, limit, extend or describe the scope of this Note or the intent of any provision thereof.
20. | Severability . |
In the event that any provision of this Note shall be declared invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions of this Note, it being hereby agreed that such provisions are severable and that this Note shall be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provisions were omitted.
21. | Entire Agreement . |
This Note sets forth the entire agreement of Borrowers and Lender with respect to this Note and may be modified only by a written instrument executed by Borrowers and Lender.
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
- 6 - |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has caused this Secured Demand Promissory Note to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
BORROWERS: | ||
SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC | ||
By: | Sam Riccitelli | |
Name: Sam Riccitelli | ||
Title: President and CEO | ||
MYELOMA HEATH LLC | ||
By: | Sam Riccitelli | |
Name: Sam Riccitelli | ||
Title: President and CEO | ||
RESPIRA HEALTH LLC | ||
By: | Sam Riccitelli | |
Name: Sam Riccitelli | ||
Title: President and CEO | ||
CC HEALTH LLC | ||
By: | Sam Riccitelli | |
Name: Sam Riccitelli | ||
Title: President and CEO | ||
LENDER: | ||
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP | ||
By: | LeBow Holdings, LLC | |
its General Partner | ||
By: | Bennett S. LeBow | |
Bennett S. LeBow, as trustee of the | ||
LEBOW 2011 MANAGEMENT TRUST | ||
u/a/d November 11, 2011, Member |
- 7 - |
SCHEDULE 1 TO NOTE
Borrowers: | Date of Note: December 11, 2013 |
Signal Genetics LLC | |
Myeloma Health LLC | |
Respira Health LLC | |
CC Health LLC |
Date | Amount of Loan |
Amount of
Principal Repaid |
Unpaid Principal
Balance of Note |
Name of Person
Making Notation |
||||||||||
12/11/13 | $ | 8,625,000 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 8,625,000 | Gamma | |||||||
12/11/13 | $ | 842,962 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 1,383,838 | Gamma | |||||||
12/11/13 | $ | 4,817,197 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 4,817,197 | Alpha | |||||||
12/11/13 | $ | 772,895 | $ | 0.00 | $ | 772,895 | Alpha |
- 8 - |
GUARANTY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 3, 2011
among
SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC,
MYELOMA HEALTH LLC,
RESPIRA HEALTH LLC
and
CC HEALTH LLC,
as the Borrowers,
and
Each Other Grantor
From Time to Time Party Hereto
and
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP,
as Lender
Table of Contents
Page | ||
Article I DEFINED TERMS | 1 | |
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.2 | Certain Other Terms | 7 |
Article II GUARANTY | 8 | |
Section 2.1 | Guaranty | 8 |
Section 2.2 | Limitation of Guaranty | 8 |
Section 2.3 | Contribution | 8 |
Section 2.4 | Authorization; Other Agreements | 8 |
Section 2.5 | Guaranty Absolute and Unconditional | 9 |
Section 2.6 | Waivers | 10 |
Section 2.7 | Reliance | 10 |
Article III GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST | 11 | |
Section 3.1 | Collateral | 11 |
Section 3.2 | Grant of Security Interest in Collateral | 11 |
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | 11 | |
Section 4.1 | Title; No Other Liens | 12 |
Section 4.2 | Perfection and Priority | 12 |
Section 4.3 | Jurisdiction of Organization; Chief Executive Office | 12 |
Section 4.4 | Locations of Inventory, Equipment and Books and Records | 12 |
Section 4.5 | Pledged Collateral | 12 |
Section 4.6 | Reserved | 12 |
Section 4.7 | Intellectual Property | 12 |
Section 4.8 | Commercial Tort Claims | 13 |
Section 4.9 | Specific Collateral | 13 |
Article V COVENANTS | 13 | |
Section 5.1 | Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation and Consents | 13 |
Section 5.2 | Changes in Locations, Name, Etc | 14 |
Section 5.3 | Pledged Collateral | 14 |
Section 5.4 | Commodity Contracts | 15 |
Section 5.5 | Delivery of Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper and Control of Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Rights and Electronic Chattel Paper | 15 |
Section 5.6 | Intellectual Property | 15 |
Section 5.7 | Notices | 16 |
Section 5.8 | Notice of Commercial Tort Claims | 16 |
Section 5.9 | Controlled Securities Account | 16 |
Article VI REMEDIAL PROVISIONS | 16 | |
Section 6.1 | Code and Other Remedies | 16 |
Section 6.2 | Accounts and Payments in Respect of General Intangibles | 18 |
Section 6.3 | Pledged Collateral | 18 |
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Section 6.4 | Proceeds to be Turned over to and Held by Lender | 19 |
Section 6.5 | Deficiency | 20 |
Article VII LENDER | 20 | |
Section 7.1 | Lender’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact | 20 |
Section 7.2 | Authorization to File Financing Statements | 21 |
Section 7.3 | Duty; Obligations and Liabilities | 22 |
Article VIII MISCELLANEOUS | 22 | |
Section 8.1 | Reinstatement | 22 |
Section 8.2 | Independent Obligations | 23 |
Section 8.3 | No Waiver by Course of Conduct | 23 |
Section 8.4 | Amendments in Writing | 23 |
Section 8.5 | Additional Grantors; Additional Pledged Collateral | 23 |
Section 8.6 | Notices | 23 |
Section 8.7 | Successors and Assigns | 23 |
Section 8.8 | Counterparts | 23 |
Section 8.9 | Severability | 24 |
Section 8.10 | Governing Law | 24 |
ANNEXES AND SCHEDULES
Annex 1 | Form of Pledge Amendment |
Annex 2 | Form of Joinder Agreement |
Annex 3 | Form of Intellectual Property Security Agreement |
Schedule 1 | Commercial Tort Claims |
Schedule 2 | Filings |
Schedule 3 | Jurisdiction of Organization; Chief Executive Office |
Schedule 4 | Location of Inventory and Equipment |
Schedule 5 | Pledged Collateral |
Schedule 6 | Intellectual Property |
- ii - |
THIS GUARANTY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT , dated as of November 3, 2011, between SIGNAL GENETICS LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Signal ”), MYELOMA HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Myeloma Health ”), RESPIRA HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ Respira ”) and CC HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company (“ CC Health ”) (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), and each of the other entities listed on the signature pages hereof or that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.5 (together with the Borrowers, the “ Grantors ”), in favor of LEBOW ALPHA LLLP , a Delaware limited liability limited partnership, as Lender (the “Lender”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Secured Promissory Demand Note dated as of November 3, 2011 (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or modified from time to time, the “ Note ”) among the Borrowers and Lender, Lender has agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS, each Grantor has agreed to guaranty the Obligations of each Borrower and will derive substantial direct and indirect benefits from the extensions of credit under the Note; and
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of Lender to make extensions of credit to the Borrowers under the Note that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to Lender;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce Lender to enter into the Note and to induce Lender to make extensions of credit to the Borrowers thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees with Lender as follows:
Article
I
DEFINED TERMS
Section 1.1 Definitions . (a) Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Note.
(b) (The following terms have the meanings given to them in the UCC and terms used herein without definition that are defined in the UCC have the meanings given to them in the UCC (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined): “ account ”, “ account debtor ”, “ as-extracted collateral ”, “ certificated security ”, “ chattel paper ”, “ commercial tort claim ”, “ commodity contract ”, “ deposit account ”, “ electronic chattel paper ”, “ equipment ”, “ farm products ”, “ fixture ”, “ general intangible ”, “ goods ”, “ health-care-insurance receivable ”, “ instruments ”, “ inventory ”, “ investment property ”, “ letter-of-credit right ”, “ proceeds ”, “ record ”, “ securities account ”, “ security ”, “ supporting obligation ” and “ tangible chattel paper ”.
(c) The following terms shall have the following meanings:
“ Affiliate ” means, as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. A Person shall be deemed to control another Person if the controlling Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the other Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“ Agreement ” means this Guaranty and Security Agreement.
“ Applicable IP Office ” means the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency within or outside the United States, as applicable.
“ Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which federal reserve banks are authorized or required by law to close.
“ Cash Collateral Account ” means a deposit account or securities account subject, in each instance, to a Control Agreement.
“ Cash Equivalents ” means (a) securities issued or fully guaranteed or insured by the United States federal government or any agency thereof , (b) commercial paper rated at least “A-1” by S&P or “P-1” by Moody’s and issued by any Person organized under the laws of any state of the United States, (c) certificates of deposit, time deposits, repurchase agreements, reverse repurchase agreements or bankers’ acceptances issued or accepted by any U.S. commercial bank or any branch or agency of a non-U.S. bank license to conduct business in the U.S. that having combined capital and surplus in excess of $250,000,000 and (d) shares of any United States money market mutual fund that has substantially all of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred to in clause (a), (b) or (c) above; provided, however, that the maturities of all obligations specified in any of clauses (a), (b), (c) or (d) above shall not exceed 365 days.
“ Collateral ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1 .
“ Contractual Obligations ” means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, undertaking, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other instrument, document or agreement to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its Property is bound.
“ Control Agreement ” means a tri-party deposit account, securities account or commodities account control agreement by and among the applicable Credit Party, Lender and the depository, securities intermediary or commodities intermediary, and each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender and in any event providing to Lender “control” of such deposit account, securities or commodities account within the meaning of Articles 8 and 9 of the UCC.
“ Controlled Securities Account ” means each securities account (including all financial assets held therein and all certificates and instruments, if any, representing or evidencing such financial assets) that is the subject of an effective Control Agreement.
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“ Copyrights ” means all rights, title and interests (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to copyrights and all mask work, database and design rights, whether or not registered or published, all registrations and recordations thereof and all applications in connection therewith.
“ Credit Parties ” means each Borrower and each other Person (i) which executes a guaranty of the Secured Obligations, (ii) which grants a Lien on all or substantially all of its assets to secure payment of the Secured Obligations and (iii) all of the Stock of which is pledged to Lender.
“ Excluded Equity ” means any voting stock in excess of 65% of the outstanding voting stock of any Foreign Subsidiary, which, is not required to guaranty the Obligations. For the purposes of this definition, “ voting stock ” means, with respect to any issuer, the issued and outstanding shares of each class of Stock of such issuer entitled to vote (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations § 1.956-2(c)(2)).
“ Excluded Property ” means, collectively, (i) any Excluded Accounts, (ii) Excluded Equity, (iii) any permit, lease or license or any Contractual Obligation entered into by any Grantor (A) that prohibits or requires the consent of any Person other than a Borrower and its Affiliates which has not been obtained as a condition to the creation by such Grantor of a Lien on any right, title or interest in such permit, lease, license or Contractual Obligation or any Stock or Stock Equivalent related thereto or that contains terms that state that the granting of a lien therein would otherwise result in a material loss by any Grantor of any material rights therein, (B) to the extent that any Requirement of Law applicable thereto prohibits the creation of a Lien thereon or (C) to the extent that a Lien thereon would give any other party a legally enforceable right to terminate such permit, lease, license or Contractual Obligation, but only, with respect to the prohibition or legally enforceable right to terminate in (A), (B) and (C), to the extent, and for as long as, such prohibition or legally enforceable right to terminate is not terminated or rendered unenforceable or otherwise deemed ineffective by the UCC or any other Requirement of Law, (iv) Property owned by any Grantor that is subject to a purchase money Lien or a capital lease if the contractual obligation pursuant to which such Lien is granted (or in the document providing for such capital lease) prohibits or requires the consent of any Person other than a Borrower and its Affiliates which has not been obtained as a condition to the creation of any other Lien on such Property, (v) any “intent to use” Trademark applications for which a statement of use has not been filed (but only until such statement is filed with, and accepted by, the United States Patent and Trademark Office) (each such Trademark an “Intent-To-Use Trademark”), and (vi) any Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Grantors if the grant of a security interest in such Intellectual Property would result in the cancellation or voiding of such Intellectual Property or license rights; provided , however , “ Excluded Property ” shall not include any proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements of Excluded Property (unless such proceeds, products, substitutions or replacements would otherwise constitute Excluded Property).
“ Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.
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“ Guaranteed Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .
“ Guarantor ” means each Grantor, including each Borrower with respect to the obligations of each other Borrower.
“ Guaranty ” means the guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations made by the Guarantors as set forth in this Agreement.
“ Intellectual Property ” means all rights, title and interests in or relating to intellectual property and industrial property arising under any Requirement of Law and all IP Ancillary Rights relating thereto, including all Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, Internet Domain Names, Trade Secrets and IP Licenses.
“ Internet Domain Name ” means all right, title and interest (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to Internet domain names.
“ IP Ancillary Rights ” means, with respect to any other Intellectual Property, as applicable, all foreign counterparts to, and all divisional applications, reversions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, renewals and extensions of, such Intellectual Property and all income, royalties, proceeds and Liabilities at any time due or payable or asserted under or with respect to any of the foregoing or otherwise with respect to such Intellectual Property, including all rights to sue or recover at law or in equity for any past, present or future infringement, misappropriation, dilution, violation or other impairment thereof, and, in each case, all rights to obtain any other IP Ancillary Right.
“ IP License ” means all Contractual Obligations (and all related IP Ancillary Rights), whether written or oral, granting any right, title and interest in or relating to any Intellectual Property.
“ Lien ” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, charge or deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or otherwise) or preference, priority or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (including those created by, arising under or evidenced by any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, the interest of a lessor under a capital lease, any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing, or the filing of any financing statement naming the owner of the asset to which such lien relates as debtor, under the UCC or any comparable law) and any contingent or other agreement to provide any of the foregoing, but not including the interest of a lessor under a lease which is not a capital lease.
“ Obligations ” means the Loans, and other indebtedness, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties owing by any Credit Party to Lender or any other Person required to be indemnified, that arises under any Loan Document, whether or not for the payment of money, whether arising by reason of an extension of credit, loan, guaranty, indemnification or in any other manner, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and however acquired.
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“ Patents ” means all rights, title and interests (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to letters patent and applications therefor.
“ Person ” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or Governmental Authority.
“ Pledged Certificated Stock ” means all certificated securities and any other Stock or Stock Equivalent of any Person evidenced by a certificate, instrument or other similar document (as defined in the UCC), in each case owned by any Grantor, and any distribution of property made on, in respect of or in exchange for the foregoing from time to time, including all Stock and Stock Equivalents listed on Schedule 5 . Pledged Certificated Stock excludes any Excluded Property and any Cash Equivalents that are not held in Controlled Securities Accounts to the extent permitted by Section 5.9 hereof.
“ Pledged Collateral ” means, collectively, the Pledged Stock and the Pledged Debt Instruments.
“ Pledged Debt Instruments ” means all right, title and interest of any Grantor in instruments evidencing any Indebtedness (other than checks issued or received in the Ordinary Course of Business) owed to such Grantor or other obligations and any distribution of property made on, in respect of or in exchange for the foregoing from time to time, including all Indebtedness described on Schedule 5 , issued by the obligors named therein. Pledged Debt Instruments excludes any Cash Equivalents that are not held in Controlled Securities Accounts to the extent permitted by Section 5.9 hereof.
“ Pledged Investment Property ” means any investment property of any Grantor, and any distribution of property made on, in respect of or in exchange for the foregoing from time to time, other than any Pledged Stock or Pledged Debt Instruments. Pledged Investment Property excludes any Cash Equivalents that are not held in Controlled Securities Accounts to the extent permitted by Section 5.9 hereof.
“ Pledged Stock ” means all Pledged Certificated Stock and all Pledged Uncertificated Stock.
“ Pledged Uncertificated Stock ” means any Stock or Stock Equivalent of any Person that is not Pledged Certificated Stock, including all right, title and interest of any Grantor as a limited or general partner in any partnership not constituting Pledged Certificated Stock or as a member of any limited liability company, all right, title and interest of any Grantor in, to and under any Organization Document of any partnership or limited liability company to which it is a party, and any distribution of property made on, in respect of or in exchange for the foregoing from time to time, including in each case those interests set forth on Schedule 5 , to the extent such interests are not certificated. Pledged Uncertificated Stock excludes any Excluded Property and any Cash Equivalents that are not held in Controlled Securities Accounts to the extent permitted by Section 5.9 hereof.
“ Property ” means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible.
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“ Related Persons ” means, with respect to any Person, each Affiliate of such Person and each director, officer, employee, agent, trustee, representative, attorney, accountant and each insurance, environmental, legal, financial and other advisor and other consultants and agents of or to such Person or any of its Affiliates.
“ Requirement of Law ” means, as to any Person, any law (statutory or common), ordinance, treaty, rule, regulation, order, policy, other legal requirement or determination of an arbitrator or of a Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its Property or to which such Person or any of its Property is subject.
“ Secured Obligations ” means all Loans, and other indebtedness, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties owing by any Grantor to any Lender, or any other Person who is required to be indemnified, that arises under any Loan Document, whether or not for the payment of money, whether arising by reason of an extension of credit, loan, guaranty, indemnification or in any other manner, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising and however acquired.
“ Software ” means (a) all computer programs, including source code and object code versions, (b) all data, databases and compilations of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, and (c) all documentation, training materials and configurations related to any of the foregoing, but excluding any off-the-shelf or “shrink wrap” software.
“ Stock ” means all shares of capital stock (whether denominated as common stock or preferred stock), equity interests, beneficial, partnership or membership interests, joint venture interests, participations or other ownership or profit interests in or equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a Person (other than an individual), whether voting or non-voting.
“ Stock Equivalents ” means all securities convertible into or exchangeable for Stock or any other Stock Equivalent and all warrants, options or other rights to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire any Stock or any other Stock Equivalent, whether or not presently convertible, exchangeable or exercisable.
“ Trade Secrets ” means all right, title and interest (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to trade secrets.
“ Trademark ” means all rights, title and interests (and all related IP Ancillary Rights) arising under any Requirement of Law in or relating to trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, service marks, logos and other source or business identifiers and, in each case, all goodwill associated therewith, all registrations and recordations thereof and all applications in connection therewith.
“ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York; provided , however , that, in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of any applicable Requirement of Law, any of the attachment, perfection or priority of Lender’s security interest in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code of a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, “ UCC ” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection or priority and for purposes of the definitions related to or otherwise used in such provisions.
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Section 1.2 Certain Other Terms .
(a) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. The terms “herein”, “hereof” and similar terms refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or clause in this Agreement. References herein to an Annex, Schedule, Article, Section or clause refer to the appropriate Annex or Schedule to, or Article, Section or clause in this Agreement. Where the context requires, provisions relating to any Collateral when used in relation to a Grantor shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or any relevant part thereof.
(b) Other Interpretive Provisions .
(i) Defined Terms . Unless otherwise specified herein or therein, all terms defined in this Agreement shall have the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or delivered pursuant hereto.
(ii) The Agreement . The words “hereof”, “herein”, “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
(iii) Certain Common Terms . The term “including” is not limiting and means “including without limitation.”
(iv) Performance; Time . Whenever any performance obligation hereunder (other than a payment obligation) shall be stated to be due or required to be satisfied on a day other than a Business Day, such performance shall be made or satisfied on the next succeeding Business Day. In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including”; the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding”, and the word “through” means “to and including.” If any provision of this Agreement refers to any action taken or to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be interpreted to encompass any and all means, direct or indirect, of taking, or not taking, such action.
(v) Contracts . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, references to agreements and other contractual instruments, including this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, thereto, restatements and substitutions thereof and other modifications and supplements thereto which are in effect from time to time, but only to the extent such amendments and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document.
(vi) Laws . References to any statute or regulation are to be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions related thereto or consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting the statute or regulation.
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Article II
GUARANTY
Section 2.1 Guaranty . To induce Lender to make the Loans, each Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally, absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, the full and punctual payment when due, whether at stated maturity or earlier, by reason of acceleration, mandatory prepayment or otherwise in accordance with any Loan Document, of all the Secured Obligations of each Borrower whether existing on the date hereof or hereinafter incurred or created (the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). This Guaranty by each Guarantor hereunder constitutes a guaranty of payment and not of collection.
Section 2.2 Limitation of Guaranty . Any term or provision of this Guaranty or any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum aggregate amount for which any Guarantor shall be liable hereunder shall not exceed the maximum amount for which such Guarantor can be liable without rendering this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, as it relates to such Guarantor, subject to avoidance under applicable Requirements of Law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer (including the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act and Section 548 of title 11 of the United States Code or any applicable provisions of comparable Requirements of Law) (collectively, “ Fraudulent Transfer Laws ”). Any analysis of the provisions of this Guaranty for purposes of Fraudulent Transfer Laws shall take into account the right of contribution established in Section 2.3 and, for purposes of such analysis, give effect to any discharge of intercompany debt as a result of any payment made under the Guaranty.
Section 2.3 Contribution . To the extent that any Guarantor shall be required hereunder to pay any portion of any Guaranteed Obligation exceeding the greater of (a) the amount of the value actually received by such Guarantor and its Subsidiaries from the Loans and other Obligations and (b) the amount such Guarantor would otherwise have paid if such Guarantor had paid the aggregate amount of the Guaranteed Obligations (excluding the amount thereof repaid by a Borrower that received the benefit of the funds advanced that constituted Guaranteed Obligations and Holdings) in the same proportion as such Guarantor’s net worth on the date enforcement is sought hereunder bears to the aggregate net worth of all the Guarantors on such date, then such Guarantor shall be reimbursed by such other Guarantors for the amount of such excess, pro rata, based on the respective net worth of such other Guarantors on such date.
