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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 3, 2013

Registration No. 333-191219

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   2836   20-3109565
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 

(Primary standard industrial

classification code number)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification number)

135 US Highway 206, Suite 15

Bedminster, New Jersey 07921

(908) 470-4320

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD

Chief Executive Officer

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

135 US Highway 206, Suite 15

Bedminster, New Jersey 07921

Tel. No.: (908) 470-4320

Fax No.: (908) 470-4329

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

  Copies to:  

Andrew B. Barkan, Esq.

Steven G. Scheinfeld, Esq.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

One New York Plaza

New York, New York 10004

Tel. No.: (212) 859-8000

Fax No.: (212) 859-4000

 

Richard J. Rubino

Chief Financial Officer

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

135 US Highway 206, Suite 15

Bedminster, New Jersey 07921

Tel. No.: (908) 470-4320

Fax No.: (908) 470-4329

 

Glenn R. Pollner, Esq.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

200 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10166

Tel. No.: (212) 351-4000

Fax No.: (212) 351-4035

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

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 check the following box.   ¨

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.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) 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.   ¨

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.   ¨

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 12b2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF

SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

 

PROPOSED

MAXIMUM
AGGREGATE
OFFERING PRICE   (1)(2)

 

AMOUNT OF

REGISTRATION FEE (3)

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

  $57,500,000   $7,843

 

 

(1)  

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933.

(2)  

Includes the offering price of common stock that may be purchased by the underwriters upon the exercise of their option to purchase additional shares.

(3)  

Previously paid.

 

 

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 of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information contained 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 is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 3, 2013

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

             Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering              shares of our common stock. This is our initial public offering and no public market currently exists for our common stock. We expect the initial public offering price to be between $         and $         per share. We have applied to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “AERI.”

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Please read “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 12 of this prospectus.

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

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

     

Proceeds to Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. before expenses

     

Delivery of the shares of common stock is expected to be made on or about                     , 2013. We have granted the underwriters an option for a period of 30 days to purchase an additional              shares of our common stock. If the underwriters exercise the option in full, the total underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us will be $        , and the total proceeds to us, before expenses, will be $        .

 

 

 

RBC Capital Markets

  

Stifel

 

Lazard Capital Markets    Canaccord Genuity

Prospectus dated                     , 2013


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1   

RISK FACTORS

     12   

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND OTHER DATA

     47   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     49   

DIVIDEND POLICY

     50   

CAPITALIZATION

     51   

DILUTION

     53   

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     55   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     57   

BUSINESS

     75   

MANAGEMENT

     104   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     112   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

     121   

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     125   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     129   

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     134   

U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     137   

UNDERWRITING

     141   

LEGAL MATTERS

     145   

EXPERTS

     146   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     147   

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1   

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. We are offering to sell shares of our common stock, and seeking offers to buy shares of our common stock, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. 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 common stock.

Until and including                     , 2013, 25 days after the date of this prospectus, all dealers that buy, sell or trade our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to unsold allotments or subscriptions.

For investors outside of the United States: neither we nor any of the underwriters have 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. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. Before you decide to invest in our common stock, you should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” section and the financial statements and related notes appearing at the end of this prospectus. In this prospectus, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise indicates, references to “Aerie,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar references refer to Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. Glaucoma is one of the largest segments in the global ophthalmic market. In 2012, branded and generic glaucoma product sales exceeded $4.5 billion in the United States, Europe and Japan in aggregate, according to IMS, and prescription volume is expected to grow, driven in large part by the aging population. Our strategy is to advance our product candidates, including dual-action AR-13324 and triple-action PG324, to regulatory approval and commercialize these products ourselves in the United States. We plan to build a commercial team of approximately 100 sales representatives to target approximately 10,000 high prescribing eye-care professionals throughout the United States. For certain key markets outside the United States, including Europe, Japan and emerging markets, we intend to explore partnership opportunities through collaboration and licensing arrangements. We plan to further maximize our commercial potential by identifying and advancing additional product candidates, both through our internal discovery efforts and through possible in-licensing or acquisitions of additional ophthalmic products or product candidates that would complement our current product portfolio. Our senior leadership team has extensive experience in the ophthalmology market and has overseen the development and commercialization at major pharmaceutical companies of several successful ophthalmic products, including Acular , Alphagan P , Bepreve , Besivance , Bromday , Istalol , Ocuflox , Retisert , Vitrase , Xibrom and Zylet . If our products are approved and we are commercially successful, we believe Aerie could become a market-leading ophthalmic company.

Our product candidates are once-daily eye drops that, if approved, will provide eye-care professionals with the first novel intraocular pressure lowering mechanisms of action, or MOA, to treat glaucoma in nearly 20 years. Our lead product candidate, dual-action AR-13324, recently completed a Phase 2b clinical trial. We are currently planning two Phase 3 registration trials for this product candidate, which we expect to commence in mid-2014. Additionally, we are planning to commence a Phase 2b clinical trial by early 2014 for our triple-action PG324, a fixed-dose combination of AR-13324 and the prostaglandin analogue, or PGA, latanoprost, the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of patients with glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a progressive and highly individualized disease, in which elevated levels of intraocular pressure, or IOP, are associated with damage to the optic nerve, which results in irreversible vision loss and potentially blindness. Patients may suffer the adverse effects of glaucoma across a wide range of IOP levels. The level of IOP in healthy individuals is generally accepted to be 10 to 21 millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. The majority of glaucoma patients have IOP of 26 mmHg or below at the time of diagnosis, which we refer to as “low to moderately elevated” IOP. Glaucoma is treated by the reduction of IOP, which has been shown to slow the progression of vision loss. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, recognizes sustained lowering of IOP as the primary clinical endpoint for regulatory approval. Once glaucoma develops, it is a chronic condition that requires life-long treatment. The initial treatment for glaucoma patients is typically the use of a prescription eye drop. PGAs have become the most widely prescribed glaucoma drug class. The most frequently prescribed PGA is once-daily latanoprost. The most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs belong to the beta blocker class. The most frequently prescribed beta blocker is twice-daily timolol. Other non-PGA drug classes include the alpha agonists and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. When PGA monotherapy is insufficient to control IOP, non-

 

 

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PGA products are used either as add-on therapy to the PGA or as an alternative monotherapy. Due to the multiple daily dosings, side effects and contraindications of non-PGA products, we believe there is a significant unmet need in the non-PGA market segment, which represents approximately half of the U.S. and European glaucoma market based on prescription volumes.

Our primary product candidates, once-daily dual-action AR-13324 and once-daily triple-action PG324, lower IOP through novel MOAs. Our product candidates inhibit both Rho Kinase, or ROCK, and the norepinephrine transporter, or NET. Through ROCK inhibition, they reduce IOP by increasing fluid outflow through the trabecular meshwork, or the TM, the tissue responsible for elevated IOP in glaucoma and the eye’s primary drain, which accounts for approximately 80% of fluid drainage. Through NET inhibition, AR-13324 also lowers IOP by reducing the production of eye fluid. PG324, a single-drop fixed-dose combination of AR-13324 with latanoprost, lowers IOP through the same MOAs as AR-13324, and also by increasing fluid outflow through the uveoscleral pathway, the eye’s secondary drain.

We believe that dual-action AR-13324 has several significant differentiating characteristics that would make it a strong competitor in the non-PGA market segment, if approved, including:

 

   

Strong IOP-Lowering Effect —In our Phase 2b clinical trial, once-daily AR-13324 demonstrated mean IOP reductions of 5.7 and 6.2 mmHg on days 28 and 14, respectively. Studies have shown that a sustained 5 mmHg reduction in IOP reduces risk of disease progression by approximately 50%. If confirmed in our planned Phase 3 registration trials, we believe this level of IOP reduction would equal or exceed that of all currently marketed non-PGA drugs.

 

   

Once-Daily Dosing Advantage —The most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs are dosed two to three times daily. AR-13324 is being developed as a once-daily dosed glaucoma therapy. This more convenient dosing regimen is expected to result in higher patient compliance, which may lead to improved outcomes.

 

   

Favorable Tolerability Profile —Currently marketed non-PGA drugs have several tolerability issues indicated on their product labels, including blurred vision, unusual tastes, ocular allergic reaction and itching of the eye. In our Phase 2a and Phase 2b clinical trials for AR-13324, a total of 209 patients were exposed to AR-13324. The main tolerability finding for AR-13324 was transient, or temporary, hyperemia, which is a cosmetic asymptomatic redness of the eye. Most hyperemia was scored as “mild.” Hyperemia is a common tolerability finding associated with the most widely prescribed glaucoma drugs.

 

   

Lack of Systemic Side Effects —AR-13324 has demonstrated a lack of systemic side effects in clinical trials to date. The currently marketed non-PGA drugs have systemic side effect issues indicated on their product labels, including among others, lethargy, reduced heart rate, Stevens Johnson syndrome and blood dyscrasias. Further, the most widely prescribed non-PGA drug, timolol, has contraindications, including bronchospasm, arrhythmia and heart failure.

 

   

Novel Dual-Action MOA —If approved, we believe AR-13324 would be the only once-daily drug available that specifically targets the TM, the diseased tissue responsible for elevated IOP in glaucoma. We believe AR-13324 will also be the first glaucoma drug to inhibit NET, which reduces fluid production in the eye. In addition, we believe the AR-13324 dual-action MOA is highly complementary to the MOA of the market-leading PGAs, which increase fluid outflow through the uveoscleral pathway.

 

   

Consistent IOP-Lowering Effect Across Various Baseline IOPs —In our Phase 2b clinical trial, AR-13324 demonstrated a distinct ability to reduce IOP at consistent levels across all baseline IOPs tested in the trial. Published studies have indicated that currently marketed PGA and non-PGA drugs do not lower IOP as effectively in patients with low to moderately elevated baseline IOPs relative to patients with higher IOPs. Patients with low to moderately elevated IOPs represent the significant majority of glaucoma patients.

 

 

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Despite various safety and tolerability issues and the need to dose two to three times daily, the most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs each generated peak annual global revenues over $400 million prior to the introduction of their generic equivalents.

Based on our preclinical data to date, we believe that triple-action PG324 would be the only glaucoma product that covers the full spectrum of IOP-lowering mechanisms, giving it the potential to provide a greater IOP-lowering effect than any currently approved glaucoma product. Therefore, we believe that PG324 could compete with both PGA and non-PGA therapies.

We own the worldwide rights to all indications for our current product candidates. Our intellectual property portfolio contains patents and pending patent applications related to composition of matter, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use for our product candidates. We have patent protection for our primary product candidates, AR-13324 and PG324, in the United States through at least 2030.

Our Product Pipeline

We discovered and developed our product candidates internally through a rational drug design approach that

coupled medicinal chemistry with high content screening of compounds in proprietary cell-based assays. We

selected and formulated our product candidates for preclinical in vivo testing following a detailed characterization of over 1,500 synthesized ROCK-selective and dual-action ROCK/NET inhibitors. We advanced one compound from each of these drug classes into Phase 2 clinical development to determine whether our single-action ROCK-selective drug, AR-12286, or our dual-action ROCK/NET drug, AR-13324, offered the better efficacy and tolerability profile in patients with glaucoma. We selected dual-action AR-13324 for advancement to Phase 3 clinical development based upon its superior clinical profile relative to AR-12286. We continue to discover and develop new compounds in our research laboratories and employ a scientific staff with expertise in medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, pharmacology and pharmaceutical science.

Our decision to advance AR-13324 and discontinue development of AR-12286 was based upon a comparison of the outcomes of similarly designed 28-day Phase 2 clinical trials of the respective compounds. The trials showed that the IOP-lowering effect of AR-12286 declined by 1.4 mmHg from day 7 to day 28, while AR-13324 provided a stable IOP-lowering effect from day 7 to day 28. In addition, a subsequent three-month Phase 2 clinical trial for AR-12286 revealed that AR-12886’s loss of efficacy continued beyond day 28. Therefore, in June 2013, we discontinued development of AR-12286 and its fixed-dose combination product PG286, a combination of AR-12286 and the PGA travoprost.

Our lead product candidate AR-13324 has several important characteristics that distinguish it from AR-12286. AR-13324 lowers IOP through a dual mechanism of action by inhibiting both ROCK and NET, whereas AR-12286 has a single mechanism of action inhibiting only ROCK. In addition, AR-13324 has a distinct chemical composition that, when converted into its active form in the eye, results in a molecule that is ten times more potent at inhibiting ROCK than AR-12286. Furthermore, in addition to being a potent inhibitor of ROCK, AR-13324 also inhibits Protein Kinase C, or PKC, which we believe is an alternate pathway for smooth muscle contraction that can lead to contraction of the TM, even when ROCK is inhibited. AR-12286 does not inhibit PKC. Also, in a six-month toxicology study with exaggerated dosing of AR-12286, lens opacities, otherwise known as cataracts, were observed in rabbit eyes beginning at three months. In a similar six-month toxicology study with exaggerated dosing of AR-13324, no adverse lens effects were observed.

 

 

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The following table summarizes each of our existing product candidates, their MOAs, and their development status, as well as our intellectual property rights for these product candidates.

 

Product Candidate and Mechanism

  

Phase of Development

   Intellectual
Property Rights

AR-13324

   Dual-action—ROCK/NET inhibitor    Phase 3 registration trials expected to begin mid-2014    Wholly-Owned

PG324

   Triple-action—Combination of dual-action AR-13324 and latanoprost, a PGA    Phase 2b clinical trial expected to begin by early 2014    Wholly-Owned

AR-13533

   Dual-action—Second generation ROCK/NET inhibitor    Preclinical    Wholly-Owned

Overview of Dual-Action AR-13324

Our lead product candidate, AR-13324, is the first of a new dual-action class of glaucoma drugs that was discovered by our scientists. AR-13324 is a once-daily eye drop designed to reduce IOP in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It increases fluid outflow through the primary drain of the eye while also reducing eye fluid production. It acts through the inhibition of both ROCK and NET. In addition, AR-13324 has inhibitory activity against a secondary signaling pathway, Protein Kinase C, or PKC, which acts in parallel to the primary signaling pathway, ROCK, to promote cell contraction in the TM, contributing to the ability of AR-13324 to maintain its efficacy.

We completed an AR-13324 Phase 2b clinical trial in May 2013. This 28-day trial included 224 patients who were treated once daily with AR-13324 or latanoprost. Although AR-13324 is expected to compete primarily against other non-PGA drugs, latanoprost was used as the comparator because it is the most widely-prescribed drug of all currently marketed glaucoma products. In the Phase 2b trial, AR-13324 was highly effective with once-daily dosing at lowering IOP, with the highest dose resulting in mean IOP reductions of 5.7 and 6.2 mmHg on days 28 and 14, respectively. In the analysis of the full clinical trial cohort with a baseline IOP range of 22 to 36 mmHg, the mean IOP lowering for our once-daily AR-13324 was 1.2 mmHg less than that of latanoprost and in line with published historical data for twice-daily timolol, the most commonly prescribed non-PGA drug.

In a protocol specified analysis of patients with a moderately elevated baseline IOP range of 22 to 26 mmHg, the mean IOP lowering of latanoprost and AR-13324 were clinically and statistically equivalent. While latanoprost produced smaller IOP reductions in patients with moderately elevated IOPs than in patients with highly elevated IOPs, AR-13324 was shown to maintain essentially the same IOP-lowering effect irrespective of the baseline. Publications have reported a similarly declining efficacy trend, in line with that observed for latanoprost, for currently marketed non-PGA glaucoma drugs, including timolol. We believe this should place AR-13324 in a favorable competitive position because a significant majority of glaucoma patients have such moderately elevated baseline IOP.

We are planning two Phase 3 registration trials that will measure efficacy of AR-13324 over three months and safety over 12 months. The trials will include at least 1,200 patients in total. The primary efficacy endpoint of the trials will be to demonstrate non-inferiority of IOP lowering for AR-13324 (dosed once daily) compared to timolol (dosed twice daily), the most widely used comparator in registration trials for glaucoma. Assuming we commence the Phase 3 trials in mid-2014 as planned and fully enroll the trials within our anticipated timeframe, we would expect efficacy data from the two trials in mid-2015.

If approved, AR-13324 is expected to compete against non-PGA products, the significant majority of which have been in the market for at least 20 years. The non-PGA market segment represents approximately half of the total prescription volume of the glaucoma market, for which 2012 branded and generic product sales exceeded $4.5

 

 

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billion in the United States, Europe and Japan in aggregate according to IMS. Due to the multiple daily dosings, side effects and contraindications of the currently marketed non-PGA products, we believe there is a significant unmet need in this market segment. We believe that AR-13324 has several significant differentiating characteristics that would make it a strong competitor in the non-PGA market segment.

Overview of Triple-Action PG324

Our once-daily, triple-action product candidate PG324 is a combination of our dual-action compound AR-13324 formulated with latanoprost in a single eye drop. If approved, we believe that PG324 would be the first glaucoma product to lower IOP through all three MOAs:

 

   

increasing fluid outflow through the TM, the eye’s primary drain,

 

   

increasing fluid outflow through the uveoscleral pathway, the eye’s secondary drain, and

 

   

reducing fluid production in the eye.

Triple-action PG324 has been tested in a preclinical primate model to assess its effectiveness at lowering IOP. The results of this three-day study show that at all time points measured, PG324 dosed once daily reduced IOP substantially more than latanoprost alone dosed once daily.

We plan to commence a randomized, controlled 28-day Phase 2b clinical trial in approximately 300 patients by early 2014. The trial will be designed to measure the efficacy of two concentrations of PG324 compared to latanoprost and to AR-13324, all dosed once daily. The efficacy endpoint will be superiority of PG324 to each of its components. Assuming we commence the Phase 2b trial by early 2014 and fully enroll the trial within our anticipated timeframe, we would expect results in mid-2014.

We believe PG324, if approved, would be the only glaucoma product that covers the full spectrum of IOP-lowering mechanisms, thereby giving it the potential to provide a greater IOP-lowering effect than any currently approved glaucoma product and could compete in both the PGA and non-PGA market.

Overview of Second-Generation, Dual-Action AR-13533

In addition to our primary product candidates, AR-13324 and PG324, we are in the preclinical development stage with AR-13533, our second generation dual-action ROCK/NET inhibitor. AR-13533 does not require enzymatic conversion in the eye to deliver maximal ROCK inhibitor activity, and therefore AR-13533 may provide additional IOP-lowering effect in patients beyond that obtained with AR-13324. We have not submitted an investigational new drug application, or IND, for AR-13533 to the FDA and there can be no assurance that an IND will be submitted.

Our Strategy

Our goal is to be a leader in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products for the treatment of patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. We believe our product candidates have the potential to address many of the unmet medical needs in the glaucoma market. Key elements of our strategy are to:

Advance the development of our product candidates to approval. Based on the results from our Phase 2b clinical trial for dual-action AR-13324, we plan to proceed into Phase 3 registration trials for this drug. Additionally, we plan to initiate a Phase 2b clinical trial for PG324, our triple-action combination of AR-13324 and latanoprost and, over the longer term, to evaluate opportunities associated with preclinical-stage AR-13533, our second generation dual-action ROCK/NET inhibitor.

 

 

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Establish internal sales capabilities to commercialize our product candidates in the United States. We own worldwide rights to all indications for our product candidates and we plan to retain U.S. commercialization rights. Ultimately, if our product candidates are approved, we plan to build a commercial team of approximately 100 sales representatives. We expect our sales organization to target approximately 10,000 high prescribing eye-care professionals throughout the United States.

Explore partnerships with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to maximize the value of our product candidates outside the United States. We currently plan to explore the licensing of commercialization rights or other forms of collaboration with qualified potential partners for the commercialization of our product candidates in certain key markets outside of the United States, including Europe, Japan and emerging markets.

Continue to leverage and strengthen our intellectual property portfolio. We believe we have a strong intellectual property position relating to our product candidates. Our intellectual property portfolio contains U.S. patents and pending U.S. and foreign patent applications related to composition of matter, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use for our product candidates. We have patent protection for our primary product candidates in the United States through at least 2030.

Expand our product portfolio through internal discovery efforts and possible in-licensing or acquisitions of additional ophthalmic product candidates or products. We continually seek to discover and develop new compounds in our research laboratories and employ a scientific staff with expertise in medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, pharmacology and pharmaceutical science. In addition, we also plan to evaluate the expansion of our product portfolio through in-licensing or acquisitions of additional ophthalmic product candidates or products.

Risk Factors Associated with Our Business

Our business is subject to numerous risks, as more fully described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. You should read these risks before you invest in our common stock. In particular, our risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

we have not obtained and may never obtain regulatory approval for any of our product candidates;

 

   

failure can occur at any stage of clinical development and, if the clinical trials for our product candidates are unsuccessful, we could be required to abandon development, as was the case recently with AR-12286 and PG286 when AR-12286 did not meet desired efficacy endpoints;

 

   

regulatory approval could be substantially delayed for all or a subset of our product candidates if the FDA or European regulatory authorities require additional time or studies to assess the products;

 

   

we currently have no source of revenue and we will need to obtain additional financing to fund our operations;

 

   

we have incurred net losses since inception and, as of June 30, 2013, we had an accumulated deficit during the development stage of $74.0 million;

 

   

we expect to incur substantial losses for the foreseeable future and may never achieve or maintain profitability;

 

   

we depend substantially on the success regarding safety, efficacy and tolerability of our product candidates;

 

   

we may be unable to successfully manufacture or commercialize our product candidates;

 

   

we face competition from established branded and generic pharmaceutical companies and if our competitors are able to develop and market products that are preferred over our products, our commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated;

 

 

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we depend upon our key personnel and our ability to attract and retain employees;

 

   

if we cannot successfully defend our intellectual property, additional competitors could enter the market and sales of affected products may decline materially; and

 

   

our independent registered public accounting firm issued an opinion on our financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 that expresses doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.

Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in June 2005. Our principal executive offices are located at 135 US Highway 206, Suite 15, Bedminster, New Jersey 07921, and our telephone number is (908) 470-4320. Our website address is www.aeriepharma.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus are referred to without the ® and symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto.

Aerie is a registered trademark of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of relief from certain reporting requirements and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 

   

only two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure;

 

   

exemption from the auditor attestation requirement on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting;

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and

 

   

no requirements for non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.

We may take advantage of these provisions for up to five years or such earlier time that we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company if we have more than $1.0 billion in annual revenue, have more than $700 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 these reduced burdens. For example, we have taken advantage of the reduced reporting requirements with respect to disclosure regarding our executive compensation arrangements, have presented only two years of audited financial statements, have presented reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure and have taken the exemption from auditor attestation on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. To the extent that we take advantage of these reduced burdens, the information that we provide stockholders may be different than you might obtain from other public companies in which you hold equity interests.

 

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock to be offered by us

             shares.

 

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

             shares.

 

Option to purchase additional shares

We have granted the underwriters an option for 30 days from the date of this prospectus to purchase up to             additional shares of common stock.

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, will be approximately $        million, assuming the shares are offered at $        per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

  We anticipate that the net proceeds from this offering will be used as follows:

 

   

approximately $         million and $         million for direct clinical and non-clinical costs, respectively, associated with the completion of Phase 3 efficacy registration trials for our product candidate AR-13324;

 

   

approximately $         million and $         million for direct clinical and non-clinical costs, respectively, associated with the completion of Phase 2b clinical trials for our product candidate PG324; and

 

   

the remainder for working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

  In the ordinary course of our business, we expect to evaluate from time to time acquiring, investing in or in-licensing complementary products, technologies or businesses. We currently do not have any agreements or commitments with respect to any potential acquisition, investment or license. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Proposed NASDAQ Global Market symbol

“AERI”

 

Risk factors

You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on                  shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2013, and excludes:

 

   

7,547,153 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2013 under our 2005 Equity Incentive Plan, or the 2005 Plan, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.2034 per share;

 

 

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            shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, or the 2013 Plan, which will become effective upon the pricing of this offering (including            shares of common stock that were added from the 2005 Plan, which will terminate immediately upon the pricing of this offering so that no further awards may be granted under the 2005 Plan), as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under this plan;

 

   

            shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which will become effective upon the pricing of this offering;

 

   

1,716,141 shares of restricted stock that are subject to vesting restrictions; and

 

   

            shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants expected to remain outstanding following the completion of this offering. See “Description of Capital Stock—Warrants.”

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes or gives effect to:

 

   

a        -for-        reverse stock split of our common stock effected on                                     ;

 

   

the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 60,602,653 shares of common stock upon completion of this offering;

 

   

the expected conversion of the principal and accrued interest outstanding under our $        million in aggregate principal amount of our 8% convertible notes due December 31, 2013, or the outstanding notes, into            shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering at a conversion price equal to the initial public offering price, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming the conversion occurred on            ;

 

   

the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur prior to the closing of this offering; and

 

   

no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

A $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding notes by            shares. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $        per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding notes by            shares.

 

 

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

The following table summarizes our financial data. We have derived the following statements of operations and comprehensive loss data for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 from our audited financial statements, included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the following statement of operations and comprehensive loss data for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 and the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 and balance sheet data as of June 30, 2013 from our unaudited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to fairly present our financial position as of June 30, 2013 and results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future. The following summary financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30,
    YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
    PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22,
2005) TO
JUNE 30, 2013
 
        
     2013     2012     2012     2011    
    

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 
     (unaudited)                 (unaudited)  

Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss Data:

          

Expenses:

          

General and administrative

   $ (3,406   $ (2,285   $ (5,020   $ (3,521   $ (23,303

Research and development

     (6,328     (5,932     (9,273     (10,695     (49,477
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

   $ (9,734   $ (8,217   $ (14,293   $ (14,216   $ (72,780

Other income (expense), net

     (384     376        (685     1,249        (1,126
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (10,118   $ (7,841   $ (14,978   $ (12,967   $ (73,906
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted  (1)

   $ (10,392   $ (8,115   $ (15,643   $ (13,419   $ (75,351
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted (2)

   $ (2.14   $ (1.70   $ (3.28   $ (2.90  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Weighted-average number of common stock used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted  (2)

     4,867,302        4,765,569        4,773,476        4,628,125     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted (unaudited) (3)

   $          $         
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

Weighted-average number of common stock used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted (unaudited) (3)

          
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

(1)

Net loss attributable to common stockholders reflects the accretion on convertible preferred stock and, where applicable, preferred stock dividends. See Note 2 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus for further information.

(2)  

See Note 2 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus for an explanation of the method used to calculate the basic and diluted net loss per common stock attributable to common stockholders and the number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.

 

 

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(3)

The calculations for the unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted, assume the automatic conversion of all our outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 into an aggregate of 60,602,653 shares of our common stock and the expected conversion of the outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon into an aggregate of              shares of our common stock.

 

     AS OF JUNE 30, 2013  
     ACTUAL     PRO FORMA  (4)      PRO FORMA
AS ADJUSTED  (5)(6)
 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)      (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data:

       

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,377      $                $            

Total assets

     3,685        

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     2,466        

Notes payable, net of discount, and accrued interest thereon

     9,353        

Warrants liability—related parties

     4,603        

Convertible preferred stock

     61,172        

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (73,909     

 

(4)

Pro forma amounts reflect the automatic conversion of all our outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock as of June 30, 2013 into an aggregate of 60,602,653 shares of our common stock and the expected conversion of the outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon into an aggregate of              shares of our common stock. A $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon by              shares. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon by              shares.

(5)

Pro forma as adjusted amounts further reflect the sale of              shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(6)

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, total assets and total stockholders’ equity (deficit) by approximately $         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 underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of              million shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, total assets and total stockholders’ equity (deficit) by approximately $         million, if the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. We operate in an industry that involves numerous risks and uncertainties. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Other risks and uncertainties, including those that we do not currently consider material, may impair our business. If any of the risks discussed below actually occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. This could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to Development, Regulatory Approval and Commercialization

We depend substantially on the success of our product candidates, particularly AR-13324 and PG324, which are still in development. If we are unable to successfully commercialize our product candidates, or experience significant delays in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.

Our business and the ability to generate revenue related to product sales, if ever, will depend on the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our product candidates for the treatment of patients with glaucoma, particularly AR-13324 and PG324, which are still in development, and other potential products we may develop or license. We have invested a significant portion of our efforts and financial resources in the development of our existing product candidates. The success of our product candidates will depend on several factors, including:

 

   

successful completion of clinical trials;

 

   

receipt of regulatory approvals from applicable regulatory authorities;

 

   

establishment of arrangements with third-party manufacturers;

 

   

obtaining and maintaining patent and trade secret protection and regulatory exclusivity;

 

   

protecting our rights in our intellectual property;

 

   

launching commercial sales of our product candidates, if and when approved;

 

   

obtaining reimbursement from third-party payors for product candidates, if and when approved;

 

   

competition with other products; and

 

   

continued acceptable safety profile for our product candidates following regulatory approval, if and when received.

If we do not achieve one or more of these factors in a timely manner or at all, we could experience significant delays or an inability to successfully commercialize our product candidates, which would materially harm our business and we may not be able to earn sufficient revenues and cash flows to continue our operations.

We have not obtained regulatory approval for any of our product candidates in the United States or any other country.

We currently do not have any product candidates that have gained regulatory approval for sale in the United States or any other country, and we cannot guarantee that we will ever have marketable products. Our business is substantially dependent on our ability to complete the development of, obtain regulatory approval for and successfully commercialize product candidates in a timely manner. We cannot commercialize product candidates in the United States without first obtaining regulatory approval to market each product from the FDA; similarly, we cannot commercialize product candidates outside of the United States without obtaining regulatory approval from comparable foreign regulatory authorities. AR-13324 and PG324 are planned to be advanced into Phase 3 and Phase 2b clinical trials, respectively. We cannot predict whether these trials and future trials will be successful or whether regulators will agree with our conclusions regarding the preclinical studies and clinical trials we have conducted to date.

 

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Before obtaining regulatory approvals for the commercial sale of any product candidate for a target indication, we must demonstrate in preclinical studies and well-controlled clinical trials, and, with respect to approval in the United States, to the satisfaction of the FDA, that the product candidate is safe and effective for use for that target indication and that the manufacturing facilities, processes and controls are adequate. In the United States, we have not submitted a New Drug Application, or NDA, for any of our product candidates. An NDA must include extensive preclinical and clinical data and supporting information to establish the product candidate’s safety and effectiveness for each desired indication. The NDA must also include significant information regarding the chemistry, manufacturing and controls for the product. Obtaining approval of an NDA is a lengthy, expensive and uncertain process, and approval may not be obtained. If we submit an NDA to the FDA, the FDA must decide whether to accept or reject the submission for filing. We cannot be certain that any submissions will be accepted for filing and review by the FDA.

Regulatory authorities outside of the United States, such as in Europe and Japan and in emerging markets, also have requirements for approval of drugs for commercial sale with which we must comply prior to marketing in those areas. Regulatory requirements can vary widely from country to country and could delay or prevent the introduction of our product candidates. Clinical trials conducted in one country may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other countries, and obtaining regulatory approval in one country does not mean that regulatory approval will be obtained in any other country. Approval processes vary among countries and can involve additional product testing and validation and additional administrative review periods. Seeking foreign regulatory approval could require additional non-clinical studies or clinical trials, which could be costly and time consuming. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. For all of these reasons, we may not obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis, if at all.

The process to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialize product candidates is long, complex and costly both inside and outside of the United States, and approval is never guaranteed. Even if our product candidates were to successfully obtain approval from the regulatory authorities, any approval might significantly limit the approved indications for use, or require that precautions, contraindications, or warnings be included on the product labeling, or require expensive and time-consuming post-approval clinical studies or surveillance as conditions of approval. Following any approval for commercial sale of our product candidates, certain changes to the product, such as changes in manufacturing processes and additional labeling claims, will be subject to additional FDA review and approval. Also, regulatory approval for any of our product candidates may be withdrawn. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates in one or more jurisdictions, or any approval contains significant limitations, our target market will be reduced and our ability to realize the full market potential of our product candidates will be harmed. Furthermore, we may not be able to obtain sufficient funding or generate sufficient revenue and cash flows to continue the development of any other product candidate in the future.

Regulatory approval may be substantially delayed or may not be obtained for one or all of our product candidates if regulatory authorities require additional time or studies to assess the safety and efficacy of our product candidates.

We may be unable to initiate or complete development of our product candidates on schedule, if at all. The timing for the completion of the studies for our product candidates will require funding beyond the proceeds of this offering. In addition, if regulatory authorities require additional time or studies to assess the safety or efficacy of our product candidates, we may not have or be able to obtain adequate funding to complete the necessary steps for approval for any or all of our product candidates. Preclinical studies and clinical trials required to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates are time consuming and expensive and together take several years or more to complete. Delays in regulatory approvals or rejections of applications for regulatory approval in the United States, Europe, Japan or other markets may result from many factors, including:

 

   

our inability to obtain sufficient funds required for a clinical trial;

 

   

regulatory requests for additional analyses, reports, data, non-clinical and preclinical studies and clinical trials;

 

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regulatory questions regarding interpretations of data and results and the emergence of new information regarding our product candidates or other products;

 

   

clinical holds, other regulatory objections to commencing or continuing a clinical trial or the inability to obtain regulatory approval to commence a clinical trial in countries that require such approvals;

 

   

failure to reach agreement with the FDA or non-U.S. regulators regarding the scope or design of our clinical trials;

 

   

our inability to enroll a sufficient number of patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria in our clinical trials;

 

   

our inability to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols;

 

   

unfavorable or inconclusive results of clinical trials and supportive non-clinical studies, including unfavorable results regarding effectiveness of product candidates during clinical trials;

 

   

any determination that a clinical trial presents unacceptable health risks;

 

   

lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial due to unforeseen costs or other business decisions;

 

   

our inability to reach agreements on acceptable terms with prospective contract research organizations, or CROs, and trial sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites;

 

   

our inability to identify and maintain a sufficient number of sites, many of which may already be engaged in other clinical trial programs, including some that may be for the same indications targeted by our product candidates;

 

   

our inability to obtain approval from institutional review boards to conduct clinical trials at their respective sites;

 

   

our inability to timely manufacture or obtain from third parties sufficient quantities or quality of the product candidate or other materials required for a clinical trial; and

 

   

difficulty in maintaining contact with patients after treatment, resulting in incomplete data.

Changes in regulatory requirements and guidance may also occur and we may need to amend clinical trial protocols submitted to applicable regulatory authorities to reflect these changes. Amendments may require us to resubmit clinical trial protocols to institutional review boards for re-examination, which may impact the costs, timing or successful completion of a clinical trial.

If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other studies with respect to any of our product candidates beyond those that we initially contemplated, if we are unable to successfully complete our clinical trials or other studies or if the results of these studies are not positive or are only modestly positive, we may be delayed in obtaining regulatory approval for that product candidate, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval at all or we may obtain approval for indications that are not as broad as intended. Our product development costs will also increase if we experience delays in testing or approvals and we may not have sufficient funding to complete the testing and approval process. Significant clinical trial delays could allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do and impair our ability to commercialize our products if and when approved. If any of this occurs, our business will be materially harmed.

If we are unable to establish a direct sales force in the United States, our business may be harmed.

We currently do not have an established sales organization and do not have a marketing or distribution infrastructure. To achieve commercial success for any approved product, we must either develop a sales and

 

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marketing organization or outsource these functions to third parties. If our product candidates are approved by the FDA for commercial sale, we intend to market directly to eye-care professionals in the United States through our own sales force, targeting approximately 10,000 high-prescribing eye-care professionals in the United States. We will need to incur significant additional expenses and commit significant additional time and management resources to establish and train a sales force to market and sell our products. We may not be able to successfully establish these capabilities despite these additional expenditures.

Factors that may inhibit our efforts to successfully establish a sales force include:

 

   

our inability to compete with other pharmaceutical companies to recruit, hire, train and retain adequate numbers of effective sales and marketing personnel with requisite knowledge of our target market;

 

   

the inability of sales personnel to obtain access to adequate numbers of eye-care professionals to prescribe any future approved products;

 

   

unforeseen costs and expenses associated with creating an independent sales and marketing organization; and

 

   

a delay in bringing products to market after efforts to hire and train our sales force have already commenced.

In the event we are unable to successfully market and promote our products, our business may be harmed.

We currently intend to explore the licensing of commercialization rights or other forms of collaboration outside of the United States, which will expose us to additional risks of conducting business in international markets.

The non-U.S. markets are an important component of our growth strategy. If we fail to obtain licenses or enter into collaboration arrangements with selling parties, or if these parties are not successful, our revenue-generating growth potential will be adversely affected. Moreover, international business relationships subject us to additional risks that may materially adversely affect our ability to attain or sustain profitable operations, including:

 

   

efforts to enter into collaboration or licensing arrangements with third parties in connection with our international sales, marketing and distribution efforts may increase our expenses or divert our management’s attention from the acquisition or development of product candidates;

 

   

changes in a specific country’s or region’s political and cultural climate or economic condition;

 

   

differing regulatory requirements for drug approvals and marketing internationally;

 

   

difficulty of effective enforcement of contractual provisions in local jurisdictions;

 

   

potentially reduced protection for intellectual property rights;

 

   

potential third-party patent rights in countries outside of the United States;

 

   

unexpected changes in tariffs, trade barriers and regulatory requirements;

 

   

economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability, particularly in non-U.S. economies and markets, including several countries in Europe;

 

   

compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees traveling abroad;

 

   

the effects of applicable foreign tax structures and potentially adverse tax consequences;

 

   

foreign currency fluctuations, which could result in increased operating expenses and reduced revenue, and other obligations incidental to doing business in another country;

 

   

workforce uncertainty in countries where labor unrest is more common than in the United States;

 

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the potential for so-called parallel importing, which is what happens when a local seller, faced with high or higher local prices, opts to import goods from a foreign market (with low or lower prices) rather than buying them locally;

 

   

failure of our employees and contracted third parties to comply with Office of Foreign Asset Control rules and regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;

 

   

production shortages resulting from any events affecting raw material supply or manufacturing capabilities abroad; and

 

   

business interruptions resulting from geo-political actions, including war and terrorism, or natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanoes, typhoons, floods, hurricanes and fires.

These and other risks may materially adversely affect our ability to attain or sustain revenue from international markets.

Failure can occur at any stage of clinical development. If the clinical trials for our product candidates are unsuccessful, we could be required to abandon development.

A failure of one or more clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing for a variety of reasons. The outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the outcome of later clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. In addition, adverse events may occur or other risks may be discovered in Phase 2 or Phase 3 clinical trials that will cause us to suspend or terminate our clinical trials. In some instances, there can be significant variability in safety and/or efficacy results between different trials of the same product candidate due to numerous factors, including changes in or adherence to trial protocols, differences in size and type of the patient populations and the rates of dropout among clinical trial participants. Our future clinical trial results therefore may not demonstrate safety and efficacy sufficient to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates.

Flaws in the design of a clinical trial may not become apparent until the clinical trial is well-advanced. We have limited experience in designing clinical trials and may be unable to design and execute a clinical trial to support regulatory approval. In addition, clinical trials often reveal that it is not practical or feasible to continue development efforts. Further, we have never submitted an NDA for any potential products.

We may voluntarily suspend or terminate our clinical trials if at any time we believe that they present an unacceptable risk to participants. Further, regulatory agencies, institutional review boards or data safety monitoring boards may at any time order the temporary or permanent discontinuation of our clinical trials or request that we cease using investigators in the clinical trials if they believe that the clinical trials are not being conducted in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, or that they present an unacceptable safety risk to participants. Since our inception, we have not voluntarily or involuntarily suspended or terminated a clinical trial due to unacceptable safety risks to participants.

If the results of our clinical trials for our current product candidates or clinical trials for any future product candidates do not achieve the primary efficacy endpoints or demonstrate unexpected safety issues, the prospects for approval of our product candidates will be materially adversely affected. Moreover, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to varying interpretations and analyses, and many companies that believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have failed to achieve similar results in later clinical trials, including longer term trials, or have failed to obtain regulatory approval of their product candidates. Many compounds that initially showed promise in clinical trials or earlier stage testing have later been found to cause undesirable or unexpected adverse effects that have prevented further development of the compound. Our upcoming trials for our primary product candidates, AR-13324 and PG324, may not produce the results that we expect. In addition, if based on clinical results of AR-13324 we discontinue the advancement of this product candidate, in certain circumstances we may similarly determine not to advance PG324, which combines AR-13324 with latanoprost. Our clinical trials are also designed to test the use of AR-13324 and

 

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PG324 as a monotherapy, rather than as an add-on therapy. Accordingly, the efficacy of our primary product candidates may not be similar or correspond directly to their efficacy when used as an add-on therapy.

Several companies have previously pursued ROCK inhibitors for ophthalmic use but to date no ROCK inhibitors have been approved and most of those companies have chosen to discontinue clinical development of their ROCK inhibitors. One of our ROCK inhibitors, AR-12286, was discontinued in the clinical stage of development due to an inability to maintain its effectiveness over time. In a 28-day Phase 2b clinical trial, AR-12286 lowered IOP by 6.7 mmHg on day seven, but lowered IOP by only 5.3 mmHg on day 28. This trend continued in a follow-up three-month study. As a result, in June 2013 we discontinued any further clinical development of AR-12286 and its fixed-dose combination product PG286. AR-13324 showed a 0.1 mmHg change in IOP from day seven to day 28 in our Phase 2b trial, and published clinical data for other ROCK inhibitors similarly have not shown a loss of efficacy over time. However, we have not previously conducted a three-month Phase 2b clinical trial for AR-13324, and therefore there can be no assurance as to the efficacy of AR-13324 beyond 28 days. In addition, our current product candidates remain subject to the risks associated with clinical drug development as indicated above.

In addition to the circumstances noted above, we may experience numerous unforeseen events that could cause our clinical trials to be delayed, suspended or terminated, or which could delay or prevent our ability to receive regulatory approval or commercialize our product candidates, including:

 

   

clinical trials of our product candidates may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or implement a clinical hold;

 

   

the number of patients required for clinical trials of our product candidates may be larger than we anticipate, enrollment in these clinical trials may be slower than we anticipate or participants may drop out of these clinical trials at a higher rate than we anticipate;

 

   

our third-party contractors may fail to comply with regulatory requirements or meet their contractual obligations to us in a timely manner, or at all;

 

   

regulators or institutional review boards may not authorize us or our investigators to commence a clinical trial or conduct a clinical trial at a prospective trial site;

 

   

we may have delays in reaching or fail to reach agreement on acceptable clinical trial contracts or clinical trial protocols with prospective trial sites;

 

   

we may elect or be required to suspend or terminate clinical trials of our product candidates based on a finding that the participants are being exposed to health risks;

 

   

the cost of clinical trials of our product candidates may be greater than we anticipate;

 

   

the supply or quality of our product candidates or other materials necessary to conduct clinical trials of our product candidates may be insufficient or inadequate; and

 

   

our product candidates may have undesirable adverse effects or other unexpected characteristics.

If we elect or are required to suspend or terminate a clinical trial of any of our product candidates, our commercial prospects will be adversely impacted and our ability to generate product revenues may be delayed or eliminated.

Our product candidates may have undesirable adverse effects, which may delay or prevent regulatory approval or, if approval is received, require our products to be taken off the market, require them to include safety warnings or otherwise limit their sales.

Unforeseen adverse effects from any of our product candidates could arise either during clinical development or, if approved, after the approved product has been marketed. To date, the main tolerability finding of AR-13324 has been transient hyperemia, or eye-redness. PG324 combines AR-13324 with latanoprost. The main adverse effects of latanoprost include hyperemia, irreversible change in iris color, discoloration of the skin around the eyes and droopiness of eyelids.

 

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Any undesirable adverse effects that may be caused by our product candidates could interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in the denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other regulatory authorities for any or all targeted indications, and in turn prevent us from commercializing our product candidates and generating revenues from their sale. In addition, if any of our product candidates receives regulatory approval and we or others later identify undesirable adverse effects caused by the product, we could face one or more of the following consequences:

 

   

regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “black box” warning or a contraindication, or other labeling changes;

 

   

regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval of the product;

 

   

regulatory authorities may seize the product;

 

   

we may be required to change the way that the product is administered, conduct additional clinical trials or recall the product;

 

   

we may be subject to litigation or product liability claims fines, injunctions, or criminal penalties; and

 

   

our reputation may suffer.

Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the affected product or could substantially increase the costs and expenses of commercializing such product, which in turn could delay or prevent us from generating significant revenues from its sale.

We face competition from established branded and generic pharmaceutical companies and if our competitors are able to develop and market products that are preferred over our products, our commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated.

The development and commercialization of new drug products is highly competitive. We face competition from established branded and generic pharmaceutical companies, as well as from academic institutions, government agencies and private and public research institutions, which may in the future develop products to treat patients with glaucoma. Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently commercially relaunched Rescula, a twice-daily dosed PGA, with the claim that it reduces elevated IOP by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor through the TM. In addition, early-stage companies that are also developing glaucoma treatments may prove to be significant competitors, such as Inotek Pharmaceuticals, which is developing an adenosine receptor agonist. We expect that our competitors will continue to develop new glaucoma treatments, which may include eye drops, oral treatments, surgical procedures, implantable devices or laser treatments. Alternative treatments beyond eye drops continue to develop. For example, although surgical procedures are currently used in severe cases, less invasive procedures are currently under development and we expect that we will compete with other companies that develop implantable devices or other products or procedures for use in the treatment of glaucoma. Other early-stage companies may also compete through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Our commercial opportunity will be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer adverse effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than our potential products. We expect that our ability to compete effectively will depend upon, among other things, our ability to:

 

   

successfully complete clinical trials and obtain all requisite regulatory approvals in a timely and cost-effective manner;

 

   

obtain and maintain patent protection and non-patent exclusivity for our products and otherwise prevent the introduction of generics of our products;

 

   

attract and retain key personnel;

 

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build an effective selling and marketing infrastructure;

 

   

demonstrate the advantages of our product candidates compared to alternative therapies;

 

   

compete against other products with fewer contraindications; and

 

   

obtain and sustain adequate reimbursement from third-party payors.

If our competitors market products that are more effective, safer, have fewer side effects or are less expensive than our potential products or that reach the market sooner than our future products, if any, we may not achieve commercial success.

The commercial success of our potential products will depend on the degree of market acceptance among eye-care professionals, patients, patient advocacy groups, healthcare payors and the medical community.

Our potential products may not gain market acceptance among eye-care professionals, patients, patient advocacy groups, healthcare payors and the medical community. There are a number of available therapies marketed for the treatment of glaucoma. Some of these drugs are branded and subject to patent protection, but most others, including latanoprost and many beta blockers, are available on a generic basis. Many of these approved drugs are well established therapies and are widely accepted by eye-care professionals, patients and third-party payors. Insurers and other third-party payors may also encourage the use of generic products. The degree of market acceptance of our potential products will depend on a number of factors, including:

 

   

the market price, affordability and patient out-of-pocket costs of our potential products relative to other available products, which are predominantly generics;

 

   

the effectiveness of our potential products as compared with currently available products;

 

   

patient willingness to adopt our potential products in place of current therapies;

 

   

varying patient characteristics including demographic factors such as age, health, race and economic status;

 

   

changes in the standard of care for the targeted indications for any of our product candidates;

 

   

the prevalence and severity of any adverse effects;

 

   

limitations or warnings contained in a product candidate’s FDA-approved labeling;

 

   

limitations in the approved clinical indications for our product candidates;

 

   

relative convenience and ease of administration;

 

   

the strength of our selling, marketing and distribution capabilities;

 

   

the quality of our relationship with patient advocacy groups;

 

   

sufficient third-party coverage or reimbursement; and

 

   

potential product liability claims.

In addition, the potential market opportunity for our potential products is difficult to precisely estimate. Our estimates of the potential market opportunity for our potential products include several key assumptions based on our industry knowledge, industry publications, third-party research reports and other surveys. While we believe that our internal assumptions are reasonable, independent sources have not verified all of our assumptions. If any of these assumptions proves to be inaccurate, then the actual market for our potential products could be smaller than our estimates of our potential market opportunity. If the actual market for our potential products is smaller than we expect, our product revenue may be limited, and it may be more difficult for us to achieve or maintain profitability. If we fail to achieve market acceptance of our potential products in the United States and abroad, our revenue will be more limited and it will be more difficult to achieve profitability.

 

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If we fail to obtain and sustain an adequate level of reimbursement for our potential products by third-party payors, potential future sales would be materially adversely affected.

The course of treatment for glaucoma patients includes primarily older drugs, and the leading products for the treatment of glaucoma currently in the market, including latanoprost and timolol, are available as generic brands. There will be no commercially viable market for our potential products without reimbursement from third-party payors, and any reimbursement policy may be affected by future healthcare reform measures. We cannot be certain that reimbursement will be available for our potential products or any other product candidate we develop. Additionally, even if there is a commercially viable market, if the level of reimbursement is below our expectations, our anticipated revenue and gross margins will be adversely affected.

Third-party payors, such as government or private healthcare insurers, carefully review and increasingly question and challenge the coverage of and the prices charged for drugs. Reimbursement rates from private health insurance companies vary depending on the company, the insurance plan and other factors. Reimbursement rates may be based on reimbursement levels already set for lower cost drugs and may be incorporated into existing payments for other services. A current trend in the United States healthcare industry is toward cost containment. Large public and private payors, managed care organizations, group purchasing organizations and similar organizations are exerting increasing influence on decisions regarding the use of, and reimbursement levels for, particular treatments. Such third-party payors, including Medicare, may question the coverage of, and challenge the prices charged for, medical products and services, and many third-party payors limit coverage of or reimbursement for newly approved healthcare products. In particular, third-party payors may limit the covered indications. Cost-control initiatives could decrease the price we might establish for products, which could result in product revenues being lower than anticipated. We believe our drugs will be priced significantly higher than existing generic drugs and consistently with current branded drugs. If we are unable to show a significant benefit relative to existing generic drugs, Medicare, Medicaid and private payors may not be willing to reimburse for our drugs, which would significantly reduce the likelihood of them gaining market acceptance. Reimbursement systems in international markets vary significantly by country and by region, and reimbursement approvals must be obtained on a country-by-country basis. In some foreign markets, prescription pharmaceutical pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted.

We expect that private insurers will consider the efficacy, cost effectiveness, safety and tolerability of our potential products in determining whether to approve reimbursement for such products and at what level. Obtaining these approvals can be a time consuming and expensive process. Our business would be materially adversely affected if we do not receive approval for reimbursement of our potential products from private insurers on a timely or satisfactory basis. Limitations on coverage could also be imposed at the local Medicare carrier level or by fiscal intermediaries. Medicare Part D, which provides a pharmacy benefit to Medicare patients as discussed below, does not require participating prescription drug plans to cover all drugs within a class of products. Our business could be materially adversely affected if Part D prescription drug plans were to limit access to, or deny or limit reimbursement of, our product candidates or other potential products.

Reimbursement in the European Union must be negotiated on a country-by-country basis and in many countries the product cannot be commercially launched until reimbursement is approved. The negotiation process in some countries can exceed 12 months. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval in some countries, we may be required to conduct a clinical trial that compares the cost-effectiveness of our products to other available therapies.

If the prices for our potential products decrease or if governmental and other third-party payors do not provide adequate coverage and reimbursement levels, our revenue, potential for future cash flows and prospects for profitability will suffer.

 

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If we are found in violation of federal or state “fraud and abuse” laws or other healthcare laws and regulations, we may be required to pay a penalty and/or be suspended from participation in federal or state healthcare programs, which may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.

In the United States, we are subject to various federal and state healthcare “fraud and abuse” laws, including anti-kickback laws, false claims laws and other laws intended, among other things, to reduce fraud and abuse in federal and state healthcare programs. The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute makes it illegal for any person, including a prescription drug manufacturer (or a party acting on its behalf), to knowingly and willfully solicit, receive, offer or pay any remuneration that is intended to induce the referral of business, including the purchase, order or prescription of a particular drug for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Although we seek to structure our business arrangements in compliance with all applicable requirements, these laws are broadly written, and it is often difficult to determine precisely how the law will be applied in specific circumstances. Accordingly, it is possible that our practices may be challenged under the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. The Federal False Claims Act prohibits anyone from, among other things, knowingly presenting or causing to be presented for payment to the government, including the federal healthcare programs, claims for reimbursed drugs or services that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services that were not provided as claimed, or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. Many states have similar false claims laws. Cases have been brought under false claims laws alleging that off-label promotion of pharmaceutical products or the provision of kickbacks have resulted in the submission of false claims to governmental healthcare programs. Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, we are prohibited from knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private payors, or 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 healthcare benefits, items or services to obtain money or property of any healthcare benefit program. Violations of fraud and abuse laws may be punishable by criminal and/or civil sanctions, including penalties, fines and/or exclusion or suspension from federal and state healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and debarment from contracting with the U.S. government. In addition, private individuals have the ability to bring actions on behalf of the government under the Federal False Claims Act as well as under the false claims laws of several states.

Many states have adopted laws similar to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, some of which apply to the referral of patients for healthcare services reimbursed by any source, not just governmental payors. In addition, some states have passed laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the April 2003 Office of Inspector General Compliance Program Guidance for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and/or the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals. Several states also impose other marketing restrictions or require pharmaceutical companies to make marketing or price disclosures to the state. There are ambiguities as to what is required to comply with these state requirements and if we fail to comply with an applicable state law requirement we could be subject to penalties.

Neither the government nor the courts have provided definitive guidance on the application of fraud and abuse laws to our business. Law enforcement authorities are increasingly focused on enforcing these laws, and it is possible that some of our practices may be challenged under these laws. Efforts to ensure that our business arrangements with third parties will comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. While we believe we have structured our business arrangements to comply with these laws, it is possible that the government could allege violations of, or convict us of violating, these laws. If we are found in violation of one of these laws, we could be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from governmental funded federal or state healthcare programs and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. Were this to occur, our business, financial condition and results of operations and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

 

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Recently enacted and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost of commercializing our potential products and may affect the prices we may obtain.

In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay regulatory approval of our potential products, restrict or regulate post-marketing activities and affect our ability to profitably sell our potential products for which we obtain regulatory approval.

In the United States, the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or MMA, changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly by establishing Medicare Part D and introduced a new reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for physician-administered drugs under Medicare Part B. In addition, this legislation provided authority for limiting the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class under the new Part D program. Cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this legislation could decrease the coverage and reimbursement rate that we receive for any of our approved products. While the MMA only applies to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates. Therefore, any reduction in reimbursement that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, collectively PPACA, a sweeping law intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against healthcare fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry and impose additional health policy reforms. PPACA increased manufacturers’ rebate liability under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program by increasing the minimum rebate amount for both branded and generic drugs and revised the definition of “average manufacturer price,” or AMP, which may also increase the amount of Medicaid drug rebates manufacturers are required to pay to states. The legislation also expanded Medicaid drug rebates, which previously had been payable only on fee-for-service utilization, to Medicaid managed care utilization, and created an alternative rebate formula for certain new formulations of certain existing products that is intended to increase the rebates due on those drugs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which administers the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, also has proposed to expand Medicaid rebates to the utilization that occurs in the territories of the United States, such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Further, beginning in 2011, PPACA imposed a significant annual fee on companies that manufacture or import branded prescription drug products and requires manufacturers to provide a 50% discount off the negotiated price of prescriptions filled by beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, referred to as the “donut hole.” Substantial new provisions affecting compliance have also been enacted, which may require us to modify our business practices with healthcare practitioners. For example, pharmaceutical companies are required to track certain payments made to physicians, with the first reports due in March 2014 and the reported information to be made publicly available on a searchable website beginning in September 2014. We will not know the full effects of PPACA until applicable federal and state agencies issue regulations or guidance under the new law. Although it is too early to determine the full effect of PPACA, the new law appears likely to continue the downward pressure on pharmaceutical pricing, especially under the Medicare program, and may also increase our regulatory burdens and operating costs.

Legislative and regulatory proposals have been introduced at both the state and federal level to expand post-approval requirements and restrict sales and promotional activities for pharmaceutical products. We are not sure whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes on the marketing approvals of our product candidates, if any, may be. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-marketing approval testing and other requirements.

 

 

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If we face allegations of noncompliance with the law and encounter sanctions, our reputation, revenues and liquidity may suffer, and our products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.

Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response, and could generate negative publicity. Any failure to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements may significantly and adversely affect our ability to commercialize and generate revenues from our products. If regulatory sanctions are applied or if regulatory approval is withdrawn, the value of our company and our operating results will be adversely affected. Additionally, if we are unable to generate revenues from our product sales, our potential for achieving profitability will be diminished and the capital necessary to fund our operations will be increased.

If our product candidates receive regulatory approval, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements and we may face future development, manufacturing and regulatory difficulties.

Our product candidates, if approved, will also be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, submission of safety and other post-market approval information, importation and exportation. In addition, approved products, manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive FDA and European Medicines Agency, or EMA, requirements and the requirements of other similar agencies, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP, requirements. As such, we and our potential future contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and periodic inspections to assess compliance with cGMPs. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work will be required to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control. We will also be required to report certain adverse reactions and production problems, if any, to the FDA and EMA and other similar agencies and to comply with certain requirements concerning advertising and promotion for our potential products. Promotional communications with respect to prescription drugs also are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the product’s approved labeling. Accordingly, once approved, we may not promote our products, if any, for indications or uses for which they are not approved.

If a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, or disagrees with the promotion, marketing or labeling of a product, it may impose restrictions on that product or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market. If our potential products fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, a regulatory agency may:

 

   

issue warning letters or untitled letters;

 

   

require product recalls;

 

   

mandate modifications to promotional materials or require us to provide corrective information to healthcare practitioners;

 

   

require us or our potential future collaborators to enter into a consent decree or permanent injunction, which can include shutdown of manufacturing facilities, imposition of various fines, reimbursements for inspection costs, required due dates for specific actions and penalties for noncompliance;

 

   

impose other administrative or judicial civil or criminal penalties or pursue criminal prosecution;

 

   

withdraw regulatory approval;

 

   

refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications filed by us or by our potential future collaborators;

 

   

impose restrictions on operations, including costly new manufacturing requirements; or

 

   

seize or detain products.

 

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We may not be able to identify additional therapeutic opportunities for our potential product candidates or to expand our portfolio of products.

We may explore other therapeutic opportunities with Rho Kinase inhibition in ophthalmology and seek to commercialize a portfolio of new ophthalmic drugs in addition to our product candidates that we are currently developing.

Research programs to pursue the development of our product candidates for additional indications and to identify new product candidates and disease targets require substantial technical, financial and human resources whether or not we ultimately are successful. Our research programs may initially show promise in identifying potential indications and/or product candidates, yet fail to yield results for clinical development for a number of reasons, including:

 

   

the research methodology used may not be successful in identifying potential indications and/or product candidates;

 

   

potential product candidates may, after further study, be shown to have harmful adverse effects or other characteristics that indicate they are unlikely to be effective drugs; or

 

   

it may take greater human and financial resources to identify additional therapeutic opportunities for our product candidates or to develop suitable potential product candidates through internal research programs than we will possess, thereby limiting our ability to diversify and expand our product portfolio.

Because we have limited financial and managerial resources, we focus on research programs and product candidates for specific indications. As a result, we may forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or for other indications that later prove to have greater commercial potential or a greater likelihood of success. Our resource allocation decisions may cause us to fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities.

Accordingly, there can be no assurance that we will ever be able to identify additional therapeutic opportunities for our product candidates or to develop suitable potential product candidates through internal research programs, which could materially adversely affect our future growth and prospects.

Our product candidates are all designed to treat patients with glaucoma, and the success or failure of any one of our product candidates could impact sales of our other potential products in the future.

Our product candidates are designed to be once-daily dosed ROCK inhibitor eye drops to be applied topically to lower IOP for the treatment of glaucoma through various mechanisms of action. Accordingly, increased sales for one of our potential products may negatively impact sales for our other potential products. Our commercialization strategy is unique for each of our product candidates. However, we cannot guarantee that cannibalization of sales among our potential product lines will not occur in the future. Because each of our product candidates are ROCK inhibitor eye drops designed to treat patients with glaucoma, any challenges or failures with respect to any of these potential products could negatively impact sales or the public perception of our other potential products.

 

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Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Additional Capital

We currently have no source of revenue and may never become profitable.

We are a development-stage pharmaceutical company with a limited operating history. Our ability to generate revenue and become profitable depends upon our ability to successfully complete the development of our product candidates for the management of glaucoma and obtain the necessary regulatory approvals for our product candidates. We have never been profitable, have no products approved for commercial sale and to date have not generated any revenue from product sales. Even if we receive regulatory approval for our products for commercial sale, we do not know when such potential products will generate revenue, if at all. Our ability to generate product revenue depends on a number of factors, including our ability to:

 

   

successfully complete clinical development, and receive regulatory approval, for our product candidates;

 

   

set an acceptable price for our potential products and obtain adequate reimbursement from third-party payors;

 

   

obtain commercial quantities of our potential products at acceptable cost levels; and

 

   

successfully market and sell our potential products in the United States and abroad.

In addition, because of the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with product development, we are unable to predict the timing or amount of increased expenses, or when, or if, we will be able to achieve or maintain profitability. In addition, our expenses could increase beyond expectations if we are required by the FDA or other regulatory authorities to perform studies in addition to those that we currently anticipate. Even if our product candidates are approved for commercial sale, we anticipate incurring significant costs associated with the commercial launch of these products.

Our ability to become and remain profitable depends on our ability to generate revenue. Even if we are able to generate revenues from the sale of our potential products, we may not become profitable and may need to obtain additional funding to continue operations. If we fail to become profitable or are unable to sustain profitability on a continuing basis, then we may be unable to continue our operations at planned levels and be forced to reduce our operations. Even if we do achieve profitability, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. Our failure to become and remain profitable would decrease the value of our company and could impair our ability to raise capital, expand our business or continue our operations. A decline in the value of our company could also cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

We have incurred net losses since inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur net losses for the foreseeable future.

We have incurred losses in each year since our inception in June 2005. Our net losses were $10.1 million, $7.8 million, $15.0 million and $13.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 and years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. As of June 30, 2013, we had a deficit accumulated during the development stage of $74.0 million.

Investment in pharmaceutical product development is highly speculative because it entails substantial upfront capital expenditures and significant risk that a product candidate will fail to gain regulatory approval or become commercially viable. We have devoted most of our financial resources to research and development, including our non-clinical development activities and clinical trials. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through the sale of convertible preferred stock and convertible debt. Our product candidates will require the completion of regulatory review, significant marketing efforts and substantial investment before they can provide us with any revenue.

We expect our research and development expenses to continue to be significant in connection with our ongoing and planned Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials. In addition, if we obtain regulatory approval for our product

 

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candidates, we expect to incur increased sales and marketing expenses. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant and increasing operating losses and negative cash flows for the foreseeable future. These losses have had and will continue to have a material adverse effect on our stockholders’ deficit, financial position, cash flows and working capital.

Our recurring operating losses have raised substantial doubt regarding our ability to continue as a going concern.

Our recurring operating losses raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. As a result, our independent registered public accounting firm included an explanatory paragraph in its report on our financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012 included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have no current source of revenue to sustain our present activities, and we do not expect to generate revenue until and unless we receive regulatory approval of and successfully commercialize our product candidates. The perception of our ability to continue as a going concern may make it more difficult for us to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations and could result in the loss of confidence by investors, suppliers and employees.

We will need to obtain additional financing to fund our operations and, if we are unable to obtain such financing, we may be unable to complete the development and commercialization of our primary product candidates.

Our operations have consumed substantial amounts of cash since inception. From the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013, we have cumulative net cash flows used by operating activities of $66.4 million. We will need to obtain additional financing to fund our future operations, including completing the development and commercialization of our primary product candidates. We will need to obtain additional financing to conduct additional trials for the approval of our drug candidates if requested by regulatory bodies, and completing the development of any additional product candidates we might acquire. Moreover, our fixed expenses such as rent, interest expense and other contractual commitments are substantial and are expected to increase in the future.

Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to:

 

   

the progress, timing, scope and costs of our clinical trials, including the ability to timely enroll patients in our planned and potential future clinical trials;

 

   

the time and cost necessary to obtain regulatory approvals that may be required by regulatory authorities;

 

   

our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates;

 

   

the amount of sales and other revenues from product candidates that we may commercialize, if any, including the selling prices for such potential products and the availability of adequate third-party reimbursement;

 

   

selling and marketing costs associated with our potential products, including the cost and timing of expanding our marketing and sales capabilities;

 

   

the terms and timing of any potential future collaborations, licensing or other arrangements that we may establish;

 

   

cash requirements of any future acquisitions and/or the development of other product candidates;

 

   

the costs of operating as a public company;

 

   

the time and cost necessary to respond to technological and market developments; and

 

   

the costs of filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patent claims and other intellectual property rights.

 

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Until we can generate a sufficient amount of revenue, we may finance future cash needs through public or private equity offerings, license agreements, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and marketing or distribution arrangements. Additional funds may not be available when we need them on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to delay or reduce the scope of or eliminate one or more of our research or development programs or our commercialization efforts. We may seek to access the public or private capital markets whenever conditions are favorable, even if we do not have an immediate need for additional capital at that time. In addition, if we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us.

We believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with existing cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to fund our projected operating requirements for at least 12 months following the completion of this offering. We expect that these funds will not be sufficient to enable us to complete all necessary development or commercially launch our current product candidates. Accordingly, we will be required to obtain further funding through other public or private offerings, debt financing, collaboration and licensing arrangements or other sources. Adequate additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or future commercialization efforts. Our forecast of the period of time through which our financial resources will be adequate to support our operating requirements is a forward-looking statement and involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary as a result of a number of factors, including the factors discussed elsewhere in this “Risk Factors” section. We have based this estimate on a number of assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and changing circumstances beyond our control may cause us to consume capital more rapidly than we currently anticipate. Our inability to obtain additional funding when we need it could seriously harm our business.

We may sell additional equity or debt securities to fund our operations, which may result in dilution to our stockholders and impose restrictions on our business.

In order to raise additional funds to support our operations, we may sell additional equity or debt securities, which would result in dilution to all of our stockholders or impose restrictive covenants that adversely impact our business. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could also result in restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. If we are unable to expand our operations or otherwise capitalize on our business opportunities, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our short operating history may make it difficult for you to evaluate the success of our business to date and to assess our future viability.

We are a development stage company. We were incorporated and commenced active operations in the second quarter of 2005. Our operations to date have been limited to organizing and staffing our company, business planning, raising capital and developing our product candidates. We have not yet demonstrated our ability to successfully complete a Phase 3 registration trial, obtain regulatory approval, manufacture a commercial scale product, or arrange for a third party to do so on our behalf, or conduct sales and marketing activities necessary for successful product commercialization. Consequently, any predictions about our future success or viability may not be as accurate as they could be if we had a longer operating history.

In addition, as a new business, we may encounter unforeseen expenses, difficulties, complications, delays and other known and unknown factors. We will need to transition from a company with a product development focus to a company capable of supporting commercial activities. We may not be successful in such a transition.

 

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Risks Related to Our Reliance on Third Parties

We have no manufacturing capacity and anticipate continued reliance on third-party manufacturers for the development and commercialization of our product candidates in accordance with manufacturing regulations.

We do not currently operate manufacturing facilities for clinical or commercial production of our product candidates. We have no experience in drug formulation, and we lack the resources and the capabilities to manufacture our product candidates and potential products on a clinical or commercial scale. We do not intend to develop facilities for the manufacture of product candidates and potential products for clinical trials or commercial purposes in the foreseeable future. We currently rely on third-party manufacturers to produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient and final drug product for our clinical trials. We manage such production with all our vendors on a purchase order basis in accordance with applicable master service and supply agreements. We do not have long-term agreements with any of these or any other third-party suppliers. To the extent we terminate our existing supplier arrangements in the future and seek to enter into arrangements with alternative suppliers, we might experience a delay in our ability to obtain our commercial supplies. We also do not have any current contractual relationships for the manufacture of commercial supplies of any of our product candidates if and when they are approved. With respect to commercial production of our potential products in the future, we plan on outsourcing production of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and final product manufacturing if and when approved for marketing by the applicable regulatory authorities. This process is difficult and time consuming and we can give no assurance that we will enter commercial supply agreements with any contract manufacturers on favorable terms or at all.

Reliance on third-party manufacturers entails risks, including:

 

   

manufacturing delays if our third-party manufacturers give greater priority to the supply of other products over our product candidates or otherwise do not satisfactorily perform according to the terms of their agreements with us;

 

   

the possible termination or nonrenewal of the agreement by the third party at a time that is costly or inconvenient for us;

 

   

the possible breach of the manufacturing agreement by the third party;

 

   

product loss due to contamination, equipment failure or improper installation or operation of equipment or operator error;

 

   

the failure of the third-party manufacturer to comply with applicable regulatory requirements; and

 

   

the possible misappropriation of our proprietary information, including our trade secrets and know-how.

Our manufacturers may not perform as agreed or may not remain in the contract manufacturing business. In the event of a natural disaster, business failure, strike or other difficulty, we may be unable to replace a third-party manufacturer in a timely manner and the production of our product candidates and potential products could be interrupted, resulting in delays and additional costs. We may also have to incur other charges and expenses for products that fail to meet specifications and undertake remediation efforts.

If third-party manufacturers fail to comply with manufacturing regulations, our financial results and financial condition will be adversely affected.

Before a third party can begin commercial manufacture of our product candidates and potential products, contract manufacturers must obtain regulatory approval of their manufacturing facilities, processes and quality systems. Due to the complexity of the processes used to manufacture pharmaceutical products and product candidates, any potential third-party manufacturer may be unable to initially pass federal, state or international regulatory inspections in a cost effective manner. If contract manufacturers are not approved by the FDA, our commercial supply of drug substance will be significantly delayed and may result in significant additional costs.

 

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In addition, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are continuously subject to inspection by the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities, before and after product approval, and must comply with cGMP. Our contract manufacturers may encounter difficulties in achieving quality control and quality assurance and may experience shortages in qualified personnel. In addition, contract manufacturers’ failure to achieve and maintain high manufacturing standards in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, or the incidence of manufacturing errors, could result in patient injury, product liability claims, product shortages, product recalls or withdrawals, delays or failures in product testing or delivery, cost overruns or other problems that could seriously harm our business. If a third-party manufacturer with whom we contract is unable to comply with manufacturing regulations, we may also be subject to fines, unanticipated compliance expenses, recall or seizure of our products, product liability claims, total or partial suspension of production and/or enforcement actions, including injunctions, and criminal or civil prosecution. These possible sanctions could materially adversely affect our financial results and financial condition.

Furthermore, changes in the manufacturing process or procedure, including a change in the location where the product is manufactured or a change of a third-party manufacturer, will require prior FDA review and/or approval of the manufacturing process and procedures in accordance with the FDA’s regulations, or comparable foreign requirements. This review may be costly and time consuming and could delay or prevent the launch of a product. The new facility will also be subject to pre-approval inspection. In addition, we have to demonstrate that the product made at the new facility is equivalent to the product made at the former facility by physical and chemical methods, which are costly and time consuming. It is also possible that the FDA may require clinical testing as a way to prove equivalency, which would result in additional costs and delay.

Any collaboration arrangement that we may enter into in the future may not be successful, which could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our current and potential future product candidates.

We may seek collaboration arrangements with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies for the development or commercialization of our current and potential future product candidates outside of the United States. We will face, to the extent that we decide to enter into collaboration agreements, significant competition in seeking appropriate collaborators. Moreover, collaboration arrangements are complex and time consuming to negotiate, document and implement. We may not be successful in our efforts to establish and implement collaborations or other alternative arrangements should we choose to enter into such arrangements, and the terms of the arrangements may not be favorable to us. If and when we collaborate with a third party for development and commercialization of a product candidate, we can expect to relinquish some or all of the control over the future success of that product candidate to the third party. The success of our collaboration arrangements will depend heavily on the efforts and activities of our collaborators. Collaborators generally have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to these collaborations.

Disagreements between parties to a collaboration arrangement regarding clinical development and commercialization matters can lead to delays in the development process or commercializing the applicable product candidate and, in some cases, termination of the collaboration arrangement. These disagreements can be difficult to resolve if neither of the parties has final decision making authority. Collaborations with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies and other third parties often are terminated or allowed to expire by the other party. Any such termination or expiration would adversely affect us financially and could harm our business reputation.

We currently depend on third parties to conduct some of the operations of our clinical trials and other portions of our operations, and we may not be able to control their work as effectively as if we performed these functions ourselves.

We rely on third parties, such as CROs, clinical data management organizations, medical institutions and clinical investigators, to oversee and conduct our clinical trials, and to perform data collection and analysis of our product candidates. We expect to rely on these third parties to conduct clinical trials of any other potential

 

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products that we develop. These parties are not our employees and we cannot control the amount or timing of resources that they devote to our program. In addition, any CRO that we retain will be subject to the FDA’s regulatory requirements or similar foreign standards and we do not have control over compliance with these regulations by these providers. Our agreements with third-party service providers are on a trial-by-trial and project-by-project bases. Typically, we may terminate the agreements with notice and are responsible for the third party’s incurred costs. If any of our relationships with our third-party CROs terminate, we may not be able to enter into arrangements with alternative CROs or to do so on commercially reasonable terms. We also rely on other third parties to store and distribute drug supplies for our clinical trials. Any performance failure on the part of our distributors could delay clinical development or regulatory approval of our product candidates or commercialization of our potential products, producing additional losses and depriving us of potential product revenue.

Our reliance on these third parties for clinical development activities reduces our control over these activities but does not relieve us of our responsibilities, and we remain responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the general investigational plan, the protocols for the trial and the FDA’s regulations and international standards, referred to as Good Clinical Practice, or GCP, requirements, for conducting, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to assure that data and reported results are credible and accurate and that the rights, integrity and confidentiality of trial participants are protected. Preclinical studies must also be conducted in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act requirements. Managing performance of third-party service providers can be difficult, time consuming and cause delays in our development programs. We currently have a small number of employees, which limits the internal resources we have available to identify and monitor our third-party providers.

Furthermore, these third parties may produce or manufacture competing drugs or may have relationships with other entities, some of which may be our competitors. The use of third-party service providers requires us to disclose our proprietary information to these parties, which could increase the risk that this information will be misappropriated.

If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or obligations and meet expected deadlines, if they need to be replaced or if the quality or accuracy of the clinical data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols according to regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our financial results and the commercial prospects for our current product candidates or our other potential product candidates could be harmed, our costs could increase and our ability to obtain regulatory approval and commence product sales could be delayed.

If we fail to establish an effective distribution process our business may be adversely affected.

We do not currently have the infrastructure necessary for distributing pharmaceutical products to patients. We intend to contract with third-party logistics wholesalers to warehouse these products and distribute them to pharmacies. This distribution network will require significant coordination with our sales and marketing and finance organizations. Failure to secure contracts with wholesalers could negatively impact the distribution of our products, and failure to coordinate financial systems could negatively impact our ability to accurately report product revenue. If we are unable to effectively establish and manage the distribution process, the commercial launch and sales of our products will be delayed or severely compromised and our results of operations may be harmed.

Risks Related to Intellectual Property

We may not be able to protect our proprietary technology in the marketplace.

We depend on our ability to protect our proprietary technology. We rely on trade secret, patent, copyright and trademark laws, and confidentiality, licensing and other agreements with employees and third parties, all of which offer only limited protection. Our success depends in large part on our ability and any future licensee’s

 

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ability to obtain and maintain patent protection in the United States and other countries with respect to our proprietary technology and products. We believe we will be able to obtain, through prosecution of our current pending patent applications, adequate patent protection for our proprietary drug technology. If we are compelled to spend significant time and money protecting or enforcing our patents, designing around patents held by others or licensing or acquiring, potentially for large fees, patents or other proprietary rights held by others, our business and financial prospects may be harmed. If we are unable to effectively protect the intellectual property that we own, other companies may be able to offer the same or similar products for sale, which could materially adversely affect our competitive business position and harm our business prospects. Our patents may be challenged, narrowed, invalidated, or circumvented, which could limit our ability to stop competitors from marketing the same or similar products or limit the length of term of patent protection that we may have for our products.

The patent positions of pharmaceutical products are often complex and uncertain. The breadth of claims allowed in pharmaceutical patents in the United States and many jurisdictions outside of the United States is not consistent. For example, in many jurisdictions the support standards for pharmaceutical patents are becoming increasingly strict. Some countries prohibit method of treatment claims in patents. Changes in either the patent laws or interpretations of patent laws in the United States and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property or create uncertainty. In addition, publication of information related to our current product candidates and potential products may prevent us from obtaining or enforcing patents relating to these product candidates and potential products, including without limitation composition-of-matter patents, which are generally believed to offer the strongest patent protection.

Our intellectual property includes issued patents and pending patent applications for compositions of matter and methods of use. As of June 30, 2013, we own two patents in the United States and have 13 patent applications in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions for our primary product candidates AR-13324 and PG324 (patent protection for PG324 arises from the United States patents that cover AR-13324). The two patents individually cover composition of matter and method of use. We own 14 patents and have 20 pending patent applications in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions relating to our previously discontinued product candidates and other proprietary technology. With respect to our current product candidates, our patents are exclusively in the United States, although we have patent applications pending in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions. See “Business—Intellectual Property” included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information about our issued patents and patent applications.

Patents that we own or may license in the future do not necessarily ensure the protection of our intellectual property for a number of reasons, including without limitation the following:

 

   

our patents may not be broad or strong enough to prevent competition from other products that are identical or similar to our product candidates;

 

   

there can be no assurance that the term of a patent can be extended under the provisions of patent term extension afforded by U.S. law or similar provisions in foreign countries, where available;

 

   

our issued patents and patents that we may obtain in the future may not prevent generic entry into the U.S. market for our AR-13324 and PG324 product candidates;

 

   

we do not at this time own or control a granted European patent or national phase patents in any European jurisdictions that would prevent generic entry into the European market for our AR-13324 product candidate;

 

   

we do not at this time own or control issued foreign patents outside of Europe that would prevent generic entry into those markets for our product candidates;

 

   

we may be required to disclaim part of the term of one or more patents;

 

   

there may be prior art of which we are not aware that may affect the validity or enforceability of a patent claim;

 

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there may be prior art of which we are aware, which we do not believe affects the validity or enforceability of a patent claim, but which, nonetheless, ultimately may be found to affect the validity or enforceability of a patent claim;

 

   

there may be other patents issued to others that will affect our freedom to operate;

 

   

if our patents are challenged, a court could determine that they are invalid or unenforceable;

 

   

there might be a significant change in the law that governs patentability, validity and infringement of our patents that adversely affects the scope of our patent rights;

 

   

a court could determine that a competitor’s technology or product does not infringe our patents; and

 

   

our patents could irretrievably lapse due to failure to pay fees or otherwise comply with regulations or could be subject to compulsory licensing.

If we encounter delays in our development or clinical trials, the period of time during which we could market our potential products under patent protection would be reduced.

Our competitors may be able to circumvent our patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or products in a non-infringing manner. Our competitors may seek to market generic versions of any approved products by submitting Abbreviated New Drug Applications, or ANDAs, to the FDA in which our competitors claim that our patents are invalid, unenforceable and/or not infringed. Alternatively, our competitors may seek approval to market their own products similar to or otherwise competitive with our products. In these circumstances, we may need to defend and/or assert our patents, including by filing lawsuits alleging patent infringement. In any of these types of proceedings, a court or other agency with jurisdiction may find our patents invalid and/or unenforceable. We may also fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development before it is too late to obtain patent protection. Even if we have valid and enforceable patents, these patents still may not provide protection against competing products or processes sufficient to achieve our business objectives.

The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, ownership, priority, validity or enforceability. In that regard, third parties may challenge our patents in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. Such challenges may result in loss of exclusivity or freedom to operate or in patent claims being narrowed, invalidated or held unenforceable, in whole or in part, which could limit our ability to stop others from using or commercializing similar or identical technology and products, or limit the duration of the patent protection of our technology and potential products. In addition, given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new product candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized.

A significant portion of our intellectual property portfolio currently comprises pending patent applications that have not yet been issued as granted patents. If our pending patent applications fail to issue our business will be adversely affected.

Our commercial success will depend significantly on maintaining and expanding patent protection for our product candidates, as well as successfully defending our current and future patents against third-party challenges. As of June 30, 2013, we own 16 patents and have 33 pending patent applications in the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions relating to our current and previously discontinued product candidates and proprietary technology. See “Business—Intellectual Property” included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information about our issued patents and patent applications. Our issued patents include two U.S. patents for composition of matter and method of use covering our lead product candidate, AR-13324 (these patents also cover our other primary product candidate PG324 to the extent that AR-13324 forms a part of PG324). The remainder of our portfolio is made up of patents covering previously discontinued product candidates and pending patent applications that have not yet been issued by the Patent Office of the United States or any other jurisdiction that cover our current and previously discontinued product candidates or other proprietary technology.

There can be no assurance that our pending patent applications will result in issued patents in the United States or foreign jurisdictions in which such applications are pending. Even if patents do issue on any of these

 

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applications, there can be no assurance that a third party will not challenge their validity or that we will obtain sufficient claim scope in those patents to prevent a third party from competing successfully with our products.