Section 2.4 Authorization; Other Agreements . Lender is hereby authorized, without notice to or demand upon any Guarantor, except to the extent notice is required to be provided hereunder or in any other Loan Document and without discharging or otherwise affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder and without incurring any liability hereunder, from time to time, to do each of the following to the extent permitted by applicable law:
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(a) modify, amend, supplement or otherwise change, (ii) accelerate or otherwise change the time of payment or (iii) waive or otherwise consent to noncompliance with, any Guaranteed Obligation or any Loan Document;
(b) apply to the Guaranteed Obligations any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any Guaranteed Obligation in such order as provided in and in accordance with the Loan Documents;
(c) refund at any time any payment received by Lender in respect of any Guaranteed Obligation;
(d) (i) sell, exchange, enforce, waive, substitute, liquidate, terminate, release, abandon, fail to perfect, subordinate, accept, substitute, surrender, exchange, affect, impair or otherwise alter or release any Collateral for any Guaranteed Obligation or any other guaranty therefor in any manner, (ii) receive, take and hold additional Collateral to secure any Guaranteed Obligation, (iii) add, release or substitute any one or more other Guarantors, makers or endorsers of any Guaranteed Obligation or any part thereof and (iv) otherwise deal in any manner with a Borrower and any other Guarantor, maker or endorser of any Guaranteed Obligation or any part thereof, in each case, in accordance with the Loan Documents; and
(e) settle, release, compromise, collect or otherwise liquidate the Guaranteed Obligations.
Section 2.5 Guaranty Absolute and Unconditional . To the extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defense (other than defense of payment of the Guaranteed Obligations to the extent of such payment), whether arising in connection with or in respect of any of the following or otherwise, and hereby agrees that its obligations under this Guaranty are irrevocable, absolute and unconditional and shall not be discharged as a result of or otherwise affected by any of the following (which may not be pleaded and evidence of which may not be introduced in any proceeding with respect to this Guaranty, in each case except as otherwise agreed in writing by Lender):
(a) the invalidity or unenforceability of any obligation of a Borrower or any other Guarantor under any Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto (including any amendment, consent or waiver thereto), or any security for, or other guaranty of, any Guaranteed Obligation or any part thereof, or the lack of perfection or continuing perfection or failure of priority of any security for the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof;
(b) the absence of (i) any attempt to collect any Guaranteed Obligation or any part thereof from a Borrower or any other Guarantor or other action to enforce the same or (ii) any action to enforce any Loan Document or any Lien thereunder;
(c) the failure by any Person to take any steps to perfect and maintain any Lien on, or to preserve any rights with respect to, any Collateral;
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(d) any workout, insolvency, bankruptcy proceeding, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or dissolution by or against a Borrower, any other Guarantor or any of a Borrower’s other subsidiaries or any procedure, agreement, order, stipulation, election, action or omission thereunder, including any discharge or disallowance of, or bar or stay against collecting, any Guaranteed Obligation (or any interest thereon) in or as a result of any such proceeding;
(e) any foreclosure, whether or not through judicial sale, and any other sale or other disposition of any Collateral or any election following the occurrence of an Event of Default by Lender to proceed separately against any Collateral in accordance with Lender’s rights under any applicable Requirement of Law; or
(f) any other defense, setoff, counterclaim or any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Subsidiary of a Borrower, in each case other than the payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations.
Section 2.6 Waivers . Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives and agrees not to assert any claim, defense (other than defense of payment of the Guaranteed Obligations to the extent of such payment), setoff or counterclaim based on diligence, promptness, presentment, requirements for any demand or notice hereunder including any of the following, to the extent permitted by applicable law, and in each case except as otherwise provided under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents: (a) any demand for payment or performance and protest and notice of protest; (b) any notice of acceptance; (c) any presentment, demand, protest or further notice or other requirements of any kind with respect to any Guaranteed Obligation (including any accrued but unpaid interest thereon) becoming immediately due and payable; and (d) any other notice in respect of any Guaranteed Obligation or any part thereof, and any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of a Borrower or any other Guarantor. Until payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations, each Guarantor further unconditionally and irrevocably agrees not to (x) enforce or otherwise exercise any right of subrogation or any right of reimbursement or contribution or similar right against a Borrower or any other Guarantor by reason of any Loan Document or any payment made thereunder or (y) assert any claim, defense, setoff or counterclaim it may have against any other Credit Party or set off any of its obligations to such other Credit Party against obligations of such Credit Party to such Guarantor. No obligation of any Guarantor hereunder shall be discharged other than by complete performance.
Section 2.7 Reliance . Each Guarantor hereby assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of each Borrower, each other Guarantor and any other guarantor, maker or endorser of any Guaranteed Obligation or any part thereof, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of any Guaranteed Obligation or any part thereof that diligent inquiry would reveal, and each Guarantor hereby agrees that Lender shall not have any duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to it regarding such condition or any such circumstances. In the event Lender, in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to any Guarantor, Lender shall be under no obligation to (a) undertake any investigation not a part of its regular business routine, (b) disclose any information that Lender, pursuant to accepted or reasonable commercial finance or banking practices, wishes to maintain confidential or (c) make any future disclosures of such information or any other information to any Guarantor.
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Article III
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST
Section 3.1 Collateral . For the purposes of this Agreement, all of the personal and real property of a Grantor now owned or existing or at any time hereafter acquired or arising or in which a Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interests, including, without limitation, all of the following, is collectively referred to as the “ Collateral ”:
(a) all accounts, chattel paper, deposit accounts, documents (as defined in the UCC), equipment, general intangibles, instruments, inventory, investment property, letter of credit rights and any supporting obligations related to any of the foregoing;
(b) the commercial tort claims described on Schedule 1 and on any supplement thereto received by Lender pursuant to Section 5.8;
(c) all books and records pertaining to the other property described in this Section 3.1;
(d) all personal property of such Grantor held by Lender including all such property of every description, in the custody of or in transit to Lender for any purpose, including safekeeping, collection or pledge, for the account of such Grantor or as to which such Grantor may have any right or power, including but not limited to cash;
(e) all other goods (including but not limited to fixtures) and personal property of such Grantor, whether tangible or intangible and wherever located; and
(f) to the extent not otherwise included above, all products and proceeds of the foregoing.
Section 3.2 Grant of Security Interest in Collateral . Each Grantor, as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations, hereby mortgages, pledges and hypothecates to Lender, and grants to Lender a first priority Lien on and security interest in, all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral of such Grantor.
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
To induce Lender to enter into the Note, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants each of the following to Lender:
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Section 4.1 Title; No Other Liens . Except for the Lien granted to Lender pursuant to this Agreement, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens. Such Grantor (a) is the record and beneficial owner of the Collateral pledged by it hereunder constituting instruments or certificates and (b) has rights in or the power to transfer each other item of Collateral in which a Lien is granted by it hereunder, free and clear of any other Lien.
Section 4.2 Perfection and Priority . The security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement constitutes a first, valid and continuing perfected security interest under United States law in favor of Lender in all Collateral. Except as set forth in this Section 4.2 or unless waived in writing by Lender, all actions by each Grantor reasonably necessary to protect and perfect the Lien granted hereunder on the Collateral have been duly taken.
Section 4.3 Jurisdiction of Organization; Chief Executive Office . Such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization, legal name and organizational identification number, if any, and the location of such Grantor’s chief executive office or sole place of business, in each case as of the date hereof, is specified on Schedule 3.
Section 4.4 Locations of Inventory, Equipment and Books and Records . On the date hereof, such Grantor’s inventory and equipment and books and records concerning the Collateral are kept at the locations listed on Schedule 4.
Section 4.5 Pledged Collateral . (a) The Pledged Stock pledged by such Grantor hereunder (i) is listed on Schedule 5 and constitutes that percentage of the issued and outstanding equity of all classes of each issuer thereof as set forth on Schedule 5 (as updated by Grantors from time to time), (ii) has been duly authorized, validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable (other than Pledged Stock in limited liability companies and partnerships) and (iii) constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor with respect thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditor’s rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
(b) As of the date of this Agreement, all Pledged Collateral (other than Pledged Uncertificated Stock) and all Pledged Investment Property consisting of instruments and certificates have been delivered to Lender or its designees.
(c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, upon not less than one (1) Business Day prior written notice, Lender shall be entitled to exercise all of the rights of the Grantor granting the security interest in any Pledged Stock, and a transferee or assignee of such Pledged Stock shall become a holder of such Pledged Stock to the same extent as such Grantor and be entitled to participate in the management of the issuer of such Pledged Stock and, upon the transfer of the entire interest of such Grantor, such Grantor shall, by operation of law, cease to be a holder of such Pledged Stock.
Section 4.6 Reserved .
Section 4.7 Intellectual Property . Schedule 6 sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a true and complete list of the following Intellectual Property such Grantor owns: (i) Intellectual Property that is registered or subject to applications for registration, (ii) Internet Domain Names and (iii) material Software, including for each of the foregoing items (1) the owner, (2) the title, (3) the jurisdiction in which such item has been registered or otherwise arises or in which an application for registration has been filed with respect to the foregoing clause (i) , (4) as applicable, the registration or application number and registration or application date with respect to the foregoing clause (i) and (5) any IP Licenses (including franchises) granted by the Grantor with respect thereto to which such Grantor is a party (other than licenses of commercially available software) or granted to the Grantor by any third party.
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Section 4.8 Commercial Tort Claims . The only commercial tort claims of any Grantor existing on the date hereof (regardless of whether the amount, defendant or other material facts can be determined and regardless of whether such commercial tort claim has been asserted, threatened or has otherwise been made known to the obligee thereof or whether litigation has been commenced for such claims) are those listed on Schedule 1, which sets forth such information separately for each Grantor.
Section 4.9 Specific Collateral . None of the Collateral is or is proceeds or products of farm products, as-extracted collateral, health-care-insurance receivables or timber to be cut.
Article
V
COVENANTS
Each Grantor agrees with Lender to the following, as long as any Obligation remains outstanding:
Section 5.1 Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation and Consents .
(a) Such Grantor shall maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a perfected security interest to the extent and subject to the terms and limitations set forth herein, having at least the priority described in Section 4.2 and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to defend such security interest and such priority against the claims and demands of all Persons.
(b) Such Grantor shall furnish to Lender, upon Lender’s reasonable written request, from time to time statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other documents in connection with the Collateral as Lender may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.
(c) Upon the written request of Lender, such Grantor shall, for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, (i) promptly and duly execute and deliver, and have recorded, such further documents, including an authorization to file any financing statement or amendment under the UCC (or other filings under similar Requirements of Law) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect to the security interest created hereby and (ii) take such further action as Lender may reasonably request, including (A) using its commercially reasonable efforts to secure all approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to or for the benefit of Lender of any Contractual Obligation, including any IP License, constituting Collateral, held by such Grantor and to enforce the security interests granted hereunder and (B) executing and delivering any Control Agreements with respect to deposit accounts and securities accounts.
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Section 5.2 Changes in Locations, Name, Etc . Except upon 10 days’ prior written notice to Lender (or such shorter period as Lender may agree in writing) and delivery to Lender of (a) all documents reasonably requested by Lender to maintain the validity, perfection and priority of the security interests provided for herein and (b) if applicable, a written supplement to Schedule 4 showing any additional locations at which inventory or equipment shall be kept, such Grantor shall not do any of the following:
(i) permit any inventory or equipment to be kept at a location other than as otherwise provided in Section 4.4;
(ii) change its location from the chief executive office or sole place of business referred to in Section 4.3; or
(iii) change its organizational identification number, if any, or corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other organizational structure to such an extent that any financing statement filed in connection with this Agreement would become misleading.
Section 5.3 Pledged Collateral .
(a) Delivery of Pledged Collateral . Subject to the limitations set forth herein and the other Loan Documents, such Grantor shall (i) deliver to Lender in suitable form for transfer and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, (A) all Pledged Certificated Stock, (B) all Pledged Debt Instruments and (C) all certificates and instruments evidencing Pledged Investment Property (other than checks received in the Ordinary Course of Business and promptly deposited for collection) and (ii) maintain all other Pledged Investment Property having an aggregate value in excess of $250,000 in a Controlled Securities Account.
(b) Event of Default . During the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender shall have the right, at any time in its discretion and upon not less than one (1) Business Day prior written notice to the Grantor, to (i) transfer to or to register in its name or in the name of its nominees any Pledged Collateral or any Pledged Investment Property and (ii) exchange any certificate or instrument representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral or any Pledged Investment Property for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations.
(c) Cash Distributions with respect to Pledged Collateral . Except as provided in Article V, such Grantor shall be entitled to receive all cash distributions paid in respect of the Pledged Collateral.
(d) Voting Rights . Except as provided in Article V, such Grantor shall be entitled to exercise all voting, consent and corporate, partnership, limited liability company and similar rights with respect to the Pledged Collateral.
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Section 5.4 Commodity Contracts . Such Grantor shall not have any commodity contract unless subject to a Control Agreement.
Section 5.5 Delivery of Instruments and Tangible Chattel Paper and Control of Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Rights and Electronic Chattel Paper . (a) If any amount in excess of $1,000,000 payable under or in connection with any Collateral owned by such Grantor shall be or become evidenced by an instrument (other than checks received in the Ordinary Course of Business and promptly deposited for collection) or tangible chattel paper, such Grantor shall, at the reasonable written request of Lender, mark all such instruments and tangible chattel paper with the following legend: “This writing and the obligations evidenced or secured hereby are subject to the security interest of______________ as Lender” and, at the reasonable request of the Lender, shall promptly deliver such instrument or tangible chattel paper to Lender (as applicable), duly indorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Lender.
(b) Such Grantor shall not grant “ control ” (within the meaning of such term under Article 9-106 of the UCC) over any investment property which is Collateral under this Agreement to any Person other than Lender.
(c) If such Grantor is or becomes the beneficiary of a letter of credit that is (i) not a supporting obligation of any Collateral and (ii) in excess of $250,000, such Grantor shall promptly, notify the Lender thereof and enter into a Contractual Obligation with Lender, the issuer of such letter of credit or any nominated person with respect to the letter-of-credit rights under such letter of credit. Such Contractual Obligation shall assign such letter-of-credit rights to Lender and such assignment shall be sufficient to grant control for the purposes of Section 9-107 of the UCC (or any similar section under any equivalent UCC). Such Contractual Obligation shall also direct all payments thereunder to a Cash Collateral Account. The provisions of the Contractual Obligation shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.
(d) If any amount in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate payable under or in connection with any Collateral owned by such Grantor shall be or become evidenced by electronic chattel paper, such Grantor shall provide Lender with prompt written notice thereof and shall, upon the written request of Lender, take all steps reasonably necessary to grant Lender control of all such electronic chattel paper for the purposes of Section 9-105 of the UCC (or any similar section under any equivalent UCC) and all “ transferable records ” as defined in each of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
Section 5.6 Intellectual Property .
(a) Subject to the limitations set forth herein and the other Loan Documents, no later than forty-five (45) days (or such longer period as Lender may agree) after the end of any fiscal quarter of Borrowers wherein any Grantor acquires any new or additional registrations (or applications for registrations) of Intellectual Property, such Grantor shall provide Lender notification thereof and the short-form intellectual property agreements and assignments as described in this Section 5.6 and other documents that Lender reasonably requests with respect thereto.
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(b) Such Grantor shall execute and deliver to Lender in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Lender and suitable for filing in the Applicable IP Office the short-form intellectual property security agreements in the form attached hereto as Annex 3 for all Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents of such Grantor.
Section 5.7 Notices . Such Grantor shall promptly notify Lender in writing of its acquisition of any interest hereafter in personal property that is of a type where a security interest or lien must be or may be registered, recorded or filed under, or notice thereof given under, any federal statute or regulation.
Section 5.8 Notice of Commercial Tort Claims . Such Grantor agrees that, if it shall acquire any interest in any commercial tort claim in an amount exceeding $250,000 in the aggregate, (i) such Grantor shall, promptly upon such acquisition, deliver to the Agent, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, a notice of the existence and nature of such commercial tort claim and a supplement to Schedule 1 containing a specific description of such commercial tort claim, (ii) Section 3.1 shall apply to such commercial tort claim and (iii) such Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Agent, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, any document, and take all other action, deemed by the Agent to be reasonably necessary or appropriate for the Agent to obtain, on behalf of Lenders, a perfected security interest having at least the priority set forth in Section 4.2 in all such commercial tort claims. Any supplement to Schedule 1 delivered pursuant to this Section 5.8 shall, after the receipt thereof by the Agent, become part of Schedule 1 for all purposes hereunder other than in respect of representations and warranties made prior to the date of such receipt.
Section 5.9 Controlled Securities Account . Each Grantor shall deposit all of its Cash Equivalents in securities accounts that are Controlled Securities Accounts except for Cash Equivalents the aggregate value of which does not exceed $1,000,000. Lender shall not give a notice for the exercise of exclusive control under any Control Agreement unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Article VI
REMEDIAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.1 Code and Other Remedies .
(a) UCC Remedies . During the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may exercise, in addition to all other rights and remedies granted to it in this Agreement and in any other instrument or agreement securing, evidencing or relating to any Secured Obligation, all rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC or any other applicable law.
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(b) Disposition of Collateral . Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Lender may, without demand of performance or other demand, presentment, protest, advertisement or notice of any kind (except any notice required by law referred to below or notices required to be provided hereunder) to or upon any Grantor or any other Person (all and each of which demands, defenses, advertisements and notices are hereby waived), during the continuance of any Event of Default (personally or through its agents or attorneys), (i) enter upon the premises where any Collateral is located, without any obligation to pay rent, through self-help, without judicial process, without first obtaining a final judgment or giving any Grantor or any other Person notice or opportunity for a hearing on Lender’s claim or action, (ii) collect, receive, appropriate and realize upon any Collateral and (iii) sell, assign, convey, transfer, grant option or options to purchase and deliver any Collateral (enter into Contractual Obligations to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales, at any exchange, broker’s board or office of any Secured Party or elsewhere upon such terms and conditions as it may deem advisable and at such prices as it may deem best, for cash or on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk. The Agent shall have the right, upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by the UCC and other applicable Requirements of Law, upon any such private sale, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right or equity of redemption of any Grantor, which right or equity is hereby waived and released.
(c) Application of Proceeds . Lender shall apply the cash proceeds of any action taken by it pursuant to this Section 6.1, to the payment in whole or in part of the Secured Obligations, as set forth in the Note, and only after such application and after the payment by Lender of any other amount required by any Requirement of Law, need Lender account for the surplus, if any, to any Grantor.
(d) Direct Obligation . Lender shall not be required to make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any right or remedy against, any Grantor, or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any right or remedy with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guaranty thereof. All of the rights and remedies of Lender under the Note or any Loan Document shall be cumulative, may be exercised individually or concurrently and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies provided by any Requirement of Law. To the extent it may lawfully do so, each Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against Lender, any valuation, stay, appraisement, extension, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety, now or hereafter existing, arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder. If any notice of a proposed sale or other disposition of any Collateral shall be required by law, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and proper if given at least 10 days before such sale or other disposition.
(e) IP Licenses . For the purpose of enabling Lender to exercise rights and remedies under this Section 6.1 (including in order to take possession of, collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, remove, realize upon, sell, assign, convey, transfer or grant options to purchase any Collateral) at such time as Lender shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, each Grantor hereby grants to Lender, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, (i) an irrevocable, nonexclusive, worldwide license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to such Grantor), including in such license the right to sublicense, use and practice any Intellectual Property now owned or hereafter acquired by such Grantor and access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all Software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof and (ii) an irrevocable license (without payment of rent or other compensation to such Grantor) to use, operate and occupy all real Property owned, operated, leased, subleased or otherwise occupied by such Grantor, provided , that each such license shall only be exercisable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and provided further that no such license shall be granted with respect to any Excluded Property.
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(f) Reversion of Rights . After any and all Events of Default have been waived in writing in accordance with the terms of the Note, all rights of each Grantor with respect to the Collateral granted or retained by such Grantor pursuant to this Agreement during any period when no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing shall automatically revert to such Grantor except as otherwise set forth in applicable Loan Documents.
Section 6.2 Accounts and Payments in Respect of General Intangibles .
(a) If required by Lender at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default, any payment of accounts or payment in respect of general intangibles, when collected by any Grantor, shall be promptly deposited by such Grantor in the exact form received, duly indorsed by such Grantor to Lender, in a Cash Collateral Account, subject to withdrawal by Lender as provided in Section 6.4. Until so turned over, such payment shall be held by such Grantor in trust for Lender, segregated from other funds of such Grantor. Each such deposit of proceeds of accounts and payments in respect of general intangibles shall be accompanied by a report identifying in reasonable detail the nature and source of the payments included in the deposit.
(b) At any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) Lender may, without notice, limit or terminate the authority of a Grantor to collect its accounts or amounts due under general intangibles or any proceeds thereof and, in its own name or in the name of others, communicate with account debtors to verify with them to Lender’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any account or amounts due under any general intangible. In addition, Lender may at any time enforce such Grantor’s rights against such account debtors and obligors of general intangibles; and
(ii) at the reasonable written request of Lender, each Grantor shall take all actions, deliver all documents and provide all information necessary or reasonably requested by Lender to ensure any Internet Domain Name is registered.
Section 6.3 Pledged Collateral .
(a) Voting Rights . During the continuance of an Event of Default, upon prior written notice by Lender to the relevant Grantor or Grantors and the registration thereof in the name of Lender or its designee, Lender or its nominee may exercise (A) any voting, consent, corporate and other right pertaining to the Pledged Collateral at any meeting of shareholders, partners or members, as the case may be, of the relevant issuer or issuers of Pledged Collateral or otherwise and (B) any right of conversion, exchange and subscription and any other right, privilege or option pertaining to the Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including the right to exchange at its discretion any Pledged Collateral upon the merger, amalgamation, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other fundamental change in the corporate or equivalent structure of any issuer of Pledged Stock, the right to deposit and deliver any Pledged Collateral with any committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and conditions as Lender may determine), all without liability except to account for property actually received by it; provided , however , that (i) Lender shall have no duty to any Grantor to exercise any such right, privilege or option and shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing and (ii) if such Event of Default has been waived in writing by Lender, any such voting, consent or corporate rights shall immediately revert to the Grantors except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Loan Documents.
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(b) Proxies . In order to permit Lender to exercise the voting and other consensual rights that it may be entitled to exercise pursuant hereto and to receive all dividends and other distributions that it may be entitled to receive hereunder, but in any event subject to the terms, provisions and limitations set forth herein, (i) each Grantor shall promptly execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered) to Lender all such proxies, dividend payment orders and other instruments as Lender may from time to time reasonably request and (ii) without limiting the effect of clause (i) above, such Grantor hereby grants to Lender an irrevocable proxy to vote all or any part of the Pledged Collateral and to exercise all other rights, powers, privileges and remedies to which a holder of the Pledged Collateral would be entitled (including giving or withholding written consents of shareholders, partners or members, as the case may be, calling special meetings of shareholders, partners or members, as the case may be, and voting at such meetings), which proxy shall be effective, automatically and without the necessity of any action (including any transfer of any Pledged Collateral on the record books of the issuer thereof) by any other person (including the issuer of such Pledged Collateral or any officer or agent thereof), other than notice required by Section 6.3(a) during the continuance of an Event of Default and which proxy shall only terminate upon the payment in full of the Secured Obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations to the extent no claim giving rise thereto has been asserted in accordance with the Note).
(c) Authorization of Issuers . Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, each Grantor hereby expressly irrevocably authorizes and instructs, without any further instructions from such Grantor, each issuer of any Pledged Collateral pledged hereunder by such Grantor to (i) comply with any instruction received by it from Lender in writing that states that an Event of Default is continuing and is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and each Grantor agrees that such issuer shall be fully protected from Liabilities to such Grantor in so complying and (ii) unless otherwise expressly permitted hereby or the Note, pay any dividend or make any other payment with respect to the Pledged Collateral directly to Lender.
Section 6.4 Proceeds to be Turned over to and Held by Lender . Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Note or this Agreement, upon written notice from Lender at any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, all proceeds of any Collateral received by any Grantor hereunder in cash or Cash Equivalents shall be held by such Grantor in trust for Lender, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and shall, promptly upon receipt by any Grantor, be turned over to Lender in the exact form received (with any necessary endorsement). All such proceeds of Collateral and any other proceeds of any Collateral received by Lender in cash or Cash Equivalents shall be held by Lender in a Cash Collateral Account. All proceeds being held by Lender in a Cash Collateral Account (or by such Grantor in trust for Lender) shall continue to be held as collateral security for the Secured Obligations and shall not constitute payment thereof until applied as provided in the Note.
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Section 6.5 Deficiency . Each Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of any Collateral are insufficient to pay the Secured Obligations and the fees and disbursements of any attorney employed by Lender to collect such deficiency.
Article
VII
LENDER
Section 7.1 Lender’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact .
(a) Subject to the terms, provisions, and limitations set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, each Grantor hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Lender and any Related Person thereof, with full power of substitution, as its true and lawful attorney-in-fact with full irrevocable power and authority, effective upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and subject to any notice requirements herein or in any Loan Document and acceleration of the Obligations, as applicable, in the place and stead of such Grantor and in the name of such Grantor or in its own name, for the purpose of carrying out the terms of the Loan Documents, to take any appropriate action and to execute any document or instrument that may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of the Loan Documents, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby gives Lender and its Related Persons the power and right, on behalf of such Grantor, without notice to or assent by such Grantor (except as otherwise set forth herein or in any other Loan Document), subject to the terms hereof and the other Loan Documents, to do any of the following when an Event of Default shall be continuing:
(i) in the name of such Grantor, in its own name or otherwise, take possession of and indorse and collect any check, draft, note, acceptance or other instrument for the payment of moneys due under any account or general intangible or with respect to any other Collateral and file any claim or take any other action or proceeding in any court of law or equity or otherwise deemed appropriate by Lender for the purpose of collecting any such moneys due under any account or general intangible or with respect to any other Collateral whenever payable;
(ii) in the case of any Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to the Grantors (to the extent not constituting Excluded Property), execute, deliver and have recorded any document that Lender may request to evidence, effect, publicize or record Lender’s security interest in such Intellectual Property and the goodwill and general intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby;
(iii) pay or discharge taxes and Liens levied or placed on or threatened against any Collateral, effect any repair or pay any insurance called for by the terms of the Note (including all or any part of the premiums therefor and the costs thereof);
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(iv) execute, in connection with any sale provided for in Section 6.1, any document to effect or otherwise necessary or appropriate in relation to evidence the sale of any Collateral; or
(v) (A) direct any party liable for any payment under any or as Lender shall direct, (B) ask for or demand, and collect and receive payment of and receipt for, any moneys, claims and other amounts due or to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral, (C) sign and indorse any invoice, freight or express bill, bill of lading, storage or warehouse receipt, draft against debtors, assignment, verification, notice and other document in connection with any Collateral, (D) commence and prosecute any suit, action or proceeding at law or in equity in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect any Collateral and to enforce any other right in respect of any Collateral, (E) defend any actions, suits, proceedings, audits, claims, demands, orders or disputes brought against such Grantor with respect to any Collateral, (F) settle, compromise or adjust any such actions, suits, proceedings, audits, claims, demands, orders or disputes and, in connection therewith, give such discharges or releases as Lender may deem appropriate, (G) assign any Intellectual Property owned by the Grantors or any IP Licenses of the Grantors, to the extent not constituting Excluded Property, throughout the world on such terms and conditions and in such manner as Lender shall in its sole discretion determine, including the execution and filing of any document necessary to effectuate or record such assignment and (H) generally, sell, assign, convey, transfer or grant a Lien on, make any Contractual Obligation with respect to and otherwise deal with, any Collateral as fully and completely as though Lender were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes and do, at Lender’s option, at any time or from time to time, all acts and things that Lender deems necessary to protect, preserve or realize upon any Collateral and the security interests therein and to effect the intent of the Loan Documents, all as fully and effectively as such Grantor might do.
(vi) If any Grantor fails to perform or comply with any Contractual Obligation contained herein, Lender, at its option, but without any obligation so to do, may perform or comply, or otherwise cause performance or compliance, with such Contractual Obligation.
(b) Each Grantor hereby ratifies all that said attorneys shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Section 7.1. All powers, authorizations and agencies contained in this Agreement are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable until this Agreement is terminated and the security interests created hereby are released.
Section 7.2 Authorization to File Financing Statements . Each Grantor authorizes Lender and its Related Persons, at any time and from time to time, to file or record financing statements, amendments thereto, and other filing or recording documents or instruments with respect to any Collateral in such form and in such offices as Lender reasonably determines appropriate to perfect the security interests of Lender under this Agreement, and such financing statements and amendments may describe the Collateral covered thereby as “ all assets of the debtor ” or words of similar meaning. A photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement shall be sufficient as a financing statement or other filing or recording document or instrument for filing or recording in any jurisdiction. Such Grantor also hereby ratifies its authorization for Lender to have filed any initial financing statement or amendment thereto under the UCC (or other similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction if filed prior to the date hereof.
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Section 7.3 Duty; Obligations and Liabilities .
(a) Duty of Lender . Lender’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Collateral in its possession shall be to deal with it in the same manner as Lender deals with similar property for its own account. The powers conferred on Lender hereunder are solely to protect Lender’s interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon Lender to exercise any such powers. Lender shall be accountable only for amounts that it receives as a result of the exercise of such powers, and neither it nor any of its Related Persons shall be responsible to any Grantor for any act or failure to act hereunder, except for their own gross negligence or willful misconduct as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. In addition, Lender shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage to any Collateral, or for any diminution in the value thereof, by reason of the act or omission of any warehousemen, carrier, forwarding agency, consignee or other bailee.
(b) Obligations and Liabilities with respect to Collateral . Lender and its Related Persons shall not be liable for failure to demand, collect or realize upon any Collateral or for any delay in doing so or shall be under any obligation to sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral upon the request of any Grantor or any other Person or to take any other action whatsoever with regard to any Collateral.
Article
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Reinstatement . Each Grantor agrees that, if any payment made by any Credit Party or other Person and applied to the Secured Obligations is at any time annulled, avoided, set aside, rescinded, invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid, or the proceeds of any Collateral are required to be returned by Lender to such Credit Party, its estate, trustee, receiver or any other party, including any Grantor, under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, any Lien or other Collateral securing such liability shall be and remain in full force and effect, as fully as if such payment had never been made. If, prior to any of the foregoing, (a) any Lien or other Collateral securing such Grantor’s liability hereunder shall have been released or terminated by virtue of the foregoing or (b) any provision of the Guaranty hereunder shall have been terminated, cancelled or surrendered, such Lien, other Collateral or provision shall be reinstated in full force and effect and such prior release, termination, cancellation or surrender shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of any such Grantor in respect of any Lien or other Collateral securing such obligation or the amount of such payment.
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Section 8.2 Independent Obligations . The obligations of each Grantor hereunder are independent of and separate from the Secured Obligations and the Guaranteed Obligations. If any Secured Obligation or Guaranteed Obligation is not paid when due, or upon any Event of Default, Lender may, at its sole election, proceed directly and at once, without notice, against any Grantor and any Collateral to collect and recover the full amount of any Secured Obligation or Guaranteed Obligation then due, without first proceeding against any other Grantor, any other Credit Party or any other Collateral and without first joining any other Grantor or any other Credit Party in any proceeding.
Section 8.3 No Waiver by Course of Conduct . Lender shall not by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 8.4), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any Default or Event of Default. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of Lender, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by Lender of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy that Lender would otherwise have on any future occasion.
Section 8.4 Amendments in Writing . None of the terms or provisions of this Agreement may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except with the written agreement of Lender; provided , however , that annexes to this Agreement may be supplemented (but no existing provisions may be modified and no Collateral may be released) through Pledge Amendments and Joinder Agreements, in substantially the form of Annex 1 and Annex 2, respectively, in each case duly executed by Lender and each Grantor directly affected thereby.
Section 8.5 Additional Grantors; Additional Pledged Collateral .
(a) Joinder Agreements . If a Borrower forms or acquires a new Subsidiary, such Subsidiary shall become a Grantor hereunder, shall execute and deliver to Lender a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Annex 2 and shall thereafter for all purposes be a party hereto and have the same rights, benefits and obligations as a Grantor party hereto on the date of this Agreement.
(b) Pledge Amendments . To the extent any Pledged Collateral has not been delivered as of the Closing Date, such Grantor shall deliver a pledge amendment duly executed by the Grantor in substantially the form of Annex 1 (each, a “ Pledge Amendment ”). Such Grantor authorizes Lender to attach each Pledge Amendment to this Agreement.
Section 8.6 Notices . All notices, requests and demands to or upon Lender or any Grantor hereunder shall be effected in the manner provided for in Section 13 of the Note.
Section 8.7 Successors and Assigns This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Grantor and shall inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns; provided , however , that no Grantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of Lender.
Section 8.8 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart. Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or by email shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
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Section 8.9 Severability . Any provision of this Agreement being held illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall not affect any part of such provision not held illegal, invalid or unenforceable, any other provision of this Agreement or any part of such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section 8.10 Governing Law . This Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Guaranty and Security Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
SIGNAL GENETICS LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, as Grantor | ||
By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |
Name: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | President/CEO | |
MYELOMA HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, as Grantor | ||
By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |
Name: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | President/CEO | |
RESPIRA HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, as Grantor | ||
By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |
Name: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | President/CEO | |
CC HEALTH LLC , a Delaware limited liability company, as Grantor | ||
By: | /s/ Joe Hernandez | |
Name: | Joe Hernandez | |
Title: | President/CEO |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED
as of the date first above written:
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP,
a Delaware limited liability partnership, as Lender
By: LeBow Holdings, Inc. a Nevada Corporation
By: | /s/ Bennet S. LeBow | |
Name: | Bennett S. LeBow | |
Its: | President |
Guaranty and Security Agreement |
ANNEX 1
TO
SECURITY AGREEMENT
1
FORM OF PLEDGE AMENDMENT
This Pledge Amendment, dated as of ______ ___20 ___, is delivered pursuant to Section 8.5 of the Guaranty and Security Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2011, by SIGNAL GENETICS LLC (“ Signal ”), MYELOMA HEALTH LLC (“ Myeloma Health ”), RESPIRA HEALTH LLC (“ Respira ”) and CC HEALTH LLC (“ CC Health ”) (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), and each of the other entities listed on the signature pages hereof or that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.5 (together with the Borrowers, the “ Grantors ”), the undersigned Grantor and the other Affiliates of the Borrowers from time to time party thereto as Grantors in favor of in favor of LEBOW ALPHA LLLP , as Lender (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guaranty and Security Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Guaranty and Security Agreement.
The undersigned hereby agrees that this Pledge Amendment may be attached to the Guaranty and Security Agreement and that the Pledged Collateral listed on Annex 1-A to this Pledge Amendment shall be and become part of the Collateral referred to in the Guaranty and Security Agreement and shall secure all Obligations of the undersigned.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.1 , 4.2 and 4.5 of the Guaranty and Security Agreement is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers contained therein) and as of the date hereof as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case, each shall be true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers contained therein) as of such date).
[GRANTOR] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
1 To be used for pledge of Additional Pledged Collateral by existing Grantor.
A1- 1 |
Annex 1-A
PLEDGED [STOCK]
ISSUER | CLASS |
CERTIFICATE
NO(S). |
PAR
VALUE |
NUMBER
OF SHARES, UNITS OR INTERESTS |
||||
PLEDGED DEBT INSTRUMENTS
ISSUER |
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT |
CERTIFICATE
NO(S). |
FINAL
MATURITY |
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT |
||||
A1- 2 |
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED
as of the date first above written:
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP, as Lender
a Delaware limited liability limited partnership, as Lender
By: LeBow Holdings, Inc., a Nevada Corporation
By: | ||
Name: | Bennett S. LeBow | |
Its: | President |
A1- 3 |
ANNEX 2
TO
SECURITY AGREEMENT
FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT
This JOINDER AGREEMENT, dated as of______ ___20 ___, is delivered pursuant to Section 8.5 of the Security Agreement, dated as of November 3, 2011, by SIGNAL GENETICS LLC (“ Signal ”), MYELOMA HEALTH LLC (“ Myeloma Health ”), RESPIRA HEALTH LLC (“ Respira ”) and CC HEALTH LLC (“ CC Health ”) (collectively, the “ Borrowers ”), and each of the other entities listed on the signature pages hereof or that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.5 (together with the Borrowers, the “ Grantors ”), the undersigned Grantor and the other Affiliates of the Borrowers from time to time party thereto as Grantors in favor of in favor of LEBOW ALPHA LLLP , as Lender (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Security Agreement ”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Security Agreement.
By executing and delivering this Joinder Agreement, the undersigned, as provided in Section 8.5 of the Guaranty and Security Agreement, hereby becomes a party to the Guaranty and Security Agreement as a Grantor thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named as a Grantor therein and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations of the undersigned, hereby mortgages, pledges and hypothecates to Lender, and grants to Lender a lien on and security interest in, all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the Collateral of the undersigned and expressly assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Grantor thereunder. The undersigned hereby agrees to be bound as a Grantor for the purposes of the Guaranty and Security Agreement.
The information set forth in Annex 1-A is hereby added to the information set forth in Schedules 1 through 6 to the Guaranty and Security Agreement. By acknowledging and agreeing to this Joinder Agreement, the undersigned hereby agree that this Joinder Agreement may be attached to the Guaranty and Security Agreement and that the Collateral listed on Annex 1-A to this Joinder Amendment shall be and become part of the Collateral referred to in the Guaranty and Security Agreement and shall secure all Secured Obligations of the undersigned.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that each of the representations and warranties contained in Article III of the Guaranty and Security Agreement applicable to it is true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers contained therein) on and as the date hereof as if made on and as of such date (except to the extent such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date, in which case, each shall be true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifiers contained therein) as of such date).
A2- 1 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, THE UNDERSIGNED HAS CAUSED THIS JOINDER AGREEMENT TO BE DULY EXECUTED AND DELIVERED AS OF THE DATE FIRST ABOVE WRITTEN.
[Additional Grantor] | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
A2- 2 |
ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED
as of the date first above written:
[EACH GRANTOR PLEDGING
ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL]
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP,
a Delaware limited liability limited partnership, as Lender
By: LeBow Holdings, Inc., a Nevada Corporation
By: | ||
Name: | Bennett S. LeBow | |
Its: | President |
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Its: Duly Authorized Signatory |
A2- 3 |
ANNEX 3
TO
GUARANTY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
FORM OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT 1
THIS [COPYRIGHT] [PATENT] [TRADEMARK] SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of _____ __, 20 __, is made by each of the entities listed on the signature pages hereof (each a “ Grantor ” and, collectively, the “ Grantors ”), in favor of LEBOW ALPHA LLLP (“ LeBow Alpha ”), as lender (in such capacity, together with its successors and permitted assigns, the “ Lender ”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Secured Promissory Demand Note dated as of _____________ (as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented and/or modified from time to time, the “ Note ”) among the Borrowers and Lender, Lender has agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
WHEREAS, each Grantor has agreed, pursuant to a Guaranty and Security Agreement of even date herewith in favor of Lender (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Guaranty and Security Agreement ”), to guarantee the Obligations (as defined in the Note) of each Borrower; and
WHEREAS, all of the Grantors are party to the Guaranty and Security Agreement pursuant to which the Grantors are required to execute and deliver this [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Security Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and to induce Lender to enter into the Note and to induce Lender to make extensions of credit to the Borrowers thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees with Lender as follows:
Section 1. Defined Terms . Capitalized terms used herein without definition are used as defined in the Guaranty and Security Agreement.
Section 2. Grant of Security Interest in [Copyright] [Trademark] [Patent] Collateral. Each Grantor, as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Secured Obligations of such Grantor, hereby mortgages, pledges and hypothecates to Lender , and grants to Lender a Lien on and security interest in, all of its right, title and interest in, to and under the following Collateral (to the extent not constituting Excluded Property) of such Grantor (the “ [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Collateral ”):
1 Separate agreements should be executed relating to each Grantor’s respective Copyrights, Patents, and Trademarks.
A3- 1 |
(a) [all of its Copyrights, including, without limitation, those referred to on Schedule 1 hereto;
(b) all renewals, reversions and extensions of the foregoing; and
(c) all income, royalties, proceeds and Liabilities at any time due or payable or asserted under and with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, all rights to sue and recover at law or in equity for any past, present and future infringement, misappropriation, dilution, violation or other impairment thereof.]
or
(a) [all of its Patents (to the extent not constituting Excluded Property), including, without limitation, those referred to on Schedule 1 hereto;
(d) all reissues, reexaminations, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, renewals and extensions of the foregoing; and
(e) all income, royalties, proceeds and Liabilities at any time due or payable or asserted under and with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, all rights to sue and recover at law or in equity for any past, present and future infringement, misappropriation, dilution, violation or other impairment thereof.]
or
(a) [all of its Trademarks (to the extent not constituting Excluded Property), including, without limitation, those referred to on Schedule 1 hereto;
(f) all renewals and extensions of the foregoing;
(g) all goodwill of the business connected with the use of, and symbolized by, each such Trademark; and
(h) all income, royalties, proceeds and Liabilities at any time due or payable or asserted under and with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, all rights to sue and recover at law or in equity for any past, present and future infringement, misappropriation, dilution, violation or other impairment thereof.]
Section 3. Guaranty and Security Agreement . The security interest granted pursuant to this [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Security Agreement is granted in conjunction with the security interest granted to Lender pursuant to the Guaranty and Security Agreement and each Grantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that the rights and remedies of Lender with respect to the security interest in the [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Collateral made and granted hereby are more fully set forth in the Guaranty and Security Agreement, the terms and provisions of which are incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth herein. In the event of any conflict between the Guaranty and Security Agreement and this [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Security Agreement, the terms of the Guaranty and Security Agreement shall control.
A3- 2 |
Section 4. Grantor Remains Liable . Each Grantor hereby agrees that, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, such Grantor shall assume full and complete responsibility for the prosecution, defense, enforcement or any other necessary or desirable actions in connection with their [Copyrights] [Patents] [Trademarks] and 113 Licenses subject to a security interest hereunder.
Section 5. Counterparts . This [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart.
Section 6. Governing Law . This [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Security Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties hereto shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]
A3- 3 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Grantor has caused this [Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Security Agreement to be executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer as of the date first set forth above.
Very truly yours, | ||
[GRANTOR] | ||
as Grantor | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED
as of the date first above written:
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP,
a Delaware limited liability limited partnership, as Lender
By: LeBow Holdings, Inc., a Nevada Corporation
By: | ||
Name: | Bennett S. LeBow | |
Its: | President |
A3- 4 |
SCHEDULE I
TO
[COPYRIGHT] [PATENT] [TRADEMARK] SECURITY AGREEMENT
[Copyright] [Patent] [Trademark] Registrations
1. REGISTERED [COPYRIGHTS] [PATENTS] [TRADEMARKS]
[Include Registration Number and Date]
2. [COPYRIGHT] [PATENT] [TRADEMARK] APPLICATIONS
[Include Application Number and Date]
3. IP LICENSES
[Include complete legal description of agreement (name of agreement, parties and date)]
SCHEDULES
to the
SECURITY AGREEMENT
Dated as of November 3, 2011
among
SIGNAL GENETICS LLC ,
MYELOMA HEALTH LLC,
RESPIRA HEALTH LLC
and
CC HEALTH LLC,
as the Borrowers,
EACH OTHER GRANTOR
FROM TIME TO TIME PARTY HERETO
and
LEBOW ALPHA LLLP,
as Lender
Schedule 1
Commercial Tort Claims
None
Schedule 2
Filings
Lender’s filing of a UCC-1 financing statement with the filing office set forth next to each Grantor’s name below, naming such Grantor as debtor and Lender as a secured party and payment of all filing costs and fees associated therewith.