We may not be able to enforce our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

The laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of some countries, particularly developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, especially those relating to life sciences. We do not currently have any issued patents in any foreign jurisdictions that cover our most advanced product candidates. To the extent we are able to obtain patents or other intellectual property rights in any foreign jurisdictions, it may be difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or the misappropriation of these intellectual property rights. For example, some foreign countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner must grant licenses to third parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against third parties, including government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, patents may provide limited or no benefit.

Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business. Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate. In addition, changes in the law and legal decisions by courts in the United States and foreign countries may affect our ability to obtain adequate protection for our technology and the enforcement of intellectual property.

We may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may prevent or delay our product development efforts and stop us from commercializing or increase the costs of commercializing our products.

Our commercial success depends significantly on our ability to operate without infringing the patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties. For example, there could be issued patents of which we are not aware that our product candidates or potential products infringe. There also could be patents that we believe we do not infringe, but that we may ultimately be found to infringe.

Moreover, patent applications are in some cases maintained in secrecy until patents are issued. The publication of discoveries in the scientific or patent literature frequently occurs substantially later than the date on which the underlying discoveries were made and patent applications were filed. Because patents can take many years to issue, there may be currently pending applications of which we are unaware that may later result in issued patents that our product candidates or potential products infringe. For example, pending applications may exist that claim or can be amended to claim subject matter that our product candidates or potential products infringe. Competitors may file continuing patent applications claiming priority to already issued patents in the form of continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part applications, in order to maintain the pendency of a patent family and attempt to cover our product candidates.

Third parties may assert that we are employing their proprietary technology without authorization and may sue us for patent or other intellectual property infringement. These lawsuits are costly and could adversely affect our results of operations and divert the attention of managerial and scientific personnel. If we are sued for patent infringement, we would need to demonstrate that our product candidates, potential products or methods either do not infringe the claims of the relevant patent or that the patent claims are invalid, and we may not be able to do this. Proving invalidity is difficult. For example, in the United States, proving invalidity requires a showing of clear and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption of validity enjoyed by issued patents. Even if we are successful in these proceedings, we may incur substantial costs and the time and attention of our management and scientific personnel could be diverted in pursuing these proceedings, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, we may not have sufficient resources to bring these actions to a successful conclusion. If a court holds that any third-party patents are valid, enforceable and cover our products or their use, the holders of any of these patents may be able to block our ability to commercialize our products unless we acquire or obtain a license under the applicable patents or until the patents expire. We may not be able to enter into licensing

 

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arrangements or make other arrangements at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms. Any inability to secure licenses or alternative technology could result in delays in the introduction of our products or lead to prohibition of the manufacture or sale of products by us. Even if we are able to obtain a license, it may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same technologies licensed to us. We could be forced, including by court order, to cease commercializing the infringing technology or product. In addition, in any such proceeding or litigation, we could be found liable for monetary damages, including treble damages and attorneys’ fees if we are found to have willfully infringed a patent. A finding of infringement could prevent us from commercializing our product candidates or force us to cease some of our business operations, which could materially harm our business. Any claims by third parties that we have misappropriated their confidential information or trade secrets could have a similar negative impact on our business. In addition, any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations.

We may be subject to claims that we or our employees have misappropriated the intellectual property, including trade secrets, of a third party, or claiming ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual property.

Many of our employees were previously employed at universities, biotechnology companies or other pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential competitors. Some of these employees, including each member of our senior management, executed proprietary rights, non-disclosure and non-competition agreements in connection with such previous employment. Although we try to ensure that our employees do not use the intellectual property and other proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that we or these employees have used or disclosed such intellectual property, including trade secrets or other proprietary information. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these claims. We are not aware of any threatened or pending claims related to these matters or concerning the agreements with our senior management, but litigation may be necessary in the future to defend against such claims. If we fail in 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 defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.

In addition, while we typically require our employees, consultants and 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, which may result in claims by or against us related to the ownership of such 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. Even if we are successful in prosecuting or defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to our management and scientific personnel.

We may be unable to adequately prevent disclosure of trade secrets and other proprietary information.

We rely on trade secrets to protect our proprietary know-how and technological advances, especially where we do not believe patent protection is appropriate or obtainable. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We rely in part on confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, outside scientific collaborators, sponsored researchers and other advisors to protect our trade secrets and other proprietary information. However, any party with whom we have executed such an agreement may breach that agreement and disclose our proprietary information, including our trade secrets. Accordingly, these agreements may not effectively prevent disclosure of confidential information and may not provide an adequate remedy in the event of unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Costly and time-consuming litigation could be necessary to enforce and determine the scope of our proprietary rights. In addition, others may independently discover our trade secrets and proprietary information. Further, the FDA, as part of its Transparency Initiative, a proposal by the FDA to increase disclosure and make data more accessible to the public, is currently considering whether to make additional information publicly available on a routine basis, including information that we may consider to be trade secrets or other proprietary information, and it is not clear at the present time how the FDA’s disclosure

 

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policies may change in the future, if at all. Failure to obtain or maintain trade secret protection could enable competitors to use our proprietary information to develop products that compete with our products or cause additional, material adverse effects upon our competitive business position and financial results.

Any lawsuits relating to infringement of intellectual property rights brought by or against us will be costly and time consuming and may adversely impact the price of our common stock.

We may be required to initiate litigation to enforce or defend our intellectual property. These lawsuits can be very time consuming and costly. There is a substantial amount of litigation involving patent and other intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical industry generally. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating expenses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities.

In any infringement litigation, any award of monetary damages we receive may not be commercially valuable. Furthermore, because of the substantial amount of discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be compromised by disclosure during litigation. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will have sufficient financial or other resources to file and pursue such infringement claims, which typically last for years before they are resolved. Further, any claims we assert against a perceived infringer could provoke these parties to assert counterclaims against us alleging that we have infringed their patents. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation or proceedings more effectively than we can because of their greater financial resources. Uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of patent litigation or other proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our ability to compete in the marketplace.

In addition, our patents and patent applications could face other challenges, such as interference proceedings, opposition proceedings, re-examination proceedings, and other forms of post-grant review. In the United States, for example, post-grant review has recently been expanded. Any of these challenges, if successful, could result in the invalidation of, or in a narrowing of the scope of, any of our patents and patent applications subject to challenge. Any of these challenges, regardless of their success, would likely be time consuming and expensive to defend and resolve and would divert our management and scientific personnel’s time and attention.

In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.

We will need to obtain FDA approval of any proposed product names, and any failure or delay associated with such approval may adversely affect our business.

Any name we intend to use for our product candidates will require approval from the FDA regardless of whether we have secured a formal trademark registration from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO. The FDA typically conducts a review of proposed product names, including an evaluation of the potential for confusion with other product names. The FDA may also object to a product name if it believes the name inappropriately implies medical claims or contributes to an overstatement of efficacy. If the FDA objects to any of our proposed product names, we may be required to adopt an alternative name for our product candidates. If we adopt an alternative name, we would lose the benefit of our existing trademark applications for such product candidate and may be required to expend significant additional resources in an effort to identify a suitable product name that would qualify under applicable trademark laws, not infringe the existing rights of third parties and be acceptable to the FDA. We may be unable to build a successful brand identity for a new trademark in a timely manner or at all, which would limit our ability to commercialize our product candidates.

 

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If we do not obtain additional protection under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments and similar foreign legislation extending the terms of our patents and obtaining data exclusivity for our product candidates, our business may be materially harmed.

Depending upon the timing, duration and specifics of FDA regulatory approval for our product candidates, one or more of our U.S. patents may be eligible for limited patent term restoration under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments permit a patent restoration term of up to five years as compensation for patent term lost during product development and the FDA regulatory review process. Patent term restorations, however, cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval by the FDA.

The application for patent term extension is subject to approval by the USPTO, in conjunction with the FDA. It takes at least six months to obtain approval of the application for patent term extension. We may not be granted an extension because of, for example, failing to apply within applicable deadlines, failing to apply prior to expiration of relevant patents or otherwise failing to satisfy applicable requirements. Moreover, the applicable time period or the scope of patent protection afforded could be less than we request. If we are unable to obtain patent term extension or restoration or the term of any such extension is less than we request, the period during which we will have the right to exclusively market our product will be shortened and our competitors may obtain earlier approval of competing products, and our ability to generate revenues could be materially adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Business Operations and Industry

We depend upon our key personnel and our ability to attract and retain employees.

Our future growth and success depend on our ability to recruit, retain, manage and motivate our employees. We are highly dependent on our senior management team and our scientific founders, as well as the other principal members of our management and scientific teams. Although we have formal employment agreements with our executive officers, these agreements do not prevent them from terminating their employment with us at any time. The loss of the services of any member of our senior management or scientific team or the inability to hire or retain experienced management personnel could adversely affect our ability to execute our business plan and harm our operating results.

Because of the specialized scientific and managerial nature of our business, we rely heavily on our ability to attract and retain qualified scientific, technical and managerial personnel. In particular, the loss of Vicente Anido, Jr., our Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Thomas A. Mitro, our President and Chief Operating Officer, Richard J. Rubino, our Chief Financial Officer, Brian Levy, our Chief Medical Officer or Casey C. Kopczynski, our Chief Scientific Officer, could be detrimental to us if we cannot recruit suitable replacements in a timely manner. We do not currently carry “key person” insurance on the lives of members of executive management. The competition for qualified personnel in the pharmaceutical field is intense. Due to this intense competition, we may be unable to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel necessary for the development of our business or to recruit suitable replacement personnel. 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 disclosure controls and procedures may not prevent or detect all errors or acts of fraud.

Upon completion of this offering, we will become subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to reasonably assure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, and recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules

 

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and forms of the SEC. We believe that any disclosure controls and procedures or internal controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.

These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people or by an unauthorized override of the controls. Accordingly, because of the inherent limitations in our control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

We will need to significantly increase the size of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing growth.

We are currently a small company with 22 employees as of June 30, 2013. In order to commercialize our potential products, we will need to substantially increase our operations. We plan to continue to build our compliance, financial and operating infrastructure to ensure the maintenance of a well-managed company. We expect to expand our employment base to approximately 300 when we are in the full commercial stages of our current potential products’ life cycle.

Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on members of management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain and integrate additional employees. In addition, to meet our obligations as a public company, we will need to increase our general and administrative capabilities. Our management, personnel and systems currently in place may not be adequate to support this future growth. Our future financial performance and our ability to commercialize our potential products and to compete effectively will depend, in part, on our ability to manage any future growth effectively. To that end, we must be able to:

 

   

manage our clinical trials and the regulatory process effectively;

 

   

manage the manufacturing of product candidates and potential products for clinical and commercial use;

 

   

integrate current and additional management, administrative, financial and sales and marketing personnel;

 

   

develop a marketing and sales infrastructure;

 

   

hire new personnel necessary to effectively commercialize our product candidates;

 

   

develop our administrative, accounting and management information systems and controls; and

 

   

hire and train additional qualified personnel.

Product candidates that we may acquire or develop in the future may be intended for patient populations that are large. In order to continue development and marketing of these product candidates, if approved, we would need to significantly expand our operations. Our staff, financial resources, systems, procedures or controls may be inadequate to support our operations and our management may be unable to manage successfully future market opportunities or our relationships with customers and other third parties.

If we engage in acquisitions in the future, we will incur a variety of costs and we may never realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions.

We may attempt to acquire businesses, technologies, services, products or product candidates in the future that we believe are a strategic fit with our business. We have no present agreement regarding any material acquisitions. However, if we do undertake any acquisitions, the process of integrating an acquired business, technology, service, products or product candidates into our business may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, including diversion of resources and management’s attention from our core

 

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business. In addition, we may fail to retain key executives and employees of the companies we acquire, which may reduce the value of the acquisition or give rise to additional integration costs. Future acquisitions could result in additional issuances of equity securities that would dilute the ownership of existing stockholders. Future acquisitions could also result in the incurrence of debt, actual or contingent liabilities or the amortization of expenses related to other intangible assets, any of which could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, we may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition.

Our business is affected by macroeconomic conditions.

Various macroeconomic factors could adversely affect our business and the results of our operations and financial condition, including changes in inflation, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and overall economic conditions and uncertainties, including those resulting from the current and future conditions in the global financial markets. For instance, if inflation or other factors were to significantly increase our business costs, it may not be feasible to pass through price increases to patients. Interest rates, the liquidity of the credit markets and the volatility of the capital markets could also affect the value of our investments and our ability to liquidate our investments in order to fund our operations.

Interest rates and the ability to access credit markets could also adversely affect the ability of patients, payors and distributors to purchase, pay for and effectively distribute our products. Similarly, these macroeconomic factors could affect the ability of our potential future contract manufacturers, sole-source or single-source suppliers or licensees to remain in business or otherwise manufacture or supply product. Failure by any of them to remain in business could affect our ability to manufacture products.

If product liability lawsuits are successfully brought against us, our insurance may be inadequate and we may incur substantial liability.

We face an inherent risk of product liability claims as a result of the clinical testing of our product candidates. We will face an even greater risk if we commercially sell our potential products or any other product candidate that we develop. We maintain primary product liability insurance and excess product liability insurance that cover our clinical trials, and we plan to maintain insurance against product liability lawsuits for commercial sale of our potential products. Historically, the potential liability associated with product liability lawsuits for pharmaceutical products has been unpredictable. Although we believe that our current insurance is a reasonable estimate of our potential liability and represents a commercially reasonable balancing of the level of coverage as compared to the cost of the insurance, we may be subject to claims in connection with our clinical trials and, in the future, commercial use of our potential products, for which our insurance coverage may not be adequate, and the cost of any product liability litigation or other proceeding, even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial.

For example, we may be sued if any product we develop allegedly causes injury or is found to be otherwise unsuitable during clinical testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict liability or a breach of warranties. Large judgments have been awarded in class action lawsuits based on drugs that had unanticipated adverse effects. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of our product candidates. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:

 

   

reduced resources of our management to pursue our business strategy;

 

   

decreased demand for our product candidates or products that we may develop;

 

   

injury to our reputation and significant negative media attention;

 

   

withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

 

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termination of clinical trial sites or entire trial programs;

 

   

initiation of investigations by regulators;

 

   

product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions;

 

   

significant costs to defend resulting litigation;

 

   

diversion of management and scientific resources from our business operations;

 

   

substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients;

 

   

loss of revenue; and

 

   

the inability to commercialize any products that we may develop.

We will need to increase our insurance coverage if and when we begin selling our product candidates if and when they receive marketing approval. However, the product liability insurance we will need to obtain in connection with the commercial sales of our product candidates if and when they receive regulatory approval may be unavailable in meaningful amounts or at a reasonable cost. In addition, insurance coverage is becoming increasingly expensive. If we are unable to obtain or maintain sufficient insurance coverage at an acceptable cost or to otherwise protect against potential product liability claims, it could prevent or inhibit the development and commercial production and sale of our product candidates if and when they obtain regulatory approval, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and prospects.

Additionally, we do not carry insurance for all categories of risk that our business may encounter. Some of the policies we currently maintain include general liability, employment practices liability, property, auto, workers’ compensation, products liability and directors’ and officers’ insurance. We do not know, however, if we will be able to maintain insurance with adequate levels of coverage. Any significant uninsured liability may require us to pay substantial amounts, which would materially adversely affect our financial position, cash flows and results of operations.

Business interruptions could delay us in the process of developing our products and could disrupt our sales.

Our headquarters is located in Bedminster, New Jersey, our research and development facility is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and we have an office in Newport Beach, California. We are vulnerable to natural disasters, such as severe storms and other events that could disrupt our operations. We do not carry insurance for natural disasters and we may not carry sufficient business interruption insurance to compensate us for losses that may occur. Any losses or damages we incur could have a material adverse effect on our business operations.

Our business and operations would suffer in the event of system failures.

Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems, and those of our CROs and other third parties on which we rely, are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. If such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our drug development programs. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or ongoing or planned clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. To the extent that any disruption or security breach were to result in a loss of or damage to our data or applications, or inappropriate disclosure of confidential or proprietary information, we could incur liability and the further development of our product candidates could be delayed.

 

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Our employees may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements and insider trading, which could significantly harm our business.

We are exposed to the risk of employee fraud or other misconduct. Misconduct by employees could include intentional failures to comply with the regulations of the FDA and non-U.S. regulators, provide accurate information to the FDA and non-U.S. regulators, comply with healthcare fraud and abuse laws and regulations in the United States and abroad, report financial information or data accurately or disclose unauthorized activities to us. In particular, sales, marketing and business arrangements in the healthcare industry are subject to extensive laws and regulations intended to prevent fraud, misconduct, kickbacks, self-dealing and other abusive practices. These laws and regulations may restrict or prohibit a wide range of pricing, discounting, marketing and promotion, sales commission, customer incentive programs and other business arrangements. Employee misconduct could also involve the improper use of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, which could result in regulatory sanctions and serious harm to our reputation. We intend to adopt a code of conduct prior to completion of this offering, but it is not always possible to identify and deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with these laws or regulations. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business, including the imposition of significant fines or other sanctions.

Risks Related to this Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

The market price of our common stock may be highly volatile, and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price.

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our common stock. Although we expect that our common stock will be approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Market, if an active trading market for our common stock does not develop following this offering, you may not be able to sell your shares quickly or above the initial public offering price. The initial public offering price for the shares will be determined by negotiations between us and representatives of the underwriters and may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the trading market, and the value of our common stock may decrease from the initial public offering price.

The trading price of our common stock is likely to be volatile, and you can lose all or part of your investment. The following factors, in addition to other factors described in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this prospectus, may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock:

 

   

announcements of regulatory approval or a complete response letter, or specific label indications or patient populations for its use, or changes or delays in the regulatory review process;

 

   

announcements of therapeutic innovations or new products by us or our competitors;

 

   

adverse actions taken by regulatory agencies with respect to our clinical trials, manufacturing supply chain or sales and marketing activities;

 

   

any adverse changes to our relationship with manufacturers or suppliers;

 

   

the results of our testing and clinical trials;

 

   

the results of our efforts to acquire or license additional product candidates;

 

   

variations in the level of expenses related to our existing product candidates or preclinical and clinical development programs;

 

   

any intellectual property infringement actions in which we may become involved;

 

   

announcements concerning our competitors or the pharmaceutical industry in general;

 

   

achievement of expected product sales and profitability;

 

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manufacture, supply or distribution shortages;

 

   

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly or annual operating results;

 

   

changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;

 

   

trading volume of our common stock;

 

   

sales of our common stock by us, our executive officers and directors or our stockholders in the future;

 

   

general economic and market conditions and overall fluctuations in the U.S. equity markets;

 

   

changes in accounting principles; and

 

   

the loss of any of our key scientific or management personnel.

In addition, the stock market, in general, and small pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Broad market and industry factors may negatively affect the market price of our common stock, regardless of our actual operating performance. Further, the current decline in the financial markets and related factors beyond our control may cause our stock price to decline rapidly and unexpectedly.

We may be subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert management attention.

Our share price may be volatile, and in the past companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their stock have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Litigation of this type could result in substantial costs and diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could adversely impact our business. Any adverse determination in litigation could also subject us to significant liabilities.

Our principal stockholders, executive officers and directors own a significant percentage of our common stock and will be able to exert a significant control over matters submitted to our stockholders for approval.

After this offering, our officers and directors, and stockholders who own more than 5% of our outstanding common stock before this offering will, in the aggregate, beneficially own approximately     % of our common stock (after giving effect to the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock and outstanding notes, but assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, no exercise of outstanding options and no exercise of outstanding warrants).

This significant concentration of share ownership may adversely affect the trading price for our common stock because investors often perceive disadvantages in owning stock in companies with controlling stockholders. As a result, these stockholders, if they acted together, could significantly influence all matters requiring approval by our stockholders, including the election of directors and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions. These stockholders may be able to determine all matters requiring stockholder approval. The interests of these stockholders may not always coincide with our interests or the interests of other stockholders. This may also prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our stockholders and they may act in a manner that advances their best interests and not necessarily those of other stockholders, including seeking a premium value for their common stock, and might affect the prevailing market price for our common stock.

If you purchase our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your shares.

The assumed initial public offering price is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Investors purchasing common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially

 

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exceeds the net tangible book value of our common stock. As a result, investors purchasing common stock in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $         per share, based on the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and our pro forma net tangible book value as of June 30, 2013. In addition, as of June 30, 2013, options to purchase 7,547,153 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.2034 per share were outstanding under our 2005 Plan, as well as warrants to purchase              shares. See “Description of Capital Stock—Warrants.” The exercise of these options or warrants would result in additional dilution. This dilution is due to our investors who purchased shares prior to this offering having paid substantially less than the price offered to the public in this offering when they purchased their shares. Further, because we will need to raise additional capital to fund our clinical development programs, we may in the future sell substantial amounts of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock. These future issuances of equity or equity-linked securities, together with the exercise of outstanding options and warrants and any additional shares issued in connection with acquisitions, if any, may result in further dilution to investors.

As a result of this dilution, investors purchasing stock in this offering may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering in the event of liquidation. For more information, see “Dilution” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market by our existing stockholders could cause our stock price to fall.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market or the perception that these sales might occur, could depress the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. Substantially all of our existing stockholders are subject to lock-up agreements with the underwriters of this offering that restrict the stockholders’ ability to transfer shares of our common stock for at least 180 days from the date of this prospectus. The lock-up agreements limit the number of shares of common stock that may be sold immediately following the public offering. After this offering, we will have              outstanding shares of common stock based on the number of shares outstanding as of June 30, 2013, assuming we sell              shares in this offering. Subject to limitations, approximately              shares will become eligible for sale upon expiration of the lockup period, as calculated and described in more detail in the section entitled “Shares Eligible for Future Sale.” In addition, shares issued or issuable upon exercise of options and warrants vested as of the expiration of the lock-up period will be eligible for sale at that time. Sales of stock by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

Moreover, after this offering, holders of an aggregate of              shares of our common stock, including shares underlying options and warrants of such holders, will have rights, subject to certain conditions such as the 180-day lock-up arrangement described above, to require us to file registration statements covering their shares or to include their shares in registration statements that we may file for ourselves or other stockholders. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in the shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for shares held by our affiliates as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may allocate the net proceeds from this offering in ways that you and other stockholders may not approve.

Our management will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether the net proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. The failure of our management to use these funds effectively could have a

 

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material adverse effect on our business, cause the market price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our product candidates. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments and U.S. government securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish or cease publishing research or reports about us, our business or our market, or if they adversely change their recommendations or publish negative reports regarding our business or our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. We do not have any control over these analysts and we cannot provide any assurance that analysts will cover us or provide favorable coverage. If any of the analysts who may cover us adversely change their recommendation regarding our stock, or provide more favorable relative recommendations about our competitors, our stock price could decline. If any analyst who may cover us were to cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

Because we do not intend to declare cash dividends on our shares of common stock in the foreseeable future, stockholders must rely on appreciation of the value of our common stock for any return on their investment.

We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, we expect that only appreciation of the price of our common stock, if any, will provide a return to investors in this offering for the foreseeable future.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carry-forwards may be limited.

As of December 31, 2012, we had net operating losses of approximately $60.8 million, which may be utilized against future federal and state income taxes. These net operating losses will begin to expire at various dates beginning in 2024, if not utilized. If we experience an “ownership change” for purposes of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, we may be subject to annual limits on our ability to utilize net operating loss carry-forwards. An ownership change is, as a general matter, triggered by sales or acquisitions of our stock in excess of 50% on a cumulative basis during a three-year period by persons owning 5% or more of our total equity value. We are not currently subject to any annual limits on our ability to utilize net operating loss carry-forwards. Our deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance as of December 31, 2012.

The requirements associated with being a public company will require significant company resources and management attention.

Following this offering, we will become subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, the listing requirements of the securities exchange on which our common stock is traded, and other applicable securities rules and regulations. The Exchange Act requires that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. In addition, subsequent rules implemented by the SEC and the NASDAQ Global Market may also impose various additional requirements on public companies. As a result, we will incur additional legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a nonpublic company, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. Further, the need to establish the corporate infrastructure demanded of a public company may divert management’s attention from implementing our growth strategy. We have made, and will continue to make, changes to our corporate governance standards, disclosure controls and financial reporting and accounting systems to meet our reporting obligations. However, the measures we take may not be sufficient to satisfy our obligations as a public company, which could subject us to delisting of our common stock, fines, sanctions and other regulatory action and potentially civil litigation.

 

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We will incur significant increased costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to compliance initiatives. Failure to build our finance infrastructure and improve our accounting systems and controls could impair our ability to comply with the financial reporting and internal controls requirements for publicly traded companies.

As a public company, we will operate in an increasingly challenging regulatory environment. Once we no longer qualify as an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, we will be required to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the related rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, expanded disclosures, accelerated reporting requirements and more complex accounting rules. 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 these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to incur substantial costs to maintain the same or similar coverage. We estimate that we will annually incur approximately $1.5 million to $2.5 million in expenses to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Section 404(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, starting with the second annual report that we would expect to file with the SEC and we will be required to disclose material changes made in our internal controls and procedures on a quarterly basis. Company responsibilities required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act include establishing corporate oversight and adequate internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to help prevent financial fraud. However, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act until the later of the year following our first annual report required to be filed with the SEC or the date we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, because we are taking advantage of the exemptions contained in the JOBS Act.

To build the infrastructure to allow us to assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we will need to hire additional accounting personnel and improve our accounting systems, disclosure policies, procedures and controls. We are currently in the process of:

 

   

hiring additional accounting and financial staff with appropriate public company experience;

 

   

initiating plans to establish an outsourced internal audit function;

 

   

initiating plans to upgrade our computer systems, including hardware and software;

 

   

establishing more robust policies and procedures; and

 

   

enhancing internal controls and our financial statement review process.

If we are unsuccessful in building an appropriate accounting infrastructure, we may not be able to prepare and disclose, in a timely manner, our financial statements and other required disclosures, or comply with existing or new reporting requirements.

During the evaluation and testing process, if we identify one or more material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we will be unable to assert that our internal control over financial reporting is effective. We cannot assure you that there will not be material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain internal control over financial reporting could severely inhibit our ability to accurately report our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. If we are unable to conclude that our internal control over financial reporting is effective, or if our independent registered public accounting firm determines we have a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, we could lose investor confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports, the market price of our common stock

 

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could decline, and we could be subject to sanctions or investigations by NASDAQ, the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Failure to remedy any material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, or to implement or maintain other effective control systems required of public companies, could also restrict our future access to the capital markets.

The recently enacted JOBS Act will allow us to postpone the date by which we must comply with some of the laws and regulations intended to protect investors and to reduce the amount of information we provide in our reports filed with the SEC, which could undermine investor confidence in our company and adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

For so long as we remain an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including:

 

   

the provisions of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requiring that our independent registered public accounting firm provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

the “say on pay” provisions (requiring a non-binding stockholder vote to approve compensation of certain executive officers) and the “say on golden parachute” provisions (requiring a non-binding stockholder vote to approve golden parachute arrangements for certain executive officers in connection with mergers and certain other business combinations) of the Dodd-Frank Act and some of the disclosure requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act relating to compensation of its chief executive officer;

 

   

the requirement to provide detailed compensation discussion and analysis in proxy statements and reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and instead provide a reduced level of disclosure concerning executive compensation; and

 

   

any rules that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board requiring mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report on the financial statements.

We may take advantage of these exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” We would cease to be an “emerging growth company” upon the earliest of: (i) the last day of the first fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering; (ii) the last day of the first fiscal year in which our annual gross revenues are $1 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have, during the previous three-year period, issued more than $1 billion in non-convertible debt securities; or (iv) as of the end of any fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700 million as of the end of the second quarter of that fiscal year.

Although we are still evaluating the JOBS Act, we currently intend to take advantage of some, but not all, of the reduced regulatory and reporting requirements that will be available to us so long as we qualify as an “emerging growth company.” For example, we have irrevocably elected under Section 107 of the JOBS Act not to take advantage of the extension of time to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards available under Section 102(b) of the JOBS Act. Our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting so long as we qualify as an “emerging growth company,” which may increase the risk that weaknesses or deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting go undetected. Likewise, so long as we qualify as an “emerging growth company,” we may elect not to provide you with certain information, including certain financial information and certain information regarding compensation of our executive officers, that we would otherwise have been required to provide in filings we make with the SEC, which may make it more difficult for investors and securities analysts to evaluate our company. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may 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 and may decline.

 

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Some provisions of our charter documents and Delaware law may have anti-takeover effects that could discourage an acquisition of us by others, even if an acquisition would be beneficial to our stockholders, and may prevent attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management.

Provisions in our restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws that will become effective following the closing of this offering, as well as provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us or increase the cost of acquiring us, even if doing so would benefit our stockholders, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares. These provisions include:

 

   

establishing a classified board of directors such that not all members of the board are elected at one time;

 

   

allowing the authorized number of our directors to be changed only by resolution of our board of directors;

 

   

limiting the removal of directors by the stockholders;

 

   

authorizing the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock, the terms of which may be established and shares of which may be issued without stockholder approval;

 

   

prohibiting stockholder action by written consent, thereby requiring all stockholder actions to be taken at a meeting of our stockholders;

 

   

eliminating the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders;

 

   

establishing advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon at stockholder meetings; and

 

   

requiring the approval of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all our stockholders would be entitled to cast to amend or repeal certain provisions of our by-laws.

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, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management. In addition, we are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless such transactions are approved by our board of directors. This provision could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control, whether or not it is desired by or beneficial to our stockholders.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND OTHER DATA

This prospectus includes forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use terms such as “predicts,” “believes,” “potential,” “continue,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “may,” “could,” “might,” “will,” “should” or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things:

 

   

the success, timing and cost of our ongoing clinical trials and anticipated Phase 3 and Phase 2b clinical trials for our current product candidates, including statements regarding the timing of initiation and completion of the trials;

 

   

the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain FDA or other regulatory authority approval of, or other action with respect, to our product candidates;

 

   

the commercial launch and potential future sales of our current or any other future product candidates;

 

   

our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy;

 

   

third-party payor reimbursement for our product candidates;

 

   

our estimates regarding anticipated capital requirements and our needs for additional financing;

 

   

our expectations regarding the clinical effectiveness of our product candidates and results of our clinical trials;

 

   

the glaucoma patient market size and the rate and degree of market adoption of our product candidates by eye-care professionals and patients;

 

   

the timing, cost or other aspects of the commercial launch of our product candidates;

 

   

our plans to pursue development of our product candidates for additional indications and other therapeutic opportunities;

 

   

the potential advantages of our product candidates;

 

   

our ability to protect our proprietary technology and enforce our intellectual property rights;

 

   

our expectations related to the use of proceeds from this offering; and

 

   

our expectations regarding licensing, acquisitions and strategic operations.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events, competitive dynamics and industry change, and depend on regulatory approvals and economic circumstances that may or may not occur in the future or may occur on longer or shorter timelines than anticipated. We discuss many of these risks in this prospectus in greater detail under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events.

Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this prospectus, we caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which we operate may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and events in the industry in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus, they may not be predictive of results or developments in future periods.

 

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Any forward-looking statements that we make in this prospectus speak only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, we are under no duty to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this prospectus.

We obtained the industry and market data in this prospectus from our own internal estimates and research as well as from publicly available industry and general publications and research, surveys, studies and trials conducted by third parties. Industry publications, trials, studies and surveys generally state that they have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. Some data is also based on our good faith estimates, which are derived from management’s knowledge of the industry and independent sources. This data involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to such estimates. Similarly, we believe our internal research is reliable, even though such research has not been verified by any independent sources. While we believe the market opportunity and market size information included in this prospectus is generally reliable, such information is inherently imprecise. In addition, information relating to projections, assumptions and estimates of our future performance and the future performance of the industry in which we operate is necessarily subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. These and other factors could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by third parties and by us.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds we will receive from the sale of              shares of common stock in this offering, after deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated expenses payable by us, will be approximately $         million ($         million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full). This estimate assumes an initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

We anticipate that the net proceeds from this offering will be used as follows:

 

   

approximately $         million and $         million for direct clinical and non-clinical costs, respectively, associated with the completion of Phase 3 efficacy registration trials for our product candidate AR-13324;

 

   

approximately $         million and $         million for direct clinical and non-clinical costs, respectively, associated with the completion of Phase 2b clinical trials for our product candidate PG324; and

 

   

the remainder for working capital and general corporate purposes.

In the ordinary course of our business, we expect to evaluate from time to time acquiring, investing in or in-licensing complementary products, technologies or businesses. We currently do not have any agreements or commitments with respect to any potential acquisition, investment or license.

This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including the progress of our clinical trials and development efforts, as well as any unforeseen cash needs. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.

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.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $         million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after the deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $         million, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We do not expect that a change in the offering price or the number of shares by these amounts would have a material effect on our uses of the proceeds from this offering, although it may accelerate the time at which we will need to seek additional capital.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

In October 2012, we formed a wholly-owned entity, Novaer Holding, Inc., or Novaer, and contributed certain non-core, non-competitive intellectual property relating to certain ophthalmic implant technology, as well as an exclusive license for all of our intellectual property for non-ophthalmic indications, and $0.1 million in cash for initial funding. Our board of directors declared a dividend and distributed 100% of this entity’s equity interests to our stockholders and warrant holders of record as of September 6, 2012. The $0.1 million of cash included in the transaction was recorded as a cash dividend, as further explained in Note 13 of our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. On September 6, 2013, we terminated our agreement to exclusively license to Novaer our intellectual property for non-ophthalmic indications. No consideration, or future obligation thereof, was exchanged in connection with this termination. As of September 6, 2013, we own all of the worldwide rights to our current product candidates for all indications, both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic.

We have not declared or paid any other cash dividends on our capital stock since our inception. We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings, if any, for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of any future debt agreements may preclude us from paying dividends. As a result, we anticipate that only appreciation of the price of our common stock, if any, will provide a return to investors in this offering for at least to foreseeable future.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of June 30, 2013:

 

   

on an actual basis;

 

   

on a pro forma basis to give effect to the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our preferred stock and the expected conversion of all of our outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon, in each case immediately prior to the closing of this offering, into an aggregate of              shares of our common stock assuming an initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus; and

 

   

on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to our issuance and sale of              shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $         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.

Our capitalization following the closing of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. You should read this table together with “Selected Financial Data,” our financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of this prospectus.

 

     AS OF JUNE 30, 2013  
     ACTUAL     PRO FORMA  (1)      PRO FORMA
AS ADJUSTED  (1)(2)
 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)      (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,377      $                    $                
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Notes payable, net of discount—related parties (3)

     9,115        

Interest payable—related parties

     238        

Warrants liability—related parties (4)

     4,603        

Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 82,672,909 shares authorized:

       

Series A-1—2,000,000 shares authorized; 2,000,000 shares issued and outstanding

     1,000        

Series A-2—10,010,029 shares authorized; 10,000,000 shares issued and outstanding

     10,000        

Series A-3—22,479,476 shares authorized; 20,979,476 shares issued and outstanding

     20,979        

Series A-4—5,683,404 shares authorized; 4,895,904 shares issued and outstanding

     4,752        

Series B—42,500,000 shares authorized; 22,727,273 shares issued and outstanding (5)

     24,441        

Stockholders’ equity (deficit):

       

Common stock, $0.001 par value: 100,000,000 shares authorized; 4,979,404 shares issued and outstanding, actual;              shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; and              shares authorized;              shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     5        

Additional paid-in capital

     128        

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

     (74,042     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

     (73,909     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 1,219      $         $     
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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(1)  

A $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon expected conversion of the outstanding notes by              shares. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase the number of shares of our common stock issuable upon expected conversion of the outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon by              shares.

(2)  

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization on a pro forma as adjusted basis by approximately $         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 estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(3)  

In August 2013, we issued an additional $4.5 million aggregate principal amount of notes to related parties and intend to issue an additional $3.0 million in aggregate principal amount of notes prior to the completion of this offering. Refer to Note 15 to the financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

(4)  

In connection with our issuance of an additional $4.5 million aggregate principal amount of notes in August 2013, we concurrently issued warrants to purchase 1,022,727 shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock.

(5)  

On August 9, 2013, we amended our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock authorized for issuance to 50,000,000. On September 16, 2013, we amended the certificate of incorporation to reflect the re-designation of 2,300,000 unissued shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock as common stock.

The table above does not include:

 

   

7,547,153 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2013 under our 2005 Plan, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.2034 per share;

 

   

1,716,141 shares of restricted stock that are subject to vesting restrictions and are not considered outstanding for accounting purposes;

 

   

             shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Plan, which will become effective upon the pricing of this offering (including              shares of common stock that were added from the 2005 Plan, which will terminate immediately upon the pricing of this offering so that no further awards may be granted under the 2005 Plan), as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under this plan;

 

   

             shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which will become effective upon the pricing of this offering; and

 

   

             shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants expected to remain outstanding upon completion of this offering. See “Description of Capital Stock—Warrants.”

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock upon closing of this offering. Net tangible book value per share of our common stock is determined at any date by subtracting our total liabilities from the amount of our total tangible assets (total assets less intangible assets) and dividing the difference by the number of shares of our common stock deemed to be outstanding at that date.

Our historical net tangible book value (deficit) as of June 30, 2013 was approximately $(73.9) million, or $(14.84) per share, based on 4,979,404 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2013.

On a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into              shares of our common stock and the expected conversion of all of our outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon, in each case immediately prior to the closing of this offering, our net tangible book value as of June 30, 2013 would have been approximately $         million, or approximately $         per share of our pro forma outstanding common stock.

Investors participating in this offering will incur immediate and substantial dilution. After giving effect to our receipt of approximately $         million of estimated net proceeds (after deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us) from our sale of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2013 would have been $         million, or $         per share. This amount represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $         per share of our common stock to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $         per share of our common stock to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering.

The following tables illustrate this dilution on a per share basis:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

     $               
    

 

 

 

Historical net tangible book value per share

   $ (14.84  

Increase attributable to the conversion of the preferred stock

    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma net tangible book value per share before this offering

    

Increase per share attributable to new investors

    
  

 

 

   

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

    
    

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors

     $               
    

 

 

 

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by $         million, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering by $         per share and the dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value to new investors in this offering by $         per share, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase of              shares in the number of shares offered by us, together with concurrent $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, (a) would increase our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2013 by approximately $         million and (b) would also increase the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering and the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors by $         and $        , respectively, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this

 

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prospectus, remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions. Conversely, a decrease of              shares in the number of shares offered by us together with a concurrent $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, (a) would decrease our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2013 by approximately $         million and (b) would also decrease the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering and the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors by $         and $        , respectively, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions.

The following table summarizes, as of June 30, 2013, giving effect to the pro forma adjustment noted above, the differences between the number of shares purchased from us, the total consideration paid to us, and the average price per share paid to us by existing stockholders and by new investors purchasing shares in this offering, before deducting underwriter discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, at an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

     SHARES PURCHASED     TOTAL CONSIDERATION     AVERAGE PRICE
PER SHARE
 
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  
     NUMBER    PERCENT     AMOUNT      PERCENT        

Existing stockholders

               $                             $                

New investors

                          
  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

        100   $           100   $     
  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately following this offering set forth above excludes:

 

   

7,547,153 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of June 30, 2013 under our 2005 Plan, having a weighted average exercise price of $0.2034 per share;

 

   

1,716,141 shares of restricted stock that are subject to vesting restrictions and are not considered outstanding for accounting purposes;

 

   

             shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2013 Plan, which will become effective upon the pricing of this offering (including              shares of common stock that were added from the 2005 Plan, which will terminate immediately upon the pricing of this offering so that no further awards may be granted under the 2005 Plan), as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under this plan;

 

   

             shares reserved for issuance under our 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which will become effective upon the pricing of this offering; and

 

   

             shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants expected to remain outstanding upon completion of this offering. See “Description of Capital Stock—Warrants.”

If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering would be $         per share, which amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $         per share of our common stock to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $         per share of our common stock to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering.

 

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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth our selected financial data for the periods and as of the dates indicated. You should read the following selected financial data in conjunction with our annual (audited) and interim (unaudited) financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of this prospectus. We have derived the following statements of operations and comprehensive loss data for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 from our audited financial statements, included elsewhere in this prospectus. We have derived the following statement of operations data and comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 and the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 and balance sheet data as of June 30, 2013 from our unaudited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include normal recurring adjustments necessary to fairly present our financial position as of June 30, 2013 and results of operations and comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, and the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in the future.

 

     SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30,
    YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
    PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22, 2005)
TO JUNE  30,
2013
 
        
        
        
     2013     2012     2012     2011    
    

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 
     (unaudited)                 (unaudited)  

Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss Data:

          

Expenses:

          

General and administrative

   $ (3,406   $ (2,285   $ (5,020   $ (3,521   $ (23,303

Research and development

     (6,328     (5,932     (9,273     (10,695     (49,477
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

   $ (9,734   $ (8,217   $ (14,293   $ (14,216   $ (72,780

Other income (expense), net

     (384     376        (685     1,249        (1,126
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (10,118   $ (7,841   $ (14,978   $ (12,967   $ (73,906
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (10,118   $ (7,841   $ (14,978   $ (12,967   $ (73,906
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted  (1)

   $ (10,392   $ (8,115   $ (15,643   $ (13,419   $ (75,351
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted (2)

   $ (2.14   $ (1.70   $ (3.28   $ (2.90  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Weighted-average number of common stock used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted (2)

     4,867,302        4,765,569        4,773,476        4,628,125     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted (unaudited) (3)

   $          $         
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

Weighted-average number of common stock used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted (unaudited) (3)

          
  

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

(1)  

Net loss attributable to common stockholders reflects the accretion on convertible preferred stock and, where applicable, preferred stock dividends. See Note 2 in our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus for further information.

 

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(2)  

See Note 2 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus for an explanation of the method used to calculate the basic and diluted net loss per common stock attributable to common stockholders and the number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.

(3)  

The calculations for the unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted, assume the automatic conversion of all our outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, into an aggregate of 60,602,653 shares of our common stock and the expected conversion of the outstanding notes and accrued interest thereon into an aggregate of              shares of our common stock assuming an initial public offering price of $         per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus.

 

     JUNE  30,
2013
    DECEMBER 31,  
       2012     2011  
     (unaudited)        
     (in thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,377      $ 2,925      $ 15,068   

Total assets

     3,685        3,219        15,458   

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     2,466        1,437        2,709   

Notes payable, net of discount, and accrued interest thereon

     9,353        2,347        —     

Warrants liability—related parties

     4,603        2,456        1,098   

Convertible preferred stock

     61,172        60,898        60,348   

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (73,909     (63,919     (48,697

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion and other parts of the prospectus contain forward-looking statements based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results and the timing of selected events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors, including those set forth under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. Our lead product candidate, once-daily, dual-action AR-13324, recently completed a Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. We are also developing a second product candidate, once-daily, triple-action PG324, which is a fixed-dose combination of AR-13324 and latanoprost, the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of patients with glaucoma. We are focused on glaucoma because we believe our product candidates provide important new opportunities to improve the treatment of the disease.

We are developing AR-13324 as the first of a new class of compounds that is designed to lower IOP in patients through a novel dual mechanism of action, or MOA. PG324 is designed to lower IOP through all three MOAs: increasing fluid outflow through the TM, the eye’s primary drain, increasing fluid outflow through the uveoscleral pathway, the eye’s secondary drain, and reducing fluid production in the eye.

We are a development stage company and have incurred net losses since our inception in June 2005. Our operations to date have been limited to research and development and raising capital. Through June 30, 2013, we have raised net cash proceeds of $71.0 million from the sale of $43.8 million of convertible preferred stock and $27.2 million of convertible notes. Subsequent to their issuance, $16.2 million of convertible notes converted into shares of convertible preferred stock and $0.5 million in cash payments were made. To date, we have not generated any revenue and have primarily financed our operations through the private placement of our equity securities and issuance of convertible promissory notes. As of June 30, 2013, we had a deficit accumulated during the development stage of $74.0 million. We recorded a net loss of $10.1 million and $7.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively. We recorded annual net losses of $15.0 million in 2012 and $13.0 million in 2011. We anticipate that a substantial portion of our capital resources and efforts in the foreseeable future will be focused on completing the development and obtaining regulatory approval and preparing for potential commercialization of our product candidates.

We expect our research and development expenses to increase if and when we initiate Phase 3 and Phase 2b clinical trials for our AR-13324 and PG324 product candidates, respectively, and pursue regulatory approval. As we prepare for commercialization, we will likely incur significant commercial, sales, marketing and outsourced manufacturing expenses. Upon completion of this offering, we also expect to incur additional expenses associated with operating as a public company. As a result, we expect to continue to incur significant and increasing operating losses at least for the next several years. We do not expect to generate product revenue unless and until we successfully complete development and obtain regulatory approval for one or more of our product candidates.

We anticipate that we will use approximately $         million of the net proceeds from this offering for direct clinical and non-clinical costs associated with the completion of Phase 3 efficacy registration trials for our AR-13324 product candidate and approximately $         million for direct clinical and non-clinical costs associated with the completion of Phase 2b clinical trials for our PG324 product candidate. We intend to use the remainder of the proceeds of this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes. We expect that these funds will not be sufficient to enable us to complete all necessary development or commercially launch these product

 

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candidates. Accordingly, we will be required to obtain further funding through other public or private offerings, debt financing, collaboration and licensing arrangements or other sources. Adequate additional funding may not be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we would be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our research and development programs or future commercialization efforts.

Financial Overview

Revenue

We have not generated any revenue from the sale of any products, and we do not expect to generate any revenue unless or until we obtain regulatory approval of and commercialize our products.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, benefits and stock-based compensation for all officers and employees in general management, finance and administration. Other significant expenses include facilities expenses and professional fees for accounting and legal services. We expect that our general and administrative expenses will increase with the continued advancement of our product candidates and with the increased management, legal, compliance, accounting and investor relations expenses we will have as we begin to operate as a public company after the completion of this offering. We expect these increases will likely include increased expenses for insurance, expenses related to the hiring of additional personnel and payments to outside consultants, lawyers and accountants.

Research and Development Expenses

Since our inception, we have focused on our development programs. Research and development expenses consist primarily of costs incurred for the research and development of our preclinical and clinical candidates, which include:

 

   

employee-related expenses, including salaries, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense for research and development personnel;

 

   

expenses incurred under agreements with CROs, contract manufacturing organizations and consultants that conduct clinical trials and preclinical studies;

 

   

costs associated with preclinical activities and development activities;

 

   

costs associated with regulatory operations; and

 

   

depreciation expense for assets used in research and development activities.

We expense research and development costs to operations as incurred. The costs for certain development activities, such as clinical trials, are recognized based on the terms of underlying agreements as well as an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations along with additional information provided to us by our vendors.

Expenses relating to activities, such as manufacturing and stability and toxicology studies, that are supportive of the product candidate itself, are classified as direct non-clinical. Expenses relating to clinical trials and similar activities, including costs associated with CROs, are classified as direct clinical. Expenses relating to activities that support more than one development program or activity such as salaries, stock-based compensation and depreciation are not allocated to direct clinical or non-clinical expenses and are separately classified as “unallocated.”

 

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The following table shows our research and development expenses by type of activity for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 and years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011.

 

     SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30,
     YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
 
     2013      2012      2012      2011  
    

(in thousands)

 

AR-13324:

           

Direct non-clinical

   $ 901       $ 1,562       $ 2,318       $ 2,809   

Direct clinical

     1,301         530         993         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,202       $ 2,092       $ 3,311       $ 2,809   

Discontinued product candidates:

           

Direct non-clinical

   $ 465       $ 1,419       $ 2,312       $ 4,675   

Direct clinical

     2,575         1,095         1,475         1,023   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,040       $ 2,514       $ 3,787       $ 5,698   

Unallocated

     1,086         1,326         2,175         2,188   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total research and development expense

   $ 6,328       $ 5,932       $ 9,273       $ 10,695   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

From inception through June 30, 2013, we did not incur any direct non-clinical or direct clinical costs for PG324 or AR-13533. Costs for these product candidates were primarily comprised of internal employee salaries and were included in unallocated costs. Discontinued product candidates relate to previously developed AR-12286 and related compounds, as they did not meet their primary endpoints in clinical trials. We incurred direct non-clinical and direct clinical expenses for these discontinued product candidates in all periods presented.

From inception through June 30, 2013, we have incurred approximately $49.5 million in research and development expenses. Prior to January 1, 2011, we recorded and managed research and development expenses in the aggregate due to the similarities of product candidates during that period. From the period June 22, 2005 (date of inception) to December 31, 2010, we incurred $23.2 million in aggregate research and development expenses.

Research and development activities associated with the discovery and development of new drugs and products for the treatment of diseases of the eye are central to our business model. Product candidates in later stages of clinical development generally have higher development costs than those in earlier stages of clinical development, primarily due to the increased size and duration of later-stage clinical trials. We expect our research and development expenses to increase as we initiate Phase 3 and Phase 2b clinical trials for our product candidates, or if the FDA requires us to conduct additional trials for approval.

Our research and development expenditures are subject to numerous uncertainties in timing and cost to completion. Development timelines, the probability of success and development expenses can differ materially from expectations. The cost of clinical trials may vary significantly over the life of a project as a result of differences arising during clinical development, including, among others, the following:

 

   

number of trials required for approval;

 

   

number of sites included in the trials;

 

   

length of time required to enroll suitable patients;

 

   

number of patients that participate in the trials;

 

   

drop-out or discontinuation rates of patients;

 

   

duration of patient follow-up;

 

   

costs related to compliance with regulatory requirements;

 

   

number and complexity of analyses and tests performed during the trial;

 

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phase of development of the product candidate; and

 

   

efficacy and safety profile of the product candidate.

Our expenses related to clinical trials are based on estimates of patient enrollment and related expenses at clinical investigator sites as well as estimates for the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with research institutions, consultants and CROs that conduct and manage clinical trials on our behalf. We generally accrue expenses related to clinical trials based on contracted amounts applied to the level of patient enrollment and activity according to the protocol. If future timelines or contracts are modified based upon changes in the clinical trial protocol or scope of work to be performed, we modify our estimates of accrued expenses accordingly on a prospective basis. Historically, such modifications have not been material.

As a result of the uncertainties discussed above, we are unable to determine with certainty the duration and completion costs of our development programs or precisely when and to what extent we will receive revenue from the commercialization and sale of our products. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for one or more of our product candidates. The duration, costs and timing of clinical trials and development of our product candidates will depend on a variety of factors, including the uncertainties of future preclinical studies and clinical trials, uncertainties in the clinical trial enrollment rate and changing government regulation. In addition, the probability of success for each product candidate will depend on numerous factors, including efficacy and tolerability profiles, competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability.

Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income consists of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents as well as the net proceeds from the sale of our net operating loss state tax benefits as described in Note 7 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. Interest income is not considered significant to our financial statements but we expect our interest income to increase following this offering as we invest the net proceeds from this offering pending their use in operations.

Other expense consists of interest accrued under existing convertible notes, amortization of debt discounts and non-cash expense related to changes in the fair value of our warrants liability arising from the stock purchase warrants described in Note 10 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Accretion of Convertible Preferred Stock

Shares of our convertible preferred stock were initially recorded on our balance sheet at their cost, less associated issuance costs. Series A-1, A-2 and A-3 of our convertible preferred stock are fully accreted as of December 31, 2012.

Our Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock issued on February 23, 2011, resulting from the conversion of the notes issued in 2010, was recorded at fair value. The difference between redemption and initial carrying value of $1.3 million is being ratably accreted over the period from February 23, 2011 until the earliest redemption date, which is August 17, 2015. Accretion amounted to $0.1 million, $0.1 million, $0.3 million, $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the period from February 23, 2011 to June 30, 2013, respectively.

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock issued on February 23, 2011 was recorded at fair value net of $1.2 million of issuance costs, which is being ratably accreted over the period from February 23, 2011 until the earliest redemption date, which is August 17, 2015. Accretion amounted to $0.1 million, $0.1 million, $0.3 million, $0.2 million and $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the period from February 23, 2011 to June 30, 2013, respectively.

The composition of our convertible preferred stock is further described in Note 8 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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Debt Discounts

Our notes payable were issued with warrant coverage. We recorded notes payable on our balance sheet net of a discount equal to the estimated fair value of the associated warrant instrument. The discount is amortized ratably through interest expense over the term of the associated notes. Refer to Note 2 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or U.S. GAAP. The preparation of financial statements also requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, costs and expenses and related disclosures. We evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. Significant estimates include assumptions used in the determination of the fair value measurement of stock purchase warrants, stock-based compensation and certain research and development expenses. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following accounting policies are the most critical in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results and affect significant judgments and estimates that we use in the preparation of our financial statements.

Accrued Expenses

As part of the process of preparing our financial statements, we are required to estimate accrued expenses. This process involves reviewing open contracts and purchase orders, communicating with applicable vendor personnel to identify services that have been performed on our behalf and estimating the level of service performed and the associated cost incurred for the service when we have not yet been invoiced or otherwise notified of actual cost. We make estimates of our accrued expenses as of each balance sheet date in our financial statements based on facts and circumstances known to us. We periodically confirm the accuracy of our estimates with the service providers and make adjustments if necessary. Examples of estimated accrued expenses include:

 

   

fees paid to CROs in connection with clinical trials; and

 

   

fees paid to investigative sites in connection with clinical trials.

We accrue our expenses related to clinical trials based on our estimates of the services received and efforts expended pursuant to contracts with multiple research institutions and CROs that conduct research activities and/or manage clinical trials on our behalf. The financial terms of these agreements are subject to negotiation, vary from contract to contract and may result in uneven payment flows. Payments under some of these contracts depend on factors such as the successful enrollment of patients and the completion of clinical trial milestones. In accruing service fees, we estimate the time period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. If the level of effort varies from our estimate, we will adjust the accrual accordingly. If we underestimate or overestimate the level of services performed or the costs of these services, our actual expenses could differ from our estimates. Although we do not currently anticipate the future settlement of existing accruals to differ materially from our estimates, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed relative to the actual status and timing of services performed may vary and could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low for any period. There have been no material changes in estimates for the periods presented.

 

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Fair Value Measurements

We record certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 820 on fair value measurements. As defined in the guidance, fair value, defined as an exit price, represents the amount that would be received to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As a result, fair value is a market-based approach that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. As a basis for considering these assumptions, the guidance defines a three-tier value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value.

 

   

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active, accessible markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2—Other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity.

The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

Our material financial instruments at June 30, 2013 and 2012 and December 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted primarily of cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses, long-term debt and stock purchase warrant liabilities. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and notes approximate their respective carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. We have determined the stock purchase warrants liability to be Level 3 fair value. See Note 10 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Stock-Based Compensation

We recognize compensation costs related to stock options granted to employees ratably over the requisite service period, which in most cases is the vesting period of the award for employees, based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant. Compensation expense for options granted to non-employees is determined as the fair value of consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured. The fair value of the awards granted to non-employees is re-measured each period until the related service is complete. Compensation expense related to restricted stock awards is based on the market value of our common stock on the grant date and is expensed ratably over the vesting period.

Stock-based compensation expense was $0.4 million and $0.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, and $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Significant Factors, Assumptions and Methodologies Used in Determining Fair Value

Determining the appropriate fair value measurement of stock-based awards requires the use of subjective assumptions. In the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, we conducted periodic assessments of the valuation of our common stock. These assessments were completed on an annual basis for all periods prior to December 31, 2012 and on a quarterly basis beginning in 2013. In connection with our December 31, 2012 valuation of our common stock and in preparation of this initial public offering, we completed a retrospective valuation for the first three quarters in 2012, as described below in “—Common Stock Valuation.” The determination of the fair value measurement of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model is affected by our estimated common stock fair values as well as assumptions regarding the number of other subjective variables. These other variables include the expected term of the options, our expected stock price volatility over the expected term of the options, stock option exercise and cancellation behaviors, risk-free interest rates and expected dividends.

 

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We estimated the fair value of stock options at the grant date using the following assumptions:

 

   

Fair Value of our Common Stock. Since no public market exists for our stock, we must estimate its fair value, as discussed in “—Common Stock Valuations” below.

 

   

Volatility . As we do not have a trading history for our common stock, we utilize the most recent 36 months of data from a representative group of publicly traded companies to estimate expected stock price volatility. We selected representative companies from the pharmaceutical industry with similar characteristics to us, including stage of product development and therapeutic focus.

 

   

Expected Term . We used the simplified method as prescribed by the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, Share-Based Payment, as we do not have sufficient historical exercise and post-vesting termination data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term of stock options granted to employees.

 

   

Risk-free Rate . The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected time to liquidity.

 

   

Forfeiture . Forfeitures are estimated such that we only recognize expense for the shares expected to vest, and adjustments are made if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We estimated our annual forfeiture rates to be zero for 2013, 2012 and 2011.

 

   

Dividend Yield . Except for a one-time cash dividend related to the spin-off of certain non-core intellectual property (further described in Note 13 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus), we have never declared or paid any cash dividends and do not presently plan to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

The table below lists the assumptions utilized in the Black-Scholes option pricing model for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and years December 31, 2012 and 2011. The volatility of comparable companies was more stable in 2012 than in 2011, resulting in a lower volatility assumption in 2012 when compared to that in 2011.

 

     SIX MONTHS
ENDED  JUNE 30,
2013
    DECEMBER 31,  
       2012     2011  

Expected term (years)

     6.25        6.25        6.25   

Expected stock price volatility

     60.00     60.00     126.90

Risk-free interest rate

     1.71     1.05     1.15

Dividend yield

     0.00     0.00     0.00

The estimation of the number of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results or updated estimates differ from our current estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period in which estimates are revised.

Common Stock Valuations

Our common stock valuations are determined by our board of directors in its sole discretion based on recommendations from management and taking into account advice and assistance provided by third-party valuation consultants engaged to assist us in connection with such valuations. All options granted are intended to be exercisable at a price per share not less than the per share fair value of our common stock underlying those options on the date of grant. All stock awards previously granted or to be granted in the future were or are expected to be exercisable at the grant date value. The valuations of our common stock were determined utilizing guidelines outlined in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation, referred to as the AICPA Practice Aid. The methodologies used to determine fair value of our common stock included estimating the fair value of the enterprise and then allocating this value to all classes of equity securities using the option pricing method.

 

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The assumptions used in the valuation models that ultimately determine the fair value of our common stock as of the valuation date are based on numerous objective and subjective factors combined with management judgment, including the following:

 

   

progress of research and development activities, including milestones achieved;

 

   

sale of our convertible preferred stock in arm’s length transactions, and the rights, preferences and privileges of that preferred stock relative to our common stock;

 

   

our operating and financial performance;

 

   

our business strategy, including material risks related to our business;

 

   

likelihood of achieving a liquidity event for our stockholders; and

 

   

external market conditions affecting the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry sectors.

The following table presents the grant dates and related exercise or purchase prices of stock options that we granted from January 1, 2012 through the date of this prospectus, along with the corresponding exercise price for each option grant and the fair value per share utilized to calculate stock-based compensation expense.

 

DATE OF GRANT

  

EQUITY TYPE

   NUMBER OF SHARES
UNDERLYING
AWARDS GRANTED
     EXERCISE PRICE
PER OPTION
     COMMON STOCK
FAIR VALUE PER
SHARE ON
GRANT DATE
 

1/1/2012*

   Common Stock Option      770,000       $ 0.287       $ 0.294   

2/1/2012

   Common Stock Option      44,000         0.294         0.294   

3/29/2012

   Common Stock Option      280,000         0.294         0.294   

6/1/2012

   Common Stock Option      4,000         0.294         0.294   

6/26/2012

   Common Stock Option      4,000         0.294         0.294   

9/6/2012

   Common Stock Option      45,000         0.294         0.294   

10/15/2012*

   Common Stock Option      1,725,000         0.294         0.580   

3/21/2013**

   Common Stock Option      1,523,999         0.580         0.580   

3/21/2013**

   Restricted Common Stock      1,855,170         N/A         0.580   

8/26/2013

   Common Stock Option      1,652,263         0.630         0.630   

9/12/2013***

   Common Stock Option      6,871,495         0.630         0.630   

 

* Refer to “Retrospective 2012 Valuations” section below for additional information. In addition, in March 2013 this grant was amended. Please see “Executive Compensation—Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” for additional information.
** Refer to “Retrospective 2012 Valuations” section below for additional information. Please see “Executive Compensation—Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” for additional information.
*** On September 12, 2013, our board of directors authorized an aggregate of 6,871,495 common stock option grants, consisting of 5,711,495 to executive officers and employees, 1,040,000 to members of the board of directors and 120,000 to third-party consultants.

The estimated fair value per share of common stock in the table above represents the determination by our board of directors of the fair value of our common stock as of the date of grant, taking into consideration various objective and subjective factors, based on recommendations of our management and taking into account advice and assistance provided around the date of such grant by third-party valuation consultants engaged to assist us in connection with such valuations, as discussed below. For grants of stock awards made on dates for which there was no valuation performed by an independent valuation specialist, our board of directors determined the fair value of our common stock on the date of grant based upon the immediately preceding valuation recommendations of our management and other pertinent information available to it at the time of grant. The estimated fair value of our common stock and the related assumptions are set forth below for each of the valuations performed as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

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Valuation of Common Stock as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012

The market research conducted at our direction during the third quarter of 2012 expressed the view that our current product candidates should be well-positioned to compete effectively with existing drug therapies. Based on this research, we developed projections of our future revenues and operating expenses to determine projected free cash flows from our current product candidates AR-13324 and PG324 through patent expiration with respect to our June 30, 2013 valuation, and with respect to our December 31, 2012 valuation, these product candidates as well as our AR-12286 franchise. The enterprise value was determined by utilizing a risk adjusted discounted cash flow model, which is an income approach. The allocation of the determined equity value was based on the option pricing method. Key assumptions underlying the discounted cash flow model are described below.

 

   

Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, or EBITDA. EBITDA as a percentage of revenue was limited to less than or equal to 45% throughout the projection period for each product candidate as of June 30, 2013. EBITDA as a percentage of revenue was limited to less than or equal to 50% throughout the projection period for each product candidate as of December 31, 2012. These limits are in line with observable public specialty pharmaceutical companies.

 

   

Probability of Success. Our unlevered, after-tax free cash flows were adjusted by benchmarking stage of development for each of our product candidates to the drug development success rates as published by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, as adjusted for our circumstances. The probability of success rates utilized ranged between 15% and 40% as of December 31, 2012 and between 27% and 85% as of June 30, 2013. The increase in the probability of success relates to the continued positive progression through Phase 2b clinical trial for our lead product candidate, AR-13324.

 

   

Development Delay Sensitivity . To address the probability of unexpected changes to the development timeline of our product candidates, a delay sensitivity, or delay to expected launch date, of 0 to 2 year was applied.

 

   

Discount and Income Tax Rates . We assumed rates of 19% and 40%, respectively, and applied them to all probability-adjusted cash flows.

The allocation of the determined equity value was based on the option pricing method, which analyzes the rights of the common stock to those of preferred. Our convertible preferred stock has a participation cap distribution equal to three times original investment, which includes the liquidation preference. At the valuation date, we expected that a liquidation event would occur within one year. The liquidation events, determined at the valuation date as an initial public offering or private transaction, were weighted 85% and 15% and 75% and 25% as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. The enterprise and per share value of common stock on a fully marketable basis on June 30, 2013 as determined by us was $114.8 million and $0.72, respectively. After the application of a 13% discount for lack of marketability, the fair value per share of common stock on a non-marketable interest basis was $0.63. The enterprise and per share value of common stock on a fully marketable basis on December 31, 2012, was $106.8 million and $0.71, respectively. After the application of an 18% discount for lack of marketability, the fair value per share of common stock on a non-marketable interest basis was $0.58. The Finnerty and Chaffe models were utilized to estimate the discount for lack of marketability in the aforementioned common stock valuations and 2012 retrospective common stock valuations described below. These models are commonly used for estimating illiquidity discounts for securities of medium volatility and have decreased over time as we progressed towards this offering. The financial statement impact to stock compensation expense and change in fair value measurements as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012 was based on the initial public offering liquidation event.

In the third quarter of 2012, we received and evaluated results from our clinical trials conducted earlier in the year. Based on these results, we determined that our common stock value increased from $0.294 per share as of June 30, 2012 to $0.58 per share as of September 30, 2012. Due to the timing of our clinical trials, we did not have clinical and or regulatory milestones that would significantly alter the key assumptions utilized in our

 

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common stock valuations as of March, 31, 2013, December 31, 2012 and September 30, 2012 (See “—Retrospective 2012 Valuations” below). This resulted in a consistent common stock value on a non-marketable interest basis for each of these valuation dates. During the second quarter of 2013, we evaluated the results of our Phase 2b clinical trials for AR-13324 and our discontinued product candidates. Based on these results, we determined that our common stock value increased from $0.58 per share as of March 31, 2013 to $0.63 per share as of June 30, 2013, the key drivers for which are discussed above.

Retrospective 2012 Valuations

A third-party valuation consultant was engaged to advise and assist our Company in connection with the valuations of our common stock as of September 30, 2012, June 30, 2012 and March 31, 2012. For the purpose of such valuations, our projections as of December 31, 2012 were adjusted to reflect the development stage of our products as of such retrospective valuation dates. Due to the timing of the first Phase 2 clinical trial, we determined that AR-13324 was a viable product candidate in the late third quarter of 2012 and, therefore, included it in our financial and operation projections as of September 30, 2012. Enterprise values as of these retrospective valuation dates were determined by utilizing a risk-adjusted discounted cash flow model, which is an income approach, and the allocation of the determined equity value was based on the option pricing method. Key assumptions underlying the risk-adjusted discounted cash flow model are described below.

 

   

EBITDA . EBITDA as a percentage of revenue was limited to less than or equal to 50% throughout the projection period for each product candidate, in line with observable selected public specialty pharmaceutical companies. This was consistent for all retrospective 2012 valuations.

 

   

Probability of Success . Our unlevered, after-tax free cash flows were adjusted by benchmarking stage of development for each of our product candidates to the drug development success rates as published by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, as adjusted for our circumstances. The probability of success rates utilized ranged between 15% and 40%, 18% and 35% and 18% and 35% for the September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2012 retrospective valuations, respectively.

 

   

Development Delay Sensitivity . To address the probability of unexpected changes to the development timeline of our product candidates, a delay sensitivity, or delay to expected launch date, of 0 to 1 year was applied. This was consistent for all retrospective 2012 valuations.

 

   

Discount and Income Tax Rates . We assumed rates of 19% and 40%, respectively, and applied them to all probability adjusted cash flows for all retrospective 2012 valuations.

The timing and weighting of the liquidation events described above remained consistent for all retrospective 2012 valuations. The fair value of our common stock on a non-marketable interest basis as determined by us was $0.58, $0.22 and $0.24 as of September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2012, respectively, and, after application of a discount for lack of marketability, was 20%, 22% and 24% as of September 30, June 30 and March 31, 2012, respectively.

We believe that the application of the income approach corroborates the utilization of the December 31, 2011 valuation of $0.2941, which was based on a market approach, in pricing all stock options grants prior to September 30, 2012. Stock-based compensation related to options granted subsequent to September 30, 2012 reflected the retrospective valuation as of September 30, 2012. The exercise price on the options granted on January 1, 2012 reflects the most recent common stock value that was available to the board of directors. The exercise price of $0.2874 was less than the fair value as of December 31, 2011 by an immaterial amount.

Valuation of Common Stock as of December 31, 2011

In conducting this valuation, a market approach was utilized to back-solve from prospective transactions involving convertible preferred stock equity securities. Specifically, based on our capital plan at the valuation date, we estimated that we would need additional funding of $27.5 million to continue the advancement of our

 

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single product candidate at that time. At the valuation date, we expected that such a new investment, Series C, would be issued as a flat round with the same price and preference amount as Series B, issued in February 2011, but would rank ahead of it in terms of liquidation. The allocation of the determined equity value was based on the option pricing method, which analyzes the rights of the common stock to those of preferred. Our convertible preferred stock has a participation cap distribution equal to three times original investment, which includes the liquidation preference. At the valuation date, we expected that the additional financing would occur in 2012 with a three year estimate for a liquidity event. The enterprise and per share value of common stock on a fully marketable basis as of December 31, 2011 as determined by us was $75.5 million and $0.4298, respectively. After the application of a 30% discount for lack of marketability and incremental risk adjustment of 2.25%, the fair value per share of common stock on a non-marketable interest basis was $0.2941. This fair value determination was utilized as the exercise price per share for all 2012 stock option grants, except for the January 1, 2012 grant. The issuance of Series C convertible preferred stock did not occur subsequent to the valuation date.

Results of Valuation Models May Vary

Valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions. Because our common stock has characteristics significantly different from that of publicly traded common stock and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable, single measure of the fair value of our common stock. The foregoing valuation methodologies are not the only valuation methodologies available and will not be used to value our common stock once this offering is complete. We cannot make complete assurances as to any particular valuation for our stock. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the foregoing valuation methodologies as an indicator of future stock prices.

Stock Purchase Warrants

We account for our stock purchase warrants as liabilities based upon the characteristics and provisions of the underlying instruments. These liabilities were recorded at their fair value on the date of issuance and are remeasured on each subsequent balance sheet date, with fair value changes recognized as income (decreases in fair value) or expense (increases in fair value) in Other income (expense), net in the statements of operations. The fair value of these liabilities is estimated using the Black-Scholes method, which, under our facts and circumstances, approximates, in all material respects, the values determined when using a Monte Carlo simulation. The composition of our stock purchase warrants and assumptions utilized in estimating fair value are described in Note 10 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

The Black-Scholes method and the Monte Carlo simulation require the use of subjective assumptions, including but not limited to stock price volatility, the expected life of the warrants, the risk free interest rate and the fair value of the underlying equity securities. The fair value of the underlying common stock is determined as discussed above under “—Stock-Based Compensation.” We will continue to adjust the fair values of the warrants at each period end for any changes in fair value until the earlier of the exercise or expiration of the applicable warrants or until such time that the warrants are no longer determined to be derivative instruments. Our warrant liability is expected to fluctuate based on the assumptions used in our valuation model.

Tax Valuation Allowance

A valuation allowance is recorded if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. We provided a full valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets that primarily consist of cumulative net operating losses of $60.8 million for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to December 31, 2012. We incurred net losses of $10.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. Due to our three year cumulative loss position, history of operating losses and losses expected to be incurred in the foreseeable future, a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets was considered necessary.

 

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Results of Operations

Comparison of the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012

The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012:

 

     SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30,
    INCREASE
(DECREASE)
    %  INCREASE
(DECREASE)
 
         2013             2012          
     (unaudited)              
           (in thousands)        

Expenses

        

General and administrative

   $ (3,406   $ (2,285   $ (1,121     49

Research and development

     (6,328     (5,932     (396     7

Other financial income (expense), net

     (384     376        (760     (202 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Net loss

   $ (10,118   $ (7,841    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses increased by $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2012. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $0.5 million in personnel costs, including new salaried employees, related employee stock-based compensation expense, and an increase of $0.6 million in accounting and legal fees and other operating costs.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses increased by $0.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2012. The net increase was primarily due to higher direct clinical costs of $2.3 million offset by a decrease in direct non-clinical costs of $1.6 million. The remaining difference is due to the change in unallocated expenses including employee salary and related expenses. The direct clinical costs for AR-13324 increased by $0.8 million due to activity related to its Phase 2b clinical trial. The remaining portion of the increase is attributable to the Phase 2b clinical trials for product candidates where further advancement for the treatment of glaucoma was discontinued during the second quarter of 2013. These products did not meet desired efficacy requirements for further advancement. The direct non-clinical costs for AR-13324 decreased $0.7 million due to the timing of testing activity, partially offset by increased manufacturing costs. The remaining portion of the decrease is attributable to a decline in manufacturing and testing for discontinued product candidates, as previously described. Research for PG324 was primarily comprised of internal employee salaries.

Other income (expense), net

Other income (expense), net decreased by $0.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2012. The decrease was mainly due to a $1.4 million increase in non-cash interest expense relating to the amortization of the debt discounts and accrued interest and $0.6 million unfavorable non-cash change (expense) in fair value of warrant liabilities. These increased expenses were partially offset by $1.3 million of income generated as a result of our participation in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s sponsored Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program.

 

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Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2012 and 2011

The following table summarizes the results of our operations for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:

 

     YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
    INCREASE
(DECREASE)
    % INCREASE
(DECREASE)
 
     2012     2011      
     (in thousands)  

General and administrative expenses

   $ (5,020   $ (3,521   $ 1,499        43

Research and development expenses

     (9,273     (10,695     (1,422     (13 )% 

Other income (expense), net

     (685     1,249        (1,934     (155 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

Net loss

   $ (14,978   $ (12,967    
  

 

 

   

 

 

     

General and administrative expenses

General and administrative expenses increased by $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2011. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase of $0.9 million in personnel costs, including new salaried employees and related employee stock-based compensation expense resulting in part from the hiring in 2012 of a Chief Medical Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an increase of $0.3 million in legal and consulting fees for supporting intellectual property, patent and business related initiatives and $0.3 million in other operating costs.

Research and development expenses

Research and development expenses decreased by $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2011. This decrease was primarily due to lower direct non-clinical costs of $2.8 million, offset by an increase of direct clinical costs of $1.4 million. Direct non-clinical costs for AR-13324 decreased by $0.5 million due to the timing of testing and manufacturing requirements. The remaining portion of the decrease in direct non-clinical costs primarily related to the timing of manufacturing requirements for product candidates where further advancement for the treatment of glaucoma was discontinued during the second quarter of 2013. These product candidates did not demonstrate the efficacy endpoint required for further advancement. The direct clinical costs for AR-13324 increased by $1.0 million due to the timing of Phase 2a and Phase 2b clinical trials. The remaining portion of the increase relates to the timing of clinical trials of discontinued product candidates, as previously described. Unallocated expenses, including internal employee salary and related expenses, remained consistent across the periods.

Other income (expense), net

Other income (expense), net primarily consisted of the fair value adjustments to warrants liability arising from stock purchase warrants issued in connection with various debt financings. The decrease in Other income (expense), net by $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2011 was due primarily to a one-time, non-cash gain of $0.8 million resulting from the conversion of notes and a $0.3 million favorable non-cash change in fair value of the warrant liability in 2011, with a $0.6 million unfavorable non-cash change in fair value of the warrant liability in 2012. The composition of Other income (expense), net is further described in Note 3 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for at least the next several years. We expect that our research and development and general and administrative expenses will increase over historical levels and, as a result, we will need additional capital to fund our operations, which we may obtain from additional public offerings, debt financing, collaboration and licensing arrangements or other sources.

 

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For the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013, we have cumulative net cash flows used by operating activities of $66.4 million and cumulative net losses of $73.9 million. We have incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows since inception, and have cumulative net cash flows used by operating activities of $58.8 million and cumulative net losses of $63.8 million for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to December 31, 2012. The total future need for operating capital and research and development funding significantly exceeds the cash and cash equivalents that we have on our balance sheet at June 30, 2013. As a result, we will require additional funding in the future and may not be able to raise such additional funds. In the absence of product or other revenues, the amount, timing, nature or source of which cannot be predicted, our losses will continue as we conduct our research and development activities. If adequate funds are not available, we plan to delay, reduce or eliminate research and development programs or reduce administrative expenses. If we are unable to raise sufficient funding in 2013, we may be unable to continue to operate. There is no assurance that we will be successful in obtaining sufficient financing on acceptable terms and conditions to fund continuing operations, if at all. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could also result in restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. Our failure to obtain sufficient funds on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Since our inception, we have funded operations primarily through the sale of preferred stock and issuance of convertible notes payable. Through December 31, 2012, we have raised net cash proceeds of $63.5 million through the sales of $43.8 million of convertible preferred stock and $19.7 million from the issuance of convertible notes. Subsequent to their issuance, $16.2 million of convertible notes converted into shares of convertible preferred stock. As of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we had cash and cash equivalents on hand of approximately $2.4 million and $2.9 million, respectively. We invest cash in excess of immediate requirements in accordance with our investment policy primarily with a view to liquidity and capital preservation. As of December 31, 2012, our funds were held in cash and money market funds.

On December 7, 2012, we authorized the sale of convertible notes, or the outstanding notes, to related parties in the aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million. In December 2012, we issued $3.0 million; in March 2013, we issued an additional $3.0 million; in May 2013, we issued an additional $4.5 million; and in August 2013, we issued an additional $4.5 million. In August 2013, we amended the agreements relating to the outstanding notes, authorizing the sale of an additional $3.0 million and extending the maturity date from September 30, 2013 to December 31, 2013. We expect that the additional $3.0 million will be issued to us through a separate closing prior to the completion of this offering. Refer to Note 15 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The outstanding notes accrue interest at a rate of 8% with principal plus interest due upon maturity. We intend to obtain a written consent from the holders of our outstanding convertible promissory notes prior to the pricing of this offering in which they will agree to convert all principal and interest accrued thereon to common stock upon the completion of this offering at the conversion price equal to the per share offering price. This conversion feature was accounted for as a bifurcated embedded derivative that had an immaterial impact to our financial statements as further described in Note 6 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. No other conversion option features or beneficial conversion features will be triggered in connection with this offering.

The following table summarizes our sources and uses of cash:

 

     SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30,
    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,  
    

    2013    

   

    2012    

   

        2012        

   

        2011        

 
    

(in thousands)

 

Net cash (used by) provided by:

      

Net cash used by operating activities

   $ (7,577   $ (9,320   $ (14,968   $ (11,998

Net cash used by investing activities

     (17     (51     (51     (49

Net cash provided by financing activities

     7,046        6        2,876        23,846   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (548   $ (9,365   $ (12,143   $ 11,799   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, our operating activities used net cash of $7.6 million and $9.3 million, respectively. The use of net cash in all periods primarily resulted from our net losses. The decrease in net loss from operations for the six months ended June 30, 2013 as compared to June 30, 2012 was primarily attributable to $1.3 million of cash proceeds from the sale of deferred state tax benefits to an unrelated third party, as further described in Note 7 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. Other changes from operating activities were caused by changes in accrued research and development expenses, stock-based compensation and the mark-to-market adjustment for the warrants liability. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, our investing activities primarily related to purchases of office furnishings and equipment to facilitate our increased research and development activities and headcount. The net cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended June 30, 2013 was related to $7.5 million from the aforementioned sale of the convertible notes, offset by $0.5 million in payments made in preparation for this initial public offering.

During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, our operating activities used net cash of $15.0 million and $12.0 million, respectively. The use of net cash in all periods primarily resulted from our net losses. The increase in net loss from operations for the year ended December 31, 2012 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2011 was due primarily to the aforementioned increase in general and administrative expenses. Other changes from operating activities were caused by changes in accrued research and development expenses, stock-based compensation and the mark-to-market adjustment for the warrants liability. In connection with a financing that took place in 2011 involving the conversion of notes issued in 2010, we recognized a non-cash gain of $0.8 million arising from the impact of the notes conversion, which decreased net cash from operating activities. During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, our investing activities included primarily purchases of office furnishings and equipment to facilitate our increased research and development activities and headcount.

During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, our financing activities provided net cash of $2.9 million and $23.8 million, respectively. The net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2012 was related to $3.0 million from the aforementioned sale of the convertible notes. The net cash provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2011 was related to $25.0 million of proceeds from the sales of Series B convertible preferred stock, offset by $1.2 million in related issuance costs.

Operating Capital Requirements

We expect to incur increasing operating losses for at least the next several years as we commence Phase 3 and Phase 2b clinical trials of our AR-13324 and PG324 product candidates. We believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with existing cash and cash equivalents, will be sufficient to fund our projected operating requirements for at least the next 12 months following the completion of this offering.

Due to the numerous risks and uncertainties associated with research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products, we are unable to estimate the exact amount of our operating capital requirements. We based our projections on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect or unreliable or may change due to circumstances beyond our control, and as a result we may consume our available capital resources earlier than we originally projected. Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to the following:

 

   

timing and costs of any Phase 3 and Phase 2b clinical trials of our product candidates;

 

   

costs of any follow-on development or products;

 

   

timing and cost of the ongoing supportive non-clinical studies and activities for our product candidates;

 

   

outcome, timing and costs of seeking regulatory approval;

 

   

costs of commercialization activities for our product candidates, if we receive regulatory approval, including the costs and timing of establishing product sales, marketing, manufacturing and distribution capabilities;

 

   

costs of operating as a public company, including legal, compliance, accounting and investor relations expenses;

 

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terms and timing of any future collaborations, licensing, consulting or other arrangements that we may establish; and

 

   

filing and prosecuting patent applications, maintaining and protecting our intellectual property rights and defending against intellectual property related claims.

We expect that we will need to obtain substantial additional funding in order to obtain regulatory approvals on any product candidates and support commercialization and ongoing business activities. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities, the ownership interests of our existing stockholders may be materially diluted and the terms of these securities could include liquidation or other preferences that could adversely affect the rights of our existing stockholders. In addition, debt financing, if available, would result in increased fixed payment obligations and may involve agreements that include restrictive covenants that limit our ability to take specific actions, such as incurring additional debt, making capital expenditures or declaring dividends, that could adversely impact our ability to conduct our business. If we are unable to raise capital when needed or on attractive terms, we could be forced to significantly delay, scale back or discontinue the development or commercialization of our product candidates, seek collaborators at an earlier stage than otherwise would be desirable or on terms that may be less favorable than might otherwise be available.

We will also incur costs as a public company that we have not previously incurred or previously incurred at lower rates, including but not limited to, increased costs and expenses for directors fees, increased personnel costs, increased directors and officers insurance premiums, audit and legal fees, investor relations fees, expenses for compliance with reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act and rules implemented by the SEC and the NASDAQ Global Market and various other costs. We estimate that we will annually incur approximately $1.5 million to $2.5 million in expenses to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at June 30, 2013:

 

     TOTAL      LESS THAN
1 YEAR
     1 TO 3 YEARS      3 TO 5 YEARS      MORE THAN
5 YEARS
 
     (in thousands)  

Operating lease obligations (1)

   $ 1,014       $ 266       $ 422       $ 315       $ 11   

Convertible notes payable (2)

     10,500         10,500         —           —           —     

Accrued interest (2)

     238         238         —           —           —     

 

(1)  

Our operating lease obligations are related to our corporate headquarters in New Jersey and research facility in North Carolina.

(2)  

Under the amended terms of the note agreement (further described in Note 15 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus), we may issue an aggregate amount of $18.0 million of convertible notes. On December 7, 2012 and March 28, 2013, we issued $3.0 million of our outstanding convertible notes. On May 23, 2013, we issued $4.5 million of our outstanding convertible notes. The table above does not reflect $4.5 million of outstanding notes issued in August 2013. We expect to issue $3.0 million of additional convertible notes prior to the completion of this offering. We expect that all outstanding notes including accrued interest, will convert into common stock in connection with this offering.

We have no other contractual obligations or commitments that are not subject to our existing financial statement accrual processes.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We did not have during the periods presented, and we do not currently have, any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined under SEC rules.

 

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Net Operating Loss Carry-Forwards

We have incurred significant net operating losses since our inception in June 2005. We expect to continue to incur net operating losses for the foreseeable future as we continue to develop our product portfolio, seek regulatory approval, and, if such approval is obtained, prepare to commercialize our products.

As of December 31, 2012, we had approximately $60.8 million of net operating loss carry-forwards, which may be utilized against future federal and state income taxes. These net operating losses will begin to expire at various dates beginning in 2024, if not utilized. We also have federal research and development tax credit carry-forwards of $0.4 million to offset future federal income taxes, which expire at various dates beginning in 2024, if not utilized.

Net operating loss and tax credit carry-forwards are subject to review and possible adjustment by the Internal Revenue Service and state tax authorities and may become subject to an annual limitation in the event of certain cumulative changes in the ownership interest of significant stockholders over a three-year period in excess of 50%, as defined under Sections 382 and 383 of the Code, as well as similar state provisions. This could limit the amount of tax attributes that can be utilized annually to offset future taxable income or tax liabilities. The amount of the annual limitation is determined based on the value of the Company immediately prior to the ownership change. Subsequent ownership changes may further affect the limitation in future years.

As of December 31, 2012, we recorded a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets and development tax credit carry-forwards, as we believe, based on our history of operating losses, it is more likely than not that the tax benefits will not be realized. In the future, if we determine that a portion or all of the tax benefits associated with our tax carry-forwards will be realized, net income would increase in the period of such determination. In January 2013, we participated in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Sponsored Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program. Refer to Note 15 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

Our primary exposure to market risk is interest income sensitivity, which is affected by changes in the general level of U.S. interest rates. We had cash and cash equivalents on hand of $2.4 million, $2.9 million and $15.1 million as of June 30, 2013, December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Given the short-term nature of our cash equivalents, we believe that our interest rate risk is not significant to our financial statements. We do not engage in any hedging activities against changes in interest rates. Our outstanding notes carry a fixed interest rate and, as such, are not subject to interest rate risk. We do not have any foreign currency or other derivative financial instruments.

Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012

As a company with less than $1 billion in revenue during our last fiscal year, we qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 

   

two years of audited financial statements, in addition to any required unaudited interim financial statements, with correspondingly reduced “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” disclosure;

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and

 

   

exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal controls over financial reporting.

We may take advantage of these exemptions 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 billion

 

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in annual revenue, we have more than $700 million in market value of our stock held by non-affiliates or we issue more than $1 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 certain 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 allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, we will be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued ASU 2013-02 Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income which requires that public and non-public companies present information about reclassification adjustments for accumulated other comprehensive income in their annual financial statements in a note or on the face of the financial statements. Public companies will also have to provide this information in interim financial statements. The new disclosure requirements are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the provisions of this guidance will not have a material impaction on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

In June 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance intended to increase the prominence of items reported on other comprehensive income (loss). This amended guidance requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) be presented in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income (loss) or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amended guidance became effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We applied this guidance beginning with our financial information for the year ended December 31, 2012. This amended guidance effects presentation, but does not have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

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BUSINESS

Overview

We are a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class therapies for the treatment of patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. Our strategy is to advance our product candidates, including dual-action AR-13324 and triple-action PG324, to regulatory approval, and commercialize these products ourselves in the United States. We plan to build a commercial team of approximately 100 sales representatives to target approximately 10,000 high prescribing eye-care professionals throughout the United States. For certain key markets outside the United States, including Europe, Japan and emerging markets, we intend to explore partnership opportunities through collaboration and licensing arrangements. We plan to further maximize our commercial potential by identifying and advancing additional product candidates, both through our internal discovery efforts and through possible in-licensing or acquisitions of additional ophthalmic products or product candidates that would complement our current product portfolio. Our senior leadership team has extensive experience in the ophthalmology market and has overseen the development and commercialization at major pharmaceutical companies of several successful ophthalmic products, including Acular , Alphagan P , Bepreve , Besivance , Bromday , Istalol , Ocuflox , Retisert , Vitrase , Xibrom and Zylet . If our products are approved and we are commercially successful, we believe Aerie could become a market-leading ophthalmic company.

Our lead product candidate, once-daily, dual-action AR-13324, recently completed a Phase 2b clinical trial in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. We are developing AR-13324 as the first of a new class of compounds that is designed to lower intraocular pressure, or IOP, in patients through a novel dual mechanism of action, or MOA. We believe that, if approved, AR-13324 will represent the first new MOAs for lowering IOP in patients with glaucoma in nearly 20 years. Based on clinical data to date, we expect AR-13324 to compete successfully in the non-prostaglandin analogue, or PGA, market segment due to its strong and consistent IOP-lowering effect with once-daily dosing, favorable tolerability profile, lack of systemic side effects and novel dual-action MOA relative to currently marketed non-PGA products. We are currently planning two Phase 3 registration trials for AR-13324, which we expect to commence in mid-2014 upon completion of Phase 3-enabling toxicology studies.

We are also developing a second product candidate, once-daily, triple-action PG324, which is a single drop fixed-dose combination of AR-13324 and latanoprost, the most commonly prescribed drug for the treatment of patients with glaucoma. Based on our preclinical data to date, we believe PG324 has the potential to provide a greater IOP-lowering effect than any currently approved glaucoma product. Therefore, we believe that PG324 could compete with both PGA and non-PGA therapies. We are currently planning a Phase 2b clinical trial for PG324, which we expect to commence by early 2014.

Glaucoma is one of the largest segments in the global ophthalmic market. In 2012, branded and generic glaucoma product sales exceeded $4.5 billion in the United States, Europe and Japan in aggregate, according to IMS, and prescription volume is expected to grow, driven in large part by the aging population. The non-PGA market segment represents approximately half of the prescription volume in the glaucoma market, with the remainder accounted for by PGA products as shown in the following pie chart, which is based on IMS data.

 

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LOGO

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, it is estimated that over 2.2 million Americans suffer from glaucoma. Glaucoma is a progressive and highly individualized disease, in which elevated levels of IOP are associated with damage to the optic nerve, which results in irreversible vision loss and potentially blindness. Patients may suffer the adverse effects of glaucoma across a wide range of IOP levels. The level of IOP in healthy individuals is generally accepted to be 10 to 21 millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. The majority of glaucoma patients have an IOP of 26 mmHg or below at the time of diagnosis, which we refer to as “low to moderately elevated” IOP. Glaucoma is treated by the reduction of IOP, which has been shown to slow the progression of vision loss. In a healthy eye, fluid is continuously produced and drained in order to maintain pressure equilibrium and provide nutrients to the eye tissue. The FDA recognizes sustained lowering of IOP as the primary clinical endpoint for the approval of drugs to treat patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The primary drainage mechanism of the eye is the trabecular meshwork, or TM, which accounts for approximately 80% of fluid drainage, while the secondary drainage mechanism, the uveoscleral pathway, is responsible for the remaining drainage. In glaucoma patients, damage to the TM results in insufficient drainage of fluid from the eye, which causes increased IOP and damage to the optic nerve.

Once glaucoma develops, it is a chronic condition that requires life-long treatment. The initial treatment for glaucoma patients is typically the use of a prescription eye drop. PGAs have become the most widely prescribed glaucoma drug class. The most frequently prescribed PGA is once-daily latanoprost. The most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs belong to the beta blocker class. The most frequently prescribed beta blocker is twice-daily timolol. Other non-PGA drug classes include the alpha agonists and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. When PGA monotherapy is insufficient to control IOP, non-PGA products are used either as add-on therapy to the PGA or as an alternative monotherapy.

Our product candidates represent a new class of drugs utilizing novel MOAs that are applied topically as once-daily eye drops. Currently approved drugs mainly reduce IOP by increasing fluid outflow through the eye’s secondary drain with once-daily dosing or reducing fluid inflow by decreasing fluid production with multiple doses per day. AR-13324 lowers IOP through a dual MOA that relaxes the contracted tissue of the TM to improve fluid outflow through the eye’s primary drain while also decreasing fluid production in the eye. PG324, our triple-action fixed-

 

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combination product candidate, combines AR-13324’s dual action with latanoprost, a PGA that increases fluid drainage through the uveoscleral pathway. In addition to our primary product candidates, we are in preclinical development with AR-13533, our second generation dual-action ROCK/NET inhibitor.

We believe that significant unmet needs exist in the non-PGA market segment and that eye-care professionals are eager for new therapy choices. Many of the currently marketed non-PGA drugs have modest efficacy, require two to three doses daily and have tolerability and safety issues. None of the most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs target the diseased TM. Despite these limitations, the most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs each generated over $400 million of peak annual global revenues prior to the introduction of their generic equivalents. As a result, we believe there is significant market opportunity for AR-13324 as a non-PGA drug, if approved. In addition, based on our preclinical data to date, we believe that PG324 may have potentially superior efficacy to all currently marketed drugs, including PGAs. If we are able to demonstrate this in clinical trials and PG324 is approved for commercialization, we believe this new triple-action therapy could become an initial glaucoma treatment of choice for eye-care professionals.

We own the worldwide rights to all indications for our current product candidates. Our intellectual property portfolio contains patents and pending patent applications related to composition of matter, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use for our product candidates. We have patent protection for our primary product candidates, AR-13324 and PG324, in the United States through at least 2030.

Our Product Pipeline

Our product candidates are once-daily eye drops that lower IOP through novel MOAs. Our product candidates are designed to inhibit both Rho Kinase, or ROCK, and the norepinephrine transporter, or NET. Through ROCK inhibition, they reduce IOP by increasing fluid outflow through the TM, the diseased tissue responsible for elevated IOP in glaucoma. Through NET inhibition, they also lower IOP by reducing the production of eye fluid.

We discovered and developed our product candidates internally through a rational drug design approach that

coupled medicinal chemistry with high content screening of compounds in proprietary cell-based assays. We selected and formulated our product candidates for preclinical in vivo testing following a detailed characterization of over 1,500 synthesized ROCK inhibitors, including ROCK/NET inhibitors. We continue to

discover and develop new compounds in our research laboratories and employ a scientific staff with expertise in medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, pharmacology and pharmaceutical science.

The following table summarizes each of our existing product candidates, their MOAs, and their development status, as well as our intellectual property rights for these product candidates.

 

Product Candidate and Mechanism

  

Phase of Development

   Intellectual
Property

Rights

AR-13324

   Dual-action—ROCK/NET inhibitor    Phase 3 registration trial expected to begin mid-2014    Wholly-Owned

PG324

   Triple-action—Combination of dual-action AR-13324 and latanoprost, a PGA    Phase 2b clinical trial expected to begin by early 2014    Wholly-Owned

AR-13533

   Dual-action—Second generation ROCK/NET inhibitor    Preclinical    Wholly-Owned

 

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Dual-Action AR-13324

AR-13324 is the first of a new dual-action class of glaucoma drugs that was discovered by our scientists. It increases fluid outflow through the primary drain of the eye while also reducing eye fluid production. It acts through the inhibition of both ROCK and NET.

ROCK is a protein kinase, which is an enzyme that modifies other proteins by chemically adding phosphate groups to them. Specifically, ROCK regulates actin and myosin, which are proteins that are responsible for cellular contraction. ROCK activity also promotes the production of extracellular matrix proteins. ROCK inhibitors block TM cell contraction and reduce the production of extracellular matrix, thereby improving fluid outflow and consequently decreasing IOP.

NET is a protein that transports norepinephrine across neuronal cell membranes. Norepinephrine is a chemical released by neurons to communicate with targeted cells. NET returns excess norepinephrine back into the neuron, which helps end the signaling between the neuron and the neuron’s target cells. We believe the inhibition of NET prolongs the activation of target cells in the ciliary body of the eye, which reduces the production of eye fluid and thereby lowers IOP.

In addition to its dual MOA, AR-13324 has a number of characteristics that distinguish it from previously developed Aerie products, including single-action ROCK-selective drug AR-12286 and its fixed-dose combination product PG286, and other clinical-stage ROCK inhibitors, which together we refer to as “comparator ROCK inhibitors.” AR-13324 has a unique chemical composition that was specifically designed to allow maximal efficacy of the drug in the eye. Enzymatic conversion of AR-13324 produces two separate molecules, one of which is approximately ten to 160 times more potent at inhibiting ROCK than comparator ROCK inhibitors. This contributes to AR-13324’s greater efficacy and longer duration of effect relative to comparator ROCK inhibitors that we observed in preclinical models. In addition, AR-13324 has inhibitory activity against a secondary kinase target, Protein Kinase C, or PKC, which is known to act in parallel with ROCK to promote cell contraction. Compounds that inhibit ROCK without inhibiting PKC may allow PKC activity to increase in TM cells over time, resulting in a loss of IOP-lowering efficacy. We believe the ability of AR-13324 to inhibit both the primary, ROCK, and secondary, PKC, signaling pathways that lead to TM cell contraction contributes to the ability of AR-13324 to maintain its efficacy.

AR-13324 is expected to compete against non-PGA products, the significant majority of which have been in the market for at least 20 years. The most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs each generated peak annual global revenues over $400 million prior to the introduction of their generic equivalents. The non-PGA market segment represents approximately half of the prescription volume and the remainder is accounted for by PGA products. We believe there is a significant unmet need in the non-PGA market segment due to the multiple daily dosings, side effects and contraindications of non-PGA products. We believe that AR-13324 has several significant differentiating characteristics that would make it a strong competitor in the non-PGA market segments, if approved, including:

 

   

Strong IOP-Lowering Effect —In our Phase 2b clinical trial, once-daily AR-13324 demonstrated mean IOP reductions of 5.7 and 6.2 mmHg on days 28 and 14, respectively. Studies have shown that a sustained 5 mmHg reduction in IOP reduces risk of disease progression by approximately 50%. If confirmed in our planned Phase 3 registration trials, we believe this level of IOP reduction would equal or exceed that of all currently marketed non-PGA drugs.

 

   

Once-Daily Dosing Advantage —The most commonly prescribed non-PGA drugs are dosed two to three times daily. AR-13324 is being developed as a once-daily dosed glaucoma therapy. This more convenient dosing regimen is expected to result in higher patient compliance, which may lead to improved outcomes.

 

   

Favorable Tolerability Profile —Currently marketed non-PGA drugs have several tolerability issues indicated on their product labels, including blurred vision, unusual tastes, ocular allergic reaction and itching of the eye. In our Phase 2a and 2b clinical trials for AR-13324, a total of 209 patients were

 

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exposed to the drug. The main tolerability finding for AR-13324 was transient, or temporary, hyperemia, which is a cosmetic asymptomatic redness of the eye. Most hyperemia was scored as “mild.” Hyperemia is a common tolerability finding associated with the most widely prescribed glaucoma drugs.

 

   

Lack of Systemic Side Effects —AR-13324 has demonstrated a lack of systemic side effects in clinical trials to date. The currently marketed non-PGA drugs have systemic side effect issues indicated on their product labels, including among others, lethargy, reduced heart rate, Stevens Johnson syndrome and blood dyscrasias. Further, the most widely prescribed non-PGA drug, timolol, has contraindications, including bronchospasm, arrhythmia and heart failure.

 

   

Novel Dual-Action MOA —If approved, we believe AR-13324 would be the only once-daily drug available that specifically targets the TM, the diseased tissue responsible for elevated IOP in glaucoma. We believe AR-13324 will also be the first glaucoma drug to inhibit NET, which reduces fluid production in the eye. In addition, we believe the AR-13324 dual-action MOA is highly complementary to the MOA of the market-leading PGAs, which increase fluid outflow through the uveoscleral pathway.

 

   

Consistent IOP-Lowering Effect Across Various Baseline IOPs —In our Phase 2b clinical trial, AR-13324 demonstrated a distinct ability to reduce IOP at consistent levels across all baseline IOPs tested in the trial. Published studies have indicated that currently marketed PGA and non-PGA drugs do not lower IOP as effectively in patients with low to moderately elevated baseline IOPs relative to patients with higher IOPs. Patients with low to moderately elevated IOPs represent the significant majority of glaucoma patients.

Based on the Phase 2b clinical trial results, and the several positive differentiating attributes of AR-13324, we believe AR-13324 has the potential to be a strong competitor in the non-PGA market segment. Our Phase 3 registration trials are designed to use timolol as the comparator, as timolol represents the most widely used comparator in registration trials in glaucoma, and is also the most widely prescribed non-PGA drug.

AR-13324 Phase 2 Efficacy Results

In May 2013, we completed a 28-day AR-13324 Phase 2b clinical trial. This trial included 224 patients who were treated once daily with AR-13324 0.01%, AR-13324 0.02% or latanoprost. Although AR-13324 is expected to compete primarily against other non-PGA drugs, latanoprost was used as the comparator because it is the most widely prescribed drug of all currently marketed glaucoma products. The primary efficacy endpoint for this Phase 2b clinical trial was mean diurnal IOP across subjects within each treatment group on day 28. We observed statistically significant decreases in mean diurnal IOP in all treatment groups on day 28 as compared to unmedicated baseline.

Baseline IOP was measured prior to treatment. Following treatment, IOP was measured on day seven at 8 a.m. and on days 14 and 28 at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. On day 14, mean diurnal IOP (which refers to the average of mean IOPs measured at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.) decreased to 19.8, 19.5 and 18.4 mmHg in the AR-13324 0.01%, AR-13324 0.02% and latanoprost groups, respectively, representing a decrease from unmedicated baseline of 5.9, 6.2 and 7.1 mmHg. On day 28, mean diurnal IOP was 20.1, 20.0 and 18.7 mmHg, respectively, representing a decrease from unmedicated baseline of 5.5, 5.7 and 6.8 mmHg. These decreases from unmedicated baseline were statistically significant with p-values < 0.001. P-value, or probability value, is a statistical measure that helps scientists determine if their hypotheses are correct. It is directly related to the statistical significance level of the results, which is an important component in determining whether the data obtained from scientific research support the hypothesis being tested.

The statistical significance level is determined by the researcher and is customarily set at 0.05, or 5%. Essentially, this means that 5% of the time, the results in the study would be derived by complete chance, but 95% of the time, the variable in the study would be directly related to the results of the study. Efficacy results from the Phase 2b trial are further described below.

 

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Efficacy Results of the 28-day Phase 2b Clinical Trial Comparing AR-13324 to Latanoprost

Showing Mean Diurnal IOP for Days 14 and 28 Compared to Baseline

 

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AR-13324 maintained consistent efficacy from day seven to day 28. For AR-13324 0.02%, which is the concentration we intend to use in our planned Phase 3 trials, at the 8 a.m. time point, the time of highest baseline IOP, the IOP reductions achieved on day seven and day 28 were 6.0 and 5.9 mmHg, respectively. The level of IOP reduction achieved by AR-13324 0.02% in our Phase 2b study was clinically significant, since previously published long-term studies have demonstrated that a sustained 5 mmHg reduction in IOP reduces the risk of disease progression by approximately 50%.

“Clinical significance” means that the effect is large enough to be important to patients and physicians. An effect that is clinically significant may or may not also be statistically significant. In glaucoma, the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial, a large long-term study evaluating the effect of IOP lowering in patients with glaucoma, concluded that each 1 mmHg reduction in IOP lowered the risk of progression of optic nerve damage by 10%, indicating that each 1 mmHg reduction in IOP provides a meaningful level of protection to the patient.

IOP-Lowering Effect of AR-13324 0.02% at 8 a.m. on Days 7, 14 and 28

 

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In the full Phase 2b trial population, which consisted of patients with unmedicated baseline IOPs ranging from 22 to 36 mmHg, the IOP-lowering effect of our once-daily AR-13324 0.02% was 1.2 mmHg less than that of latanoprost on day 28 and did not show non-inferiority. However, AR-13324 0.02% efficacy relative to latanoprost was in line with published historical data for twice-daily timolol relative to latanoprost. Timolol is the most commonly prescribed non-PGA drug and the comparator for our planned Phase 3 non-inferiority registration trial.

 

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A study by Hedman and Alm which reports on the pooled data from three registration trials of latanoprost versus timolol showed the IOP lowering effect of timolol to be 1.2 mmHg less than that of latanoprost, as reflected in the graph on the following page under the heading “Comparison of Latanoprost and Timolol from Pooled Data of Three Registration Trials.” Our AR-13324 Phase 2b clinical trials similarly showed AR-13324 to have an IOP-lowering effect of 1.2 mmHg less than that of latanoprost.

An additional protocol-specified analysis that compared the results for the patients who entered the trial with moderately elevated baseline IOPs (22 to 26 mmHg) to patients with highly elevated baseline IOPs (greater than 26 mmHg) revealed a differentiated efficacy profile of AR-13324 compared to latanoprost. Consistent with previous scientific literature, latanoprost produced smaller IOP reductions in patients with moderately elevated IOPs than in patients with highly elevated IOPs. In contrast, AR-13324 maintained essentially the same IOP-lowering effect in patients with moderately elevated IOPs as in patients with highly elevated IOPs (p>0.30). As a result, the IOP-lowering effect of AR-13324 was equivalent to latanoprost in patients with moderately elevated baseline IOPs and AR-13324 thereby demonstrated statistical non-inferiority to latanoprost in this sub-group. A non-inferiority trial is a type of clinical trial performed to see if a new drug or treatment is “ not inferior ” to a current active treatment or to determine if a new treatment is “ at least as good as, ” or “ not unacceptably worse than ,” the active comparator treatment. A non-inferiority trial aims at demonstrating that the test product is not worse than the comparator by more than a small pre-specified amount. This amount is known as the non-inferiority margin, which for the AR-13324 Phase 2b trial was 1.5 mmHg.

IOP-Lowering Effect of AR-13324 0.02% and Latanoprost in the Full Patient Population Compared to the Subgroup with Moderately Elevated IOP*

 

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  * Based on diurnal measurements.

A study published in 2000, which pooled data from three latanoprost registration trials, demonstrated that both latanoprost and timolol lose approximately 0.5 mmHg in efficacy for every 1 mmHg lower baseline IOP, as illustrated in the chart below. Additional publications have indicated similar declining efficacy results for other currently marketed non-PGA glaucoma drugs, including the alpha agonist brimonidine and the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor dorzolamide.

 

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Comparison of Latanoprost and Timolol from Pooled Data of Three Registration Trials

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Source: Hedman and Alm (Eur J Ophthalmol 2000; 10:95-104)

We believe the ability of AR-13324 to maintain a consistent IOP-lowering effect on baseline IOP will place AR-13324 in a favorable competitive position relative to current non-PGA drugs because a significant majority of glaucoma patients have baseline IOPs of 26 mmHg or below. Results from a large epidemiological survey published in 1991, the Baltimore Eye Survey, demonstrated that greater than 78% of patients have unmedicated baseline IOPs of 26 mmHg or below when first diagnosed with glaucoma.

Prevalence of Glaucoma by Baseline IOP at the Time of Diagnosis

 

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Adapted from Baltimore Eye Survey in which 10,444 subjects were screened for the prevalence of Open-Angle Glaucoma (OAG)

 

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AR-13324 Phase 2a Efficacy Results

In August 2012, we completed a 7-day AR-13324 Phase 2a clinical trial. This trial included 85 patients who were treated once-daily with AR-13324 0.01%, AR-13324 0.02%, AR-13324 0.04% or AR-13324’s vehicle. “Vehicle” refers to the formulation without the active ingredient. Baseline IOP was measured prior to treatment. IOP was measured following seven days of dosing at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. The primary efficacy endpoint for this Phase 2a clinical trial was the mean diurnal IOP (which refers to the average of mean IOPs measured at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.) across subjects within each treatment group on day eight. We observed statistically significant decreases in mean diurnal IOP in all AR-13324 treatment groups following seven days of dosing compared to unmedicated baseline. Additionally, each concentration of AR-13324 was shown to be statistically superior to the vehicle following seven days of dosing with p-values ranging from 0.018 to <0.001.

AR-13324 Phase 2 Safety Data

In our 7-day Phase 2a and 28-day Phase 2b clinical trials for AR-13324 a total of 209 patients were exposed to AR-13324. In these trials, AR-13324 was well tolerated. The main adverse event was transient hyperemia, or asymptomatic redness of the eye, with all hyperemia scored as mild or moderate. This cosmetic tolerability finding is based on the MOA of the drug, which induces a transient dilation of small blood vessels located over the sclera, or white part of the eye.

The biomicroscopy findings in the Phase 2b trial for the vast majority of patients who experienced ocular hyperemia were mild and transient, and there were no observations of severe ocular hyperemia. Biomicroscopy refers to the observation by a masked examiner of the anterior part of the eye. On day 28 at 8 a.m., mild and moderate conjunctival hyperemia was observed in 18% and 24% of patients in the AR-13324 0.01% and 0.02% treatment groups, respectively, and in 11% of patients in the latanoprost group. The incidence of conjunctival hyperemia decreased throughout the study for AR-13324 and increased for latanoprost.

Published data indicate that latanoprost generates the lowest rate of hyperemia among the commonly prescribed PGAs. In a study that compared the relative frequency of hyperemia for bimatoprost, travaprost and latanoprost after 12 weeks of treatment, the largest proportion of patients reporting redness was found in the bimatoprost group with 35%, followed by the travoprost and latanoprost groups with 27% and 16%, respectively.

AR-13324 Comparison to AR-12286

We have analyzed our clinical and preclinical data for AR-13324, the lead candidate from our dual-action ROCK/NET inhibitor class, relative to our clinical and preclinical data for AR-12286, our single-action ROCK-selective compound that we were previously evaluating for further clinical development in addition to AR-13324. We conducted similarly designed 28-day Phase 2 clinical trials for each of AR-13324 and AR-12286, the comparative results of which are presented in the chart below. AR-13324 0.02% maintained stable efficacy on day 28 relative to day seven in its 28-day Phase 2 clinical trial. In contrast, AR-12286 0.5% lost 1.4 mmHg of IOP-lowering efficacy from day seven to day 28 in its 28-day Phase 2 clinical trial.

 

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IOP-Lowering Effect of Dual-Action AR-13324 and Single-Action AR-12286

at 8 a.m. on Days 7, 14 and 28

 

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We subsequently completed a three-month Phase 2 clinical trial for AR-12286, for which data were available in June 2013. This trial confirmed the trend observed in the 28-day trial discussed above. In the three-month trial, the efficacy of AR-12286 continued to decline over the trial period such that it failed to meet its primary efficacy endpoint, non-inferiority to timolol.

Our lead product candidate, AR-13324, has a number of characteristics that distinguish it from AR-12286. AR-13324 lowers IOP through a dual mechanism of action by inhibiting both ROCK and NET, whereas AR-12286 has a single mechanism of action inhibiting only ROCK. In addition, AR-13324 has a unique chemical composition that was specifically designed to allow maximal efficacy of the drug in the eye. Enzymatic conversion of AR-13324 produces two separate molecules, one of which is approximately ten times more potent at inhibiting ROCK than AR-12286. AR-13324’s more potent ROCK inhibition, as well as its ability to inhibit NET, contributes to its greater efficacy and longer duration of effect relative to AR-12286.

In addition, the analyses of our data suggest that there is a secondary signaling pathway that is activated by a protein called Protein Kinase C, or PKC, that also leads to contraction of the TM. Our preclinical analyses show that AR-13324 is a potent inhibitor of both ROCK and PKC, whereas AR-12286 is a potent inhibitor of ROCK but not of PKC. We believe that the ability of AR-13324 to inhibit both the primary ROCK and the secondary PKC signaling pathways also contributes to AR-13324’s ability to maintain its efficacy over time.

Furthermore, in a six-month toxicology study with exaggerated dosing of AR-12286, lens opacities, otherwise known as cataracts, were observed in rabbit eyes beginning at three months. In a similar six-month toxicology study with exaggerated dosing of AR-13324, no adverse lens effects were observed.

As a result of these observations, in June 2013, we selected dual-action AR-13324 for advancement to Phase 3 clinical development and discontinued development of AR-12286 and its related fixed-dose combination product PG286.

AR-13324 Development Strategy

Registration trials for AR-13324 are expected to begin mid-2014 upon completion of three-month interim study reports from our six-month and nine-month Phase 3-enabling ocular toxicology studies. The AR-13324 doses and dosing frequencies being tested in these studies have previously been shown to be well tolerated in 28-day and six-month ocular toxicology studies. We plan to run two pivotal trials that will include at least 1,200 patients in total. The entry criteria for our Phase 3 trials are planned to include a minimum IOP of 21 mmHg and a likely maximum of 26 to 30 mmHg, pending additional discussions with the FDA and further commercial analysis. The entry criteria for our Phase 2 trials were 22 to 36 mmHg. Lowering the IOP entry criteria for our Phase 3 trials will increase the representation of patients with moderately elevated IOPs in the trials and thereby provide a

 

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more representative cross section of the glaucoma patient population. The registration trials will be non-inferiority trials comparing AR-13324 0.02% taken once daily in the evening to twice-daily timolol, the standard comparator for glaucoma registration trials and also the most widely prescribed non-PGA glaucoma drug. Phase 3 efficacy results will be determined after three months of treatment and safety results will be analyzed and submitted following 12 months of treatment. Assuming we commence the Phase 3 trials in mid-2014 and fully enroll the trials within our anticipated timeframe, we would expect efficacy data from the two trials in mid-2015 and that, if the results of the Phase 3 trials are positive, that we would make an NDA filing by mid-2016. We intend to explore the potential for priority review with the FDA, although there can be no assurance that such priority review will be granted by the FDA.

Triple-Action PG324

Our once-daily, triple-action product candidate PG324 is a combination of our dual-action compound AR-13324 formulated with latanoprost in a single eye drop. If approved, we believe that PG324 would be the first glaucoma product to lower IOP through all three MOAs:

 

   

increasing fluid outflow through the TM, the eye’s primary drain,

 

   

increasing fluid outflow through the uveoscleral pathway, the eye’s secondary drain, and

 

   

reducing fluid production in the eye.

In the PG324 fixed-combination product, AR-13324 is responsible for increasing fluid outflow through the TM and reducing fluid production in the eye. Latanoprost is responsible for increasing fluid outflow through the uveoscleral pathway.

 

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Triple-action PG324 has been tested in a preclinical primate model to assess its effectiveness at lowering IOP. The graph below presents the data from dosing PG324 and latanoprost once daily for three days (at hours 0, 24 and 48). The results of the study show that at all time points measured, PG324 reduced IOP substantially more than latanoprost alone. No IOP measurements were taken on day two of the study between hours 24 and 48.

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  * SEM refers to Standard Error of the Mean.

In addition, we have established human proof of concept in prior ROCK inhibitor/PGA combination trials with our discontinued PG286 product, which demonstrated significant IOP lowering beyond the PGA alone at 28 days.

We believe PG324, if approved, would be the only glaucoma product that covers the full spectrum of IOP-lowering mechanisms, giving it the potential to provide a greater IOP-lowering effect than any currently approved glaucoma product. Therefore, we believe that PG324 could compete with both PGA and non-PGA therapies.

PG324 Development Strategy

In light of the clinical experience with AR-13324 to date and the extensive clinical experience with latanoprost, which has been used in patients for approximately 20 years, we plan to advance PG324 directly into a Phase 2b clinical trial. PG324 is covered by the investigational new drug application, or IND, for AR-13324. We have 28-day toxicology data to support a 28-day clinical trial. The process to be followed for the planned Phase 2b clinical trial will be consistent with normal FDA guidelines, including the submission of the protocol to the FDA. We expect to commence this trial by early 2014. The trial is planned to be a randomized, controlled 28-day trial in approximately 300 patients. The trial will be designed to measure the efficacy of two concentrations of PG324 (with 0.01% and 0.02% concentrations) compared to latanoprost and AR-13324 0.02%, all dosed once daily. The efficacy endpoint will be superiority of PG324 to each of its components. The Phase 3 registration trial for PG324 is expected to mirror the planned Phase 2b trial but with three-month efficacy and a 12-month safety trial, and will only test one concentration of PG324. Assuming we commence the Phase 2b trial by early 2014 and fully enroll the trial within our anticipated timeframe, we would expect results mid-2014.

 

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Second-Generation, Dual-Action AR-13533

In addition to our primary product candidates, AR-13324 and PG324, we are in the preclinical development stage with AR-13533, our second generation dual-action ROCK/NET inhibitor. AR-13533 does not require enzymatic conversion in the eye to deliver maximal ROCK inhibitor activity, and therefore AR-13533 may provide additional IOP-lowering effect in patients beyond that obtained with AR-13324. We have not submitted an IND for AR-13533 to the FDA and there can be no assurance that an IND will be submitted.

Our Strategy

Our goal is to be a leader in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative pharmaceutical products for the treatment of patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. We believe our product candidates have the potential to address many of the unmet medical needs in the glaucoma market. Key elements of our strategy are to:

Advance the development of our product candidates to approval. Based on the results from our Phase 2b clinical trial for dual-action AR-13324, we plan to proceed into Phase 3 registration trials for this drug. Additionally, we plan to initiate a Phase 2b clinical trial for PG324, our triple-action combination of AR-13324 and latanoprost and, over the longer term, also to evaluate opportunities associated with preclinical-stage AR-13533, our second generation dual-action ROCK/NET inhibitor.

Establish internal sales capabilities to commercialize our product candidates in the United States. We own worldwide rights to all indications for our product candidates and we plan to retain U.S. commercialization rights. Ultimately, if our product candidates are approved, we plan to build a commercial team of approximately 100 sales representatives. We expect our sales organization to target approximately 10,000 high prescribing eye-care professionals throughout the United States.

Explore partnerships with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to maximize the value of our product candidates outside the United States. We currently plan to explore the licensing of commercialization rights or other forms of collaboration with qualified potential partners for the commercialization of our product candidates in certain key markets outside of the United States, including Europe, Japan and emerging markets.

Continue to leverage and strengthen our intellectual property portfolio. We believe we have a strong intellectual property position relating to our product candidates. Our intellectual property portfolio contains U.S. patents and pending U.S. and foreign patent applications related to composition of matter, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use for our product candidates. We have patent protection for our primary product candidates in the United States through at least 2030.

Expand our product portfolio through internal discovery efforts and possible in-licensing or acquisitions of additional ophthalmic product candidates or products. We continually seek to discover and develop new compounds in our research laboratories and employ a scientific staff with expertise in medicinal chemistry, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, cell biology, pharmacology and pharmaceutical science. In addition, we also plan to evaluate the expansion of our product portfolio through in-licensing or acquisitions of additional ophthalmic product candidates or products.

Glaucoma Overview

Glaucoma is generally characterized by relatively high IOP as a result of impaired drainage of fluid, known as aqueous humor, from the eye. The FDA recognizes sustained lowering of IOP, measured in terms of mmHg, as the primary clinical endpoint for regulatory approval, making clinical trials for this indication relatively straight-forward due to easily measured objective parameters.

In a healthy eye, aqueous humor is continuously produced and drained from the eye in order to maintain pressure equilibrium and provide micronutrients to various tissues in the eye. The normal range of IOP is generally

 

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between 10 and 21 mmHg. Several studies have demonstrated that the significant majority of glaucoma patients have IOPs below 26 mmHg at the time of diagnosis. An insufficient drainage of fluid can increase IOP above normal levels, which can eventually cause damage to the optic nerve. Once damaged, the optic nerve cannot regenerate and thus, damage to vision is permanent.

The most common form of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma, which is characterized by abnormally high IOP as a result of impaired drainage of fluid from the eye’s primary drain, the TM. Open-angle glaucoma is a progressive disease leading to vision loss and blindness for some patients as a result of irreversible damage to the optic nerve.

Studies of the disease have demonstrated that reducing IOP in patients with glaucoma can help slow or halt further damage to the optic nerve and help preserve vision. Once diagnosed, glaucoma requires life-long treatment to maintain IOP at lower levels based on the individual patient’s risk of disease progression. Ophthalmologists will routinely determine a target IOP, which represents the desired IOP level to achieve with glaucoma therapy for an individual patient. Should the disease progress even once the initial target IOP is reached, further lowering of the IOP has been shown to help in preventing additional damage to the optic nerve and further vision loss. This may require lowering IOP until it is in the so called “low normal range” of 12 to 14 mmHg to protect the optic nerve from further damage.

There are multiple factors that could lead to open-angle glaucoma, including age and family history of glaucoma, and there is a higher incidence and severity of the disease in African-American and Hispanic populations.

Some patients with high IOP are diagnosed with a condition known as ocular hypertension. Patients with ocular hypertension have high IOP without the loss of visual fields or observable damage to the optic nerve, and are at an increased risk of developing glaucoma. These patients are commonly treated in the same manner as glaucoma patients.

The following diagram illustrates how increased IOP eventually leads to increased pressure on the optic nerve, resulting in gradual loss of vision and ultimately visual disability and blindness.

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The ciliary body in the eye is the tissue that produces aqueous humor, the production of which is commonly referred to as fluid inflow. The fluid leaves the eye primarily through the TM, the process of which is commonly referred to as fluid outflow. The healthy eye maintains a state of IOP homeostasis through a constant physiological process of aqueous humor production and drainage. The deteriorating function of the TM in glaucoma leads to increased resistance to fluid outflow and higher IOP. There is also a secondary drain for the fluid in the eye known as the uveoscleral pathway, which is typically responsible for approximately 20% of fluid drainage.

Patients are diagnosed through measurements of IOP using Goldmann applanation tonometry, the standard device used by clinicians to measure IOP, along with an evaluation of visual fields and observing the appearance of the optic nerve. These tests are routinely carried out by eye-care professionals. The initial treatment for

 

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patients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension is typically a PGA eye drop. PGAs are designed to lower IOP by increasing outflow through the eye’s secondary fluid drain. An eye-care professional will then measure a patient’s response to the drug over the first few months. It has been shown that up to 50% of glaucoma patients require more than one drug to treat their IOP. This may occur as early as three to six months after initiating treatment with a PGA. The eye-care professionals may then add a second drug from one of the non-PGA classes, to be used together with the initial drug, or switch to a fixed-combination of two drugs in a single eye drop, or select an alternative single treatment. The reason so many patients eventually need more than one drug is generally considered to be a reflection of the progressive nature of the disease at the TM.

In severe glaucoma cases, patients may need to undergo an invasive surgical procedure. Trabeculectomy is the most common glaucoma-related surgical procedure, also referred to as filtration surgery, in which a piece of tissue in the drainage angle of the eye is removed, creating an opening to the outside of the eye. The opening is partially covered with a scleral flap, the white part of the eye, and the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the sclera. This new opening allows fluid to drain out of the eye, bypassing the clogged drainage channels of the TM to maintain a lowered IOP. Devices called shunts are used in glaucoma surgery to divert fluid in a controlled manner from the inside of the eye to the subconjunctival space bypassing the blocked TM. Generally, the shunts reduce IOP to the extent that the use of drops can be reduced, but often not completely eliminated. Many patients continue to require eye drops even following surgery.

Competition

The pharmaceutical industry is characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. While we believe that our experience and scientific knowledge provide us with competitive advantages, we face competition from established branded and generic pharmaceutical companies, such as Bausch + Lomb, Inc. (recently acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.), Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis International AG, Allergan, Inc., Santen Inc. and smaller biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies as well as from academic institutions, government agencies and private and public research institutions, which may in the future develop products to treat glaucoma. Any product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize will compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future. We believe that the key competitive factors affecting the success of our product candidates, if approved, are likely to be efficacy, safety, convenience, price, tolerability and the availability of reimbursement from government and other third-party payors.

We expect to compete directly against companies producing existing and future glaucoma treatment products. The most commonly approved classes of eye drops to lower IOP in glaucoma are discussed below:

PGA Drug Class

 

   

Prostaglandin Analogues (PGAs). Most PGAs are once-daily dosed eye drops generally prescribed as the initial drug to reduce IOP by increasing fluid outflow through the eye’s secondary drain. PGAs represent up to half of the U.S. and European prescription volume for the treatment of glaucoma.

Xalatan (latanoprost), the best-selling PGA, and Xalacom, its fixed-combination with a beta blocker which is not available in the U.S., had worldwide peak sales of $1.7 billion before its patent expired in 2012, according to publicly reported sales. The adverse effects of PGAs include hyperemia or eye redness, irreversible change in iris color, discoloration of the skin around the eyes, and droopiness of eyelids. PGAs should be used with caution in patients with a history of intraocular inflammation.

Non-PGA Drug Class

 

   

Beta Blockers. Beta blockers, with their MOA designed to inhibit aqueous production, are one of the oldest approved drugs for the lowering of IOP. The most commonly used drug in this class is timolol. Beta blockers are less effective than PGAs in terms of IOP lowering and are typically used twice daily. Beta blockers are the most commonly used non-PGA drug. They are used as an initially prescribed

 

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monotherapy and as an adjunct therapy to PGAs when the efficacy of PGAs is insufficient. Beta blocker eye drops have contraindications in their label as a result of systemic exposure from topical application of the eye drops, potentially leading to cardio-pulmonary events such as bronchospasm, arrhythmia and heart failure.

 

   

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, with their MOA designed to inhibit aqueous production, are less effective than PGAs and are required to be dosed three times daily in order to obtain the desired IOP lowering. In published clinical studies of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, the most frequently reported adverse events reported were blurred vision and bitter, sour or unusual taste. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are sulfonamides and, as such, systemic exposure increases risk of adverse responses such as Stevens Johnson syndrome and blood dyscrasias.

 

   

Alpha Agonists. Alpha agonists, with their MOA designed to inhibit aqueous production plus have an effect on uveoscleral outflow, are less effective than PGAs and need to be dosed three times daily in order to obtain the desired IOP lowering. In clinical studies, the most frequently reported adverse reactions that occurred in individuals receiving brimonidine ophthalmic solution, a commonly prescribed alpha agonist, included allergic conjunctivitis, conjunctival hyperemia, eye pruritus, burning sensation, conjunctival folliculosis, hypertension, ocular allergic reaction, oral dryness and visual disturbance.

Despite their modest efficacy, safety and tolerability profiles, and the requirement for two to three doses per day, the beta blocker, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and alpha agonist products account for up to half of the total prescription volume for the treatment of glaucoma based on historical prescription patterns, with beta blocker timolol being the most widely prescribed non-PGA drug. This is driven by the PGA products not being sufficiently effective as monotherapy for up to half of all glaucoma patients. Among the non-PGA drug classes, brands such as Allergan’s Alphagan / Combigan franchise generated combined global revenues in 2012 of over $420 million, and prior to the introduction of generics, the branded beta blockers and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors generated peak annual product revenues of over $400 million. Fixed-combination glaucoma products are currently marketed in the United States, including Cosopt, the combination of a beta blocker with a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, and Combigan, the combination of a beta blocker with an alpha agonist. There are no fixed-combinations of PGAs with other glaucoma drugs currently available in the United States.

In addition to demonstrating suboptimal efficacy and safety profiles, many of the older glaucoma drugs are associated with compliance issues. For example, non-compliance can result from the difficulty of administering multiple eye drops in a single day. Challenges such as this are magnified for elderly patients, who constitute a large and growing proportion of the glaucoma population.

Administering multiple eye drops two or three times daily also increases exposure of patients to the preservatives in eye drops. Over time, this increased exposure may lead to damage to the surface of the cornea resulting in discomfort and symptoms of dry eye disease.

New eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma continue to be developed by our competitors. The following table outlines publicly disclosed development programs for the treatment of glaucoma of which we are aware.

 

Brand

    

New PGA*

    

Trial Stage

BOL-303259 (Bausch + Lomb)

     NO-donating latanoprost (qd)      Phase 3

DE-117 (Santen)

     EP2 agonist (qd)      Phase 2a

ONO-9054 (Ono)

     FP/EP3 agonist (qd)      Phase 1

Brand

    

New non-PGA*

    

Trial Stage

AR-13324 (Aerie)

     ROCK/NET inhibitor (qd)      Phase 2b

K-115 (Kowa)

     ROCK inhibitor (bid)      Phase 3 (Japan)

AMA0076 (Amakem)

     ROCK inhibitor (bid)      Phase 2a

INO-8875 (Inotek)

     Adenosine-A1 agonist (bid)      Phase 2

LX7101 (Lexicon)

     LIMK2 inhibitor (bid)      Phase 1/2

SYL040012 (Sylentis)

     RNAi beta blocker (bid)      Phase 2

 

* References to “qd” are to once daily-dosed products, and “bid” are to twice-daily products.

 

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Many of our competitors have significantly greater financial resources and expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical testing, conducting clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and marketing approved products than we do. Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently commercially relaunched Rescula, a twice-daily dosed PGA, with the claim that it reduces elevated IOP by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor through the TM. In addition, early-stage companies that are also developing glaucoma treatments, such as Inotek Pharmaceuticals, which is developing an adenosine receptor agonist, may prove to be significant competitors. We expect that our competitors will continue to develop new glaucoma treatments, which may include eye drops, oral treatments, surgical procedures, implantable devices or laser treatments. Alternative treatments beyond eye drops continue to develop.

Other early-stage companies may also compete through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

Our commercial opportunity could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop and commercialize products that are safer, more effective, have fewer adverse effects, are more convenient or are less expensive than any products that we may develop. Our competitors also may obtain FDA or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours. In addition, our ability to compete may be affected because in many cases insurers or other third-party payors encourage the use of generic products. Our industry is highly competitive and is currently dominated by generic drugs, such as latanoprost and timolol, and additional products are expected to become available on a generic basis over the coming years. If any of our product candidates are approved, we expect that they will be priced at a premium over competitive generic products and consistent with other branded glaucoma drugs.

Manufacturing

AR-13324 is a small molecule and capable of being manufactured in reliable and reproducible synthetic processes from readily available starting materials. We believe the chemistry used to manufacture AR-13324 is amenable to scale up and does not require unusual equipment in the manufacturing process. We do not currently operate manufacturing facilities for clinical or commercial production of our product candidates. We currently rely on third-party manufacturers to produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient and final drug product for our clinical trials. We manage such production with all our vendors on a purchase order basis in accordance with applicable master service and supply agreements. We do not have long-term agreements with any of these or any other third-party suppliers. Latanoprost, used in the manufacture of PG324, is available in commercial quantities from multiple reputable third-party manufacturers. We intend to procure quantities on a purchase order basis for our clinical and commercial production. If any of our existing third-party suppliers should become unavailable to us for any reason, we believe that there are a number of potential replacements, although we might experience a delay in our ability to obtain alternative suppliers. We also do not have any current contractual relationships for the manufacture of commercial supplies of our product candidates if they are approved. With respect to commercial production of our potential products in the future, we plan on outsourcing production of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and final drug product manufacturing if they are approved for marketing by the applicable regulatory authorities.

We expect to continue to develop drug candidates that can be produced cost-effectively at contract manufacturing facilities. However, should a supplier or manufacturer on which we have relied to produce a product candidate provide us with a faulty product or such product is later recalled, we would likely experience delays and additional costs, each of which could be significant.

 

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Intellectual Property

We have obtained patent protection for our primary product candidates, AR-13324 and PG324 (patent protection for PG324 arises from the patent protection we have secured for AR-13324), in the United States and are seeking patent protection in a number of foreign jurisdictions for these product candidates. We intend to maintain and defend our patent rights to protect our technology, inventions, processes and improvements that are commercially important to the development of our business. We cannot be sure that any of our existing patents or patents we obtain in the future will be commercially useful in protecting our technology. We cannot be sure that our patents will issue on any of our pending patent applications or patent applications we file in the future. Our commercial success also depends in part on our non-infringement of the patents or proprietary rights of third parties. For a more comprehensive discussion of the risks related to our intellectual property, see “Risk Factors—Risk Related to Intellectual Property.”

Our intellectual property consists of issued patents, and pending patent applications for compositions of matter and methods of use, for our product candidates and other proprietary technology. For our primary product candidates AR-13324 and PG324, we hold United States Patent 8,450,344, which is scheduled to expire in 2026, and United States Patent 8,394,826, which is scheduled to expire in 2030, each of which has composition of matter and method use of claims for composition of matter. We hold additional patents for other ROCK Inhibitor molecules.

We have established and continue to build proprietary positions for our product candidates and related technology in the United States and other jurisdictions. As of June 30, 2013, we had nine United States or foreign issued patents that cover previously discontinued product candidates and 33 U.S. patent applications or foreign national patent applications that, if patents were to issue based on the existing claims, would cover various aspects of our current and previously discontinued product candidates.

In October 2012, our board of directors authorized the divestiture of certain non-core intellectual property relating to implantable ophthalmic devices for future development by Novaer Holding, Inc., or Novaer, an independent company. In addition, as part of this transaction, we also licensed the non-ophthalmic rights to our intellectual property portfolio to Novaer. See Note 13 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

On September 6, 2013, we terminated our agreement to exclusively license to Novaer our intellectual property for non-ophthalmic indications. No consideration, or future obligation thereof, was exchanged in connection with this termination. As of September 6, 2013, we own all of the worldwide rights to our current product candidates for all indications, both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic.

Regulatory Matters

FDA Regulation and Marketing Approval

In the United States, the FDA regulates drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, and related regulations. Drugs are also subject to other federal, state and local statutes and regulations. Failure to comply with the applicable United States regulatory requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval may subject an applicant to administrative or judicial sanctions and non-approval of product candidates. These sanctions could include the imposition by the FDA or an Institutional Review Board, or IRB, of a clinical hold on trials, the FDA’s refusal to approve pending applications or related supplements, withdrawal of an approval, untitled or warning letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions, fines, restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties or criminal prosecution. Such actions by government agencies could also require us to expend a large amount of resources to respond to the actions. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on us.

The FDA and comparable regulatory agencies in state and local jurisdictions and in foreign countries impose substantial requirements upon the clinical development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical products.

 

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These agencies and other federal, state and local entities regulate research and development activities and the testing, manufacture, quality control, safety, effectiveness, labeling, packaging, storage, distribution, record keeping, approval, post-approval monitoring, advertising, promotion, sampling and import and export of our products. Our drugs must be approved by the FDA through the NDA process before they may be legally marketed in the United States. See “—The NDA Approval Process” below.

The process required by the FDA before drugs may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:

 

   

completion of non-clinical laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies conducted according to Good Laboratory Practices or other applicable regulations;

 

   

submission of an IND which allows clinical trials to begin unless FDA objects within 30 days;

 

   

adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug for its intended use or uses conducted in accordance with FDA regulations, Good Clinical Practices, or GCP, which are international ethical and scientific quality standards meant to assure the rights, safety and well-being of trial participants are protected and to define the roles of clinical trial sponsors, administrators, and monitors;

 

   

pre-approval inspection of manufacturing facilities and clinical trial sites; and

 

   

FDA approval of an NDA which must occur before a drug can be marketed or sold.

IND and Clinical Trials

Prior to commencing the first clinical trial, an initial IND, which contains the results of preclinical tests along with other information, such as information about product chemistry, manufacturing and controls and a proposed protocol, must be submitted to the FDA. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA unless the FDA within the 30-day time period raises concerns or questions about the conduct of the clinical trial. In such a case, the IND sponsor must resolve any outstanding concerns with the FDA before the clinical trial may begin. A separate submission to the existing IND must be made for each successive clinical trial to be conducted during product development. Further, an independent IRB for each site proposing to conduct the clinical trial must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial before it commences at that site. Informed written consent must also be obtained from each trial subject. Regulatory authorities, including the FDA, an IRB, a data safety monitoring board or the sponsor, may suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the participants are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk or that the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with FDA requirements.

For purposes of NDA approval, human clinical trials are typically conducted in sequential phases that may overlap:

 

   

Phase 1—the drug is initially given to healthy human subjects or patients and tested for safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion. These trials may also provide early evidence on effectiveness. During Phase 1 clinical trials, sufficient information about the investigational drug’s pharmacokinetics and pharmacologic effects may be obtained to permit the design of well- controlled and scientifically valid Phase 2 clinical trials.

 

   

Phase 2—trials are conducted in a limited number of patients in the target population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to determine the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage. Multiple Phase 2 clinical trials may be conducted by the sponsor to obtain information prior to beginning larger and more expensive Phase 3 clinical trials. Throughout this prospectus, we refer to our initial Phase 2 clinical trials as “Phase 2a clinical trials” and our subsequent Phase 2 clinical trials as “Phase 2b clinical trials.”

 

   

Phase 3—when Phase 2 evaluations demonstrate that a dosage range of the product appears effective and has an acceptable safety profile, and provide sufficient information for the design of Phase 3

 

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registration trials, Phase 3 registration trials are undertaken to provide statistically significant evidence of clinical efficacy and to further test for safety in an expanded patient population at multiple clinical trial sites. They are performed after preliminary evidence suggesting effectiveness of the drug has been obtained, and are intended to further evaluate dosage, effectiveness and safety, to establish the overall benefit-risk relationship of the investigational drug and to provide an adequate basis for product labeling and approval by the FDA. In most cases, the FDA requires two adequate and well-controlled Phase 3 clinical trials to demonstrate the efficacy of the drug.

All clinical trials must be conducted in accordance with FDA regulations, GCP requirements and their protocols in order for the data to be considered reliable for regulatory purposes.

An investigational drug product that is a combination of two different drugs in the same dosage form must comply with an additional rule that requires that each component make a contribution to the claimed effects of the drug product. This typically requires larger studies that test the drug against each of its components. In addition, typically, if a drug product is intended to treat a chronic disease, as is the case with our products, safety and efficacy data must be gathered over an extended period of time, which can range from six months to three years or more. Government regulation may delay or prevent marketing of product candidates or new drugs for a considerable period of time and impose costly procedures upon our activities.

Disclosure of Clinical Trial Information

Sponsors of clinical trials of FDA-regulated products, including drugs, are required to register and disclose certain clinical trial information. Information related to the product, patient population, phase of investigation, study sites and investigators, and other aspects of the clinical trial is then made public as part of the registration. Sponsors are also obligated to discuss the results of their clinical trials after completion. Disclosure of the results of these trials can be delayed until the new product or new indication being studied has been approved. Competitors may use this publicly available information to gain knowledge regarding the progress of development programs.

The NDA Approval Process

In order to obtain approval to market a drug in the United States, a marketing application must be submitted to the FDA that provides data establishing to the FDA’s satisfaction the safety and effectiveness of the investigational drug for the proposed indication. Each NDA submission requires a substantial user fee payment (currently exceeding $2,100,000 for fiscal year 2014) unless a waiver or exemption applies. The application includes all relevant data available from pertinent non-clinical, preclinical and clinical trials, including negative or ambiguous results as well as positive findings, together with detailed information relating to the product’s chemistry, manufacturing, controls and proposed labeling, among other things. Data can come from company-sponsored clinical trials intended to test the safety and effectiveness of a use of a product, or from a number of alternative sources, including studies initiated by investigators that meet GCP requirements.

During the development of a new drug, sponsors are given opportunities to meet with the FDA at certain points. These points may be prior to submission of an IND, at the end of Phase 2, and before an NDA is submitted. Meetings at other times may be requested. These meetings can provide an opportunity for the sponsor to share information about the data gathered to date, for the FDA to provide advice and for the sponsor and the FDA to reach agreement on the next phase of development. Sponsors typically use the end of Phase 2 meetings to discuss their Phase 2 clinical results and present their plans for the pivotal Phase 3 registration trial that they believe will support approval of the new drug.

Concurrent with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal safety studies and must also develop additional information about the chemistry and physical characteristics of the drug and finalize a process for manufacturing the product in accordance with current Good Manufacturing Practice, or cGMP, requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the drug candidate and

 

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the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality and purity of the final drugs. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the drug candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf-life.

The results of product development, non-clinical studies and clinical trials, along with descriptions of the manufacturing process, analytical tests conducted on the chemistry of the drug, proposed labeling and other relevant information are submitted to the FDA as part of an NDA requesting approval to market the product. The FDA reviews all NDAs submitted to ensure that they are sufficiently complete for substantive review before it accepts them for filing. It may request additional information rather than accept a NDA for filing. In this event, the NDA must be resubmitted with the additional information. The resubmitted application also is subject to review before the FDA accepts it for filing. The FDA has 60 days from its receipt of an NDA to conduct an initial review to determine whether the application will be accepted for filing based on the agency’s threshold determination that the application is sufficiently complete to permit substantive review. If the NDA submission is accepted for filing, the FDA reviews the NDA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe and effective for its intended use, and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMP to assure and preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality and purity. The FDA has agreed to specific performance goals on the review of NDAs and seeks to review standard NDAs in 12 months from submission of the NDA. The review process may be extended by the FDA for three additional months to consider certain late submitted information or information intended to clarify information already provided in the submission. After the FDA completes its initial review of an NDA, it will communicate to the sponsor that the drug will either be approved, or it will issue a complete response letter to communicate that the NDA will not be approved in its current form and inform the sponsor of changes that must be made or additional clinical, non-clinical or manufacturing data that must be received before the application can be approved, with no implication regarding the ultimate approvability of the application or the timing of any such approval, if ever. If, or when, those deficiencies have been addressed to the FDA’s satisfaction in a resubmission of the NDA, the FDA will issue an approval letter. FDA has committed to reviewing such resubmissions in two to six months depending on the type of information included. The FDA may refer applications for novel drug products or drug products that present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and, if so, under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions.

Before approving an NDA, the FDA typically will inspect the facilities at which the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. Additionally, before approving an NDA, the FDA may inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP. If the FDA determines the application, manufacturing process or manufacturing facilities are not acceptable, it typically will outline the deficiencies and often will request additional testing or information. This may significantly delay further review of the application. If the FDA finds that a clinical site did not conduct the clinical trial in accordance with GCP, the FDA may determine the data generated by the clinical site should be excluded from the primary efficacy analyses provided in the NDA. Additionally, notwithstanding the submission of any requested additional information, the FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval.

The FDA may require, or companies may pursue, additional clinical trials after a product is approved. These so-called Phase 4 trials may be made a condition to be satisfied for continuing drug approval. The results of Phase 4 trials can confirm the effectiveness of a product candidate and can provide important safety information. In addition, the FDA now has express statutory authority to require sponsors to conduct post-marketing trials to specifically address safety issues identified by the agency. See “—Post-Marketing Requirements” below.

The FDA also has authority to require a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or an REMS, from manufacturers to ensure that the benefits of a drug outweigh its risks. A sponsor may also voluntarily propose a

 

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REMS as part of the NDA submission. The need for a REMS is determined as part of the review of the NDA. Based on statutory standards, elements of a REMS may include “dear doctor letters,” a medication guide, more elaborate targeted educational programs, and in some cases elements to assure safe use, or ETASU. ETASU can include, but are not limited to, special training or certification for prescribing or dispensing, dispensing only under certain circumstances, special monitoring and the use of patient registries. These elements are negotiated as part of the NDA approval, and in some cases if consensus is not obtained until after the PDUFA review cycle, the approval date may be delayed. Once adopted, REMS are subject to periodic assessment and modification.

Changes to some of the conditions established in an approved application, including changes in indications, labeling, manufacturing processes or facilities, require submission and FDA approval of a new NDA or NDA supplement before the change can be implemented. An NDA supplement for a new indication typically requires clinical data similar to that in the original application, and the FDA uses the same procedures and actions in reviewing NDA supplements as it does in reviewing NDAs.

Even if a product candidate receives regulatory approval, the approval may be limited to specific disease states, patient populations and dosages, or might contain significant limitations on use in the form of warnings, precautions or contraindications, or in the form of onerous risk management plans, restrictions on distribution, or post-marketing trial requirements. Further, even after regulatory approval is obtained, later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product may result in restrictions on the product or even complete withdrawal of the product from the market. Delay in obtaining, or failure to obtain, regulatory approval for our products, or obtaining approval but for significantly limited use, would harm our business. In addition, we cannot predict what adverse governmental regulations may arise from future U.S. or foreign governmental action.

The Hatch-Waxman Amendments

Under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, referred to as the Hatch-Waxman Amendments, a portion of a product’s U.S. patent term that was lost during clinical development and regulatory review by the FDA may be restored. The Hatch-Waxman Amendments also provide a process for listing patents pertaining to approved products in the FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (commonly known as the Orange Book) and for a competitor seeking approval of an application that references a product with listed patents to make certifications pertaining to such patents. In addition, the Hatch-Waxman Amendments provide for a statutory protection, known as non-patent exclusivity, against the FDA’s acceptance or approval of certain competitor applications.

Patent Term Restoration

Patent term restoration can compensate for time lost during product development and the regulatory review process by returning up to five years of patent life for a patent that covers a new product or its use. This period is generally one-half the time between the effective date of an IND (falling after issuance of the patent) and the submission date of an NDA, plus the time between the submission date of an NDA and the approval of that application, provided the sponsor acted with diligence. Patent term restorations, however, cannot extend the remaining term of a patent beyond a total of 14 years from the date of product approval and only one patent applicable to an approved drug may be extended and the extension must be applied for prior to expiration of the patent. The USPTO, in consultation with the FDA, reviews and approves the application for any patent term extension or restoration.

Orange Book Listing

In seeking approval for a drug through an NDA, applicants are required to list with the FDA each patent whose claims cover the applicant’s product. Upon approval of a drug, each of the patents listed in the application for the drug are then published in the FDA’s Orange Book. Drugs listed in the Orange Book can, in turn, be cited by potential generic competitors in support of approval of an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA. An ANDA provides for marketing of a drug product that has the same active ingredients in the same strengths and

 

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dosage form as the listed drug and has been shown through bioequivalence testing to be therapeutically equivalent to the listed drug. Other than the requirement for bioequivalence testing, ANDA applicants are not required to conduct, or submit results of, preclinical or clinical tests to prove the safety or effectiveness of their drug product. Drugs approved in this way are commonly referred to as “generic equivalents” to the listed drug, and can often be substituted by pharmacists under prescriptions written for the original listed drug.

The ANDA applicant is required to certify to the FDA concerning any patents listed for the approved product in the FDA’s Orange Book. Specifically, the applicant must certify that: (i) the required patent information has not been filed; (ii) the listed patent has expired; (iii) the listed patent has not expired, but will expire on a particular date and approval is sought after patent expiration; or (iv) the listed patent is invalid or will not be infringed by the new product. The ANDA applicant may also elect to submit a Section VIII statement certifying that its proposed ANDA label does not contain (or carves out) any language regarding the patented method-of-use rather than certify to a listed method-of-use patent. If the applicant does not challenge the listed patents, the ANDA application will not be approved until all the listed patents claiming the referenced product have expired.

A certification that the new product will not infringe the already approved product’s listed patents, or that such patents are invalid, is called a Paragraph IV certification. If the ANDA applicant has provided a Paragraph IV certification to the FDA, the applicant must also send notice of the Paragraph IV certification to the NDA and patent holders once the ANDA has been accepted for filing by the FDA. The NDA and patent holders may then initiate a patent infringement lawsuit in response to the notice of the Paragraph IV certification. The filing of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of the receipt of a Paragraph IV certification automatically prevents the FDA from approving the ANDA until the earlier of 30 months, expiration of the patent, settlement of the lawsuit or a decision in the infringement case that is favorable to the ANDA applicant.

An applicant submitting an NDA under Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA, which permits the filing of an NDA where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies not conducted by, or for, the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference, is required to certify to the FDA regarding any patents listed in the Orange Book for the approved product it references to the same extent that an ANDA applicant would.

Market Exclusivity

Market exclusivity provisions under the FDCA also can delay the submission or the approval of certain applications. The FDCA provides a five-year period of non-patent marketing exclusivity within the United States to the first applicant to gain approval of an NDA for a new chemical entity. A drug is a new chemical entity if the FDA has not previously approved any other new drug containing the same active moiety, which is the molecule or ion responsible for the action of the drug substance. During the exclusivity period, the FDA may not accept for review an ANDA or a 505(b)(2) NDA submitted by another company for another version of such drug where the applicant does not own or have a legal right of reference to all the data required for approval. However, an application may be submitted after four years if it contains a Paragraph IV certification. The FDCA also provides three years of marketing exclusivity for an NDA, 505(b)(2) NDA or supplement to an existing NDA if new clinical investigations, other than bioavailability studies, that were conducted or sponsored by the applicant are deemed by the FDA to be essential to the approval of the application, for example, for new indications, dosages or strengths of an existing drug. This three-year exclusivity covers only the conditions associated with the new clinical investigations and does not prohibit the FDA from approving ANDAs for drugs containing the original active agent. Five-year and three-year exclusivity will not delay the submission or approval of a full NDA; however, an applicant submitting a full NDA would be required to conduct or obtain a right of reference to all of the non-clinical studies and adequate and well-controlled clinical trials necessary to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.

 

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Post-Marketing Requirements

Following approval of a new product, a pharmaceutical company and the approved product are subject to continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, monitoring and recordkeeping activities, reporting to the applicable regulatory authorities of adverse experiences with the product, providing the regulatory authorities with updated safety and efficacy information, product sampling and distribution requirements, and complying with promotion and advertising requirements, which include, among others, standards for direct-to-consumer advertising, restrictions on promoting drugs for uses or in patient populations that are not described in the drug’s approved labeling (known as “off-label use”), limitations on industry-sponsored scientific and educational activities and requirements for promotional activities involving the internet. Although physicians may prescribe legally available drugs for off-label uses, manufacturers may not market or promote such off-label uses. Modifications or enhancements to the product or its labeling or changes of the site of manufacture are often subject to the approval of the FDA and other regulators, who may or may not grant approval or may include in a lengthy review process.

Prescription drug advertising is subject to federal, state and foreign regulations. In the United States, the FDA regulates prescription drug promotion, including direct-to-consumer advertising. Prescription drug promotional materials must be submitted to the FDA in conjunction with their first use. Any distribution of prescription drug products and pharmaceutical samples must comply with the U.S. Prescription Drug Marketing Act, or the PDMA, a part of the FDCA.

In the United States, once a product is approved, its manufacture is subject to comprehensive and continuing regulation by the FDA. The FDA regulations require that products be manufactured in specific approved facilities and in accordance with cGMP. We rely, and expect to continue to rely, on third parties for the production of clinical and commercial quantities of our products in accordance with cGMP regulations. cGMP regulations require among other things, quality control and quality assurance as well as the corresponding maintenance of records and documentation and the obligation to investigate and correct any deviations from cGMP. Drug manufacturers and other entities involved in the manufacture and distribution of approved drugs are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with cGMP and other laws. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain cGMP compliance. These regulations also impose certain organizational, procedural and documentation requirements with respect to manufacturing and quality assurance activities. NDA holders using contract manufacturers, laboratories or packagers are responsible for the selection and monitoring of qualified firms, and, in certain circumstances, qualified suppliers to these firms. These firms and, where applicable, their suppliers are subject to inspections by the FDA at any time, and the discovery of violative conditions, including failure to conform to cGMP, could result in enforcement actions that interrupt the operation of any such product or may result in restrictions on a product, manufacturer, or holder of an approved NDA, including, among other things, recall or withdrawal of the product from the market.

In addition, the manufacturer and/or sponsor under an approved NDA are subject to annual product and establishment fees, currently exceeding $104,000 per product and $554,000 per establishment for fiscal year 2014. These fees are typically increased annually.

The FDA also may require post-marketing testing, also known as Phase 4 testing, REMS to monitor the effects of an approved product or place conditions on an approval that could restrict the distribution or use of the product. Discovery of previously unknown problems with a product or the failure to comply with applicable FDA requirements can have negative consequences, including adverse publicity, judicial or administrative enforcement, untitled or warning letters from the FDA, mandated corrective advertising or communications with doctors, withdrawal of approval, and civil or criminal penalties, among others. Newly discovered or developed safety or effectiveness data may require changes to a product’s approved labeling, including the addition of new warnings and contraindications, and also may require the implementation of other risk management measures. Also, new

 

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government requirements, including those resulting from new legislation, may be established, or the FDA’s policies may change, which could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our products under development.

Reimbursement, Anti-Kickback and False Claims Laws and Other Regulatory Matters

In the United States, the research, manufacturing, distribution, sale and promotion of drug products and medical devices are potentially subject to regulation by various federal, state and local authorities in addition to the FDA, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, other divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, state Attorneys General and other state and local government agencies. For example, sales, marketing and scientific/educational grant programs must comply with the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, as amended, the privacy regulations promulgated under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as amended, and similar state laws. Pricing and rebate programs must comply with the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program requirements of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, as amended, and the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, as amended. If products are made available to authorized users of the Federal Supply Schedule of the General Services Administration, additional laws and requirements apply. The handling of any controlled substances must comply with the U.S. Controlled Substances Act and Controlled Substances Import and Export Act. Products must meet applicable child-resistant packaging requirements under the U.S. Poison Prevention Packaging Act. All of these activities are also potentially subject to federal and state consumer protection and unfair competition laws.

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, or the MMA, established the Medicare Part D program to provide a voluntary prescription drug benefit to Medicare beneficiaries. Under Part D, Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in prescription drug plans offered by private entities which will provide coverage of outpatient prescription drugs. Unlike Medicare Part A and B, part D coverage is not standardized. Part D prescription drug plan sponsors are not required to pay for all covered Part D drugs, and each drug plan can develop its own drug formulary that identifies which drugs it will cover and at what tier or level. However, Part D prescription drug formularies must include drugs within each therapeutic category and class of covered Part D drugs, though not necessarily all the drugs in each category or class. Any formulary used by a part D prescription drug plan must be developed and reviewed by a pharmacy and therapeutic committee. Government payment for some of the costs of prescription drugs may increase demand for products for which we receive regulatory approval. However, any negotiated prices for our products covered by a Part D prescription drug plan will likely be lower than the prices we might otherwise obtain. Moreover, while the MMA applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own payment rates. Any reduction in payment that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from non-government payors.

The distribution of pharmaceutical products is subject to additional requirements and regulations, including extensive record-keeping, licensing, storage and security requirements intended to prevent the unauthorized sale of pharmaceutical products.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides funding for the federal government to compare the effectiveness of different treatments for the same illness. A plan for the research will be developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Institutes for Health, and periodic reports on the status of the research and related expenditures will be made to Congress. Although the results of the comparative effectiveness studies are not intended to mandate coverage policies for public or private payors, it is not clear what effect, if any, the research will have on the sales of our product candidate, if any such product or the condition that it is intended to treat is the subject of a trial. It is also possible that comparative effectiveness research demonstrating benefits in a competitor’s product could adversely affect the sales of our product candidate. If third-party payors do not consider our products to be cost-effective compared to other available therapies, they may not cover our products after approval as a benefit under their plans or, if they do, the level of payment may not be sufficient to allow us to sell our products on a profitable basis.

 

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In addition, in some foreign countries, the proposed pricing for a drug must be approved before it may be lawfully marketed. The requirements governing drug pricing vary widely from country to country. For example, the European Union provides options for its member states to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. A member state may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for pharmaceutical products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products. Historically, products launched in the European Union do not follow price structures of the United States and generally tend to be significantly lower.

As noted above, in the United States, we are subject to complex laws and regulations pertaining to healthcare “fraud and abuse,” including, but not limited to, the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, the Federal False Claims Act, and other state and federal laws and regulations. The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute makes it illegal for any person, including a prescription drug manufacturer (or a party acting on its behalf) to knowingly and willfully solicit, receive, offer, or pay any remuneration that is intended to induce the referral of business, including the purchase, order, or prescription of a particular drug, for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Violations of this law are punishable by up to five years in prison, criminal fines, administrative civil money penalties, and exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs. In addition, many states have adopted laws similar to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Some of these state prohibitions apply to the referral of patients for healthcare services reimbursed by any insurer, not just federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Due to the breadth of these federal and state anti-kickback laws, the absence of guidance in the form of regulations or court decisions, and the potential for additional legal or regulatory change in this area, it is possible that our future sales and marketing practices and/or our future relationships with eye-care professionals might be challenged under anti-kickback laws, which could harm us. Because we intend to commercialize products that could be reimbursed under a federal healthcare program and other governmental healthcare programs, we plan to develop a comprehensive compliance program that establishes internal controls to facilitate adherence to the rules and program requirements to which we will or may become subject.

The Federal False Claims Act prohibits anyone from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, for payment to federal programs (including Medicare and Medicaid) claims for items or services, including drugs, that are false or fraudulent, claims for items or services not provided as claimed, or claims for medically unnecessary items or services. Although we would not submit claims directly to payors, manufacturers can be held liable under these laws if they are deemed to “cause” the submission of false or fraudulent claims by, for example, providing inaccurate billing or coding information to customers or promoting a product off-label. In addition, our future activities relating to the reporting of wholesaler or estimated retail prices for our products, the reporting of prices used to calculate Medicaid rebate information and other information affecting federal, state and third-party reimbursement for our products, and the sale and marketing of our products, are subject to scrutiny under this law. For example, pharmaceutical companies have been found liable under the Federal False Claims Act in connection with their off-label promotion of drugs. Penalties for a False Claims Act violation include three times the actual damages sustained by the government, plus mandatory civil penalties of between $5,500 and $11,000 for each separate false claim, the potential for exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs, and, although the Federal False Claims Act is a civil statute, conduct that results in a False Claims Act violation may also implicate various federal criminal statutes. If the government were to allege that we were, or convict us of, violating these false claims laws, we could be subject to a substantial fine and may suffer a decline in our stock price. In addition, private individuals have the ability to bring actions under the Federal False Claims Act and certain states have enacted laws modeled after the Federal False Claims Act.

There are also an increasing number of state laws that require manufacturers to make reports to states on pricing and marketing information. Many of these laws contain ambiguities as to what is required to comply with the laws. In addition, as discussed below, beginning in 2013, a similar federal requirement will require manufacturers to track and report to the federal government certain payments made to physicians and teaching

 

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hospitals made in the previous calendar year. These laws may affect our sales, marketing and other promotional activities by imposing administrative and compliance burdens on us. In addition, given the lack of clarity with respect to these laws and their implementation, our reporting actions could be subject to the penalty provisions of the pertinent state, and soon federal, authorities.

The failure to comply with regulatory requirements subjects firms to possible legal or regulatory action. Depending on the circumstances, failure to meet applicable regulatory requirements can result in criminal prosecution, fines or other penalties, injunctions, recall or seizure of products, total or partial suspension of production, denial or withdrawal of product approvals, or refusal to allow a firm to enter into supply contracts, including government contracts.

Changes in regulations, statutes or the interpretation of existing regulations could impact our business in the future by required, for example: (i) changes to our manufacturing arrangements; (ii) additions or modifications to product labeling; (iii) the recall or discontinuation of our products; or (iv) additional record-keeping requirements. If any such changes were to be imposed, they could adversely affect the operation of our business.

Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, PPACA) was enacted, which includes measures that have or will significantly change the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. Among the provisions of PPACA of greatest importance to the pharmaceutical industry are the following:

 

   

The Medicaid Drug Rebate Program requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to enter into and have in effect a national rebate agreement with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services a condition for states to receive federal matching funds for the manufacturer’s covered outpatient drugs furnished to Medicaid patients. Effective in 2010, PPACA made several changes to the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, including increasing pharmaceutical manufacturers’ rebate liability by raising the minimum basic Medicaid rebate on most branded prescription drugs and biologic agents to 23.1% of AMP and adding a new rebate calculation for “line extensions” (i.e., new formulations, such as extended release formulations) of solid oral dosage forms of branded products, as well as potentially impacting their rebate liability by modifying the statutory definition of AMP. PPACA also expanded the universe of Medicaid utilization subject to drug rebates by requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to pay rebates on Medicaid managed care utilization as of 2010 and by expanding the population potentially eligible for Medicaid drug benefits, to be phased-in by 2014. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, have proposed to expand Medicaid rebate liability to the territories of the United States as well. In addition, PPACA provides for the public availability of retail survey prices and certain weighted average AMPs under the Medicaid program. The implementation of this requirement by the CMS may also provide for the public availability of pharmacy acquisition of cost data, which could negatively impact our sales.

 

   

In order for a pharmaceutical product to receive federal reimbursement under the Medicare Part B and Medicaid programs or to be sold directly to U.S. government agencies, the manufacturer must extend discounts to entities eligible to participate in the 340B drug pricing program. The required 340B discount on a given product is calculated based on the AMP and Medicaid rebate amounts reported by the manufacturer. Effective in 2010, PPACA expanded the types of entities eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing, although, under the current state of the law, with the exception of children’s hospitals, these newly eligible entities will not be eligible to receive discounted 340B pricing on orphan drugs when used for the orphan indication. In addition, as 340B drug pricing is determined based on AMP and Medicaid rebate data, the revisions to the Medicaid rebate formula and AMP definition described above could cause the required 340B discount to increase.

 

   

Effective in 2011, PPACA imposed a requirement on manufacturers of branded drugs and biologic agents to provide a 50% discount off the negotiated price of branded drugs dispensed to Medicare Part D patients in the coverage gap (i.e., “donut hole”).

 

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Effective in 2011, PPACA imposed an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drugs and biologic agents, apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government healthcare programs, although this fee would not apply to sales of certain products approved exclusively for orphan indications.

 

   

Effective in 2012, PPACA required pharmaceutical manufacturers to track certain financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals, including any “transfer of value” made or distributed to such entities, as well as any investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Manufacturers are required to track this information beginning in 2013 and make their first reports in March 2014. The information reported will be publicly available on a searchable website in September 2014.

 

   

As of 2010, a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute was established pursuant to PPACA to oversee, identify priorities in and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research. The research conducted by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute may affect the market for certain pharmaceutical products.

 

   

PPACA created the Independent Payment Advisory Board which, beginning in 2014, will have authority to recommend certain changes to the Medicare program to reduce expenditures by the program that could result in reduced payments for prescription drugs. Under certain circumstances, these recommendations will become law unless Congress enacts legislation that will achieve the same or greater Medicare cost savings.

 

   

PPACA established the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation within CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending. Funding has been allocated to support the mission of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation from 2011 to 2019.

Many of the details regarding the implementation of PPACA are yet to be determined, and at this time, it remains unclear the full effect that PPACA would have on our business.

European Union Drug Development

In the European Union, our products will also be subject to extensive regulatory requirements. As in the United States, medicinal products can only be marketed if a marketing authorization from the competent regulatory agencies has been obtained, and the various phases of preclinical and clinical research in the European Union are subject to significant regulatory controls. Although the EU Clinical Trials Directive 2001/20/EC has sought to harmonize the EU clinical trial regulatory framework, setting out common rules for the control and authorization of clinical trials in the EU, the EU Member States have transposed and applied the provisions of the Directive differently. This has led to significant variations in the member state regimes. Under the current regime, before a clinical trial can be initiated it must be approved in each of the EU countries where the trial is to be conducted by two distinct bodies: the National Competent Authority, or NCA, and one or more Ethics Committees, or ECs. In addition, all suspected unexpected serious adverse reactions to the investigated drug that occur during the clinical trial must be reported to the NDCA and ECs of the Member State where they occurred.

The EU clinical trials legislation is currently undergoing a revision process mainly aimed at making more uniform and streamlining the clinical trials authorization process, simplifying adverse event reporting procedures, improving the supervision of clinical trials and increasing the transparency of clinical trials.