Grantor | Filing Office | |
Signal Genetics LLC | Delaware Secretary of State | |
Myeloma Health LLC | Delaware Secretary of State | |
Respira Health LLC | Delaware Secretary of State | |
CC Health LLC | Delaware Secretary of State |
Schedule 3
Jurisdiction of Organizations; Chief Executive Office
Grantor |
Jurisdiction of
Organization |
Organizational ID
No. |
Chief Executive Office | |||
Signal Genetics LLC, | Dealware | 4910486 | 667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 | |||
Myeloma Health LLC, | Delaware | 4775193 | 667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 | |||
Respira Health LLC | Delaware | 4931502 | 667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 | |||
CC Health LLC | Delaware | 4987727 | 667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 |
Schedule 4
Locations of Inventory and Equipment
Grantor | Address | |
Signal Genetics |
667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 |
|
Myeloma Health LLC |
667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 |
|
Respira Health LLC |
667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 |
|
CC Health LLC |
667 Madison Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10065 |
Schedule 5
Pledged Collateral
1. Pledged Certificated Stock or Interests :
None.
2. Pledged Debt Instruments :
None.
3. Pledged Uncertificated Stock or Interests :
Issuer | Holder |
Type of
Entity |
No. of Shares or
Units |
Percentages of
Class of Shares or Units |
||||
Myeloma Health LLC | Signal Genetics LLC | LLC | 60,000 Class A Units | 100% | ||||
Myeloma Health LLC | Signal Genetics LLC | LLC | 25,000 Class C Units | 100% | ||||
Respira Health LLC | Signal Genetics LLC | LLC | 10,000 Units | 100% | ||||
CC Health LLC | Signal Genetics LLC | LLLC | 10,000 Units | 100% |
Schedule 6
Intellectual Property
Trademarks
None
Patents
See Attached
Registered Copyrights
None
Internet Domain Names
None
Material Software
None
Licenses
License Agreement dated 4/1/2010 by and between the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Myeloma Health LLC.
Sublicense Letter Agreement dated 6/28/2011 by and between DiagnoCure Inc. and CC Health LLC, and agreed and accepted by Targeted Diagnostics & Therapeutics, Inc., relating to that certain License Agreement dated 4/30/2007 by and between DiagnoCure Inc. and Targeted Diagnostics & Therapeutics, Inc.
MYELOMA HEALTH APPLICATIONS/PATENTS
(08128/11)
DOCKET #
UAMS # |
TITLE OF INVENTION | SERIAL NO. |
FILING
DATE |
STATUS | ||||
D6138 I98-18 |
EVI27 gene Sequences and Protein Encoded Thereby | 60/180,374 | 02/04/00 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT applications files 02/02/01 |
||||
D6138 I98-18 |
EVI27 gene Sequences and Protein Encoded Thereby | 09/778,971 | 02/02/01 |
Issued: 08/22/06 USN 7,094,886 2ND MF deadline 02/22/14 |
||||
D6138PCT 195-18 |
Cloning and Characterization of a Murine and Human Gene That Encodes a Member of the Interleukin-17 Receptor Family | 2001/03518 | 02/02/01 |
Abandoned No national stage applications filed |
||||
D6138/D I98-18 |
EVI27 gene Sequences and Protein Encoded Thereby | 11/128,403 | 05/12/05 |
Issued: 04/13/10 USPN 7,696,150 1ST MF deadline is 10/13/13 |
||||
D6432 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 60/348,238 | 11/07/01 | Abandoned | ||||
D6432 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 60/355,386 | 02/08/02 | Abandoned | ||||
D6432 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 60/403,075 | 8/13/02 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT Applications filed 11/07/01 |
||||
D6432 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Classification of Multiple Myeloma | 10/289,746 | 11/07/02 |
Issued: 02/23/10 USPN 7,668,659 1ST MF deadline is 08/23/13 |
D6432PCT 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 2002/035724 | 11/07/02 |
Abandoned National stage entry in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Europe |
||||
D6432CAN 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 2,466,483 | 11/07/02 | Abandoned | ||||
D6432EPO 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 02793889.3 | 11/07/02 | Abandoned | ||||
D6432JAP 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 2003-553979 | 11/07/02 | Abandoned | ||||
D6432MEX 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling |
PA/A/2002/00 4378 |
11/07/02 | Abandoned | ||||
D6432CIP 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Classification of Multiple Myeloma | 10/409,004 | 04/08/03 |
Issued 02/22/11
USPN 7,894,992 1ST MF deadline 08/22/14 |
||||
D6432CIP2 2002-08 |
Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma on Gene Expression Profiling | 10/454,263 | 06/04/03 |
Issued 12/11/07
2ND MF deadline 06/11/15 |
||||
D6432CIP2D 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Profiling | 12/001,110 | 12/10/07 |
Abandoned (claims filed in 6432CIP3D2) |
||||
D6432CIP3D 2002-08 |
Diagnosis, Prognosis. Identification and Classification of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling |
12/012,302 | 02/01/08 |
Issued: 07/19/11
USPN 7,983,850 1ST MF deadline 01/19/15 |
||||
D6432CIP3D2 2002-08 |
Diagnosis, Prognosis Identification and Classification of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 13/135,574 | 07/08/11 | Awaiting first Office Action |
- 2 - |
D6432CIP3PCT 2002-08 |
Diagnosis and Prognosis of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Profiling | 2005/031038 | 08/31/05 | Abandoned | ||||
D6432CIP4 2002-08 |
Gene Expressional Profiling Based Identification of CKS1B as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Multiple Myeloma | 11/110,209 | 04/20/05 |
Issued 05/03/11
USPN 7,935,697 1ST MF Deadline 11/03/14 |
||||
D6432CIP5 2002-08 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of CKS1B as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Multiple Myeloma | 12/587,383 | 10/06/06 | Awaiting first Office Action | ||||
D6432CIP5PCT 2002-08 |
Diagnosis, Prognosis. Identification and Classification of Multiple Myeloma Based on Gene Expression Profiling | 2010/002697 | 10/06/10 |
Thirty Month Deadline to Enter National Stage
04/06/12
to method of treatment |
||||
D6557 2004-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 60/573,669 | 05/21/04 | Abandoned | ||||
D6557 2004-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 60/606,319 | 09/01/04 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT applications filed 05/20/05 |
||||
D6557 2004-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 11/133,937 | 05/20/05 |
Request for Continued Examination filed 02/22/11 |
||||
D6557PCT 2004-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 2005/017731 | 05/20/05 |
Abandoned National stage entry in Canada, Europe |
||||
D6557CAN | Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 2,567,350 | 05/20/05 |
Awaiting 1st Office Action Maintenance Fee due 05/20/12 |
- 3 - |
D6557EPO | Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 05780069.0 | 05/20/05 |
Response to Office Action
filed 10/13/10
03/31/12 |
||||
D6557CIP PCT 2001-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 2006/022303 | 06/08/06 |
Abandoned National stage entry in Canada, Europe |
||||
D6557CIP CAN 2004-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 2,611,696 | 06/08/06 |
Examination Request filed 06/05/11 Maintenance Fee due 06/08/12 |
||||
D6557CIP EPO 2004-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 06772563.0 | 06/08/06 |
Myeloma Health discontinued prosecution |
||||
D6557CIP/D 2004-12 |
Use of Gene Expression Profiling to Predict Survival in Cancer Patient | 12/799,874 | 05/04/10 | Awaiting 1st Office Action | ||||
D6638 2005-24 |
Antineoplastic Activities of Ellipticine and Its Derivatives | 60/702,944 | 07/27/05 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT application filed 07/27/06 |
||||
D6638 2005-24 |
Antineoplastic Activities of Ellipticine and Its Derivatives | 11/494,335 | 07/27/06 | Abandoned | ||||
D6638PCT 2005-24 |
Antineoplastic Activities of Ellipticine and Its Derivatives | 2006/29212 | 07/27/06 | Abandoned | ||||
D6729 2007-01 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 60/847,220 | 09/26/06 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT applications filed 09/26/06 |
||||
D6729 2007-01 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 11/904,151 | 09/26/07 |
Request for Continued Examination with Supplemental Response after Final filed 05/23/11 |
- 4 - |
D6729PCT 2007-01 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of Multiple Myeloma and | 2007/020732 | 09/26/07 |
Abandoned No national stage applications filed |
||||
D6733 2007-06 |
TP53 Gene Expression and Uses Thereof | 60/873,840 | 12/08/06 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT applications filed 12/07/07 |
||||
D6733 2007-06 |
TP53 Gene Expression and Uses Thereof | 11/999,766 | 12/07/07 |
Response to Office Action due 09/01/11 (3 MO DL) |
||||
D6733PCT 2007-06 |
TP53 Gene Expression and Uses Thereof | 2007/025053 | 12/07/07 |
Abandoned No national stage applications filed |
||||
D6733CIP 2007-06 |
TP53 Gene Expression and Uses Thereof | 12/587,156 | 10/02/09 |
Response to Final Office Action Due 09/23/11 (3 MO DL) |
||||
D6733CIP PCT 2007-06 |
TP53 Gene Expression and Uses Thereof | 2010/002626 | 09/28/10 |
Abandoned No national stage applications filed |
||||
D6738 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 60/857,456 | 11/07/06 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT applications filed 11/07/07 |
||||
D6738 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 11/983,113 | 11/07/07 |
Request for Continued Examination with Supplemental Response after Final filed 02/09/11 |
||||
D6738PCT 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 2007/023404 | 11/07/07 |
Abandoned; National stage entry in Europe, Japan |
- 5 - |
D6738EPO 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 07861764.4 | 11/07/07 |
Response to Office Action filed 12/01/10 Maintenance Fee due 11/30/11 |
||||
D6738JAP 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof |
Tokugan 2009-536276 |
11/07/07 |
Examination requested 11/05/10 Awaiting 1st Office Action |
||||
D6738CIP 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 12/148,985 | 04/28/08 |
Response to Final Office Action due 11/16/11 (3 MO DL) |
||||
D6738CIP PCT 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 2009/002552 | 04/24/09 |
Abandoned National stage entry in Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Japan Mexico |
||||
D6738CIP AUS 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 2009238613 | 04/24/09 |
Awaiting Notice to Request Examination Maintenance Fee due 04/24/14 |
||||
D6738CIP CAN 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 2,722,316 | 04/24/09 |
Request for Examination deadline 04/24/14 Maintenance Fee due 04/24/12 |
||||
D6738CIP CHI 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof |
20098012415 6.8 |
04/24/09 |
Examination Request & Voluntary Amendment filed 04/25/11 Awaiting 1st Office Action |
- 6 - |
D6738CIP EPO 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof | 07861764.4 | 04/24/09 |
Response to Office Action due 12/24/11 Maintenance Fee due 04/30/12 |
||||
D6738CIP JAP 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof |
Tokugan 2011-506305 |
04/24/09 |
Request for Examination deadline 04/24/12 |
||||
D6738CIP MEX 2007-24 |
Gene Expression Profiling Based Identification of Genomic Signatures of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma and Uses Thereof |
MX/A/201001 1554 |
04/24/09 | Awaiting 1st Office Action | ||||
D6741 2007-19 |
Overexpression of Wnt Ligands and Treatment of Lytic Bone Diseases | 60/873,134 | 12/06/06 |
Abandoned Nonprovisional & PCT applications filed 12/04/07 |
||||
D6741 2007-19 |
Overexpression of Wnt Ligands and Treatment of Lytic Bone Diseases | 11/999,301 | 12/04/07 |
Response to Final Office Action due 09/28/11 |
||||
D6741PCT 2007-19 |
Overexpression of Wnt Ligands and Treatment of Lytic Bone Diseases | 07/024901 | 12/04/07 |
Abandoned No national stage applications filed |
||||
D6890 2009-08 |
Changes in the Expression of Proteosome Genes in Tumor Cells Following Short-Term Proteosome Inhibitor Therapy Predicts Survival in Multiple Myeloma Treated with Bortezomib-Containing Multi-Agent Chemotherapy | 61/204,154 | 01/02/09 |
Abandoned PCT application (US designated) filed 01/04/10 |
- 7 - |
D6890PCT 2009-08 |
Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients | 2010/000002 | 01/04/10 |
Abandoned National stage entry in Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, Mexico, United States |
||||
D6890US 2009-08 |
Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients | 13/138,099 | 01/05/10 |
Awaiting Notification of Defects requiring signed declarations to be submitted |
||||
D6890AUS 2009-08 |
Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients | Not assigned | 01/04/10 |
Awaiting Notice to Request Examination Maintenance Fee due 01/04/15 |
||||
D6890CAN 2009-08 |
Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients | Not assigned | 01/04/10 |
Request for Examination deadline 01/04/15 Maintenance Fee due 01/04/12 |
||||
D6890CHI 2009-08 |
Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients | Not assigned | 01/04/10 |
Request for Examination deadline 01/04/12 |
||||
D6890EPO 2009-08 |
Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients | 10726814.6 | 01/04/10 |
Response to amend claims to avoid additional fees due 02/09/12 Maintenance Fee due 01/31/12 |
||||
D6890JAP 2009-08 |
Uses of Bortezomib in Predicting Survival in Multiple Myeloma Patients | Not assigned | 01/04/10 |
Request for Examination deadline 01/04/13 |
||||
D6942 2009-29 |
High IL6R and Myeloma Resistance to Thalidomide | 61/278,878 | 10/13/09 |
Abandoned PCT application (US designated) filed 01/04/10 |
||||
D6942PCT 2009-29 |
High IL6R and Myeloma Resistance to Thalidomide | 2010/002734 | 10/13/10 |
Thirty Month Deadline to Enter National Stage 04/13/12 ISRWO mailed 06/28/11 No opinion prepared, claims to method of treatment |
- 8 - |
D6960 | High-Risk Myeloma is Associated with Global Elevation of miRNAs and Overexpression of EIF2C2/AGO2 | 61/283,521 | 12/04/09 |
Abandoned PCT application (US designated) filed 12/03/10 |
||||
D6960PCT 2010-07 |
Prognosis, Diagnosis and Identification of Multiple Myeloma Based on Global Gene Expression Profiling | 2010/003089 | 12/03/10 |
Thirty Month Deadline to Enter National Stage 06/04/12 Awaiting ISRWO |
||||
D6983 2010-19 |
14 Gene Signature Distinguishes Ultra High Risk from Manageable GEP70 High Risk Diseases | 61/396,917 | 06/04/10 |
Abandoned PCT application (US designated) filed 06/06/10 |
||||
D6983PCT 2010-19 |
14 Gene Signature Distinguishes Between Multiple Myeloma Subtypes | 2011/001020 | 06/06/11 |
Thirty Month Deadline to Enter National Stage 12/04/12 Awaiting ISRWO |
||||
D6991 2010-14 |
Glucocorticoid Receptor Expression in Multiple Myeloma Predicts Survival and Benefit from Thalidomide Treatment | 61/400,781 | 08/02/10 |
Abandoned No conversion or foreign filing |
- 9 - |
Scope and duration of US patents
covering the Previstage
TM
GCC colorectal cancer test
Family | Patents | To prevent competitors from: | Until | Note | ||||
023 | US 6,060,037 | Screening tissue or body fluid for presence of GCC protein or mRNA to confirm colorectal cancer has metastasized | 2013-10-26 | |||||
024 |
US 5,601,990 US 5,731,159 US 5,928,873 US 7,402,401 US 7,820,390 |
Confirming the presence of metastasized colorectal cancer cells in extraintestinal tissue (including lymph nodes) or body fluids by looking at expression of GCC protein (immunoassay) or detecting GCC mRNA (PCR), using or not negative and/or positive controls | 2014-09-13 | |||||
025 | US 6,602,659 | Using any combination of primers to confirm the presence of GCC mRNA through the use of PCR | 2017-05-02 | |||||
026 |
US 6,120,995 US 7,135,333 US 7,316,902 |
Determining the presence of metastasized colorectal cancer cells in extraintestinal tissue or body fluid through selective detection of mRNA or cDNA of CRCA-1 (GCC alternative transcript) |
2017-08-07 2019-05-07 2018-06-10 |
|||||
044 | US National entry filed on 2010-09-28 based on PCT/CA2010/000277 ) |
Using GUSB as a reference gene to achieve greater sensitivity in GCC mRNA detection by RT-qPCR and deriving prognostic value from the quantification
|
2030-02-24 |
NOTE – All patents, except those of the family 044 which are proprietary, belong to the Thomas Jefferson University and are sublicensed from Targeted Diagnostics and Therapeutics.
DISCLAIMER – Scope of patents provided for informative purposes only. Skilled patent professionals should read and construe the claims in the context of patent descriptions to get a more precise understanding of their intended coverage.
CONFIDENTIAL
EXECUTION VERSION
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into effective as of October 31, 2012 (the “ Effective Date ”) between Signal Genetics, LLC (the “ Company ” or “ SG ”) and Samuel D. Riccitelli (“ Executive ”). (Executive and the Company are referenced collectively herein as the “ Parties .”)
RECITALS
A. SG is currently in the process of developing and will be operating clinical laboratories and affiliated administrative services. SG also is in the midst of raising money and obtaining funding for the operations of its business and facilities, including an intended initial capital raise of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) (hereinafter referenced as the “ Initial Capital Raise ”). The period until the Initial Capital Raise is fully funded shall be referenced herein as the “ Initial Capital Raise Period .”
B. SG desires to retain Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer to manage and oversee certain business, financial and administrative aspects of the Company, and Executive desires to be employed by SG, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and the mutual promises contained in this Agreement, the Parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
EMPLOYMENT AND DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE
1.1 Employment. SG hereby employs Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer (“ CEO ”) and Executive accepts employment as CEO of SG in accordance with the terms and conditions, and for the consideration, provided in this Agreement.
1.2 Employment Period. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue for a period of three (3) years thereafter (the “ Initial Term ”), subject to the termination provisions set forth in this Agreement. On each anniversary of the Effective Date after the Initial Term, this Agreement and Executive’s employment shall be deemed to have been automatically extended for an additional one (1) year term or such other period as mutually agreed to between the Parties unless either Party shall give written notice of non-extension to the other Party at least thirty (30) days before such anniversary date, or unless sooner terminated as provided in this Agreement. Executive’s total term of employment with the Company under this Agreement during the Initial Term and any extended term is collectively defined and referred to as the “ Employment Period .”
1.3 Duties of CEO .
1.3.1 During the Employment Period, Executive (i) shall have the title of CEO, (ii) shall devote his full business time and attention and expend his best efforts, energies and skills on a full-time basis to the business of the Company, and shall not engage in any other activity that would materially interfere with the performance of his duties under this Agreement (provided that Executive is permitted to continue to serve on the board of directors of Exagen Diagnostics, Inc., as well as any other board of directors to the extent that doing so does not create any conflict of interest with Executive’s obligations or duties under this Agreement, subject to approval of the Manager of the Company (Bennett S. LeBow) or his designee (the “Manager”), such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, or to engage in endeavors related to the community, his faith, personal finances and effects and other charitable functions that do not materially interfere with the performance of his duties hereunder), and (iii) shall perform such duties, and comply with all reasonable directions and instructions of the Manager.
1.3.2 During the Employment Period, (i) Executive will report only to the Manager, (ii) Executive will be the Company’s most senior and highest-ranking executive (other than the Manager), and (iii) all other Company senior executives and employees (other than the Manager) will report to Executive.
1.3.3 Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(B), during the Employment Period but after the Initial Capital Raise Period, Executive shall have San Diego, California, as his primary and principal business location and, as such, the Company shall provide Executive, solely at the Company’s own expense, with a mutually agreed-upon office in San Diego for Executive. Executive acknowledges that he will be obligated to render services hereunder wherever such services are reasonably required by the Company, which may necessitate substantial travel by Executive, including, without limitation travel necessary to meet with the Manager.
1.3.4 In performing Executive’s duties hereunder, Executive shall in all material respects (i) abide by and comply with all applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules, regulations, policies or guidelines promulgated, or judgments, decisions or orders entered, by any court, arbitrator tribunal, administrative agency, or commission or other governmental or regulatory body, agency or instrumentality or authority relating to the Company, (ii) abide by and adhere to the Company’s general policies and procedures as may be adopted from time to time and (iii) conduct himself with respect to the Company with the prudence, care, dedication and skill as would be manifested by one in the operation and management of his own assets and properties and in this regard shall owe a fiduciary duty of prudence and dedication and care to the Company.
1.4 Principal Employment .
1.4.1 Executive agrees that his position as CEO of the Company shall be his principal employment and that he will not subordinate that position to any other employment.
1.4.2 Executive agrees that, during his employment with the Company, he will not engage in any matter whatsoever in a business or other endeavor that would or might reasonably interfere with his duties or that is competitive with or similar in nature to the business of the Company. Nonetheless, Executive shall have the right to own up to 3% of the outstanding shares of a publicly held company if such shares are actively traded on a national stock exchange and he is not involved in the management of such company. Specifically excluded from the restrictions set forth in this Section, and other provisions of this Agreement, is Executive’s ability (as expressly permitted by the Company hereby) to continue to serve on the board of directors of Exagen Diagnostics, Inc.
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ARTICLE II.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
2.1 Compensation. For all services rendered and required to be rendered by, covenants of and restrictions in respect to, Executive under this Agreement, SG shall compensate Executive as follows:
A. CEO Base Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive during and with respect to the Employment Period, and Executive agrees to accept, annual base salary (“Base Salary”) equal to $450,000, payable on a semi-monthly basis in accordance with the standard payroll practices of the Company. Base salary will be re-evaluated on an annual basis and subject to a merit increase, pursuant to the normal practices of the Company.
B. Corporate Apartment; New York Presence. During the Initial Capital Raise Period, the Company shall provide Executive, solely at the Company’s own expense, with a mutually agreed-upon corporate apartment in New York City. The Company will gross up Executive’s salary during the applicable tax year(s) to cover the income tax liability incurred by Executive for the receipt of such apartment. During the Initial Capital Raise Period, Executive shall be required to be in New York a total of two (2) weeks (10 days) per month, taking into consideration Executive’s full-time residence in San Diego, California. However, Executive recognizes and understands that there will be months during this Initial Capital Raise Period when he will need to be in New York or other locations for business purposes for more than the two-week period of time addressed above.