European Union Drug Review Approval

In the European Economic Area, or EEA, which is comprised of the 27 Member States of the European Union plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, medicinal products can only be commercialized after obtaining a Marketing Authorization, or MA. There are two types of marketing authorizations: the Community MA, which is issued by the European Commission through the Centralized Procedure based on the opinion of the Committee

 

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for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP, a body of the European Medicines Agency, or the EMA, and which is valid throughout the entire territory of the EEA; and the National MA, which is issued by the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA and only authorized marketing in that Member State’s national territory and not the EEA as a whole.

The Centralized Procedure is mandatory for certain types of products, such as biotechnology medicinal products, orphan medicinal products and medicinal products containing a new active substance indicated for the treatment of AIDS, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, auto-immune and viral diseases. The Centralized Procedure is optional for products containing a new active substance not yet authorized in the EEA, or for products that constitute a significant therapeutic, scientific or technical innovation or which are in the interest of public health in the EU. The National MA is for products not falling within the mandatory scope of the Centralized Procedure. Where a product has already been authorized for marketing in a Member State of the EEA, this National MA can be recognized in another Member States through the Mutual Recognition Procedure. If the product has not received a National MA in any Member State at the time of application, it can be approved simultaneously in various Member States through the Decentralized Procedure. Under the Decentralized Procedure an identical dossier is submitted to the competent authorities of each of the Member States in which the MA is sought, one of which is selected by the applicant as the Reference Member state, or RMS. If the RMS proposes to authorize the product, and the other Member States do not raise objections, the product is granted a national MA in all the Member States where the authorization was sought. Before granting the MA, the EMA or the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA make an assessment of the risk-benefit balance of the product on the basis of scientific criteria concerning its quality, safety and efficacy.

Other Regulations

We are also subject to numerous federal, state and local laws relating to such matters as safe working conditions, manufacturing practices, environmental protection, fire hazard control and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances. We may incur significant costs to comply with such laws and regulations now or in the future.

Employees

We had 22 full-time employees as of June 30, 2013. None of our employees are represented by any collective bargaining unit. We believe that we maintain good relations with our employees.

Property and Facilities

Our headquarters is currently located in Bedminster, New Jersey, and consists of approximately 6,800 square feet of leased office space under a lease that expires on July 30, 2018. Our research and development facility is located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina and consists of approximately 7,000 square feet of leased laboratory space under an annual leasing arrangement. We recently opened an office in Newport Beach, California, which consists of approximately 400 square feet of leased office space. We may require additional space and facilities as our business expands.

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently subject to any material pending legal proceedings.

 

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MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth certain information about our executive officers and directors as of July 31, 2013.

 

NAME

   AGE     

POSITION(S)

Executive Officers

     

Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD

     60      

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Casey C. Kopczynski, PhD

     52       Chief Scientific Officer

Brian Levy, OD, MSc

     62       Chief Medical Officer

Thomas A. Mitro

     56       President and Chief Operating Officer

Richard J. Rubino

     55       Chief Financial Officer

Non-Employee Directors

     

Gerald D. Cagle, PhD

     69       Director

Janet L. Conway, PhD

     63       Director

Geoffrey Duyk, MD, PhD

     54       Director

Murray A. Goldberg

     68       Director

David W. Gryska

     58       Director

Dennis Henner, PhD

     62       Director

David Mack, PhD

     51       Director

Anand Mehra, MD

     37       Director

The following includes a brief biography for each of our executive officers and directors, with each director biography including information regarding the experiences, qualifications, attributes or skills that caused our board of directors to determine that each member of our board of directors should serve as a director as of the date of this prospectus. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Executive Officers

Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD has served as our Chief Executive Officer since July 2013 and as a Chairman and member of our board of directors since April 2013. Dr. Anido is the former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which was acquired by Bausch + Lomb, Inc. in 2012. Prior to joining ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Anido served as general partner of Windamere Venture Partners from 2000 to 2001. From 1996 to 1999, Dr. Anido served as President and Chief Executive Officer of CombiChem, Inc., a drug discovery company. From 1993 to 1996, Dr. Anido served as President of the Americas Region of Allergan, Inc., where he was responsible for Allergan’s commercial operations for North and South America. Prior to joining Allergan, Dr. Anido spent 17 years at Marion Laboratories and Marion Merrell Dow, Inc., including as Vice President, Business Management of Marion’s U.S. Prescription Products Division. Dr. Anido currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of QLT Inc., Depomed, Inc. and ISTA Pharmaceuticals and is a nominee to the board of directors for Nicox S.A. In addition, from 2002 to 2008, Dr. Anido served as a member of the boards of directors of Apria Healthcare, Inc. Dr. Anido holds a BS and a MS from West Virginia University and a PhD from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. We believe Dr. Anido’s experience in the pharmaceutical industry, sales and marketing, business development and pharmaceutical product launch and his experience serving as a director of other public companies provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Casey C. Kopczynski, PhD has served as our Chief Scientific Officer since co-founding the Company in 2005. From 2002 to 2005, he was the Managing Partner at Biotech Initiative, LLC, a consulting practice dedicated to emerging biotech companies. He was also previously the Vice President of Research at Ercole Biotech, Inc. from 2003 to 2004, a company developing drugs for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and orphan genetic diseases. Prior to Ercole Biotech, Inc., Dr. Kopczynski was Director of Research and a founding member of the

 

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scientific staff at Exelixis, Inc. from 1996 to 2002. Dr. Kopczynski received his PhD in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from Indiana University and was a Jane Coffin Childs Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.

Brian Levy, OD, MSc has served as our Chief Medical Officer since January 2012. From 1994 to 2008, Dr. Levy was at Bausch + Lomb, Inc. where he served in various roles including Vice President of Research & Development, Corporate Vice President of Research & Development and Chief Medical Officer. Prior to joining Bausch + Lomb, Inc., Dr. Levy was in private clinical practice in Toronto, Ontario from 1980 to 1989, and from 1989 to 1994 he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. He has also served as Chief Operating Officer at Danube Pharmaceuticals from 2008 to 2010 and Chief Scientific Officer at Nexis Vision from 2010 to 2011, both small venture-backed companies developing products in Ophthalmology. Dr. Levy currently holds an appointment as Clinical Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine. Dr. Levy received his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California at Berkeley and did his post-graduate work in comparative anatomy and physiology of the eye at the University of Waterloo in Canada, where he received a MS degree.

Thomas A. Mitro has served as our President and Chief Operating Officer since August 2013. From November 2012 to August 2013, Mr. Mitro served as Vice President, Sales and Marketing at Omeros Corporation, a publicly traded clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company. Prior to this, Mr. Mitro was Vice President, Sales and Marketing at ISTA Pharmaceuticals from July 2002 to July 2012, where he was instrumental in building ISTA’s commercial operations and launching several eye-care products, including Bromday (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.09% and Bepreve (bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution) 1.5%. Previously, Mr. Mitro held various positions at Allergan, Inc., including Vice President, Skin Care; Vice President, Business Development; and Vice President, e-Business. Mr. Mitro received his B.S. degree from Miami University.

Richard J. Rubino has served as our Chief Financial Officer since October 2012. From March 2008 to April 2012, Mr. Rubino served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and from May 1993 to March 2008 served as Controller and Vice President of Planning, with responsibilities for financial, business and strategic planning. Previously, Mr. Rubino held various positions at International Business Machines Corporation from 1983 to May 1993 and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (formerly Price Waterhouse & Co.) from 1979 to 1983. Mr. Rubino is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Rubino received his BS in Accounting from Manhattan College. He has been a director of the Northside Center for Child Development since 2009, the Treasurer since 2012 and also currently serves as a member of the Finance Committee.

Directors

Gerald D. Cagle, PhD has served as a member of our board of directors since September 2013. Dr. Cagle is currently Chief Operating Officer at Cognoptix, lnc., focused on the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. He also is Senior Advisor and Head of Business Development for GrayBug, LLC, a platform drug delivery company. Previously, Dr. Cagle served as Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Alcon Laboratories lnc. from 1997 to 2008, assuming the responsibility of Chief Scientific Officer in 2006. Dr. Cagle has served on the Wilmer Eye Institute Advisory Council and is a member of the ARVO Foundation Board of Governors. Dr. Cagle received his BS degree from Wayland College and earned both his MS and PhD degrees from the University of North Texas. We believe that Dr. Cagle’s scientific background and experience provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Janet L. Conway, PhD has served as a member of our board of directors since 2005. Dr. Conway has served as head of Wyoming Ophthalmic Consulting since 2005. Since 2010, Dr. Conway has also provided scientific, preclinical and clinical assistance and analysis to The Magnum Group. From 2003 to 2005, Dr. Conway was Director of Licensing and Development at Pfizer, Executive Director of Ophthalmology Licensing at Pharmacia

 

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from 2000 to 2003, Director of Global Business Development for Johnson & Johnson’s Vision Care franchise from 1995 to 1999 and Vice President of Product Development and co-founder of M6 Pharmaceuticals from 1993 to 1995. From 1983 to 1993, she held similar positions at VimRx Pharmaceuticals, Olympus Corporation (Medical Device Division) and at Johnson & Johnson’s ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical device company, IOLAB, and was a Senior Scientist in Allergan’s Discovery Research organization. Dr. Conway holds BA and MA degrees from Northeastern University and a PhD in ocular physiology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Conway also completed a post-doctoral fellowship in visual neurochemistry at the University of California, Irvine. We believe that Dr. Conway’s scientific background and experience provide her with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Geoffrey Duyk, MD, PhD has served as a member of our board of directors since 2005. Dr. Duyk is a Managing Director of TPG Biotech. Dr. Duyk is a member of numerous NIH panels and oversight committees focused on the planning and execution of the Human Genome Project. Previously, he served on the board of directors and was President of Research and Development at Exelixis, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focusing on drug discovery, from 1996 to 2003. Prior to Exelixis, Dr. Duyk was Vice President of Genomics and one of the founding scientific staff at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, from 1993 to 1996. Before that, Dr. Duyk was an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Genetics and Assistant Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Duyk currently serves on the board of directors of Amyris, Inc., which he joined in May 2012 (and was previously on the board from May 2006 to May 2011), and is also currently on the boards of directors of several private companies and the non-profit Wesleyan University Board of Trustees. He served on the board of directors of Agria Corporation from August 2007 to May 2009, Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (formerly Replidyne, Inc.) from 2004 to February 2009 and Exelixis, Inc. from 1996 to 2003. Dr. Duyk holds a BA in Biology from Wesleyan University and a PhD and an MD from Case Western Reserve University. We believe that Dr. Duyk’s experience with the pharmaceutical industry provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Murray A. Goldberg has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2013. Mr. Goldberg has been Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since December 2000. Prior to that date, Mr. Goldberg was Vice President, Finance and Administration, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, positions he held since March 1995, and Assistant Secretary, a position he held since January 2000. Mr. Goldberg served as Vice President of Finance and Administration and Treasurer at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since March 1995. Prior to joining Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., Mr. Goldberg served as Vice President of Finance, Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer of PharmaGenics Inc., since February 1991 and served as a Director since May 1991. From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Goldberg served as Managing Director in the Structured Finance Group at the Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. and from 1973 to 1987 he served in various managerial positions in finance and corporate development at American Cyanimid Company. Mr. Goldberg received his BE in Industrial Engineering from New York University, his MBA from the University of Chicago and an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. We believe that Mr. Goldberg’s business and finance experience at various companies in the pharmaceutical industry provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

David W. Gryska has served as a member of our board of directors since March 2012. From May 2012 until December 2012, Mr. Gryska served as Chief Operating Officer and a director of Myrexis Inc., a biotechnology company. From December 2006 to October 2010, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Celgene Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company. From October 2004 to December 2006, he was a principal at Strategic Consulting Group, where he provided strategic consulting to early-stage biotechnology companies. Prior to the Strategic Consulting Group, Mr. Gryska was employed by Scios, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from November 2000 to October 2004 and as Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer from December 1998 to November 2000. Scios was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2003. From 1993 to December 1998, he served as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Cardiac Pathways Corporation, a medical device company, which was later acquired by Boston Scientific Corporation. Prior to joining Cardiac Pathways, Mr. Gryska served

 

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as a partner at Ernst & Young LLP, an accounting firm, with an emphasis on biotechnology and healthcare companies. Mr. Gryska currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc. since November 2010 and Seattle Genetics Inc. since March 2005. Mr. Gryska received a BA in accounting and finance from Loyola University and an MBA from Golden Gate University. We believe that Mr. Gryska’s business experience as a senior financial executive at a life sciences and biotechnology company and his experience serving as a director of other public companies provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Dennis Henner, PhD has served as a member of our board of directors since 2011. Dr. Henner has served as managing director of Clarus Ventures, LLC since the firm’s inception in 2005. He has over 27 years of healthcare industry and investment experience, including as a partner at MPM Capital from 2001 to 2005. From 1978 to 2001, Dr. Henner was a scientist and executive at Genentech, Inc. where he held various positions, including Senior Vice President of Research, and was a member of Genentech’s executive committee. In addition to serving on our board of directors, Dr. Henner currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of several private companies, as well as the board of directors of KaloBios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. since March 2005. He is a member of the Board of Trustee of Reed College. Dr. Henner received his PhD from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Virginia and completed his post-graduate training at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. We believe that Dr. Henner’s experience in the healthcare industry provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

David Mack, PhD has served as a member of our board of directors since 2005. Dr. Mack currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and President of PMV Pharma, which he co-founded in 2013. Dr. Mack was previously a Director at Alta Partners from 2002 to 2013 and currently serves as a consultant for Alta Partners. Dr. Mack was Chief Executive Officer and director of Angiosyn from 2003 to 2005. In 1997, Dr. Mack co-founded and served as Vice President of Genomics Research at Eos Biotechnology from 1997 to 2002. From 1994 to 1997, Dr. Mack served at Affymetrix Inc. as Head of Cancer Biology. Dr. Mack currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of several private companies. Dr. Mack holds a BA in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Berkeley and received his PhD from the University of Chicago where he was a Howard Hughes fellow in Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology. He was an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University School of Medicine in Microbiology and Immunology. We believe that Dr. Mack’s management experience in the pharmaceuticals industry and scientific background provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Anand Mehra, MD has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2010. Dr. Mehra has ten years of experience as a management consultant and biotech investor and currently serves as a General Partner at Sofinnova Ventures, which he joined in 2007 as a principal, a healthcare focused investment firm specializing in clinical-stage pharmaceutical companies. Prior to joining Sofinnova Ventures, Dr. Mehra worked at JP Morgan Partners, and consulted at McKinsey and Company. Dr. Mehra currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of several private companies. Dr. Mehra graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia with a BA in government and foreign affairs and received his MD from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. We believe that Dr. Mehra’s directorship experience and scientific background provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a member of our board of directors.

Board Composition and Election of Directors

Our board of directors currently consists of eight members. Messrs. Duyk, Henner, Mack and Mehra were elected as directors pursuant to a voting agreement that we have entered into with the holders of our outstanding series of preferred stock. The voting agreement will terminate upon the closing of this offering and there will be no further contractual obligations regarding the election of our directors. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or until the earlier of their resignation or removal.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only

 

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by resolution of the board of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering also provide that our directors may be removed only for cause, and that any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, may be filled only by vote of a majority of our directors then in office.

In accordance with the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective upon the closing of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three classes, class I, class II and class III, with members of each class serving staggered three-year terms. Upon the closing of this offering, the members of the classes will be divided as follows:

 

   

the Class I directors will be              and             , and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in             ;

 

   

the Class II directors will be              and             , and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in             ; and

 

   

the Class III directors will be              and             , and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in             .

The classification of the board of directors may have the effect of delaying or preventing changes in control of our company. We expect that additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors, if any, will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors.

Director Independence

Under the listing requirements and rules of the NASDAQ Global Market, or NASDAQ, independent directors must compose a majority of a listed company’s board of directors within a one year period following the completion of this offering. In addition, applicable NASDAQ rules require that, subject to specified exceptions, each member of a listed company’s audit, compensation and nominating committees must be independent within the meaning of applicable NASDAQ rules. Audit committee members must also satisfy the independence criteria set forth in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act.

In September 2013, our board of directors undertook a review of the independence of each director and considered whether any director has a material relationship with us that could compromise his or her ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out his or her responsibilities. In making this determination, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director. As a result of this review, our board of directors determined that                                                                                   qualify as “independent” directors within the meaning of the NASDAQ rules. Although NASDAQ rules require that a majority of the board of directors and each member of our audit, compensation and nominating committees must be independent, under special phase-in rules applicable to new public companies, we will have until one year from the effective date of our initial public offering to comply with these independence requirements. As required under applicable NASDAQ rules, we anticipate that our independent directors will meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions at which only independent directors are present.

Lead Independent Director

Our corporate governance guidelines provide that one of our independent directors should serve as a lead independent director at any time when the Chief Executive Officer serves as the Chairman of our board of directors, or if the Chairman is not otherwise independent. Because Dr. Anido is our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, our board of directors has appointed Mr. Gryska to serve as our lead independent director. As

 

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lead independent director, Mr. Gryska presides over periodic meetings of our independent directors, serves as a liaison between our Chairman and the independent directors and performs such additional duties as our board of directors may otherwise determine and delegate.

Committees of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors has an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. The composition and responsibilities of each committee are described below. Members serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board.

Audit Committee

The members of our audit committee following the offering will be Mr. Goldberg, Mr. Gryska and Dr. Duyk. Mr. Goldberg will serve as chair of the audit committee. The audit committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and NASDAQ and which will be available on our website prior to the completion of this offering at www.aeriepharma.com. The inclusion of our website address here and elsewhere in this prospectus does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our website into this prospectus.

Under the applicable NASDAQ rules, we are permitted to phase in our compliance with the independent audit committee requirements set forth in Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ listing standards on the same schedule as we are permitted to phase in our compliance with the independent audit committee requirement pursuant to Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, which require (1) one independent member at the time of listing; (2) a majority of independent members within 90 days of listing; and (3) all independent members within one year of listing.

Our board of directors has determined that          members of our audit committee who will continue to be on the audit committee following our initial public offering are independent as independence is currently defined in Rule 5605 of the NASDAQ listing standards and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. We expect that membership of this committee will be changed to comply with independence requirements prior to the end of the phase-in period permitted by NASDAQ.

In addition, our board of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee is financially literate and that Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Gryska qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” as defined in applicable SEC rules. In making this determination, our board has considered the formal education and nature and scope of his previous experience, coupled with past and present service on various audit committees.

The responsibilities of our audit committee include, among other things:

 

   

reviewing our annual and quarterly financial statements and reports, discussing the statements and reports with our independent registered public accounting firm and management and recommending to the board whether to include the financial statements in the annual reports filed with the SEC;

 

   

discussing the type of information to be disclosed and the type of presentation to be made regarding financial information and earnings guidance to analysts and ratings agencies;

 

   

overseeing our disclosure controls and procedures, including internal controls over our financial reporting, and reviewing and discussing our management’s periodic review of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm and management significant issues that arise regarding accounting principles and financial statement presentation, matters concerning the scope, adequacy and effectiveness of our financial controls, effects of alternative accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, methods on our financial statements and any

 

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correspondence or reports that raise issues with or could have a material effect on our financial statements;

 

   

retaining, appointing, setting compensation of and evaluating the performance, independence, internal quality control procedures and qualifications of our independent auditors;

 

   

reviewing and approving in advance the engagement of our independent registered public accounting firm to perform audit services and any permissible non-audit services;

 

   

reviewing with our independent registered public accounting firm the planning and staffing of the audit, including the rotation requirements and other independence rules;

 

   

reviewing and, if acceptable, approving any related person transactions and establishing and reviewing our code of business conduct and ethics;

 

   

overseeing and discussing with management our policies with respect to risk assessment and risk management, and our significant financial and operational risk exposures;

 

   

setting policies for our hiring of employees or former employees of our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

reviewing and assessing the adequacy of our audit committee charter periodically; and

 

   

establishing procedures for receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal controls and auditing matters, and for confidential, anonymous submissions of accounting and auditing concerns by employees.

Compensation Committee

The members of our compensation committee are Dr. Mehra, Mr. Gryska, Dr. Mack and Dr. Cagle. Mr. Gryska serves as chair of the compensation committee.              members of our compensation committee are independent as independence is currently defined in Section 5605 of the NASDAQ listing standards and qualify as outside directors under Section 162(m) of the Code. We expect that membership of this committee will be changed to comply with independence requirements prior to the end of the phase-in period permitted by NASDAQ. The compensation committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of NASDAQ and which will be available on our website prior to the completion of this offering at www.aeriepharma.com. The inclusion of our website address here and elsewhere in this prospectus does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our website into this prospectus.

The responsibilities of our compensation committee include, among other things:

 

   

approving the compensation and other terms of employment of our chief executive officer, which are then reviewed and ratified by our board of directors;

 

   

approving or recommending to our board of directors the compensation and other terms of employment of our senior executives;

 

   

approving annually the corporate goals and objectives relevant to the compensation of our chief executive officer and assessing at least annually our chief executive officer’s performance against these goals and objectives;

 

   

reviewing annually our compensation strategy, including base salary, incentive compensation and equity-based grants, as well as adoption, modification or termination of this compensation;

 

   

evaluating at least annually and recommending to our board of directors the type and amount of compensation to be paid or awarded to non-employee board members;

 

   

reviewing the competitiveness of our executive compensation programs and evaluating the effectiveness of our compensation policy and strategy in achieving expected benefits to us;

 

   

approving the terms of any employment agreements, severance arrangements, change in control protections and any other compensatory arrangements for our executive officers;

 

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reviewing at least annually the adequacy of our compensation committee charter; and

 

   

reviewing and evaluating, at least annually, the performance of the compensation committee.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Dr. Henner and Dr. Conway. Dr. Henner serves as chair of this committee. Currently, our board of directors has determined that              and              are independent as independence is currently defined in Section 5605(a)(2) of the NASDAQ listing standards. We expect that membership of this committee will be changed to comply with independence requirements prior to the end of the phase-in period permitted by NASDAQ. The nominating and corporate governance committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of NASDAQ and which will be available on our website prior to the completion of this offering at www.aeriepharma.com. The inclusion of our website address here and elsewhere in this prospectus does not include or incorporate by reference the information on our website into this prospectus.

The responsibilities of our nominating and corporate governance committee include, among other things:

 

   

identifying, considering and nominating candidates to serve on our board of directors;

 

   

developing and recommending the minimum qualifications for service on our board of directors;

 

   

overseeing the evaluation of the board and management on an annual basis;

 

   

considering nominations by stockholders of candidates for election to the board of directors;

 

   

reviewing annually the independence of the non-employee directors and members of the independent committees of the board;

 

   

developing and recommending to our board of directors a set of corporate governance guidelines, and reviewing and recommending to our board of directors any changes to such principles;

 

   

developing and recommending to our board of directors a code of business conduct and ethics, and reviewing and recommending to our board of directors any changes to the code; and

 

   

reviewing the adequacy of its charter, our corporate governance guidelines and our code of business conduct and ethics on an annual basis.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

We 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. Upon the completion of this offering, the code of business conduct and ethics will be available on our website at www.aeriepharma.com. We intend to disclose future amendments to the code or any waivers of its requirements on our website to the extent permitted by the applicable rules and exchange requirements.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the Compensation Committee has ever been one of our officers or employees. In addition, during fiscal year 2012, none of our executive officers served as a member of a compensation committee or board of directors of an entity that had an executive officer serving as a member of our board of directors.

Executive Officers

Each of our executive officers has been elected by our board of directors and serves until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The discussion and tabular disclosure that follows describes our executive compensation program during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, our most recently completed fiscal year, with a focus on our executive compensation program relating to the following individuals: Thomas J. van Haarlem, Richard J. Rubino and Brian Levy (our “named executive officers”).

Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the portion of compensation paid to the named executive officers that is attributable to services performed during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012.

 

NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION

   YEAR      SALARY
($)
    BONUS
($) (1)
     OPTION
AWARDS
($) (2)
     TOTAL
($)
 

Thomas J. van Haarlem (3)

     2012       $ 389,622      $ 146,108         —         $ 535,730   

President & Chief Executive Officer

             

Richard J. Rubino

     2012       $ 62,500 (4)     $ 10,080       $ 700,000       $ 772,580   

Chief Financial Officer

             

Brian Levy

     2012       $ 285,000      $ 57,000       $ 202,000       $ 544,000   

Chief Medical Officer

             

 

(1)

Amounts reflected in this column are bonus amounts awarded at the discretion of the board of directors after its assessment of the Company’s and the executive’s performance in the fiscal year. The amount reported will be paid in August 2013.

(2)

The amounts included in the “Option Awards” column represent the grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The valuation assumptions used in determining such amounts are described in Note 11—Stock-Based Compensation of our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

(3)

Thomas J. van Haarlem resigned from his position as President & Chief Executive Officer on July 25, 2013. In connection with his separation, Dr. van Haarlem entered into a separation agreement and release pursuant to which he will receive base salary continuation and other benefits, and also entered into a consulting agreement, which agreements are described below under “—Executive Agreements—2013 Agreements.”

(4)

For Mr. Rubino, represents solely the pro-rated amount of his annual base salary earned commencing October 15, 2012, his employment start date.

Executive Agreements

On July 25, 2013, Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, was named Chief Executive Officer and will continue as Chairman of the Company. Dr. Anido replaced Aerie’s founding Chief Executive Officer Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D., who resigned from his positions as President, CEO and Director of Aerie. Dr. van Haarlem serves as a consultant to the Company pursuant to the terms of the consulting agreement described below. The following summary for Dr. van Haarlem reflects the terms and conditions of his employment prior to the separation date.

Thomas J. van Haarlem . On July 5, 2005, we entered into a letter agreement with Dr. van Haarlem, which was amended effective September 28, 2009. The initial employment term, and the subsequent renewal term entered into pursuant to the amendment effective September 28, 2009, concluded on July 5, 2008 and December 31, 2010, respectively. The letter agreement provides that Dr. van Haarlem is entitled to base salary of $389,622 per annum as of December 31, 2012, which may be increased at the board of director’s discretion, and may be decreased only in connection with an overall reduction in executive officer salaries. Dr. van Haarlem is eligible

 

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to receive an annual performance bonus of up to 50% of his base salary for the relevant calendar year. His letter agreement also provides for severance upon certain terminations of employment, as described below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Dr. van Haarlem’s letter agreement provides that for the one-year period following his termination of employment, he is prohibited from (i) soliciting any of our competitors, customers, or employees, and (ii) inducing or encouraging any of our third-party licensors, licensees, distributors, or research, development or commercialization collaborators to terminate or reduce its business activities with us. In connection with the execution of his letter agreement, Dr. van Haarlem also entered into a confidentiality, inventions and noncompetition agreement which provides that for a period of one year following his termination he is prohibited from (i) engaging in any business related to our fields of interest anywhere in the Noncompetition Area (as defined in the agreement), (ii) from interfering with the relationship between us (and any of our affiliates) and its customers then existing or existing at any time within one year prior to termination and (iii) from interfering with the relationship between us and our suppliers then existing or existing at any time within one year prior to termination.

Richard J. Rubino. On September 24, 2012, we entered into a letter agreement with Mr. Rubino, pursuant to which his initial employment term commenced on October 15, 2012 and will expire on October 15, 2015, unless extended by mutual written agreement between us and Mr. Rubino. The letter agreement provides that Mr. Rubino is entitled to base salary of $300,000 per annum as of December 31, 2012, which may be increased at the board of director’s or the CEO’s discretion and may be decreased by the board of directors only in connection with an overall reduction in executive officer salaries. Mr. Rubino is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to 20% of his base salary for the relevant calendar year.

Mr. Rubino’s letter agreement provides that for the one-year period following his termination of employment, he is prohibited from (i) soliciting any of our competitors, customers, or employees, and (ii) inducing or encouraging any of our third-party licensors, licensees, distributors, or research, development or commercialization collaborators to terminate or reduce its business activities with us. In connection with the execution of his letter agreement, Mr. Rubino also entered into a confidentiality, inventions and noncompetition agreement which provides that for a period of one year following his termination he is prohibited from (i) engaging in any business related to our fields of interest anywhere in the Noncompetition Area (as defined in the agreement), (ii) from interfering with the relationship between us (and any of our affiliates) and our customers then existing or existing at any time within one year prior to termination and (iii) from interfering with the relationship between us and our suppliers then existing or existing at any time within one year prior to termination.

Brian Levy . On December 15, 2011, we entered into a letter agreement with Dr. Levy, pursuant to which his initial employment term commenced on January 2, 2012 and will expire January 2, 2016, and will thereafter be subject to automatic one-year extensions unless either we or Dr. Levy provide at least 90 days written notice of non-extension. The letter agreement provides that Dr. Levy is entitled to base salary of $285,000 per annum as of December 31, 2012 which may be increased at the board of director’s or the CEO’s discretion, and may be decreased only in connection with an overall reduction in executive officer salaries. Dr. Levy is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to 20% of his base salary for the relevant calendar year. His employment agreement also provides for severance upon certain terminations of employment, as described below under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

Dr. Levy’s letter agreement provides that for the one-year period following his termination of employment, he is prohibited from (i) soliciting any of our employees and (ii) inducing or encouraging any of our third-party licensors, licensees, distributors, or research, development or commercialization collaborators to terminate or reduce its business activities with us. In connection with the execution of his letter agreement, Dr. Levy also entered into a confidentiality, inventions and noncompetition agreement which provides that for a period of one year following his termination he is prohibited from (i) engaging in any business related to our fields of interest anywhere in the Noncompetition Area (as defined in the agreement), (ii) from interfering with the relationship

 

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between us (and any of our affiliates) and our customers then existing or existing at any time within one year prior to termination and (iii) from interfering with the relationship between us and our suppliers then existing or existing at any time within one year prior to termination.

2013 Agreements

Vicente Anido, Jr . On September 20, 2013, we entered into an employment agreement with Vicente Anido, Jr. to memorialize his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, which appointment was effective as of July 25, 2013. The employment agreement provides for a four-year term during which Dr. Anido will receive an annual base salary of $475,000, which may be increased annually at the board of director’s discretion, and may be decreased only in connection with an overall reduction in executive officer salaries. Dr. Anido is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to 50% of his base salary for the relevant calendar year. The employment agreement also provides that Dr. Anido will be granted an option to purchase 4,612,341 shares of common stock which will vest, subject to his continued employment with (or provision of services to) the Company through the applicable vesting date, 25% on July 25, 2014, and thereafter will vest ratably on each of the 36 monthly anniversaries of June 25, 2014. For the four-year period commencing on September 20, 2013, in the event that any of the payments or benefits provided by the Company to Dr. Anido would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, Dr. Anido will entitled to a “gross-up” payment equal to the sum of such excise tax and related interest or penalties (the “Excise Tax”) plus the amount necessary to put him in the same after-tax position that he would have been in had he not incurred any tax liability under Section 4999 of the Code.

In the event of a termination of Dr. Anido’s employment by us without Cause or by Dr. Anido for Good Reason, Dr. Anido will be entitled to (i) a lump sum severance payment equal to six months of base salary, (ii) commencing on the date that is six months following the termination date, continued payment of Dr. Anido’s base salary at the rate in effect at the time of termination for a period of six months, (iii) 12 months of Company-paid COBRA continuation coverage less the amount payable by an active employee for such coverage, and (iv) payment of the greater of (x) the target annual performance bonus for the year in which termination occurs and (y) the average of the annual performance bonus received by Dr. Anido for the three years immediately preceding the year in which termination occurs (together with the payments provided under (i), (ii) and (ii), the “Severance Payments”). In the event Dr. Anido’s employment is terminated by us with or without Cause, or he resigns for or without Good Reason, he will have a post-termination exercise period of 90 days during which he may exercise the portion of the option which was vested as of the termination date. In the event of a termination by us without Cause or by Dr. Anido for Good Reason at any time during the 12 months following a Transfer of Control, he will be entitled to (i) the Severance Payments (which Severance Payments shall be made for a period of 18 months following termination if the Company is a publicly reporting company at the time of the Transfer of Control) and (ii) full vesting of all options and other equity incentive awards which were unvested immediately prior to such termination. In the event that the Board approves a decision to liquidate, dissolve, or terminate the business or operations of the Company (other than in connection with the sale of the assets or merger of the Company), Dr. Anido will immediately resign from all then-held employment, officer and director positions, and will not be required to oversee, participate or assist in any in such liquidation, provided, however, that in the event of such resignation, Dr. Anido would not be entitled to any severance benefits or payments.

Dr. Anido’s employment agreement also provides that he shall not (and shall not assist any person to), directly or indirectly, without our prior written consent (a) during the employment term and for a period of 6 months thereafter contact, induce or solicit for employment any person who is, or within three month prior to such hiring, contacting, inducing or soliciting, was an employee of the Company or any of its affiliates; (b) during the employment term and for a period of 12 months thereafter, induce or solicit any customer, client or vendor of, or other person having a business relationship with the Company or any of its affiliates to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with the Company or any of its affiliates; or (c) during the employment term and for a period of 12 months thereafter, interfere with any relationship between the Company or any of its affiliates and any of their respective customers, clients, vendors or any other business contacts.

 

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Thomas J. van Haarlem . On July 25, 2013, or the Separation Date, we entered into a Separation and General Release Agreement with Dr. Thomas van Haarlem, pursuant to which Dr. van Haarlem resigned from his positions as President, Chief Executive Officer and director. Pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, Dr. van Haarlem has released us from any and all claims, known or unknown, that he had, has or may have against us up until the Separation Date. In consideration for such release, we have agreed to provide: (a) payment of base salary of $397,414 for a period of 12 months, payable in regular installments in accordance with our usual payroll practices; (b) reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred by him prior to the Separation Date in accordance with Company policy; (c) 12 months of benefits continuation under our health and dental plan; and (d) reimbursement for the pro-rata number of unused vacation days during 2013. The Separation Agreement also provides that Dr. van Haarlem will be paid an amount equal to $146,108 within 30 days following the earliest to occur of the following, provided that such event occurs on or before June 30, 2014 (i) the closing of an initial public offering in which we receive gross proceeds of at least $50,000,000; (ii) the closing of an equity financing in which we receive gross proceeds of no less than $20,000,000; and (iii) a merger, acquisition or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s business assets. In addition, we have released Dr. van Haarlem from the non-competition obligations in his confidentiality, inventions and noncompetition agreement.

In accordance with the terms of the Separation Agreement, the Company and Mr. van Haarlem have also entered into a consulting agreement, or the Consulting Agreement, effective as of the Separation Date through June 30, 2014 (the “Expiration Date”). The Consulting Agreement provides for (i) the payment of $100.00 per month; (ii) the continuation of the vesting of options to purchase 208,390 shares of common stock held by Dr. van Haarlem in accordance with the vesting schedule applicable immediately prior to the Separation Date until the Expiration Date; and (iii) the extension of the exercise period of options to purchase 2,218,114 shares of common stock, all of which were vested on or prior to the Separation Date, until the Expiration Date, following which date all then unexercised options shall automatically expire. Dr. van Haarlem will be entitled to exercise his vested options prior to the Expiration Date by means of a cashless exercise. The Consulting Agreement also provides that during the term and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Dr. van Haarlem shall not, directly or indirectly, without our prior written consent (a) solicit or induce any of our employees to leave Aerie; or (b) solicit the business of any of our agents, clients or customers with respect to products or services similar to and competitive with those provided or supplied by us. Dr. van Haarlem also agreed to maintain the confidentiality of any of our proprietary information at all times during and after the term, and to assign to us all rights in any inventions conceived by him during the term of the agreement. Moreover, pursuant to the terms of each of the Consulting Agreement and Separation Agreement, each of Aerie and Dr. van Haarlem agree to refrain from making or encouraging any other individual to make any public or private comments that would disparage the other, and in the case of Aerie, its officers, directors or managers.

Thomas A. Mitro. On July 31, 2013, we entered into an employment agreement with Thomas A. Mitro, effective as of August 5, 2013, pursuant to which Mr. Mitro was appointed as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company. The employment agreement provides for a four-year term during which Mr. Mitro will receive an annual base salary of $335,000, which may be increased annually at the board of director’s discretion, and may be decreased only in connection with an overall reduction in executive officer salaries. Mr. Mitro is eligible to receive an annual performance bonus of up to 20% of his base salary for the relevant calendar year. The employment agreement also provides that Mr. Mitro will be granted an option to purchase 1,902,417 shares of common stock which will vest, subject to his continued employment with (or provision of services to) the Company through the applicable vesting date, 25% on August 5, 2014, and thereafter will vest ratably on each of the 36 monthly anniversaries of August 5, 2014. For the two-year period commencing on the date of the agreement, in the event that any of the payments or benefits provided by the Company to Mr. Mitro would constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and would be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code, Mr. Mitro will be entitled to a “gross-up” payment equal to the sum of such excise tax and related interest or penalties (the “Excise Tax”) plus the amount necessary to put him in the same after-tax position that he would have been in had he not incurred any tax liability under Section 4999 of the Code. In the event of a termination by us without Cause or by Mr. Mitro for Good Reason, Mr. Mitro will be entitled to

 

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six months of (i) base salary continuation and (ii) benefits continuation. In the event Mr. Mitro is terminated by us with or without Cause, or resigns for or without Good Reason, he will have a post-termination exercise period of 90 days during which he may exercise the portion of the option which was vested as of the termination date. In the event he terminates for Good Reason or is terminated by us without cause, at any time during the 12 months following a Transfer of Control, he will be entitled to six months of (i) base salary continuation and (ii) benefits continuation, and full vesting of all options and other equity incentive awards which were unvested immediately prior to such termination.

Mr. Mitro’s employment agreement also provides that during the term and for a period of 12 months thereafter, he shall not, directly or indirectly, without our prior written consent (a) solicit or induce any of our employees to leave Aerie; or (b) solicit the business of any of our agents, clients or customers with respect to products or services similar to and competitive with those provided or supplied by us.

Equity Incentive Awards

Our named executive officers are eligible to receive long-term equity-based incentive awards under the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, or the 2005 Equity Plan. While we believe that long-term equity awards are an important element of the “mix” of compensation paid to our named executive officers, we do not maintain any formal grant-making policy. Instead, the board of directors (or the compensation committee) periodically reviews the total level and mix of compensation paid to each of our named executive officers in order to determine the appropriate timing and amounts of long-term equity awards so as to continue to promote the alignment of our executive officers’ interests with those of our stockholders.

Richard J. Rubino. Pursuant to the terms of an incentive stock option agreement, on October 15, 2012, we granted Mr. Rubino an option to purchase 1,725,000 shares of common stock scheduled to vest over a period of four years beginning on the anniversary of the date of grant, which option agreement was subsequently amended on March 21, 2013 to provide that (i) the option would no longer be an incentive stock option as described in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, (ii) the option would be fully vested and (iii) Mr. Rubino may elect to net exercise his option such that the number of shares delivered would reflect the total number of shares underlying the option reduced by the number of shares of common stock having a fair market value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price for the total number of shares underlying the option (“net exercise”). As described in greater detail in footnote 5 to the “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End” table, this option was exercised in full by Mr. Rubino in March 2013. We also made an additional option grant to purchase 874,694 shares of common stock, which was the equivalent number of shares he surrendered to us in connection with the cashless exercise of his October 2012 option. On September 12, 2013, we granted Mr. Rubino an option to purchase 125,000 shares of common stock scheduled to vest 25% on or after September 12, 2014 and 75% in 36 equal monthly installments on the corresponding day of each successive month thereafter.

Brian Levy . Pursuant to the terms of an incentive stock option agreement, on January 1, 2012, we granted Dr. Levy an option to purchase 770,000 shares of common stock scheduled to vest 25% on or after December 31, 2012, and 75% in 36 equal monthly installments on the corresponding day of each successive month thereafter. The option terminates on the earliest to occur of (i) January 1, 2022, (ii) the expiration of the post-termination exercise period or (iii) upon a Transfer of Control. On September 12, 2013, we granted Dr. Levy an option to purchase 250,000 shares of common stock scheduled to vest 25% on or after September 12, 2014 and 75% in 36 equal monthly installments on the corresponding day of each successive month thereafter.

The treatment of Dr. van Haarlem’s, Mr. Rubino’s and Dr. Levy’s equity awards upon a termination of employment (as applicable) or a Transfer of Control is described below in the section entitled “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table provides information concerning outstanding equity awards for each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2012.

 

     OPTION AWARDS  

NAME

   NUMBER OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE
(#)
    NUMBER OF
SECURITIES
UNDERLYING
UNEXERCISED
OPTIONS
UNEXERCISABLE
(#)
    OPTION
EXERCISE
PRICE
($)
     OPTION
EXPIRATION
DATE
 

Thomas J. van Haarlem

     210,364 (1)       $ 0.0010         8/12/2015   
     280,000 (2)       $ 0.0790         2/19/2018   
     1,141,428        263,407 (3)     $ 0.0810         12/3/2019   
     286,087        367,827 (4)     $ 0.0392         4/28/2021   

Richard J. Rubino

       1,725,000 (5)     $ 0.2941         10/15/2022   

Brian Levy

     192,500        577,500 (6)     $ 0.2849         1/1/2022   

 

(1)

This option was granted on July 5, 2005 and was fully vested as of July 5, 2010.

(2)

This option was granted on February 19, 2008 and was fully vested as of December 29, 2012.

(3)

This option was granted on December 3, 2009 and, by its original terms, was scheduled to vest in equal monthly installments such that the option would have fully vested on September 22, 2013. Pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement, this option will continue to vest until June 30, 2014, and any portion of the option unvested as of such date shall be forfeited.

(4)

This option was granted on April 28, 2011 and, by its original terms, was scheduled to vest in equal monthly installments such that the option would have fully vested on March 25, 2015. Pursuant to the terms of the Consulting Agreement, this option will continue to vest until June 30, 2014, and any portion of the option unvested as of such date shall be forfeited.

(5)

This option was granted on October 15, 2012 and was scheduled to vest 25% on October 14, 2013, and thereafter in equal monthly installments such that the option would have been fully vested on October 14, 2016. This option is no longer outstanding and is considered cancelled for accounting purposes. Pursuant to an amendment to the option agreement, in March 2013, the option was fully exercisable and Mr. Rubino exercised the option in full on a net exercise basis such that he acquired 850,306 shares of common stock. The resulting 850,306 shares are subject to the original vesting terms and are considered restricted stock until vesting occurs. In order to cover Mr. Rubino’s out-of-pocket tax costs associated with the exercise of his option, on March 21, 2013 we made an additional grant of 1,004,864 shares of restricted stock which is scheduled to vest over a two-year period in equal monthly installments. We also made an additional option grant to purchase 874,694 shares of common stock, which was the equivalent number of shares he had surrendered to us in connection with the cashless exercise of the October 2012 option. This option is scheduled to vest 25% on October 14, 2013, and thereafter in equal monthly installments such that the option will be fully vested on October 14, 2016.

(6)

This option was granted on January 1, 2012. The option vested 25% on December 31, 2012 and thereafter is scheduled to vest in equal monthly installments such that the option will be fully vested on December 31, 2015.

Retirement Benefit Programs

Our named executive officers are entitled, on the same basis as our other employees, to participate in our 401(k) plan, a tax-qualified defined contribution plan under Section 401 of the Code. Pursuant to the 401(k) plan, participants may contribute an amount of his or her pre-tax compensation up to the statutory limit, which limit in 2013 is $17,500.

 

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Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

A description of the Dr. van Haarlem’s entitlements following his resignation, as provided under the terms of his Separation Agreement and Consulting Agreement, are described above in the section “—Executive Agreements— 2013 Agreements.”

Brian Levy . Upon termination by us without Cause or by the Dr. Levy in connection with a Constructive Termination Event (as defined in his letter agreement), Dr. Levy would be entitled to six months of annual base salary, at the rate in effect immediately prior to the date of such termination (the “Severance Amount”). The Severance Amount will be paid in installments in accordance with our normal payroll practices or, at our election, in a lump sum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if we elect to pay the Severance Amount in a lump sum pursuant to the Dr. Levy’s determination that such payment would have resulted in the avoidance of the imposition of excise taxes, and we subsequently determine either that (i) the payment of the Severance Amount in installments would not result in the imposition of excise taxes upon Dr. Levy or (ii) payment of the Severance Amount in a lump sum would adversely affect our ability to pay our debts as they come due or would otherwise violate any of our obligations or covenants under any written agreement with any third party, we shall not be obligated to pay the Severance Amount in a lump sum and may continue to pay the Severance Amount in installments.

In the event of Dr. Levy’s termination for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in the letter agreement), the vested portion of his outstanding option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) expiration of the three- month period (in the case of termination due to death or disability, the twelve-month period) beginning on the date following the termination date and (ii) the option expiration date. In the event of termination for Cause, the option may not be exercised after the date on which Dr. Levy’s employment terminates.

Richard J. Rubino . Mr. Rubino’s employment may be terminated by us for any reason, and may be voluntarily terminated by him with 30 days prior written notice, which notice period may be waived or shortened by us. Upon his termination of employment for any reason, Mr. Rubino would be entitled to payment by us of amounts of base salary and bonus (if any) accrued under any bonus plan through, and payable at, the date of such termination.

In the event of Mr. Rubino’s termination for any reason other than for cause, the vested portion of his option shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (i) expiration of the three-month period (in the case of termination due to death or disability, the twelve-month period) beginning on the date following the termination date and (ii) the option expiration date. In the event of termination for cause (as determined in the sole discretion of the board of directors), the option may not be exercised after the date on which the Mr. Rubino’s employment terminates.

Messrs. van Haarlem, Rubino and Levy—Treatment of Equity in the Event of a Transfer of Control . The 2005 Equity Plan provides that in the event of a Transfer of Control (as defined in the 2005 Equity Plan), each outstanding option shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation). If the successor corporation in a Transfer of Control refuses to assume or substitute for any outstanding option, the option shall fully vest and become exercisable. An option shall be considered assumed if, following the Transfer of Control, the option confers upon the holder the right to receive, in respect of each share underlying such option, the per share consideration (whether in the form of stock, cash or other securities or property) received by holders of our common stock (as of the effective date of the transaction) in the Transfer of Control, provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Transfer of Control is not solely capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof), the board of directors may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the option, for each share subject to the option, to be solely capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof) equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of our common stock in the Transfer of Control. Upon occurrence of a Transfer of Control, each outstanding option, to the extent not exercised prior to or concurrently with the Transfer of Control, shall terminate as of the effective time of the Transfer of Control, unless such option is assumed or replaced with an option to purchase shares of capital stock in the successor corporation.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation), either (A) does not offer employment to the executive on terms comparable to his then existing terms of employment (as determined by the board of directors) or (B) terminates the executive’s employment without cause (as such term is defined in the letter agreement, option agreement or 2005 Equity Plan, as applicable) within one year after the Transfer of Control, then the entire unexercisable portion of the outstanding option that would become exercisable during the twelve months following the occurrence of either of the events set forth in clauses (A) or (B) above, shall become immediately exercisable.

2005 Equity Incentive Plan

On July 13, 2005, the board of directors adopted the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan. As of June 30, 2013, we have outstanding options to purchase 7,547,153 shares of our common stock at exercise prices ranging from $0.001 to $0.580 (with a weighted average exercise price of $0.2034). Total shares of 8,156,380 of our common stock are reserved for issuance, of which 609,227 shares are available for grant. Following the consummation of our initial public offering, no additional awards will be made under the 2005 Equity Plan, and all outstanding awards in respect of the 2005 Equity Plan will continue to be governed by their existing terms.

The 2005 Equity Plan is administered by the board of directors or by a duly appointed committee of the board of directors (in either case, referred to hereinafter as the board of directors). The board of directors has the authority to make final and binding determinations with respect to all questions of interpretation of the plan and any awards granted under the plan.

The board of directors may grant options to purchase shares of our authorized but unissued common stock, which options may be either incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) or nonqualified stock options. The board of directors, in its sole discretion, shall determine:

 

(i) to whom options are granted;

 

(ii) the number of shares of stock into which the option is exercisable;

 

(iii) whether the option is to be treated as Incentive Stock Option or as a nonqualified stock option;

 

(iv) the exercise price for each option;

 

(v) the schedule upon which an option becomes exercisable; and

 

(vi) all other terms and conditions with respect to an option.

In the event of a Transfer of Control (as defined in the plan), each outstanding option shall be assumed or substituted by the successor corporation. Any outstanding option which is not assumed or substituted by the successor corporation shall become fully vested and exercisable. For purposes of this paragraph, an option shall be considered assumed if, following the Transfer of Control, the holder of such option receives, in respect of each option outstanding prior to the Transfer of Control, the per share transaction consideration received by holders of common stock in connection with the Transfer of Control. Upon the occurrence of the Transfer of Control, each outstanding option, to the extent not exercised prior to or concurrently with the Transfer of Control, shall terminate as of the effective time of the Transfer of Control (unless assumed or substituted by the successor corporation).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the successor corporation (A) does not offer employment to the option holder on terms comparable to his or her then existing terms of employment with the Company (as determined in the sole discretion of the board of directors); or (B) terminates the option holder’s employment without Cause (as defined in the plan or applicable agreement) within one year after the Transfer of Control, then that unexercisable portion of an outstanding option that would become exercisable during the next twelve months following the occurrence of either of the events set forth in clauses (A) or (B) above, shall become immediately exercisable.

 

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The board of directors shall make appropriate adjustments in the number and class of shares of the stock subject to the plan and to any outstanding options and in the option price of any outstanding options in the event of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company.

The board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time. The board of directors may also amend, modify or terminate any outstanding option, provided however, that the board of directors shall not be authorized to make any amendment which would materially adversely affect the rights of the option holder without his or her consent.

2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan

We intend to adopt a new stock incentive plan under which our executives and employees may be granted options and other equity-based compensation in respect of our stock. This plan, if it is adopted, will replace the 2005 Equity Plan as the plan through which options and other equity-based compensation awards will be granted.

2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We intend to adopt an employee stock purchase plan under which our executives and employees may purchase our stock.

Director Compensation for Fiscal Year 2012

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to our directors for the year ended December 31, 2012.

 

NAME

   FEES EARNED OR
PAID IN CASH
($)
     OPTION
AWARDS

($) (1) (2)
    TOTAL
$
 

Janet L. Conway

     4,000         —          4,000   

Geoffrey Duyk

     —           —          —     

David Epstein

     —           —          —     

David W. Gryska

     30,000         26,210 (3)       56,210   

Dennis Henner

     —           —          —     

David Mack

     —           —          —     

Anand Mehra

     —           —          —     

 

(1)  

The amounts included in the “Option Awards” column represent the grant date fair value computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The valuation assumptions used in determining such amounts are described in Note 11—Stock-Based Compensation of our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

(2)  

As of December 31, 2012, Dr. Conway, Dr. Epstein and Mr. Gryska held outstanding options to purchase 87,173 shares, 247,998 shares and 100,000 shares, respectively.

(3)  

This option was granted on March 29, 2012 and is scheduled to vest ratably over three years.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

The following is a description of transactions since January 1, 2010 to which we were a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000, and in which any of our executive officers, directors or holders of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, or an affiliate or immediate family member thereof, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. We believe the terms obtained or consideration that we paid or received, as applicable, in connection with the transactions described below were comparable to terms available or amounts that would be paid or received, as applicable, in arm’s-length transactions with unrelated third parties.

Please see “Description of Capital Stock—Warrants” for a more detailed description of our various series of outstanding warrants described below.

Convertible Note and Warrant Issuances

In 2010, we extended the maturity date of convertible notes previously issued in 2009 with an aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million (the “2009 Notes”) to February 2013. The 2009 Notes accrued interest at a rate of 6% per annum. In connection with the issuance of the 2009 notes, we also issued warrants to purchase shares of our Series A-3 convertible preferred stock (the “Series A-3 warrants”). The Series A-3 warrants are exercisable at a price of $1.00 per share at any time during their ten year term, subject to adjustment. Upon completion of this offering, the Series A-3 warrants will automatically become exercisable for shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $         per share. The Series A-3 warrants are currently outstanding and are expected to remain outstanding following the completion of this offering.

The aggregate principal amount of the 2009 Notes together with accrued interest was converted into 10,979,476 shares of Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock in February 2011 in connection with the issuance of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and none of the 2009 Notes remain outstanding. The following table summarizes the participation in the issuance of our 2009 Notes:

 

NAME

  AGGREGATE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
OF 2009 NOTES
    AMOUNT OF
ACCRUED INTEREST
ON 2009 NOTES
    AGGREGATE SHARES
OF SERIES A-3
CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED STOCK
RECEIVED UPON
CONVERSION OF 2009
NOTES
    OUTSTANDING SERIES
A-3 WARRANTS
 

ACP IV, L.P.

  $ 5,000,000      $ 489,738        5,489,738        750,000   

TPG Biotech Reinvest AIV, L.P.

    5,000,000        489,738        5,489,738        750,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 10,000,000      $ 979,476        10,979,476        1,500,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

In August 2010, we issued a new series of convertible promissory notes (the “2010 Notes”) to existing investors identified in the table below for an aggregate principal amount of $5.25 million. The 2010 Notes accrued interest at a rate of 6% per annum. In connection with the issuance of the 2010 Notes, we also issued warrants to purchase shares of our Series A-4 convertible preferred stock (the “Series A-4 warrants”). The Series A-4 warrants are exercisable at a price of $1.00 per share at any time during their ten year term, subject to adjustment. Upon completion of this offering, the Series A-4 warrants will automatically become exercisable for shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $         per share. The Series A-4 warrants are currently outstanding and are expected to remain outstanding following the completion of this offering.

 

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The aggregate principal amount of the 2010 Notes together with accrued interest thereon was converted to shares of our Series A-4 convertible preferred stock in February 2011 in connection with the issuance of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and none of the 2010 Notes remain outstanding. The following table summarizes the participation in the issuance of our 2010 Notes:

 

NAME

  AGGREGATE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
OF 2010 NOTES
    AMOUNT OF
ACCRUED INTEREST
ON 2010 NOTES
    AGGREGATE SHARES
OF SERIES  A-4
CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED STOCK
RECEIVED

UPON CONVERSION OF
2010 NOTES
    OUTSTANDING
SERIES A-4
WARRANTS
 

Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P.

  $ 5,000,000      $ 129,041        4,662,765        750,000   

Thomas J. van Haarlem

    150,000        3,871        139,883        22,500   

Casey C. Kopczynski

    100,000        2,581        93,256        15,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 5,250,000      $ 135,493        4,895,904        787,500   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

In December 2012, we entered into a note and warrant purchase agreement with certain of our existing investors providing for the issuance from time to time of convertible notes up to a maximum of $15.0 million of aggregate principal amount. In August 2013, we amended the note and warrant purchase agreement allowing for the issuance of an additional $3.0 million of aggregate principal amount and extending the issuance period through November 30, 2013 as further described in Note 15 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Concurrently with entering into the note and warrant purchase agreement (the “2012 Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement”) in December 2012, we issued our $3.0 million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding notes to existing investors identified in the table below. In March 2013, May 2013 and August 2013, we issued an additional $3.0 million, $4.5 million and $4.5 million, respectively, in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding notes to these existing investors. Our outstanding notes accrue interest at a rate of 8% per annum. In connection with the issuances of the outstanding notes, we also issued warrants to purchase shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock (the “Series B warrants”). The Series B warrants are exercisable at a price of $0.01 per share at any time during their seven year term, subject to adjustment. Upon completion of this offering, the Series B warrants will automatically become exercisable for shares of our common stock. The Series B warrants are expected to remain outstanding following the completion of this offering.

We expect the outstanding notes to be converted into             shares of our common stock in connection with this offering based on an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming that interest on the outstanding notes accrued through                     . The following table summarizes the participation in the issuance of our outstanding notes:

 

NAME

  AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF 2012 NOTES
    AMOUNT OF ACCRUED
INTEREST AS OF

AUGUST 31, 2013
    OUTSTANDING SERIES B
WARRANTS
 

ACP IV, L.P.

  $ 4,097,202      $ 110,767        931,181   

TPG Biotech Reinvest AIV, L.P.

    4,097,202        110,767        931,181   

Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P.

    3,388,224        91,600        770,051   

Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P.

    2,852,668        77,122        648,332   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

  $ 14,435,296      $ 390,256        3,280,745   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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Preferred Stock Issuances

In February 2011, we issued and sold an aggregate 22,727,273 shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock in exchange for cash at a price of $1.10 per share. Simultaneously, we issued 10,979,476 shares and 4,895,904 shares of Series A-3 and A-4 convertible preferred stock, respectively, in connection with the conversion of the 2009 notes and the 2010 notes, as described above for no additional consideration. The following table summarizes the participation in this February 2011 transaction:

 

PARTICIPANTS

  SHARES OF SERIES
A-3 CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED

STOCK  (1)
    SHARES OF SERIES
A-4 CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED
STOCK  (2)
    SHARES OF SERIES B
CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED
STOCK  (3)
    AGGREGATE
PURCHASE PRICE OF
SERIES B
CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED STOCK
 

ACP IV, L.P.

    5,489,738        —          —          —     

TPG Biotech Reinvest AIV, L.P.

    5,489,738        —          —          —     

Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P.

    —          —          13,636,364      $ 15,000,000   

Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P.

    —          4,662,765        6,818,182        7,500,000   

Thomas J. van Haarlem

    —          139,883        —          —     

Casey C. Kopczynski

    —          93,256        —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    10,979,476        4,895,904        20,454,546      $ 22,500,000   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)  

Upon completion of this offering, shares of our Series A-3 convertible preferred stock will automatically convert into shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis.

(2 )  

Upon completion of this offering, shares of our Series A-4 convertible preferred stock will automatically convert into shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis.

(3)  

Upon completion of this offering, shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock will automatically convert into shares of our common stock on a one-for-one basis.

Investor Rights Agreement

We are party to an amended and restated investor rights agreement, dated February 2011, as amended in December 2012, or the Investor Rights Agreement, with certain holders of our preferred stock. The Investor Rights Agreement provides that the holders of common stock issuable upon conversion of our convertible preferred stock have the right to demand that we file a registration statement or request that their shares of common stock be covered by a registration statement that we are otherwise filing. With respect to this offering, the registration rights have been validly waived. The registration rights will terminate upon the date three years following the closing of this offering. The Investor Rights Agreement also includes certain rights related to information and inspection, certain of our covenants and certain rights of first refusal, which will terminate upon the completion of this offering. The registration rights are described in more detail under “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.”

Voting Agreement

We have entered into an amended and restated voting agreement, dated February 2011 (the “Voting Agreement”), with certain holders of our common stock and certain holders of our convertible preferred stock. Pursuant to the Voting Agreement, holders of our preferred stock have agreed to vote such that: one director be a designee of TPG Biotech Reinvest AIV, L.P. or its affiliates, who is currently Dr. Geoffrey Duyk; one director be a designee of ACP IV, L.P. or its affiliates, who is currently Dr. David Mack; one director be a designee of Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P. or its affiliates, who is currently Dr. Dennis Henner; and one director be a designee of Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P. or its affiliates, who is currently Dr. Anand Mehra. The provisions of the amended and restated voting agreement will terminate upon the completion of this offering.

 

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Other Transactions

In October 2012, we formed Novaer, a wholly-owned entity, and contributed certain non-core, non-competitive intellectual property relating to certain ophthalmic implant technology, as well as an exclusive license for all of our intellectual property for non-ophthalmic indications, and $0.1 million in cash for initial funding. Our board of directors declared a dividend and distributed 100% of Novaer’s equity interests to our stockholders and warrant holders of record as of September 6, 2012. Following this spin-off, Novaer is an independent company. We have no right to or ability to receive profits from the non-core intellectual property divested to Novaer. We also have no board seats or ongoing involvement with Novaer.

On September 6, 2013, we terminated our agreement to exclusively license to Novaer our intellectual property for non-ophthalmic indications. No consideration, or future obligation thereof, was exchanged in connection with this termination. As of September 6, 2013, we own all of the worldwide rights to our current product candidates for all indications, both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic.

Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions

Prior to completion of this offering, we expect that our board of directors will adopt a policy providing that the audit committee will review and approve or ratify transactions in excess of $120,000 of value in which we participate and in which a director, executive officer or beneficial holder of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities has or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Under this policy, the board of directors is to obtain all information it believes to be relevant to a review and approval or ratification of these transactions. After consideration of the relevant information, the audit committee is to approve only those related party transactions that the audit committee believes are on their terms, taken as a whole, no less favorable to us than could be obtained in an arms-length transaction with an unrelated third party and that the audit committee determines are not inconsistent with the best interests of the Company. A “related person” is any person who is or was one of our executive officers, directors or director nominees or is a holder of more than 5% of our common stock, or their immediate family members or any entity owned or controlled by any of the foregoing persons. All of the transactions described above were entered into prior to the adoption of this policy and were approved by our board of directors.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information known to us regarding beneficial ownership of our common stock as of August 31, 2013 by:

 

   

our named executive officers;

 

   

our directors;

 

   

all of our executive officers and directors as a group; and

 

   

each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock.

We have based our calculation of beneficial ownership prior to the offering on 65,972,802 shares of common stock outstanding as of August 31, 2013, assuming the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 60,602,653 shares of common stock. We have based our calculation of beneficial ownership after the offering on              shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, which gives effect to (i) the issuance of              shares of common stock in this offering, (ii) the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 60,602,653 shares of common stock and (iii) the conversion of the principal and accrued interest outstanding under our $             million in aggregate principal amount of our outstanding notes into shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering at a conversion price equal to the initial public offering price, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming the conversion occurred on                          , 2013.

The actual numbers of shares issued upon the conversion of the outstanding notes is based on the assumptions set forth above and upon such conversion will likely differ from the numbers appearing in this discussion and the following table and footnotes. See “Prospectus Summary—The Offering.”

The table below assumes that the underwriters do not exercise their option to purchase additional shares.

Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished to us by each director, executive officer or stockholder listed in the table below, as the case may be. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with SEC rules. 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 and include shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options or warrants that are immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after June 30, 2013. Common stock subject to options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2013 are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options or warrants. These shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.

 

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Except as otherwise indicated, all of the shares reflected in the table are shares of common stock and all persons listed below have sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by them. The information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Except as otherwise indicated in the table below, addresses of named beneficial owners are in care of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 135 US Highway 206, Suite 15, Bedminster, New Jersey 07921.

 

    NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED
  PERCENTAGE
OF  SHARES
BENEFICIALLY
OWNED

NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER

  PRIOR TO
THIS
OFFERING
    AFTER
THIS
OFFERING
  PRIOR TO
THIS
OFFERING
    AFTER
THIS
OFFERING

5% Stockholders

       

Entities affiliated with ACP IV, L.P.  (1)

    18,357,157          27.06  

Entities affiliated with Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P.  (2)

    14,560,425          21.77  

Entities affiliated with Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P.  (3)

    13,008,947          19.27  

Entities affiliated with TPG Biotech Reinvest AIV, L.P.  (4)

    18,357,157          27.06  

Executive Officers and Directors

       

Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD  (5)

    172,208          *     

Thomas J. van Haarlem, MD  (6)

    3,669,537          5.37  

Brian Levy, OD, MSc  (7)

    352,917          *     

Richard J. Rubino  (8)

    529,776          *     

Gerald D. Cagle, PhD  (9)

    7,778          *     

Janet L. Conway, PhD (10)

    87,150          *     

Geoffrey Duyk, MD, PhD  (11)

    18,364,935          27.07  

Murray A. Goldberg

    7,778          *     

David W. Gryska  (12)

    67,793          *     

Dennis Henner, PhD  (13)

    14,568,203          21.78  

David Mack, PhD  (14)

    18,364,935          27.07  

Anand Mehra, MD  (15)

    13,016,725          19.28  

All executive officers and directors as a group (14 persons) 

    70,854,274          92.97  

 

 * Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of our outstanding common stock.
(1)

Consists of (a) 1,867,419 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants within 60 days as of August 31, 2013 (assuming the completion of this offering) and (b) 16,489,738 shares of common stock upon conversion of our outstanding convertible preferred stock, all of which are held by ACP IV, L.P. In addition, the number of shares beneficially owned after the offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, includes          shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our outstanding notes. Alta Partners III, Inc. provides investment advisory services to several venture capital funds including ACP IV, L.P. Daniel Janney, David Mack, and Guy Nohra are directors of ACMP IV, LLC (which is the general partner of ACP IV, L.P). As directors of ACMP IV, LLC they may be deemed to share voting and investment powers over the shares held by the fund. The directors of ACMP IV, LLC disclaim beneficial ownership of all such shares held by ACP IV, L.P. except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. Alta Partners III, Inc. is a venture capital firm located at One Embarcadero Center, Suite 3700, San Francisco, CA 94111.

(2)

Consists of (a) 924,061 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants within 60 days as of August 31, 2013 (assuming the completion of this offering) and (b) 13,636,364 shares of common stock upon conversion of our outstanding convertible preferred stock, all of which are held by Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P. In addition, the number of shares beneficially owned after the offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, includes              shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our outstanding notes. The voting and dispositive decisions with respect to the shares held by Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P. are made by the following managing members of the general partner, Clarus Ventures II, LLC, of the general partner

 

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  of Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P.: Dennis Henner, Nicholas Galaktos, Robert Liptak, Nicholas Simon and Kurt Wheeler, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his actual pecuniary interest therein. Dr. Henner is a member of our board of directors. The address for the funds affiliated with Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P., Clarus Ventures II, LLC and its managing members is c/o Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P., 101 Main Street, Suite 1210, Cambridge, MA 02142.
(3)

Consists of (a) 1,528,000 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants within 60 days as of August 31, 2013 (assuming the completion of this offering) and (b) 11,480,947 shares of common stock upon conversion of our outstanding convertible preferred stock, all of which are held by Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P. In addition, the number of shares beneficially owned after the offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, includes              shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our outstanding notes. The voting and dispositive decisions with respect to the shares held by Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P. are made by the following managing members of its general partner, Sofinnova Management VII, L.L.C.: James Healy, Michael Powell and Eric Buatois, each of whom disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, except to the extent of his actual pecuniary interest therein. The address for the funds affiliated with Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P., Sofinnova Management VII, L.L.C. and its managing members is c/o Sofinnova Ventures, Inc., 2800 Sand Hill Road, Suite 150, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

(4)

Consists of (i) (a) 1,867,419 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants within 60 days of August 31, 2013 (assuming the completion of this offering), all of which are held by TPG Biotechnology Partners, L.P., or TPG Biotechnology and (b) 16,489,738 shares of common stock upon conversion of our outstanding convertible preferred stock, all of which is held by TPG Biotechnology. In addition, the number of shares beneficially owned after the offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $             per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, includes              shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of our outstanding notes held by TPG Biotech Reinvest AIV, L.P., or TPG Biotech Reinvest. The general partner of each of TPG Biotech Reinvest and TPG Biotechnology is TPG Biotechnology GenPar, L.P., whose general partner is TPG Biotechnology GenPar Advisors, LLC, whose sole member is TPG Holdings I, L.P., whose general partner is TPG Holdings I-A, LLC, whose sole member is TPG Group Holdings (SBS), L.P., whose general partner is TPG Group Holdings (SBS) Advisors, Inc., or Group Advisors. David Bonderman and James G. Coulter are officers and sole shareholders of Group Advisors and therefore may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of the securities held by TPG Biotech Reinvest and TPG Biotechnology, or the TPG Shares. Messrs. Bonderman and Coulter disclaim beneficial ownership of the TPG Shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein. The address of each of TPG Biotech Reinvest, TPG Biotechnology, Group Advisors and Messrs. Bonderman and Coulter is c/o TPG Global, LLC, 301 Commerce Street, Suite 3300, Fort Worth, Texas 76102.

(5)

Consists of 172,208 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013.

(6)

Includes (a) 1,189,636 shares of common stock, (b) 2,317,518 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013, (c) 22,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants (assuming the completion of this offering) and (d) 139,883 shares of common stock upon conversion of our outstanding convertible preferred stock. Dr. van Haarlem resigned from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer on July 25, 2013 and is currently serving as a consultant to the Company.

(7)

Consists of 352,917 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013.

(8)

Includes 529,776 shares of common stock issuable for vested restricted stock within 60 days after August 31, 2013.

(9)  

Consists of 7,778 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013.

(10)

Consists of 87,150 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013.

 

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(11)

Includes the shares described in note (4) above and 7,778 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options granted to Dr. Duyk exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013. Dr. Duyk expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities listed in note (4) above except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

(12)

Consists of 67,793 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013.

(13)

Includes the shares described in note (2) above and 7,778 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options granted to Dr. Henner exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013. Dr. Henner expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities listed in note (2) above except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

(14)

Includes the shares described in note (1) above and 7,778 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options granted to Dr. Mack exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013. Dr. Mack expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities listed in note (1) above except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

(15)

Includes the shares described in note (3) above and 7,778 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options granted to Dr. Mehra exercisable within 60 days after August 31, 2013. Dr. Mehra expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities listed in note (3) above except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

General

Following the closing of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of                 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and             shares of preferred stock, par value $         per share, all of which preferred stock will be undesignated. The following description of our capital stock and provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws are summaries and are qualified by reference to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect upon closing of this offering. Copies of these documents are filed 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 upon the closing of this offering.

Common Stock

As of June 30, 2013, we had outstanding              shares of common stock, held of record by 21 stockholders, assuming the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our preferred stock and the conversion of all of our outstanding notes, in each case immediately prior to the closing of this offering, into common stock.

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. An election of directors by our stockholders shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the election. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive proportionately any dividends as may be declared by our board of directors, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock.

In the event of our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive proportionately all assets available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Preferred Stock

Under the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that will become effective prior to the closing of this offering, our board of directors is authorized to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock.

The purpose of authorizing our board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, future financings 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 seeking to acquire, a majority of our outstanding voting stock. Upon the closing of this offering, there will be no shares of preferred stock outstanding, and we have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Stock Options

As of June 30, 2013, options to purchase 7,547,153 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price of $0.2034 per share were outstanding, of which options to purchase 4,608,300 shares of our common stock were exercisable, at a weighted average exercise price of $0.1060 per share.

 

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Warrants

As of June 30, 2013, we had the following outstanding warrants to purchase each series of our outstanding convertible preferred stock:

 

NUMBER OF UNDERLYING
SHARES (1)

   EXERCISE PRICE PER
SHARE
    WARRANT
EXPIRATION DATE
    

TYPE OF EQUITY SECURITY

          10,029    $ 1.00        March 2016       Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock
        750,000    $ 1.00 (2)       February 2019       Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock
        750,000    $ 1.00 (2)       November 2019       Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock
        750,000    $ 1.00 (2)       August 2020       Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock
          22,500    $ 1.00 (2)       August 2020       Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock
          15,000    $ 1.00 (2)       August 2020       Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock
        681,816    $ 0.01 (2)       December 2019       Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
         681,816 (3)    $ 0.01 (2)       December 2019       Series B Convertible Preferred Stock
      1,022,727 (4)    $ 0.01 (2)       December 2019       Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

 

(1)

Does not reflect warrants to purchase 1,022,727 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock that were issued in August 2013.

(2)

Subject to price protection provisions as described below.

(3)  

On March 28, 2013, the Company issued warrants to purchase 681,816 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuance of these warrants was completed concurrently with the second closing of the 2012 Notes.

(4)  

On May 23, 2013, the Company issued warrants to purchase 1,022,727 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuance of these warrants was completed concurrently with the third closing of the 2012 Notes.

Upon the completion of this offering, each of our warrants will become exercisable for shares of our common stock rather than the series of convertible preferred stock noted above. The number of shares of our common stock into which the warrant will become exercisable will equal the number of shares of our common stock that the holder would have received if the warrant had been exercised in full and the resulting shares of convertible preferred stock received had been converted into shares of our common stock. All of the warrants contain provisions that protect holders from a decline in the stock price (or “down-round” protection) by reducing the exercise price of the warrants if we issue new equity shares for a price that is lower than the initial exercise price. This down-round protection entitles the holders to a one-time reset to the lowest price at which new equity shares were issued during the period the warrant was held. This one-time reset feature is triggered, if applicable, at the time the warrants become exercisable for common stock at the completion of this offering.

Registration Rights

We have entered into the Investor Rights Agreement with certain of our stockholders. Upon the closing of this offering, holders of a total of             shares of our common stock as of December 31, 2012, including for this purpose             shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of our preferred stock upon the closing of this offering and             shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase shares of our preferred stock, will have the right to require us to register these shares under the Securities Act under specified circumstances and will have incidental registration rights as described below. After registration pursuant to these rights, these shares will become freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act.

Demand Registration Rights

At any time after 180 days after the closing of this offering, the holders of a majority of the registrable securities may request that we register all or a portion of their common stock for sale under the Securities Act so long as the total amount of registrable securities registered has an anticipated aggregate offering price of less than $10.0 million. We will effect the registration as requested, unless in the good faith judgment of our board of directors, such registration would be seriously detrimental to the company and its stockholders and should be delayed. In addition, when we are eligible for the use of Form S-3, or any successor form, holders of a majority of the shares

 

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having demand registration rights may make unlimited requests that we register all or a portion of their common stock for sale under the Securities Act on Form S-3, or any successor form. We are not obligated to file a registration statement pursuant to these demand provisions on more than two occasions.

Piggyback Registration Rights

In addition, if at any time we register any shares of our common stock, the holders of all shares having registration rights are entitled to at least 30 days notice of the registration and to include all or a portion of their common stock in the registration. With respect to this offering, the registration rights have been validly waived.

In the event that any registration in which the holders of registrable shares participate pursuant to the registration rights agreement is an underwritten public offering, the number of registrable shares to be included may, in specified circumstances, be limited due to market conditions.

Other Provisions

We will pay all registration expenses (other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions) and the reasonable fees and expenses of a single special counsel for the selling stockholders, related to any demand or piggyback registration. The registration rights agreement contains customary cross-indemnification provisions, pursuant to which we are obligated to indemnify the selling stockholders in the event of material misstatements or omissions in the registration statement attributable to us, and they are obligated to indemnify us for material misstatements or omissions in the registration statement attributable to them. The demand and piggyback registration rights described above will expire, with respect to any particular stockholder, three years after our initial public offering or when that stockholder can sell all of its shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Delaware law contains, and upon the completion of this offering our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws will contain, provisions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another party from acquiring control of us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors.

Staggered Board; Removal of Directors

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws will divide our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms. In addition, a director will only be able to be removed for cause. Any vacancy on our board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our board of directors, will only be able to be filled by vote of a majority of our directors then in office. Furthermore, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by the resolution of our board of directors. The classification of our board of directors and the limitations on the removal of directors, change the authorized numbers of directors and filling of vacancies could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, control of our company.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws will also provide that, except as otherwise required by law, special meetings of our stockholders can only be called by our chairman of the board, our chief executive officer or our board of directors.

 

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Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals

Our amended and restated bylaws will establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our board of directors. Stockholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our board of directors or by a stockholder of record on the record date for the meeting who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has delivered timely written notice in proper form to our secretary of the stockholder’s intention to bring such business before the meeting. These provisions could have the effect of delaying until the next stockholder meeting stockholder actions that are favored by the holders of a majority of our outstanding voting securities.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

We will be subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person 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 holder;

 

   

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 (a) by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) pursuant to 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 loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation.

In general, Section 203 defines an “interested stockholder” as an entity or person who, together with the entity’s or person’s affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, or is an affiliate of the corporation and within three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

 

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Amendments to Our Bylaws

The Delaware General Corporation Law provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares presents at any meeting and entitled to vote on a matter is required to amend a corporation’s bylaws, unless a corporation’s bylaws requires a greater percentage. Effective upon the completion of this offering, our amended and restated bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote of our board of directors or by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of the votes that all of our stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors.

Listing on the NASDAQ Global Market

We have applied to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “AERI.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock, and a liquid trading market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained after this offering. Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, including shares issued upon exercise of outstanding options and warrants, or the anticipation of these sales, could adversely affect prevailing market prices from time to time and could impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future. Furthermore, since only a limited number of shares will be available for sale shortly after this offering because of certain contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below, sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the restrictions lapse could adversely affect the prevailing market price and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.

Based on the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2012, upon the closing of this offering,              shares of common stock will be outstanding. The number of shares outstanding upon completion of this offering assumes:

 

   

a         -for-         reverse stock split of our common stock effected                      , 2013;

 

   

the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 60,602,653 shares of common stock upon completion of this offering;

 

   

the expected conversion of the principal and accrued interest outstanding under our $         million in aggregate principal amount of 8% convertible notes due December 31, 2013, or the outstanding notes, into              shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering at a conversion price equal to the initial public offering price, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $         per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming the conversion occurred on          ; and

 

   

no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

However, because the number of shares of common stock that will be issued upon exercise of the outstanding notes depends upon the actual initial public offering price per share in this offering and the closing date of this offering, the actual number of shares issuable upon such exercise may differ and upon such conversion will differ from the amount we have assumed for purposes of this discussion. See “Prospectus Summary—The Offering.”

All of the shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable unless purchased by our affiliates. The remaining shares of common stock outstanding after this offering will be restricted as a result of securities laws or lock-up agreements as described below.

We may issue shares of common stock from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions, investments or other corporate purposes. In the event that any such acquisition, investment or other transaction is significant, the number of shares of common stock that we may issue may in turn be significant. We may also grant registration rights covering those shares of common stock issued in connection with any such acquisition and investment.

In addition, shares of common stock that are either subject to outstanding options or reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules, the lock-up agreements and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act.

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144, beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, any person who is not our affiliate and has held their shares for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, may sell shares without restriction. In addition, under Rule 144, any person who is not an affiliate of ours and has held their shares for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, would be entitled to sell an unlimited number of shares immediately upon the closing of this offering without regard to whether current public information about us is available.

 

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Beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus, a person who is our affiliate or who was our affiliate at any time during the preceding three months and who has beneficially owned restricted securities for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, is entitled to sell a number of shares within any three-month period that does not exceed the greater of:

 

   

1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately shares immediately after this offering; and

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a Notice of Proposed Sale of Securities Pursuant to Rule 144 with respect to the sale.

Sales under Rule 144 by our affiliates are also subject to manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us.

Upon expiration of the 180-day lock-up period described below, approximately              shares of our common stock will be eligible for sale under Rule 144. We cannot estimate the number of shares of our common stock that our existing stockholders will elect to sell under Rule 144.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701, any of an issuer’s employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who purchases shares from the issuer in connection with a compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement before the effective date of a registration statement under the Securities Act is entitled to sell such shares 90 days after such effective date in reliance on Rule 144. An affiliate of the issuer can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the holding period requirement, and non-affiliates of the issuer can resell shares in reliance on Rule 144 without having to comply with the current public information and holding period requirements.

Lock-up Agreements

In connection with this offering, we, our directors, our executive officers and our other stockholders have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of or hedge any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the period from the date of the lock-up agreement continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated. Each of RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated has advised us that they have no current intent or arrangement to release any of the shares subject to the lock-up agreements prior to the expiration of the lock-up period. The lock-up agreements permit stockholders to transfer common stock and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements in certain circumstances.

Following the lock-up periods set forth in the agreements described above, and assuming that the representatives of the underwriters do not release any parties from these agreements and that there is no extension of the lock-up period, all of the shares of our common stock that are restricted securities or are held by our affiliates as of the date of this prospectus will be eligible for sale in the public market in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

Registration Rights

Certain of our security holders have the right to demand that we file a registration statement or request that their shares be covered by a registration statement that we are otherwise filing. See “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.” Except for shares purchased by affiliates, registration of their shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon effectiveness of the registration statement, subject to the expiration of the lock-up period.

 

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Equity Incentive Plans

We intend to file one or more registration statements on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register all shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock options and common stock issuable under our equity incentive plans, including the equity incentive plans we plan to adopt in connection with this offering. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will be available for sale in the open market, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with us or the lock-up restrictions described above. Our equity incentive plans are described in more detail under “Executive Compensation.”

 

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U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder (as defined below) that holds our common stock as a capital asset (generally, investment property). This summary does not discuss all of the aspects of U.S. federal income and estate taxation that may be relevant to a non-U.S. holder in light of the non-U.S. holder’s particular investment or other circumstances. In addition, this summary also does not address any tax considerations arising under the laws of any U.S. state or local jurisdiction or non-U.S. jurisdiction or under the U.S. federal gift tax laws. Accordingly, all prospective non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common stock.

This summary is based on provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations, all as in effect or in existence on the date of this prospectus. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income or estate tax law, including changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could alter the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of owning and disposing of our common stock as described in this summary. We cannot assure you that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described in this summary, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, any ruling from the IRS or opinion of counsel with respect to any of the tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder.

As used in this summary, the term “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is not, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

an individual who is a 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 in or under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

   

an estate whose income is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust, if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of the Code) has the authority to control all of the trust’s substantial decisions, or (2) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner of the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Partnerships, and partners in partnerships, that hold our common stock should consult their own tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences of owning and disposing of our common stock that are applicable to them.

This summary does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may apply to a non-U.S. holder and does not address any special tax rules that may apply to particular non-U.S. holders, such as:

 

   

financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, pension plans, brokers, dealers or traders in stocks, securities or currencies, certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States, controlled foreign corporations or passive foreign investment companies; or

 

   

a non-U.S. holder holding our common stock as part of a conversion, constructive sale, wash sale or other integrated transaction or a hedge, straddle or synthetic security; or

 

   

a non-U.S. holder that at any time owns, directly, indirectly or constructively, 5% or more of our capital stock.