C. Incentive Units. Executive shall receive a grant of Class B Incentive Units representing up to 20% of the outstanding equity of SG, calculated before the Initial Capital Raise. The terms of the distribution of the Incentive Units to Executive, including the vesting schedule and other applicable relevant terms, are set forth in the Incentive Units Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit “A.”
2.2 Benefits. Commencing on the Effective Date, Executive will be entitled to participate in all of the Company’s benefit plans, as applicable.
A. Paid Time Off. For each calendar year during the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to paid time off (“PTO”) at the rate consistent with the SG accrual rate for paid time off for SG senior executives. As such, Executive shall be entitled to 4 weeks of paid vacation time (which equates to 20 days / 160 hours per year), as well as sick leave and personal leave pursuant to the SG policies applicable to senior executives. Such PTO will be accrued on a pro-rata basis during the initial calendar year of the Employment Period and will otherwise be subject to the Company’s policies and procedures , as in effect from time to time.
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B. Fringe Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to receive the same employee benefits as are provided by the Company to other executive employees. Such benefits shall include group health insurance, group life insurance, and disability insurance coverage, and also may include such items as retirement plans and similar plans in effect from time to time. Attached as Exhibit B is a description of applicable employee fringe benefits. Executive’s participation in the foregoing plans, and applicable perquisites, will be at the highest level and on terms no less favorable than afforded to other senior executives of the Company commensurate with Executive’s level.
C. Civic Affairs, Service Clubs and Social Functions. The Parties agree that Executive’s participation in civic affairs, service clubs, professional organizations, and social functions is appropriate for the proper professional administration of the Company. The Executive may participate in such affairs, professional organizations, clubs and functions as the Executive determines are appropriate to enhance the operations and professional stature of the Company. SG shall reimburse Executive for reasonable expenses incurred while representing the Company pursuant to this Agreement.
2.3 Reimbursement of Expenses. During the Employment Period, Executive will be reimbursed for all reasonable business expenses, including travel and entertainment expenses, incurred in the performance of his duties, responsibilities, or services performed for the Company, upon presentation by Executive of the documentation, expense statements, vouchers, and such other supporting information as SG may request or as may be consistent with SG practices. Executive will comply with the Company’s policies in incurring and seeking reimbursement for such expenses.
ARTICLE III.
TERMINATION
3.1 Termination. In addition to the expiration of the Employment Period, this Agreement may be terminated in the following circumstances:
A. Termination For Cause. SG may, at any time during the Employment Period by written notice to Executive (the “Termination Notice”), terminate the Employment Period for uncured “Cause” effective immediately. The Termination Notice shall specify the reason for termination. In such an event, Executive’s sole remedy shall be to collect all unpaid Base Salary, all accrued PTO and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination, as well as any amount arising from Executive’s participation in, or benefits under, any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement, payable in accordance with the terms of such SG employee benefit plans, programs or arrangements. Executive shall not be entitled to earn or accrue any compensation or other amount from the Company after the effective date of termination. The foregoing amounts shall be paid on the date of termination.
For purposes hereof, “Cause” as utilized herein shall mean:
(i) Expiration of the term of this Employment Agreement;
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(ii) A material breach by Executive of his fiduciary duty to SG that results in material harm to the Company;
(iii) A material breach by Executive of the terms of this Employment Agreement or any other agreement between Executive and SG, which remains uncured for a period of 30 days following the receipt of written notice specifying the nature of the breach;
(iv) The willful commission by Executive of any act of embezzlement, fraud, larceny or theft on or from SG;
(v) Substantial and continuing willful neglect or inattention by Executive of the duties of his employment, refusal to perform the lawful and reasonable directives of the Manager or the willful misconduct or gross negligence of Executive in connection with the performance of such duties which remain uncured for a period of 30 days following the receipt of written notice specifying the nature of the breach:
(vi) The willful commission by Executive of any crime involving moral turpitude or a felony; and
(vii) Executive’s performance or omission of any act which, in the judgment of the Manager, if known to the customers, clients, stockholders or any regulators of SG, would have a material adverse impact on the business of SG.
B. Termination Without Cause. The Company may terminate this Agreement at any time for any reason, by delivering a written notice to Executive, effective thirty (30) days after Executive receives such notice in accordance with the terms hereof. In such an event, Executive’s sole remedy shall be:
(1) to collect all unpaid Base Salary, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation (including any unpaid, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation from the immediately preceding year), accrued PTO, and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination (the foregoing amounts shall be paid on the date of termination of Executive’s employment); plus
(2) Executive shall receive, in addition to the amounts specified above, the severance payments outlined below (the “Severance Payments”). Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any Severance Payments received by seeking other employment during the term of the severance period. However, should Executive obtain other employment during the term of the severance period, SG shall pay Executive, for the remaining length of the severance period, only the difference between his new salary and his Base Salary (as in effect at the time of termination), if the new salary is less than his Base Salary. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company shall not be obligated to make any Severance Payments thereafter if the new salary is greater than his applicable Base Salary.
The Severance Payments shall be calculated as follows:
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(a) should the termination occur during the Initial Capital Raise Period, Executive shall continue to receive his then-current Base Salary for a period of three (3) months;
(b) should the termination occur during the one-year period immediately following the final day of the Initial Capital Raise Period, Executive shall continue to receive his then-current Base Salary for a period of six (6) months; and
(c) should the termination occur at any time during the Employment Period after the one-year period immediately following the final day of the Initial Capital Raise Period, Executive shall continue to receive his then-current Base Salary for a period of twelve (12) months.
The Severance Payment (less all applicable withholdings) will be paid in equal monthly installments over the applicable period immediately following termination of Executive’s employment, as applicable. The Company shall reimburse Executive for premiums for COBRA coverage for Executive (and to the extent he has family coverage, his family), provided that Executive elects such coverage, during the applicable period when Executive is receiving Severance Payments. Should Executive obtain other employment during such period of COBRA coverage, and Executive is provided the opportunity to obtain comparable health insurance benefits to those benefits provided by SG, then the Company shall no longer reimburse Executive for premiums for COBRA coverage for Executive (and to the extent he has family coverage, his family), from the date Executive may obtain such health insurance benefits, whether or not Executive elects such coverage. The Company shall be entitled to discontinue the Severance Payments in the event that Executive violates any of the provisions of Sections 4.9, 4.10 or 4.11.
C. Termination After Disability or Death .
(1) In the event Executive becomes totally disabled or disabled such that he is rendered unable to perform substantially all of his usual duties for the Company in a manner consistent with his performance prior to such disability, and if such disability shall persist for a continuous period of one hundred eighty (180) days or more, or an aggregate period in excess of one hundred eighty (180) days in any one fiscal year, the Company shall have the right at any time after the end of such period during continuance of Executive’s disability by the delivery of not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to Executive to terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement whereupon the applicable provisions of this Section below shall apply.
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(2) For purposes of this Agreement, if Executive and the Company disagree as to whether Executive is totally disabled, or disabled such that he is rendered unable to perform substantially all of his usual duties for the Company as set forth above, or as to the date at which time such total disability began, the decision of a licensed medical practitioner, mutually agreed upon by the Parties, shall be binding as to both questions. If the Parties cannot agree as to the identity of the licensed medical practitioner, Executive shall select a licensed medical practitioner of his choice and the Company shall select a licensed medical practitioner of its choice. The two licensed medical practitioners so selected shall select a third licensed medical practitioner, which third individual shall resolve either or both of the questions referred to above and which resolution shall be binding upon the Parties. The costs of such a third licensed medical practitioner shall be borne by the Company.
(3) If Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated on account of Executive’s disability as provided for in this Section above or on account of Executive’s death, then Executive (or Executive’s estate or personal representative, as applicable) shall be entitled only to receive, and Company shall pay to Executive (or Executive’s estate or personal representative, as applicable) the following amounts:
(a) all unpaid Base Salary, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation (including any unpaid, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation from the immediately preceding year), accrued PTO, and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination (the foregoing amounts shall be paid on the date of termination of Executive’s employment); plus
(b) in the case of disability only, Executive shall receive, in addition to the amounts specified above, for a period of six months (“Continuation Period”), a series of monthly payments equal to the then-current monthly Base Salary payments he received during his employment (the “Continuation Payments”). Executive shall be entitled to the Continuation Payments if and only if he does not receive any payments as a result of the short-term and long-term disability insurance benefits that the Company obtains on his behalf, pursuant to Section 2.2(B) of this Agreement (“Insurance Payments”).
The Continuation Payments will be paid in equal installments over the applicable period immediately following termination of Executive’s employment. However, should Executive be provided such Insurance Payments, then SG shall pay Executive, during the Continuation Period, only the difference between the Insurance Payments provided to Executive and his Base Salary, if the payments provided are less than his Base Salary. In any event, Executive is not entitled to receive more than the full amount of his Base Salary with SG for the time period covered by the Continuation Period. Accordingly, if Executive obtains such Insurance Payments for any portion of the Continuation Period, then Executive shall inform SG of the amounts of such Insurance Payments so that SG may take an offset of such amounts from any future Continuation Payments, if any. Moreover, if Executive obtains such Insurance Payments for any portion of the Continuation Period, at any time after SG pays Continuation Payments to Executive, Executive shall make payment to SG of an amount equal to the amount of received Insurance Payments to reimburse SG for such Continuation Payments it previously made or otherwise inform SG of such Insurance Payments so that SG may take an offset of such amounts from any future Continuation Payments, if any.
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D. Termination by Executive for “Good Reason”. Executive shall have the right to terminate his employment under this Agreement, and collect all unpaid Base Salary, accrued annual bonus or incentive compensation (including any such unpaid, accrued compensation from the immediately preceding year), accrued PTO and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination (the foregoing amounts shall be paid on the date of termination of Executive’s employment); plus receive the Severance Payment and the applicable payments for COBRA coverage, as set forth in Section 3.1(B)(3) above, by the delivery of written notice to the Company within 30 days after the initial existence of any of the events herein below defined as Good Reason.
For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” as utilized herein shall mean:
(i) the Company has materially breached this Agreement and the Company has failed to cure or remedy such breach after 30-days written notice from Executive;
(ii) there has occurred any material and substantial diminution or reduction in duties, Base Salary, title, health care coverage (but only if such diminution is disproportionate to a diminution in health care coverage applicable to other employees of the Company), authority or responsibilities of Executive, whether in scope or nature, and the Company has failed to cure or remedy such breach after 30-days written notice from Executive; and
(iii) the Company has required that Executive perform any act or refrain from performing any act that would be in violation of applicable law.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Executive must resign within thirty (30) days after expiration of the 30-day period following written notice without cure or remedy by the Company for such resignation to constitute a Termination for Good Reason.
E. Termination by Executive Without “Good Reason.” Executive shall have the right to terminate his employment under this Agreement at any time for any reason. However, should Executive terminate his employment with the Company for any reason other than for Good Reason, as defined in Section 3.1(D) above, Executive shall be entitled to collect from the Company only all unpaid Base Salary, all accrued PTO and all unreimbursed expenses payable for all periods through the effective date of termination and Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation or other amount from the Company after the effective date of termination. The foregoing amounts shall be paid on the date of termination.
- 8 - |
Under such circumstances, Executive may terminate this Agreement, only by delivering a written notice to the Company, effective no less than 45 days after the Company receives such notice in accordance with the terms hereof.
ARTICLE IV.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
4.1 Notice. All notices, requests, demands, consents, and other communications required or permitted to be given or made hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and received, (i) if delivered by hand, the day it is so delivered, (ii) if mailed via the United States mail, certified or registered first class mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, five business days after it is mailed, or (iii) if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier for next business day delivery, the business day after it is sent, to the Party to whom the same is so given or made, as follows: (a) to the Company, at its administrative offices and (b) to Executive, at the address maintained on the personnel records of the Company. Either Party may change the address to which notice is required to be sent by providing notice of the change of address in accordance with this Agreement.
4.2 Headings. All descriptive headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall be disregarded in construing or applying any provision of this Agreement.
4.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including via e-mail with scan attachment or by facsimile transmission), and when each Party has signed and delivered at least one such counterpart, each counterpart shall be deemed an original, and, when taken together with other signed counterparts, shall constitute one Agreement, which shall be binding upon and effective as to all Parties.
4.4 Severability. In the event that any term or provision of this Agreement, or part thereof, is held to be invalid, such invalidation shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement. Further, the invalid provision shall be modified by the minimum amount legally required to make the provision valid and enforceable and to carry out the purposes of this Agreement. Moreover, the remainder of such provision and this Agreement, as the case may be, shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.
4.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding among and between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes any prior agreement and understanding among them with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement cannot be changed or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by the Parties hereto. Any oral representations, modifications or amendments concerning this Agreement shall be of no force or effect unless contained in a subsequent written modification signed by the Executive and a duly authorized representative of the Company.
- 9 - |
4.6 Personal Services Contract. This contract is a personal services contract and Executive may not assign any portion of his responsibilities under this Agreement. However, Executive shall have the right, after consultation with the Manager, to reasonably delegate appropriate administrative duties to any person who is an employee of the Company.
4.7 Binding on Successors. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, each Party’s successors, transferees, heirs and assigns, only to the extent that such is permitted by this Agreement. It shall be binding on the Company and its officers, directors, and employees and shall not be affected by any change of name, change of geographical location, change of form, or acquisition by or merger with any other entity.
4.8 Indemnification. The Company recognizes that the activities within the scope of Executive’s employment create the potential in some jurisdictions of civil or even criminal actions being brought against Executive. To the fullest extent provided by applicable Delaware law and the Company’s organizational and controlling documents, and consistent with any indemnification provided to other Company executive employees under any applicable insurance policies, including its professional liability coverage for directors and officers and for acts and omissions relating to employees’ administrative duties, the Company shall indemnify, defend, protect and hold harmless Executive, from and against all claims, demands, causes of action, actions, suits, costs, damages, penalties, fines, liabilities, losses and expenses, whether civil or criminal, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, arising out of or resulting from the performance of Executive’s duties within the course and scope of Executive’s employment with the Company.
4.9 Confidentiality; Disclosure of Information .
(a) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that he will have access to Confidential Information (as defined below) relating to the business or interests of the Company or of persons with whom the Company may have business relationships. Except as permitted herein or as may be approved by the Company from time to time, Executive will not during the Employment Period or for a period of 12 months thereafter, use or disclose to any other person or entity, any Confidential Information of the Company (except as required by applicable law or in connection with performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder or to Executive’s legal and financial advisors so long as such advisors agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Paragraph 4.9(a)). Executive may disclose the existence of the obligations under this Paragraph 4.9(a) to future employers. If Executive is requested or becomes legally compelled to disclose any of the Confidential Information, he, if permitted by applicable law, will give prompt notice of such request or legal compulsion to the Company. The Company may waive compliance with this Paragraph 4.9(a) or will provide Executive with legal counsel at no cost to Executive to seek an appropriate remedy; provided however Executive may disclose any Confidential Information in the event notwithstanding all such efforts of the Company and such legal counsel if compelled by court order to do so.
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The term “Confidential Information” shall mean information relating to the Company’s business affairs, proprietary technology, trade secrets, patented processes, research and development data, know-how, market studies and forecasts, competitive analyses, pricing policies, executive lists, employment agreements (other than this Employment Agreement), personnel policies (including compensation paid to employees and consultants), the substance of agreements with patients, customers, suppliers, and others, marketing arrangements, patient lists, customer lists, commercial arrangements, or any other information relating to the Company’s business which is treated as confidential or proprietary by the Company in accordance with its policies. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the provisions of this Paragraph 4.9(a) shall not apply to any information that: (1) is in the public domain; (2) is or becomes available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by Executive in violation of this Paragraph 4.9(a); (3) was available to Executive on a non-confidential basis prior to the date of this Employment Agreement; or (4) becomes available to Executive on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Company (other than through a known breach of a confidentiality obligation). This obligation shall continue until such Confidential Information becomes publicly available, other than pursuant to a breach of this Paragraph 4.9(a) by the Executive, regardless of whether the Executive continues to be employed by the Company.
(b) It is further agreed and understood by and between the Parties to this Agreement that all “Company Materials,” which include, but are not limited to, computers, computer software, computer disks, tapes, printouts, source, HTML and other codes, flowcharts, schematics, designs, graphics, drawings, photographs, charts, graphs, notebooks, patient lists, customer lists, sound recordings, other tangible or intangible manifestation of content, and all other documents whether printed, typewritten, handwritten, electronic, or stored on computer disks, tapes, hard drives, or any other tangible medium, as well as samples, prototypes, models, products and the like shall be the exclusive property of the Company and, upon termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, and/or upon the written request of the Company, all Company Materials, including copies thereof, as well as all other property of the Company then in Executive’s possession or control, shall be returned to and left with the Company.
4.10 Intellectual Property : Definition. Intellectual Property means any of the following that are conceived of, developed, reduced to practice, created, modified, or improved by Executive, either solely or with others, in whole or in part, in the course of, or as a result of, the Executive’s employment by the Company in any capacity, whether at the Company’s place of business or otherwise, and whether on the Company’s time or on the Executive’s own time: (i) writings (including notes, reports, manuals and instructions), software, source code, algorithms, works and copyrightable subject matter and rights, title and interest in copyrights and copyright registrations, (ii) rights, title and interest in know-how, technical information, processes, practices and systems, whether or not protectable by patent, copyright or trade secret law, (iii) trademarks, trade names, service marks, emblems, logos, symbols and insignia and rights with respect thereto, including registrations and registration rights, (iv) all developments, including trade secrets of any kind, discoveries, improvements, and ideas directly relating to or useable in the Company business and (v) licenses granted by third parties of rights to use any of the foregoing.
(a) Intellectual Property shall be the exclusive property of the Company, and Executive shall have no right, title, or interest in, or to, the Intellectual Property. The Company shall have the sole and exclusive right, title, and interest in, and to, the Intellectual Property, which right shall continue notwithstanding the cessation of Executive’s employment. Executive also hereby irrevocably waives any “moral rights” that Executive may have in the Intellectual Property, and confirms that the Company shall have the right, in addition to the other rights granted hereunder and notwithstanding the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, to make or have made, and own, enhancements, derivative works, and other modifications to any part of the Intellectual Property.
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(b) Executive hereby assigns to the Company any right, title, and interest that Executive may have in, and to, the Intellectual Property in any patent, copyright, industrial design, trademark registration, and any other similar right pertaining to the Intellectual Property which Executive may have.
(c) Executive acknowledges that the assignments in (b) above are undertaken in part as a contingency against the possibility that any Intellectual Property, by operation of law, may not be considered a work made for hire by the Executive for the Company. The Company and its successors and assigns, shall have the right to obtain and hold in their own name all copyright registrations, patents, and other evidence of rights that may be available for the Intellectual Property and/or any portion thereof. Executive further acknowledges that all United States copyrights and all other intellectual property rights in the Intellectual Property (including any and all patents that may issue with respect thereto) shall be exclusively owned by the Company and shall be considered “works made for hire,” as such term is defined in the United States Copyright Act, by Executive for the Company.
(d) Executive hereby covenants and binds Executive and Executive’s successors, assigns and legal representatives to cooperate fully and promptly with the Company and its designees, successors, and assigns, at the Company’s reasonable expense, and to do all acts necessary or requested by the Company and its designee, successors, and assigns, to secure, maintain, enforce, and defend the Company’s rights in the Intellectual Property. Without limitation to the foregoing, Executive shall execute on demand, and bind Executive and Executive’s successors, assigns and legal representatives, whether during Executive’s employment or at any time following the cessation of Executive’s employment, to any applications, transfers, assignments, and other documents as the Company may consider necessary for the purpose of: (i) obtaining, maintaining, vesting in, or assigning to, the Company absolute title to, (ii) applying for, prosecuting, obtaining, or protecting, or (iii) maintaining, enforcing, and/or defending the Company’s rights in, any patent, copyright, industrial design, trademark registration, or any other right pertaining to the Intellectual Property in any countries in the world. Executive further agrees, and binds Executive and Executive’s successors, assigns and legal representatives, to cooperate fully and assist the Company in every way possible in the application for, or prosecution of, such rights pertaining to the Intellectual Property and not developed during Executive’s employment with the Company.
(e) Executive shall promptly disclose to the Company any patent application filed within one (1) year after termination of Executive’s employment with the Company. Executive shall have the burden of proving that any invention that relates, or pertains, to the Company’s business, and which is conceived less than one (1) year after the effective date of the termination of Executive’s employment relationship, was in fact made after such termination and not developed during Executive’s employment with the Company. Executive agrees that, during his employment with the Company, he will disclose to the Company all ideas, proposals, and plans, invented or developed by him, which relate to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries.
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4.11 Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation. Executive acknowledges that the Company has invested substantial time, money and resources in the development and retention of its Confidential Information (including trade secrets), customers, patients, accounts and business partners, and further acknowledges that, during the course of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will have access to the Company’s Confidential Information (including trade secrets), and will be introduced to existing and prospective customers and patients that are being targeted, vendors, accounts and business partners of the Company. Executive acknowledges and agrees that any and all “goodwill” associated with any existing or prospective customer or patient that is being targeted, vendor, account or business partner belongs exclusively to the Company, including, but not limited to, any goodwill created as a result of direct or indirect contacts or relationships between Executive and any existing or prospective customers or patients that are being targeted, vendors, accounts or business partners. Additionally, the Parties acknowledge and agree that Executive possesses skills that are special, unique or extraordinary and that the value of the Company depends upon his use of such skills on its behalf. Executive acknowledges that as a result of the foregoing the restrictions contained herein and elsewhere in this Agreement are reasonably necessary to protect the Company from unfair competition by the Executive.