Each non-U.S. holder should consult a tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax consequences of owning and disposing of our common stock.

 

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Dividends

Distributions on our common stock generally will constitute dividends 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. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of the non-U.S. holder’s investment, up to such non-U.S. holder’s tax basis in the common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain, subject to the tax treatment described below in “Gain on Disposition of Our Common Stock.”

As discussed above in the section titled “Dividend Policy,” we do not intend to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. In the event that we do make cash distributions on our common stock, the gross amounts paid to a non-U.S. holder that are treated as dividends not effectively connected with such non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30%, or a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty. In order to claim the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty, a non-U.S. holder will be required to provide to the applicable withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or other applicable form) in accordance with the applicable certification and disclosure requirements. Special rules apply to partnerships and other pass-through entities, and these certification and disclosure requirements also may apply to beneficial owners of partnerships and other pass-through entities that hold our common stock. A non-U.S. holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of withholding of U.S. federal income tax under an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for a refund with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty and the manner of claiming the benefits.

Dividends paid on our common stock that are effectively connected with a non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, are attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States, will be taxed on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates and in the manner applicable to United States persons. In that case, withholding of U.S. federal income tax discussed above will not apply if the non-U.S. holder provides to the applicable withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form) in accordance with the applicable certification and disclosure requirements. In addition, a non-U.S. holder that is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes may be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate, or a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty, on the non-U.S. holder’s earnings and profits (attributable to dividends on our common stock or otherwise) that are effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States, subject to adjustments.

Gain on Disposition of Our Common Stock

A non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax (including withholding thereof) on any gain recognized on a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder in the United States; in this case, the gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates and in the manner applicable to United States persons (unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise) and, if the non-U.S. holder is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the “branch profits tax” described above may also apply;

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a period aggregating more than 182 days in the taxable year of the disposition and meets other requirements (in which case, except as otherwise provided by an applicable income tax treaty, the gain, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses recognized in the same taxable year, generally will be subject to a flat 30% U.S. federal income tax, even though the non-U.S. holder is not considered a resident alien under the Code); or

 

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we are or have been a “U.S. real property holding corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held our common stock.

Generally, a corporation is a “U.S. real property holding corporation” if the fair market value of its “U.S. real property interests” equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests (including “U.S. real property interests”) plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. The tax relating to stock in a U.S. real property holding corporation generally will not apply to a non-U.S. holder whose holdings, direct, indirect and constructive, at all times during the applicable period, constituted 5% or less of our common stock, provided that our common stock was regularly traded on an established securities market. We believe that we are not currently, and we do not anticipate becoming in the future, a U.S. real property holding corporation. No assurance can be provided that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market for purposes of the rules described above.

Federal Estate Tax

Our common stock that is owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or resident of the United States (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) at the time of death will be included in the individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax or other treaty provides otherwise and, therefore, may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax.

U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

The applicable withholding agent with respect to a non-U.S. holder generally will be required to report to the IRS and to such non-U.S. holder payments of dividends on our common stock and the amount of U.S. federal income tax, if any, withheld with respect to those payments. Copies of the information returns reporting such dividends and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides under the provisions of a treaty or agreement. A non-U.S. holder will be exempt from backup withholding on dividends paid on our common stock if the non-U.S. holder provides to the applicable withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or otherwise meets documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is not a United States person or otherwise establishes an exemption.

The gross proceeds from the disposition of our common stock may be subject to U.S. information reporting and backup withholding. If a non-U.S. holder sells our common stock outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker and the sales proceeds are paid to the non-U.S. holder outside the United States, then the U.S. backup withholding and information reporting requirements generally will not apply to that payment. However, U.S. information reporting, but not U.S. backup withholding, will apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if that payment is made outside the United States, if a non-U.S. holder sells our common stock through a non-U.S. office of a broker that is a United States person or has certain enumerated connections with the United States, unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files that the non-U.S. holder is not a United States person and certain other conditions are met or the non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

If a non-U.S. holder receives payments of the proceeds of a sale of our common stock to or through a U.S. office of a broker, the payment is subject to both U.S. backup withholding and information reporting unless the non-U.S. holder provides to the broker a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN certifying that the non-U.S. holder is not a United States person or the non-U.S. holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund to a non-U.S. holder, or a credit against a non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

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Additional Withholding Requirements

Under legislation enacted in 2010 and administrative guidance, the relevant withholding agent will be required to withhold 30% of any dividends paid after June 30, 2014 and the proceeds of a sale of our common stock occurring after December 31, 2016, in each case paid to (i) a non-U.S. financial institution (whether such non-U.S. financial institution is the beneficial owner of our common stock or an intermediary) unless such non-U.S. financial institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to collect and report to the U.S. government substantial information regarding its U.S. accountholders and such non-U.S. financial institution meets certain other specified requirements or (ii) a non-U.S. entity (whether such non-U.S. entity is the beneficial owner of our common stock or an intermediary) that is not a financial institution unless such entity or the beneficial owner of our common stock certifies that the beneficial owner of our common stock does not have any substantial U.S. owners or provides the name, address and taxpayer identification number of each substantial U.S. owner of the beneficial owner of our common stock and certain other specified requirements are satisfied. If payment of this withholding tax is made, non-U.S. holders that are otherwise eligible for an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding of U.S. federal income tax with respect to such dividends or proceeds will be required to seek a credit or refund from the IRS to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction. Non-U.S. holders should contact their own tax advisors regarding the particular consequences to them of this legislation.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, dated                     , 2013, between us and RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, as the representatives of the underwriters named below and the joint book-running managers of this offering, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the respective number of shares of common stock shown opposite its name below:

 

UNDERWRITER

   NUMBER OF SHARES

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

  

Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated

  

Lazard Capital Markets LLC

  

Canaccord Genuity Inc.

  
  

 

Total

  
  

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions and approval of certain legal matters by their counsel. The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters will purchase all of the shares of common stock if any of them are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated. We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters and certain of their controlling persons against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters have advised us that, following the completion of this offering, they currently intend to make a market in the common stock as permitted by applicable laws and regulations. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so, and the underwriters may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice in their sole discretion. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the common stock, that you will be able to sell any of the common stock held by you at a particular time or that the prices that you receive when you sell will be favorable.

The underwriters are offering the shares of common stock subject to their acceptance of the shares of common stock from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part. In addition, the underwriters have advised us that they do not expect sales to accounts over which they have discretionary authority to exceed     % of the common stock being offered.

Commissions and Expenses

The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the shares of common stock to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers, which may include the underwriters, at that price less a concession not in excess of $         per share of common stock. The underwriters may allow, and certain dealers may reallow, a discount from the concession not in excess of $         per share of common stock to certain brokers and dealers. After the offering, the initial public offering price, concession and reallowance to dealers may be reduced by the representatives. No such reduction will change the amount of proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

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The following table shows the public offering price, the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay the underwriters and the proceeds, before expenses, to us in connection with this offering. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

    PER SHARE     TOTAL  
    WITHOUT
OPTION TO
PURCHASE
ADDITIONAL
SHARES
    WITH
OPTION TO
PURCHASE
ADDITIONAL
SHARES
    WITHOUT
OPTION TO
PURCHASE
ADDITIONAL
SHARES
    WITH
OPTION TO
PURCHASE
ADDITIONAL
SHARES
 

Public offering price

  $                   $                   $                   $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions paid by us

  $        $        $        $     

Proceeds to us, before expenses

  $        $        $        $     

We estimate expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions referred to above, will be approximately $        .

Determination of Offering Price

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our common stock. Consequently, the initial public offering price for our common stock will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives. Among the factors to be considered in these negotiations will be prevailing market conditions, our financial information, market valuations of other companies that we and the underwriters believe to be comparable to us, estimates of our business potential, the present state of our development and other factors deemed relevant.

We offer no assurances that the initial public offering price will correspond to the price at which the common stock will trade in the public market subsequent to the offering or that an active trading market for the common stock will develop and continue after the offering.

Listing

We have applied to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “AERI.”

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate of             shares from us at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. If the underwriters exercise this option, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to specified conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial purchase commitment as indicated in the table above. This option may be exercised only if the underwriters sell more shares than the total number set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We, our officers, directors and holders of all or substantially all our outstanding capital stock have agreed, subject to specified exceptions, not to directly or indirectly:

 

   

sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-l(h) under the Exchange Act, or

 

   

otherwise dispose of any shares of common stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of common stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares of common stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially, or

 

   

publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing

for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus without the prior written consent of the representatives.

 

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This restriction terminates after the close of trading of the common stock on and including the 180th day after the date of this prospectus. The representatives may, in their sole discretion and at any time or from time to time before the termination of the 180-day period release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements. There are no existing agreements between the underwriters and any of our stockholders who will execute a lock-up agreement, providing consent to the sale of shares prior to the expiration of the lock-up period.

Stabilization

The underwriters have advised us that they, pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in short sale transactions, stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids in connection with this offering. These activities may have the effect of stabilizing or maintaining the market price of the common stock at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Establishing short sales positions may involve either “covered” short sales or “naked” short sales.

“Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of our common stock in this offering. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares of our common stock or purchasing shares of our common stock in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares.

“Naked” short sales are sales in excess of the option to purchase additional shares of our common stock. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering.

A stabilizing bid is a bid for the purchase of shares of common stock on behalf of the underwriters for the purpose of fixing or maintaining the price of the common stock. A syndicate covering transaction is the bid for or the purchase of shares of common stock on behalf of the underwriters to reduce a short position incurred by the underwriters in connection with the offering. Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriter’s purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. A penalty bid is an arrangement permitting the underwriters to reclaim the selling concession otherwise accruing to a syndicate member in connection with the offering if the common stock originally sold by such syndicate member are purchased in a syndicate covering transaction and therefore have not been effectively placed by such syndicate member.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. The underwriters are not obligated to engage in these activities and, if commenced, any of the activities may be discontinued at any time.

Electronic Distribution

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available by e-mail or through online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters or their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and may be allowed to place orders online. The underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of shares of common stock for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online

 

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distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on the underwriters’ web sites and any information contained in any other web site maintained by any of the underwriters is not part of this prospectus, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or the underwriters and should not be relied upon by investors.

Other Activities and Relationships

The underwriters and certain of their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and certain of their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various commercial and investment banking and financial advisory services for us and our affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

Lazard Frères & Co. LLC referred this transaction to Lazard Capital Markets LLC and will receive a referral fee from Lazard Capital Markets LLC in connection therewith.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and certain of their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments issued by us and our affiliates. If the underwriters or their respective affiliates have a lending relationship with us, they routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities or the securities of our affiliates, including potentially the common stock offered hereby. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the common stock offered hereby. The underwriters and certain of their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock to be issued in this offering will be passed upon for us by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York.

 

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EXPERTS

The financial statements of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2012 and, cumulatively, for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to December 31, 2012, included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph relating to our ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 1 to the financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of our common stock offered in this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules. Some items included in the registration statement are omitted from this prospectus in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered in this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or any other document are summaries of the material terms of these contract, agreement or other document. With respect to each of these contracts, agreements or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to such exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved. A copy of the registration statement, and the accompanying exhibits and schedules, may be inspected without charge and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the SEC’s website is http://www.sec.gov.

Upon completion of this offering, we will become subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at http://www.aeriepharma.com. You may access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

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AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(A Development Stage Company)

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     PAGE  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Financial Statements

  

Balance Sheets

     F-3   

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

     F-4   

Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit

     F-5   

Statements of Cash Flows

     F-6   

Notes to the Financial Statements

     F-7   

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.:

In our opinion, the accompanying balance sheets and the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, of stockholders’ deficit and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a development stage company) at December 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2012, and cumulatively, for the period from June 22, 2005 (date of inception) to December 31, 2012 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements 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. An audit 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, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has incurred recurring operating losses and negative cash flows since inception, and has an accumulated deficit that raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Florham Park, New Jersey

May 10, 2013

 

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Table of Contents

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(A Development Stage Company)

Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    JUNE  30,
2013
    DECEMBER 31,  
      2012     2011  
    (unaudited)              

Assets

     

Current assets

     

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 2,377      $ 2,925      $ 15,068   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    115        113        133   

Deferred offering costs

    1,025        —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    3,517        3,038        15,201   

Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net

    120        133        220   

Other assets, net

    48        48        37   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 3,685      $ 3,219      $ 15,458   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities, Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit

     

Current liabilities

     

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

  $ 2,466      $ 1,437      $ 2,709   

Notes payable, net of discount—related parties

    9,115        2,331        —     

Interest payable—related parties

    238        16        —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    11,819        3,784        2,709   

Warrants liability—related parties

    4,603        2,456        1,098   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    16,422        6,240        3,807   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

     

Convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 82,672,909 shares authorized

     

Series A-1—2,000,000 shares authorized; 2,000,000 shares issued and outstanding

    1,000        1,000        1,000   

Series A-2—10,010,029 shares authorized; 10,000,000 shares issued and outstanding

    10,000        10,000        10,000   

Series A-3—22,479,476 shares authorized; 20,979,476 shares issued and outstanding

    20,979        20,979        20,979   

Series A-4—5,683,404 shares authorized; 4,895,904 shares issued and outstanding

    4,752        4,606        4,314   

Series B—42,500,000 shares authorized; 22,727,273 shares issued and outstanding

    24,441        24,313        24,055   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total convertible preferred stock

    61,172        60,898        60,348   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ deficit

     

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000,000 shared authorized; 4,979,404, 4,824,399 and 4,759,864 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively

    5        5        5   

Additional paid-in capital

    128        —          108   

Deficit accumulated during the development stage

    (74,042     (63,924     (48,810
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ deficit

    (73,909     (63,919     (48,697
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit

  $ 3,685      $ 3,219      $ 15,458   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(A Development Stage Company)

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

     SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30,
    YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
    PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22,
2005) TO
JUNE  30,
2013
    PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22, 2005)
TO
DECEMBER 31,
2012
 
     2013     2012     2012     2011      
     (unaudited)                 (unaudited)        

Operating expenses

            

General and administrative

   $ (3,406   $ (2,285   $ (5,020   $ (3,521   $ (23,303  

$

(19,897

Research and development

     (6,328     (5,932     (9,273     (10,695     (49,477     (43,149
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (9,734     (8,217     (14,293     (14,216     (72,780     (63,046

Other income (expense), net

     (384     376        (685     1,249        (1,126     (742
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (10,118   $ (7,841   $ (14,978   $ (12,967   $ (73,906   $ 63,788   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (10,118   $ (7,841   $ (14,978   $ (12,967   $ (73,906   $ 63,788   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted

   $ (10,392   $
(8,115

  $ (15,643   $ (13,419   $ (75,351   $ 64,959   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted

   $ (2.14   $ (1.70   $ (3.28   $ (2.90    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

Weighted-average number of common stock used in net loss per share attributable to common stockholders—basic and diluted

     4,867,302        4,765,569        4,773,476        4,628,125       
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(A Development Stage Company)

Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

    CONVERTIBLE
PREFERRED
STOCK
    COMMON STOCK     ADDITIONAL
PAID-IN
CAPITAL
    DEFICIT
ACCUMULATED
DURING
DEVELOPMENT
STAGE
    TOTAL  
    SHARES     AMOUNT     SHARES     AMOUNT        

Balances at inception

    —        $ —          —        $ —        $ —        $ —        $ —     

Issuance of common stock

    —          —          2,608,000        3        —          —          3   

Issuance of common stock for services and license agreement

    —          —          592,000        1        —          —          1   

Issuance of Series A-1 convertible preferred stock for debt conversion, net of issuance costs of $4

    2,000,000        996        —          —          —          —          —     

Issuance of Series A-2 convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $43

    10,000,000        9,957        —          —          —          —          —     

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    —          2        —          —          —          (2     (2

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (766     (766
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2005

    12,000,000        10,955        3,200,000        4        —          (768     (764

Issuance of warrants in connection with notes payable

    —          —          —          —          4        —          4   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          4        —          4   

Accretion of stock issuance cost

    —          10        —          —          (8     (2     (10

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (4,078     (4,078
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2006

    12,000,000        10,965        3,200,000        4        —          (4,848     (4,844

Issuance of Series A-3 convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $9

    10,000,000        9,991        —          —          —          —          —     

Exercise of stock options

    —          —          85,998        —          1        —          1   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          3        —          3   

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    —          10        —          —          (4     (6     (10

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (6,668     (6,668
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2007

    22,000,000        20,966        3,285,998        4        —          (11,522     (11,518

Exercise of stock options

    —          —          746,480        1        —          —          1   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          20        —          20   

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    —          11        —          —          (11     —          (11

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (7,795     (7,795
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2008

    22,000,000        20,977        4,032,478        5        9        (19,317     (19,303

Exercise of stock options

    —          —          454,150        —          1        —          1   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          105        —          105   

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    —          11        —          —          (11     —          (11

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (7,998     (7,998
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2009

    22,000,000        20,988        4,486,628        5        104        (27,315     (27,206

Exercise of stock options

    —          —          136,751        —          —          —          —     

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          173        —          173   

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    —          12        —          —          (12     —          (12

Accretion of existing beneficial conversion

    —          —          —          —            —          —     

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (8,528     (8,528
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2010

    22,000,000      $ 21,000        4,623,379      $ 5      $ 265      $ (35,843   $ (35,573
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

    —        $ —          136,485      $ —        $ 6      $ —        $ 6   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          295        —          295   

Conversion of notes payable to related parties into Series A-3 convertible preferred stock

    10,979,476        10,979        —          —          —          —       

Conversion of notes payable to related parties into Series A-4 convertible preferred stock

    4,895,904        4,071        —          —          —          —       

Accretion from conversion of note payable to related parties

    —          243        —          —          (243     —          (243

Issuance of Series B convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $1,160

    22,727,273        23,840        —          —          —          —          —     

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    —          215        —          —          (215       (215

Net loss

    —          —          —          —            (12,967     (12,967
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2011

    60,602,653      $ 60,348        4,759,864      $ 5      $ 108      $ (48,810   $ (48,697
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options

    —          —          64,535        —          6        —          6   

Stock-based compensation

    —            —            430        —          430   

Accretion from conversion of note payable to related parties

    —          292        —          —          (289     (3     (292

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    —          258        —          —          (255     (3     (258

Cash dividend

    —          —          —          —          —          (130     (130

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (14,978     (14,978
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at December 31, 2012

    60,602,653      $ 60,898        4,824,399      $ 5      $ —        $ (63,924   $ (63,919
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Exercise of stock options (unaudited)

    —          —          15,976      $ —        $ 1      $ —          1   

Vesting of restricted stock (unaudited)

    —          —          139,029        —          —          —          —     

Stock-based compensation (unaudited)

    —          —          —          —          401        —          401   

Accretion from conversion of note payable to related parties (unaudited)

    —          146        —          —          (146     —          (146

Accretion of stock issuance costs (unaudited)

    —          128        —          —          (128     —          (128

Net loss (unaudited)

    —          —          —          —          —          (10,118     (10,118
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances at June 30, 2013 (unaudited)

    60,602,653      $ 61,172        4,979,404      $ 5      $ 128      $ (74,042   $ (73,909
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(A Development Stage Company)

Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   

 

 

SIX MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 30,

   

 

 

YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,

    PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22,
2005) TO
JUNE 30,

2013
    PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22,
2005) TO
DECEMBER  31,

2012
 
    2013     2012     2012     2011      
    (unaudited)                 (unaudited)        

Cash flows from operating activities

           

Net loss

  $ (10,118   $ (7,841   $ (14,978   $ (12,967   $ (73,906   $ (63,788

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities

           

Depreciation

    30        61        138        120        916        886   

Amortization and accretion costs related to notes payable—related parties

    1,165        —          59        60        2,562        1,397   

Gain on conversion of notes payable

    —          —          —          (821     (821     (821

Stock-based compensation

    401        184        430        295        1,431        1,030   

Interest payable—related parties

    222        —          16        60        1,359        1,137   

Change in fair value measurements

    266        (347     630        (498     267        1   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

           

Prepaid, current and other assets

    (2     22        9        27        (163     (161

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

    459        (1,399     (1,272     1,726        1,915        1,456   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used by operating activities

    (7,577     (9,320     (14,968     (11,998     (66,440  

 

(58,863

Cash flows from investing activities

           

Purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment

    (17     (51     (51     (49     (1,036     (1,019
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows used by investing activities

    (17     (51     (51     (49     (1,036     (1,019

Cash flows from financing activities

           

Proceeds from sales of preferred stock

    —          —          —          25,000        45,000        45,000   

Payments of stock issuance costs

    —          —          —          (1,160     (1,216     (1,216

Proceeds from notes payable to related parties

    7,500        —          3,000        —          27,278        19,778   

Dividends paid

    —          —          (130     —          (130     (130

Payments of debt issuance costs

    —          —          —          —          (115     (115

Proceeds from sale of common stock

    —          —          —          —          3        3   

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

    1        6        6        6        16        15   

Payments of long-term debt

    —          —          —          —          (528     (528

Payments of initial public offering costs

    (455     —          —          —          (455     —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash flows provided by financing activities

    7,046        6        2,876        23,846        69,853        62,807   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    (548     (9,365     (12,143     11,799        2,377        2,925   

Cash and cash equivalents

           

Beginning of period

    2,925        15,068        15,068        3,269        —          —     
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

End of period

  $ 2,377      $ 5,703      $ 2,925      $ 15,068      $ 2,377      $ 2,925   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures

           

Noncash financing activities

           

Conversion of long-term debt into preferred stock

  $ —        $ —        $ —        $ 16,069      $ 17,364      $ 17,364   

Debt discount attributable to warrants

    1,881        —          728        —          4,330        2,449   

Accretion from conversion of note payable to related parties

    146        146        292        243        681        535   

Accretion of stock issuance costs

    128        128        258        215        657        529   

Deferred offering costs

    570        —          —          —          570        —     

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(A Development Stage Company)

Notes to the Financial Statements

1. The Company

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) is a development stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of topical, small molecule drugs to treat patients with glaucoma and other diseases of the eye. Incorporated in the State of Delaware on June 22, 2005, the Company has its corporate headquarters in Bedminster, New Jersey, and conducts research in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. All technology of the Company is based on “own use” research and development.

To date, the Company is in the development stage since it has not yet commenced primary operations or generated significant revenue as defined by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 915, Development Stage Entities. The Company’s activities since inception primarily consisted of developing product and technology rights, raising capital and performing research and development activities. We have no current source of revenue to sustain our present activities, and we do not expect to generate revenue until and unless we receive regulatory approval of and successfully commercialize our product candidates. The perception of our ability to continue as a going concern may make it more difficult for us to obtain financing for the continuation of our operations and could result in the loss of confidence by investors, suppliers and employees. The Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties similar to those of other development stage life science companies, including, among others, the need to obtain adequate additional financing, successful development efforts including regulatory approval of products, compliance with government regulations, successful commercialization of potential products, protection of proprietary technology and dependence on key individuals.

Liquidity

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on a basis that assumes the Company will continue as a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and the satisfaction of liabilities and commitments in the normal course of business. The Company has funded its operations to date primarily through the sale of convertible preferred stock and issuance of convertible notes. We will need to obtain additional financing to fund our future operations, including completing the development and commercialization of our primary product candidates. The Company will need to expend substantial resources for research and development, including costs associated with the clinical testing of its product candidates. We will need to obtain additional financing to conduct additional trials for the regulatory approval of our drug candidates if requested by regulatory bodies, and completing the development of any additional product candidates we might acquire. If such products were to receive regulatory approval, the Company would need to prepare for the potential commercialization of its product candidates and fund the commercial launch of the products, if the Company decides to commercialize the products on its own. Moreover, our fixed expenses such as rent, interest expense and other contractual commitments are substantial and are expected to increase in the future.

The Company has incurred losses and experienced negative operating cash flows since inception, and has cumulative net cash flows used by operating activities of $66.4 million and $58.9 million and cumulative net losses of $73.9 million and $63.8 million for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to December 31, 2012, respectively. The total future need for operating capital and research and development funding significantly exceeds the cash and cash equivalents that the Company has on its balance sheet at June 30, 2013 (unaudited). As a result, the Company will require additional funding in the future and may not be able to raise such additional funds. In the absence of product or other revenues, the amount, timing, nature or source of which cannot be predicted, the Company’s losses will continue as it conducts its research and development activities. Until we can generate a sufficient amount of revenue, we may finance future cash needs through public or private equity offerings, license

 

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agreements, debt financings, collaborations, strategic alliances and marketing or distribution arrangements. The incurrence of indebtedness would result in increased fixed payment obligations and could also result in restrictive covenants, such as limitations on our ability to incur additional debt, limitations on our ability to acquire, sell or license intellectual property rights and other operating restrictions that could adversely impact the ability of the Company to conduct its business. If adequate funds are not available, the Company plans to delay, reduce or eliminate research and development programs or reduce administrative expenses. We may seek to access the public or private capital markets whenever conditions are favorable, even if we do not have an immediate need for additional capital at that time. In addition, if we raise additional funds through collaborations, strategic alliances or marketing, distribution or licensing arrangements with third parties, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our technologies, future revenue streams or product candidates or to grant licenses on terms that may not be favorable to us. If the Company is unable to raise sufficient funding in 2013, it may be unable to continue to operate. There is no assurance that the Company will be successful in obtaining sufficient financing on acceptable terms and conditions to fund continuing operations, if at all. The failure of the Company to obtain sufficient funds on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

The financial statements do not include any adjustments relating to the recoverability and classification of recorded asset amounts or amounts of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

Unaudited Interim Financial Information

The accompanying balance sheet as of June 30, 2013, statements of operations and comprehensive loss and of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 and the cumulative period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 and of stockholders’ deficit as of June 30, 2013 are unaudited. The interim unaudited financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual audited financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s financial position as of June 30, 2013 and the results of its operations and comprehensive loss and its cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 and the cumulative period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013. The financial data and other information disclosed in these notes related to the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 and the cumulative period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 are unaudited. The results for the six months ended June 30, 2013 are not indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2013, any other interim periods or any future year or period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the valuation of stock options and warrants and research and development accruals.

Segment Information

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to

 

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allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment. All operations are located in the United States.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments with an original term of three months or less at the date of purchase. Cash deposits are in two financial institutions in the United States.

Deferred Financing Costs

Financing costs incurred in connection with the Company’s related party notes were capitalized at the inception of the notes and amortized over the appropriate expected life based on the terms of the respective note. Financing costs incurred in connection with the Company’s Series A and B Convertible Preferred Stock offerings were recorded as a reduction to the underlying equity instrument’s carrying value and recorded in stockholders’ deficit. Financing costs associated with the proposed offering of securities are included in deferred offering costs and include only those specific incremental costs directly attributable to the proposed offering, such as legal and accounting fees.

Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, Net

Furniture, fixtures and equipment is recorded at historical cost. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred. Upon retirement or sale, the cost of the assets disposed of and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts, and any resulting gain or loss is included in the determination of net income.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company’s cash and cash equivalent balances with financial institutions exceed the $250,000 amount insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred and include, but are not limited to:

 

   

Employee-related expenses including salaries, benefits, travel and stock-based compensation expense for research and development personnel;

 

   

expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, contract manufacturing organizations and consultants that conduct clinical and preclinical studies;

 

   

costs associated with preclinical and development activities;

 

   

costs associated with regulatory operations; and

 

   

depreciation expense for assets used in research and development activities.

Costs for certain development activities, such as clinical studies, are recognized based on an evaluation of the progress to completion of specific tasks using data such as patient enrollment, clinical site activations, or information provided to the Company by its vendors on their actual costs incurred. Payments for these activities are based on the terms of the individual arrangements, which may differ from the patterns of costs incurred, and are reflected in the financial statements as prepaid or accrued expense, which are reported in accounts payable and other current liabilities (Note 5). No material adjustments to these estimates have been recorded in these financial statements.

 

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Stock-Based Compensation

Compensation cost of stock-based awards granted to employees is measured at grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award. The Company estimates the fair value of stock options using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. Compensation expense for options granted to non-employees is determined as the fair value of consideration received or the fair value of the equity instruments issued, whichever is more reliably measured. The fair value of restricted stock awards is determined based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation costs are expensed on a straight-line basis (net of estimated forfeitures) over the relevant vesting period. The fair value of awards granted to non-employees is re-measured each period until the related service is complete. All stock-based compensation costs are recorded between general and administrative and research and development costs in the statements of operations based upon the underlying employees roles within the Company. No related tax benefits of the stock-based compensation have been recognized.

Debt Discount

The Company follows the authoritative guidance for accounting for debt discount and valuation of detachable warrants. The value of detachable warrants issued is recognized in conjunction with issuance of the convertible notes. The Company values the warrants at the estimated fair value. The fair value of the warrants is recorded as a discount against the related debt obligation. Debt discounts attributed to the value of the warrants is amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the underlying debt obligation and reflected in Other income (expense), net. The Company determined that the straight-line method approximates the effective interest method.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company records certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 820 on fair value measurements. As defined in the guidance, fair value, defined as an exit price, represents the amount that would be received to sell an asset or pay to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As a result, fair value is a market-based approach that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability. As a basis for considering these assumptions, the guidance defines a three-tier value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used in the valuation methodologies in measuring fair value.

 

   

Level 1—Unadjusted quoted prices in active, accessible markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2—Other inputs that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.

 

   

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity.

The fair value hierarchy also requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.

The Company’s material financial instruments at June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012 and 2011 consisted primarily of cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses, long-term debt and stock purchase warrant liabilities. The fair value of cash and cash equivalents, other current assets, accounts payable, accrued expenses and notes approximate their respective carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company has determined its stock purchase warrants liability to be Level 3 fair value measurement (Note 10).

Stock Purchase Warrants

We account for our stock purchase warrants as liabilities based upon the characteristics and provisions of the underlying instruments. These liabilities were recorded at their fair value on the date of issuance and are remeasured on each subsequent balance sheet date, with fair value changes recognized as income (decreases in fair value) or expense (increases in fair value) in Other income (expense), net in the statements of operations and

 

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comprehensive loss. The fair value of these liabilities is estimated using the Black-Scholes method, which, under our facts and circumstances, approximates, in all material respects, the values determined when using a Monte Carlo simulation.

Convertible Preferred Stock

The convertible preferred stock is classified as mezzanine equity. It is recorded based on the proceeds from issuance (which is considered fair value) less stock issue costs. The convertible preferred stock is redeemable upon a liquidation event (including liquidation, winding up and dissolution of the Company). Additionally, the preferred stockholders are entitled to receive cash in the event of an acquisition, including merger, consolidation (i.e., deemed liquidation event) or asset transfer. The preferred stockholders have the ability to redeem after August 17, 2015 upon the vote of 65% of the stockholdings, and such event would not be considered solely within the Company’s control.

Comprehensive Loss

Comprehensive loss consists of net income or loss and changes in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances generated from non-owner sources. The Company’s comprehensive loss is equal to its net loss for all periods presented.

Income Taxes

Deferred tax assets or liabilities are recorded for temporary differences between financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities, using enacted rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse.

Tax Valuation Allowance

A valuation allowance is recorded if it is more likely than not that a deferred tax asset will not be realized. The Company has provided a full valuation allowance on its deferred tax assets that primarily consist of cumulative net operating losses of $60.8 million for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to December 31, 2012. Due to its three year cumulative loss position, history of operating losses and losses expected to be incurred in the foreseeable future, a full valuation allowance was considered necessary (Note 7).

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-02 Reporting of Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which requires that public and non-public companies present information about reclassification adjustments for accumulated other comprehensive income in their annual financial statement in a note or on the face of the financial statements. Public companies are also required to provide this information in interim financial statements. The new disclosure requirements are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of the provisions of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows and financial position.

In June 2011, the FASB issued amended guidance intended to increase the prominence of items reported on other comprehensive income (loss). This amended guidance requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) be presented in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income (loss) or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amended guidance became effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company has applied this guidance beginning with its financial information for the year ended December 31, 2012. This amended guidance affects presentation, but does not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

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Subsequent Events

The Company evaluates events or transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of financial statements to provide additional evidence relative to certain estimates or to identify matters that require additional disclosure. For its financial statements as of December 31, 2012 and for the year then ended, the Company evaluated subsequent events through May 10, 2013. For interim financial statements as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and for the six months then ended (unaudited), the Company evaluated subsequent events through August 21, 2013 and October 3, 2013. There are no subsequent events to be recognized or reported that are not already previously disclosed.

Net Loss per Common Stock

Basic net loss per share attributable to common stock (“Basic EPS”) is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of Common Stock outstanding for the period, without consideration for potential common stock instruments. Diluted net loss per share attributable to common stock (“Diluted EPS”) gives effect to all dilutive potential shares of common stock outstanding during this period. For Diluted EPS, net loss attributable to common stockholders used in calculating Basic EPS is adjusted for certain items related to the dilutive securities.

For all periods presented, the Company’s potential common stock equivalents, which include convertible preferred stock, stock options, notes payable to related parties and stock purchase warrants, have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders as their inclusion would have the effect of reducing the net loss per common stock. Therefore, the denominator used to calculate both basic and diluted net loss per common stock is the same in all periods presented.

The Company’s potential common stock equivalents that have been excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for all periods presented because of their antidilutive effect consists of the following:

 

     JUNE 30,
2013
     DECEMBER 31,  
        2012      2011  
     (unaudited)                

Convertible preferred stock

     60,602,653         60,602,653         60,602,653   

Outstanding stock options

     7,547,153         7,771,003         5,760,973   

Notes and interest payable to related parties

     10,738,000         3,016,000         —     

Stock purchase warrants

     4,683,888         2,979,345         2,297,529   

Restricted common stock awards

     1,716,141         —           —     

3. Other Income (Expense), Net

Other income (expense), net consist of the following:

 

     SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30,
     YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
    PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22,
2005) TO
JUNE  30,
2013
 
         
         
(in thousands)        2013             2012          2012     2011    
     (unaudited)                  (unaudited)  

Interest expense

   $ (1,387     —         $ (75   $ (109   $ (3,921

Gain on conversion of notes payable to related parties (Note 6)

     —          —           —          821        821   

Sale of New Jersey state tax benefit (Note 7)

     1,268        —           —          —          1,268   

(Expense)/ income due to change in fair value measurements (Note 10)

     (266     347         (630     498        (267

Other income, net

     1        29         20        39        973   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
   $ (384   $ 376       $ (685   $ 1,249      $ (1,126
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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4. Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment, Net

Furniture, fixtures and equipment, net consist of the following:

 

(in thousands)    ESTIMATED
USEFUL LIVES
(YEARS)
   JUNE 30,
2013
    DECEMBER 31,  
        2012     2011  
          (unaudited)              

Laboratory equipment

   7    $ 782      $ 782      $ 782   

Software and computer equipment

   3      118        118        105   

Furniture and fixtures

   5      136        119        81   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
        1,036        1,019        968   

Less: Accumulated depreciation

        (916     (886     (748
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
      $ 120      $ 133      $ 220   
     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Depreciation expense was $30,000 and $61,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and 2012 (unaudited), respectively; $138,000 and $120,000 for years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively; and $916,000 and $886,000 for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to December 31, 2012, respectively.

5. Accounts Payable & Other Current Liabilities

Accounts payable and other current liabilities consist of the following:

 

     JUNE 30,
2013
     DECEMBER 31,  
(in thousands)       2012      2011  
     (unaudited)                

Accounts payable

   $ 488       $ 174       $ 226   

Accrued bonus and vacation

     526         400         558   

Accrued expenses

     1,452         863         1,925   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 2,466       $ 1,437       $ 2,709   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

6. Notes Payable

The issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (Note 8) on February 23, 2011 resulted in the conversion of all outstanding convertible notes that were issued in 2009 and 2010. The Company accounted for the conversion in accordance with ASC 470 Debt . The carrying value of convertible notes issued during 2009 (the “2009 Notes”) was credited to the Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock account at a rate of $1.00 per share, or a total of 10,979,476 shares. No gain or loss resulted from the conversion of the 2009 Notes.

The Company accounted for the conversion of the convertible notes issued during 2010 (the “2010 Notes”) into Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock as an extinguishment of debt, since the 2010 Notes had a bifurcated embedded derivative with a non-traditional conversion option. The carrying value of the notes of $4.9 million was adjusted for deferred charges, unamortized discount and the fair value of the embedded derivative liability of $68,000, $425,000 and immaterial, respectively. The fair value of the Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock was determined to be $4.1 million. The difference between the carrying and fair value of $821,000 resulted in a gain and is included in Other income (expense), net. The difference between stated value of $5.4 million including accrued interest of $135,000 and fair value is being accreted to the Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock capital account through August 17, 2015 (Note 8).

 

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For the period January 1, 2011 to the conversion date, the amortization of deferred charges, accretion of debt discounts and accrued interest amounted to $5,000, $55,000 and $54,000 respectively, and is included in Other income (expense), net.

On December 7, 2012, the Company authorized the sale of convertible notes (the “2012 Notes”) to related parties in the aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million. The initial closing comprised of five individual convertible notes with an aggregate principal balance of $3.0 million. As of December 31, 2012, $12.0 million of 2012 Notes were authorized and available for sale. The 2012 Notes accrue interest at a rate of 8% per annum, with principal plus accrued interest thereon due upon maturity at September 30, 2013. The 2012 Notes are convertible into capital stock at the option of the holders upon the closing of an equity financing that raises at least $15.0 million, a qualified initial public offering, liquidation or any reorganization, consolidation or merger. The Company may, in its discretion, request a subsequent closing when its cash and cash equivalents balance drops below $1.5 million. On March 28, 2013 (unaudited) and May 23, 2013 (unaudited), the Company completed the second and third closing of the 2012 Notes, respectively. The closings each comprised of five individual convertible notes with aggregate principal balances of $3.0 million and $4.5 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2013 (unaudited), $4.5 million of 2012 Notes were authorized and available for sale. The Company classified all convertible notes and related accrued interest as current obligations as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012.

In connection with the issuance of the 2012 Notes, the Company determined that a certain conversion feature was an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation and separate accounting. To estimate the fair value, the Company compared the net present value of expected cash flows of the issued 2012 Notes with and without the conversion feature comprising the embedded derivative. The Company determined that the fair value of the embedded derivative was immaterial as of May 23, 2013 (unaudited), March 28, 2013 (unaudited) and December 7, 2012, representing the third, second and initial closing dates, and as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012.

As of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012, the Company recognized unamortized debt discounts of $1.4 million and $669,000, respectively, relating to the detachable warrants issued in conjunction with the 2012 Notes (Note 10). Debt discounts are amortized using the effective interest method through the earlier of the date of maturity or the conversion of the debt. As of June 30, 2013 (unaudited), cumulative amortization of debt discounts and accrued interest amounted to $1.2 million and $238,000, respectively. As of and for the year ended December 31, 2012, amortization of debt discount and accrued interest amounted to $59,000 and $16,000 respectively.

7. Income Taxes

No provision for U.S. federal or state income taxes has been recorded as the Company has incurred net operating losses since inception. Significant components of the Company’s net deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 consist of the following:

 

(in thousands)    2012     2011  

Net deferred tax assets

    

Tax loss carry-forwards

   $ 24,365      $ 18,601   

Other assets

     1,787        1,716   

Research and development credits

     400        322   

Other liabilities

     (698     (881

Valuation allowance

     (25,854     (19,758
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net deferred income taxes

   $ —        $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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A reconciliation of the statutory tax rates and the effective tax rates for the years ended December 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

 

     2012     2011  

U.S. federal tax rate

     35.00     35.00

State tax rate

     5.17     5.17

Other

     (0.02 )%      (0.01 )% 

Valuation allowance

     (40.15 )%      (40.16 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     0.00     0.00
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Realization of the future tax benefits is dependent on the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income within the carry-forward period. Due to the Company’s history of operating losses, the deferred tax assets arising from the aforementioned future tax benefits are currently not likely to be realized and, accordingly, are offset by a full valuation allowance. The income tax provision varies from the expected provision determined by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to income (loss). The reasons for the difference in the expected provision, as determined by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to net income (loss) is primarily due to the increase in the deferred income tax valuation allowance of $6.0 million and $5.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

As of December 31, 2012, the Company has net operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $60.8 million and federal research and development tax credit carry-forwards of $0.4 million available to offset federal and state income tax, which expire from 2024 through 2032. Utilization of the net operating loss carry-forwards and credits may be subject to a substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the IRC, and similar state provisions. The effect of an ownership change could be an imposition of an annual limitation on the use of net operating loss carry-forwards attributable to periods before the change.

The U.S. federal statute of limitations remains open for the years 2009 and forward. The Company has not been the subject of examination by the taxing authorities.

In January 2013, the Company participated in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s sponsored Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program (Note 15). Under this program, the Company was permitted to sell $1.4 million (unaudited) of deferred state tax benefits to an unrelated third party. Total proceeds received were $1.3 million (unaudited), net of discount and brokerage fees of $0.1 million (unaudited). The Company recorded the proceeds net of discounts and fees as a component of Other income (expense), net (Note 3).

The Company has no uncertain tax positions.

8. Convertible Preferred Stock

On February 23, 2011, the Company received $23.8 million in proceeds from the issuance of its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, net of $1.2 million of transaction costs. Concurrent with this issuance of convertible preferred stock, the certificate of incorporation was amended to authorize the issuance of 78,672,909 shares of common stock and 63,672,909 shares of convertible preferred stock, of which 2,000,000 are designated as Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock; 10,010,029 are designated as Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock; 23,266,976 are designated as Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock; 4,895,904 are designated as Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock; and 23,500,000 are designated as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.

In connection with the issuance of the 2012 Notes, the Certificate of Incorporation was amended on December 7, 2012, to authorize the issuance of 100,000,000 shares of common stock and 82,672,909 shares of preferred stock, of which 2,000,000 are designated as Series A-1 Preferred Stock; 10,010,029 are designated as Series A-2 Preferred Stock; 22,479,476 are designated as Series A-3 Preferred Stock; 5,683,404 are designated as Series A-4 Preferred Stock; and 42,500,000 are designated as Series B Preferred Stock.

 

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The following is a summary of the rights, preferences and terms of the Company’s preferred stock.

Dividends

The holders of the Series A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4 and B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends in preference to any dividend on common stock in cash or in kind at the rate of (i) $0.04 per share (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations or splits with respect to such shares) per annum for each share of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock or (ii) $0.08 per share per annum for each share of Series A-2 and A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock or (iii) $0.088 per share per annum for each share of Series A-4 and B Convertible Preferred Stock. Such dividends shall be noncumulative with respect to each share of Preferred and shall be payable only when funds are legally available and when and if declared by the board of directors. The holders of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall receive dividends in preference to any dividends on Series A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock. Payment of dividends to the remaining convertible preferred stock holders shall be on a pari passu basis. No dividends shall be paid on common stock until dividends at the annual dividend rate of each series of preferred stock have been first paid or declared and set apart. The Company’s board of directors approved a one-time dividend in October 2012 related to the spin-off of certain non-core intellectual property rights (Note 13). There have been no other dividends declared or approved by the Company’s board of directors.

If after dividends in the full preferential amounts for the convertible preferred stock have been paid or declared and set apart in any calendar year of the Company, the board of directors shall declare additional dividends out of the funds legally available in that calendar year, then such dividends shall be declared pro rata on the common stock and the convertible preferred stock on a pari passu basis according to the number of shares of common stock held by such holders, where each holder of shares of convertible preferred stock is to be treated for this purpose as holding the greatest whole number of shares of common stock then issuable upon conversion of all shares of convertible preferred stock held by such holder.

Liquidation

In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary (a Liquidating Event), each holder of convertible preferred stock then outstanding or deemed outstanding shall be paid, prior and in preference to any distribution of any of the assets or surplus funds of the Company to the holders of common stock an amount per share equal to double the original issue price for each such series of preferred stock, plus all declared but unpaid dividends thereon. Each holder of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock shall be paid prior to any distribution to holders of Series A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock. If, upon the occurrence of a Liquidating Event, the assets and funds thus distributed among the holders of the convertible preferred stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full preferential amounts, then the entire assets and funds to the Company legally available for distribution shall be distributed pro rata among the holders of the then outstanding convertible preferred stock on an equal priority, pari passu basis, according to their respective liquidation preferences as set forth herein.

After payment to the holders of the convertible preferred stock of the preference amounts, the entire remaining assets and funds of the Company legally available for distribution, if any, shall be distributed among the holders of the common stock and the convertible preferred stock pro rata according to the number of shares of common stock held by such holders, where, for this purpose, holders of shares of convertible preferred stock will be deemed to hold the greatest whole number of shares of common stock then issuable upon conversion in full of such shares of convertible preferred stock. After all such distributions have been paid in full to holders of the convertible preferred stock, the holders of the outstanding common stock shall be entitled to receive all remaining available funds and assets (if any) pro rata according to the number of outstanding shares of common stock then held by each of them.

A liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company shall be deemed to be occasioned by, or to include: (i) any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or (ii) the occurrence of a

 

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change of control, such as the sale of all or a majority of the assets of the Company other than in the ordinary course of business, or the sale, merger or reorganization of the Company as a result of which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction hold immediately after such transaction less than a majority of the outstanding voting interest in the surviving entity.

In any Liquidating Event, if the consideration received is other than cash, its value will be deemed as its fair market value, as determined by the board of directors of the Company in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Incorporation as amended.

The liquidation preference of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock was $1.0 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011. The liquidation preference of Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock was $10.0 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011. The liquidation preference of Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock was $21.0 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011. The liquidation preference of Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock was $5.4 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011. The liquidation preference of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was $25.0 million at December 31, 2012 and 2011. The liquidation preference for all series of convertible preferred stock as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) was unchanged since December 31, 2012.

Conversion

Each share of convertible preferred stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, into common stock at any time after the date of issuance of such share at the Company’s corporate offices or any transfer agent for such stock. Each share of convertible preferred stock shall be converted into the number of shares of common stock which results from dividing the original issue price for such series of convertible preferred stock by the conversion price for such series of convertible preferred stock that is in effect at the time of conversion (the conversion price). The initial conversion price for each series of convertible preferred stock shall be the original issue price for such series of convertible preferred stock.

Each share of convertible preferred stock shall automatically be converted into shares of fully paid and non- assessable shares of common stock (i) immediately prior to the closing of a firm commitment underwritten public offering of shares of the Company’s capital stock registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), in which the aggregate public offering price equals or exceeds $50.0 million and the per share public offering price equals or exceeds $3.30 or (ii) upon the Company’s receipt of the written consent of the holders of at least 65% of the then outstanding shares of preferred stock to the conversion of all the then outstanding preferred stock.

The Company shall, and has, at all times reserve and keep available, out of its authorized but unissued common stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the convertible preferred stock, such number of its shares of common stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of the convertible preferred stock.

Voting

Each holder of convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which such share of convertible preferred stock could then be converted and shall have voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of the common stock.

Redemption

At any time on or after August 17, 2015, upon election in writing of 65% of holders of the outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock, voting together as a single class, the Company may be required to redeem, out of funds legally available thereof, all of the redeemable convertible preferred stock in three (3) equal annual installments commencing 60 days after receipt by the Company of written notice of such election. The Company will affect such

 

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redemption by paying in cash in exchange for each series of preferred stock the original issue price of each such relevant series. All declared but unpaid dividends shall be paid concurrently with any redemption.

Carrying Value

The convertible preferred stock was originally recorded at the net proceeds received by the Company at issuance. The difference between the net proceeds and the total redemption price is being accreted on a straight-line basis over the period from issuance until the earliest redemption date. Accretion amounted to $128,000, $128,000, $258,000, $215,000 and $657,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 (unaudited), the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively. The Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock issued in connection with the conversion of the 2010 Notes (Note 6) on February 23, 2011 was recorded at fair value. The difference between stated and fair value of $1.3 million is being accreted on a straight-line basis of the period from February 23, 2011 until the earliest redemption date. Accretion amounted to $146,000, $146,000, $292,000 and $681,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 (unaudited), the year ended December 31, 2012 and for the period from February 23, 2011 to June 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively. The Company determined that the straight-line method approximates the effective interest method.

9. Common Stock

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, authorizes the Company to issue 100,000,000 shares of $0.001 par value Common Stock. As of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012, there were 4,979,404 and 4,824,399 shares of Common Stock outstanding, respectively. The terms, rights, preferences and privileges of the Company’s Common Stock are as follows:

Voting Rights

Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting rights.

Dividends

Subject to preferences that may be attributable to any then outstanding convertible preferred stock, the holders of the Company’s outstanding shares of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Company’s board of directors out of legally available funds.

Liquidation

In the event of the Company’s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all the Company’s debts and other liabilities, subject to satisfaction of the liquidation preferences granted to the holders of any outstanding convertible preferred stock.

Rights and Preference

Holders of the Company’s Common Stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there is no redemption or other related provisions attributable to Common Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holder of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of convertible preferred stock of the Company that may be issued.

10. Stock Purchase Warrants

During 2006, in connection with the long-term debt agreement (Note 6), the Company granted warrants to purchase 10,029 shares of Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock. The term of the warrants extends ten years from the grant date and the warrants are exercisable at any time during that ten year period.

 

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In connection with the convertible note agreements issued in 2012, 2010 and 2009 (Note 6), the Company sold warrants to purchase 4,673,859 and 2,969,316 shares of Series B, Series A-4 or Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012, respectively. The term of the warrants issued in 2010 and 2009 extends ten years from the grant date. The term of the warrants issued in 2012 extends seven years from the grant date. All warrants are exercisable into preferred stock at established prices any time during the term. The warrants contain provisions that protect holders from a decline in the stock price (or “down-round”) protection by reducing the exercise price of the warrants if the Company issues new equity shares for a price that is lower than the initial exercise price. With any reduction to the exercise price, the number of shares of convertible preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of each of these warrants shall be increased proportionately, so that after such adjustment the aggregate exercise price payable for the adjusted number of warrants shall be the same as the aggregate exercise price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment. All warrants become automatically exercisable to common stock upon a qualified IPO (Note 8) and have the right to a one-time reset for a down round at the time that they become exercisable for common stock.

As of June 30, 2013 (unaudited), the following warrants to purchase preferred stock were outstanding:

 

NUMBER OF UNDERLYING

SHARES

   EXERCISE PRICE PER
SHARE
    WARRANT
EXPIRATION DATE
     TYPE OF EQUITY SECURITY  

  10,029

   $ 1.00        March 2016         Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock   

750,000

   $ 1.00 (A)       February 2019         Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock   

750,000

   $ 1.00 (A)       November 2019         Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock   

750,000

   $ 1.00 (A)       August 2020         Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock   

  22,500

   $ 1.00 (A)       August 2020         Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock   

  15,000

   $ 1.00 (A)       August 2020         Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock   

681,816

   $ 0.01 (A)       December 2019         Series B Convertible Preferred Stock   

    681,816 (B)

   $ 0.01 (A)       December 2019         Series B Convertible Preferred Stock   

 1,022,727 (C)

   $ 0.01 (A)       December 2019         Series B Convertible Preferred Stock   

 

(A)

Subject to price protection provisions as described above.

(B)  

On March 28, 2013 (unaudited), the Company issued warrants to purchase 681,816 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuance of these warrants was completed concurrently with the second closing of the 2012 Notes (Note 6).

(C)  

On May 23, 2013 (unaudited), the Company issued warrants to purchase 1,022,727 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The issuance of these warrants was completed concurrently with the third closing of the 2012 Notes (Note 6).

The Company recognizes all of its warrants with price protection in its balance sheet as liabilities. The liability is revalued at each reporting period and changes in the fair value of the warrant liability are included as a component of Other income (expense), net. The initial recognition and subsequent changes in fair value of the warrant liability have no effect on the Company’s cash flows.

The following table summarizes the changes in the value of the warrant liability:

 

(in thousands)       

Balance at January 1, 2011

   $ 1,411   

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     (313
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

     1,098   

Issuance of warrants in connection with 2012 Notes

     728   

Change in fair value of warrant liability

     630   
  

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2012

   $ 2,456   
  

 

 

 

Issuance of warrants in connection with 2012 Notes (unaudited)

     1,881   

Change in fair value of warrant liability (unaudited)

     266   
  

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2013 (unaudited)

   $ 4,603   
  

 

 

 

 

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The warrants outstanding at June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012 are all currently exercisable with weighted-average remaining lives of 4.07 and 6.89 years, respectively.

The Company estimates the fair value of the warrants at each reporting period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Black-Scholes has inherent limitations for use in the case of a warrant with a price protection provision, since the model is designed to be used when the inputs to the model are static throughout the life of a security. Management concluded, under the Company’s facts and circumstances, that the estimated fair values of the warrants using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model approximates, in all material respects, the values determined using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The estimates in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the Monte Carlo valuation model are based, in part, on assumptions, including but not limited to stock price volatility, the expected life of the warrants, the risk free rate and the fair value of the equity stock underlying the warrants. The initial measurement of the liability for warrants issued on March 28, 2013 (unaudited) and May 23, 2013 (unaudited) reflect the key assumptions that were generally consistent with those as of December 31, 2012. There were no clinical or non-clinical milestones between December 31, 2012 and the aforementioned issuance dates that would materially impact the fair value of common stock.

Key assumptions utilized in the fair value calculation as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012 and 2011 appear in the table below. The volatility of comparable companies was more stable in 2012 than in 2011, resulting in a lower volatility assumption in 2012 when compared to that in 2011.

 

     SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE  30, 
    DECEMBER 31,  
   2013     2012     2012     2011  
     (unaudited)              

Expected term (years)

     5.64–7.16        6.64–8.16        6.13–7.66        7.13–8.65   

Volatility

     60.00     60.00     60.00     108.74

Risk-free interest rate

     1.58%–1.99     1.04%–1.33     0.98%–1.31     1.37%–1.64

Dividend yield

     0     0     0     0

11. Stock-based Compensation

On July 13, 2005, the Company’s board of directors adopted and approved the 2005 Aerie Pharmaceutical Stock Plan (the “Plan”), which, as amended in 2008, 2009 and 2011, provides for the granting of up to 10,631,137 stock-based awards to employees, directors and consultants of the Company. The board of directors shall determine price, term and vesting conditions of all stock-based awards at their grant date. Absent a public market price for the Company’s Common Stock, the board of directors will determine the estimated fair market value for the underlying Common Stock based on their appraisal of the Company’s fair value. Stock-based awards vest over variable periods, generally ranging from one to five years, and expire not more than ten years after the date of grant.

Stock-based compensation expense for options granted and restricted stock are reflected in the statement of operations as follows:

 

     SIX MONTHS  ENDED
JUNE 30,
     YEAR  ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
     PERIOD  FROM
INCEPTION
(JUNE 22,
2005) TO
JUNE 30,
2013
 
        
        
        
        
       2013          2012          2012          2011       
     (unaudited)                    (unaudited)  
(in thousands)                                   

Research and development

   $ 44       $ 44       $ 89       $ 41       $ 222   

General and administrative

     357         140         341         254         1,209   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 401       $ 184       $ 430       $ 295       $ 1,431   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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The estimated fair value of options granted is determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model based on the assumptions below. Options granted to non-employees are re-measured at each financial reporting period until required service is performed.

Key assumptions utilized in the fair value calculation for the underlying common stock as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012 and 2011 appear on the table below. The volatility of comparable companies was more stable in 2012 than in 2011, resulting in a lower volatility assumption in 2012 when compared to that in 2011.

 

     SIX MONTHS  ENDED
JUNE 30, 2013
    YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
 
     2012     2011  
     (unaudited)              

Expected term (years)

     6.25        6.25        6.25   

Expected stock price volatility

     60.00     60.00     126.90

Risk-free interest rate

     1.71     1.05     1.15

Dividend yield

     0     0     0

The Company utilized the guidance set forth in the SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 107, Share-Based Payment (“SAB 107”), to determine the expected term of options. The Company utilized the simplified method as prescribed by SAB 107, as it does not have sufficient historical exercise and post vesting termination data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to estimate the expected term of stock options granted to employees. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of U.S. Treasury securities with maturities similar to the expected time to liquidity.

Volatility is based on historical volatility of several public entities that are similar to the Company as the Company does not have sufficient historical transactions of its own share on which to base expected volatility. This peer group of companies utilized in 2013 remained consistent with that of 2012. The expected stock price volatility changed from 2011 to 2012 as a result of a change in this group of representative companies as some of the member companies in the historical group ceased to exist. Other than a one-time dividend in October 2012 related to the spin-off of certain non-core intellectual property rights (Note 13), the Company has not historically issued any dividends and does not expect to in the foreseeable future.

The following table summarizes the activity under the Plan:

 

     NUMBER OF
SHARES
    WEIGHTED AVERAGE
EXERCISE PRICE
 

Options outstanding at December 31, 2010

     3,504,082      $ 0.0773   

Granted

     2,471,782        0.0439   

Exercised

     (136,485     0.0878   

Cancelled

     (78,406     0.0648   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options outstanding at December 31, 2011

     5,760,973      $ 0.0629   

Granted

     2,876,000        0.2894   

Exercised

     (64,535     0.0774   

Cancelled

     (801,435     0.0462   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options outstanding at December 31, 2012

     7,771,003      $ 0.2778   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Granted (unaudited)

     1,523,999        0.5800   

Exercised (unaudited)

     (15,976     0.0744   

Cancelled (unaudited)

     (1,731,873     0.2937   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options outstanding at June 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     7,547,153        0.2034   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options exercisable at June 30, 2013 (unaudited)

     4,608,300        0.1060   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Options exercisable at December 31, 2012

     3,887,170      $ 0.0983   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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The following table provides additional information about the Company’s stock options that are outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2012:

 

EXERCISE
PRICE

  OPTIONS
OUTSTANDING
    WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE
    AGGREGATE
INTRINSIC
VALUE
    WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
REMAINING
CONTRACTUAL
LIFE (YEARS)
  OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE
    WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE
    AGGREGATE
INTRINSIC
VALUE
 
                (000’s)                     (000’s)  

$0.001

    233,344          2.6     233,344       

  0.079

    386,005          5.1     386,005       

  0.081

    2,335,753          6.9     1,928,134       

  0.088

    12,000          5.9     12,000       

  0.100

    283,256          2.8     283,255       

  0.039

    1,310,645          8.3     573,494       

  0.061

    338,000          8.9     98,500       

  0.287

    770,000          9.0     192,500       

  0.294

    2,102,000 (A)         9.4     179,938       
 

 

 

         

 

 

     
    7,771,003      $ 0.2778      $ 2,348          3,887,170      $ 0.0983      $ 1,872   
 

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

(A)  

Options of 1,725,000 issued on October 15, 2012 were cancelled on March 21, 2013 (unaudited), and were concurrently replaced with 874,694 options and 1,855,170 shares of restricted stock.

The following table provides additional information about the Company’s stock options that are outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2013 (unaudited):

 

EXERCISE
PRICE

  OPTIONS
OUTSTANDING
    WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE
    AGGREGATE
INTRINSIC
VALUE
    WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
REMAINING
CONTRACTUAL
LIFE (YEARS)
  OPTIONS
EXERCISABLE
    WEIGHTED
AVERAGE
EXERCISE
PRICE
    AGGREGATE
INTRINSIC
VALUE
 
                (000’s)                     (000’s)  

$0.001

    233,344          2.1     233,344       

  0.079

    368,005          4.6     368,005       

  0.081

    2,329,064          6.4     2,210,565       

  0.088

    12,000          5.2     12,000       

  0.100

    293,256          2.4     293,256       

  0.039

    1,306,485          7.8     734,898       

  0.061

    338,000          8.4     140,750       

  0.287

    770,000          8.5     288,750       

  0.294

    373,000 (A)         8.8     210,788       

  0.580

    1,523,999 (A)         9.7     115,944       
 

 

 

         

 

 

     
    7,547,153      $ 0.2034      $ 3,220          4,608,300      $ 0.1060      $ 2,415   
 

 

 

         

 

 

     

 

(A)  

Options of 1,725,000 issued on October 15, 2012 were cancelled on March 21, 2013, and were concurrently replaced with 874,694 options and 1,855,170 share of restricted stock.

As of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012, the Company had $1.9 million and $1.2 million of unrecognized compensation expense, respectively, related to unvested share options granted under the Plan. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited). The weighted average remaining contractual life on all outstanding options as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012 was 5.3 and 5.7 years, respectively.

The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the estimated fair market value and the exercise price per share of the stock options. The estimated fair market value per share of common stock as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and December 31, 2012 was $0.63 and $0.58, respectively.

 

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Restricted Common Stock

On March 21, 2013 (unaudited), concurrent with the cancellation of 1,725,000 stock options, the Company issued 1,855,170 shares of restricted stock to an employee. The vesting of these awards is time-based with terms of two to four years. These restricted stock awards are subject to repurchase, such that the Company has the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase unvested shares upon the employee’s termination. As of June 30, 2013 (unaudited), 1,716,141 shares of restricted stock awards were unvested and subject to repurchase.

Compensation expense related to these restricted stock awards is based on the market value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant and is expensed on a straight-line basis (net of estimated forfeitures) over the vesting period. The weighted average remaining contractual term for restricted stock awards as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) was 2.5 years. Compensation expense related to restricted stock awards for the six months ended June 30, 2013 (unaudited) was $142,000 and was included in general and administrative expense.

12. Commitments and Contingencies

Lease Commitment Summary

The following table presents future minimum commitments of the Company due under non-cancelable operating leases with original or remaining terms in excess of one year at June 30, 2013.

Minimum lease payments were as follows at June 30, 2013:

 

(in thousands)       

2013

   $ 161   

2014

     211   

2015

     211   

2016

     211   

2017

     144   

2018 and thereafter

     76   
  

 

 

 

Total minimum lease payments

   $ 1,014   
  

 

 

 

Rent expense was $171,000 and $194,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012 (unaudited), respectively. Rent expense was $333,000, $210,000 and $1.6 million for 2012, 2011 and the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 (unaudited), respectively, and is reflected in General and administrative expenses.

Litigation

The Company is not party to any litigation and does not have contingency reserves established for any litigation liabilities.

Contract Service Providers

In the course of the Company’s normal business operations, it has agreements with contract service providers to assist in the performance of its research and development, clinical research and manufacturing. Substantially all of these contracts are on an as needed basis.

Employment Contracts

The Company has at will employment contracts with substantially all employees providing for salary, benefits and bonuses.

 

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Table of Contents

13. Related-Party Transactions

The notes issued in 2012 are due to holders of the Company’s convertible preferred stock. Interest expense on those obligations for the six months ended June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and the year ended December 31, 2012 was $222,000 and $16,000, respectively, and is classified as a current obligation on the Company’s balance sheets (Note 6).

In October 2012, the Company formed Novaer Holding, Inc. (“Novaer”), a wholly-owned entity, and contributed certain non-core, non-competitive intellectual property, including an exclusive license for Aerie’s intellectual property for non-ophthalmic indications, and $0.1 million in cash for initial funding. The Board of Directors declared a dividend and distributed 100% of Novaer’s equity interests to Aerie’s stockholders and warrant holders of record as of September 6, 2012. The book value of the non-core intellectual property was $0. The cash included in the transaction was recorded as a $0.1 million cash dividend. Following this spin-off, Novaer is an independent company. Aerie does not own an equity interest and has no significant influence by contract or other means. In addition, Aerie does not retain any rights or obligations and has no share in profits or earnings.

For the six months ended June 30, 2013 (unaudited), during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and for the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 (unaudited), the respective amounts of approximately $53,000, $34,000, $4,000 and $285,000, were paid to board members, some of whom served as consultants of the Company through consulting agreements containing arm’s-length terms typical of agreements entered into with unaffiliated third parties.

14. 401(k) Plan

The Company has adopted a 401(k) deferred compensation plan. Eligible employees meeting the participant criteria may contribute up to the statutory limitation ($17,500 for 2013 and $17,000 for 2012). The Company may contribute a discretionary match if it elects to do so. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the period from inception (June 22, 2005) to June 30, 2013 (unaudited), the Company contributed $0 as a matching contribution to the plan.

15. Subsequent events

For its financial statements as of December 31, 2012 and for the year then ended, the Company evaluated subsequent events through May 10, 2013, the date on which those financial statements were issued.

For its interim financial statements as of June 30, 2013 (unaudited) and for the six months then ended, the Company evaluated subsequent events through August 21, 2013 (unaudited), the date on which those financial statements were issued, and subsequently through October 3rd, 2013.

During our June 2013 meeting of the Company’s board of directors, it was determined to discontinue product candidates AR-12286 and PG286, as such product candidates did not meet required efficacy endpoints for further clinical development in glaucoma.

On July 25, 2013 (unaudited), Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors, was named Chief Executive Officer after the resignation of Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D., as President and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Anido also retained his position as Chairman of the aforementioned Board.

On August 5, 2013 (unaudited), Thomas A. Mitro was named President and Chief Operating Officer.

On August 9, 2013 (unaudited), the Company completed the fourth closing of the 2012 Notes (Note 6). Aggregate proceeds to the Company were $4.5 million. The Company concurrently issued warrants to purchase 1,022,727 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The exercise price of these warrants was $0.01 per

 

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share. The Company determined that a certain conversion feature was determined to be an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation and separate accounting. Consistent with the method described in Note 6, the Company determined that the fair value of the embedded derivative was immaterial on August 9, 2013 (unaudited).

On August 9, 2013 (unaudited), the Company amended the agreements to the 2012 Notes (Note 6). The amendment authorized the sale of an additional $3.0 million of convertible notes to related parties, resulting in an aggregate principal amount of $18.0 million being authorized. Additionally, the amendment extended the maturity date of the 2012 Notes from September 30, 2013 to December 31, 2013 and the issuance period through November 30, 2013. No other terms and conditions of the agreements were changed as part of the amendment.

Concurrent with the amendment to the 2012 Notes, the certificate of incorporation was amended to authorize the issuance of 110,000,000 shares of common stock and 90,172,909 shares of preferred stock, of which 2,000,000 are designated as Series A-1 Preferred Stock; 10,010,029 are designated as Series A-2 Preferred Stock; 22,479,476 are designated as Series A-3 Preferred Stock; 5,683,404 are designated as Series A-4 Preferred Stock; and 50,000,000 are designated as Series B Preferred Stock. The 2005 Stock Option Plan was amended to increase the number of shares of common stock available for awards to 15,631,137.

On September 6, 2013 (unaudited), the Company terminated its agreement to exclusively license to Novaer Aerie’s intellectual property for non-ophthalmic indications. As of September 6, 2013 (unaudited), Aerie owns all of the worldwide rights to the Company’s current product candidates for all indications, both ophthalmic and non-ophthalmic.

On September 12, 2013 (unaudited), the Company’s board of directors authorized common stock option grants in the aggregate amount of 6,871,495. Previously, on August 26, 2013 (unaudited), 1,652,263 common stock options were granted. These option grants have a term of 10 years and are subject to vesting conditions. Grants to employees and non-employees are subject to vesting over a 4 and 3 year period, respectively.

On September 16, 2013 (unaudited), the certificate of incorporation was amended to reflect the re-designation of 2,300,000 unissued shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to common stock. The 2005 Stock Option Plan was amended to increase the number of shares of common stock available for awards to 17,931,137.

On September 30, 2013 (unaudited), the Company completed the fifth closing of the 2012 Notes (Note 6.) Aggregate proceeds to the Company were $3.0 million. The Company concurrently issued warrants to purchase 681,816 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The exercise price of these warrants was $0.01 per share. The Company determined that a certain conversion feature was determined to be an embedded derivative requiring bifurcation and separate accounting. Consistent with the method described in Note 6, the Company determined that the fair value of the embedded derivative associated with this closing was immaterial as of September 30, 2013.

 

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             Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

 

RBC Capital Markets

Stifel

 

 

Lazard Capital Markets

Canaccord Genuity

 

 

                    , 2013

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth all expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of the common stock being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the NASDAQ Global Market listing fee.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 7,843  

FINRA filing fee

     11,750   

The NASDAQ Global Market listing fee

     25,000   

Accountants’ fees and expenses

                  *

Legal fees and expenses

                  *

Blue Sky fees and expenses

                  *

Transfer Agent’s fees and expenses

                  *

Printing and engraving expenses

                  *

Miscellaneous expenses

                  *
  

 

 

 

Total

   $              *
  

 

 

 

 

* To be provided by amendment.

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, provides that a Delaware corporation, in its certificate of incorporation, may limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability for any:

 

   

Transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit;

 

   

Act or omission not in good faith or that involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

Unlawful payment of dividends or purchase or redemption of shares; or

 

   

Breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders.

Section 145(a) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) because that person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, so long as the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed was in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to obtain a judgment in its favor because the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including

 

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attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action, so long as the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed was in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be permitted without judicial approval if a court has determined that the person is to be liable to the corporation with respect to such claim. Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that if a present or former director or officer has been successful in defense of any action referred to in Sections 145(a) and (b) of the DGCL, the corporation must indemnify such officer or director against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) he or she actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action.

Section 145(g) of the DGCL provides, in general, that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise against any liability asserted against and incurred by such person, in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation could indemnify the person against such liability under Section 145 of the DGCL.

Our restated certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, each of which will become effective upon the closing of this offering, each provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers. These indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to indemnify each such director and executive officer for some expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by him in any action or proceeding arising out of his service as one of our directors or executive officers.

We intend to purchase and maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.

We will enter into an underwriting agreement in connection with this offering, which will provide for indemnification by the underwriters of us, our officers and directors, for certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Set forth below is information regarding the shares of common stock and preferred stock and the warrants issued, and options granted, by us since our inception in June 2005 that were not registered under the Securities Act. Also included is the consideration, if any received by us, for such shares and options.

Issuances of Capital Stock, Convertible Note Financings and Warrants

 

(1) In June 2005, we issued convertible notes to two accredited investors for an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 million. In September 2005, the notes were exchanged for an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

(2) In September 2005, we issued and sold to two related accredited investors, an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of our Series A-2 Convertible Preferred Stock for aggregate net proceeds of $10.0 million.

 

(3) In August 2007, we issued and sold to two related accredited investors, an aggregate of 10,000,000 shares of our Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock for aggregate net proceeds of $10.0 million.

 

(4) In 2009, we issued convertible notes to two related accredited investors for an aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million. In February 2011, the notes and related accrued interest were exchanged for an aggregate of 10,979,476 shares of Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

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(5) In August 2010, we issued convertible notes to one unrelated accredited investor and two company officers for an aggregate principal amount of $5.25 million. In February 2011, the notes and related accrued interest were exchanged for an aggregate of 4,895,904 shares of Series A-4 Convertible Preferred Stock.

 

(6) In February 2011, we issued and sold to 3 related accredited investors and aggregate of 22,727,273 shares of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock for aggregate net proceeds of $23.8 million.

 

(7) In December 2012, we authorized the sale of convertible notes to related accredited investors in the aggregate principal amount of $15.0 million. As of December 31, 2012, we issued $3.0 million; in March 2013, we issued an additional $3.0 million; in May 2013, we issued an additional $4.5 million; and in August 2013, we issued an additional $4.5 million. Note 6 in our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this registration statement further describes the attributes of these notes.

 

(8) In connection with the issuance of aforementioned convertible notes, we concurrently granted Stock Purchase Warrants to purchase 4,673,859 and 2,969,316 shares of our convertible preferred stock as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively. Note 10 in our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this registration statement further describes the attributes of these notes. These warrants will not automatically convert in connection with this initial public offering. Additionally, during 2006, we granted Stock Purchase Warrants to purchase 10,029 shares of our convertible preferred stock in connection with an equipment loan agreement that was previously repaid.

Stock Option Grants and Stock Restricted Agreements

 

(9) Between our inception in June 2005 and June 30, 2013 we have granted stock options to purchase shares of our common stock to our employees, directors and consultants pursuant our 2005 Plan, as amended. As of June 30, 2013, we have 7,547,153 shares outstanding under these options with exercise prices ranging from $0.001 to $0.580 per share. During this period from inception in June 2005 and June 30, 2013, we issued 1,640,375 shares of common stock due to exercises. Aggregate cash proceeds to us from these exercises are not material to our financial statements.

 

(10) In July 2005, we issued 3,200,000 shares of common stock to consultants, directors and institutions in connection with Stock Restriction or Stock Subscription Agreements with a purchase price of $0.001. Aggregate cash proceeds to us from these issuances are not significant to our financial statements. In March 2013, we issued 1,855,170 shares of restricted common stock to an employee for no cash consideration. These restricted common stock awards are subject to vesting conditions and we have a right to repurchase any unvested shares upon the employee’s termination. As of June 30, 2013, 1,716,141 shares of restricted common stock were unvested and subject to repurchase.

Securities Act Exemptions

We deemed the offers, sales and issuances of the securities described in paragraphs (1) through (10) above to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act, in reliance on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, including Regulation D and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, relative to transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. All purchasers of securities in transactions exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation D represented to us that they were accredited investors and were acquiring the shares for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof and that they could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time. The purchasers received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration statement or an available exemption from such registration.

We deemed the grants of stock options described in paragraph (9), except to the extent described above as exempt pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act in reliance on Rule 701 of the Securities Act as offers and sales of securities under compensatory benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation in compliance with Rule 701. Each of the recipients of securities in any transaction exempt from registration either received or had adequate access, through employment, business or other relationships, to information about us.

 

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All certificates representing the securities issued in the transactions described in this Item 15 included appropriate legends setting forth that the securities had not been offered or sold pursuant to a registration statement and describing the applicable restrictions on transfer of the securities. There were no underwriters employed in connection with any of the transactions set forth in this Item 15.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) Exhibits

See the Exhibit Index attached to this registration statement, which is incorporated by reference herein.

(b) Financial Statements Schedules

Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

Item 17. Undertakings.

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.

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 provisions described under Item 14 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 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.

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.

 

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SIGNATURES

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 Bedminster, New Jersey, on this 3rd day of October, 2013.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:          

/ S /    R ICHARD J. R UBINO

 

Richard J. Rubino

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

SIGNATURE

  

TITLE

 

DATE

*

Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD

  

Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

October 3, 2013

/ S /    R ICHARD J. R UBINO        

Richard J. Rubino

   Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
 

October 3, 2013

*

Gerald D. Cagle, PhD

   Director  

October 3, 2013

*

Janet L. Conway, PhD

   Director  

October 3, 2013

*

Geoffrey Duyk, MD, PhD

   Director  

October 3, 2013

*

Murray A. Goldberg

   Director  

October 3, 2013

*

David W. Gryska

   Director  

October 3, 2013

*

Dennis Henner, PhD

   Director  

October 3, 2013

*

David Mack, PhD

   Director  

October 3, 2013

*

Anand Mehra, MD

   Director  

October 3, 2013

 

*By:   / S /    R ICHARD J. R UBINO        
 

 

 

Richard J. Rubino

Attorney-in-fact


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

EXHIBIT NO.

 

EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION

  1.1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  3.1**   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, currently in effect.
  3.2*   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, to be in effect prior to the closing of this offering.
  3.3**   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, currently in effect.
  3.4*   Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, to be in effect prior to the closing of this offering.
  4.1*   Specimen Common Stock Certificate of the Company.
  5.1**   Opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.
10.1**   Amended and Restated Investor Rights’ Agreement by and among Aerie Pharmaceuticals Inc. and TPG Biotechnology Partners, L.P., ACP IV, L.P., Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P., Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P., Osage University Partners I, L.P., Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D. and Casey Kopczynski, M.D., dated February 23, 2011.
10.2**   First Amendment to Amended and Restated Investor Rights’ Agreement by and among Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and TPG Biotechnology Partners, L.P., ACP IV, L.P., Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P., Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P. and Osage University Partners I, L.P., dated December 7, 2012.
10.3**   Form of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2013 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.4**   Form of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan.
10.5**   Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, dated as of July 13, 2005.
10.6**   First Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, dated as of February 19, 2008.
10.7**   Second Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, dated as of December 3, 2009.
10.8**   Third Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, dated as of February 23, 2011.
10.9**   Fourth Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, dated as of August 9, 2013.
10.10**   Fifth Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, dated as of September 16, 2013.
10.11**   Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of July 25, 2013, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Thomas J. van Haarlem.
10.12**   Consulting Agreement, effective as of July 25, 2013, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Thomas J. van Haarlem.
10.13**   Letter Agreement, dated as of September 24, 2012, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Richard J. Rubino.
10.14**   Letter Agreement, dated as of December 15, 2011, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Brian Levy O.D. M.Sc.
10.15**   Letter Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2005, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.


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EXHIBIT NO.

 

EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION

10.16**   Amendment to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 28, 2009, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.
10.17**   Employment Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2013, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Thomas Mitro.
10.18**   Employment Agreement, dated as of September 20, 2013, by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D.
23.1**   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
23.2*   Consent of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1†   Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

 

* To be filed by amendment.
** Filed herewith.
Previously filed.

Exhibit 3.1

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the

Delaware General Corporation Law

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, (the “ DGCL ”) does hereby certify:

1. That the name of this corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”), and that this corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the DGCL on June 22, 2005, its Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed on August 12, 2005, its Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed on February 17, 2009 and a Certificate of Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed on December 14, 2009.

2. The text of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is attached hereto as Exhibit A .

3. The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation.

4. This Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will be effective upon filing.

Dated this the 23rd day of February, 2011.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem

  Thomas J. van Haarlem, President


EXHIBIT A

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

ARTICLE I

The name of the corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

ARTICLE II

The address of the registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware 19808. The name of its registered agent at that address is Corporation Service Company.

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 Delaware General Corporation Law.

ARTICLE IV

This corporation is authorized to issue two (2) classes of shares, designated “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”. The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 78,672,909 shares, $0.001 par value per share. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is 63,672,909 shares, $0.001 par value per share, 2,000,000 of which are designated as “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”, 10,010,029 of which are designated as “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”, 23,266,976 of which are designated as “Series A-3 Preferred Stock,” 4,895,904 of which are designated as “Series A-4 Preferred Stock” and 23,500,000 of which are designated as “Series B Preferred Stock.”

Subject to such votes(s) as may otherwise be expressly required under Article V of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding and the number of shares required for the conversion of then outstanding Preferred Stock) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

ARTICLE V

The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to and imposed on the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series A-3 Preferred Stock, the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock and the Common Stock are as follows:

1. Definitions . For purposes of this Article V, the following definitions apply:

1.1 “Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

2


1.2 “Corporation shall mean this corporation.

1.3 “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock, $0.001 par value, of the Corporation.

1.4 “ Common Stock Dividend ” shall mean a stock dividend declared and paid on the Common Stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock.

1.5 “ Distribution ” shall mean the transfer of cash or property by the Corporation to one or more of its stockholders without consideration, whether by dividend or otherwise (except a dividend in shares of Corporation’s stock). A Permitted Repurchase (defined below) is not a Distribution.

1.6 “ Dividend Rate ” shall mean Four Cents ($0.04) per share per annum for the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Eight Cents ($0.08) per share per annum for the Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Preferred Stock, Eight and Eight-Tenths Cents ($0.088) per share per annum for the Series A-4 Preferred Stock and Eight and Eight-Tenths Cents ($0.088) per share per annum for the Series B Preferred Stock (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or the like, with respect to each such series of Preferred Stock).

1.7 “ Original Issue Price ” shall mean Fifty Cents ($0.50) per share for the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, One Dollar ($1.00) per share for the Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Preferred Stock, One Dollar and Ten Cents ($1.10) per share for the Series A-4 Preferred Stock and One Dollar and Ten Cents ($1.10) per share for the Series B Preferred Stock (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or the like, with respect to each such series of Preferred Stock).

1.8 “ Outside Director ” shall mean an individual (a) who is not at the relevant time of such person’s election as a director, and is not during such individual’s service as a director (i) employed by or a current consultant to the Corporation, or (ii) employed by or a current consultant to any investor in the Corporation, and (iii) does not control, whether by voting power or by written agreement, the Corporation or any investor in the Corporation, or (b) who, regardless of such individual’s status as such an employee, consultant or control person, nevertheless is designated as an Outside Director by the affirmative vote of all of the directors, other than such individual, then serving on the Board and attending such meeting, if such designation occurs in a meeting, or by unanimous written consent of all then authorized directors if such designation occurs simultaneously with such individual’s election to the Board.

1.9 “ Permitted Repurchases ” shall mean the repurchase by the Corporation of shares of Common Stock held by employees, officers, directors, consultants, independent contractors, advisors, or other persons performing services for the Corporation or a subsidiary that are subject to restricted stock purchase agreements or stock option exercise agreements under which the Corporation has the option to repurchase such shares: (i) at cost, upon the occurrence of certain events, such as the termination of employment or services; or (ii) at any price pursuant to the Corporation’s exercise of a right of first refusal to repurchase such shares.

1.10 “ Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series A-3 Preferred Stock, the Series A-4 Preferred Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock, collectively.

1.11 “ Series A-1 Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Corporation.

1.12 “ Series A-2 Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Corporation.