In recognition of this, Executive covenants and agrees that:
(a) During Executive’s employment with the Company and for one year after the termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not be employed by, or render any services to, any person, firm or corporation engaged in any business which is directly or indirectly in competition with the Company anywhere in the world where the Company performs services for its clients (“Competitive Business”), (ii) engage in any Competitive Business for his or its own account; (iii) be associated with or interested in any Competitive Business (whether as an executive, agent, servant, owner, partner, consultant, independent contractor, representative, stock or equity holder, lender or in any other capacity whatsoever). Specifically excluded from the restrictions set forth in this Section, and other provisions of this Agreement, is Executive’s ability (as expressly permitted by the Company hereby) to continue to serve on the board of directors of Exagen Diagnostics, Inc. However, the non-compete aspects of this Section 4.11(a) will remain in effect only during the applicable time period when Executive is receiving a Severance Payment. As such, the non-compete aspects of this Section 4.11(a) shall not apply to any period that follows the cessation of Severance Payments to Executive. For the avoidance of doubt the non-solicitation provisions of Sections 4.11(b) and (c) are in effect and shall apply for the specified time periods irrespective of whether Executive is receiving a Severance Payment.
(b) During Executive’s employment with the Company and for one year thereafter, Executive may not directly or indirectly induce, attempt to induce, solicit, attempt to solicit or encourage any employee, consultant, or contractor to leave the employment or engagement with the Company or any affiliate of the Company.
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(c) During Executive’s employment with the Company and for one year thereafter, Executive may not, directly or indirectly, induce, attempt to induce, solicit, attempt to solicit or encourage any customer, client, subscriber or supplier of the Company to change its relationship with the Company, or interfere with the Company’s business, relationships or prospective relationships with any person or entity that was or is expected to become a customer or client of the Company. As such, Executive agrees that he will not divert or take advantage of any actual or potential business opportunities of the Company in which it has a current interest or is actively pursuing.
4.12 Non-Disparagement; Non-Disclosure. Executive and the Company hereby agree that during the Employment Period and at all times thereafter, neither Executive nor the Company will make any public statement, or engage in any conduct, that is disparaging, derogatory, or otherwise is a negative or false statement about the other Party or, in the case of the Company, about any of its executives, officers, directors, or shareholders, including, but not limited to, any statement that disparages the products, services, finances, financial condition, capabilities or any other aspect of the business of the Company and the capabilities of Executive. Notwithstanding any term to the contrary herein, neither Executive nor the Company shall be in breach of this Paragraph 4.12 for the making of any truthful statements under oath or in a judicial or other proceeding.
4.13 Representation. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that (i) Executive is able to enter into this Agreement with the Company, and Executive’s ability to enter into this Agreement and to fully perform Executive’s anticipated duties for the Company is not limited or restricted by any agreements, understandings, instruments, orders, judgments or decrees to which Executive is a party or by which Executive is bound and (ii) Executive’s performance of such duties for the Company will not directly or indirectly violate any contractual or common law obligations he has or had to other employers or entities. Executive agrees that he will not improperly use, disclose, or induce the Company to use any proprietary information or trade secrets of any former or concurrent employer or other person or entity. Executive agrees that he will not bring onto the premises of the Company or transfer onto the Company’s technology systems any unpublished document, proprietary information or trade secrets belonging to any such employer, person or entity unless consented to in writing by both the Company and such employer, person or entity.
4.14 Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the substantive and procedural laws of the State of New York; provided that after Initial Capital Raise the substantive and procedural laws of the State of California shall apply. Each Party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New York County, New York, and San Diego County, California and waives any claim based upon forum non-conveniens or lack of jurisdiction; provided that after the Initial Capital Raise the state and federal courts located in San Diego County, shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written above.
EXECUTIVE: | EMPLOYER: | |||
Samuel D. Riccitelli | Signal Genetics, LLC | |||
/s/ Samuel D. Riccitelli | By: | /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Oct. 18, 2012 | 10/18/12 | |||
Date | Date |
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EXECUTION VERSION
INCENTIVE UNITS AGREEMENT
This INCENTIVE UNITS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) dated as of October 31, 2012 (the “ Date of Grant ”), provides for the granting of Class B Units in Signal Genetics, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Company ”), to Samuel D. Riccitelli (the “ Executive ”), an employee of the Company.
In connection with the Executive’s employment by the Company, the Company has determined that the Executive is to be granted Class B Units of the Company on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter provided.
Capitalized terms used herein and not defined are used herein with the same meaning ascribed to such terms in the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated as of January 1, 2011, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time (the “ LLC Agreement ”).
1. Number of Incentive Units; Adjustments: Period of Agreement .
(a) Contingent upon the Executive executing this Agreement, the Company hereby grants to the Executive 22,725 Class B Units (the “ Incentive Units ”), subject to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the LLC Agreement (the “ Award ”).
(b) The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Date of Grant and terminate with respect to all or the portion of the Incentive Units specified at the time and in the manner provided in Section 3 below. Upon the termination of this Agreement with respect to all or any portion of the Incentive Units, all rights of the Executive hereunder with respect thereto shall cease.
2. Vesting . Subject to Section 3 of this Agreement and the Company closing on funding of at least $25,000,000 (the “ Initial Capital Raise ”), the Executive’s Incentive Units shall become vested for the purposes hereof and the LLC Agreement in accordance with the following schedule; provided that upon each such date or event, except as expressly provided herein, the Executive is then employed by the Company and has not received a notice of termination from the Company:
(a) | Time based vesting: |
Vesting Date | Vesting in Rights | |
The closing of the Initial Capital Raise | 7,575 Class B Units | |
6 months after the closing of the Initial Capital Raise | 3,787.5 Class B Units | |
12 months after the closing of the Initial Capital Raise | 3,787.5 Class B Units | |
18 months after the closing of the Initial Capital Raise | 3,787.5 Class B Units | |
24 months after the closing of the Initial Capital Raise | 3,787.5 Class B Units |
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a Change in Control (as defined in below) occurs after the Initial Capital Raise, the Executive shall become fully vested in all of the Incentive Units. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, under no circumstances will the Incentive Units be eligible for acceleration of vesting prior to Initial Capital Raise during the first 90 days of Executive’s employment with the Company. If, after the first 90 days of Executive’s employment with the Company but prior to the last day of the Initial Capital Raise Period, the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) pursuant to Section 3.1 B of the Employment Agreement, or by the Executive for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement) pursuant to Section 3.1 D of the Employment Agreement, then upon such termination, the first portion of the Incentive Units to be granted to Executive ( i.e. , 7,575 Class B Units) shall be accelerated for vesting and Executive shall retain such portion of Executive’s Incentive Units, subject to the Company’s right to repurchase the Executive’s Incentive Units pursuant to Section 3(c) of this Agreement.
(c) “Change in Control” shall mean (i) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, (ii) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or (iii) any merger, share exchange, consolidation or other reorganization or business combination of the Company if immediately after such transaction persons who hold over 50% of the voting equity of the surviving entity are not persons who held the voting equity of the Company immediately prior to such transaction.
3. Termination.
(a) If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated for Cause (as defined in that certain Employment Agreement by and between the Executive and the Company, of even date herewith (the “ Employment Agreement ”)) pursuant to Section 3.1 A of the Employment Agreement, all of the Executive’s Incentive Units shall immediately terminate and revert to the Company, whether vested or not vested.
(b) If the Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated (i) by the Company without Cause pursuant to Section 3.1 B of the Employment Agreement, or (ii) by the Executive for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement) pursuant to Section 3.1 D of the Employment Agreement, subject to the Company’s right to repurchase the Executive’s Incentive Units pursuant to Section 3(c) of this Agreement, then upon such termination, the Executive shall retain the portion of Executive’s Incentive Units into which the Executive shall have vested pursuant to Section 2 hereof on or prior to such termination of employment, and the unvested portion of Executive’s Incentive Units shall immediately terminate and revert to the Company.
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(c) For a period of one hundred eighty (180) days following the time when the employee-employer relationship between the Executive and the Company is terminated for any reason, including, but not by way of limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge by the Company without Cause, death, disability or retirement, but excluding a termination where there is a simultaneous reemployment (or entry into a consulting arrangement of any type with the Executive) by the Company (such termination (a “ Termination of Employment ”), the Company may elect, but shall not be required, to redeem or to designate one or more Persons to purchase the vested Incentive Units held by the Executive or his successor in interest thereunder (the “ Call Right ”). The Call Right shall be exercised by written notice (“ Call Notice ”) to the Executive on or prior to the last date on which the Call Right may be exercised by the Company. The redemption price for Incentive Units payable by the Company or its designee upon exercise of the Call Right (collectively referred to as the “ Redemption Price ”) shall be the value of such Incentive Units on the date of the Call Notice, as determined in good faith by a qualified third party selected by the Board of Managers. The redemption pursuant to the exercise of a Call Right shall take place on the later of (i) the date specified by the Company which shall in no event be later than ninety (90) days following the date of the Call Notice and (ii) within ten (10) days following the receipt by the Company of all necessary governmental approvals. On such date, the Executive shall transfer the Incentive Units subject to the Call Notice to the Company or its designee, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, by delivering to the Company any certificates or other documents (if any) representing the Incentive Units duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or accompanied by a power duly executed in blank or such other instrument or conveyance or cancellation of such Incentive Units, in each case reasonably acceptable to the Company, and the Company or its designee shall pay to the Executive the Redemption Price. The Company and the Executive each shall use its or its reasonable efforts to expedite all proceedings contemplated hereunder to obtain a determination of the Redemption Price at the earliest practicable date. The Call Right shall terminate upon the consummation of the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its equity securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
4. Non-Transferability of Incentive Units . Except as otherwise provided in the LLC Agreement, Executive’s Incentive Units and this Agreement shall not be transferable, other than to Executive’s spouse, children, siblings, parents and other indirect lineal ancestors and descendants, and trusts or other estate planning entities established for their exclusive benefit, and by will or by the laws of descent and distribution; provided that the transferee executes and delivers such documents as may be reasonably required by the Company in order for the transferee to be bound by this Agreement and the LLC Agreement. Except to the extent provided above or in the LLC Agreement, Executive’s Incentive Units may not be assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or disposed of in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise) and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of Executive’s Incentive Units contrary to the provisions hereof or the LLC Agreement shall be null and void and without effect.
5. Representations, Warranties, Covenants, and Acknowledgments . The Executive hereby represents, warrants, covenants, acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) Investment . The Executive is holding the Award for his or her own account, and not for the account of any other person. The Executive is holding the Award for investment and not with a view to distribution or resale thereof except in compliance with applicable laws regulating securities.
(b) Relation to Company . The Executive is presently an employee of, or consultant to, the Company and in such capacity has become personally familiar with the business of the Company.
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(c) Access to Information . The Executive has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and to receive answers from, the Company with respect to the terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and with respect to the business, affairs, financial conditions, and results of operations of the Company.
(d) Registration . The Executive understands that the Incentive Units have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the Incentive Units cannot be transferred by the Executive unless such transfer is registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from such registration is available. The Company has made no agreements, covenants or undertakings whatsoever to register the transfer of the Incentive Units under the Securities Act. The Company has made no representations, warranties, or covenants whatsoever as to whether any exemption from the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any exemption for limited sales in routine brokers’ transactions pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, will be available.
(e) Public Trading . None of the Company’s securities is presently publicly traded, and the Company has made no representations, covenants or agreements as to whether there will be a public market for any of its securities.
(f) Tax and Legal Advice . The Executive has had the opportunity to seek the advice of counsel and other personal advisors and acknowledges that the Company has provided no advice or made any warranties or representations to the Executive with respect to the income tax consequences of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the economic or other impacts to Executive of the arrangements contemplated hereby. The Executive is in no manner relying on the Company or its representatives for an assessment of such tax, legal, economic or other consequences.
(g) Authority: Conflicts . Executive represents and warrants that: (a) Executive has full power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform all of Executive’s obligations under, this Agreement; and (b) neither the execution and delivery nor the performance of this Agreement will result directly or indirectly in a violation or breach of (i) any agreement or obligation by which Executive is or may be bound or (ii) any law, rule or regulation that is binding upon or applicable to Executive.
(h) Survival . The representations, warranties and covenants contained in Sections 5 and 6 of this Agreement shall survive the later of the date of execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance of the Award.
6. Section 83(b) Election . The Executive hereby acknowledges that he has sought the advice of his own tax consultants in connection with the grant ofthe Incentive Units and the advisability of filing of an election (the “Election”) with the Internal Revenue Service, within thirty (30) days of the date of issuance of Incentive Units, pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”). THE EXECUTIVE ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS THE EXECUTIVE’S SOLE RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THE COMPANY’S TO FILE TIMELY THE ELECTION UNDER SECTION 83(b) OF THE CODE, EVEN IF THE EXECUTIVE REQUESTS THE COMPANY OR ITS REPRESENTATIVE TO MAKE THIS FILING ON THE EXECUTIVE’S BEHALF.
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7. LLC Agreement . Executive has received a copy of the LLC Agreement and agrees that he or she has become a party to the LLC Agreement and is subject to all of the terms and provisions of the LLC Agreement as a “Member” thereunder.
8. Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver . The failure of the Company to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.
9. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of Delaware.
10. Waiver Of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. NO PARTY HAS AGREED WITH OR REPRESENTED TO ANY OTHER PARTY THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION WILL NOT BE FULLY ENFORCED IN ALL INSTANCES.
11. Consent To The Non-Exclusive Jurisdiction Of The Courts Of Delaware .
(a) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE, AS WELL AS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ALL COURTS TO WHICH AN APPEAL MAY BE TAKEN FROM SUCH COURTS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, OR IN CONNECTION WITH, THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANCILLARY MEASURES IN AID OF ARBITRATION, PROVISIONAL REMEDIES AND INTERIM RELIEF, OR ANY PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE ANY ARBITRAL DECISION OR AWARD.
(b) EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL OBJECTIONS SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO VENUE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE INCONVENIENCE OF SUCH FORUM, IN ANY OF SUCH COURTS. IN ADDITION, EACH OF THE PARTIES CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PERSONAL SERVICE OR ANY MANNER IN WHICH NOTICES MAY BE DELIVERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 12 OF THE LLC AGREEMENT.
12. Counterpart Execution; Telecopies . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one agreement binding on the parties thereto. Transmission by telecopier of an executed counterpart of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.
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13. Source of Draftsmanship . This Agreement constitutes the product of the negotiation of the parties hereto and the enforcement hereof shall be interpreted in a neutral manner, and not more strongly for or against any party based upon the source of the draftsmanship hereof.
[The rest of this page is left blank intentionally.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Incentive Units Agreement on the day and year first above written.
Dated: 10/18/12 | SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Bennett S. LeBow | |||
Manager |
The undersigned hereby accepts, and agrees to, all terms and provisions of the foregoing Incentive Units Agreement.
Dated: Oct. 18, 2012 | EXECUTIVE | ||
By: | /s/ Samuel D. Riccitelli | ||
Samuel D. Riccitelli |
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SIGNAL GENETICS LLC
667 MADISON AVENUE
14TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10065
October 9, 2013
Mr. Samuel D. Riccitelli
Re: | Amendment to (1) Employment Agreement Between Signal Genetics, LLC and Samuel D. Riccitelli, dated as of October 31, 2012 (the “Employment Agreement”) and (2) Incentive Units Agreement Between Signal Genetics, LLC and Samuel D. Riccitelli, dated as of October 31, 2012 (the “Incentive Units Agreement”) |
Dear Sam:
The purpose of this letter is to confirm our agreement to amend the Employment Agreement and Incentive Units Agreement as follows:
1. Employment Agreement
Recital A of the Employment Agreement is amended by deleting the second sentence of said Recital and replacing in its entirety with the following:
“SG also is in the midst of raising money and obtaining funding for the operations of its business and facilities, including an intended initial capital raise of fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) (hereinafter referenced as the “ Initial Capital Raise ”). ”
2. Incentive Units Agreement
Paragraph 2 of the Incentive Units Agreement is amended by deleting the introductory sentence of said paragraph and replacing it with the following:
“ Vesting . Subject to Section 3 of this Agreement and the Company closing on funding of at least $15,000,000 (the “ Initial Capital Raise ”), the Executive’s Incentive Units shall become vested for the purposes hereof and the LLC Agreement in accordance with the following schedule; provided that upon each such date or event, except as expressly provided herein, the Executive is then employed by the Company and has not received a notice of termination from the Company:”
Except as set forth herein, the Employment Agreement and Incentive Units Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.
Please confirm your agreement to the foregoing by executing this letter where indicated below.
Very truly yours, | |||
SIGNAL GENETICS, LLC | |||
By: Board of Managers | |||
By: | /s/ Bennett S. LeBow | ||
Bennett S. LeBow | |||
Agreed: | |||
/s/ Samuel D. Riccitelli | 10/9/2013 | ||
Samuel D. Riccitelli | Date |
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Exhibit 10.14
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT
This Indemnification Agreement (“ Agreement ”), dated as of [__], 2014, is by and between Signal Genetics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and [NAME OF DIRECTOR/OFFICER] (the “ Indemnitee ”).