 

3


1.13 “ Series A-3 Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series A-3 Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Corporation.

1.14 “ Series A-4 Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Corporation.

1.15 “ Series B Preferred Stock ” shall mean the Series B Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Corporation.

1.16 “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation of which at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock is at the time owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation or by one or more of such subsidiary corporations.

2. Dividend Rights .

2.1 Dividend Preference . In each calendar year, the holders of the then outstanding Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of any funds and assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, noncumulative dividends at the annual Dividend Rate for the Series B Preferred Stock, prior and in preference to the payment of any dividends or other Distribution on the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series A-3 Preferred Stock or the Series A-4 Preferred Stock in such calendar year. After payment of such dividends in each calendar year, the holders of the then outstanding Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-3 Preferred Stock and Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board, out of any funds and assets of the Corporation legally available therefor, noncumulative dividends at the applicable annual Dividend Rate for each such series of Preferred Stock, prior and in preference to the payment of any dividends or other Distribution on the Common Stock in such calendar year (other than a Common Stock Dividend). Payments of any dividends to the holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series A-3 Preferred Stock and the Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall be paid pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis according to their respective dividend preferences as set forth herein. No dividends (other than a Common Stock Dividend) shall be paid, and no Distribution shall be made, with respect to the Common Stock during any calendar year unless dividends in the total amount of the annual Dividend Rate for each such series of Preferred Stock shall have first been paid or declared and set apart for payment to the holders of each such series of Preferred Stock, respectively, during that calendar year; provided , however , that this restriction shall not apply to Permitted Repurchases. Dividends on the Preferred Stock shall not be mandatory or cumulative, and no rights or interest shall accrue to the holders of the Preferred Stock by reason of the fact that the Corporation shall fail to declare dividends on the Preferred Stock in the amount of the respective annual Dividend Rate for each such series or in any other amount in any calendar year or any fiscal year of the Corporation, whether or not the earnings of the Corporation in any calendar year or fiscal year were sufficient to pay such dividends in whole or in part.

2.2 Participation Rights . If, after dividends in the full preferential amounts specified in this Section 2 for the Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and set apart in any calendar year of the Corporation, the Board shall declare additional dividends out of funds legally available therefor in that calendar year, then such additional dividends shall be declared pro rata on the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock on a pari passu basis according to the number of shares of Common Stock held by such holders, where each holder of shares of Preferred Stock is to be treated for this purpose as holding the greatest whole number of shares of Common Stock then issuable upon conversion of all shares of Preferred Stock held by such holder pursuant to Section 5.

2.3 Non-Cash Dividends . Whenever a dividend or Distribution provided for in this Section 2 shall be payable in property other than cash, the value of such dividend or Distribution shall be deemed to be the fair market value of such property as determined in good faith by the Board.

 

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3. Liquidation Rights . In the event of any Liquidation Event (as defined below), the funds and assets that may be legally distributed to the Corporation’s stockholders (the “ Available Funds and Assets ”) shall be distributed to stockholders in the following manner:

3.1 Liquidation Preference of Series B Preferred Stock . The holders of each share of Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid, out of the Available Funds and Assets, and prior and in preference to any payment or distribution (or any setting apart of any payment or distribution) of any Available Funds and Assets on any shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock, Series A-3 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-1 Preferred Stock or Common Stock, an amount per share equal to the Original Issue Price for the Series B Preferred Stock plus all declared but unpaid dividends thereon. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation the Available Funds and Assets shall be insufficient to permit the payment to holders of the Series B Preferred Stock of their full preferential amounts described in this subsection, then all the remaining Available Funds and Assets shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Series B Preferred Stock pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis.

3.2 Liquidation Preference of Series A-4 Preferred Stock . After the payment of the preferential amounts specified in Section 3.1 to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, the holders of each share of Series A-4 Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid, out of the Available Funds and Assets, and prior and in preference to any payment or distribution (or any setting apart of any payment or distribution) of any Available Funds and Assets on any shares of Series A-3 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-1 Preferred Stock or Common Stock, an amount per share equal to the Original Issue Price for the Series A-4 Preferred Stock plus all declared but unpaid dividends thereon. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation the Available Funds and Assets remaining after payment to the Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be insufficient to permit the payment to holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock of their full preferential amounts described in this subsection, then all the remaining Available Funds and Assets shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Series A-4 Preferred Stock pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis.

3.3 Liquidation Preferences of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Preferred Stock . After the payment of the preferential amounts specified in Section 3.1 to the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock and the payment of the preferential amounts specified in Section 3.2 to the holders of the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, the holders of each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid, out of the remaining Available Funds and Assets, and prior and in preference to any payment or distribution (or any setting apart of any payment or distribution) of any Available Funds and Assets on any shares of Common Stock, an amount per share equal to the Original Issue Price for each such series of Preferred Stock, respectively, plus all declared but unpaid dividends thereon. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation the Available Funds and Assets remaining after payment to the Series B Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3.1 and the payment to the Series A-4 Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be insufficient to permit the payment to holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Preferred Stock of their full preferential amounts described in this subsection, then all the remaining Available Funds and Assets shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock and Series A-3 Preferred Stock pro rata, on an equal priority, pari passu basis.

3.4 Participation Rights . If there are any Available Funds and Assets remaining after the payment or distribution (or the setting aside for payment or distribution) to the holders of the Preferred Stock of their full preferential amounts described above in Section 3.1, Section 3.2 and Section 3.3, then all such remaining Available Funds and Assets shall be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock and Preferred Stock pro rata according to the number of shares of Common Stock held by such holders (assuming full conversion of all such Preferred Stock) until, with respect to each series of Preferred Stock, such holders shall have received the applicable Participation Cap (as defined below) plus all declared but unpaid dividends thereon; thereafter, if there are any Available Funds and Assets remaining, the holders of Common Stock shall receive all of the remaining Available Funds and Assets pro rata based on the number of shares of Common Stock held by each. For purposes of Article V of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “ Participation Cap ” shall mean $1.50 for the

 

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Series A-1 Preferred Stock, $3.00 for the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, $3.00 for the Series A-3 Preferred Stock, $3.30 for the Series A-4 Preferred Stock and $3.30 for the Series B Preferred Stock (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or the like, with respect to each such series of Preferred Stock), which includes amounts paid pursuant to Section 3.1, Section 3.2 and Section 3.3.

3.5 Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration . In the event of a Liquidation Event, if any portion of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation is placed into escrow and/or is payable to the stockholders of the Corporation subject to contingencies, the definitive agreement with respect to such transaction shall provide that (a) the portion of such consideration that is not placed in escrow and not subject to any contingencies (the “ Initial Consideration ”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 3 as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Liquidation Event and (b) any additional consideration which becomes payable to the stockholders of the Corporation upon release from escrow or satisfaction of contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 3 after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration and the previous payment of any additional consideration as part of the same transaction.

3.6 Deemed Conversion . Notwithstanding the above, for purposes of determining the amount of consideration each Series of Preferred Stock is entitled to receive with respect to a Liquidation Event, including for each initial, contingent or escrow payment described in Section 3.5 above (each such payment being herein referred to as a “ Distribution ”), each Series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive proceeds from such Distribution pursuant to this Section 3 until the aggregate consideration such Series would receive under this Section 3 is less than the aggregate consideration such series would have received had such series been converted to Common Stock immediately prior to the Liquidation Event, at which point such Series will automatically be deemed to have converted to Common Stock immediately prior to the Liquidation Event and all further consideration for such Series will be calculated on an as-converted to Common Stock basis. For clarity, holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall not be required to elect whether to convert or not convert their shares at the time of any Distribution.

3.7 Liquidation Events . Each of the following transactions shall be deemed to be a “ Liquidation Event ”: (i) any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, (ii) the consummation of a merger or consolidation in which (A) the Corporation is a constituent party or (B) a subsidiary of the Corporation is a constituent party and the Corporation issues shares of its capital stock pursuant to such merger or consolidation (except, in either case, a merger or consolidation in which the holders of capital stock of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to hold at least 50% of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation or the surviving or acquiring entity), (iii) the closing of the transfer (whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an underwriter of the Corporation’s securities), of the Corporation’s securities if, after such closing, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold 50% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation (or the surviving or acquiring entity) or (iv) the closing of the sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets. The treatment of any particular transaction or series of related transactions as a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation may be waived by the vote or written consent of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (voting as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis).

3.8 Effecting a Liquidation Event . The Corporation shall not have the power to effect a Liquidation Event referred to in Section 3.7(ii) unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation for such transaction provides that the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3.

3.9 Non-Cash Consideration . If any assets of the Corporation distributed to stockholders in connection with any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation are other than cash, then the value of such assets shall be their fair market value as determined by the Board in good faith, except that any securities to be distributed to stockholders in a liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Corporation shall be valued as follows:

 

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(a) The method of valuation of securities not subject to investment letter or other similar restrictions on free marketability shall be as follows:

(i) unless otherwise specified in a definitive agreement for the acquisition of the Corporation, if the securities are then traded on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq Global Market (or a similar national quotation system), then the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on such exchange or system over the thirty (30) day period ending three (3) days prior to the distribution; and

(ii) if (i) above does not apply but the securities are actively traded over-the-counter, then, unless otherwise specified in a definitive agreement for the acquisition of the Corporation, the value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices over the thirty (30) calendar day period ending three (3) trading days prior to the distribution; and

(iii) if there is no active public market as described in clauses (i) or (ii) above, then the value shall be the fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board.

(b) The method of valuation of securities subject to investment letter or other restrictions on free marketability shall be to make an appropriate discount from the market value determined as above in subparagraphs (a)(i),(ii) or (iii) of this subsection to reflect the approximate fair market value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board.

4. Voting Rights .

4.1 Common Stock . Each holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share thereof held.

4.2 Preferred Stock . Each holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Preferred Stock could be converted pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 below at the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to vote on such matters or, if no such record date is established, the date such vote is taken or any written consent of stockholders is solicited.

4.3 General . Subject to the other provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, each holder of Preferred Stock shall have full voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of the holders of Common Stock, and shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the bylaws of the Corporation (as in effect at the time in question) and applicable law, and shall be entitled to vote, together with the holders of Common Stock, with respect to any question upon which holders of Common Stock have the right to vote, except as may be otherwise provided by applicable law. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by law, the holders of Preferred Stock and the holders of Common Stock shall vote together and not as separate classes.

4.4 Board Size . The authorized number of directors of the Corporation’s Board shall be seven (7).

4.5 Board of Directors Election and Removal .

(a) Election of Directors . So long as any shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-3 Preferred Stock or Series A-4 Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-3 Preferred Stock and Series A-4 Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis, shall be entitled to elect three (3) directors of the Corporation (the “ Series A Preferred Nominees ”). So long as any shares of Series B

 

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Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, voting together as a separate series, shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Corporation (the “Series B Preferred Nominee” and, together with the Series A Preferred Nominees, the “Preferred Nominees” ). The holders of the Common Stock, voting as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Corporation. The holders of the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis shall be entitled to elect the remaining directors of the Corporation, provided that each such director will be an Outside Director.

(b) Quorum; Required Vote .

(i) Quorum . At any meeting held for the purpose of electing directors, the presence in person or by proxy (A) of holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-3 Preferred Stock and Series A-4 Preferred Stock shall constitute a quorum for the election of the directors to be elected by the holders of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, Series A-2 Preferred Stock, Series A-3 Preferred Stock and Series A-4 Preferred Stock, (B) of holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall constitute a quorum for the election of the directors to be elected by the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock, (C) of holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock then outstanding shall constitute a quorum for the election of directors to be elected by the holders of the Common Stock, and (D) of holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of Preferred Stock and Common Stock shall constitute a quorum for the election of the directors to be elected jointly by the holders of the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock.

(ii) Required Vote . With respect to the election of any director or directors by the holders of the outstanding shares of a specified class, classes or series of stock given the right to elect such director or directors pursuant to subsection 4.5(a) above (the “Specified Stock” ), that candidate or those candidates (as applicable) shall be elected who either: (i) in the case of any such vote conducted at a meeting of the holders of such Specified Stock, receive the highest number of affirmative votes (on an as-converted basis) of the outstanding shares of such Specified Stock, up to the number of directors to be elected by such Specified Stock; or (ii) in the case of any such vote taken by written consent without a meeting, are elected by the written consent of the holders of a majority of outstanding shares of such Specified Stock.

(c) Vacancy . If there shall be any vacancy in the office of a director elected or to be elected by the holders of any Specified Stock, then a director to hold office for the unexpired term of such directorship may be elected by either: (i) a majority of the remaining director or directors (if any) in office that were so elected by the holders of such Specified Stock, by the affirmative vote of a majority of such directors (or by the sole remaining director elected by the holders of such Specified Stock if there be but one), (ii) the required vote of holders of the shares of such Specified Stock specified in subsection 4.5(b)(ii) above that are entitled to elect such director, or (iii) as otherwise permitted by applicable law.

(d) Removal . Subject to Section 141(k) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, any director who shall have been elected to the Board by the holders of any Specified Stock, or by any director or directors elected by holders of any Specified Stock as provided in subsection 4.5(c), may be removed during his or her term of office, without cause, by, and only by, the affirmative vote of shares representing a majority of the voting power, on an as-converted basis, of all the outstanding shares of such Specified Stock entitled to vote, given either at a meeting of such stockholders duly called for that purpose or pursuant to a written consent of stockholders without a meeting, and any vacancy created by such removal may be filled only in the manner provided in subsection 4.5(c).

(e) Procedures . Any meeting of the holders of any Specified Stock, and any action taken by the holders of any Specified Stock by written consent without a meeting, in order to elect or remove a director under this subsection 4.5, shall be held in accordance with the procedures and provisions of the Corporation’s Bylaws, the Delaware General Corporation Law and applicable law regarding stockholder meetings and stockholder actions by written consent, as such are then in effect (including but not limited to procedures and provisions for determining the record date for shares entitled to vote).

 

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4.6 Notice of Record Date . In the event:

(a) the Corporation shall take a record of the holders of its Common Stock (or other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock) for the purpose of entitling or enabling them to receive any dividend or other distribution, or to receive any right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or any other securities, or to receive any other security; or

(b) of any capital reorganization of the Corporation, any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Corporation, or any Liquidation Event;

then, and in each such case, the Corporation will send or cause to be sent to the holders of the Preferred Stock a notice specifying, as the case may be, (i) the record date for such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount and character of such dividend, distribution or right, or (ii) the effective date on which such reorganization, reclassification or Liquidation Event is proposed to take place, and the time, if any is to be fixed, as of which the holders of record of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities at the time issuable upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock) shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock (or such other capital stock or securities) for securities or other property deliverable upon such reorganization, reclassification or Liquidation Event, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to the Preferred Stock and the Common Stock. Such notice shall be sent at least 10 days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice.

5. Conversion Rights . The outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be convertible into Common Stock as follows:

5.1 Optional Conversion .

(a) At the option of the holder thereof, each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at any time or from time to time, into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as provided herein.

(b) Each holder of Preferred Stock who elects to convert the same into shares of Common Stock shall surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or any transfer agent for the Preferred Stock or Common Stock, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at such office that such holder elects to convert the same and shall state therein the number of shares of Preferred Stock being converted. Thereupon the Corporation shall as soon as practicable thereafter issue and deliver at such office to such holder a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder is entitled upon such conversion. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the certificate or certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder of such shares of Common Stock on such date. If a conversion election under this subsection 5.1 is made in connection with an underwritten offering of the Corporation’s securities pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (which underwritten offering does not cause an automatic conversion pursuant to subsection 5.2 to take place) the conversion may, at the option of the holder tendering shares of Preferred Stock for conversion, be conditioned upon the closing with the underwriters of the sale of the Corporation’s securities pursuant to such offering, in which event the holders making such elections who are entitled to receive Common Stock upon conversion of their Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to have converted such shares of Preferred Stock until immediately prior to the closing of such sale of the Corporation’s securities in the offering.

 

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(c) In the event of a notice of redemption of any shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to Section 7, the right of the shares designated for redemption to convert into Common Stock shall terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date fixed for redemption, unless the redemption price is not fully paid on such redemption date, in which case such right for such shares shall continue until such price is paid in full.

5.2 Automatic Conversion .

(a) Each share of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, as provided herein: (i) immediately prior to the closing of a firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and sale of Common Stock for the account of the Corporation (an “ IPO ”) in which the aggregate public offering price equals or exceeds Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) and the per share public offering price equals or exceeds an amount that is three (3) times the Original Issue Price (before deduction of underwriters’ discounts and commissions) for the Series B Preferred Stock (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or the like); or (ii) immediately prior to the closing of an IPO that does not meet the aggregate public offering price or per share public offering price requirements set forth in Section 5.2(a) if the Corporation receives the written consent of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (voting as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis) to the conversion of all then outstanding Preferred Stock under this Section 5.

(b) Upon the occurrence of any event specified in subparagraph 5.2(a) (i) or (ii) above, the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted into Common Stock automatically without the need for any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing such shares are surrendered to the Corporation or its transfer agent; provided , however , that the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion unless the certificates evidencing such shares of Preferred Stock are either delivered to the Corporation or its transfer agent as provided below, or the holder notifies the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates. Upon the occurrence of such automatic conversion of the Preferred Stock, the holders of Preferred Stock shall surrender the certificates representing such shares at the office of the Corporation or any transfer agent for the Preferred Stock or Common Stock. As soon as practicable thereafter, there shall be issued and delivered to such holder at such office and in its name as shown on such surrendered certificate or certificates, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock surrendered were convertible on the date on which such automatic conversion occurred.

5.3 Conversion Price . Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible in accordance with subsection 5.1 or subsection 5.2 above into the number of shares of Common Stock which results from dividing the Original Issue Price for such series of Preferred Stock by the conversion price for such series of Preferred Stock that is in effect at the time of conversion (the “ Conversion Price ”). The initial Conversion Price for each such series of Preferred Stock shall be the Original Issue Price for such series of Preferred Stock. The Conversion Price of each series of the Preferred Stock shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided below. Following each adjustment of the Conversion Price, such adjusted Conversion Price shall remain in effect until a further adjustment of such Conversion Price hereunder.

5.4 Adjustment Upon Common Stock Event . Upon the happening of a Common Stock Event (as hereinafter defined), the Conversion Price of each such series of Preferred Stock shall, simultaneously with the happening of such Common Stock Event, be adjusted by multiplying the Conversion Price of such series of Preferred Stock in effect immediately prior to such Common Stock Event by a fraction, (i) the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such Common Stock Event, and (ii) the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately after such Common Stock Event, and the product so obtained shall thereafter be the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Stock. The Conversion Price for a series of Preferred Stock shall be readjusted in the same manner upon the happening of each subsequent Common Stock Event. As used herein, the term the “ Common Stock Event ” shall

 

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mean at any time or from time to time after the date upon which this Restated Certificate of Incorporation is accepted for filing by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “ Filing Date ”), (i) the issue by the Corporation of additional shares of Common Stock as a dividend or other distribution on outstanding Common Stock, (ii) a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, or (iii) a combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares of Common Stock.

5.5 Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions . If at any time or from time to time after the Filing Date the Corporation pays a dividend or makes another distribution to the holders of the Common Stock payable in securities of the Corporation, other than an event constituting a Common Stock Event, then in each such event provision shall be made so that the holders of the Preferred Stock shall receive upon conversion thereof, in addition to the number of shares of Common Stock receivable upon conversion thereof, the amount of securities of the Corporation which they would have been entitled to receive had their Preferred Stock been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event (or such record date, as applicable) and had they thereafter, during the period from the date of such event (or such record date, as applicable) to and including the conversion date, retained such securities receivable by them as aforesaid during such period, subject to all other adjustments called for during such period under this Section 5 with respect to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock or with respect to such other securities by their terms; provided, however, that no such adjustment shall be made if the holders of Preferred Stock simultaneously receive a dividend or other distribution of such securities, cash or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such securities as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.

5.6 Adjustment for Reclassification, Exchange and Substitution . If at any time or from time to time after the Filing Date the Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock is changed into the same or a different number of shares of any class or classes of stock, whether by recapitalization, reclassification or otherwise ( other than by a Common Stock Event or a stock dividend, reorganization, merger, or consolidation provided for elsewhere in this Section 5), then in any such event each holder of Preferred Stock shall have the right thereafter to convert such stock into the kind and amount of stock and other securities and property receivable upon such recapitalization, reclassification or other change by holders of the number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Preferred Stock could have been converted immediately prior to such recapitalization, reclassification or change, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein or with respect to such other securities or property by the terms thereof.

5.7 Reorganizations, Mergers and Consolidations . If at any time or from time to time after the Filing Date there is a reorganization of the Corporation (other than a recapitalization, subdivision, combination, reclassification or exchange of shares provided for elsewhere in this Section 5) or a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into another corporation (subject to Section 3.7), then, as a part of such reorganization, merger or consolidation, provision shall be made so that the holders of the Preferred Stock thereafter shall be entitled to receive, upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, the number of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Corporation, or of such successor corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation, to which a holder of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation would have been entitled to receive on such reorganization, merger or consolidation. In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of this Section 5 with respect to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock after the reorganization, merger or consolidation to the end that the provisions of this Section 5 (including adjustment of the Conversion Price then in effect and number of shares issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock) shall be applicable after that event and be as nearly equivalent to the provisions hereof as may be practicable. This subsection 5.7 shall similarly apply to successive reorganizations, mergers and consolidations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5, if any reorganization, merger or consolidation is approved by the vote of stockholders required by Section 6 hereof, then such transaction and the rights of the holders of Preferred Stock and Common Stock pursuant to such reorganization, merger or consolidation will be governed by the documents entered into in connection with such transaction and not by the provisions of this Section 5.7.

 

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5.8 Sale of Shares Below Conversion Price .

(a) Adjustment Formula . If at any time or from time to time after the Filing Date the Corporation issues or sells, or is deemed by the provisions of this subsection 5.8 to have issued or sold, Additional Shares of Common Stock (as hereinafter defined), otherwise than in connection with a Common Stock Event as provided in subsection 5.4, a dividend or distribution as provided in subsection 5.5, a recapitalization, reclassification or other change as provided in subsection 5.6, or a reorganization, merger or consolidation as provided in subsection 5.7, for an Effective Price (as hereinafter defined) that is less than the Conversion Price for a series of Preferred Stock in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale (or deemed issue or sale), then, and in each such case, the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Stock shall be reduced, as of the close of business on the date of such issue or sale, to the price obtained by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction:

(i) The numerator of which shall be the sum of (A) the number of Common Stock Equivalents Outstanding (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such issue or sale of Additional Shares of Common Stock plus (B) the quotient obtained by dividing the Aggregate Consideration Received (as hereinafter defined) by the Corporation for the total number of Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued or sold (or deemed so issued and sold) by the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Stock in effect immediately prior to such issue or sale; and

(ii) The denominator of which shall be the sum of (A) the number of Common Stock Equivalents Outstanding immediately prior to such issue or sale of Additional Shares of Common Stock plus (B) the number of Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued or sold (or deemed so issued and sold).

(b) Certain Definitions . For the purpose of making any adjustment required under this subsection 5.8:

(i) The “ Additional Shares of Common Stock ” shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued by the Corporation, or deemed issued as provided in Section 5.8(c) below, whether or not subsequently reacquired or retired by the Corporation, other than:

(A) shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-2 Preferred Stock, the Series A-3 Preferred Stock, the Series A-4 Preferred Stock or the Series B Preferred Stock;

(B) shares of Common Stock (or options, warrants or rights therefor) granted or issued hereafter to employees, officers, directors, contractors, consultants or advisers to, the Corporation or any Subsidiary pursuant to incentive agreements, stock purchase or stock option plans, stock bonuses or awards, warrants, contracts or other arrangements that are approved by the Board, including in such Board approval the affirmative vote of at least two of the Preferred Nominees;

(C) shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock (and/or options or warrants therefore) issued to parties that are (i) strategic partners investing primarily in connection with a commercial relationship with the Corporation or (ii) providing the Corporation with equipment leases, real property leases, loans, credit lines, guaranties of indebtedness, cash price reductions or similar transactions, under arrangements, in each case, approved by the Board, including in such Board approval the affirmative vote of at least two of the Preferred Nominees;

(D) shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities outstanding on the Filing Date;

(E) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation or entity by the Corporation by consolidation, merger, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets, or other reorganization in which the Corporation acquires, in a single transaction or

 

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series of related transactions, all or substantially all of the assets of such other corporation or entity or fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of such other corporation or entity or fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity ownership of such other entity; provided that such transaction or series of transactions has been approved by the Board;

(F) shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to a transaction described in Sections 5.4, 5.5 or 5.6 hereof;

(G) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable in a public offering prior to or in connection with which all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are converted to Common Stock; and

(H) any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or options, or warrants or rights to acquire same), issued or issuable hereafter that are expressly approved by the vote of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis, as being excluded from the definition of “Additional Shares of Common Stock” under this subparagraph 5.8(b).

(ii) The “ Aggregate Consideration Received ” by the Corporation for any issue or sale (or deemed issue or sale) of securities shall (A) to the extent it consists of cash, be computed at the gross amount of cash received by the Corporation before deduction of any underwriting or similar commissions, compensation or concessions paid or allowed by the Corporation in connection with such issue or sale and without deduction of any expenses payable by the Corporation, but excluding any amounts paid or payable for accrued interest; (B) to the extent it consists of property other than cash, be computed at the fair market value of that property as determined in good faith by the Board; and (C) if Additional Shares of Common Stock, Convertible Securities or Rights or Options to purchase either Additional Shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities are issued or sold together with other stock or securities or other assets of the Corporation for a consideration which covers both, be computed as the portion of the consideration so received that may be reasonably determined in good faith by the Board to be allocable to such Additional Shares of Common Stock, Convertible Securities or Rights or Options.

(iii) The “ Common Stock Equivalents Outstanding ” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock that is equal to the sum of (A) all shares of Common Stock of the Corporation that are outstanding at the time in question, plus (B) all shares of Common Stock of the Corporation issuable upon conversion of all shares of Preferred Stock or other Convertible Securities that are outstanding at the time in question, plus (C) all shares of Common Stock of the Corporation that are issuable upon the exercise of Rights or Options that are outstanding at the time in question assuming the full conversion or exchange into Common Stock of all such Rights or Options that are Rights or Options to purchase or acquire Convertible Securities into or for Common Stock.

(iv) The “ Convertible Securities ” shall mean stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

(v) The “ Effective Price ” of Additional Shares of Common Stock shall mean the quotient determined by dividing the total number of Additional Shares of Common Stock issued or sold, or deemed to have been issued or sold, by the Corporation under this subsection 5.8, into the Aggregate Consideration Received, or deemed to have been received, by the Corporation under this subsection 5.8, for the issue of such Additional Shares of Common Stock; and

(vi) The “ Rights or Options ” shall mean warrants, options or other rights to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

(c) Deemed Issuances . For the purpose of making any adjustment to the Conversion Price of any series of Preferred Stock required under this subsection 5.8, if the Corporation issues or sells any Rights or Options or Convertible Securities and if the Effective Price of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise

 

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of such Rights or Options and/or the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities (computed without reference to any additional or similar protective or antidilution clauses) is less than the Conversion Price then in effect for a series of Preferred Stock, then the Corporation shall be deemed to have issued, at the time of the issuance of such Rights, Options or Convertible Securities, that number of Additional Shares of Common Stock that is equal to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of such Rights, Options or Convertible Securities upon their issuance and to have received, as the Aggregate Consideration Received for the issuance of such shares, an amount equal to the total amount of the consideration, if any, received by the Corporation for the issuance of such Rights or Options or Convertible Securities, plus, in the case of such Rights or Options, the minimum amounts of consideration, if any, payable to the Corporation upon the exercise in full of such Rights or Options, plus, in the case of Convertible Securities, the minimum amounts of consideration, if any, payable to the Corporation (other than by cancellation of liabilities or obligations evidenced by such Convertible Securities) upon the conversion or exchange thereof; provided that :

(i) if the minimum amounts of such consideration cannot be ascertained, but are a function of antidilution or similar protective clauses, then the Corporation shall be deemed to have received the minimum amounts of consideration without reference to such clauses;

(ii) if the minimum amount of consideration payable to the Corporation upon the exercise of Rights or Options or the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities is reduced over time or upon the occurrence or non-occurrence of specified events other than by reason of antidilution adjustments, then the Effective Price shall be recalculated using the figure to which such minimum amount of consideration is reduced; and

(iii) if the minimum amount of consideration payable to the Corporation upon the exercise of such Rights or Options or the conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities is subsequently increased, then the Effective Price shall again be recalculated using the increased minimum amount of consideration payable to the Corporation upon the exercise of such Rights or Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

No further adjustment of the Conversion Price, adjusted upon the issuance of such Rights or Options or Convertible Securities, shall be made as a result of the actual issuance of shares of Common Stock on the exercise of any such Rights or Options or the conversion or exchange of any such Convertible Securities. If any such Rights or Options or the conversion rights represented by any such Convertible Securities shall expire without having been fully exercised, then the Conversion Price as adjusted upon the issuance of such Rights or Options or Convertible Securities shall be readjusted to the Conversion Price which would have been in effect had an adjustment been made on the basis that the only shares of Common Stock so issued were the shares of Common Stock, if any, that were actually issued or sold on the exercise of such Rights or Options or rights of conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, and such shares of Common Stock, if any, were issued or sold for the consideration actually received by the Corporation upon such exercise, plus the consideration, if any, actually received by the Corporation for the granting of all such Rights or Options, whether or not exercised, plus the consideration received for issuing or selling all such Convertible Securities actually converted or exchanged, plus the consideration, if any, actually received by the Corporation (other than by cancellation of liabilities or obligations evidenced by such Convertible Securities) on the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, provided that such readjustment shall not apply to prior conversions of Preferred Stock.

 

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5.9 Multiple Closing Dates . In the event the Corporation shall issue on more than one date Additional Shares of Common Stock that are a part of one transaction or a series of related transactions and that would result in an adjustment to the Conversion Price for a series of Preferred Stock pursuant to the terms of Section 5.8 then, upon the final such issuance, the Conversion Price for such series of Preferred Stock shall be readjusted to give effect to all such issuances as if they occurred on the date of the first such issuance (and without giving effect to any additional adjustments as a result of any such subsequent issuances within such period).

5.10 Certificate of Adjustment . In each case of an adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price for a series of Preferred Stock, the Corporation, at its expense, shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than 10 days thereafter, compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the provisions hereof and prepare a certificate showing such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based, and shall mail such certificate, by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each registered holder of the Preferred Stock at the holder’s address as shown in the Corporation’s books.

5.11 Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon any conversion of Preferred Stock. In lieu of any fractional share to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay the holder cash equal to the product of such fraction multiplied by the Common Stock’s fair market value as determined in good faith by the Board as of the date of conversion. Whether or not fractional shares would be issuable upon such conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock the holder is at the time converting into Common Stock and the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion.

5.12 Effect of Conversion . All shares of Preferred Stock which shall have been surrendered for conversion as herein provided shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall immediately cease and terminate upon the close of business on the date of such surrender, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive shares of Common Stock in exchange therefor, to receive payment in lieu of any fraction of a share otherwise issuable upon such conversion as provided in Section 5.11. Any shares of Preferred Stock so converted shall be retired and cancelled and may not be reissued as shares of such series, and the Corporation may thereafter take such appropriate action (without the need for stockholder action) as may be necessary to reduce the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock accordingly.

5.13 Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion . The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of the Preferred Stock, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the Conversion Price for a series of Preferred Stock below the then par value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of such series of Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary in order that the Corporation may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock at such adjusted Conversion Price.

5.14 Notices . Any notice required by the provisions of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be given to the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock shall be deemed given upon the earlier of actual receipt or deposit in the United States mail, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or delivery by a recognized express courier, fees prepaid, addressed to each holder of record at the address of such holder appearing on the books of the Corporation.

5.15 Taxes . The Corporation shall pay any and all issue and other similar taxes that may be payable in respect of any issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5. The Corporation shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be

 

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payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock in a name other than that in which the shares of Preferred Stock so converted were registered, and no such issuance or delivery shall be made unless and until the person or entity requesting such issuance has paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or has established, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, that such tax has been paid.

6. Restrictions and Limitations .

6.1 Preferred Stock Protective Provisions . So long as at least 3,000,000 shares of the Preferred Stock remain outstanding (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or the like), the Corporation shall not, without the approval, by vote or written consent, of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the Preferred Stock then outstanding, voting together as a single class on an as converted to Common Stock basis, take any of the following actions, whether by way of merger, consolidation, reorganization, amendment of charter documents, or otherwise:

(1) consummate a Liquidation Event;

(2) amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws;

(3) create, or authorize the creation of, or issue, or authorize the issuance of any debt security, if the aggregate indebtedness of the Corporation and its subsidiaries for borrowed money following such action would exceed $2,000,000 (other than equipment leases or bank lines of credit which have received the prior approval of the Board);

(4) authorize or issue any class or series of equity securities senior to or on parity with any series of the Preferred Stock as to dividend rights, voting rights, redemption rights, liquidation preference and other statutory (as opposed to contract) rights;

(5) guarantee, endorse or otherwise become directly or contingently liable for any indebtedness of any other person, firm or other entity;

(6) increase or decrease the authorized number of directors of the Corporation’s Board;

(7) take any action that would limit or alter the rights, preferences or privileges of any series of the Preferred Stock;

(8) amend or modify the Company’s existing equity incentive plans or adopt any new stock option plan, employee stock ownership plan or other equity incentive plan;

(9) pay any dividends or distributions on the capital stock of the Corporation; or

(10) acquire any other entity, or enter into any strategic alliances, technology licensing arrangements or other corporate partnering relationships outside the ordinary course of business.

6.2 Series B Preferred Stock Protective Provisions . So long as at least 3,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock remain outstanding (as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations or the like), the Corporation shall not, without the approval, by vote or written consent, of the holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the Series B Preferred Stock then outstanding, voting separately as a series, take any of the following actions, whether by way of merger, consolidation, reorganization, amendment of charter documents, or otherwise:

(1) take any action that would limit or alter the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series B Preferred Stock;

 

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(2) increase or decrease the authorized number of shares of Series B Preferred Stock; or

(3) reclassify the Series B Preferred Stock or reclassify any existing security of the Corporation that is junior to the Series B Preferred Stock if such reclassification would render such other security senior to or pari passu with the Series B Preferred Stock in respect of any right, preference or privilege.

For the avoidance of doubt, none of the following actions shall in and of themselves be deemed to limit or alter the rights, preferences or privileges of the Series B Preferred Stock under subsections (1) or (3) of this Section 6.2 above or otherwise trigger a separate vote of the Series B Preferred Stock: (A) an amendment to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (but not the Series B Preferred Stock), and (B) an amendment to this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to authorize or create any new equity securities having rights, preferences or privileges senior to all Preferred Stock, junior to all Preferred Stock or pari passu with the Series B Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, redemption or payments upon liquidation.

7. Redemption .

7.1 Mandatory Redemption of Preferred Stock . On or after August 17, 2015, upon election in writing of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock (collectively, the “ Redeemable Preferred ”), voting together as a single class, the Redeemable Preferred may require the Corporation to redeem, on the terms and conditions stated herein, out of funds legally available therefor, all of the Redeemable Preferred in three equal annual installments, commencing sixty (60) days after receipt by the Corporation of written notice of such election of the Redeemable Preferred (the date of each installment shall be referred to herein as a “ Redemption Date ,” the first of which is referred to herein as the “ Initial Redemption Date ”). On each Redemption Date, the Corporation shall redeem thirty-three and one third percent (33 1/3%) of the total Preferred Stock being redeemed, rounded downward to the nearest whole share for the first two such Redemption Dates, and for the balance of the Preferred Stock in the third Redemption Date. The second and third Redemption Dates will be twelve (12) months and twenty-four (24) months, respectively, after the Initial Redemption Date. The Corporation will effect such redemptions by paying in cash in exchange for each series of Preferred Stock the Original Issue Price of each such relevant series, in cluding declared but unpaid dividends on such series (for each series, the “ Redemption Price ”) . The Corporation shall effect such redemption out of funds that are, or through the reasonable efforts of the Corporation can be made, legally available for such purposes, in priority to any other scheduled or pending redemption or distribution.

7.2 Notice of Redemption. At least fifteen (15) but no more than thirty (30) days prior to each Redemption Date, written notice shall be mailed, first class postage paid, to each holder of record (at the close of business on the business day preceding the day on which notice is given) of the Redeemable Preferred to be redeemed at the address last shown on the records of the Corporation for such holder, notifying such holder of the redemption to be effected, specifying the number of shares to be redeemed from such holder, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Prices, the place at which payment may be obtained and calling upon such holder to surrender to the Corporation, in the manner and at the place designated, the certificate or certificates representing the shares to be redeemed (the “ Redemption Notice ”). Except as provided in Section 7.3, on or after the Redemption Date, each holder of Redeemable Preferred to be redeemed shall surrender to this Corporation the certificate or certificates representing such shares, in the manner and at the place designated in the Redemption Notice, and thereupon the Redemption Prices of such shares shall be payable to the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate or certificates as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be canceled. In the event less than all the shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares as soon as practicable thereafter.

 

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7.3 Rights of Redeemable Preferred. From and after the Redemption Date, unless there shall have been a default in payment of the Redemption Prices, all rights of the holders of shares of Redeemable Preferred designated for redemption in the Redemption Notice as holders of Redeemable Preferred (except the right to receive the Redemption Prices without interest upon surrender of their certificate or certificates) shall cease with respect to such shares, and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Corporation or be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. If the funds of the Corporation legally available for the redemption of shares of Redeemable Preferred on any Redemption Date are insufficient to redeem the total number of shares of Redeemable Preferred to be redeemed on such date, those funds which are legally available will be used to redeem the maximum possible number of shares on a pro rata basis among the holders of such shares to be redeemed based on their holdings of Redeemable Preferred. The shares of Redeemable Preferred not redeemed shall remain outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences provided herein. At any time thereafter when additional funds of the Corporation are legally available for the redemption of shares of Redeemable Preferred such funds will immediately be used to redeem the balance of the shares which the Corporation has become obliged to redeem on any Redemption Date, but which it has not redeemed.

7.4 Deposit of Funds. On or prior to each Redemption Date, the Corporation shall deposit the cash payable on all shares of Redeemable Preferred designated for redemption in the Redemption Notice and not yet redeemed with a bank or trust corporation having aggregate capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000 as a trust fund for the benefit of the respective holders of the shares designated for redemption and not yet redeemed, with irrevocable instructions and authority to the bank or trust corporation to pay the Redemption Prices for such shares to their respective holders on or after the Redemption Date upon receipt of notification from the Corporation that such holder has surrendered his share certificate to the Corporation pursuant to Section 7.3 above. As of the date of such deposit (even if prior to the Redemption Date), the deposit shall constitute full payment of the shares to their holders, and from and after the date of the deposit the shares so called for redemption shall be redeemed and shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding, and the holders thereof shall cease to be stockholders with respect to such shares and shall have no rights with respect thereto except the right to receive from the bank or trust corporation payment of the Original Issue Price of the shares plus any declared but unpaid dividends, without interest, upon surrender of their certificates therefor and the right to convert such shares as provided in Section 5. Such instructions shall also provide that any moneys deposited by the Corporation pursuant to this section for the redemption of shares thereafter converted into shares of the Corporations’ Common Stock pursuant to Section 5 hereof prior to the Redemption Date shall be returned to the Corporation forthwith upon such conversion. The balance of any moneys deposited by the Corporation pursuant to this section remaining unclaimed at the expiration of two (2) years following the Redemption Date shall thereafter be returned to the Corporation upon its request expressed in a resolution of its Board of Directors.

7.5 Conversion of Redeemable Preferred. The Redeemable Preferred shall be convertible into Common Stock at the option of each holder at any time prior to the Initial Redemption Date in accordance with Article V, Section 5, of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Any Redeemable Preferred so converted into Common Stock shall be treated for all purposes as Common Stock and the holders thereof shall have no rights as holders of Preferred Stock after such conversion.

8. Miscellaneous .

8.1 No Reissuance of Preferred Stock . No share or shares of Preferred Stock acquired by the Corporation by reason of redemption, purchase, conversion or otherwise shall be reissued, and all such shares shall be cancelled, retired and eliminated from the shares which the Corporation shall be authorized to issue. Neither the Corporation nor any of its subsidiaries may exercise any voting or other rights granted to the holders of any series of Preferred Stock following the redemption of such series.

 

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8.2 Preemptive Rights . No stockholder of the Corporation shall have a right to purchase shares of capital stock of the Corporation sold or issued by the Corporation except to the extent that such a right may from time to time be set forth in a written agreement between the Corporation and a stockholder.

ARTICLE VI

The Board of Directors of the corporation shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the corporation.

ARTICLE VII

Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the corporation shall so provide.

ARTICLE VIII

The following indemnification provisions shall apply to the persons enumerated below.

1. Right to Indemnification of Directors and Officers . 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 (an “ Indemnified 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 such person, or a person for whom such person 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, limited liability company, 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 Indemnified Person in such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Article VIII, Section 3, the corporation shall be required to indemnify an Indemnified Person in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such Indemnified Person only if the commencement of such Proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnified Person was authorized in advance by the corporation’s Board of Directors.

2. Prepayment of Expenses of Directors and Officers . The corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an Indemnified 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 Indemnified Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.

3. Claims by Directors and Officers . If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VIII is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnified Person has been received by the corporation, the Indemnified Person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnified Person is not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

4. Indemnification of Employees and Agents . The corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such person, or a person for whom such person is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the corporation or, while an employee or agent 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, limited liability company, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including service with respect to employee

 

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benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorney’s fees) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding. The ultimate determination of entitlement to indemnification of persons who are non-director or officer employees or agents shall be made in such manner as is determined by the corporation’s Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person if the Proceeding was not authorized in advance by the corporation’s Board of Directors.

5. Advancement of Expenses of Employees and Agents . The corporation may pay the expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by an employee or agent in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the corporation’s Board of Directors.

6. Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights conferred on any person by this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the certificate of incorporation, these by-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

7. Other Indemnification . The corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, organization or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, organization or other enterprise.

8. Insurance . The corporation’s Board of Directors may, to the full extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists, or may hereafter be amended from time to time, authorize an appropriate officer or officers to purchase and maintain at the corporation’s expense insurance: (a) to indemnify the Corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result of the indemnification of directors, officers and employees under the provisions of this Article VIII; and (b) to indemnify or insure directors, officers and employees against liability in instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the corporation under the provisions of this Article VIII.

9. Amendment or Repeal . Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification. The rights provided hereunder shall inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Person and such person’s heirs, executors and administrators.

ARTICLE IX

The corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Excluded Opportunity. An Excluded Opportunity is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of, (i) any director of the corporation who is not an employee of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any holder of Preferred Stock or any partner, member, director, stockholder, employee or agent of any such holder, other than someone who is an employee of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, Covered Persons ), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as a director of the corporation.

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on June 22, 2005.

SECOND: The name of the corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

THIRD: The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended in the following respects:

A. By deleting the text of the first paragraph of Article IV of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:

“This corporation is authorized to issue two (2) classes of shares, designated “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”. The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 100,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is 82,672,909 shares, $0.001 par value per share, 2,000,000 of which are designated as “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”, 10,010,029 of which are designated as “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”, 22,479,476 of which are designated as “Series A-3 Preferred Stock,” 5,683,404 of which are designated as “Series A-4 Preferred Stock, and 42,500,000 of which are designated as “Series B Preferred Stock.””

B. By amending Article V, Section 5 of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to add a new Section 5.16 to read as follows

“5.16 Special Mandatory Conversion upon Debt Financing .

(a) Special Mandatory Conversion . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, in connection with the Corporation’s next Debt Financing (as defined below) in which the Corporation sells convertible debt securities in aggregate principal amount of at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) (the “Notes”), and any holder of at least [2,000,000] shares (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations, reclassifications, reorganizations, combinations and the like) of the Preferred Stock or any other holder of Preferred Stock that purchases Notes in the initial closing of such Debt Financing (the “Required Holders”) (or, in the case of any Required Holder, its Affiliates (as defined below), designees or successor funds) fails to do any of the following:

(i) purchase at least twenty percent (20%) of such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (as defined below) (subject to rounding) of the Notes being issued and sold in such Debt Financing prior to the earliest to occur of: (i) the day immediately prior to the actual dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation; (ii) the day immediately prior to a Liquidation Event; or (iii) within fourteen (14) days of the initial closing (the “First Closing”) of such Debt Financing (the “Offering Period”);


(ii) enter into an agreement during the Offering Period with the Corporation to purchase at least eighty percent (80%) of such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (subject to rounding) of the Notes being issued and sold in such Debt Financing in subsequent closings pursuant to the terms and conditions of such agreement with the Corporation (each, a “Subsequent Closing, and, collectively, the “Subsequent Closings”);

(iii) purchase, on or before the date of the first Subsequent Closing (to the extent such first Subsequent Closing is actually consummated upon a request of the Board pursuant to the terms of the agreement governing the sale and purchase of the Notes), at least the lesser of (i) an additional twenty percent (20%) of such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (subject to rounding) of the Notes being issued and sold in such Debt Financing and (ii) such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (subject to rounding) of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being issued and sold in such first Subsequent Closing;

(iv) purchase, on or before the date of the second Subsequent Closing (to the extent such second Subsequent Closing is actually consummated upon a request of the Board pursuant to the terms of the agreement governing the sale and purchase of the Notes), at least the lesser of (i) an additional thirty percent (30%) of such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (subject to rounding) of the Notes being issued and sold in such Debt Financing and (ii) such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (subject to rounding) of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being issued and sold in such second Subsequent Closing; or

(v) purchase, on or before the date of the third Subsequent Closing (to the extent such third Subsequent Closing is actually consummated upon a request of the Board pursuant to the terms of the agreement governing the sale and purchase of the Notes), at least the lesser of (i) an additional thirty percent (30%) of such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (subject to rounding) of the Notes being issued and sold in such Debt Financing and (ii) such Required Holder’s Pro Rata Share (subject to rounding) of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being issued and sold in such third Subsequent Closing;

then, in such case, effective immediately following the failure of such Required Holder to comply with the provisions of subsections (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above, all of such Required Holder’s shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or such Required


Holder be converted into shares of Common Stock with each two shares of capital stock being converted into one share of Common Stock, and any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued or issuable to such Required Holder thereafter upon conversion of any Convertible Securities or exercise of any Options or Rights shall, upon such issuance, immediately, automatically and without further action on the part of the Corporation or the Required Holder, be converted into shares of Common Stock with each two shares of capital stock being converted into one share of Common Stock.

(b) Cancellation . Upon conversion pursuant to this Section 5.16, the shares of Preferred Stock so converted shall be canceled and not subject to reissuance.

(c) Definitions . For purposes of this Section 5.16, the following definitions shall apply:

(i) “Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any person or entity, a person or entity that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the first person or entity, including, without limitation, any general partner, managing member, officer or director of such person or entity or any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners (or member thereof) or managing members (or member thereof) of, or shares the same management company (or member or shareholder thereof) with, such person or entity;

(ii) “control” shall mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;

(iii) “Debt Financing” shall mean the sale of convertible debt securities at any time after December 1, 2012 by the Corporation to investors in a bridge financing transaction;

(iv) “Pro Rata Share” for the purposes of a Required Holder, aggregated with all Affiliates, shall be equal to that aggregate dollar amount determined by multiplying (I) the Target Amount (as defined below) by (II) a fraction, (x) the numerator of which shall equal the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock actually held by such Required Holder, aggregated with all Affiliates, and calculated on an as converted into Common Stock basis, and (y) the denominator of which shall equal the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock actually held by all Required Holders, aggregated with all Affiliates, and calculated on an as converted into Common Stock basis, in each case as of the date of the First Closing;

(v) “Target Amount” shall mean, (i) with respect to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being issued and sold in the Debt Financing, Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000), and (ii) with respect to any particular Subsequent Closing, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being issued and sold in such Subsequent Closing.


(d) Aggregation . For the purposes of determining whether a Required Holder (together with its Affiliates, designees or successor funds, as the case may be) has purchased its Pro Rata Share, (x) the aggregate amount of the face value of all such convertible debt securities purchased in the Debt Financing by such Required Holder and all Affiliates, designees or successor funds of such Required Holder will be aggregated, and (y) the Pro Rata Share of such Required Holder and all Affiliates of such Required Holder will be aggregated. Such determination shall also take into account any rounding done in connection with such calculations and the amount of Notes actually purchased, such that such rounding shall not result in a Required Holder being deemed not to have purchased its Pro Rata Share.

(e) Stock Certificates . Upon request, the holder of any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that are converted into shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 5.16 shall deliver to the Corporation during regular business hours at the office of any transfer agent of the Corporation for such share of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, or at such other place as may be designated by the Corporation, the certificate or certificates representing the shares so converted, duly endorsed or assigned in blank or to the Corporation. As promptly thereafter as is practicable, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to such holder, at the place designated by such holder, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock to which such holder is entitled. The person or entity in whose name the certificate for such shares of Common Stock is to be issued shall be deemed to have become a stockholder on the effective date of the conversion pursuant to this Section 5.16, unless the transfer books of the Corporation are closed on that date, in which case such person shall be deemed to have become a stockholder of record on the next succeeding date on which the transfer books are open. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of a holder of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that are converted into shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 5.16 to deliver the certificate or certificates representing the shares so converted shall have no effect on the conversion effected pursuant hereto.”

FOURTH: The foregoing amendment of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has caused this Certificate to be signed by its Chief Executive Officer on this 7th day of December, 2012.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem

 

Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer


SECOND CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST: The original Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on June 22, 2005 and was previously amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 7, 2012.

SECOND: The name of the corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

THIRD: The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended by deleting Section 4.4 in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:

“Board Size. The authorized number of directors of the Corporation’s Board shall be eight (8).”

FOURTH: The foregoing amendment of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has caused this Second Certificate of Amendment to be signed by its Chief Executive Officer on this 28th day of March, 2013.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem

 

Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.

Chief Executive Officer


THIRD CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 23, 2011 and was previously amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 7, 2012 and was further amended by that certain Second Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on March 28, 2013.

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

SECOND: The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended in the following respects:

A. By deleting the text of the first paragraph of Article IV of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:

“This corporation is authorized to issue two (2) classes of shares, designated “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”. The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 110,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is 90,172,909 shares, $0.001 par value per share, 2,000,000 of which are designated as “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”, 10,010,029 of which are designated as “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”, 22,479,476 of which are designated as “Series A-3 Preferred Stock”, 5,683,404 of which are designated as “Series A-4 Preferred Stock”, and 50,000,000 of which are designated as “Series B Preferred Stock.””

B. By deleting $15,000,000 in the definition of “Target Amount” set forth in Article IV, Section 5.16(c)(v) of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and replacing it with $18,000,000.

THIRD: The foregoing amendment of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has caused this Third Certificate of Amendment to be signed by its Chief Executive Officer on this 9th day of August, 2013.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

/s/ Vicente Anido Jr.

Vicente Anido Jr.
Chairman and CEO


FOURTH CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 23, 2011, was previously amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 7, 2012, was further amended by that certain Second Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on March 28, 2013 and was further amended by that certain Third Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on August 9, 2013.

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

SECOND: The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended in the following respects:

By deleting the text of Article V, Section 4.4 of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:

“Board Size. The authorized number of directors of the Corporation’s Board shall be nine (9).”

THIRD: The foregoing amendment of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has caused this Fourth Certificate of Amendment to be signed by its Chief Executive Officer on this 5th day of September, 2013.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

/s/ Vicente Anido, Jr.

Vicente Anido, Jr.
Chairman and CEO


FIFTH CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

TO THE

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.,

a Delaware corporation

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on February 23, 2011, was previously amended by that certain Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on December 7, 2012, was further amended by that certain Second Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on March 28, 2013 was further amended by that certain Third Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on August 9, 2013 and was further amended by that certain Fourth Certificate of Amendment filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on September 9, 2013.

FIRST: The name of the corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

SECOND: The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended in the following respect:

By deleting the text of the first paragraph of Article IV of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:

“This corporation is authorized to issue two (2) classes of shares, designated “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”. The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 110,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is 85,172,909 shares, $0.001 par value per share, 2,000,000 of which are designated as “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”, 10,010,029 of which are designated as “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”, 22,479,476 of which are designated as “Series A-3 Preferred Stock”, 5,683,404 of which are designated as “Series A-4 Preferred Stock”, and 45,000,000 of which are designated as “Series B Preferred Stock.””

THIRD: The foregoing amendment of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 228 and 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware by the directors and stockholders of the Corporation.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has caused this Fifth Certificate of Amendment to be signed by its Chief Executive Officer on this 16th day of September, 2013.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

/s/ Vicente Anido, Jr.

Vicente Anido, Jr.
Chairman and CEO


CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION

OF FIFTH CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware does hereby certify:

 

1. The name of the corporation is Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

2. The Fifth Certificate of Amendment of the Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation filed by the Secretary of State of Delaware on September 16, 2013 (the “ Charter Amendment ”) requires correction as permitted by Section 103(f) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

3. The inaccuracy or defect of the Charter Amendment to be corrected pertains to the stated number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock and the stated number of authorized shares of Series B Preferred Stock, which were incorrect due to clerical error.

 

4. With respect to the foregoing inaccuracies and defects, the Charter Amendment is hereby corrected in the following manner:

Paragraph SECOND of the Charter of Amendment is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

“SECOND: The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended in the following respect:

By deleting the text of the first paragraph of Article IV of the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in its entirety and substituting the following therefor:

“This corporation is authorized to issue two (2) classes of shares, designated “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”. The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 110,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value per share. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued is 87,872,909 shares, $0.001 par value per share, 2,000,000 of which are designated as “Series A-1 Preferred Stock”, 10,010,029 of which are designated as “Series A-2 Preferred Stock”, 22,479,476 of which are designated as “Series A-3 Preferred Stock”, 5,683,404 of which are designated as “Series A-4 Preferred Stock”, and 47,700,000 of which are designated as “Series B Preferred Stock.””


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Correction to be executed on September 16, 2013.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

/s/ William N. Wofford

William N. Wofford
Secretary

Exhibit 3.3

BYLAWS

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)


BYLAWS

OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

1. Principal Office . The principal office of the Corporation shall be located in Orange County, North Carolina or such other place as is designated by the Board of Directors.

2. Registered Office . The registered office of the Corporation required by law to be maintained in the State of Delaware may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office.

3. Other Offices . The Corporation may have offices at such other places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the affairs of the Corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

1. Place of Meetings . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation or at such other place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated in the notice of the meeting or agreed upon by the Board of Directors, the President or the Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as provided by law.

2. Annual Meeting . Unless directors are elected by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting, the annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on a date during the month of April and at a time (except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday) determined by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing Directors of the Corporation and for the transaction of such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.

3. Substitute Annual Meeting . If the annual meeting shall not be held in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of this Article II a substitute annual meeting may be called in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of this Article II. A meeting so called shall be designated and treated for all purposes as the annual meeting. The shares represented at such substitute annual meeting, either in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote thereat, shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of such meeting.

 

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4. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the President, the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the Corporation, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.

5. Notice of Meetings .

(a) Written or printed notice stating the time and place, if any, of the meeting 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 shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date thereof, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, President, Secretary or other person calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the Delaware General Corporation Law) by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. If notice is given by electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the record of stockholders of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.

(b) In the case of an annual or substitute annual meeting, the notice of meeting need not specifically state the business to be transacted thereat unless it is a matter, other than election of Directors, on which the vote of the stockholders is expressly required by the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law. In the case of a special meeting, the notice of meeting shall specifically state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

(c) When a meeting is adjourned for thirty (30) days or more, or when a new record date is fixed after the adjournment for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. When a meeting is adjourned for less than thirty (30) days in any one adjournment and a new record date is not fixed, it is not necessary to give any notice of the time and place, (if any, or the means of remote communication, if any,) of the adjourned meeting or of the business to be transacted thereat other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.

6. Voting Lists . The Secretary shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. If the meeting is held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be

 

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open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders or the books of the corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders and of the number of shares held by each such stockholder.

7. Quorum .

(a) Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders. When a quorum is present at the original meeting, any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting may be transacted at an adjourned meeting, even when a quorum is not present. In the absence of a quorum at the opening of any meeting of stockholders, such meeting may be adjourned from time to time by any officer entitled to preside at or act as secretary of such meeting or by the vote of a majority of the shares voting on the motion to adjourn, but no other business may be transacted until and unless a quorum is present. If later a quorum is present at an adjourned meeting, then any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

(b) The stockholders at a meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of sufficient stockholders to leave less than a quorum.

8. Voting of Shares .

(a) Unless otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock of the Corporation held by such stockholder on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.

(b) Except in the election of Directors, when a quorum is present at any meeting, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares 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 on that matter, unless a vote by a greater number is required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

(c) Voting on all matters except the election of Directors shall be by voice vote or by a show of hands.

(d) Shares of its own stock owned by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, through a subsidiary or otherwise, shall not be voted and shall not be counted in determining the total number of shares entitled to vote; except that shares held in a fiduciary capacity may be voted and shall be counted to the extent provided by law.

 

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9. Proxies . Shares may be voted either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy executed by the stockholder or by such stockholder’s duly authorized attorney-in-fact. A proxy is not valid after the expiration of three years from the date of its execution, unless the person executing it specifies therein the length of time for which it is to continue in force, or limits its use to a particular meeting. Proxies may be provided in any form or manner permitted by applicable law.

10. Conduct of Meetings .

(a) Chairman of Meeting . Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairman’s absence by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Vice Chairman’s absence by the Chief Executive Officer (if one has been duly elected), or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence by the President, or in the President’s absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of all of the foregoing persons by a chairman designed by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen by vote of the stockholders at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

(b) Rules and Procedures . The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rule, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulation or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restriction on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

11. Informal Action by Stockholders .

(a) Any action which is required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders 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 signed and dated 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

 

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present and voted. Such signed and dated consent must be delivered to the Corporation, whether done before or after the action so taken, but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the earliest dated consent delivered in accordance with Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. When corporate action is taken without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent, prompt notice shall 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 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.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, stockholders may act by written consent to elect directors; provided, however, that, if such consent is less than unanimous, such action by written consent may be in lieu of holding an annual meeting only if all of the directorships to which directors could be elected at an annual meeting held at the effective time of such action are vacant and are filled by such action.

(c) Electronic Transmission of Consents . A telegram, cablegram, or other electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine (A) that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxyholder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxyholder and (B) the date on which such stockholder or proxyholder or authorized person or persons transmitted such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be delivered 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. Delivery made to a corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on delivery, consents given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission may be otherwise delivered to the principal place of business of the Corporation or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded if, to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of Directors. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing.

 

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ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

1. General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors or by such committees as the Board of Directors may establish pursuant to these Bylaws.

2. Number, Term and Qualification . Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the stockholders or the Board of Directors, but in no event shall be less than one. Each Director shall hold office until such Director’s death, resignation, retirement, removal, disqualification, or such Director’s successor is elected and qualifies. Directors need not be residents of the State of Delaware or stockholders of the Corporation.

3. Election of Directors . Except as provided in Section 5 of this Article III and unless directors are elected by written consent in lieu of an annual meeting, the Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders. Those persons who receive the highest number of votes shall be deemed to have been elected. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, election of Directors shall be by written ballot. Any requirement of a written ballot shall be satisfied by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder or proxyholder.

4. Removal; Resignation . Directors may be removed from office with or without cause by a vote of stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of Directors. If a director is elected by a voting group of stockholders, only the stockholders of that voting group may participate in the vote to remove him. If any Directors are so removed, new Directors may be elected at the same meeting. Any Director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later time or upon the happening of some later event.

5. Vacancies . A vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, a vacancy created by an increase in the authorized number of Directors or resulting from the stockholders’ failure to elect the full authorized number of Directors, may be filled by a vote of a majority of the Directors then in office or, if the Directors remaining in office constitute less than a quorum of the Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all remaining Directors or by the sole remaining Director. If the vacant office was held by a Director elected by a voting group, only the remaining Director or Directors elected by that voting group or the holders of shares of that voting group are entitled to fill the vacancy. A Director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of such Director’s predecessor in office. The stockholders may elect a Director at any time to fill any vacancy not filled by the Directors.

6. Compensation . The Board of Directors may provide for the compensation of Directors for their services as such and may provide for the payment of any and all expenses incurred by the Directors in connection with such services.

 

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7. Committees .

(a) The Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Directors then in office, may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors 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. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, 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 (a) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation or (b) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders any action or matter expressly required by law to be submitted to stockholders for approval. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and make such reports to the Board of Directors as the Board of Directors may request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by the Directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the conduct of its business by the Board of Directors.

(b) Any resolutions adopted or other action taken by any such committee within the scope of the authority delegated to it by the Board of Directors shall be deemed for all purposes to be adopted or taken by the Board of Directors. The designation of any committee and the delegation thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility or liability imposed upon it or him by law.

(c) If a committee member is absent or disqualified, the qualified members present at a meeting, even if not a quorum, may unanimously appoint another Board of Directors member to act in the absent or disqualified member’s place.

(d) Regular meetings of any such committee may be held without notice at such time and place as such committee may fix from time to time by resolution. Special meetings of any such committee may be called by any member thereof upon not less than two day’s notice stating the place, date and hour of such meeting, which notice may be given by any usual means of communication. Any member of a committee may waive notice of any meeting and no notice of any meeting need be given to any member thereof who attends in person. The notice of a committee meeting need not state the business proposed to be transacted at the meeting.

(e) A majority of the members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting thereof, and actions of such committee must be authorized by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of such committee.

(f) Any member of any such committee may be removed at any time with or without cause by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

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(g) Any such committee shall elect a presiding officer from among its members and may fix its own rules of procedure which shall not be inconsistent with these Bylaws. It shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors for its information at the meeting thereof held next after the proceedings shall have been taken.

ARTICLE IV

MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS

1. Regular Meetings . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such time and place as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. If an annual meeting of the stockholders is convened, a regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be held immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of stockholders.

2. Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board (if one has been duly elected), the President, the Chief Executive Officer (if one has been duly elected) or any two Directors.

3. Notice of Meetings .

(a) Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice.

(b) The person or persons calling a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall, at least two days before the meeting, give notice thereof by any usual means of communication. Such notice need not specify the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, the meeting that is called. Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place are fixed at the meeting adjourning and if the period of adjournment does not exceed ten (10) days in any one adjournment.

4. Quorum . A majority of the Directors in office immediately before the meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

5. Manner of Acting .

(a) The act 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, unless a greater number is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or a bylaw adopted by the stockholders.

(b) A Director of the Corporation, who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken, shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless such Director’s contrary vote is recorded or such Director’s dissent is otherwise entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he or she shall file such Director’s

 

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written dissent to such action with the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right of dissent shall not apply to a Director who voted in favor of such action.

6. 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 by taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or 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 committee.

7. Attendance by Telephone . Any one or more Directors or members of a committee may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications device which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other, and such participation in the meeting shall be deemed presence in person at such meeting.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

1. Number . The officers of the Corporation shall consist of such officers as the Board of Directors may elect, including a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other such officers. Any two or more offices, other than that of President and Secretary, may be held by the same person. In no event, however, may an officer act in more than one capacity where action of two or more officers is required.

2. Election and Term . The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Such election may be held at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or without a meeting by consent as provided in Article IV, Section 6 of these Bylaws. Each officer shall hold office until such officer’s death, resignation, retirement, removal, disqualification, or until such officer’s successor is elected and qualifies, unless a different term is specified in the resolution electing such officer.

3. Removal . Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause.

4. Compensation . The compensation of all officers of the Corporation shall be as fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

5. Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, supervise and control the management of the Corporation in accordance with these Bylaws. The Chief Executive Officer shall, in the absence of a Chairman of the Board of Directors, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders;

 

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shall sign, with any other proper officer, certificates for shares of the Corporation and any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which may be lawfully executed on behalf of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent; and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

6. President . If the Board of Directors has not designated the Chairman of the Board or another officer as the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and perform the duties and exercise the powers of that office. In addition, the President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties and shall have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may from time to time prescribe. If the Board of Directors has designated a Chief Executive Officer, the President shall, in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, exercise the powers of that office.

7. Vice Presidents . The Vice Presidents, in the order of their appointment, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer and the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of such office. In addition, they shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

8. Secretary . The Secretary shall perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Secretary shall keep accurate records of the acts and proceedings of all meetings of stockholders, Board of Directors, and committees thereof; shall give all notices required by law and by these Bylaws; shall have general charge of the corporate books and records and of the corporate seal; and shall affix the corporate seal to any lawfully executed instrument requiring it. The Secretary shall have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation and shall keep, at the registered or principal office of the Corporation, a record of stockholders showing the name and address of each stockholder and the number and class of the shares held by each. The Secretary shall sign such instruments as may require the Secretary’s signature, and, in general, attest the signature or certify the incumbency or signature of any other officer of the Corporation.

9. Treasurer . The Treasurer shall perform all duties incident to the office and such other duties as the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds and securities belonging to the Corporation and shall receive, deposit or disburse the same under the direction of the Board of Directors; and shall keep full and accurate accounts of the finances of the Corporation in books especially provided for that purpose, which may be consolidated or combined statements of the Corporation and one or more of its subsidiaries as appropriate, that include a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year, an income statement for that year, and a statement of cash flows for the year unless that information appears elsewhere in the financial statements. If financial statements are prepared for the Corporation on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles, the annual financial statements must also be prepared on that basis.

 

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10. Assistant Secretaries and Treasurers . The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary or the Treasurer, perform the respective duties and exercise the respective powers of those offices, and they shall, in general, perform such other duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or the Treasurer, respectively, or by the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board of Directors.

11. Controller and Assistant Controllers . The Controller, if one has been appointed, shall have charge of the accounting affairs of the Corporation and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. Each Assistant Controller shall have such powers and perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Controller or the Board of Directors, and the Assistant Controllers shall exercise the powers of the Controller during that officer’s absence or inability to act.

12. Bonds . The Board of Directors, by resolution, may require any or all officers of the Corporation to give bond to the Corporation, with sufficient sureties, conditioned on the faithful performance of the duties of their respective offices and to comply with such other conditions as may from time to time be required by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, LOANS AND DEPOSITS

1. Contracts . The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

2. Loans . No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

3. Checks and Drafts . All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, or agent or agents, of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

4. Deposits . All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such depository or depositories as the Board of Directors shall direct.

ARTICLE VII

CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND OTHER TRANSFERS

1. Certificates for Shares . Certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall be issued, in such form as the Board of Directors shall determine, to every stockholder for the fully paid shares owned by him, provided that the Board of Directors may provide that some or

 

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all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Certificates shall be signed by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, if any, of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President of the Corporation, and by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer and sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. The signatures of any such officers upon a certificate may be facsimiles or may be engraved or printed or omitted if the certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent, or registered by a registrar, other than the Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile or other signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the date of its issue. The certificates shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified; and the name and address of the persons to whom they are issued, with the number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the stock transfer books of the Corporation.

2. Transfer of Shares . Transfer of shares shall be made on the stock transfer books of the Corporation only upon surrender of the certificates for the shares sought to be transferred by the record holder thereof or by such holder’s duly authorized agent, transferee or legal representative. All certificates surrendered for transfer shall be canceled before new certificates for the transferred shares shall be issued.

3. Transfer Agent and Registrar . The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars of transfer and may require all stock certificates to be signed or countersigned by the transfer agent and registered by the registrar of transfers.

4. Restrictions on Transfer .

(a) Right of First Refusal; Definition Of Holders; Transfer Notice. If any stockholder of the Company proposes to sell, pledge or otherwise transfer any shares of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Stock”), which term includes all stock subscription rights, liquidating dividends, stock dividends, stock splits, new, substituted or additional securities of any type whatsoever, or any other property which the stockholder is or may be entitled to receive as a result of the stockholder’s ownership of such shares of Stock), the Company in the first instance, and then the relevant holders of the Company’s outstanding voting stock (the “Holders”), as provided in this Section 4(a), will have a right of first refusal (the “Right of First Refusal”) with respect to such shares of the Stock. If the stockholder proposes to transfer Common Stock of the Company, then the Holders, for purposes of this Section 4, will be deemed to include the holders of Common Stock and of Preferred Stock of the Company. If the stockholder proposes to transfer any shares of Preferred Stock of the Company, then the Holders, for purposes of this Section 4, will be deemed to include only the holders of Preferred Stock of the Company. Before effecting any proposed transfer, the stockholder will give written notice (the “Transfer Notice”) to the Company describing fully the proposed transfer, including the number of shares of the Stock proposed to be transferred, the proposed bona fide transfer price and the name and address of the proposed transferee. In the case of a proposed gift transfer, the bona fide transfer price for purposes of this Right of First Refusal will be determined in good faith by the Board of Directors promptly upon the Company’s receipt of, and as of the date of, the Transfer Notice.

 

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(b) Company’s Right. The Company will have the right, for a period of thirty (30) days after the date the Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company, to purchase all, but not less than all, of such shares of Stock on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice by delivery to the stockholder of a notice of exercise of the Company’s Right of First Refusal. The Company’s rights under this Section 4(b) will not be assignable.

(c) Holders’ Right. If the Company fails to timely exercise its Right of First Refusal, or determines not to exercise such right, the Company will immediately notify all Holders in writing of the terms of the proposed transfer and the number of shares of the Stock available for purchase by the Holders upon exercise by them of their Right of First Refusal. The Holders will have the right for a period of thirty (30) days as a group, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Stock so available, each Holder having the right to purchase such Holder’s pro rata portion of such shares of such Stock on the terms set forth in the Company’s notice, by delivery to the Company and the proposed transferring stockholder of a notice of exercise of the Holder’s Right of First Refusal. Each Holder’s pro rata portion will be equal to the total of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by such Holder plus the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which any shares of Preferred Stock held by the Holder are convertible on the date of the Transfer Notice, as a percentage of the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by all Holders plus the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which all shares of Preferred Stock held by all Holders are convertible on the date of the Transfer Notice. A Holder’s rights under this Section 4(c) will be assignable to any person controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Holder. Each Holder may, in its notice of exercise of such Holder’s Right of First Refusal, subscribe for any number of shares of Stock of the Company subject to the Right of First Refusal. Any shares of Stock of the Company subject to the Right of First Refusal which are not purchased by a Holder exercising such Holder’s pro rata Right of First Refusal may be purchased by any Holders (“Oversubscribing Holders”) who indicated the desire to purchase more (specifying the number of shares) than their pro rata share of such Stock in their respective notices of exercise (“Oversubscription Right”). If not enough shares of Stock of the stockholder are offered for sale to satisfy all properly exercised Oversubscription Rights, the offered Stock will be sold to and purchased by Holders exercising Oversubscription Rights pro rata, as next determined. For the purpose of Oversubscription Rights each Oversubscribing Holder’s pro rata portion will be equal to the total of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by such Oversubscribing Holder plus the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which all shares of Preferred Stock held by such Oversubscribing Holder are convertible on the date of the Transfer Notice, as a percentage of the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by all Oversubscribing Holders plus the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which all shares of Preferred Stock held by all Oversubscribing Holders are convertible on the date of the Transfer Notice.

(d) Completion of Transaction. If the Company and the Holders fail to give notice of exercise of their respective Rights of First Refusal within a total of sixty (60) days after the date the Transfer Notice is delivered to the Company, the stockholder may, not later than one hundred twenty (120) days following delivery to the Company of the Transfer Notice, conclude a transfer of the shares of Stock subject to the Transfer Notice which have not been purchased by the

 

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Company or the Holders pursuant to the exercise of a Right of First Refusal on the terms and conditions described in the Transfer Notice. Any proposed transfer on the terms and conditions different from those described in the transfer Notice, as well as any subsequent proposed transfer by the stockholder, will again be subject to the Right of First Refusal and will require compliance by the stockholder with the procedure described in this Article VII, Section 4. If the Company or the Holders exercise the Right of First Refusal, the parties will consummate the sale of shares of Stock on the terms set forth in the Transfer Notice within ninety (90) days after delivery of the Transfer Notice to the Company; provided, however, that if the Transfer Notice provides for the payment for the shares of Stock other than in cash, the Company or the Holders (as the case may be) will have the option of paying for the shares of Stock by the discounted cash equivalent of the consideration described in the Transfer Notice, as the discounted cash equivalent is reasonably determined by the Board of Directors.

(e) Agreement by Transferees. All transferees of shares of Stock or any interest therein will be required as a condition of such transfer to agree in writing (in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company) that they will receive and hold such shares of Stock or interest subject to the provisions of this Right of First Refusal. Any sale or other transfer of any shares of Stock by any stockholder will be void unless the provisions of this Article VII, Section 4 are met.

(f) Termination of Right of First Refusal. The Right of First Refusal, as to both the Company and the Holders, will terminate at such time as a public market exists for the Company’s Common Stock (or any other stock issued by the Company or any successor, in exchange for the Common Stock of the Company), or upon a merger of the Company in which the Company is not the surviving Company, or upon a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company. For purposes hereof, a “public market” will be deemed to exist if (a) there has been consummated a public offering of such Stock registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or (b) such Stock is listed on a national securities exchange (as that term is used in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), or (c) such Stock is traded on the over-the-counter market and prices therefor are published daily and regularly on business days in a recognized financial journal.

(g) Exceptions. The Right of First Refusal will not apply (a) to a transfer to the stockholder’s ancestors (including step-parents, descendants (including step-children), spouse or to a trustee for the benefit of such ancestors, descendants or spouse, or (b) to a transfer to any transferee of Preferred Stock (or of the Common Stock into which such Preferred Stock is converted) who is controlled by, controlling or under common control with the transferor of such Preferred Stock or Common Stock into which converted, or (c) any transfer by any institutional investor, such as but not limited to a venture capital fund, to such investor’s limited partners, or other general partners; provided that in each case each such transferee will take such Stock subject to all of the provisions of this Right of First Refusal, or (d) to any repurchase by the Company or its assignees of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock from Directors, officers or employees of, or consultants or advisors to, the Company pursuant to written agreements under which the Company and/or its assignees has the option to repurchase such shares upon the termination of employment with, or service to, the Company for any reason.

 

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(h) In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Section 4 of Article VII and any written agreement between the Corporation and any stockholder of the Corporation, the terms of such written agreement shall control, and the provisions of this Section shall not be applicable.

(i) Subject to the preceding paragraph (h), every certificate representing shares of the Corporation shall bear the following legend:

“The shares represented by this certificate, and the transfer thereof, are subject to the restrictions on transfer provisions of the Bylaws of the Corporation, a copy of which is on file in, and may be examined at, the principal office of the Corporation.”

5. Closing Transfer Books and Fixing Record Date .

(a) For the purpose of determining 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 no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, such record date 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. Such determination of stockholders of record shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) For the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, 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 date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, such record date, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by this chapter, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is filed with the Secretary of the Corporation. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, such record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) For the purpose of determining 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.

 

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6. Lost Certificates . The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of a new share certificate in place of a certificate claimed to have been lost or destroyed, upon receipt of an affidavit of such fact from the person claiming the loss or destruction. When authorizing such issuance of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may require the claimant to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct to indemnify the Corporation against loss from any claim with respect to the certificate claimed to have been lost or destroyed, or otherwise to indemnify the Corporation against such loss; or the Board of Directors may, by resolution reciting that the circumstances justify such action, authorize the issuance of the new certificate without requiring such a bond.

7. Holder of Record . The Corporation may treat as absolute owner of the shares the person in whose name the shares stand of record on its books just as if that person had full competency, capacity, and authority to exercise all rights of ownership irrespective of any knowledge or notice to the contrary or any description indicating a representative, pledge or other fiduciary relation or any reference to any other instrument or to the rights of any other person appearing upon its record or upon the share certificate; except that any person furnishing to the Corporation proof of his/her appointment as a fiduciary shall be treated as if he or she were a holder of record of the Corporation’s shares.

8. Treasury Shares . Treasury shares of the Corporation shall consist of such shares as have been issued and thereafter acquired but not canceled by the Corporation. Treasury shares shall not carry voting or dividend rights, except rights in share dividends.

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION AND REIMBURSEMENT

OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

1. Indemnification for Expenses and Liabilities . Any person who at any time serves or has served (i) as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, (ii) at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, or (iii) at the request of the Corporation as a trustee or administrator under an employee benefit plan, or is called as a witness at a time when he or she has not been made a named defendant or respondent to any Proceeding, shall have a right to be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent from time to time permitted by law against Liability and Expenses in any Proceeding (including without limitation a Proceeding brought by or on behalf of the Corporation itself) arising out of his or her status as such or activities in any of the foregoing capacities.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall take all such action as may be necessary and appropriate to authorize the Corporation to pay the indemnification required by this provision, including without limitation, to the extent needed, making a good faith evaluation of the manner in which the claimant for indemnity acted and of the reasonable amount of indemnity due him or her.

 

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Any person who at any time serves or has served in any of the aforesaid capacities for or on behalf of the Corporation shall be deemed to be doing or to have done so in reliance upon, and as consideration for, the rights provided for herein. Any repeal or modification of these indemnification provisions shall not affect any rights or obligations existing at the time of such repeal or modification. The rights provided for herein shall inure to the benefit of the legal representatives of any such person and shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which such person may be entitled apart from this provision.

The rights granted herein shall not be limited by the provisions contained in Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or any successor to such statute.

2. Advance Payment of Expenses . The Corporation shall (upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent involved to repay the Expenses described herein unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation against such Expenses) pay Expenses incurred by such director, officer, employee or agent in defending a Proceeding or appearing as a witness at a time when he or she has not been named as a defendant or a respondent with respect thereto in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding.

3. Insurance . The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance (on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another domestic or foreign corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or as a trustee or administrator under an employee benefit plan) against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability.

4. Definitions . The following terms as used in this Article shall have the following meanings. “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding and any appeal therein (and any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such action, suit, or proceeding), whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or arbitrative and whether formal or informal. “Expenses” means expenses of every kind, including counsel fees. “Liability” means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a Proceeding, and all reasonable expenses incurred in enforcing the indemnification rights provided herein. “Director,” “officer,” “employee” and “agent” include the estate or personal representative of a director, officer, employee or agent. “Corporation” shall include any domestic or foreign predecessor of this Corporation in a merger or other transaction in which the predecessor’s existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction.

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. Dividends . The Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay, dividends on its outstanding shares in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law and by the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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2. Seal . The corporate seal shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. Such seal may be an impression or stamp and may be used by the officers of the Corporation by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced. In addition to any form of seal adopted by the Board of Directors, the officers of the Corporation may use as the corporate seal a seal in the form of a circle containing the name of the Corporation and the state of its incorporation (or an abbreviation thereof) on the circumference and the word “Seal” in the center.

3. Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice is required to be given to any stockholder or Director under the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a 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. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, Directors, or members of a committee of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

4. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

5. Notice by Electronic Transmission . Without limiting the manner by which notice may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, other than those enumerated in Section 232(e) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, in the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Electronic transmission shall mean any form of communication, including but not limited to facsimile telecommunication and electronic mail, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient.

6. 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. The Corporation shall so convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.

 

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7. Amendments . Except as otherwise provided herein, these Bylaws may be amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation, or, if the Certificate of Incorporation so permits, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then holding office at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or by unanimous written consent.

8. All terms used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular or plural as the context may require.

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the above Bylaws were duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, effective July 13, 2005.

 

/s/ William N. Wofford
William N. Wofford, Secretary

 

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Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP]

October 3, 2013

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

135 US Highway 206, Suite 15

Bedminster, New Jersey 07921

 

  Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-191219

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-191219) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and as subsequently amended (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the registration of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), including Shares which may be offered and sold upon the exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters, with a maximum aggregate offering price of $50,000,000. The Shares are proposed to be sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into among the Company and RBC Capital Markets, LLC and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated as representatives of the several underwriters named therein. With your permission, all assumptions and statements of reliance herein have been made without any independent investigation or verification on our part, except to the extent otherwise expressly stated, and we express no opinion with respect to the subject matter or accuracy of such assumptions or items relied upon.

In connection with this opinion, we have (i) investigated such questions of law, (ii) examined the originals or certified, conformed, facsimile, electronic or reproduction copies of such agreements, instruments, documents and records of the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other documents and (iii) received such information from officers and representatives of the Company and others as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

In all such examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of original and certified documents and the conformity to original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed, facsimile, electronic or reproduction copies. As to various questions of fact relevant to the opinion expressed herein, we have relied upon, and assume the accuracy of, certificates and oral or written statements and other information of or from public officials and officers and representatives of the Company.


Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and the Constitution of the State of Delaware, in each case as currently in effect, and reported judicial decisions interpreting such provisions of the DGCL and the Constitution of the State of Delaware, and no opinion is expressed with respect to any other laws or any effect that such other laws may have on the opinion expressed herein. The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters stated herein and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein. We undertake no responsibility to update or supplement this letter after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included therein. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

FRIED, FRANK, HARRIS, SHRIVER & JACOBSON LLP

 

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Exhibit 10.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of February 23, 2011 by and among Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and the persons and entities listed on Exhibit A attached hereto (the “ Investors ”).

R E C I T A L S

WHEREAS, certain of the Investors (the “ Existing Investors ”) hold shares of the Company’s Series A-1 Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Series A-1 Stock ”), Series A-2 Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Series A-2 Stock ”) and/or Series A-3 Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Series A-3 Stock ”) and possess registration rights, information rights, rights of first offer and other rights pursuant to an Investors’ Rights Agreement dated as of September 28, 2005 by and among the Company and such Existing Investors (the “ Prior Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, any provision of the Prior Agreement may be amended, and the observance therof may be waived, with the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities Then Outstanding (as such term is defined in the Prior Agreement);

WHEREAS, the Existing Investors as holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities Then Outstanding (as such term is defined in the Prior Agreement) desire to terminate the Prior Agreement and to accept the rights created pursuant hereto in lieu of the rights granted to them under the Prior Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Investors are parties to the Series A-3, Series A-4 and Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement of even date herewith by and among the Company and the Investors (the “ Purchase Agreement ”), which provides that as a condition to the closing of the sale of the Series A-3 Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Series A-3 Stock ”), the Series A-4 Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Series A-4 Stock ”) and the Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “ Series B Stock ” and collectively with the Series A-1 Stock, the Series A-2 Stock, the Series A-3 Stock and the Series A-4 Stock, the “ Preferred Stock ”), this Agreement must be executed and delivered by such Investors and the Company.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants set forth herein, the Existing Investors hereby agree that the Prior Agreement shall be superseded and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement, and the parties hereto further agree as follows:

1. INFORMATION RIGHTS .

1.1 Financial Information . The Company covenants and agrees that, commencing on the date of this Agreement, the Company will:

(a) Annual Reports . Furnish to each Investor, for so long as such Investor holds at least 910,000 shares (as adjusted per Section 6.10) of any combination of Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock (such Investor, a “ Major Investor ”), as soon as practicable and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a consolidated balance sheet as of the end of such


fiscal year, a consolidated statement of income and a consolidated statement of cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures from the Company’s previous fiscal year all prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices and accompanied by a report from the company’s outside accountants;

(b) Quarterly Reports . Furnish to each Major Investor, as soon as practicable, and in any case within 35 days of the end of each of the first three (3) quarters of the fiscal year of the Company, unaudited financial statements, including an unaudited balance sheet, an unaudited statement of income and an unaudited statement of cash flows, together with an instrument executed by the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer of the Company certifying that such financial statements fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its results of operation for the period specified, subject to year-end adjustment;

(c) Annual Operating Plan . Furnish to each Major Investor, at least 30 days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a copy of the Company’s annual operating plan and the budget for such fiscal year as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”), including the Company’s revenues, expenses and cash position on a monthly basis for the upcoming fiscal year; and

(d) Capitalization Table . Furnish to each Major Investor, promptly following, and in any event within 35 days after, the end of each quarter of the fiscal year of the Company, a detailed capitalization table (including stock options outstanding and granted during such quarter), together with an instrument executed by the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Executive Officer of the Company certifying that such capitalization table fairly presents the current capitalization of the Company.

1.2 Inspection Rights . The Company will permit each Major Investor, at such Major Investor’s expense, to visit and inspect the Company’s properties, to examine its books of account and records and to discuss the Company’s affairs, finances and accounts with its officers, all at such reasonable times as may be requested by such Major Investor; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to provide access to any information which, in good faith after consultation with legal counsel, it reasonably considers to be a trade secret or similar confidential information or, in good faith after consultation with legal counsel, it reasonably believes would adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel.

1.3 Confidentiality . Each Investor will hold all information received pursuant to Sections 1.1 or 1.2 in confidence, and not to use or disclose any of such information to any third party, except that such Investor may disclose information received pursuant to Section 1.1 and 1.2 to its partners, limited partners (and advisors and representatives of such limited partners), employees and advisors to the extent such Investor deems such disclosure to be reasonably necessary to monitor and manage its investment in the Company and to comply with its existing obligations to provide information to its limited partners (and their representatives and advisors).

1.4 Termination of Certain Rights . The Company’s obligations under Sections 1.1 and 1.2 above will terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the consummation of the sale of Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), in connection with the firm commitment underwritten offering of its securities to the general public, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Sections 12(g) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ 1934 Act ”), or (iii) the consummation of a Liquidation Event, as that term is defined in the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and/or restated from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”).

2. REGISTRATION RIGHTS .

2.1 Definitions . For purposes of this Section 2:

(a) Registration . The terms “ register ,” “ registered ,” and “ registration ” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement.

 

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(b) Registrable Securities . The term “ Registrable Securities ” means:

(1) all the shares of Common Stock issuable or issued upon the conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock;

(2) any shares of Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, all such shares of Common Stock described in clause (1) of this subsection (b);

excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which rights under this Section 2 are not assigned in accordance with this Agreement or any Registrable Securities sold to the public or sold pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

(c) Registrable Securities Then Outstanding . The number of shares of “ Registrable Securities Then Outstanding ” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock which are Registrable Securities and (1) are then issued and outstanding, or (2) are then issuable pursuant to the exercise or conversion of then outstanding and then exercisable options, warrants or convertible securities.

(d) Holder . For purposes of this Section 2 and Sections 3 and 4 hereof, the term “ Holder ” means any person owning of record Registrable Securities or any assignee of record of such Registrable Securities to whom rights under this Section 2 have been duly assigned in accordance with this Agreement; provided , however , that for purposes of this Agreement, a record holder of shares of Preferred Stock will be deemed to be the Holder of the Registrable Securities issuable upon conversion thereof; and provided , further , that the Company will in no event be obligated to register shares of Preferred Stock and that Holders of Registrable Securities will not be required to convert their shares of Preferred Stock into Common Stock in order to exercise the registration rights granted hereunder as to such Registrable Securities, until immediately before the closing of the offering to which the registration relates.

(e) Form S-3 . The term “ Form S-3 ” means such form under the Securities Act as is in effect on the date hereof or any successor registration form under the Securities Act subsequently adopted by the SEC which permits inclusion or incorporation of substantial information by reference to other documents filed by the Company with the SEC.

(f) SEC . The term “ SEC ” or “ Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

(g) Initial Offering . The term “ Initial Offering ” means the Company’s first firm commitment underwritten public offering of its Common Stock under the Securities Act.

2.2 Demand Registration .

(a) Request by Holders . If the Company shall receive, at any time after one hundred and eighty (180) days after the effective date of the Initial Offering, a written request from the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities Then Outstanding that the Company file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 2.2, then the Company will, within ten (10) business days of the receipt of such written request, give written notice of such request (“ Request Notice ”) to all Holders, and effect, as soon as practicable, the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which Holders request to be registered and included in such registration by written notice given by such Holders to the Company within twenty (20) days after the Request Notice is deemed delivered pursuant to Section 6.1, subject only to the limitations of this Section 2.2; provided , however , that the Company will not have any obligation to effect the filing of a registration statement under this Section 2.2(a) under either of the following two

 

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circumstances: (i) if the Registrable Securities requested by all Holders to be registered pursuant to a request hereunder have an anticipated aggregate public offering price (before any underwriting discounts and commissions) of less than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000); and (ii) during any period beginning with the date sixty (60) days prior to the Company’s good faith estimate of the date of filing of, and ending on a date one hundred and eighty (180) days following the effective date of any Company-initiated registration under the Securities Act in which Holders will have rights under Section 2.3 unless such registration is for the Initial Offering (other than a registration relating solely to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization); provided that the Company’s right under this clause (ii) not to file a registration statement will be contingent upon the Company providing notice to the Initiating Holders (as defined below) within thirty (30) days of their request under this Section 2.2 of the Company’s intent to file such a Company-initiated registration statement within ninety (90) days and the Company thereafter actively employing in good faith, reasonable efforts to cause such Company-initiated registration statement to become effective.

(b) Underwriting . If the Holders initiating the registration request under this Section 2.2 (“ Initiating Holders ”) intend to distribute the Registrable Securities covered by their request by means of an underwriting, then they will so advise the Company as a part of their request made pursuant to this Section 2.2 and the Company will include such information in the Request Notice referred to in subsection 2.2(a). In such event, the right of any Holder to include his Registrable Securities in such registration will be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting (unless otherwise mutually agreed by a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders and such Holder) to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their securities through such underwriting will enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the managing underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company (which underwriter or underwriters will be reasonably acceptable to a majority in interest of the Initiating Holders). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.2, if the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of securities to be underwritten, then the Company will so advise all Holders of Registrable Securities which would otherwise be registered and underwritten pursuant hereto, and the number of Registrable Securities that may be included in the underwriting will be reduced as required by the underwriter(s) and allocated among each of the Holders requesting inclusion of their Registrable Securities in the underwriting on a pro rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities Then Outstanding held by each such Holder; provided , however , that the number of shares of Registrable Securities to be included in such underwriting and registration will not be reduced unless all other securities of the Company (including all securities proposed to be issued by the Company and included therein and any other already-outstanding securities that are not Registrable Securities) are first entirely excluded from the underwriting and registration and provided further , that the right of the underwriters to exclude shares (including Registrable Securities) from the registration and underwriting as described above will be restricted so that the number of Registrable Securities included in any such registration is not reduced below thirty percent (30%) of the shares included in the registration, except for a registration relating to the Company’s initial public offering from which all Registrable Securities may be excluded. Any Registrable Securities excluded and withdrawn from such underwriting will be withdrawn from the registration.

(c) Maximum Number of Demand Registrations . The Company is obligated to effect only two (2) such registrations pursuant to this Section 2.2 provided that such registrations have been declared or ordered effective.

(d) Deferral . Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company shall furnish to Holders requesting the filing of a registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.2, a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such registration statement to be filed and it is therefore necessary to defer the filing of such registration statement, then the Company shall have the right to defer such filing for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Initiating Holders; provided , however , that the Company may not utilize this right more than once in any twelve (12) month period; provided , further , that the Company shall not register any securities for the account of itself or any other stockholder during such ninety (90) day period (other than a registration relating solely to the sale of securities of participants in a Company stock option, stock purchase or other stock plan, a registration relating to a corporate reorganization or transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act, a registration on any form that does not include substantially the

 

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same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities, or a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered).

(e) Expenses . All expenses incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2, including without limitation all registration and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holders (but excluding underwriters’ discounts and commissions), shall be borne by the Company. Each Holder participating in a registration pursuant to this Section 2.2 shall bear such Holder’s proportionate share (based on the total number of shares sold in such registration other than for the account of the Company) of all discounts and commissions.

2.3 Piggyback Registrations . The Company shall notify all Holders of Registrable Securities in writing at least thirty (30) days prior to filing any registration statement under the Securities Act for purposes of effecting a public offering of securities of the Company (including, but not limited to, registration statements relating to secondary offerings of securities of the Company, but excluding registration statements relating to any registration under Section 2.2 or Section 2.4 of this Agreement or to any employee benefit plan or a corporate reorganization) and will afford each such Holder an opportunity to include in such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities then held by such Holder. Each Holder desiring to include in any such registration statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities held by such Holder will, within twenty (20) days after the above-described notice from the Company is deemed delivered pursuant to Section 6.1, so notify the Company in writing, and in such notice will inform the Company of the number of Registrable Securities such Holder wishes to include in such registration statement. If a Holder decides not to include all of its Registrable Securities in any registration statement thereafter filed by the Company, such Holder will nevertheless continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of its securities, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section prior to the effectiveness of such registration whether or not any Holder has elected to include any Registrable Securities in such registration.

(a) Underwriting . If a registration statement under which the Company gives notice under this Section 2.3 is for an underwritten offering, then the Company will so advise the Holders of Registrable Securities. In such event, the right of any such Holder’s Registrable Securities to be included in a registration pursuant to this Section 2.3 will be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their Registrable Securities through such underwriting will enter into an underwriting agreement with the managing underwriter or underwriter(s) selected for such underwriting in the form agreed upon between the Company and such managing underwriter(s). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, then the managing underwriter may exclude shares (including Registrable Securities) from the registration and the underwriting, and the number of shares that may be included in the registration and the underwriting will be allocated, first , to the Company, second , to each of the Holders requesting inclusion of their Registrable Securities in such registration statement, on a pro rata basis according to the number of Registrable Securities Then Outstanding held by each such Holder, and third , to all other stockholders of the Company requesting inclusion of securities of the Company in such registration; provided however , that the right of the underwriters to exclude shares (including Registrable Securities) from the registration and underwriting as described above will be restricted so that the number of Registrable Securities included in any such registration is not reduced below thirty percent (30%) of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in the registration, except for a registration relating to the Company’s initial public offering from which all Registrable Securities may be excluded. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the underwriter, delivered at least ten (10) business days prior to the effective date of the registration statement. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting will be excluded and withdrawn from the registration. For any Holder which is a venture capital fund, partnership or corporation, the affiliated venture capital funds, partners, retired partners and stockholders of such Holder, or the estates and family members of any such partners and retired partners and any trusts for the benefit of

 

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any of the foregoing persons will be deemed to be a single “Holder”, and any pro rata reduction with respect to such “Holder” will be based upon the aggregate amount of shares carrying registration rights owned by all entities and individuals included in such “Holder”, as defined in this sentence.

(b) Expenses . All expenses incurred in connection with a registration pursuant to this Section 2.3 (excluding underwriters’ and brokers’ discounts and commissions), including, without limitation all federal and “blue sky” registration and qualification fees, printers’ and accounting fees, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holders, will be borne by the Company.

2.4 Form S-3 Registration . In case the Company shall receive from a Major Investor a written request that the Company effect a registration on Form S-3 and any related qualification or compliance with respect to all or a part of the Registrable Securities owned by such Holder or Holders, then the Company will:

(a) Notice . Promptly give written notice of the proposed registration and the Holder’s or Holders’ request therefor, and any related qualification or compliance, to all other Holders of Registrable Securities; and

(b) Registration . As soon as practicable, effect such registration and all such qualifications and compliances as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of such Holder’s or Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in such request, together with all or such portion of the Registrable Securities of any other Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request given within twenty (20) days after such written notice from the Company is deemed delivered pursuant to Section 6.1; provided , however , that the Company will not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to this Section 2.4:

(1) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering by the Holders;

(2) if the Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate price to the public of less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000);

(3) if the Company shall furnish to the Holders a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board, it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for such Form S-3 Registration to be effected at such time, in which event the Company will have the right to defer the filing of the Form S-3 registration statement no more than once during any twelve month period for a period of not more than ninety (90) days after receipt of the request of the Holder or Holders under this Section 2.4; provided , however , that the Company will not register any securities for the account of itself or any other stockholder during such ninety (90) day period (other than a registration relating solely to the sale of securities of participants in a Company stock plan, a registration relating to a corporate reorganization or transaction under Rule 145 of the Securities Act, a registration on any form that does not include substantially the same information as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering the sale of the Registrable Securities, or a registration in which the only Common Stock being registered is Common Stock issuable upon conversion of debt securities that are also being registered);

(4) if the Company has, within the twelve (12) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected two (2) registrations on Form S-3 for the Holders pursuant to this Section 2.4; or

(5) in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance.

 

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(c) Expenses . Subject to the foregoing, the Company will file a Form S-3 registration statement covering the Registrable Securities and other securities so requested to be registered pursuant to this Section 2.4 as soon as practicable after receipt of the request or requests of the Holders for such registration. The Company will pay all expenses incurred in connection with each registration requested pursuant to this Section 2.4, (excluding underwriters’ or brokers’ discounts and commissions), including without limitation all filing, registration and qualification, printers’ and accounting fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling Holder or Holders, and counsel for the Company.

(d) Not Demand Registration . Form S-3 registrations will not be deemed to be demand registrations as described in Section 2.2 above.

2.5 Obligations of the Company . Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities under this Agreement, the Company will, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

(a) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities and use diligent efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, keep such registration statement effective until the earlier to occur of (i) one hundred twenty (120) days following the effective date and (ii) the last date on which all Registrable Securities with respect to which such registration statement was filed are sold.

(b) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement.

(c) Furnish to the Holders such number of copies of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by them that are included in such registration.

(d) Use its diligent efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders, provided that the Company will not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.

(e) In the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter(s) of such offering. Each Holder participating in such underwriting will also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement.

(f) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing.

(g) Furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities, on the date that such Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters and (ii) a “comfort” letter dated as of such date, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering addressed to the underwriters.

 

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(h) Cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 2 to be listed on a national exchange or trading system and on each securities exchange and trading system on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed.

(i) Provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such registration.

2.6 Furnish Information . It will be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4 with respect to any selling Holder that such selling Holder shall furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be reasonably required to timely effect the registration of its Registrable Securities.

2.7 Delay of Registration . No Holder will have any right to obtain or seek an injunction restraining or otherwise delaying any such registration as the result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the interpretation or implementation of this Section 2.

2.8 Indemnification . In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a registration statement under Sections 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4:

(a) By the Company . To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the partners, officers and directors of each Holder, any underwriter (as defined in the Securities Act) for such Holder and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (joint or several) to which they may become subject under the Securities Act, the 1934 Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any of the following statements, omissions or violations (collectively a “ Violation ”):

(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto;

(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or

(iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the 1934 Act, any federal or state securities law or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the 1934 Act or any federal or state securities law in connection with the offering covered by such registration statement;

and the Company will reimburse each such Holder, partner, officer or director, underwriter or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them, as incurred, in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided however , that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 2.8(a) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Company (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), nor will the Company be liable in any such case for any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action to the extent (and only to the extent) that it arises out of or is based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished expressly for use in connection with such registration by such Holder, partner, officer, director, underwriter or controlling person of such Holder.

 

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(b) By Selling Holders . To the extent permitted by law, each selling Holder will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who have signed the registration statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, any underwriter and any other Holder selling securities under such registration statement or any of such other Holder’s partners, directors or officers or any person who controls such Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the 1934 Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (joint or several) to which the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other such Holder, partner or director, officer or controlling person of such other Holder may become subject under the Securities Act, the 1934 Act or other federal or state law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereto) arise out of or are based upon any Violation, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished by such Holder expressly for use in connection with such registration; and each such Holder will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer, controlling person, underwriter or other Holder, partner, officer, director or controlling person of such other Holder in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided , however , that the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection 2.8(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Holder, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld; and provided further , that the total amounts payable in indemnity by a Holder under this Section 2.8(b) in respect of any Violation will not exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder in the registered offering out of which such Violation arises, except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder.

(c) Notice . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 2.8 of notice of the commencement of any action (including any governmental action), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against any indemnifying party under this Section 2.8, deliver to the indemnifying party a written notice of the commencement thereof and the indemnifying party will have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the parties; provided , however , that an indemnified party will have the right to retain its own counsel, with the fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if representation of such indemnified party by the counsel retained by the indemnifying party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflict of interests between such indemnified party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The failure to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any such action, if prejudicial to its ability to defend such action, will relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the indemnified party under this Section 2.8, but the omission so to deliver written notice to the indemnifying party will not relieve it of any liability that it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 2.8.

(d) Defect Eliminated in Final Prospectus . The foregoing indemnity agreements of the Company and Holders are subject to the condition that, insofar as they relate to any Violation made in a preliminary prospectus but eliminated or remedied in the amended prospectus on file with the SEC at the time the registration statement in question becomes effective or the amended prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to SEC Rule 424(b) (the “ Final Prospectus ”), such indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any indemnified party if a copy of the Final Prospectus was furnished to such indemnified party and was not furnished by such indemnified party to the person asserting the loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the time such action on the part of the indemnified party is required by the Securities Act.

(e) Contribution . In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either: (i) any Holder exercising rights under this Agreement, or any controlling person of any such Holder, makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 2.8 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in

 

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such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 2.8 provides for indemnification in such case; or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any such selling Holder or any such controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 2.8; then , and in each such case, the Company and such Holder will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions or violations that resulted in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, as well as any other equitable considerations; provided , however , that, in any such case, (A) no such Holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of net proceeds received by such Holder (such amount to be combined with any amounts paid by such Holder pursuant to Section 2.8(b)), except in the case of fraud or willful misconduct by such Holder; and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(f) Survival . The obligations of the Company and Holders under this Section 2.8 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement, and otherwise.

2.9 “ Market Stand-Off” Agreement . Each Holder hereby agrees that it will not, to the extent requested by the Company or an underwriter of securities of the Company, sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Securities or other shares of stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for stock of the Company then owned by such Holder (other than to donees or partners of the Holder who agree to be similarly bound) for up to one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of a registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act or such greater period as may be required to permit the underwriters to issue a research report in compliance with FINRA Rule 2711(f)(4); provided , however , that:

(a) the foregoing agreement will be applicable only to the first such registration statement of the Company which covers securities to be sold on its behalf to the public in an underwritten offering but not to Registrable Securities sold pursuant to such registration statement; and

(b) restrictions contained in this Section 2.9 will not apply unless (i) all officers and directors of the Company, all persons holding more than one percent (1%) of the Company’s outstanding voting securities and all persons with registration rights similar to those provided for in Section 2 above are each bound by similar “lockup” provisions as of the time of such registration and (ii) any discretionary waivers or terminations of the lockup provisions contained herein or contained in other agreements with the persons described in clause (i) are applied or offered to all persons subject to such lockup restrictions on a pro rata basis based on the number of securities of the Company held by each such person (on an as-converted to Common Stock basis, in the case of convertible securities) subject to such lockup provisions.

Each Holder further agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be reasonably requested by the underwriters in the Initial Offering that are consistent with this Section 2.9 or that are necessary to give further effect thereto.

In order to enforce the foregoing covenant, the Company will have the right to place restrictive legends on the certificates representing the shares subject to this Section and to impose stop transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Securities and such other shares of stock of each Holder (and the shares or securities of every other person subject to the foregoing restriction) until the end of such period.

2.10 Rule 144 Reporting . With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission which may at any time permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, after such time as a public market exists for the Common Stock of the Company, the Company agrees to:

 

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(a) Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times after the effective date of the Initial Offering so long as the Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act;

(b) File with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the 1934 Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements); and

(c) So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, to furnish to the Holder forthwith upon request a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 (at any time after 90 days after the effective date of the first registration under the Securities Act filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the general public), and of the Securities Act and the 1934 Act (at any time after it has become subject to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act), a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents of the Company as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing a Holder to sell any such securities without registration (at any time after the Company has become subject to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act).

2.11 Termination of the Company’s Obligations . No Holder shall be entitled to exercise any right provided for in this Section 2 (i) after three (3) years following the Initial Offering, (ii) as to any Holder, such earlier time after the Initial Offering at which such Holder holds one percent (1%) or less of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock and all Registrable Securities held by such Holder (together with any affiliate of the Holder with whom such Holder must aggregate its sales under Rule 144) can be sold in any three (3) month period without registration in compliance with Rule 144 or (iii) after the consummation of a Liquidation Event (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation).

2.12 No Future Grants of Registration Rights . Following the date hereof, the Company will not, without written consent of the Holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the Registrable Securities Then Outstanding, voting together as a separate class, enter into any agreement to grant registration rights to any other party which would allow such person (a) to hold registration rights which rank pari passu or senior to those granted to the Holders hereunder, (b) to include securities of the Company in any registration unless, under the terms of such agreement, such person may include such securities in any such registration only to the extent that the inclusion of such securities will not reduce the number of Registrable Securities of the Holders that are included or (c) to demand registration of any securities held by such person.

3. RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL .

3.1 General . Each Major Investor and any party to whom such Major Investor’s rights under this Section 3 have been duly assigned in accordance with Section 4.1(c) (each such Investor or assignee being hereinafter referred to as a “ Rights Holder ”) has the right of first refusal to purchase such Rights Holder’s Pro Rata Share (as defined below), of all (or any part) of any “New Securities” (as defined in Section 3.2) that the Company may from time to time issue after the date of this Agreement; provided , however , that such right is contingent upon such Rights Holder demonstrating to the Company’s satisfaction that it is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act). A Rights Holder’s “ Pro Rata Share ” for purposes of this right of first refusal is the ratio of (a) the number of shares of Common Stock issuable and issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock held by such Rights Holder, to (b) the total number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which all then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are convertible.

3.2 New Securities . “ New Securities ” shall mean any shares of Common Stock of the Company or shares of any series of Preferred Stock of the Company, whether now authorized or not, and rights, options or warrants to purchase such Common Stock or Preferred Stock, and securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into such Common Stock or Preferred Stock; provided , however , that the term “New Securities” does not include :

 

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(A) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon conversion of shares of Preferred Stock;

(B) shares of Common Stock (or options, warrants or rights therefor) granted or issued hereafter to employees, officers, directors, contractors, consultants or advisers to, the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to incentive agreements, stock purchase or stock option plans, stock bonuses or awards, warrants, contracts or other arrangements that are approved by the Board;

(C) shares of the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock (and/or options or warrants therefore) issued to parties that are (i) strategic partners investing primarily in connection with a commercial relationship with the Company or (ii) providing the Company with equipment leases, real property leases, loans, credit lines, guaranties of indebtedness, cash price reductions or similar transactions, under arrangements, in each case, approved by the Board including therein the vote of at least two of the Preferred Nominees (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation);

(D) shares of the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the conversion or exercise of convertible or exercisable securities outstanding as of the date of this Agreement;

(E) shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation or entity by the Company by consolidation, merger, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets, or other reorganization in which the Company acquires, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, all or substantially all of the assets of such other corporation or entity or fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of such other corporation or entity or fifty percent (50%) or more of the equity ownership of such other entity; provided that such transaction or series of transactions has been approved by the Board;

(F) shares of Common Stock issued or issuable in an Initial Offering approved by the Board; and

(G) shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company for which an adjustment is made pursuant to any of Sections 5.4, 5.5 or 5.6 of Article V of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time after the date of this Agreement.

3.3 Procedures . In the event that the Company proposes to undertake an issuance of New Securities, it will give to each Rights Holder written notice of its intention to issue New Securities (the “ Notice ”), describing the type of New Securities and the price and the general terms upon which the Company proposes to issue such New Securities. Each Rights Holder will have fifteen (15) days from the date of deemed delivery under Section 6.1 of any such Notice to agree in writing to purchase up to such Rights Holder’s Pro Rata Share of such New Securities for the price and upon the general terms specified in the Notice by giving written notice to the Company and stating therein the quantity of New Securities to be purchased (not to exceed such Rights Holder’s Pro Rata Share). If any Rights Holder fails to so agree in writing within such fifteen (15) day period to purchase such Rights Holder’s full Pro Rata Share of an offering of New Securities (a “ Nonpurchasing Holder ”), then such Nonpurchasing Holder will forfeit the right hereunder to purchase that part of his Pro Rata Share of such New Securities that he did not so agree to purchase and the Company will promptly give each Rights Holder who has timely agreed to purchase his full Pro Rata Share of such offering of New Securities (a “ Purchasing Holder ”) written notice of the failure of any Nonpurchasing Holder to purchase such Nonpurchasing Holder’s full Pro Rata Share of such offering of New Securities (the “ Overallotment Notice ”). Each Purchasing Holder will have a right of overallotment such that such Purchasing Holder may agree to purchase a portion of the Nonpurchasing Holders’ unpurchased Pro Rata Shares of such offering on a pro rata basis according to the relative Pro Rata Shares of the Purchasing Holders, at any time within five (5) days after deemed delivery under Section 6.1 of the Overallotment Notice.

 

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3.4 Failure to Exercise . In the event that the Rights Holders fail to exercise in full the right of first refusal within such fifteen (15) plus five (5) day period, then the Company will have 90 days thereafter to sell the New Securities with respect to which the Rights Holders’ rights of first refusal hereunder were not exercised, at a price and upon general terms not materially more favorable to the purchasers thereof than specified in the Company’s Notice to the Rights Holders. In the event that the Company has not issued and sold the New Securities within such 90 day period, then the Company will not thereafter issue or sell any New Securities without again first offering such New Securities to the Rights Holders pursuant to this Section 3.

3.5 Termination . This right of first refusal will terminate immediately before the closing of a Qualified IPO (as defined below) or a Liquidation Event (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation). As used herein a “ Qualified IPO ” means a firm commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act, covering the offer and sale of Common Stock for the account of the Company in which the aggregate public offering price (before deduction of underwriters’ discounts and commissions) equals or exceeds Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000) at a price per share of at least $3.30 (subject to adjustments for stock dividends, splits, combinations and similar events).

4. ASSIGNMENT AND AMENDMENT .

4.1 Assign ment . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:

(a) Information Rights . The rights of a Major Investor under Section 1.1 and 1.2 hereof may be assigned only to a party to the extent that such transferee acquires from the Major Investor (or the Major Investor’s permitted assigns) at least that number and type of shares capital stock of the Company, as are necessary to have the applicable rights of a Major Investor described in the relevant provisions of Sections 1.1, 1.2 and 3 hereof, respectively. A transferee which acquires such required number and type of shares of capital stock of the Company pursuant to an assignment made in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof will be deemed to be a “Major Investor” for purposes of Sections 1 and 3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no party may be assigned any of the rights of an Investor or Major Investor, as applicable, under any provisions of Sections 1.1, 1.2 or 3 unless (i) the Company is given written notice by the assigning party at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the securities of the Company as to which the rights in question are being assigned, (ii) such transfer of the securities of the Company is made in compliance with the terms and conditions relating to restrictions and conditions of transfer applicable to such securities, and (iii) such assignee executes and delivers to the Company a counterpart signature page to this Agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company agreeing to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation the provisions of this Section 4) as an “Investor” hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no rights under Sections 1.1, 1.2 and 3 may be transferred or assigned to any party that the Board reasonably concludes is an operating company that is a competitor or potential competitor of the Company.

(b) Registration Rights . The registration rights of a Holder under Section 2 hereof may be assigned only to (i) a party who acquires at least 910,000 shares (as adjusted per Section 6.10) of Registrable Securities; provided , however , that if a Holder under Section 2 hereof holds less than 910,000 shares (as adjusted per Section 6.10) of Registrable Securities, then the registration rights under Section 2.3 may be transferred to a transferee who acquires all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities, or (ii) a transferee or assignee that is a subsidiary, parent, affiliated venture capital fund, partner, limited partner, retired partner or stockholder of a Holder; provided further , however , that no party may be assigned any of the foregoing rights unless (i) the Company is given written notice by the assigning party at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the securities of the Company as to which the rights in question are being assigned, (ii) such transfer of the securities of the Company is made in compliance with the terms and conditions relating to restrictions and conditions of transfer applicable to such securities, and (iii) such assignee executes and delivers to the Company a counterpart signature page to this Agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company agreeing to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation the provisions of this Section 4) as an “Investor” hereunder.

 

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(c) Refusal Rights . The rights of a Rights Holder under Section 3 hereof may be assigned only to a party to the extent that such transferee acquires from the Rights Holder (or the Rights Holder’s permitted assigns) shares of Preferred Stock or shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof; provided , however that no party may be assigned any of the foregoing rights unless (i) the Company is given written notice by the assigning party at the time of such assignment stating the name and address of the assignee and identifying the securities of the Company as to which the rights in question are being assigned, (ii) such transfer of the securities of the Company is made in compliance with the terms and conditions relating to restrictions and conditions of transfer applicable to such securities, and (iii) such assignee executes and delivers to the Company a counterpart signature page to this Agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company agreeing to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including without limitation the provisions of this Section 4) as an “Investor” hereunder.

4.2 Amendment of Rights . Any provision of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and Holders of at least sixty-five percent (65%) of the Registrable Securities Then Outstanding. Any amendment or waiver affected in accordance with this Section 4.2 will be binding upon each party to this Agreement and each permitted successor or assignee of such party.

5. CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY .

5.1 Invention Assignment Agreements . The Company will require all employees with access to confidential information to execute and deliver an Employee Inventions and Proprietary Rights Agreement and Confidentiality Agreement in substantially the form approved by the Board. The Company will use reasonable efforts to cause consultants who are engaged to provide engineering services to execute and deliver an agreement providing for the assignment to the Company of inventions created or developed in the course of providing such services.

5.2 Reimbursement of Expenses . The Company will reimburse all reasonable travel, food and lodging expenses incurred by Board members in connection with attending Board meetings and meetings of any Board committees.

5.3 D&O Insurance . The Company shall maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage of no less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) and having other terms and conditions that are reasonable and customary for similarly situated companies and in any event in an amount approved by the Board, including therein the vote of at least two of the Preferred Nominees (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation). In the event that the Company merges with another entity and is not the surviving corporation, or transfers all or substantially all of its assets, the Company (i) will use best efforts to ensure that any transfer, sale or other disposition agreements provide that any successor of the Company assumes the Company’s obligations with respect to indemnification of directors and/or (ii) shall obtain a “tail” directors’ and officers’ insurance policy covering the Company’s directors for a period of at least five (5) years following the date of such transaction.

5.4 Employee Agreements . Unless approved by the Board, all future employees of the Company who shall receive options to purchase shares of Common Stock following the date hereof shall be required to execute option agreements providing for vesting of shares over a four (4) year period with the first twenty-five percent (25%) of such shares vesting following twelve (12) months of continued employment or services, and the remaining shares vesting in equal monthly installments over the following thirty six (36) months thereafter of continued employment or services.

5.5 Board Approval . So long as a majority of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock originally issued remains outstanding, the Company shall not, without Board approval:

(a) make any loan or advance to, or own any stock or other securities of, any subsidiary or other corporation, partnership, or other entity unless it is wholly owned by the Company;

 

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(b) make any loan or advance to any person, including any employee or director, except advances and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business or under the terms of a employee stock or option plan approved by the Board;

(c) guarantee any indebtedness except for trade accounts of the Company or any subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business;

(d) make any investment other than in accordance with the investment policy approved by the Board;

(e) incur any aggregate indebtedness in excess of $500,000 that is not included in a budget approved by the Board;

(f) enter into or be a party to any transaction with any affiliate of the Company or any director, officer or employee of the Company or any “associate” (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the 1934 Act) of any such person;

(g) employ, terminate or change the compensation of any executive officer, including granting any options or other equity-based compensation;

(h) change the principal business of the Company, enter new lines of business, or exit the current line of business;

(i) sell, transfer, license, pledge or encumber technology or intellectual property, other than licenses granted in the ordinary course of business;

(j) make any material investments, or enter into any joint ventures or acquisitions;

(k) approve any material revisions to the Company’s business plan or exceed by more than 15% the expenses contemplated in the budget approved by the Board for such year; or

(l) prepare or file for an Initial Offering.

6. GENERAL PROVISIONS .

6.1 Notices . Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (i) on the day of delivery if personally delivered; (ii) one (1) business day following deposit with a nationally recognized express courier service (fees prepaid) with instructions to deliver no later than the following business day for deliveries within the United States; (iii) three (3) business days following deposit with an internationally recognized express courier service (fees prepaid) with instructions to deliver no later than three (3) business days later for deliveries across international borders; or (iv) three (3) business days following deposit in the U.S. mail by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as follows:

(a) if to an Investor, at such Investor’s respective address as set forth on Exhibit A hereto; and

(b) if to the Company, at 1140 Route 22 East, Suite 303, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, with copies to: Hutchison Law Group, 5410 Trinity Road, Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27607, Attention: William N. Wofford, and Gunderson Dettmer Stough Villeneuve Franklin & Hachigian, LLP, 1200 Seaport Boulevard, Redwood City, CA 94063, Attention: Marcia A. Hatch.

 

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Any party hereto (and such party’s permitted assigns) may by notice so given change its address for future notices hereunder. Notice will conclusively be deemed to have been given when personally delivered or when deposited in the mail in the manner set forth above.

6.2 Entire Agreement . This Agreement, together with all the Exhibits hereto, constitutes and contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior negotiations, correspondence, agreements, understandings, duties or obligations between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof.

6.3 Governing Law . This Agreement will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware, excluding that body of law relating to conflict of laws and choice of law.

6.4 Severability . If one or more provisions of this Agreement are held to be unenforceable under applicable law, then such provision(s) will be excluded from this Agreement and the balance of this Agreement will be interpreted as if such provision(s) were so excluded and will be enforceable in accordance with its terms.

6.5 Third Parties . Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

6.6 Successors And Assigns . Subject to the provisions of Section 4.1, the provisions of this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, the successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto.

6.7 Captions . The captions to sections of this Agreement have been inserted for identification and reference purposes only and shall not be used to construe or interpret this Agreement.

6.8 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

6.9 Costs And Attorneys’ Fees . In the event that any action, suit or other proceeding is instituted concerning or arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereunder, the prevailing party shall recover all of such party’s costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in each such action, suit or other proceeding, including any and all appeals or petitions therefrom.

6.10 Adjustments for Stock Splits, Etc . Wherever in this Agreement there is a reference to a specific number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Company of any class or series, then, upon the occurrence of any subdivision, combination or stock dividend of such class or series of stock, the specific number of shares so referenced in this Agreement shall automatically be proportionally adjusted to reflect the affect on the outstanding shares of such class or series of stock by such subdivision, combination or stock dividend.

6.11 Aggregation of Stock . All shares of Preferred Stock and Common Stock issued upon conversion thereof held or acquired by affiliated entities or persons shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement including, without limitation, determining who is a Major Investor hereunder.

[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

COMPANY:
AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:   /s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.
 

Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D,

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:

 

TPG BIOTECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   TPG Biotechnology Genpar, L.P.
By:   TPG Biotech Advisors, LLC
/s/ Ronald Cami
Name: Ronald Cami
Title:   Vice President

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:

 

ACP IV, L.P.
By:   ACMP IV, LLC.
  Its: General Partner
By:  

/s/ David H. Mack

  Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:

 

SOFINNOVA VENTURE PARTNERS VII, L.P.
By:   Sofinnova Management VII, L.L.C.
Its:   General Partner
By:  

/s/ Michael F. Powell

Name:  

Michael F. Powell

Title:  
Address:           2800 Sand Hill Road
  Suite 150
  Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tel:   650-681-8420
Fax:   650-322-2037

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTORS:

 

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.
Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.
Address:   14 Blue Cliff Drive
  Lebanon, NJ 08833
/s/ Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.
Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.
Address:   106 Glenhaven Dr.
  Chapel Hill, NC 27516

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:

 

CLARUS LIFESCIENCES II, L.P.
By:   Clarus Ventures II GP, LP
Its:   General Partner
By:   Clarus Ventures II, LLC
Its:   General Partner
By:   /s/ Dennis Henner, PhD
Name:   Dennis Henner, PhD
Title:   Managing Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

INVESTOR:

 

OSAGE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS I, L.P.
By:   Osage University GP, LP
Its:   General Partner
By:   Osage Partners, LLC
Its:   General Partner
By:   /s/ Marc Singer
Name:   Marc Singer
Title:   Member

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT]


EXHIBIT A

List of Investors

Name and Address

TPG Biotechnology Partners, L.P.

2882 Sand Hill Road, Suite 106

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Telephone: (650) 742-1659

Fax: (650) 743-1685

ACP IV, L.P.

One Embarcadero Center, Suite 4050

San Francisco, CA 94111

Telephone: (415) 362-4022

Fax: (415) 362-6178

Sofinnova Venture Partners VII, L.P.

2800 Sand Hill Road

Suite 150

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Telephone: (650) 681-8420

Fax: (650) 322-2037

Clarus Lifesciences II, L.P.

101 Main Street

Suite 1210

Cambridge, MA 02142

Osage University Partners I, L.P.

Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.

14 Blue Cliff Drive

Lebanon, New Jersey 08833

Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

106 Glenhaven Dr.

Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Exhibit 10.2

FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This First Amendment to Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of December 7, 2012 and entered into by and among Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the entities listed on the signature pages hereto (each an “ Investor ” and, collectively, the “ Investors ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS , the Company and certain of its stockholders entered into an Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement dated as of February 23, 2011 (the “ Rights Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, Section 4.2 of the Rights Agreement provides that any provision of the Rights Agreement may be amended with the written consent of the Company and Holders of at least 65% of the Registrable Securities Then Outstanding (as each such term is defined in the Rights Agreement); and

WHEREAS, in connection with the Company’s desire to raise additional capital pursuant to that certain Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement of even date herewith, the parties hereto wish to amend the Rights Agreement as set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE , the parties hereto, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, hereby agree as follows:

 

1. The following shall be added to the definition of Registrable Securities in Section 2.1(b)(3) of the Rights Agreement:

“(3) any shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the equity securities issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Promissory Notes issued pursuant to the Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated December 7, 2012 and any shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise of the warrants pursuant to such agreement or upon the conversion of shares of preferred stock issued upon exercise of such warrants.”

 

2. Except as hereby amended, the Rights Agreement, as originally executed, shall remain in full force and effect. Terms that are used herein with initial capital letters and that are not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Rights Agreement. This Agreement shall serve as the written consent of the parties hereto, as may be required or permitted by the Rights Agreement and the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, to the amendment of the Rights Agreement.

 

3. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws principles.


4. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument; signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart so that all signature pages are physically attached to the same document.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Investors have caused this First Amendment to Amended and Restated Investor Rights Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

THE COMPANY:     AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
    By:   /s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.
    Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D,
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Investor Rights Agreement


INVESTORS:

 

ACP IV, L.P.
By:   ACMP IV, LLC.
  Its: General Partner
By:   /s/ David H. Mack
  Name:   David H. Mack
  Title:   Director
CLARUS LIFESCIENCES II, L.P.
By:   Clarus Ventures II, GP, LP
Its:   General Partner
By:   Clarus Ventures II, LLC
Its:    
By:   /s/ Dennis Henner
Name:   Dennis Henner
Title:   Managing Director
OSAGE UNIVERSITY PARTNERS I, L.P.
By:   Osage University GP, LP
Its:   General Partner
By:   Osage Partners, LLC
Its:   General Partner
By:   /s/ Marc Singer
Name:     Marc Singer
Title:     Member

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Investor Rights Agreement


SOFINNOVA VENTURE PARTNERS VII, L.P.
By:   Sofinnova Management VII, L.L.C.
Its:   General Partner
By:   /s/ James Healy
  Name:   James Healy
  Title:   Managing Member
TPG BIOTECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, L.P.
By:   TPG Biotechnology Genpar, L.P.
By:   TPG Biotech Advisors, LLC
/s/ Ronald Cami
Name: Ronald Cami
Title: Vice President

 

Signature Page to First Amendment to Investor Rights Agreement

Exhibit 10.3

FORM OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose . The Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to provide a method whereby Eligible Employees of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and its Designated Subsidiaries will have an opportunity to purchase shares of Common Stock through accumulated payroll deductions and contributions.

1.2 Qualification . It is the intention of the Company that the Plan will qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code and the related Treasury Regulations thereunder. The provisions of the Plan shall be construed so as to extend or limit the operation of, and participation in, the Plan as necessary to conform to the requirements of Section 423 of the Code or applicable Treasury Regulations.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used in the Plan shall have the following meanings:

2.1 “ Adjustment Event ” occurs if (a) the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities or other equity interests of the Company or another corporation or entity, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, substitution or other similar corporate event or transaction or (b) there is an extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company in respect of its shares of Common Stock or other capital stock or securities convertible into capital stock in cash or in property.

2.2 “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.3 “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

2.4 “ Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, or a subcommittee thereof; provided , that if there is no Compensation Committee of the Board, or if the Board determines that the Compensation Committee shall not be the Committee, then the Committee shall be the Board or such Directors as are appointed to the Committee by the Board.

2.5 “ Common Stock ” shall mean the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

2.6 “ Company ” shall mean Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and shall include any successor thereto by merger, consolidation, acquisition of substantially all the assets thereof, or otherwise.


2.7 “ Compensation ” shall mean the total of all cash compensation paid to a Participant by the Company or an applicable Designated Subsidiary for personal services (i) for Participants who receive a Federal Income Tax Withholding Statement (Form W-2), as reported on such Statement, and (ii) for Participants who do not receive a Federal Income Tax Withholding Statement (Form W-2), as determined by the Committee (and, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), including overtime and bonuses); provided , however , that the Committee may, in its discretion, use any definition of “Compensation” so long as such definition and its application satisfies Section 423 of the Code.

2.8 “ Contribution ” shall mean the total of all payroll deductions from a Participant’s Compensation during an Offering Period pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof and all personal contributions not from payroll deductions pursuant to Section 4.2 hereof; provided , however , that a Participant’s Contribution may be reduced in whole or in part by the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, at any time during an Offering Period which is scheduled to end during the then-current calendar year to the extent necessary in order to comply with the provisions of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3.1(b) hereof ; and, provided , further , however , that a Participant’s Contribution in any calendar year may not exceed the Participant’s Compensation during such calendar year.

2.9 “ Corporate Transaction ” means (a) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other similar change in the Company’s capital stock or (b) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

2.10 “ Designated Subsidiary ” shall mean any Subsidiary which has been designated by the Board from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan. The Committee may designate, or terminate the designation of, a Subsidiary as a Designated Subsidiary without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

2.11 “ Director ” shall mean a director of the Company.

2.12 “ Eligible Employee ” shall mean an Employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary: (i) who does not, immediately after the option is granted, own stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or a Subsidiary (as determined under Section 423(b)(3) of the Code); (ii) whose customary employment is for more than twenty (20) hours per week; and (iii) whose customary employment is for more than five (5) months in any calendar year. For purposes of clause (i), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock ownership shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an individual. In addition, in the event local law prescribes that individuals employed for less than twenty (20) hours per week and/or less than five (5) months in any calendar year must be offered participation in the Plan, then all such individuals will be considered Eligible Employees under the Plan. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or Designated Subsidiary and meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three months and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the on the first day immediately following such three-month period of leave.

 

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2.13 “ Employee ” shall mean any individual who renders services to the Company or a Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code or as determined under applicable local law. “Employee” shall not include any director of the Company or a Subsidiary who does not render services to the Company or a Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code or under local law, as determined by the Committee.

2.14 “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.15 “ Fair Market Value ” on any date means:

(a) if the shares of Common Stock are listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the closing price at the close of the primary trading session of the shares of Common Stock on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock are listed or admitted to trading as officially quoted in the consolidated tape of transactions on such exchange or such other source as the Committee deems reliable for the applicable date, or if there has been no such closing price of the shares of Common Stock on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was such a closing price;

(b) if the shares of Common Stock are not listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Committee, and, if applicable, in accordance with Section 423 of the Code and the regulations thereunder.

2.16 “ Offering Date ” shall mean the first business day of each Offering Period.

2.17 “ Offering Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.2 hereof.

2.18 “ Offering Period ” shall mean each period of approximately six (6) months commencing on such dates as may be determined by the Committee from time to time. The Committee shall have the power to change the duration of Offering Periods, the Offering Dates and the Purchase Dates without stockholder approval if such change is announced prior to the commencement of the relevant Offering Period.

2.19 “ Participant ” shall mean any Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.2 hereof.

2.20 “ Plan ” shall mean the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended from time to time.

2.21 “ Plan Representative ” shall mean the persons designated from time to time by the Committee to receive certain notices and take certain other administrative actions relating to the operation of, and participation in, the Plan.

2.22 “ Purchase Date ” shall mean the last business day of each Offering Period, but in no event later than the date that is twenty-seven months from the date the option is granted.

2.23 “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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2.24 “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any corporation which is a subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code with respect to the Company.

ARTICLE III

ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

3.1 Eligibility .

(a) Each Employee who is an Eligible Employee on an Offering Date shall be eligible to participate in the Offering Period commencing on such Offering Date. Persons who are not Eligible Employees on an Offering Date shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to that Offering Period.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Eligible Employee shall be granted an option to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan which permits such Eligible Employee’s rights to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company or any Subsidiary subject to Section 423 of the Code to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time. This limitation shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

3.2 Commencement of Participation . An Eligible Employee may become a Participant by completing an authorization for payroll deductions or personal contributions not from Compensation on the form provided by the Company and filing the completed form with the Committee on or before the filing date set therefor by the Committee, which date shall be prior to the Offering Date for the next following Offering Period. Payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence on the next following Offering Date after the Employee’s authorization for payroll deductions becomes effective and shall continue until termination of the Plan or the Participant’s earlier termination of participation in the Plan. Each Participant shall be deemed to continue participation in the Plan until the earlier of (a) the termination of the Plan and (b) such Eligible Employee’s termination of participation in the Plan pursuant to Article VII hereof.

ARTICLE IV

PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

4.1 Amount of Deduction . The form described in Section 3.2 will permit a Participant to elect percentage or fixed dollar amount of payroll deductions for each pay period ending during an Offering Period; provided , that a Participant’s payroll deductions may be reduced in whole or in part by the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, at any time during an Offering Period which is scheduled to end during the then-current calendar year to the extent necessary in order to comply with the provisions of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3.1(b) hereof.

4.2 Personal Contribution not from Payroll Deductions . The form described in Section 3.2 will also permit a Participant to make a personal contribution not from payroll

 

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deductions at any time prior to the last five (5) business days of an Offering Period, in a form to be determined acceptable by the Board or Committee, in its discretion; provided that a Participant’s personal contribution not from payroll deductions may be reduced in whole or in part by the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, at any time during an Offering Period which is scheduled to end during the then-current calendar year to the extent necessary in order to comply with the provisions of Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and Section 3.1(b) hereof.

4.3 Participant’s Account . All payroll deductions made for a Participant pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof and all personal contributions not from Compensation made pursuant to Section 4.2 shall be credited to a book-entry account established for such Participant under the Plan.

4.4 Changes in Payroll Deductions . A Participant may reduce or increase future payroll deductions (within the limits described in Section 4.1 hereof) by filing with the Committee a form provided by the Company for such purpose. An increase or reduction in future payroll deductions must be made pursuant to a change form which must be submitted to the Company, (i) with respect to increases in payroll deductions, prior to the Offering Date of such Offering Period, which would be effective as of the first day of the next Offering Period and (ii) with respect to decreases in payroll deductions, at any time during an Offering Period prior to the Purchase Date of such Offering Period, to be effective as of the first day of the next pay period following the Company’s receipt of the change form, or as of such earlier date as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine or as shall be applicable in connection with the cessation of the Participant’s participation in the Plan pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof. A Participant is permitted to make no more than one payroll deduction change during any Offering Period. If the Participant has not timely submitted a change form in the manner specified by the Company, the payroll deductions will continue at the originally elected percentage or fixed dollar amount throughout the Offering Period and future Offering Periods (unless participation in the Plan ceases pursuant to Section 7.1).

4.5 Withholding . In connection with the exercise of an option (in whole or in part) or at the time of disposition of some or all of the Common Stock issued under the Plan, a Participant shall make adequate provision for any federal, state, local or other tax withholding obligations, if any, which arise upon such exercise or disposition. At any time, the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, withhold from the Participant’s Compensation an amount necessary for the Company to satisfy any applicable withholding obligations, including any withholding required to make available to the Company any tax deductions or benefits attributable to the early disposition of the Common Stock by the Employee. Furthermore, the Company reserves the right to satisfy its applicable withholding obligations by any other means, as determined by the Committee.

ARTICLE V

GRANTING OF OPTION

5.1 Number of Option Shares . On each Offering Date, each Participant shall be deemed to have been granted an option to purchase a maximum number of shares of Common Stock equal to (a) the Contribution (but in any event not in excess of the limitations set by Section 3.1(b) hereof) divided by (b) the applicable Offering Price determined as provided in Section 5.2 hereof.

 

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5.2 Offering Price . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the per share option price of shares of Common Stock purchased with Contributions made during any Offering Period (the “ Offering Price ”) by a Participant shall be equal to the lesser of:

(a) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Offering Date of such Offering Period; or

(b) eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Purchase Date of such Offering Period.

If the Committee desires to establish an Offering Price or a formula for setting the Offering Price for an Offering Period that is different than the Offering Price determined above, it shall do so in advance of the applicable Offering Period; provided, that, the Offering Price shall in no event be less than the Offering Price determined above. Any such Offering Price or formula for setting the Offering Price may, if the Committee so determines, remain in effect for subsequent Offering Periods until modified by the Committee.

ARTICLE VI

EXERCISE AND OTHER TERMS OF OPTIONS

6.1 Automatic Exercise . Subject to Section 12.8 hereof, and unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 7.1 hereof or otherwise becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan, each Participant’s option for the purchase of shares of Common Stock with Contributions made during any Offering Period shall be exercised automatically on the applicable Purchase Date, and the maximum number of full shares of Common Stock subject to the option shall be purchased for the Participant at the applicable Offering Price with the accumulated Contributions in such Participant’s account. No fractional shares shall be purchased; any Contributions accumulated in a Participant’s account which are not sufficient to purchase a full share of Common Stock shall be retained in the Participant’s account for the next following Offering Period.

6.2 Non-Transferability of Options . Neither the option or rights with regard to the exercise of an option under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way by the Participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any such attempted assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company may, in its discretion, treat such act as an election to withdraw from participation in the Plan in accordance with Section 7.1 hereof. During a Participant’s lifetime, options held by a Participant shall be exercisable only by such Participant.

6.3 Delivery of Stock . Subject to Section 12.8 hereof, as promptly as practicable after each Purchase Date on which a purchase of shares occurs, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each Participant of the shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of such Participant’s option.

 

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6.4 Stock Transfer Restrictions . The Plan is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code. Shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of options granted under the Plan may contain such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Board or Committee may, in its discretion, determine, and the Board or Committee may, in its discretion, require that an appropriate legend be placed on the certificates evidencing such shares of Common Stock.

ARTICLE VII

WITHDRAWAL

7.1 In General . At any time prior to the last five (5) business days of an Offering Period, a Participant may withdraw all or a portion of the Contributions credited to such Participant’s account and not yet used to exercise such Participant’s option under the Plan by giving written notice to the Committee in accordance with any procedures the Committee may set. Such withdrawn amount shall be paid to the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of the notice of withdrawal, and the Participant’s option for the Offering Period with respect to such amount shall be automatically terminated. No further contributions for the purchase of shares of Common Stock shall be made during such Offering Period, and such Participant will not participate in such Offering Period with respect to the withdrawn amount. To the extent that a Participant withdraws all of such Participant’s Contributions with respect to an Offering Period, the Participant may continue participating in the Plan in successive Offering Periods by providing written notice to the Committee in accordance with provisions of Section 3.2 hereof and in accordance with any procedures the Committee may set.

7.2 Effect on Subsequent Participation . A Participant’s withdrawal from any Offering Period shall not have any effect upon such Participant’s eligibility to participate in any subsequent Offering Period or in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company and for which such Participant is otherwise eligible.

7.3 Termination of Eligible Employee Status . Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee for any reason, including as a result of a termination of the Participant’s employment with the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (as the case may be) for any reason (including retirement or death), such Participant shall be deemed to no longer be a Participant under the Plan, and the Contributions credited to such Participant’s account shall be refunded to him or her as soon as reasonably practicable, or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto under Section 12.1 hereof.

ARTICLE VIII

INTEREST

8.1 Payment of Interest . No interest will be paid or allowed on any Contributions made pursuant to the Plan or credited to the account of or distributed to any Participant.

ARTICLE IX

STOCK

9.1 Maximum Shares . Subject to the provisions of Sections 12.4 and 12.5 hereof, the maximum number of shares that may be issued under the Plan shall be 200,000 shares of Common Stock, which shares may be authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or treasury shares (including, without limitation, shares acquired by the Company on the open market).

 

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9.2 Participant’s Interest in Option Stock . No Participant shall be deemed for any purpose to be the owner of shares of Common Stock subject to any option held by such Participant unless and until (a) the option shall have been exercised as provided in Section 6.1 hereof, (b) the Company shall have issued and delivered shares of Common Stock (whether or not certificated) to the Participant and (c) the Participant’s name shall have been entered as a stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Participant shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such shares of Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock purchased by a Participant under the Plan will be recorded in the books and records of the Company in the name of the Participant.

ARTICLE X

ADMINISTRATION

10.1 Committee . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall hold meetings when it deems necessary and shall keep minutes of its meetings. The acts of a majority of the total membership of the Committee at any meeting, or the acts approved in writing by all of its members, shall be the acts of the Committee. All decision and determinations by the Committee in the exercise of its powers hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all parties. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect hereto or any option granted hereunder.

10.2 Authority of Committee . The Committee may establish any policies or procedures that in its discretion are necessary or appropriate for the operation and administration of the Plan and may adopt rules for the administration of the Plan. It is intended that the Committee will engage the services of Plan Representatives and other plan administrators on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate for the purposes of performing any of its responsibilities and obligations hereunder (including, without limitation, the distribution and collection of Participant notices and elections under the Plan and the establishment of custodial accounts), other than (a) the amendment and termination of the Plan and (b) any action required to by taken by it pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

ARTICLE XI

FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS

11.1 The Committee may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Committee is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of payroll deductions, contributing to the Plan by means other than payroll deductions, payment of interest on Contributions, conversion of local currency, withholding procedures, withdrawing from the Plan, beneficiary designations, the use of funds and handling of stock certificates which may vary to comply with or facilitate compliance with local law and procedures.

 

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11.2 The Committee may also adopt Plan supplements applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, which supplements may (as determined by the Committee) constitute provisions of this Plan applicable to such Designated Subsidiaries or locations or one or more sub-plans not intended to comply with Section 423 of the Code. The terms and conditions of any such sub-plan shall supersede the provisions of this Plan to the extent determined by the Committee, with the exception of Section 9.1, but unless otherwise so superseded, the provisions of this Plan shall be deemed incorporated into any such sub-plan.

ARTICLE XII

MISCELLANEOUS

12.1 Designation of Beneficiary . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may from time to time permit each Participant to name one or more individuals to whom (i) any shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, is to be delivered and paid from such Participant’s account under the Plan in the event of such Participant’s death subsequent to a Purchase Date but prior to delivery to such Participant of such shares and cash and (ii) cash, if any, is to be paid in the event of such Participant’s death prior to a Purchase Date. In the absence of any such designation or if any such designation is not effective under applicable law as determined by the Committee, any shares of Common Stock or cash remaining in the Participant’s account at the Participant’s death shall be delivered or paid to the Participant’s estate.

12.2 Use of Funds . All Contributions received or held by the Company under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such Contributions.

12.3 Reports . Individual accounts shall be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of account shall be given to participating Employees at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of Contributions, the Offering Price, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

12.4 Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation or Corporate Transaction .

(a) Changes in Capitalization .

(i) In the event of an Adjustment Event, the Committee shall make such adjustments, if any, as it determines are equitable and appropriate to (A) the maximum number and class of shares of Common Stock or other stock or securities with respect to which options may be granted under the Plan, (B) the maximum number and class of shares of Common Stock or other stock or securities that may be issued upon exercise of options, (C) the maximum number and class of shares of Common Stock or other stock or securities with respect to which options may be granted to any Eligible Employee in any calendar year and (D) the number and class of shares of Common Stock or other stock or securities which are subject to outstanding options granted under the Plan and the Offering Price therefor, if applicable.

 

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(ii) Any such adjustment in the shares of Common Stock or other stock or securities subject to outstanding options (including any adjustments in the Offering Price) shall be made in such manner as not to constitute a modification as defined by Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and only to the extent permitted by Sections 423 and 424 of the Code.

(iii) If, by reason of any such adjustment, a Participant shall be entitled to, or a Participant shall be entitled to exercise an option with respect to, new, additional or different shares of stock or securities of the Company or any other corporation, such new, additional or different shares shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions and restrictions that were applicable to the shares of Common Stock subject to the option prior to such adjustment.

(b) Corporate Transactions .

(i) In the event of a Corporate Transaction, the Committee shall have the option, in its discretion, to (A) accelerate the Purchase Date with respect to the Offering Period then in progress to the last payroll date immediately preceding the Corporate Transaction or proposed dissolution or liquidation and promptly refund (without interest) any cash balance remaining in a Participant’s account to such Participant or (B) terminate the Offering Period then in progress immediately prior to the consummation of such Corporate Transaction or proposed dissolution or liquidation and refund (without interest) the entire cash balance of a Participant’s account to such Participant as soon as reasonably practicable.

12.5 Amendment and Termination . The Board shall have complete power and authority to terminate or amend the Plan; provided , however , that the Board shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (a) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan (except pursuant to Section 12.4 hereof) or (b) change the class of Employees eligible to receive options under the Plan; and provided , further , however , that no termination, modification or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of a Participant then having an option under the Plan to purchase shares of Common Stock, adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such option, except that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company from terminating the Plan at any time (including during an Offering Period) and applying the amounts theretofore withheld from a Participant to the purchase of shares of Common Stock as if the termination date of the Plan were a Purchase Date and promptly refunding (without interest) any cash balance remaining in such Participant’s account to the Participant.

12.6 Non-Exclusivity of the Plan . The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangement or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options other than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

12.7 Limitation of Liability . As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the Company, but not intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to:

(a) give any person any right to be granted an option except as specifically provided in the Plan;

 

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(b) give any person any rights whatsoever with respect to shares of Common Stock except as specifically provided in the Plan;

(c) limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate the employment of any person at any time; or

(d) be evidence of any agreement or understanding, expressed or implied, that the Company will employ any person at any particular rate of compensation or for any particular period of time.

12.8 Conditions to Issuance of Shares .

(a) The issuance of shares of Common Stock is subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign law. Further, if at any time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any federal, state or foreign law, or that the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance of shares of Common Stock, no shares of Common Stock shall be or shall be deemed to be issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions that are not acceptable to the Committee. Any person exercising an option or receiving shares of Common Stock shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such information as the Board or Committee may request to assure compliance with the foregoing or any other applicable legal requirements.

(b) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such shares of Common Stock shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations promulgated thereunder. The Committee may require any individual receiving shares of Common Stock pursuant to exercise of any option, as a condition precedent to receipt of such shares of Common Stock, to represent and warrant to the Company in writing that the shares of Common Stock acquired by such individual are acquired without a view to any distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption applicable under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing any of such shares of Common Stock shall be appropriately amended or have an appropriate legend placed thereon to reflect their status as restricted securities as aforesaid.

12.9 Governing Law . Except as to matters of federal law, the Plan and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

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12.10 Effective Date . The effective date of the Plan shall be as determined by the Board, subject only to approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the securities of the Company present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders duly held in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware within twelve (12) months after the adoption of the Plan by the Board.

 

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Exhibit 10.4

FORM OF

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Adopted as of             )

 

  1. Purpose .

The purpose of the Plan is to assist the Company with attracting, retaining, incentivizing and motivating officers and employees of, consultants to, and non-employee directors providing services to, the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and to promote the success of the Company’s business by providing such participating individuals with a proprietary interest in the performance of the Company. The Company believes that this incentive program will cause participating officers, employees, consultants and non-employee directors to increase their interest in the welfare of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and to align those interests with those of the stockholders of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates.

 

  2. Definitions. For purposes of the Plan :

2.1. “ Adjustment Event ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 12.1.

2.2. “ Affiliate ” shall mean with respect to any entity, any entity that the Company, either directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is in common control with, is controlled by or controls, each within the meaning of the Securities Act.

2.3. “ Award ” means, individually or collectively, a grant of an Option, Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance Award, a Dividend Equivalent Right, a Share Award or any or all of them.

2.4. “ Award Agreement ” means a written or electronic agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the grant of an Award and setting forth the terms and conditions thereof.

2.5. “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.6. “ Cause ” means, with respect to the Termination of a Participant by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that employs such individual or to which the Participant performs services (or by the Company on behalf of any such Subsidiary), such Participant’s (i) indictment for, conviction of or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime constituting a felony or his or her willful violation of any applicable law (other than a traffic violation or other offense or violation outside of the course of employment or services to the Company or its Subsidiaries which does not adversely affect the Company and its Subsidiaries or its reputation or the ability of the Participant to perform his or her employment-related duties or services or to represent the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that


employs such Participant or to which the Participant performs services), (ii) being or having been engaged in conduct constituting breach of fiduciary duty, willful misconduct or negligence relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the performance of the Participant’s duties, (iii) willful failure to (A) follow a reasonable and lawful directive of the Company or of the Subsidiary at which the Participant is employed or provides services, or of the Board, or (B) comply with any written rules, regulations, policies or procedures of the Company or a Subsidiary at which the Participant is employed or to which the Participant provides services which, if not complied with, would reasonably be expected to have more than a de minimis adverse effect on the business or financial condition of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) failure to reasonably cooperate, following a request to do so by the Company, in any internal or governmental investigation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (v) material breach of any written covenant or agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not to disclose any information pertaining to the Company or such Subsidiary or not to compete or interfere with the Company or such Subsidiary; provided , that, in the case of any Participant who, as of the date of determination, is party to an effective services, severance or employment agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary, “Cause” shall have the meaning, if any, specified in such agreement.

2.7. “ Change in Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:

(a) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any voting securities of the Company (the “ Voting Securities ”) by any Person, immediately after which such Person has “ Beneficial Ownership ” (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to this Section 2.7(a), the acquisition of Voting Securities in a Non-Control Acquisition (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute a Change in Control. A “ Non-Control Acquisition ” shall mean an acquisition by (i) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company or (B) any corporation or other Person the majority of the voting power, voting equity securities or equity interest of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company (for purposes of this definition, a “ Related Entity ”), (ii) the Company or any Related Entity or (iii) any Person in connection with a Non-Control Transaction (as hereinafter defined);

(b) The individuals who, as of the effective date of this Plan are members of the Board (the “ Incumbent Board ”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however , that if the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; provided further , however , that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “ Proxy Contest ”) including by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest;

 

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(c) The consummation of:

(i) A merger, consolidation or reorganization (x) with or into the Company or (y) in which securities of the Company are issued (a “ Merger ”), unless such Merger is a Non-Control Transaction. A “ Non-Control Transaction ” shall mean a Merger in which:

(A) the stockholders of the Company immediately before such Merger own directly or indirectly immediately following such Merger at least a majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of (1) the corporation resulting from such Merger (the “ Surviving Corporation ”), if fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Surviving Corporation is not Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by another Person (a “ Parent Corporation ”), or (2) if there is one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate Parent Corporation;

(B) the individuals who were members of the Board immediately prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such Merger constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of (1) the Surviving Corporation, if there is no Parent Corporation, or (2) if there is one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate Parent Corporation; and

(C) no Person other than (1) the Company or another corporation that is a party to the agreement of Merger, (2) any Related Entity, (3) any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) that, immediately prior to the Merger, was maintained by the Company or any Related Entity or (4) any Person who, immediately prior to the Merger, had Beneficial Ownership of Voting Securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding Voting Securities, has Beneficial Ownership, directly or indirectly, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of (x) the Surviving Corporation, if there is no Parent Corporation, or (y) if there is one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate Parent Corporation;

(ii) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(iii) The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any Person (other than (x) a transfer to a Related Entity or (y) the distribution to the Company’s stockholders of the stock of a Related Entity or any other assets).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the “ Subject Person ”) acquired Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting

 

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Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting Securities then outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person; provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company and, after such acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities and such Beneficial Ownership increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.

2.8. “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

2.9. “ Committee ” means the Committee which administers the Plan as provided in Section 3.

2.10. “ Company ” means Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

2.11. “ Consultant ” means any consultant or advisor, other than an Employee or Director, who is a natural person and who renders services to the Company or a Subsidiary that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital raising transaction and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

2.12. “ Corporate Transaction ” means (a) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other transaction or event having a similar effect on the Company’s capital stock or (b) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, a Corporate Transaction may be a transaction that is also a Change in Control.

2.13. “ Covered Employee ” means, for any Performance Cycle:

(a) an Employee who

(i) as of the beginning of the Performance Cycle is an officer subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and

(ii) prior to determining Performance Objectives for the Performance Cycle pursuant to Section 9, the Committee designates as a Covered Employee for that Performance Cycle; provided that, if the Committee does not make the designation in clause (ii) for a Performance Cycle, all Employees described in clause (i) shall be deemed to be Covered Employees for purposes of this Plan, and

(b) any other Employee that the Committee designates as a Covered Employee for that Performance Cycle.

2.14. “ Director ” means a member of the Board.

2.15. “ Disability ” means, with respect to a Participant, a permanent and total disability as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3). A determination of Disability may be made by a

 

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physician selected or approved by the Committee and, in this respect, the Participant shall submit to any reasonable examination(s) required by such physician upon request. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15, in the event any Award is considered to be “deferred compensation” as that term is defined under Section 409A and the terms of the Award are such that the definition of “disability” is required to comply with the requirements of Section 409A then, in lieu of the foregoing definition, the definition of “Disability” for purposes of such Award shall mean, with respect to a Participant, that the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months.

2.16. “ Division ” means any of the operating units or divisions of the Company designated as a Division by the Committee.

2.17. “ Dividend Equivalent Right ” means a right to receive cash or Shares based on the value of dividends that are paid with respect to Shares.

2.18. “ Effective Date ” means the date of the Plan’s approval by the Compensation Committee of the Board, subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders.

2.19. “ Eligible Individual ” means any Employee, Director or Consultant.

2.20. “ Employee ” means any individual performing services for the Company or a Subsidiary and designated as an employee of the Company or the Subsidiary on its payroll records. An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company or Subsidiary as an independent contractor, a consultant or an employee of an employment, consulting or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified, as a common-law employee of the Company or Subsidiary during such period. An individual shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or any Subsidiary, or between the Company and any Subsidiaries.

2.21. “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.22. “ Fair Market Value ” on any date means:

(a) if the Shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the closing price at the close of the primary trading session of the Shares on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as officially quoted in the consolidated tape of transactions on such exchange or such other source as the Committee deems reliable for the applicable date, or if there has been no such closing price of the Shares on such date, on the next preceding date on which there was such a closing price;

(b) if the Shares are not listed for trading on a national securities exchange, the fair market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee, and, if applicable, in accordance with Sections 409 and 422 of the Code.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Awards granted in connection with an Initial Public Offering, if any, unless the Committee determines otherwise, Fair Market Value shall mean the price at which Shares are offered to the public by the underwriters in the Initial Public Offering.

2.23. “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an Option satisfying the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.

2.24. “ Initial Public Offering ” means the consummation of the first public offering of Shares pursuant to a registration statement (other than a Form S-8 or successor forms) filed with, and declared effective by, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission

2.25. “ Nonemployee Director ” means a Director of the Board who is a “nonemployee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

2.26. “ Nonqualified Stock Option ” means an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.27. “ Option ” means a Nonqualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option.

2.28. “ Option Price ” means the price at which a Share may be purchased pursuant to an Option.

2.29. “ Outside Director ” means a Director of the Board who is an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

2.30. “ Parent ” means any corporation which is a “parent corporation” (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) with respect to the Company.

2.31. “ Participant ” means an Eligible Individual to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan.

2.32. “ Performance Awards ” means Performance Share Units, Performance Units, Performance-Based Restricted Stock or any or all of them.

2.33. “ Performance-Based Compensation ” means any Award that, pursuant to Section 14.3, is intended to constitute “performance based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m).

2.34. “ Performance-Based Restricted Stock ” means Shares issued or transferred to an Eligible Individual under Section 9.2.

2.35. “ Performance Cycle ” means the time period specified by the Committee at the time Performance Awards are granted during which the performance of the Company, a Subsidiary or a Division will be measured.

 

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2.36. “ Performance Objectives ” means the objectives set forth in Section 9.3 for the purpose of determining, either alone or together with other conditions, the degree of payout and/or vesting of Performance Awards.

2.37. “ Performance Share Units ” means Performance Share Units granted to an Eligible Individual under Section 9.1(b).

2.38. “ Performance Units ” means Performance Units granted to an Eligible Individual under Section 9.1(a).

2.39. “ Person ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act.

2.40. “ Plan ” means this Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2013 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time.

2.41. “ Plan Termination Date ” means the date that is ten (10) years after the Effective Date, unless the Plan is earlier terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 15 hereof.

2.42. “ Restricted Stock ” means Shares issued or transferred to an Eligible Individual pursuant to Section 8.1.

2.43. “ Restricted Stock Units ” means rights granted to an Eligible Individual under Section 8.2 representing a number of hypothetical Shares.

2.44. “ Section 162(m) ” means Section 162(m) of Code, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.45. “ Section 409A ” means Section 409A of Code, and all regulations, guidance, and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.46. “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.47. “ Share Award ” means an Award of Shares granted pursuant to Section 10.

2.48. “ Shares ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and any other securities into which such shares are changed or for which such shares are exchanged.

2.49. “ Stock Appreciation Right ” means a right to receive all or some portion of the increase, if any, in the value of the Shares as provided in Section 6 hereof.

2.50. “ Subsidiary ” means (a) except as provided in subsection (b) below, any corporation which is a subsidiary corporation within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code with respect to the Company and (b) in relation to the eligibility to receive Awards other than Incentive Stock Options and continued employment or the provision of services for purposes of Awards (unless the Committee determines otherwise), any entity, whether or not incorporated, in which the Company directly or indirectly owns at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding equity or other ownership interests.

 

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2.51. “ Ten-Percent Shareholder ” means an Eligible Individual who, at the time an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to him or her, owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary.

2.52. “ Termination ”, “ Terminated ” or “ Terminates ” shall mean (a) with respect to a Participant who is an Employee, the date such Participant ceases to be employed by the Company and its Subsidiaries, (b) with respect to a Participant who is a Consultant, the date such Participant ceases to provide services to the Company and its Subsidiaries or (c) with respect to a Participant who is a Director, the date such Participant ceases to be a Director, in each case, for any reason whatsoever (including by reason of death, Disability or adjudicated incompetency). Unless otherwise set forth in an Award Agreement, (a) if a Participant is both an Employee and a Director and terminates as an Employee but remains as a Director, the Participant will be deemed to have continued in employment without interruption and shall be deemed to have Terminated upon ceasing to be a Director and (b) if a Participant who is an Employee or a Director ceases to provide services in such capacity and becomes a Consultant, the Participant will thereupon be deemed to have been Terminated.

2.53. “ Transition Period ” means the period beginning with an Initial Public Offering and ending as of the earlier of:

(a) the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Company at which Directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which the Initial Public Offering occurs and

(b) the expiration of the “reliance period” under Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(f)(2).

 

  3. Administration .

3.1. Committee . The Plan shall be administered by a Committee appointed by the Board. The Committee shall consist of at least two (2) Directors of the Board and may consist of the entire Board; provided, however, that (a) if the Committee consists of less than the entire Board, then, with respect to any Award granted to an Eligible Individual who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall consist of at least two (2) Directors of the Board, each of whom shall be a Nonemployee Director and (b) to the extent necessary for any Award intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation to so qualify, the Committee shall consist of at least two (2) Directors of the Board, each of whom shall be an Outside Director. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if one or more members of the Committee is not a Nonemployee Director or an Outside Director but recuses himself or herself or abstains from voting with respect to a particular action taken by the Committee, then the Committee, with respect to that action, shall be deemed to consist only of the members of the Committee who have not recused themselves or abstained from voting.

 

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3.2. Meetings; Procedure . The Committee shall hold meetings when it deems necessary and shall keep minutes of its meetings. The acts of a majority of the total membership of the Committee at any meeting, or the acts approved in writing by all of its members, shall be the acts of the Committee. All decisions and determinations by the Committee in the exercise of its powers hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Participants and all other Persons having any interest therein.

3.3. Board Reservation and Delegation .

(a) Except to the extent necessary for any Award intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation to so qualify, the Board may, in its discretion, reserve to itself or exercise any or all of the authority and responsibility of the Committee hereunder. To the extent the Board has reserved to itself or exercises the authority and responsibility of the Committee, the Board shall be deemed to be acting as the Committee for purposes of the Plan and references to the Committee in the Plan shall be to the Board.

(b) Subject to applicable law, the Board may delegate, in whole or in part, any of the authority of the Committee hereunder (subject to such limits as may be determined by the Board) to any individual or committee of individuals (who need not be Directors), including without limitation the authority to make Awards to Eligible Individuals who are not officers or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and who are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. To the extent that the Board delegates any such authority to make Awards as provided by this Section 3.2(b), all references in the Plan to the Committee’s authority to make Awards and determinations with respect thereto shall be deemed to include the Board’s delegate.

3.4. Committee Powers . Subject to the express terms and conditions set forth herein, the Committee shall have all of the powers necessary to enable it to carry out its duties under the Plan, including, without limitation, the power from time to time to:

(a) determine those Eligible Individuals to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan and determine the number of Shares or amount of cash in respect of which each Award is granted, prescribe the terms and conditions (which need not be identical) of each such Award, including, (i) in the case of Options, the exercise price per Share and the duration of the Option and (ii) in the case of Stock Appreciation Rights, the Base Price per Share and the duration of the Stock Appreciation Right, and make any amendment or modification to any Agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan;

(b) construe and interpret the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder, establish, amend and revoke rules, regulations and guidelines as it deems are necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, correcting any defect, supplying any omission or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or advisable, including so that the Plan and the operation of the Plan comply with Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, the Code to the extent applicable and other applicable law, and otherwise make the Plan fully effective;

 

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(c) determine the duration and purposes for leaves of absence which may be granted to a Participant on an individual basis without constituting a Termination for purposes of the Plan;

(d) cancel, with the consent of the Participant, outstanding Awards or as otherwise permitted under the terms of the Plan;

(e) exercise its discretion with respect to the powers and rights granted to it as set forth in the Plan; and

(f) generally, exercise such powers and perform such acts as are deemed necessary or advisable to promote the best interests of the Company with respect to the Plan.

3.5. Non-Uniform Determinations . The Committee’s determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among Persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards (whether or not such Persons are similarly situated). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall be entitled, among other things, to make non-uniform and selective determinations, and to enter into non-uniform and selective Award Agreements, as to the Eligible Individuals to receive Awards under the Plan and the terms and provision of Awards under the Plan.

3.6. Non-U.S. Employees . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to Participants working outside the United States, the Committee may determine the terms and conditions of Awards and make such adjustments to the terms thereof as are necessary or advisable to fulfill the purposes of the Plan taking into account matters of local law or practice, including tax and securities laws of jurisdictions outside the United States.

3.7. Indemnification . No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action, failure to act, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any transaction hereunder. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify each member of the Committee for all costs and expenses and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any liability incurred in connection with defending against, responding to, negotiating for the settlement of or otherwise dealing with any claim, cause of action or dispute of any kind arising in connection with any actions in administering the Plan or in authorizing or denying authorization to any transaction hereunder.

3.8. No Repricing of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights . The Committee shall have no authority to (i) make any adjustment (other than in connection with an Adjustment Event, a Corporate Transaction or other transaction where an adjustment is permitted or required under the terms of the Plan) or amendment, and no such adjustment or amendment shall be made, that reduces or would have the effect of reducing the exercise price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right previously granted under the Plan, whether through amendment, cancellation or replacement grants or other means, or (ii) cancel for cash or other consideration any Option whose Option Price is greater than the then Fair Market Value of a Share or Stock Appreciation

 

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Right whose Base Price is greater than the then Fair Market Value of a Share unless, in either case the Company’s stockholders shall have approved such adjustment, amendment or cancellation.

 

  4. Stock Subject to the Plan; Grant Limitations .

4.1. Aggregate Number of Shares Authorized for Issuance . Subject to any adjustment as provided in the Plan, the maximum number of Shares that may issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall not exceed [ ], no more than [ ] of which may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. The Shares to be issued under the Plan may be, in whole or in part, authorized but unissued Shares or issued Shares which shall have been reacquired by the Company and held by it as treasury shares.

4.2. Individual Participant Limit . With respect to Awards granted following the last day of the Transition Period (or, if later, the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders for purposes of Section 162(m)), (a) the aggregate number of Shares that may be the subject of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance-Based Restricted Stock and Performance Share Units granted to an Eligible Individual in any calendar year may not exceed 1,200,000 and (b) the maximum dollar amount of cash or the Fair Market Value of Shares that any individual may receive in any calendar year in respect of Performance Units may not exceed $5,000,000.

4.3. Calculating Shares Available . If an Award or any portion thereof (i) expires or otherwise terminates without all of the Shares covered by such Award having been issued or (ii) is settled in cash (i.e., the Participant receives cash rather than Shares), such expiration, termination or settlement will not reduce (or otherwise offset) the number of Shares that may be available for issuance under the Plan. If any Shares issued pursuant to an Award are forfeited and returned back to or reacquired by the Company because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such Shares in the Participant, then the Shares that are forfeited or reacquired will again become available for issuance under the Plan. Any Shares tendered or withheld (i) to pay the Option Price of an Option granted under this Plan or (ii) to satisfy tax withholding obligations associated with an Award granted under this Plan, shall become available again for issuance under this Plan.

 

  5. Stock Options .

5.1. Authority of Committee . The Committee may grant Options to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of the grant of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Eligible Individuals who are employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted. Options shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

5.2. Option Price . The Option Price or the manner in which the exercise price is to be determined for Shares under each Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the exercise price per Share under each Option shall not be less than the greater of (i) the par value of a Share and (ii) 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder).