WHEREAS, Indemnitee is (or is being elected as) a director or officer of the Company;
WHEREAS, both the Company and Indemnitee recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted against directors and officers of public companies;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) has determined that enhancing the ability of the Company to retain and attract as directors and officers the most capable persons is in the best interests of the Company and that the Company therefore should seek to assure such persons that indemnification and insurance coverage is available; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the need to provide Indemnitee with substantial protection against personal liability, in order to procure Indemnitee's service as a director or officer of the Company and to enhance Indemnitee's ability to serve the Company in an effective manner, and in order to provide such protection pursuant to express contract rights (intended to be enforceable irrespective of, among other things, any amendment to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (collectively, the “ Constituent Documents ”), any change in the composition of the Board or any change in control or business combination transaction relating to the Company), the Company wishes to provide in this Agreement for the indemnification of, and the advancement of Expenses (as defined in Section 1(f) below) to, Indemnitee as set forth in this Agreement and to the extent insurance is maintained for the coverage of Indemnitee under the Company’s directors' and officers' liability insurance policies.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the Indemnitee's agreement to provide services to the Company, the parties agree as follows:
1. | Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: |
a) | “ Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning given to the term "beneficial owner" in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”). |
b) | “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of any of the following events: |
(i) | any Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 25% or more of the Company's then outstanding Voting Securities, unless the change in relative Beneficial Ownership of the Company's securities by any Person results solely from a reduction in the aggregate number of outstanding shares of securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, however, that the following acquisitions will not constitute a Change in Control: (A) any issuance of Voting Securities directly from the Company that is approved by the Incumbent Board (as defined in Section 1(b)(iii) below), (B) any acquisition by the Company of Voting Securities, (C) any acquisition of Voting Securities by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, (D) any acquisition of Voting Securities by an underwriter holding securities of the Company in connection with a public offering thereof, or € any acquisition of Voting Securities by any Person pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 1(a)(ii) below; |
(ii) | the consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company, a sale or other disposition (whether by sale, taxable or nontaxable exchange, formation of a joint venture or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or other transaction involving the Company (each, a “Business Combination”), unless, in each case, immediately following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting Securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof (including, without limitation, an entity which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), (B) no Person other than the Company beneficially owns 25% or more of the combined voting power of then then outstanding Voting Securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof (disregarding all “acquisitions” described in subsections (A) through (C) of Section 1(a)(i)), and (C) at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination or any direct or indirect parent corporation thereof were members of the Incumbent Board (as defined in Section 1(b)(iii) below) at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board of Directors providing for such Business Combination; |
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(iii) | during any period of two consecutive years, not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board (including for this purpose any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; or |
(iv) | the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of Section 1(a)(iii). |
c) | “ Claim ” means: |
(i) | any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or other, and whether made pursuant to federal, state or other law; or |
(ii) | any inquiry, hearing or investigation that the Indemnitee determines might lead to the institution of any such action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism. |
d) | “ Delaware Court ” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9(e) below. |
e) | “ Disinterested Director ” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Claim in respect of which indemnification is sought by Indemnitee. |
f) | “ Expenses ” means any and all expenses, including attorneys' and experts' fees, court costs, transcript costs, travel expenses, duplicating, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, and all other costs and expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness or participate in, any Claim. Expenses also shall include (i) Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Claim, including without limitation the premium, security for, and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond, or other appeal bond or its equivalent, and (ii) for purposes of Section 5 only, Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with the interpretation, enforcement or defense of Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement, by litigation or otherwise. Expenses, however, shall not include amounts paid in settlement by Indemnitee or the amount of judgments or fines against Indemnitee. |
g) | “ Expense Advance ” means any payment of Expenses advanced to Indemnitee by the Company pursuant to Section 4 or Section 5 hereof. |
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h) | “ Indemnifiable Event ” means any event or occurrence, whether occurring before, on or after the date of this Agreement, related to the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, manager, trustee or agent of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity or enterprise (each, an “ Enterprise ”) or by reason of an action or inaction by Indemnitee in any such capacity (whether or not serving in such capacity at the time any Loss is incurred for which indemnification can be provided under this Agreement). |
i) | “ Independent Counsel ” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither presently performs, nor in the past five years has performed, services for either: (i) the Company or Indemnitee (other than in connection with matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar agreements) or (ii) any other party to the Claim giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee's rights under this Agreement. |
j) | “ Losses ” means any and all Expenses, damages, losses, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties (whether civil, criminal or other), ERISA excise taxes, amounts paid or payable in settlement, including any interest, assessments, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement and all other charges paid or payable in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, be a witness or participate in, any Claim. |
k) | “ Person ” means any individual, corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, estate, trust, business association, organization, governmental entity or other entity or group and includes the meaning set forth in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act. |
l) | “ Standard of Conduct Determination ” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9(b) below. |
m) | “ Voting Securities ” means any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors. |
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2. | Services to the Company . Indemnitee agrees to serve, or continue to serve, as the case may be, as a director or officer of the Company for so long as Indemnitee is duly elected or appointed or until Indemnitee tenders his or her resignation or is no longer serving in such capacity. This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment agreement between the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise) and Indemnitee. Indemnitee specifically acknowledges that his or her employment with or service to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise is at will and the Indemnitee may be discharged at any time for any reason, with or without cause, except as may be otherwise provided in any written employment agreement between Indemnitee and the Company (or any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise), other applicable formal severance policies duly adopted by the Board or, with respect to service as a director or officer of the Company, by the Company's Constituent Documents or Delaware law. This Agreement shall continue in force after Indemnitee has ceased to serve as a director or officer of the Company or, at the request of the Company, of any of its subsidiaries or any Enterprise, as provided in Section 12 hereof. |
3. | Indemnification . Subject to Section 9 and Section 10 of this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware in effect on the date hereof, or as such laws may from time to time hereafter be amended to increase the scope of such permitted indemnification, against any and all Losses if Indemnitee was or is or becomes a party to or participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or participant in, any Claim by reason of or arising in part out of an Indemnifiable Event, including, without limitation, Claims brought by or in the right of the Company, Claims brought by third parties, and Claims in which the Indemnitee is solely a witness. |
4. | Advancement of Expenses . Indemnitee shall have the right to advancement by the Company, prior to the final disposition of any Claim by final adjudication to which there are no further rights of appeal, of any and all Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any Claim arising out of an Indemnifiable Event. Indemnitee's right to such advancement is not subject to the satisfaction of any standard of conduct. Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, within sixty (60) days after any request by Indemnitee, the Company shall, in accordance with such request, (a) pay such Expenses on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance to Indemnitee funds in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses, or (c) reimburse Indemnitee for such Expenses. In connection with any request for Expense Advances, Indemnitee shall not be required to provide any documentation or information to the extent that the provision thereof would undermine or otherwise jeopardize attorney-client privilege. Indemnitee hereby undertakes to repay any advance to the extent that it is ultimately determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Indemnitee's obligation to reimburse the Company for Expense Advances shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon. |
5. | Indemnification for Expenses in Enforcing Rights . To the fullest extent allowable under applicable law, the Company shall also indemnify against, and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall advance to Indemnitee subject to and in accordance with Section 4, any Expenses actually and reasonably paid or incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any action or proceeding by Indemnitee for (a) indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company under any provision of this Agreement, or under any other agreement or provision of the Constituent Documents now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims relating to Indemnifiable Events, and/or (b) recovery under any directors' and officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the Company. However, in the event that Indemnitee is ultimately determined not to be entitled to such indemnification or insurance recovery, as the case may be, then all amounts advanced under this Section 5 shall be repaid. Indemnitee shall be required to reimburse the Company in the event that a final judicial determination is made that such action brought by Indemnitee was frivolous or not made in good faith. |
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6. | Partial Indemnity . If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the Company for a portion of any Losses in respect of a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event but not for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion thereof to which Indemnitee is entitled. |
7. | Notification and Defense of Claims . |
a) | Notification of Claims . Indemnitee shall notify the Company in writing as soon as practicable of any Claim which could relate to an Indemnifiable Event or for which Indemnitee could seek Expense Advances, including a brief description (based upon information then available to Indemnitee) of the nature of, and the facts underlying, such Claim. The failure by Indemnitee to timely notify the Company hereunder shall not relieve the Company from any liability hereunder unless the Company’s ability to participate in the defense of such claim was materially and adversely affected by such failure. If at the time of the receipt of such notice, the Company has directors' and officers' liability insurance in effect under which coverage for Claims related to Indemnifiable Events is potentially available, the Company shall give prompt written notice to the applicable insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the applicable policies. The Company shall provide to Indemnitee a copy of such notice delivered to the applicable insurers, and copies of all subsequent correspondence between the Company and such insurers regarding the Claim, in each case substantially concurrently with the delivery or receipt thereof by the Company. |
b) | Defense of Claims . The Company shall be entitled to participate in the defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event at its own expense and, except as otherwise provided below, to the extent the Company so wishes, it may assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee. After notice from the Company to Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of any such Claim, the Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement or otherwise for any Expenses subsequently directly incurred by Indemnitee in connection with Indemnitee's defense of such Claim other than reasonable costs of investigation, including an investigation in connection with determining whether there exists a conflict of interest of the type described in clause (ii) below, or as otherwise provided below. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ its own legal counsel in such Claim, but all Expenses related to such counsel incurred after notice from the Company of its assumption of the defense shall be at Indemnitee's own expense; provided, however, that if (i) Indemnitee's employment of its own legal counsel has been authorized by the Company, (ii) Indemnitee has reasonably determined that there may be a conflict of interest between Indemnitee and the Company in the defense of such Claim, (iii) after a Change in Control, Indemnitee's employment of its own counsel has been approved by the Independent Counsel or (iv) the Company shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such Claim, then Indemnitee shall be entitled to retain its own separate counsel (but not more than one law firm plus, if applicable, local counsel in respect of any such Claim) and all Expenses related to such separate counsel shall be borne by the Company. |
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8. | Procedure upon Application for Indemnification . In order to obtain indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request therefor, including in such request such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of the Claim, provided that documentation and information need not be so provided to the extent that the provision thereof would undermine or otherwise jeopardize attorney-client privilege. Indemnification shall be made insofar as the Company determines Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification in accordance with Section 9 below. |
9. | Determination of Right to Indemnification . |
a) | Mandatory Indemnification; Indemnification as a Witness . |
(i) | To the extent that Indemnitee shall have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event or any portion thereof or in defense of any issue or matter therein, including without limitation dismissal without prejudice, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Losses relating to such Claim in accordance with Section 3 to the fullest extent allowable by law, and no Standard of Conduct Determination (as defined in Section 9(b)) shall be required. |
(ii) | To the extent that Indemnitee's involvement in a Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event is to prepare to serve and serve as a witness, and not as a party, the Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all Losses incurred in connection therewith to the fullest extent allowable by law [and no Standard of Conduct Determination (as defined in Section 9(b)) shall be required]. |
b) | Standard of Conduct . To the extent that the provisions of Section 9(a) are inapplicable to a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event that shall have been finally disposed of, any determination of whether Indemnitee has satisfied any applicable standard of conduct under Delaware law that is a legally required condition to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder against Losses relating to such Claim and any determination that Expense Advances must be repaid to the Company (a “ Standard of Conduct Determination ”) shall be made as follows: |
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(i) | if no Change in Control has occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board, (B) by a committee of Disinterested Directors designated by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum or (C) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee; and |
(ii) | if a Change in Control shall have occurred, (A) if the Indemnitee so requests in writing, by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even if less than a quorum of the Board or (B) otherwise, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion addressed to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee. |
The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless Indemnitee against and, if requested by Indemnitee, shall reimburse Indemnitee for, or advance to Indemnitee, within ten (10) days of such request, any and all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in cooperating with the person or persons making such Standard of Conduct Determination.
c) | Making the Standard of Conduct Determination . The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any Standard of Conduct Determination required under Section 9(b) to be made as promptly as practicable. If the person or persons designated to make the Standard of Conduct Determination under Section 9(b) shall not have made a determination within 30 days after the later of (A) receipt by the Company of a written request from Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 8 (the date of such receipt being the “ Notification Date ”) and (B) the selection of an Independent Counsel, if such determination is to be made by Independent Counsel, then Indemnitee shall be deemed to have satisfied the applicable standard of conduct; provided that such 30-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional 30 days, if the person or persons making such determination in good faith requires such additional time to obtain or evaluate information relating thereto. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of any Claim. |
d) | Payment of Indemnification . If, in regard to any Losses: |
(i) | Indemnitee shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 9(a); |
(ii) | no Standard Conduct Determination is legally required as a condition to indemnification of Indemnitee hereunder; or |
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(iii) | Indemnitee has been determined or deemed pursuant to Section 9(b) or Section 9(c) to have satisfied the Standard of Conduct Determination, |
then the Company shall pay to Indemnitee, within ten (10) days after the later of (A) the Notification Date or (B) the earliest date on which the applicable criterion specified in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) is satisfied, an amount equal to such Losses.
e) | Selection of Independent Counsel for Standard of Conduct Determination . If a Standard of Conduct Determination is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(b)(i), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors, and the Company shall give written notice to Indemnitee advising him or her of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. If a Standard of Conduct Determination is to be made by Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9(b)(ii), the Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee, and Indemnitee shall give written notice to the Company advising it of the identity of the Independent Counsel so selected. In either case, Indemnitee or the Company, as applicable, may, within ten (10) days after receiving written notice of selection from the other, deliver to the other a written objection to such selection; provided, however, that such objection may be asserted only on the ground that the Independent Counsel so selected does not satisfy the criteria set forth in the definition of "Independent Counsel" in Section 1(i), and the objection shall set forth with particularity the factual basis of such assertion. Absent a proper and timely objection, the person or firm so selected shall act as Independent Counsel. If such written objection is properly and timely made and substantiated, (i) the Independent Counsel so selected may not serve as Independent Counsel unless and until such objection is withdrawn or a court has determined that such objection is without merit; and (ii) the non-objecting party may, at its option, select an alternative Independent Counsel and give written notice to the other party advising such other party of the identity of the alternative Independent Counsel so selected, in which case the provisions of the two immediately preceding sentences, the introductory clause of this sentence and numbered clause (i) of this sentence shall apply to such subsequent selection and notice. If applicable, the provisions of clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to successive alternative selections. If no Independent Counsel that is permitted under the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(e) to make the Standard of Conduct Determination shall have been selected within 20 days after the Company gives its initial notice pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 9(e) or Indemnitee gives its initial notice pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 9(e), as the case may be, either the Company or Indemnitee may petition the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (“ Delaware Court ”) to resolve any objection which shall have been made by the Company or Indemnitee to the other's selection of Independent Counsel and/or to appoint as Independent Counsel a person to be selected by the Court or such other person as the Court shall designate, and the person or firm with respect to whom all objections are so resolved or the person or firm so appointed will act as Independent Counsel. In all events, the Company shall pay all of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Independent Counsel incurred in connection with the Independent Counsel’s determination pursuant to Section 9(b). |
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f) | Presumptions and Defenses . |
(i) | Indemnitee's Entitlement to Indemnification . In making any Standard of Conduct Determination, the person or persons making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee has satisfied the applicable standard of conduct and is entitled to indemnification, and the Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome that presumption and establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled. Any Standard of Conduct Determination that is adverse to Indemnitee may be challenged by the Indemnitee in the Delaware Court. No determination by the Company (including by its directors or any Independent Counsel) that Indemnitee has not satisfied any applicable standard of conduct may be used as a defense to any legal proceedings brought by Indemnitee to secure indemnification or reimbursement or advance payment of Expenses by the Company hereunder or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard of conduct. |
(ii) | Reliance as a Safe Harbor . For purposes of this Agreement, and without creating any presumption as to a lack of good faith if the following circumstances do not exist, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company if Indemnitee's actions or omissions to act are taken in good faith reliance upon the records of the Company, including its financial statements, or upon information, opinions, reports or statements furnished to Indemnitee by the officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the course of their duties, or by committees of the Board or by any other Person (including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors) as to matters Indemnitee reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Company. In addition, the knowledge and/or actions, or failures to act, of any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining the right to indemnity hereunder. |
(iii) | No Other Presumptions . For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, will not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any applicable standard of conduct or have any particular belief, or that indemnification hereunder is otherwise not permitted. |
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(iv) | Defense to Indemnification and Burden of Proof . It shall be a defense to any action brought by Indemnitee against the Company to enforce this Agreement (other than an action brought to enforce a claim for Losses incurred in defending against a Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event in advance of its final disposition) that it is not permissible under applicable law for the Company to indemnify Indemnitee for the amount claimed. In connection with any such action or any related Standard of Conduct Determination, the burden of proving such a defense or that the Indemnitee did not satisfy the applicable standard of conduct shall be on the Company. |
(v) | Resolution of Claims . The Company acknowledges that a settlement or other disposition short of final judgment may be successful on the merits or otherwise for purposes of Section 9(a)(i) if it permits a party to avoid expense, delay, distraction, disruption and uncertainty. In the event that any Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event to which Indemnitee is a party is resolved in any manner other than by adverse judgment against Indemnitee (including, without limitation, settlement of such action, claim or proceeding with our without payment of money or other consideration) it shall be presumed that Indemnitee has been successful on the merits or otherwise for purposes of Section 9(a)(i). The Company shall have the burden of proof to overcome this presumption. |
10. | Exclusions from Indemnification . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be obligated to: |
a) | indemnify or advance funds to Indemnitee for Expenses or Losses with respect to proceedings initiated by Indemnitee, including any proceedings against the Company or its directors, officers, employees or other indemnitees and not by way of defense, except: |
(i) | proceedings referenced in Section 5 above (unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee in such proceeding was not made in good faith or was frivolous); or |
(ii) | where the Company has joined in or the Board has consented to the initiation of such proceedings. |
b) | indemnify Indemnitee if a final decision by a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such indemnification is prohibited by applicable law. |
c) | indemnify Indemnitee for the disgorgement of profits arising from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities of the Company in violation of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, or any similar successor statute. |
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d) | indemnify or advance funds to Indemnitee for Indemnitee's reimbursement to the Company of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation previously received by Indemnitee or payment of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 in connection with an accounting restatement of the Company or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act). |
11. | Settlement of Claims . The Company shall not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any amounts paid in settlement of any threatened or pending Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event effected without the Company's prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that if a Change in Control has occurred, the Company shall be liable for indemnification of the Indemnitee for amounts paid in settlement if an Independent Counsel has approved the settlement. The Company shall not settle any Claim related to an Indemnifiable Event in any manner that would impose any Losses on the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee's prior written consent. |
12. | Duration . All agreements and obligations of the Company contained herein shall continue during the period that Indemnitee is a director or officer of the Company (or is serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, member, trustee or agent of another Enterprise) and shall continue thereafter (i) so long as Indemnitee may be subject to any possible Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event (including any rights of appeal thereto) and (ii) throughout the pendency of any proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto) commenced by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret his or her rights under this Agreement, even if, in either case, he or she may have ceased to serve in such capacity at the time of any such Claim or proceeding. |
13. | Non-Exclusivity . The rights of Indemnitee hereunder will be in addition to any other rights Indemnitee may have under the Constituent Documents, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, any other contract or otherwise (collectively, “ Other Indemnity Provisions ”); provided, however, that (a) to the extent that Indemnitee otherwise would have any greater right to indemnification under any Other Indemnity Provision, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder and (b) to the extent that any change is made to any Other Indemnity Provision which permits any greater right to indemnification than that provided under this Agreement as of the date hereof, Indemnitee will be deemed to have such greater right hereunder. The Company will not adopt any amendment to any of the Constituent Documents the effect of which would be to deny, diminish or encumber Indemnitee's right to indemnification under this Agreement or any Other Indemnity Provision. |
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14. | Liability Insurance . For the duration of Indemnitee's service as a director or officer of the Company, and thereafter for so long as Indemnitee shall be subject to any pending Claim relating to an Indemnifiable Event, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts (taking into account the scope and amount of coverage available relative to the cost thereof) to continue to maintain in effect policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance providing coverage that is at least substantially comparable in scope and amount to that provided by the Company's current policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance. In all policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by the Company, Indemnitee shall be named as an insured in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are provided to the most favorably insured of the Company's directors, if Indemnitee is a director, or of the Company's officers, if Indemnitee is an officer (and not a director) by such policy. Upon request, the Company will provide to Indemnitee copies of all directors' and officers' liability insurance applications, binders, policies, declarations, endorsements and other related materials. |
15. | No Duplication of Payments . The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment to Indemnitee in respect of any Losses to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise received payment under any insurance policy, the Constituent Documents, Other Indemnity Provisions or otherwise of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable by the Company hereunder. |
16. | Subrogation . In the event of payment to Indemnitee under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee. Indemnitee shall execute all papers required and shall do everything that may be necessary to secure such rights, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. |
17. | Amendments . No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless in the form of a writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the waiver is sought, and no such waiver shall operate as a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver. Except as specifically provided herein, no failure to exercise or any delay in exercising any right or remedy hereunder shall constitute a waiver thereof. |
18. | Binding Effect . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), assigns, spouses, heirs and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substances satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. |
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19. | Severability . The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any portion thereof) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. |
20. | Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered by hand, against receipt, or mailed, by postage prepaid, certified or registered mail: |
a) | if to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto. |
b) | if to the Company, to: |
Signal Genetics, Inc.
Attn: Samuel D. Riccitelli
667 Madison Avenue, 14 th Floor
New York, NY, 10065
Notice of change of address shall be effective only when given in accordance with this Section. All notices complying with this Section shall be deemed to have been received on the date of hand delivery or on the third business day after mailing.
21. | Governing Law and Forum . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and to be performed in such state without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws. The Company and Indemnitee hereby irrevocably and unconditionally: (a) agree that any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement shall be brought only in the Delaware Court and not in any other state or federal court in the United States, (b) consent to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court for purposes of any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement and (c) waive, and agree not to plead or make, any claim that the Delaware Court lacks venue or that any such action or proceeding brought in the Delaware Court has been brought in an improper or inconvenient forum. |
22. | Headings . The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction or interpretation thereof. |
23. | Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. |
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[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC. | |||
By: | |||
Name: | |||
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Exhibit 10.15
SIGNAL GENETICS, INC.
2014 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Establishment, Purpose and Types of Awards
Signal Genetics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby establishes the Signal Genetics, Inc. 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by (i) providing key people with incentives to improve stockholder value and to contribute to the growth and financial success of the Company through their future services, and (ii) enabling the Company to attract, retain and reward the best-available personnel.
The Plan permits the granting of stock options (including incentive stock options qualifying under Code section 422 and nonstatutory stock options), stock appreciation rights, restricted or unrestricted stock awards, restricted stock units, performance awards, other stock-based awards, or any combination of the foregoing.
2. Definitions
Under this Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Administrator” means the Board or the committee(s) or officer(s) appointed by the Board that have authority to administer the Plan as provided in Section 3 hereof.
(b) “ Affiliate” means any entity, whether now or hereafter existing, which controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company (including, but not limited to, joint ventures, limited liability companies, and partnerships). For this purpose, “ control ” shall mean ownership of 50% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock or interests of the entity, or the power to direct the management and policies of the entity, by contract or otherwise.
(c) “Award” means any stock option, stock appreciation right, stock award, restricted stock unit award, performance award, or other stock-based award.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) “ Change in Control ” means: a (i) Change in Ownership of the Company, (ii) Change in Effective Control of the Company, or (iii) Change in the Ownership of Assets of the Company, as described herein and construed in accordance with Code section 409A.
(i) A Change in Ownership of the Company shall occur on the date that any one Person acquires, or Persons Acting as a Group acquire, ownership of the capital stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person or Group, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the capital stock of the Company. However, if any one Person is, or Persons Acting as a Group are, considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power of the capital stock of the Company, the acquisition of additional stock by the same Person or Persons Acting as a Group is not considered to cause a Change in Ownership of the Company or to cause a Change in Effective Control of the Company (as described below). An increase in the percentage of capital stock owned by any one Person, or Persons Acting as a Group, as a result of a transaction in which the Company acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated as an acquisition of stock.
(ii) A Change in Effective Control of the Company shall occur on the date a majority of members of the Company’s Board is replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Company’s Board before the date of the appointment or election.
(iii) A Change in the Ownership of Assets of the Company shall occur on the date that any one Person acquires, or Persons Acting as a Group acquire (or has or have acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such Person or Persons), assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value of more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately before such acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
The following rules of construction apply in interpreting the definition of Change in Control:
(A) A Person means any individual, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), other than employee benefit plans sponsored or maintained by the Company and by entities controlled by the Company or an underwriter of the capital stock of the Company in a registered public offering.
(B) Persons will be considered to be Persons Acting as a Group (or Group) if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation. If a Person owns stock in both corporations that enter into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar transaction, such shareholder is considered to be acting as a Group with other shareholders only with respect to the ownership in that corporation before the transaction giving rise to the change and not with respect to the ownership interest in the other corporation. Persons will not be considered to be acting as a Group solely because they purchase assets of the same corporation at the same time or purchase or own stock of the same corporation at the same time, or as a result of the same public offering.
(C) For purposes of this Section 2(e), fair market value shall be determined by the Administrator.
(D) A Change in Control shall not include a transfer to a related person as described in Code section 409A or a public offering of capital stock of the Company.
(E) For purposes of this Section 2(e), Code section 318(a) applies to determine stock ownership. Stock underlying a vested option is considered owned by the individual who holds the vested option (and the stock underlying an unvested option is not considered owned by the individual who holds the unvested option). For purposes of the preceding sentence, however, if a vested option is exercisable for stock that is not substantially vested (as defined by Treasury Regulation §1.83-3(b) and and (j)), the stock underlying the option is not treated as owned by the individual who holds the option.
(f) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(g) “Common Stock” means shares of common stock of the Company, par value of $0.01 per share.
(h) “Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to the Common Stock, as of any date:
(i) if the principal market for the Common Stock (as determined by the Administrator if the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading on more than one exchange or market) is a national securities exchange or an established securities market, the official closing price per share of Common Stock for the regular market session on that date on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed or admitted to trading or, if no sale is reported for that date, on the last preceding day on which a sale was reported;
(ii) if the principal market for the Common Stock is not a national securities exchange or an established securities market, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Common Stock on that date as reported on a national quotation system or, if no prices are reported for that date, on the last preceding day on which prices were reported; or
(iii) if the Common Stock is neither listed nor admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or an established securities market, nor quoted by a national quotation system, the value determined by the Administrator in good faith.
With respect to property other than Common Stock, Fair Market Value means the value of the property determined by such methods or procedures to be established from time to time by the Board in accordance with Code section 409A.
(i) “ Full-Value Award ” means any Award other than (i) a stock option, (ii) a stock appreciation right or (iii) any other Award for which the Holder pays the intrinsic value existing as of the date of grant (whether directly or by forgoing a right to receive a payment from the Company or any subsidiary).
(j) “Grant Agreement” means a written document, including an electronic writing acceptable to the Administrator, memorializing the terms and conditions of an Award granted pursuant to the Plan and which shall incorporate the terms of the Plan.
(k) “Performance Measures” mean criteria established by the Administrator relating to any of the following, as it may apply to an individual, one or more business units, divisions or subsidiaries, or on a Company-wide basis, and in either absolute terms or relative to the performance of one or more comparable companies or an index covering multiple companies:
(i) Earnings or Profitability Metrics : including, but not limited to, earnings/loss (gross, operating, net, or adjusted); earnings/loss before interest and taxes (“EBIT”); earnings/loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”); profit margins; expense levels or ratios; in each case adjusted to eliminate the effect of any one or more of the following: interest expense, asset impairments, early extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation expense, changes in generally accepted accounting principles or critical accounting policies, or other extraordinary or non-recurring items, as specified by the plan administrator when establishing the performance goals;
(ii) Return Metrics : including, but not limited to, return on investment, assets, equity or capital (total or invested);
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(iii) Cash Flow Metrics : including, but not limited to, operating cash flow; cash flow sufficient to achieve financial ratios or a specified cash balance; free cash flow; cash flow return on capital; net cash provided by operating activities; cash flow per share; working capital;
(iv) Liquidity Metrics : including, but not limited to, capital raising; debt reduction; extension of maturity dates of outstanding debt; debt leverage (debt to capital, net debt-to-capital, debt-to-EBITDA or other liquidity ratios) or access to capital; debt ratings; total or net debt; other similar measures approved by the plan administrator;
(v) Stock Price and Equity Metrics : including, but not limited to, return on stockholders’ equity; total stockholder return; revenue (gross, operating or net); revenues from sales; revenues from search model; revenue growth; stock price; stock price appreciation; market capitalization; earnings/loss per share (basic or diluted) (before or after taxes); price-to-earnings ratio;
(vi) Strategic Metrics : including, but not limited to, number of users, site traffic, conversion ratios, product research and development; regulatory filings or approvals; patent application or issuance; manufacturing or process development; sales or net sales; geographic coverage; market share; market penetration; inventory control; growth in assets; key hires; business expansion; acquisitions, divestitures, affiliate agreements, collaborations, licensing or joint ventures; financing; resolution of significant litigation; legal compliance or risk reduction.
3. Administration
(a) Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or by such committee or committees as may be appointed by the Board from time to time. To the extent allowed by applicable state law, the Board by resolution may authorize an officer or officers to grant Awards (other than Stock Awards) to other officers and employees of the Company and its Affiliates, and, to the extent of such authorization, such officer or officers shall be the Administrator.
(b) Powers of the Administrator . The Administrator shall have all the powers vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards under the Plan, prescribe Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards and establish programs for granting Awards.
The Administrator shall have full power and authority to take all other actions necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not limited to, the authority to: (i) determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which Awards shall be granted; (ii) determine the types of Awards to be granted; (iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by or used for reference purposes for each Award; (iv) impose such terms, limitations, restrictions and conditions upon any such Award as the Administrator shall deem appropriate; (v) modify, amend, extend or renew outstanding Awards, or accept the surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards ( provided , however , that, except as provided in Section 6 or 7(e) of the Plan, any modification that would materially adversely affect any outstanding Award shall not be made without the consent of the holder and no such modification, amendment or substitution that results in repricing the Award, within the meaning of the Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c) and IM-5635-1, or any successor provision, shall be made without prior stockholder approval); (vi) accelerate or otherwise change the time in which an Award may be exercised or becomes payable and to waive or accelerate the lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition with respect to such Award, including, but not limited to, any restriction or condition with respect to the vesting or exercisability of an Award following termination of any grantee’s employment or other relationship with the Company; provided , however , that no such waiver or acceleration of lapse restrictions shall be made with respect to a performance-based stock award granted to an executive officer of the Company if such waiver or acceleration is inconsistent with Code section 162(m); (vii) establish objectives and conditions, if any, for earning Awards and determining whether Awards will be paid with respect to a performance period; (viii) for any purpose, including but not limited to, qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws or otherwise complying with the regulatory requirements of local or foreign jurisdictions, to establish, amend, modify, administer or terminate sub-plans, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to such sub-plans; (ix) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under the Plan; (x) correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan in effect; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Administrator deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. All decisions and determinations of the Administrator shall be final, conclusive and binding on the Company, the participants in the Plan and any and all interested parties.
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The Administrator shall have full power and authority, in its sole and absolute discretion, to administer, construe and interpret the Plan, Grant Agreements and all other documents relevant to the Plan and Awards issued thereunder, to establish, amend, rescind and interpret such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and instruments for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its business as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable, and to correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent the Administrator shall deem it desirable to carry it into effect.
(c) Non-Uniform Determinations . The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan (including without limitation, determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the Grant Agreements evidencing such Awards) need not be uniform and may be made by the Administrator selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.
(d) Limited Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no member of the Administrator shall be liable for any action taken or decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder.
(e) Indemnification . To the maximum extent permitted by law and by the Company’s charter and by-laws, the members of the Administrator shall be indemnified by the Company in respect of all their activities under the Plan.
(f) Effect of Administrator’s Decision . All actions taken and decisions and determinations made by the Administrator on all matters relating to the Plan pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Administrator’s sole and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned, including the Company, its stockholders, any participants in the Plan and any other employee, consultant, or director of the Company, and their respective successors in interest.
4. Shares Available for the Plan; Maximum Awards
(a) Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 7(e) of the Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued with respect to Awards granted under the Plan is [1,085,707]; provided , however , that no more than [900,000] shares of Common Stock may be issued in the form of Full-Value Awards, and no more than [600,000] shares of Common Stock may be issued pursuant to incentive stock options intended to qualify under Code section 422. If any Award, or portion of an Award, under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable, is settled in cash without delivery of shares of Common Stock, or is forfeited or otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled as to any shares, or if any shares of Common Stock are repurchased by or surrendered to the Company in connection with any Award (whether or not such surrendered shares were acquired pursuant to any Award), or if any shares are withheld by the Company, the shares subject to such Award and the repurchased, surrendered and withheld shares shall thereafter be available for further Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that any such shares that are surrendered to or repurchased or withheld by the Company in connection with any Award or that are otherwise forfeited after issuance shall not be available for purchase pursuant to incentive stock options intended to qualify under Code section 422.
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(b) Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 7(e) of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards of any combination that may be granted during any one fiscal year of the Company to any one individual under this Plan shall be limited to [750,000] shares. Such per-individual limit shall not be adjusted to effect a restoration of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the related Award is terminated, surrendered or canceled.
5. Participation
Participation in the Plan shall be open to all employees, officers, and directors of, and other individuals providing bona fide services to or for, the Company, or of any Affiliate of the Company, as may be selected by the Administrator from time to time. The Administrator may also grant Awards to individuals in connection with hiring, retention or otherwise, prior to the date the individual first performs services for the Company or an Affiliate, provided that such Awards shall not become vested or exercisable, and no shares shall be issued to such individual, prior to the date the individual first commences performance of such services.
6. Awards
The Administrator, in its sole discretion, establishes the terms of all Awards granted under the Plan. Awards may be granted individually or in tandem with other types of Awards, concurrently with or with respect to outstanding Awards. All Awards are subject to the terms and conditions provided in the Grant Agreement.
(a) Stock Options. The Administrator may from time to time grant to eligible participants Awards of incentive stock options as that term is defined in Code section 422 or nonstatutory stock options; provided , however , that Awards of incentive stock options shall be limited to employees of the Company or of any current or hereafter existing “ parent corporation ” or “ subsidiary corporation ,” as defined in Code sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Company and any other individuals who are eligible to receive incentive stock options under the provisions of Code section 422. Options must have an exercise price at least equal to Fair Market Value (110% of Fair Market Value for incentive stock options if the grantee is a 10% stockholder within the meaning of Code Section 422) as of the date of grant and may not have a term in excess of ten years’ duration (five years’ duration for incentive stock options if the grantee is 10% stockholder within the meaning of Code Section 422). The Administrator shall not reduce the exercise price of an outstanding stock option, whether through amendment, cancellation or replacement of such stock option, unless such reduction is consistent with Code Section 409A and other applicable law and is approved by the stockholders of the Company. No stock option shall be an incentive stock option unless so designated by the Administrator at the time of grant or in the Grant Agreement evidencing such stock option.
(b) Stock Appreciation Rights. The Administrator may from time to time grant to eligible participants Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights (“ SAR ”). An SAR entitles the grantee to receive, subject to the provisions of the Plan and the Grant Agreement, a payment having an aggregate value equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one share of Common Stock over (B) the base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement, times (ii) the number of shares specified by the SAR, or portion thereof, which is exercised. The base price per share specified in the Grant Agreement shall not be less than the lower of the Fair Market Value on the grant date or the exercise price of any tandem stock option Award to which the SAR is related. The Administrator shall not reduce the exercise price of an outstanding SAR, whether through amendment, cancellation or replacement of such SAR, unless such reduction is consistent with Code Section 409A and other applicable law and is approved by the stockholders of the Company. No SAR shall have a term longer than ten years’ duration. Payment by the Company of the amount receivable upon any exercise of an SAR may be made by the delivery of Common Stock or cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. If upon settlement of the exercise of an SAR a grantee is to receive a portion of such payment in shares of Common Stock, the number of shares shall be determined by dividing such portion by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the exercise date. No fractional shares shall be used for such payment and the Administrator shall determine whether cash shall be given in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated.
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(c) Stock Awards.
(i) The Administrator may from time to time grant stock awards to eligible participants in such amounts, on such terms and conditions, and for such consideration, including no consideration or such minimum consideration as may be required by law, as it shall determine. A stock award may be denominated in Common Stock or other securities, stock-equivalent units or restricted stock units, securities or debentures convertible into Common Stock, or any combination of the foregoing and may be paid in Common Stock or other securities, in cash, or in a combination of Common Stock or other securities and cash, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator.
(ii) The Administrator may grant stock awards in a manner constituting “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code section 162(m). The grant of, or lapse of restrictions with respect to, such performance-based stock awards shall be based upon one or more Performance Measures and objective performance targets to be attained relative to those Performance Measures, all as determined by the Administrator. Performance targets may include minimum, maximum, intermediate and target levels of performance, with the size of the performance-based stock award or the lapse of restrictions with respect thereto based on the level attained. A performance target may be stated as an absolute value or as a value determined relative to prior performance, one or more indices, budget, one or more peer group companies, any other standard selected by the Administrator, or any combination thereof. The Administrator shall be authorized to make adjustments in the method of calculating attainment of Performance Measures and performance targets in recognition of: (A) extraordinary or non-recurring items; (B) changes in tax laws; (C) changes in generally accepted accounting principles or changes in accounting policies; (D) charges related to restructured or discontinued operations; (E) restatement of prior period financial results; and (F) any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss that is separately identified and quantified in the Company’s financial statements; provided that the Administrator’s decision as to whether such adjustments will be made with respect to any “covered employee”, within the meaning of Code section 162(m), is determined when the performance targets are established for the applicable performance period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, at its sole discretion, modify the performance results upon which Awards are based under the Plan to offset any unintended results arising from events not anticipated when the Performance Measures and performance targets were established; provided, that such modifications may be made with respect to an Award granted to any covered employee, within the meaning of Code section 162(m), only to the extent permitted by Code section 162(m) if the Award was intended to constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code section 162(m). Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Administrator is not authorized to waive or accelerate the lapse of restrictions on a performance-based stock award granted to any covered employee, within the meaning of Code section 162(m), except upon death, disability or a change of ownership or control of the Company. In the event that a Change in Control occurs after a performance-based stock award has been granted but before completion of the applicable performance period, a pro rata portion of such Award shall become payable (or a pro rata portion of the lapse restrictions shall lapse, as applicable) as of the date of the Change in Control to the extent otherwise earned on the basis of achievement of the pro rata portion of the Performance Measures and performance targets relating to the portion of the performance period completed as of the date of the Change in Control.
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7. Miscellaneous
(a) Payment . The Administrator shall determine the methods by which payments by any participant with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash or check, (b) shares of Common Stock (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) or shares of Common Stock held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences, in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares then issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided, that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, or (d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator. The Administrator shall also determine the methods by which shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to participants. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no participant who is a director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
(b) Withholding of Taxes . Grantees and holders of Awards shall pay to the Company or its Affiliate, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any taxes required to be withheld in respect of Awards under the Plan no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company or its Affiliate may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the grantee or holder of an Award. In the event that payment to the Company or its Affiliate of such tax obligations is made in shares of Common Stock, such shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the applicable date for such purposes and shall not exceed in amount the minimum statutory tax withholding obligation.
(c) Loans . To the extent otherwise permitted by law, the Company or its Affiliate may make or guarantee loans to grantees to assist grantees in exercising Awards and satisfying any withholding tax obligations.
(d) Transferability . Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, and in any event in the case of an incentive stock option or a stock appreciation right granted with respect to an incentive stock option, no Award granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator in accord with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the grantee, only by the grantee or, during the period the grantee is under a legal disability, by the grantee’s guardian or legal representative.
(e) Adjustments for Corporate Transactions and Other Events .
(i) Stock Dividend, Stock Split and Reverse Stock Split. In the event of a stock dividend of, or stock split or reverse stock split affecting, the Common Stock, (A) the maximum number of shares of such Common Stock as to which Awards may be granted under this Plan and the maximum number of shares with respect to which Awards may be granted during any one fiscal year of the Company to any individual, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan, and (B) the number of shares covered by and the exercise price and other terms of outstanding Awards, shall, without further action of the Board, be adjusted to reflect such event. The Administrator may make adjustments, in its discretion, to address the treatment of fractional shares and fractional cents that arise with respect to outstanding Awards as a result of the stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split.
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(ii) Non-Change in Control Transactions. Except with respect to the transactions set forth in Section 7(e)(i), in the event of any change affecting the Common Stock, the Company or its capitalization, by reason of a spin-off, split-up, dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or share exchange, other than any such change that is part of a transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company, the Administrator, in its discretion and without the consent of the holders of the Awards, shall make (A) appropriate adjustments to the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for issuance or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan, in the aggregate and with respect to any individual during any one fiscal year of the Company, as provided in Section 4 of the Plan; and (B) any adjustments in outstanding Awards, including but not limited to modifying the number, kind and price of securities subject to Awards.
(iii) Change in Control Transactions. In the event of any transaction resulting in a Change in Control of the Company, outstanding stock options and other Awards that are payable in or convertible into Common Stock under this Plan will terminate upon the effective time of such Change in Control unless provision is made in connection with the transaction for the continuation or assumption of such Awards by, or for the substitution of the equivalent awards, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, of, the surviving or successor entity or a parent thereof. In the event of such termination, the holders of stock options and other Awards under the Plan will be permitted, immediately before the Change in Control, to exercise or convert all portions of such stock options or other Awards under the Plan that are then exercisable or convertible or which become exercisable or convertible upon or prior to the effective time of the Change in Control.
(iv) Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Administrator is authorized to make, in its discretion and without the consent of holders of Awards, adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Administrator determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.
(f) Substitution of Awards in Mergers and Acquisitions. Awards may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for awards held by employees, officers, consultants or directors of entities who become or are about to become employees, officers, consultants or directors of the Company or an Affiliate as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing entity with the Company or an Affiliate, or the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliate of the assets or stock of the employing entity. The terms and conditions of any substitute Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth herein to the extent that the Administrator deems appropriate at the time of grant to conform the substitute Awards to the provisions of the awards for which they are substituted.
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(g) Termination, Amendment and Modification of the Plan . The Board may terminate, amend or modify the Plan or any portion thereof at any time. Except as otherwise determined by the Board, termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.
(h) No Stockholders Rights . Except as otherwise provided herein, a participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by any Award until the participant becomes the record owner of such shares of Common Stock.
(i) Issuance of Shares; Paperless Administration . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company may choose to not deliver to any participant certificates evidencing shares issued in connection with any Award and instead record such shares in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator). In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a participant may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.
(j) Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans . The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any subsidiary: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for employees, directors or other service providers of the Company or any subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
(k) Non-Guarantee of Employment or Service . Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant Agreement thereunder shall confer any right on an individual to continue in the service of the Company or shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate such service at any time with or without cause or notice and whether or not such termination results in (i) the failure of any Award to vest; (ii) the forfeiture of any unvested or vested portion of any Award; and/or (iii) any other adverse effect on the individual’s interests under the Plan.
(l) Compliance with Securities Laws; Listing and Registration . If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Common Stock under the Plan is or may be unlawful under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction, or Federal, state or foreign securities laws, the right to exercise an Award or receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful. If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Common Stock under the Plan is or may violate the rules of the national exchange on which the shares are then listed for trade, the right to exercise an Award or receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery would not violate such rules. The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Common Stock under Federal, state or foreign laws.
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The Company may require that a grantee, as a condition to exercise of an Award, and as a condition to the delivery of any share certificate, make such written representations (including representations to the effect that such person will not dispose of the Common Stock so acquired in violation of Federal, state or foreign securities laws) and furnish such information as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be appropriate to permit the Company to issue the Common Stock in compliance with applicable Federal, state or foreign securities laws. The stock certificates for any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend restricting transferability of the shares of Common Stock unless such shares are registered or an exemption from registration is available under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state or foreign securities laws.
(m) No Trust or Fund Created . Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and a grantee or any other person. To the extent that any grantee or other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.
(n) Governing Law . The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Grant Agreements entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations or decisions made by the Administrator relating to the Plan or such Grant Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
(o) 409A Savings Clause . The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder are intended to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, Code section 409A. The Plan and all Awards granted under the Plan shall be administered, interpreted, and construed in a manner consistent with Code section 409A to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Code section 409A(a)(1)(B). Should any provision of the Plan, any Award Agreement, or any other agreement or arrangement contemplated by the Plan be found not to comply with, or otherwise be exempt from, the provisions of Code section 409A, such provision shall be modified and given effect (retroactively if necessary), in the sole discretion of the Administrator, and without the consent of the holder of the Award, in such manner as the Administrator determines to be necessary or appropriate to comply with, or to effectuate an exemption from, Code section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, to the extent required to avoid accelerated taxation and tax penalties under Section 409A of the Code, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to the Plan during the six month period immediately following the Participant’s separation from service shall instead be paid on the first payroll date after the six-month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service (or the Participant’s death, if earlier). Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Administrator exercise its discretion to accelerate the payment or settlement of an Award where such payment or settlement constitutes deferred compensation within the meaning of Code section 409A unless, and solely to the extent that, such accelerated payment or settlement is permissible under Treasury Regulation section 1.409A-3(j)(4) or any successor provision.
(p) Participants Subject to Taxation Outside the United States . With respect to participants who are believed by the Administrator to be subject to taxation in countries other than the United States, the Administrator may make grants on such terms and conditions, consistent with the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate to comply with the laws of the applicable countries, and the Administrator may create such procedures, addenda and subplans and make such modifications as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such laws. The Board may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary to enable the Plan to achieve its stated purposes in any jurisdiction outside the United States in a tax-efficient manner and in compliance with local rules and regulations. Furthermore, if any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or as to any person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Administrator, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be so construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Administrator, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, person or Award, and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
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(q) Effective Date; Termination Date . The Plan is effective as of the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to approval of the stockholders within twelve months before or after such date. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the close of business on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the Plan, or if earlier, the tenth anniversary of the date this Plan is approved by the stockholders. Subject to other applicable provisions of the Plan, all Awards made under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in accordance with the Plan and the terms of such Awards.
PLAN APPROVAL
Date Approved by the Board: | ||
Date Approved by the Stockholders: |
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Exhibit 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF SIGNAL GENETICS, INC .
Myeloma Health LLC (Delaware)
Respira Health LLC (Delaware)
CC Health LLC (Delaware)
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Signal Genetics LLC
New York, New York
We hereby consent to the use in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 18, 2014 relating to the financial statements of Signal Genetics LLC, which is contained in that Prospectus. Our report on the consolidated financial statements contains an explanatory paragraph regarding the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP | |
New York, New York | |
March 18, 2014 |
Exhibit 99.1
CONSENT TO BE NAMED AS A DIRECTOR NOMINEE
I hereby consent to being named as a nominee to serve on the board of directors in the Registration Statement to be filed by Signal Genetics, Inc. on Form S-1 and the related Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (and any subsequent Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any and all amendments or supplements thereto). I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
By: | /s/ David A. Gonyer | |
Name: David A. Gonyer | ||
Date: March 18, 2014 |
Exhibit 99.2
CONSENT TO BE NAMED AS A DIRECTOR NOMINEE
I hereby consent to being named as a nominee to serve on the board of directors in the Registration Statement to be filed by Signal Genetics, Inc. on Form S-1 and the related Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (and any subsequent Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any and all amendments or supplements thereto). I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
By: | /s/ Douglas A. Schuling | |
Name: Douglas A. Schuling | ||
Date: March 18, 2014 |
Exhibit 99.3
CONSENT TO BE NAMED AS A DIRECTOR NOMINEE
I hereby consent to being named as a nominee to serve on the board of directors in the Registration Statement to be filed by Signal Genetics, Inc. on Form S-1 and the related Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (and any subsequent Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any and all amendments or supplements thereto). I also consent to the filing of this consent as an exhibit to such Registration Statement and any amendments thereto.
By: | /s/ Dr. Robin L. Smith, M.D. | |
Name: Dr. Robin L. Smith, M.D. | ||
Date: March 18, 2014 |