 

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5.3. Maximum Duration . Options granted hereunder shall be for such term as the Committee shall determine; provided that an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted (five (5) years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder) and a Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted; provided, further, however , that (i) unless the Committee provides otherwise, an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option) may, upon the death of the Participant prior to the expiration of the Option, be exercised for up to one (1) year following the date of the Participant’s death, even if such period extends beyond ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted and (ii) if, at the time an Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option) would otherwise expire at the end of its term, the exercise of the Option is prohibited by applicable law or the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall be extended until thirty (30) days after the prohibition no longer applies. The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Option, extend the period within which the Option may be exercised (including following a Participant’s Termination), but in no event shall the period be extended to a date that is later than the earlier of the latest date on which the Option could have been exercised and the 10th anniversary of the date of grant of the Option, except as otherwise provided herein in this Section 5.3.

5.4. Vesting . The Committee shall determine and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the time or times at which an Option shall become vested and exercisable. To the extent not exercised, vested installments shall accumulate and be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time after becoming exercisable, but not later than the date the Option expires. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any Option or portion thereof at any time.

5.5. Limitations on Incentive Stock Options . To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of the grant) of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) granted under all other plans of the Company or its Subsidiaries (in either case determined without regard to this Section 5.5) are exercisable by a Participant for the first time during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options. In applying the limitation in the preceding sentence in the case of multiple Option grants, unless otherwise required by applicable law, Options which were intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options according to the order in which they were granted such that the most recently granted Options are first treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

5.6. Method of Exercise . The exercise of an Option shall be made only by giving notice in the form and to the Person designated by the Company, specifying the number of Shares to be exercised and, to the extent applicable, accompanied by payment therefor and otherwise in accordance with the Award Agreement pursuant to which the Option was granted. The Option Price for any Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid in any of, or any combination of, the following forms: (a) cash or its equivalent ( e.g. , a check) or (b) if permitted by the Committee, the transfer, either actually or by attestation, to the Company of Shares that have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such lesser period

 

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as may be permitted by the Committee) prior to the exercise of the Option, such transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee or (c) in the form of other property as determined by the Committee. In addition, (a) the Committee may provide for the payment of the Option Price through Share withholding as a result of which the number of Shares issued upon exercise of an Option would be reduced by a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the Option Price and (b) an Option may be exercised through a registered broker-dealer pursuant to such cashless exercise procedures that are, from time to time, deemed acceptable by the Committee. No fractional Shares (or cash in lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of an Option and the number of Shares that may be purchased upon exercise shall be rounded down to the nearest number of whole Shares.

5.7. Rights of Participants . No Participant shall be deemed for any purpose to be the owner of any Shares subject to any Option unless and until (a) the Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms thereof, (b) the Company shall have issued and delivered Shares (whether or not certificated) to the Participant, a securities broker acting on behalf of the Participant or such other nominee of the Participant and (c) the Participant’s name, or the name of his or her broker or other nominee, shall have been entered as a shareholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Participant shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such Shares, subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

5.8. Effect of Change in Control . Any specific terms applicable to an Option in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

  6. Stock Appreciation Rights .

6.1. Grant . The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (a) at any time if unrelated to an Option or (b) if related to an Option, either at the time of grant or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option. Awards of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to the following terms and provisions.

6.2. Terms; Duration . Stock Appreciation Rights shall contain such terms and conditions as to exercisability, vesting and duration as the Committee shall determine, but in no event shall they have a term of greater than ten (10) years; provided , however , that unless the Committee provides otherwise, a Stock Appreciation Right may, upon the death of the Participant prior to the expiration of the Award, be exercised for up to one (1) year following the date of the Participant’s death even if such period extends beyond ten (10) years from the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted and (ii) if, at the time a Stock Appreciation Right would otherwise expire at the end of its term, the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right is prohibited by applicable law or the Company’s insider trading policy, the term shall be extended until thirty (30) days after the prohibition no longer applies. The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Stock Appreciation Right, extend the period within which the Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised (including following a Participant’s Termination), but in no event shall the period be extended to a date that is later than the earlier of the latest date on which the Stock Appreciation Right could have been exercised and the 10th anniversary of the date of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, except as otherwise provided herein in this Section 6.2.

 

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6.3. Vesting . The Committee shall determine and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement the time or times at which a Stock Appreciation Right shall become vested and exercisable. To the extent not exercised, vested installments shall accumulate and be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time after becoming exercisable, but not later than the date the Stock Appreciation Right expires. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof at any time.

6.4. Amount Payable . Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive an amount determined by multiplying (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the last business day preceding the date of exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right over the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock Appreciation Right was granted (the “ Base Price ”) by (ii) the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised (the “ SAR Payment Amount ”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may limit in any manner the amount payable with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right by including such a limit in the Award Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is granted.

6.5. Method of Exercise . Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercised by a Participant only by giving notice in the form and to the Person designated by the Company, specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised.

6.6. Form of Payment . Payment of the SAR Payment Amount may be made in the discretion of the Committee solely in whole Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the SAR Payment Amount, solely in cash or in a combination of cash and Shares. If the Committee decides to make full payment in Shares and the amount payable results in a fractional Share, payment for the fractional Share will be made in cash.

6.7. Effect of Change in Control . Any specific terms applicable to a Stock Appreciation Right in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

  7. Dividend Equivalent Rights .

The Committee may grant Dividend Equivalent Rights, either in tandem with an Award or as a separate Award, to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan. The terms and conditions applicable to each Dividend Equivalent Right shall be specified in the Award Agreement evidencing the Award. Amounts payable in respect of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be payable currently or, may be, deferred until the lapsing of restrictions on such Dividend Equivalent Rights or until the vesting, exercise, payment, settlement or other lapse of restrictions on the Award to which the Dividend Equivalent Rights relate; provided , however , that a Dividend Equivalent Right granted in tandem with another Award that vests based on the achievement of performance goals shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Awards with respect to which such dividends are payable. In the event that

 

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the amount payable in respect of Dividend Equivalent Rights is to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such amount is to be held in cash or reinvested in Shares or deemed (notionally) to be reinvested in Shares. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or Shares or a combination thereof, in a single installment or multiple installments, as determined by the Committee.

 

  8. Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units .

8.1. Restricted Stock . The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement shall contain such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine and (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) such Award Agreements may require that an appropriate legend be placed on Share certificates. With respect to Shares in a book entry account in a Participant’s name, the Committee may cause appropriate stop transfer instructions to be delivered to the account custodian, administrator or the Company’s corporate secretary as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Awards of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

(a) Rights of Participant . Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to an Award hereunder shall be issued in the name of the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is granted provided that the Participant has executed an Award Agreement evidencing the Award (which, in the case of an electronically distributed Award Agreement, shall be deemed to have been executed by an acknowledgement of receipt or in such other manner as the Committee may prescribe) and any other documents which the Committee may require as a condition to the issuance of such Shares. At the discretion of the Committee, Shares issued in connection with an Award of Restricted Stock may be held in escrow by an agent (which may be the Company) designated by the Committee. Unless the Committee determines otherwise and as set forth in the Award Agreement, upon the issuance of the Shares, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.

(b) Terms and Conditions . Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of Shares of Restricted Stock to which it relates, the conditions which must be satisfied in order for the Restricted Stock to vest and the circumstances under which the Award will be forfeited.

(c) Delivery of Shares . Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate or evidence of book entry Shares to be delivered to the Participant with respect to such Shares of Restricted Stock, free of all restrictions hereunder.

(d) Treatment of Dividends . At the time an Award of Restricted Stock is granted, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Participant of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on such Shares

 

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by the Company shall be (i) deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Shares and (ii) held by the Company for the account of the Participant until such time; provided , however , that a dividend payable in respect of Restricted Stock that vests based on the achievement of performance goals shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividends are payable. In the event that dividends are to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such dividends are to be reinvested in Shares (which shall be held as additional Shares of Restricted Stock) or held in cash. Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock (whether held in cash or as additional Shares of Restricted Stock), shall be made upon the lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Shares in respect of which the deferred dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred in respect of any Shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Shares.

(e) Effect of Change in Control . Any specific terms applicable to Restricted Stock in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

8.2. Restricted Stock Unit Awards . The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Each such Award Agreement shall contain such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine. Awards of Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

(a) Payment of Awards . Each Restricted Stock Unit shall represent the right of the Participant to receive one Share upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Unit or on any later date specified by the Committee; provided , however , that the Committee may provide for the settlement of Restricted Stock Units in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares that would otherwise be delivered to the Participant (determined as of the date of the Shares would have been delivered), or a combination of cash and Shares. The Committee may, at the time a Restricted Stock Unit is granted, provide a limitation on the amount payable in respect of each Restricted Stock Unit.

(b) Effect of Change in Control . Any specific terms applicable to Restricted Stock Units in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

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  9. Performance Awards .

9.1. Performance Units and Performance Share Units . The Committee may grant Awards of Performance Units and/or Performance Share Units to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Awards of Performance Units and Performance Share Units shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

(a) Performance Units . Performance Units shall be denominated in a specified dollar amount and, contingent upon the attainment of specified Performance Objectives within the Performance Cycle and such other vesting conditions as may be determined by the Committee (including without limitation, a continued employment requirement following the end of the applicable Performance Cycle), represent the right to receive payment as provided in Sections 9.1(c) and (d) of the specified dollar amount or a percentage or multiple of the specified dollar amount depending on the level of Performance Objective attained. The Committee may at the time a Performance Unit is granted specify a maximum amount payable in respect of a vested Performance Unit.

(b) Performance Share Units . Performance Share Units shall be denominated in Shares and, contingent upon the attainment of specified Performance Objectives within the Performance Cycle and such other vesting conditions as may be determined by the Committee, (including without limitation, a continued employment requirement following the end of the applicable Performance Cycle), represent the right to receive payment as provided in Sections 9.1(c) and (d) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Performance Share Unit became vested or any other date specified by the Committee. The Committee may at the time a Performance Share Unit is granted specify a maximum amount payable in respect of a vested Performance Share Unit.

(c) Terms and Conditions; Vesting and Forfeiture . Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of Performance Units or Performance Share Units to which it relates, the Performance Objectives and other conditions which must be satisfied in order for the of Performance Units or Performance Share Units to vest and the Performance Cycle within which such Performance Objectives must be satisfied and the circumstances under which the Award will be forfeited; provided, however , that no Performance Cycle for Performance Units or Performance Share Units shall be less than one (1) year.

(d) Payment of Awards . Subject to Section 9.3(c), payment to Participants in respect of vested Performance Share Units and Performance Units shall be made as soon as practicable after the last day of the Performance Cycle to which such Award relates or at such other time or times as the Committee may determine that the Award has become vested. Such payments may be made entirely in Shares valued at their Fair Market Value, entirely in cash or in such combination of Shares and cash as the Committee in its discretion shall determine at any time prior to such payment.

9.2. Performance-Based Restricted Stock . The Committee, may grant Awards of Performance-Based Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement may require that an appropriate legend be placed on Share certificates. With respect to Shares in a book entry account in a Participant’s name, the Committee may cause appropriate stop transfer instructions to be delivered to the account custodian, administrator or the Company’s corporate secretary as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Awards of Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

 

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(a) Rights of Participant . Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be issued in the name of the Participant as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is granted or at such other time or times as the Committee may determine; provided, however , that no Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be issued until the Participant has executed an Award Agreement evidencing the Award (which, in the case of an electronically distributed Award Agreement, shall be deemed to have been executed by an acknowledgement of receipt or in such other manner as the Committee may prescribe), and any other documents which the Committee may require as a condition to the issuance of such Performance-Based Restricted Stock. At the discretion of the Committee, Shares issued in connection with an Award of Performance-Based Restricted Stock may be held in escrow by an agent (which may be the Company) designated by the Committee. Unless the Committee determines otherwise and as set forth in the Award Agreement, upon issuance of the Shares, the Participant shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.

(b) Terms and Conditions . Each Award Agreement shall specify the number of Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock to which it relates, the Performance Objectives and other conditions which must be satisfied in order for the Performance-Based Restricted Stock to vest, the Performance Cycle within which such Performance Objectives must be satisfied and the circumstances under which the Award will be forfeited ; provided, however , that no Performance Cycle for Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be less than one (1) year.

(c) Treatment of Dividends . At the time the Award of Performance-Based Restricted Stock is granted, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Participant of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on Shares represented by such Award which have been issued by the Company to the Participant shall be (i) deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Performance-Based Restricted Stock and (ii) held by the Company for the account of the Participant until such time; provided , however , that a dividend payable in respect of Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Performance-Based Restricted Stock with respect to which such dividends are payable. In the event that dividends are to be deferred, the Committee shall determine whether such dividends are to be reinvested in Shares (which shall be held as additional Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock) or held in cash. Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock (whether held in cash or in additional Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock) shall be made upon the lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Performance-Based Restricted Stock in respect of which the deferred dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred in respect of any Performance-Based Restricted Stock shall be forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Performance-Based Restricted Stock.

(d) Delivery of Shares . Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Shares of Performance-Based Restricted Stock awarded hereunder, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate or evidence of book entry Shares to be delivered to the Participant with respect to such Shares, free of all restrictions hereunder.

 

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9.3. Performance Objectives.

(a) Establishment . With respect to any Performance Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, Performance Objectives for Performance Awards may be expressed in terms of (i) earnings per share; (ii) operating income; (iii) return on equity or assets; (iv) cash flow; (v) net cash flow; (vi) cash flow from operations; (vii) EBITDA; (viii) increased revenues; (ix) revenue ratios; (x) cost reductions; (xi) cost ratios; (xii) overall revenue or sales growth; (xiii) expense reduction or management; (xiv) market position; (xv) total shareholder return; (xvi) return on investment; (xvii) earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT); (xviii) net income; (xix) return on net assets; (xx) economic value added; (xxi) shareholder value added; (xxii) cash flow return on investment; (xxiii) net operating profit; (xxiv) net operating profit after tax; (xxv) return on capital; (xxvi) return on invested capital; (xxvii) entry into an agreement or arrangement with a third party for the development or commercialization of the Company’s product candidates; (xxviii) initiation or completion of a clinical trial; (xxiv) achievement of product development or commercialization milestone; (xxx) submission of regulatory filings or obtaining regulatory approval; or (xxxi) any combination of the foregoing. With respect to Performance Awards not intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, Performance Objectives may be based on any of the foregoing or any other performance criteria as may be established by the Committee. Performance Objectives may be in respect of the performance of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any of its Divisions or any combination thereof. Performance Objectives may be absolute or relative (to prior performance of the Company or to the performance of one or more other entities or external indices) and may be expressed in terms of a progression within a specified range. In the case of a Performance Award which is intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, the Performance Objectives with respect to a Performance Cycle shall be established in writing by the Committee by the earlier of (i) the date on which a quarter of the Performance Cycle has elapsed and (ii) the date which is ninety (90) days after the commencement of the Performance Cycle and in any event while the performance relating to the Performance Objectives remains substantially uncertain.

(b) Effect of Certain Events . The Committee may, at the time the Performance Objectives in respect of a Performance Award are established, provide for the manner in which performance will be measured against the Performance Objectives to reflect the impact of specified events, including any one or more of the following with respect to the Performance Period (i) the gain, loss, income or expense resulting from changes in accounting principles or tax laws that become effective during the Performance Period; (ii) the gain, loss, income or expense reported publicly by the Company with respect to the Performance Period that are extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence; (iii) the gains or losses resulting from and the direct expenses incurred in connection with, the disposition of a business, or the sale of investments or non-core assets; (iv) the gain or loss from all or certain claims and/or litigation and all or certain insurance recoveries relating to claims or litigation; or (v) the

 

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impact of investments or acquisitions made during the year or, to the extent provided by the Committee, any prior year. The events may relate to the Company as a whole or to any part of the Company’s business or operations, as determined by the Committee at the time the Performance Objectives are established. Any adjustments based on the effect of certain events are to be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and standards, unless another objective method of measurement is designated by the Committee and, in respect of Performance Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation, such adjustments shall be permitted only to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) without adversely affecting the treatment of any Performance Award as Performance-Based Compensation.

(c) Determination of Performance . Prior to the vesting, payment, settlement or lapsing of any restrictions with respect to any Performance Award, the Committee shall certify in writing that the applicable Performance Objectives have been satisfied to the extent necessary for such Award to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. In respect of a Performance Award, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce the amount of cash paid or number of Shares to be issued or that have been issued and that become vested or on which restrictions lapse. The Committee shall not be entitled to exercise any discretion otherwise authorized hereunder with respect to any Performance Award intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation if the ability to exercise such discretion or the exercise of such discretion itself would cause the compensation attributable to such Awards to fail to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

(d) Effect of Change in Control . Any specific terms applicable to a Performance Award in the event of a Change in Control and not otherwise provided in the Plan shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

  10. Share Awards .

The Committee may grant a Share Award to any Eligible Individual on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion. Share Awards may be made as additional compensation for services rendered by the Eligible Individual or may be in lieu of cash or other compensation to which the Eligible Individual is entitled from the Company. Any dividend payable in respect of a Share Award that vests based on the achievement of performance goals shall be subject to restrictions and risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Share Award with respect to which such dividends are payable.

 

  11. Effect of Termination of Employment; Transferability .

11.1. Termination. The Award Agreement evidencing the grant of each Award shall set forth the terms and conditions applicable to such Award upon Termination, which shall be as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine at the time the Award is granted or at anytime thereafter.

 

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11.2. Transferability of Awards and Shares .

(a) Non-Transferability of Awards . Except as set forth in Section 11.2(c) or (d) or as otherwise permitted by the Committee and as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, either at the time of grant or at anytime thereafter, no Award shall be (i) sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, (ii) pledged or otherwise hypothecated or (iii) subject to attachment, execution or levy of any kind; and any purported transfer, pledge, hypothecation, attachment, execution or levy in violation of this Section 11.2 shall be null and void.

(b) Restrictions on Shares . The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired by a Participant under the Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, restrictions under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed or traded and restrictions under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

(c) Transfers By Will or by Laws of Descent or Distribution . Any Award may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent or distribution; provided, however , that (i) any transferred Award will be subject to all of the same terms and conditions as provided in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement; and (ii) the Participant’s estate or beneficiary appointed in accordance with this Section 11.2(c) will remain liable for any withholding tax that may be imposed by any federal, state or local tax authority.

(d) Beneficiary Designation . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may from time to time permit each Participant to name one or more individuals (each, a “ Beneficiary ”) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid or who may exercise any rights of the Participant under any Award granted under the Plan in the event of the Participant’s death before he or she receives any or all of such benefit or exercises such Award. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such designation or if any such designation is not effective under applicable law as determined by the Committee, benefits under Awards remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death and rights to be exercised following the Participant’s death shall be paid to or exercised by the Participant’s estate.

 

  12. Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization .

12.1. In the event that (a) the outstanding Shares are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of stock or other securities or other equity interests of the Company or another corporation or entity, whether through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, substitution or other similar corporate event or transaction or (b) there is an extraordinary dividend or distribution by the Company in respect of its Shares or other capital stock or securities convertible into capital stock in cash, securities or other property (any event described

 

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in (a) or (b), an “ Adjustment Event ”), the Committee shall determine the appropriate adjustments (if any) to (i) the maximum number and kind of shares of stock or other securities or other equity interests as to which Awards may be granted under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of Shares or other stock or securities that may be issued upon exercise of Incentive Stock Options, (iii) the number and kind of Shares or other securities covered by any or all outstanding Awards that have been granted under the Plan, (iv) the Option Price of outstanding Options and the Base Price of outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights, and (v) the Performance Objectives applicable to outstanding Performance Awards.

12.2. Any such adjustment in the Shares or other stock or securities (a) subject to outstanding Incentive Stock Options (including any adjustments in the exercise price) shall be made in such manner as not to constitute a modification as defined by Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Sections 422 and 424 of the Code, (b) subject to outstanding Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made in such a manner as not to adversely affect the treatment of the Awards as Performance-Based Compensation and (c) with respect to any Award that is not subject to Section 409A, in a manner that would not subject the Award to Section 409A and, with respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A, in a manner that complies with Section 409A and all regulations and other guidance issued thereunder.

12.3. If, by reason of an Adjustment Event, pursuant to an Award, a Participant shall be entitled to, or shall be entitled to exercise an Award with respect to, new, additional or different shares of stock or securities of the Company or any other corporation, such new, additional or different shares shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and performance criteria which were applicable to the Shares subject to the Award, prior to such Adjustment Event.

 

  13. Effect of Certain Transactions .

13.1. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in connection a Corporate Transaction, either:

(a) outstanding Awards shall, unless otherwise provided in connection with the Corporate Transaction, continue following the Corporate Transaction and shall be adjusted if and as provided for in the agreement or plan (in the case of a liquidation or dissolution) entered into or adopted in connection with the Corporate Transaction (the “ Transaction Agreement ”), which may include, in the sole discretion of the Committee or the parties to the Corporate Transaction, the assumption or continuation of such Awards by, or the substitution for such Awards of new awards of, the surviving, successor or resulting entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with such adjustments as to the number and kind of shares or other securities or property subject to such new awards, exercise prices and other terms of such new awards as the Committee or the parties to the Corporate Transaction shall agree, or

 

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(b) outstanding Awards shall terminate upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction; provided, however , that vested Awards shall not be terminated without:

(i) in the case of vested Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (including those Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that would become vested upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction), (1) providing the holders of affected Options and Stock Appreciation Rights a period of at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to the date of the consummation of the Corporate Transaction to exercise the Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, or (2) providing the holders of affected Options and Stock Appreciation Rights payment (in cash or other consideration upon or immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, or, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, on a deferred basis) in respect of each Share covered by the Option or Stock Appreciation Rights being cancelled an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the per Share price to be paid or distributed to stockholders in the Corporate Transaction (the value of any non-cash consideration to be determined by the Committee in good faith) over the Option Price of the Option or the Base Price of the Stock Appreciation Rights, or

(ii) in the case vested Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights (including those Awards that would become vested upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction), providing the holders of affected Awards payment (in cash or other consideration upon or immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, or, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, on a deferred basis) in respect of each Share covered by the Award being cancelled of the per Share price to be paid or distributed to stockholders in the Corporate Transaction, in each case with the value of any non-cash consideration to be determined by the Committee in good faith.

(c) For the avoidance of doubt, if the amount determined pursuant to clause (b)(i)(2) above is zero or less, the affected Option or Stock Appreciation Rights may be terminated without any payment therefor.

13.2. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing or being construed as requiring any such action, in connection with any such Corporate Transaction the Committee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, cause any of the following actions to be taken effective upon or at any time prior to any Corporate Transaction (and any such action may be made contingent upon the occurrence of the Corporate Transaction):

(a) cause any or all unvested Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to become fully vested and immediately exercisable (as applicable) and/or provide the holders of such Options and Stock Appreciation Rights a reasonable period of time prior to the date of the consummation of the Corporate Transaction to exercise the Options and Stock Appreciation Rights;

(b) with respect to unvested Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are terminated in connection with the Corporate Transaction, provide to the holders thereof a payment (in cash and/or other consideration) in respect of each Share covered by the Option or Stock Appreciation Right being terminated in an amount equal to all or a portion of the excess, if any, of the per Share price to be paid or distributed to

 

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stockholders in the Corporate Transaction (the value of any non-cash consideration to be determined by the Committee in good faith) over the exercise price of the Option or the Base Price of the Stock Appreciation Right, which may be paid in accordance with the vesting schedule of the Award as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction or, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, at such other time or times as the Committee may determine;

(c) with respect to unvested Awards (other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights) that are terminated in connection with the Corporate Transaction, provide to the holders thereof a payment (in cash and/or other consideration) in respect of each Share covered by the Award being terminated in an amount equal to all or a portion of the per Share price to be paid or distributed to stockholders in the Corporate Transaction (the value of any non-cash consideration to be determined by the Committee in good faith), which may be paid in accordance with the vesting schedule of the Award as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, upon the consummation of the Corporate Transaction or, to the extent permitted by Section 409A, at such other time or times as the Committee may determine.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, if the amount determined pursuant to clause (b) above is zero or less, the affected Option or Stock Appreciation Rights may be terminated without any payment therefor.

13.3. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan or any Agreement,

(a) the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide in the Transaction Agreement or otherwise for different treatment for different Awards or Awards held by different Participants and, where alternative treatment is available for a Participant’s Awards, may allow the Participant to choose which treatment shall apply to such Participant’s Awards;

(b) any action permitted under this Section 13 may be taken without the need for the consent of any Participant. To the extent a Corporate Transaction also constitutes an Adjustment Event and action is taken pursuant to this Section 13 with respect to an outstanding Award, such action shall conclusively determine the treatment of such Award in connection with such Corporate Transaction notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary (including Section 12).

(c) to the extent the Committee chooses to make payments to affected Participants pursuant to Section 13.1(b)(i)(2) or (ii) or Section 13.2(b) or (c) above, any Participant who has not returned any letter of transmittal or similar acknowledgment that the Committee requires be signed in connection with such payment within the time period established by the Committee for returning any such letter or similar acknowledgement shall forfeit his or her right to any payment and his or her associated Awards may be cancelled without any payment therefor.

 

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  14. Interpretation .

14.1. Section 16 Compliance . The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the Committee shall interpret and administer the provisions of the Plan or any Award Agreement in a manner consistent therewith. Any provisions inconsistent with such Rule shall be inoperative and shall not affect the validity of the Plan.

14.2. Compliance with Section 409A . All Awards granted under the Plan are intended either not to be subject to Section 409A or, if subject to Section 409A, to be administered, operated and construed in compliance with Section 409A and all regulations and other guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding this or any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may amend the Plan or any Award granted hereunder in any manner or take any other action that it determines, in its sole discretion, is necessary, appropriate or advisable (including replacing any Award) to cause the Plan or any Award granted hereunder to comply with Section 409A and all regulations and other guidance issued thereunder or to not be subject to Section 409A. Any such action, once taken, shall be deemed to be effective from the earliest date necessary to avoid a violation of Section 409A and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all Eligible Individuals and other individuals having or claiming any right or interest under the Plan.

14.3. Section 162(m) .

(a) Performance-Based Compensation Awards . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of grant and subject to Section 14.3(b), each Performance Award granted to an Eligible Individual who is also a Covered Employee, and each Option and Stock Appreciation Right (whether or not granted to a Covered Employee), is intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation; provided , that no Award granted following the Transition Period shall be intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation unless the stockholder approval and other requirements of Section 162(m) to enable Awards to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation have been satisfied. If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to an Award that is intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation does not comply or is inconsistent with Section 162(m), such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements and, in the case of any Performance Award, no provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee any discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable in connection with any such Award upon the attainment of the Performance Objectives.

(b) Section 162(m) Transition Period.

 

  (1)

With respect to Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock and Performance-Based Restricted Stock granted during the Transition Period (“ Transition Awards ”), the Company intends to rely, to the maximum extent possible, on the

 

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  transition relief provided in Treas. Reg. §1.162-27(f). Accordingly, to the extent such relief from the application of Section 162(m) is available, the requirements in this Plan applicable to Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation shall not apply to Transition Awards which, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, include the provisions of Section 4.2 and those provisions of Sections 3.1(b), 3.3(a) and 9 that apply only to Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation.

 

  (2) With respect to Awards other than Transition Awards granted during the Transition Period and which are not settled or paid prior to the end of the Transition Period, and with respect to all Awards granted following the Transition Period, the stockholder approval and other requirements of Section 162(m) must be satisfied with respect to any Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation.

 

  15. Term; Plan Termination and Amendment of the Plan; Modification of Awards .

15.1. Term . The Plan shall terminate on the Plan Termination Date and no Award shall be granted after that date. The applicable terms of the Plan and any terms and conditions applicable to Awards granted prior to the Plan Termination Date shall survive the termination of the Plan and continue to apply to such Awards.

15.2. Plan Amendment or Plan Termination . The Board may earlier terminate the Plan and the Board may at any time and from time to time amend, modify or suspend the Plan; provided, however , that:

(a) no such amendment, modification, suspension or termination shall materially impair or materially and adversely alter any Awards theretofore granted under the Plan, except with the consent of the Participant, nor shall any amendment, modification, suspension or termination deprive any Participant of any Shares which he or she may have acquired through or as a result of the Plan; and

(b) to the extent necessary under any applicable law, regulation or exchange requirement or as provided in Section 3.8, no other amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law, regulation or exchange requirement.

15.3. Modification of Awards . No modification of an Award shall adversely alter or impair any rights or obligations under the Award without the consent of the Participant.

 

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  16. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan .

The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangement or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

  17. Limitation of Liability .

As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the Company, but not intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to:

(a) give any person any right to be granted an Award other than at the sole discretion of the Committee;

(b) limit in any way the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment of or the provision of services by any person at any time;

(c) be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the Company will pay any person at any particular rate of compensation or for any particular period of time; or

(d) be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the Company will employ any person at any particular rate of compensation or for any particular period of time.

 

  18. Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law .

18.1. Governing Law . Except as to matters of federal law, the Plan and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

18.2. Compliance with Law .

(a) The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

(b) The Board may make such changes as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the rules and regulations of any government authority or to obtain for Eligible Individuals granted Incentive Stock Options the tax benefits under the applicable provisions of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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(c) Each grant of an Award and the issuance of Shares or other settlement of the Award is subject to compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign law. Further, if at any time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any federal, state or foreign law, or that the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Award or the issuance of Shares, no Awards shall be or shall be deemed to be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions that are not acceptable to the Committee. Any person exercising an Option or receiving Shares in connection with any other Award shall make such representations and agreements and furnish such information as the Board or Committee may request to assure compliance with the foregoing or any other applicable legal requirements.

18.3. Transfers of Plan Acquired Shares . Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations promulgated thereunder. The Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Shares, to represent and warrant to the Company in writing that the Shares acquired by such individual are acquired without a view to any distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof under the Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption applicable under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing any of such Shares shall be appropriately amended or have an appropriate legend placed thereon to reflect their status as restricted securities as aforesaid.

 

  19. Miscellaneous .

19.1. Award Agreements . Each Award Agreement shall either be (a) in writing in a form approved by the Committee and executed on behalf of the Company by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (b) an electronic notice in a form approved by the Committee and recorded by the Company (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking Awards as the Committee may provide. If required by the Committee, an Award Agreement shall be executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the Award in such form and manner as the Committee may require. The Committee may authorize any officer of the Company to execute any or all Award Agreements on behalf of the Company.

19.2. Forfeiture Events; Clawback . The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, clawback or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events or as required by law, in addition to any otherwise applicable forfeiture provisions that apply to the Award.

 

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19.3. Multiple Agreements . The terms of each Award may differ from other Awards granted under the Plan at the same time or at some other time. The Committee may also grant more than one Award to a given Eligible Individual during the term of the Plan, either in addition to or, subject to Section 3.8, in substitution for one or more Awards previously granted to that Eligible Individual.

19.4. Withholding of Taxes . The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may withhold from any payment of cash or Shares to a Participant or other Person under the Plan an amount sufficient to cover any withholding taxes which may become required with respect to such payment or take any other action it deems necessary to satisfy any income or other tax withholding requirements as a result of the grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of any Award under the Plan. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall have the right to require the payment of any such taxes or to withhold from wages or other amounts otherwise payable to a Participant or other Person, and require that the Participant or other Person furnish all information deemed necessary by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to meet any tax reporting obligation as a condition to exercise or before making any payment or the issuance or release of any Shares pursuant to an Award. If the Participant or other Person shall fail to make such tax payments as are required, the Company or its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to such Participant or other Person or to take such other action as may be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations. If specified in an Award Agreement at the time of grant or otherwise approved by the Committee, a Participant may, in satisfaction of his or her obligation to pay withholding taxes in connection with the exercise, vesting or other settlement of an Award, elect to (i) make a cash payment to the Company, (ii) have withheld a portion of the Shares then issuable to him or her or (iii) deliver Shares owned by the Participant prior to the exercise, vesting or other settlement of an Award, in each case having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the withholding taxes. To the extent that Shares are used to satisfy withholding obligations of a Participant pursuant to this Section 19.4 (whether previously-owned Shares or Shares withheld from an Award), they may only be used to satisfy the minimum tax withholding required by law (or such other amount as will not have any adverse accounting impact as determined by the Committee).

19.5. Disposition of ISO Shares . If a Participant makes a disposition, within the meaning of Section 424(c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any Share or Shares issued to such Participant pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within the two-year period commencing on the day after the date of the grant or within the one-year period commencing on the day after the date of transfer of such Share or Shares to the Participant pursuant to such exercise, the Participant shall, within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the Company thereof, by delivery of written notice to the Company at its principal executive office

19.6. Plan Unfunded . The Plan shall be unfunded. Except for reserving a sufficient number of authorized Shares to the extent required by law to meet the requirements of the Plan, the Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure payment of any Award granted under the Plan.

 

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Exhibit 10.5

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

1. Purpose . The Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan (the “ Plan ”) is established to create an additional incentive to promote the financial success and progress of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporations or any present or future parent and/or subsidiary corporations of such corporation (collectively, the “ Company ”). For purposes of the Plan, a parent corporation and a subsidiary corporation shall be as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”).

 

2. Administration . The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) and/or by a duly appointed committee of the Board having such powers as shall be specified by the Board. Any subsequent references herein or in any option agreement under the Plan to the Board shall also mean the committee if such committee has been appointed and, unless the powers of the committee have been specifically limited, the committee shall have all of the powers of the Board granted herein, other than power to terminate or amend the Plan as provided in Paragraph 11 hereof, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by law. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any award granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Board, and such determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan and/or any Option (as defined below). To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company the power to grant Options to employees and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine; provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Options to be granted by such executive officers (including the exercise price of such Options, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to Options that the executive officers may grant; provided further, however, that no executive officer shall be authorized to grant Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”)).

 

3. Eligibility . The Board may grant options (each an “ Option ”) to purchase shares of the authorized but unissued common stock of the Company (the “ Stock ”), which Options may be either incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “ Incentive Stock Option ”) or nonqualified stock options. The Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine to whom Options are granted (each an “ Optionee ”). An Option that the Board intends to be an Incentive Stock Option shall only be granted to an employee of the Company and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to an Optionee if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.


4. Shares Subject to Option . Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 9 below, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to Options granted under the Plan shall be Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand (2,800,000) shares. If any outstanding Option for any reason expires or is terminated or cancelled, the shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option, may again be subject to an Option. It is intended that the Plan shall constitute a written compensatory benefit plan within the meaning of Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“ Rule 701 ”), to the extent applicable, and that the Plan shall otherwise be administered in compliance with the requirements of Rule 701. To ensure such compliance, the Company shall maintain a record of shares subject to outstanding Options under the Plan and the exercise price of the Options, plus a record of all shares of Stock issued upon the exercise of the Options and the exercise price of the Options.

 

5. Time for Granting Options . All Options shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the earlier of (i) the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or (ii) the date the Plan is duly approved by the stockholders of the Company.

 

6. Terms, Conditions and Form of Options . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine for each Option the number of shares of Stock into which the Option is exercisable, whether the Option is to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option or as a nonqualified stock option and all other terms and conditions of the Option. Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

  (a) Exercise Price . The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the sole discretion of the Board; provided, however, that (i) the exercise price per share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than the fair market value of a share of Stock on the date of grant and (ii) the exercise price per share of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Optionee who on the date of the grant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code (a “ Ten Percent Owner Optionee ”) shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market value of a share of Stock on the date of grant. For purposes of this Plan, “fair market value” means the value assigned to the Stock by the Board for any date of grant, as determined pursuant to a reasonable method established by the Board that is consistent with the requirements of Sections 422 and 424 of the Code and the regulations thereunder (which method may be changed from time to time). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a nonqualified stock option) may be granted by the Board in its discretion with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in accordance with the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code. The foregoing shall not require that any such assumption or modification will result in the Option having the same characteristics, attributes or tax treatment as the Option for which it is substituted.

 

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(b) Exercise Period of Options . The Board shall have the power to set the times on or within which an Option shall be exercisable or the events upon which an Option shall be exercisable and the term of an Option; provided, however, that (i) no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the date of grant, (ii) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years after the date of grant, (iii) no Option shall be exercisable after the date the Optionee’s employment with the Company is terminated for cause (as determined in the sole discretion of the Board, unless cause is defined in an employment agreement between the Optionee and the Company in which case such definition shall be used); and (iv) each Incentive Stock Option shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than three (3) months after the date on which the Optionee terminates employment with the Company, unless the Optionee’s employment with the Company was terminated as a result of the Optionee’s death or disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), in which event the Incentive Stock Option shall terminate and cease to be exercisable no later than twelve (12) months from the date on which the Optionee’s employment terminated. For this purpose, an Optionee’s employment shall be deemed to have terminated as a result of death if the Optionee dies within three (3) months following the Optionee’s termination of employment. Notwithstanding anything to contrary in this Plan, in the event that an Optionee has entered into a confidentiality, nondisclosure, invention and/or non-competition agreement with the Company and the Optionee is determined, in the reasonable judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors, to have materially breached such agreement, the Optionee shall forfeit any shares acquired pursuant to the Option and 100% of the Option granted pursuant to such Optionee’s option agreement with the Company, whether or not exercisable.

 

(c) Payment of Exercise Price . Payment of the exercise price for the number of shares of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made in cash, by check, cash equivalent or in any other manner as may be permitted by the Board in its sole discretion.

 

(d) $100,000 Limitation . The aggregate fair market value, determined as of the date of grant of the shares of the Stock with respect to which an Incentive Stock Option (determined without regard to this subparagraph) is first exercisable during any calendar year (under this Plan or under any other plan of the Company) by any Optionee shall not exceed $100,000. If such limitation would be exceeded with respect to an Optionee for a calendar year, the Incentive Stock Option shall be deemed a nonqualified stock option to the extent of such excess.

 

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7. Forms of Stock Option Agreements . All Options shall be evidenced by a written agreement substantially in the form of the incentive stock option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A or the nonqualified stock option agreement attached hereto as Exhibit B , as applicable, both of which are incorporated herein by reference (the “ Form Option Agreements ”) or such other form or forms as may be approved by the Board consistent with the terms of this Plan. The Board shall have the authority from time to time to vary the terms of the Form Option Agreements either in connection with the grant of an Option or in connection with the authorization of a new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of such revised or amended standard form or forms of stock option agreement shall be in accordance with the terms of the Plan.

 

8.

Transfer of Control Upon a merger, consolidation, corporate reorganization, or any transaction in which all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the Company are sold, leased, transferred or otherwise disposed of (other than a mere reincorporation transaction or one in which the holders of voting capital stock of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to hold at least a majority of the voting power of the surviving corporation based upon their voting capital stock in the Company prior to such merger or consideration) (a “ Transfer of Control ”), then each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation). In the event that the successor corporation in a merger or Transfer of Control refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, then the Optionee shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option as to all of the stock subject to such Option, including shares of stock as to which it would not otherwise be vested or exercisable. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option shall be considered assumed if, following the Transfer of Control, the Option confers the right to purchase or receive, for each share of stock subject to the Option immediately prior to the Transfer of Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Transfer of Control by holders of common stock of the Company for each share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares); provided , however , that if such consideration received in the Transfer of Control is not solely capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof), the Board may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each share subject to the Option, to be solely capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof) equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of common stock of the Company in the Transfer of Control. Upon the occurrence of a Transfer of Control, each outstanding Option, to the extent not exercised prior to or concurrently with the Transfer of Control, shall terminate as of the effective time of the Transfer of Control, unless such Option is assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or replaced with a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof). Unless the Board expressly provides otherwise, the exercise of any Option that was permissible solely by reason of this paragraph shall be conditioned upon the

 

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  consummation of the Transfer of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have the ability to alter the provisions set forth in this Section 8 with respect to Options issued to a particular Optionee or Optionees, which such changes shall be reflected in each respective Option Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation): (A) does not offer employment to the Optionee on terms comparable to his or her then existing terms of employment with the Company; or (B) terminates the Optionee’s employment without Cause (as defined below) within one-year after the Transfer of Control, then that unexercisable portion of an outstanding Option that would become exercisable during the next twelve (12) months following the occurrence of either of the events set forth in clauses (A) or (B) above, shall become immediately exercisable. The determination of option comparability under clause (A) above shall be made by the Board, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

For the purpose hereof, “ Cause ” shall have the following meaning (unless otherwise defined in a written agreement between Optionee and the Company):

(i) Any material breach of the terms of any agreement with the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation) by Optionee, or Optionee’s failure to diligently and properly perform Optionee’s duties for the Company; or

(ii) Any material failure by Optionee to comply with the reasonable policies and/or directives of the Board of Directors of the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation); or

(iii) Any action by the Optionee that is illegal or not in good faith which is materially detrimental to the interest and well-being of successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation); or

(iv) Any failure by Optionee to fully disclose any conflict of interest Optionee may have with the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation) in a transaction between the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation) and any third party which is materially detrimental to the interest and well-being of the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation); or

(v) Any adverse act or omission by Optionee which would be required to be disclosed pursuant to public securities laws or which would limit the ability of the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation) or any entity affiliated with the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation) to sell securities under any Federal or state law or which would disqualify the successor corporation or any affiliated entity from any exemption otherwise available to it, all of which are materially detrimental to the interest and well-being of the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation).

 

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9. Effect of Change in Stock Subject to Plan . The Board shall make appropriate adjustments in the number and class of shares of the Stock subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Options and in the option price of any outstanding Options in the event of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the Company.

 

10. Options Non-Transferable . Except as otherwise provided in a stock option agreement, no Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Optionee, except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the lifetime of an Optionee, an Option shall be exercisable only by such Optionee.

 

11. Termination or Amendment . The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Option; provided, however, that no amendment authorized hereby may materially adversely affect the rights of any Optionee under any then outstanding Option, as determined in the discretion of the Board, without the consent of the Optionee, unless such amendment is required to enable an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. The Board shall be entitled to create, amend or delete appendices to this Plan as specified herein.

 

12. Withholding . Each Optionee shall pay to the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Board for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with Options to such Optionee no later than the date of the event creating the tax liability. Except as the Board may otherwise provide in an award, when the Stock is registered under the Exchange Act Optionees may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Stock, including shares retained from the Option creating the tax obligation, valued at their fair market value as determined by, or in a manner approved by, the Board in good faith; provided, however, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s minimum statutory withholding obligations (based on minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income). The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, deduct any such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to an Optionee.

 

13. Conditions on Delivery of Stock . The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Option have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Optionee has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

 

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14. Bylaws . All Shares issued pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the provisions of the Company’s Bylaws, including without limitation restrictions on transfer and rights of first refusal.

 

15. Legends . The Company may at any time place legends referencing any applicable federal or state securities law restriction on all certificates representing shares of stock subject to the provisions of the Plan. Optionees shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to Options granted under the Plan in the possession of such Optionees in order to effectuate the provisions of this Paragraph. Unless otherwise specified by the Company, legends placed on such certificates may include, as applicable, the following:

 

  (a) THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH STATE SECURITIES LAWS COVERING SUCH SHARES, THE SALE IS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 OR RULE 701 UNDER THE ACT, OR THE CORPORATION RECEIVES AN OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE HOLDER OF THESE SHARES REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE CORPORATION, STATING THAT SUCH SALE, TRANSFER ASSIGNMENT OR HYPOTHECATION IS EXEMPT FROM SUCH REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS.

 

  (b) THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL OPTION IN FAVOR OF THE CORPORATION OR ITS ASSIGNEE SET FORTH IN THE CORPORATION’S BYLAWS, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION.

 

  (c) THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO “LOCK UP” SET FORTH IN THE CORPORATION’S STOCK PLAN, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE OF THIS CORPORATION.

 

  (d)

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED BY THE CORPORATION TO THE REGISTERED HOLDER UPON EXERCISE OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 422 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED. THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY SHALL NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IMMEDIATELY OF ANY TRANSFER OF THE SHARES BY THE REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF MADE ON OR BEFORE THE REGISTERED HOLDER SHALL

 

7


  HOLD ALL SHARES PURCHASED UNDER THE OPTION IN THE REGISTERED HOLDER’S NAME (AND NOT IN THE NAME OF ANY NOMINEE) FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF EXERCISE OF THE OPTION OR TWO YEARS FROM THE DATE OF GRANT OF THE OPTION.

 

16. Initial Public Offering . In the event of an initial public offering of capital stock made by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Optionee shall not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant any option to purchase or make any short sale of, or otherwise dispose of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any rights to acquire capital stock of the Company for such period of time as may be established by the underwriter for such initial public offering.

 

17. Miscellaneous

 

  (a) Nothing in this Plan or any Option granted hereunder shall confer upon any Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company, or to serve as a director, consultant or advisor thereof, or interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate such Optionee’s employment or engagement at any time. Unless specifically provided otherwise, no grant of an Option shall be deemed salary or compensation for the purpose of computing benefits under any employee benefit plan or other arrangement of the Company for the benefit of its employees unless the Company shall determine otherwise. No Optionee shall have any claim to an Option until it is actually granted under the Plan. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall, except as otherwise provided by the Board, be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.

 

  (b) The Plan and the grant of Options hereunder shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any United States government or regulatory agency as may be required.

 

  (c) The terms of the Plan shall be binding upon the Company, and its successors and assigns.

 

  (d) This Plan and all awards taken hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to the conflicts of laws of North Carolina.

 

  (e) If any provision of this Plan or an option agreement granted pursuant to the Plan is or becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any option agreement under any law deemed applicable by the Board, such provision shall, subject to the withholding provisions set forth herein, be construed or deemed amended to conform to such applicable laws or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Board, materially altering the intent of the Plan or such option agreement, it shall be stricken and the remainder of the Plan or the option agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

8


  (f) The Board may incorporate additional or alternative provisions for this Plan with respect to residents of one or more individual states to the extent necessary or desirable under applicable state securities laws. Such provisions shall be set out in one or more appendices hereto which may be amended or deleted by the Board from time to time. Effective immediately prior to the grant of an Option to a resident of the State of California or to the exercise of an outstanding Option by a resident of the State of California, Appendix A shall be deemed adopted and incorporated as a part of this Plan.

 

  (g) The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of any Option, that the Optionee become bound by the terms of a stockholders agreement, investor rights agreement or similar agreement among the Company and holders of capital stock of the Company. Furthermore, the Company reserves the right to make the provisions of any such agreement apply to any holder of Stock issued upon the exercise of an Option by providing written notice to the registered holder of such stock accompanied by a copy of the applicable agreement or agreements.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on the 13th day of July, 2005 and approved by the stockholders of the Company on the 13 day of July, 2005.

 

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
By:   /s/ William N. Wofford
  William N. Wofford, Secretary

 

9


APPENDIX A

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. 2005

STOCK OPTION PLAN (the “Plan”)

Provisions Applicable to California Residents

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary otherwise appearing the Plan, the following provisions shall apply to any stock option or other award granted under the Plan to a resident of the State of California and, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the following provisions and the provisions otherwise appearing in the Plan, the following provisions shall control, solely with respect to options or other awards granted under the Plan to residents of the State of California:

 

   

At no time shall the total number of shares of Company stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding stock options granted pursuant to this Plan and the total number of shares provided for under any bonus or similar plan or agreement of the Company exceed the limitations set forth in Rule 260.140.45 promulgated under the California Code, based on the number of shares of the Company which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made.

 

   

The exercise price of an option granted to a California resident may not be less than 85% of the “fair value” (as defined by Rule 260.140.50 promulgated under the California Code) of the Company’s common stock at the time the option is granted (or 110% of the “fair value” in the case of any person who owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or its parent or subsidiary corporations at the time of such grant).

 

   

The exercise period of a stock option granted to a California resident shall be no longer than 120 months from the date the option is granted.

 

   

An option granted to a California resident shall not be transferable, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or as permitted by Rule 701 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

   

An option granted to a California resident shall become exercisable at the rate of at least 20% per year over 5 years from the date the option is granted, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment. However, in the case of an option granted to a California resident who is an officer, director, or consultant of the Company or any of its affiliates, the option may become fully exercisable, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment, at any time or during any period established by the Company.

 

10


   

Unless employment is terminated for cause as defined by applicable law, the terms of the Plan or stock option agreement or a contract of employment, the right to exercise an option granted to a California resident in the event of termination of such optionee’s employment (to the extent that such optionee is otherwise entitled to exercise on the date of termination of employment) shall terminate as follows:

 

   

At least 6 months from the date of termination if termination was caused by death or disability; or

 

   

At least 30 days from the date of termination if termination was caused by an event other than death or disability.

 

   

The Plan shall terminate with respect to California residents on the earlier of ten years after the date the Plan is adopted or the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company.

 

   

The Plan shall be available to California residents only if the stockholders of the Company approve the Plan within 12 months before or after the date the Plan is adopted. Any option exercised by a California resident before such stockholder approval is obtained shall be rescinded if such stockholder approval is not subsequently obtained and such shares shall not be counted in determining whether the required stockholder approval is obtained.

 

   

Each California resident participating in the Plan will be provided with a copy of the Company’s annual financial statements (which need not be audited). The Company shall not be required to provide such statements to key employees whose duties with the Company assure access to equivalent information.

 

11

Exhibit 10.6

FIRST AMENDMENT

OF AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan is dated as of February 19, 2008.

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Company ”) has adopted and the stockholders of the Company have approved the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan (the “ Plan ”); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it to be in the best interest of the Company to amend the Plan as more particularly set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as follows:

1. Paragraph 1 of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

Purpose . The Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan (the “ Plan ”) is established to create an additional incentive to promote the financial success and progress of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor corporations thereto, and, except where the context requires otherwise, any present or future parent and/or subsidiary corporations of such corporation (collectively, “ Company ”). For purposes of the Plan, a parent corporation and a subsidiary corporation shall be as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”).”

2. Paragraph 3 of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

Eligibility . The Board may grant options (each an “ Option ”) to purchase shares of the authorized but unissued common stock of the Company (the “ Stock ”), which Options may be either incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “ Incentive Stock Option ”) or nonqualified stock options (“ Nonqualified Stock Options ”). The Board, in its sole discretion, shall determine to whom Options are granted (each an “ Optionee ”). An Option that the Board intends to be an Incentive Stock Option shall only be granted to an employee of the Company and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to an Optionee if an Option (or any part thereof) which is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. No Option which is designated as a nonqualified stock option shall be granted to any “service provider” as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code and the regulations thereunder) who, on the date of grant, is solely a “service provider” to any then-parent corporation of the Company unless otherwise specified by the Board.”


3. Paragraph 6(a) of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

“(a) Exercise Price . The exercise price for each Option shall be established in the sole discretion of the Board; provided, however, that (i) the exercise price per share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than the fair market value of a share of Stock on the date of grant; (ii) the exercise price per share of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Optionee who on the date of the grant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code (a “ Ten Percent Owner Optionee ”) shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market value of a share of Stock on the date of grant; and (iii) the exercise price per share of a nonqualified stock option shall not be less than the fair market value of a share of Stock on the date of grant unless the Board expressly determines to grant a below-market Option. For purposes of this Plan, “fair market value” means the value assigned to the Stock by the Board for any date of grant, as determined pursuant to any reasonable method established by the Board that is consistent with the applicable requirements of Sections 409A, 422 and 424 of the Code (which may be changed from time to time to the extent consistent with the Code). Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be granted by the Board in its discretion with an exercise price lower than the minimum exercise price set forth above if, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in accordance with the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code. The foregoing shall not require that any such assumption or modification will result in the Option having the same characteristics, attributes or tax treatment as the Option for which it is substituted.”

4. The last sentence of Paragraph 17(f) of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

“Effective immediately prior to the grant of an Option to a resident of the State of California or to the exercise of an outstanding Option by a resident of the State of California, Appendix A, in substantially the form as attached to this First Amendment, shall be deemed adopted and incorporated as a part of this Plan.”

5. The following section shall be added as Paragraph 17(h) of the Plan:

“(h) It is intended that all Options granted hereunder be either exempt from, or issued in compliance with, Section 409A of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to an Optionee, or any other party if an Option that is intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Section 409A of the Code is not so exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Board.”

 

2


6. Except as herein amended, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall remain in full force and effect as originally adopted and approved.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing First Amendment to the Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:   /s/ William N. Wofford
  William N. Wofford, Secretary

 

3


APPENDIX A

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN (the “Plan”)

Provisions Applicable to California Residents

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary otherwise appearing the Plan, the following provisions shall apply to any stock option or other award granted under the Plan to a resident of the State of California and, in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the following provisions and the provisions otherwise appearing in the Plan, the following provisions shall control, solely with respect to options or other awards granted under the Plan to residents of the State of California:

 

   

At no time shall the total number of shares of Company stock issuable upon exercise of all outstanding stock options granted pursuant to this Plan and the total number of shares provided for under any bonus or similar plan or agreement of the Company exceed the limitations set forth in Rule 260.140.45 promulgated under the California Code, based on the number of shares of the Company which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made, unless the Plan complies with all conditions of Rule 701 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”).

 

   

The exercise period of a stock option granted to a California resident shall be no longer than 120 months from the date the option is granted.

 

   

An option granted to a California resident shall not be transferable, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or as permitted by Rule 701 of the Securities Act (“ Rule 701 ”).

 

   

Unless employment is terminated for cause as defined by applicable law, the terms of the Plan or stock option agreement or a contract of employment, the right to exercise an option granted to a California resident in the event of termination of such optionee’s employment (to the extent that such optionee is otherwise entitled to exercise on the date of termination of employment) shall terminate on the earlier to occur of (i) the expiration date of the option or (ii) (a) at least 6 months from the date of termination if termination was caused by death or disability; or (b) at least 30 days from the date of termination if termination was caused by an event other than death or disability.

 

   

The Plan shall be available to California residents only if the stockholders of the Company approve the Plan by the later of (i) within 12 months before or after the date the Plan or agreement is adopted and (ii) prior to or within 12 months of the grant of any option or issuance of any security under the Plan or the agreement to a California resident.

 

   

In the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination, reclassification or other distribution of the Company’s securities, the number of securities allocated to any resident of California must be adjusted proportionately and without receipt by the Company of any consideration for any California resident.

 

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Unless the Plan or agreement complies with all conditions of Rule 701, the Company shall provide to each California resident and to each California resident who acquires Stock pursuant to the Plan, not less frequently than annually, copies of annual financial statements (which need not be audited). The Company shall not be required to provide such statements to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information or when the Plan or agreement complies with all conditions of Rule 701.

 

5

Exhibit 10.7

SECOND AMENDMENT

OF THE AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN

THIS SECOND AMENDMENT of the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan is dated as of December 3, 2009.

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Company ”) has adopted and the stockholders of the Company have approved the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, as previously amended by that certain First Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan (collectively, the “ Plan ”); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it to be in the best interest of the Company to amend the Plan as more particularly set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as follows:

The first sentence of Paragraph 4 of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 9 below, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to Options granted under the Plan shall be Five Million, Three Hundred Thousand (5,300,000) shares.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing Second Amendment to the Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:   /s/ William N. Wofford
  William N. Wofford, Secretary

Exhibit 10.8

THIRD AMENDMENT

OF THE AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN

THIS THIRD AMENDMENT of the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan is dated as of February 23, 2011.

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Company ”) has adopted and the stockholders of the Company have approved the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, as previously amended by that certain First Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan and that certain Second Amendment of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan (collectively, the “ Plan ”); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it to be in the best interest of the Company to amend the Plan as more particularly set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as follows:

The first sentence of Paragraph 4 of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 9 below, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to Options granted under the Plan shall be Ten Million, Six Hundred Thirty-One Thousand, One Hundred Thirty-Seven (10,631,137) shares.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Secretary of the Company certifies that the foregoing Third Amendment to the Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:   /s/ William N. Wofford
  William N. Wofford, Secretary

Exhibit 10.9

FOURTH AMENDMENT

OF THE AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN

THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT of the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan is dated as of August 9, 2013.

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Company ”) has adopted and the stockholders of the Company have approved the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, as previously amended (collectively, the “ Plan ”); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it to be in the best interest of the Company to amend the Plan as more particularly set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as follows:

 

  1. The first sentence of Paragraph 4 of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 9 below, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to Options and awards of restricted stock granted under the Plan shall be fifteen million, six hundred thirty-one thousand, one hundred thirty-seven (15,631,137) shares.

 

  2. The Company shall be authorized to make awards of stock pursuant to the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned representative of the Company certifies that the foregoing Fourth Amendment to the Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:   /s/ Vicente Anido, Jr.
  Name: Vicente Anido, Jr.
  Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 10.10

FIFTH AMENDMENT

OF THE AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN

THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT of the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan is dated as of September 16, 2013.

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “ Company ”) has adopted and the stockholders of the Company have approved the Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2005 Stock Option Plan, as previously amended (collectively, the “ Plan ”); and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors deems it to be in the best interest of the Company to amend the Plan as more particularly set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan shall be amended as follows:

 

  1. The first sentence of Paragraph 4 of the Plan shall be deleted in its entirety and the following substituted in lieu thereof:

Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 9 below, the maximum number of shares of Stock which may be issued pursuant to Options and awards of restricted stock granted under the Plan shall be eighteen million, eight hundred eighty-one thousand, one hundred thirty-seven (18,881,137) shares.

 

  2. The Company shall be authorized to make awards of stock pursuant to the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned representative of the Company certifies that the foregoing Fifth Amendment of the Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:   /s/ Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD
  Name: Vicente Anido, Jr., PhD
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 10.11

SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND GENERAL RELEASE

This Separation Agreement and General Release (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 25, 2013, is entered into between THOMAS J. VAN HAARLEM, M.D. (the “Dr. van Haarlem”) and AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

All capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in that certain Employment Agreement dated as of July 5, 2005 (the “Employment Agreement”) between the Company and Dr. van Haarlem.

WHEREAS, Dr. van Haarlem and the Company are parties to the Employment Agreement, which set forth the terms of Executive’s employment with the Company as its President and Chief Executive Officer;

WHEREAS, Dr. Van Haarlem and the Company have determined to terminate such employment effective as of July 25, 2013 (the “Separation Date”) and to agree to a mutually satisfactory settlement regarding Dr. van Haarlem’s separation from the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants, conditions and provisions set forth below, it is agreed as follows:

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Dr. van Haarlem and the Company agree that the Employment Agreement, and Dr. van Haarlem’s employment by the Company, shall be terminated as of the Separation Date. Effective as of the Separation Date, Dr. van Haarlem shall be deemed to have resigned from all positions that he held (a) as an officer and/or director of the Company, (b) as a member of any other governing body of the Company, and/or (c) as a member of any committee of the Company or its boards of directors or other governing bodies; provided, however, Dr. van Haarlem agrees to take all actions that are deemed reasonably necessary by the Company to effectuate or evidence such resignations. Dr. van Haarlem understands that, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, he is entitled to nothing further from Company (whether arising under the Employment Agreement or otherwise), including reinstatement by the Company.

2. In consideration for the release set forth in Section 3 below, following the Separation Date and subject to Dr. van Haarlem’s continued compliance with Section 9, Section 4(f)(v) of the Employment Agreement (Non-Solicitation) the confidentiality and invention assignment provisions contained in that certain Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement between Dr. van Haarlem and the Company, the Company agrees as follows:

 

  (a) To pay Dr. van Haarlem his current annualized base salary for a period of 12 months from the date of this Agreement in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll practices;

 

  (b) To reimburse Dr. van Haarlem for any unreimbursed business expenses properly incurred by him prior to the Separation Date in accordance with Company policy;


  (c) To continue to pay for Dr. van Haarlem’s participation in the Company’s health and dental plan until the date that is 12 months from the date of this Agreement;

 

  (d) To reimburse Dr. van Haarlem for a pro rata number of unused vacation days during 2013 at a rate equal to his daily wage;

 

  (e) To enter into a one (1) year consulting agreement (the “Consulting Agreement”) substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, which shall provide for (i) the continuation of the vesting of options to purchase 208,390 shares of common stock of the Company held by Dr. van Haarlem in accordance with the vesting schedule currently applicable to such options until June 30, 2014 (the “Expiration Date”); and (ii) the extension of the exercise period of options to purchase 2,218,114 shares of common stock of the Company, all of which have vested on or prior to the date of this Agreement, until the Expiration Date, following which time all unexercised Options shall automatically expire; and

 

  (f) To pay Dr. van Haarlem an amount equal to $146,108 within 30 days following the earliest to occur of (i) the closing of an initial public offering (an “IPO”) in which the Company receives gross proceeds of at least $50,000,000; (ii) the closing of an equity financing of the Company in which the Company receives gross proceeds of no less than $20,000,00 (a “Qualified Financing”); and (iii) a merger, acquisition or transfer of all or substantially all of the Company’s business assets (a “Change of Control”), each a “Trigger Event”; provided that such Trigger Event occurs on or before June 30, 2014.

3. (a) In consideration of the payments and benefits set forth in Section 2 above, Dr. van Haarlem hereby agrees that he fully, finally and unconditionally and forever releases, discharges and forgives the Company, all of the Company’s respective successors and assigns, and any and all of the Company’s respective past and present shareholders, partners, members, officers, directors, managers, agents, representatives and employees (whether acting as agents for the Company or in their individual capacities) (the “Releasees”), from any and all claims, allegations, complaints, proceedings, charges, actions, causes of action, demands, debts, covenants, contracts, liabilities or damages of any nature whatsoever, which Dr. van Haarlem had, has or may have against the Company through the date hereof, known or unknown, (collectively, “Claims”), including, by way of example and without limiting the broadest application of the foregoing, any Claims, any and all actions under the Employment Agreement or any other contract or understanding, common law, tort, or any federal, state or local decisional law, statutes, regulations or constitutions, any Claims for notice or pay in lieu of notice, or for wrongful dismissal, discrimination, or harassment on the basis of any factor (including, without limitation, any Claim pursuant to or arising under federal and state hour laws, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (together with the Older Worker Benefit Protection Act), as amended, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Employee Retirement Income and Security Act of 1974, as amended, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as


amended, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, the New Jersey Family Medical Leave Act, the New Jersey Conscientious Employee Protection Act, the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, each as amended from time to time, and any other federal, state or local legislation concerning employment or employment discrimination), and any Claims, asserted benefits or rights arising by or under contract or implied contract, any alleged oral or written contract or agreement for employment or services, any Claims arising by or under promissory estoppel, detrimental reliance, or under any asserted covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and any Claims for defamation, fraud, fraudulent inducement, intentional infliction of emotional distress, or any other tortious conduct, including personal injury of any nature and arising from any source or condition, or pursuant to any other applicable employment standards or human rights legislation, or for severance pay, salary, bonus, commission, incentive, equity or additional compensation, vacation pay, insurance or benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Dr. van Haarlem does not release and Claims do not include: (i) any claim or right that may arise after the execution of this Agreement; (ii) any claim or right that Dr. van Haarlem may have under this Agreement; or (iii) any right Dr. van Haarlem may have to indemnification as a former officer or director of the Company under the Company’s certificate of incorporation or By-laws or under any applicable indemnification agreements or policies.

(b) As of the Separation Date, and upon execution of this Agreement and the waiver and release of all Claims, Dr. can Haarlem covenants, represents and warrants that he has not served or filed any action and will not assert, threaten or commence any claim, action, complaint or proceeding against the Releasees or any of them by reason of any Claim existing through the date of this Agreement, nor has Dr. van Haarlem agreed to do so. Further, Dr. van Haarlem has not assigned, transferred, sold, encumbered, pledged, hypothecated, mortgaged, distributed or otherwise disposed of or conveyed to any third party any right or Claims against the Company or any Releasee that has been released by this Agreement. With the exception of Dr. can Haarlem’s rights with regard to the EEOC, the ADEA and the OWBPA described in Paragraph 9, below, if Dr. can Haarlem should, after the execution of this Agreement make, pursue, prosecute, or threaten to make any Claim or allegation, or pursue or commence or threaten to commence any Claim, action, complaint or proceeding against the Releasees, or any of them, for or by reason of any Claim existing up to the date of this Agreement, this Agreement may be raised as, and shall constitute, a complete bar to any such claim, allegation, action, complaint or proceeding, without altering or diminishing the effectiveness of the release provisions provided under this subparagraph (b) and the preceding subparagraph (a).

4. Dr. van Haarlem shall not make or encourage any other individual to make any public or private comments, orally or in written form (including, without limitation by e-mail or other electronic transmission), about the Company or any of its officers, directors or managers, or take any action, directly or indirectly, that would “disparage” the Company or such officers, directors or managers. The Company shall not make or encourage any other individual to make any public or private comments, orally or in written form (including, without limitation by e-mail or other electronic transmission), about Dr. van Haarlem, or take any action, directly or indirectly, that would “disparage” Dr. van Haarlem. “Disparaging” statements are those which impugn the character, capabilities, reputation or integrity of the aforesaid individuals or entity or which accuse the aforesaid individuals or entity of acting in violation of any law or governmental regulation or of condoning any such action, or otherwise acting in an unprofessional, dishonest, disreputable, improper, incompetent or negligent manner, but shall not include truthful statements required by due legal process.


5. This Agreement shall not constitute an admission of any wrongdoing by the Releasees or any of them, or of having caused any injury to Dr. van Haarlem by any acts or omissions on the part of the Releasees or any of them, or a violation of any statutory, regulatory or common law obligation owed to Dr. van Haarlem by any of the Releasees.

6. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, heirs (in the case of an individual) and assigns. None of Dr. van Haarlem’s rights or obligations under this Agreement may be assigned or transferred by him other than his rights to reimbursement and benefits, which may be transferred only by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

7. This Agreement shall be construed and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey.

8. Dr. van Haarlem acknowledges that he has been afforded the opportunity to consider this Agreement for 21 days before executing it, although he may accept it by execution at any time within such 21-day period. Dr. van Haarlem may rescind his waiver and release of Claims under the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.) (the “ADEA”) within seven (7) days of signing this Agreement by sending notice of rescission to the Company at 135 US Highway 206, Suite 9, Bedminster, NJ 07921, Attention: Richard Rubino, within seven (7) calendar days following its execution. This Agreement shall become effective seven (7) days after its execution. Dr. van Haarlem’s rescission of this Agreement shall not be considered a revocation of his agreement to terminate his employment with the Company. Dr. van Haarlem further understands and agrees that if he rescinds this Agreement in accordance with this Paragraph, the Company shall have no obligation to provide the payments and benefits described in Paragraph 2 and this Agreement shall be null and void.

9. The release in Section 2 of this Agreement includes a waiver of claims against the Releasees under the ADEA and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (“OWBPA”). Therefore, pursuant to the requirements of the ADEA and the OWBPA, Dr. van Haarlem specifically acknowledges the following:

 

  (a) that he is and has been advised to consult with an attorney of his choosing concerning the legal significance of this Agreement;

 

  (b) that this Agreement is written in a manner he understands;

 

  (c) that the consideration set forth in Section 2 of this Agreement is adequate and sufficient for his entering into this Agreement;

 

  (d) that he has been afforded 21 days to consider this Agreement before signing it (although he may sign it at any time prior to the end of that 21-day period) and that any changes to this Agreement subsequently agreed upon by the parties, whether material or immaterial, do not restart this period for consideration; and


  (e) that he has been advised that during the seven (7) day period after he signs this Agreement, he may rescind his waiver and release of Claims under the ADEA and OWBPA in accordance with Paragraph 8.

Nothing in this Agreement prevents Dr. van Haarlem from filing a charge with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) or from cooperating with the EEOC; however, Dr. van Haarlem understands and agrees that he shall not accept, and shall not be entitled to retain, any compensation or other relief recovered by the EEOC on his behalf as a result of such charge with respect to any matter covered by this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement prevents Dr. van Haarlem from filing a lawsuit challenging the validity of his waiver of federal age discrimination claims under the ADEA and the OWBPA.

10. Dr. van Haarlem agrees that he will surrender to the Company, no later than the Separation Date, all property belonging to, or purchased with the funds of, the Company, and any equipment (including computers and cell phones), employee or security identification or access codes, pass codes, keys, credit cards, swipe cards, client data bases, computer files, Company proposals, computer access codes, documents, memoranda, records, files, letters, specification or other papers (including all copies and other tangible forms of the foregoing) acquired by Dr. van Haarlem by reason of his employment with the Company and in Dr. van Haarlem’s possession or under his custody or control relating to the operations, business or affairs of the Company. Dr. van Haarlem agrees that he will not retain any copies, duplicates, reproductions, computer disks, or excerpts thereof of Company documents.

11. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Dr. Van Haarlem agrees that the provisions of Sections 4(f)(v) (Non-Solicitation for 12 months) of the Employment Agreement and the confidentiality and invention assignment obligations contained in that certain Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement between Dr. van Haarlem and the Company shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms. For purposes of clarity, the Company agrees that it will not enforce the Noncompetition provisions contained in Section 4 of the Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement.

12. This Agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement and General Release to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Richard J. Rubino

Name:   Richard J. Rubino
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. Van Haarlem, M.D.

Name:   Thomas J. Van Haarlem, M.D.
Date:   7/25/2013

Exhibit 10.12

CONSULTING AGREEMENT

THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), effective as of July 25, 2013 (“Effective Date”), is by and between THOMAS J. VAN HAARLEM, M.D., having an address at 14 Blue Cliff Drive, Lebanon, NJ 08833 (hereinafter referred to as “Consultant”) and AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation having offices at 135 US Highway 206, Suite 9, Bedminster, NJ 07921 (“Aerie” or the “Company”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, Aerie is a development stage company that is engaged in research and development of ophthalmic products (the “Field”).

WHEREAS, Consultant has significant experience relating to the Company and its products;

WHEREAS, Aerie desires to retain Consultant so that it may call upon Consultant’s knowledge and expertise;

WHEREAS, Consultant is willing to render such services to Aerie on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth in this Agreement;

NOW, THEREFOR, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Term of Agreement . This Agreement shall be in effect from the Effective Date until June 30, 2014 (the “Term”).

2. Services . Consultant shall report to the CEO of the Company and shall be available during the Term upon reasonable request by Aerie, to consult with Aerie to offer advice and guidance. The Services may include limited travel. Any travel expenses will be reimbursed by the Aerie in accordance with Section 4 below.

3. Compensation .

(a) In consideration for the Services of Consultant, Aerie shall pay Consultant an amount equal to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per month.

(b) Consultant is the holder of 139,833 shares of Series A-4 Preferred Stock and options to purchase 2,426,504 shares of common stock of the Company (the “Options”), of which 2,218,114 Options are currently vested and exercisable (the “Vested Options”). Subject to the terms contained herein, as additional consideration for the Services the Company agrees:

(i) to extend the exercise period of all Vested Options until June 30, 2014 (the “Expiration Date”);

 

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(ii) that all unvested Options (“Unvested Options”) shall continue to vest in accordance with the current vesting schedule associated with such Unvested Options, such that 208,390 Options shall vest on or before the Expiration Date; provided, however, that all Unvested Options shall remain unvested as of the Expiration Date shall expire immediately.

(iii) Consultant shall be entitled to exercise any Options by means of a “cashless exercise” in which the Consultant shall be entitled to receive a number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing [(A-B) (X)] by (A), where:

(A) = the fair market value of the common stock of the Company on the date of exercise as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors;

(B) = the exercise price of the Option; and

(X) = the number of shares of common stock that would be issuable upon exercise of the Option if such exercise were by means of a cash exercise rather than a cashless exercise.

(iv) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all Options that have not been exercised on or prior to the Expiration Date shall expire at the close of business on the Expiration Date.

4. Expenses . Aerie shall reimburse Consultant for all normal, usual and necessary expenses incurred by Consultant in furtherance of the business and affairs of Aerie, including reasonable pre-approved travel and entertainment expenses, upon timely receipt by Aerie of appropriate documentation of Consultant’s expenditures and otherwise in accordance with any expense reimbursement policy as may from time to time be adopted by Aerie.

5. Confidentiality and Invention Assignment .

(a) Consultant recognizes and acknowledges that in the course of his Services he is likely to receive confidential or proprietary information owned by the Company, its affiliates or third parties with whom the Company or any such affiliates has an obligation of confidentiality. Accordingly, during and after the Term and for a period of 10 years thereafter, Consultant agrees to keep confidential and not disclose or make accessible to any other person or use for any other purpose other than in connection with the fulfillment of his duties under this Agreement, any Confidential and Proprietary Information (as defined below) owned by, or received by or on behalf of, the Company or any of its affiliates. “Confidential and Proprietary Information” shall include, but shall not be limited to, confidential or proprietary scientific or technical information, data, formulas and related concepts, business plans (both current and under development), client lists, promotion and marketing programs, trade secrets, or any other confidential or proprietary business information relating to development programs, costs, revenues, marketing, investments, sales activities, promotions, credit and financial data, manufacturing processes, financing methods, plans or the business and affairs of the Company or of any affiliate or client of the Company. Additionally, information that, by its nature and content, would be readily recognized by a

 

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reasonable person to be proprietary to the Company shall also be deemed Confidential and Proprietary Information. Consultant expressly acknowledges the trade secret status of the Confidential and Proprietary Information and that the Confidential and Proprietary Information constitutes a protectable business interest of the Company. Consultant agrees not to:

(i) use any such Confidential and Proprietary Information for personal use or for others; and

(ii) permanently remove any Company material or reproductions (including but not limited to writings, correspondence, notes, drafts, records, invoices, technical and business policies, computer programs or disks) thereof from the Company’s offices at any time during his employment by the Company, except as required in the execution of Consultant’s duties to the Company, provided; however, that Consultant shall not be prevented from using or disclosing any Confidential and Proprietary Information:

A. that Consultant can demonstrate was known to his prior to the effective date of this Agreement;

B. that is now, or becomes in the future, available to persons who are not legally required to treat such information as confidential unless such persons acquired the Confidential and Proprietary Information through acts or omissions of Consultant; or

C. that Consultant is compelled to disclose pursuant to the order of a court or other governmental or legal body having jurisdiction over such matter, provided that (1) Consultant shall give Company sufficient advance written notice of such required disclosure to permit it to seek a protective order or other similar order with respect to such Confidential Information, and (2) thereafter Consultant shall disclose only the minimum Confidential Information required to be disclosed in order to comply, whether or not a protective order or other similar order is obtained by the Company. The Confidential Information that is disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall remain Confidential Information for all other purposes.

(b) Consultant agrees to return immediately all Company material and reproductions (including but not limited, to writings, correspondence, notes, drafts, records, invoices, technical and business policies, computer programs or disks) thereof in his possession to the Company upon request and in any event immediately upon termination of employment.

(c) Except with prior written authorization by the Company, Consultant agrees not to disclose or publish any of the Confidential and Proprietary Information, or any confidential, scientific, technical or business information of any other party to whom the Company or any of its affiliates owes a legal duty of confidence, at any time during or after his employment with the Company.

 

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(d) Consultant agrees that all inventions, discoveries, improvements and patentable or copyrightable works, relating to the Company’s business (“Inventions”) initiated, conceived or made by her, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Term shall be the sole property of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and, to the extent permitted by law, shall be “works made for hire” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C.A., Section 101). The Company shall be the sole owner of all patents, copyrights, trade secret rights, and other intellectual property or other rights in connection therewith. Consultant hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest he may have or acquire in all such Inventions; provided, however, that the Board may in its sole discretion agree to waive the Company’s rights pursuant to this Section 5(d) with respect to any Invention that is not directly or indirectly related to the Company’s business. Consultant further agrees to assist the Company in every proper way (but at the Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights or other rights on such Inventions in any and all countries, and to that end Consultant will execute all documents necessary:

(i) to apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone (unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent, copyrights or other analogous protection in any country throughout the world and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same; and

(ii) to defend any opposition proceedings in respect of such applications and any opposition proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection.

(e) The provisions of this Section 5 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

6. Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement .

(a) During the Term and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Consultant shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:

(i) solicit or induce any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company or such subsidiaries; or

(ii) solicit the business of any agent, client or customer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to products or services similar to and competitive with those provided or supplied by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(b) Consultant agrees that both during the Term and at all times thereafter, not to make or encourage any other individual to make any public or private comments, orally or in written form (including, without limitation by e-mail or other electronic transmission), about the Company or any of its officers, directors or managers, or take any action, directly or indirectly, that would “disparage” the Company or such officers, directors or managers. The Company shall not make or encourage any other individual to make any public or private comments, orally or in written form (including, without limitation by e-mail or other electronic transmission), about Consultant, or take any action, directly or indirectly, that

 

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would “disparage” Consultant. “Disparaging” statements are those which impugn the character, capabilities, reputation or integrity of the aforesaid individuals or entity or which accuse the aforesaid individuals or entity of acting in violation of any law or governmental regulation or of condoning any such action, or otherwise acting in an unprofessional, dishonest, disreputable, improper, incompetent or negligent manner, but shall not include truthful statements required by due legal process.

7. Representations of Consultant . Consultant hereby represents and warrants as follows:

(a) Neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement nor the performance by the Consultant of his duties and other obligations hereunder violate or will violate statute or law or conflict with ,or constitute a default or breach of any covenant or obligation, including without limitation any non-competition restrictions, under (whether immediately, upon the giving of notice or lapse of time or both) any prior employment agreement, contract, or other instrument to which the Consultant is a party or by which he is bound.

(b) The Consultant has the full right, power and legal capacity to enter and deliver this Agreement and to perform his duties and other obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Consultant enforceable against him in accordance with its terms. No approvals or consents of any persons or entities are required for the Consultant to execute and deliver this Agreement or perform his duties and other obligations hereunder.

8. Termination . During the Term of this Agreement, either party may terminate this Agreement upon 30 days prior written notice to the other. Upon any such termination:

(a) Consultant shall be paid all compensation due through the date of termination and all accrued but unpaid expenses shall be paid upon the effective date of the termination; and

(b) The vesting applicable to all unvested Options shall cease immediately and the Consultant shall have a period of 90 days to exercise any and all vested Options, after which time all Options shall expire; provided, however, that no such Options shall be exercisable after June 30, 2014.

9. Survival . Sections 5 and 6 shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.

10. Consultant not an Employee . Aerie and the Consultant hereby acknowledge and agree that Consultant shall perform the services hereunder as an independent contractor and not as an employee of Aerie.

11. Miscellaneous .

(a) Severability of Provisions . If any provision of this Agreement shall be declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or incapable of being

 

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enforced in whole or in part, the remaining conditions and provisions or portions thereof shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect and enforceable to the extent they are valid, legal and enforceable, and no provision shall be deemed dependent upon any other covenant or provision unless so expressed herein.

(b) Entire Agreement; Modification . This Agreement is the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and the parties hereto have made no agreements, representations or warranties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not set forth herein or therein. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto.

(c) Binding Effect . The rights, benefits, duties and obligations under this Agreement shall inure to, and be binding upon, Aerie, its successors and assigns, and upon Consultant and his legal representatives. This Agreement constitutes a personal service agreement, and the performance of Consultant’s obligations hereunder may not be transferred or assigned by Consultant and any such purported transfer or assignment shall null and void ab initio.

(d) Third Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement is for the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted successors and assigns, and is not intended to confer upon any other person or entity, any rights or remedies hereunder.

(e) Non-Waiver . The failure of either party to insist upon the strict performance of any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of future compliance therewith, and said terms, conditions and provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement on the part of either party shall be effective for any purpose whatsoever unless such waiver is in writing and signed by such party.

(f) Remedies For Breach . Consultant agrees that any breach of Section 5, 6 or 7 of this Agreement by Consultant could cause irreparable damage to Aerie and to the Affiliates, and that monetary damages alone would not be adequate and, in the event of such breach or threat of breach, Aerie shall have, in addition to any and all remedies at law and without the posting of a bond or other security, the right to an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief necessary to prevent or redress the violation of Aerie’s obligations under such Sections. In the event that an actual proceeding is brought in equity to enforce such Sections, Consultant shall not urge as a defense that there is an adequate remedy at law nor shall Aerie be prevented from seeking any other remedies which may be available to it.

(g) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey without regard to such State’s principles of conflict of laws. Any dispute arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement shall be exclusively decided by binding arbitration conducted in New Jersey in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect before a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with such rules. The arbitrator shall have authority to grant any form of appropriate relief, whether legal or equitable in nature, including specific performance. Each of the parties agrees that service of process in such

 

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arbitration proceedings shall be satisfactorily made upon it if sent by registered mail addressed to it at the address referred to in clause below. Judgment upon any award rendered therein may be entered and enforcement obtained thereon in any court having jurisdiction.

(h) Headings . The headings of the Sections are inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not affect any interpretation of this Agreement.

(i) Counterparts and Execution . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Facsimile, Portable Document Format (PDF) or photocopied signatures of the Parties will have the same legal validity as original signatures.

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Agreement by proper person thereunto duly authorized.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.     THOMAS J. VAN HAARLEM, M.D.
By:  

/s/ Richard J. Rubino

    By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem

Name:   Richard J. Rubino     Name:   Thomas J. van Haarlem
Title:   CFO     Date:   07/25/13
Date:   07/25/13      

 

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Exhibit 10.13

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

135 US Highway 206, Suite 15

Bedminster, NJ 07921

September 24, 2012

Richard J. Rubino

3 Apache Drive

Oakland, NJ 07436

Tel: 201-247-9191

E-Mail: rich957@optonline.net

 

  Re: Your Employment with Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc .

Dear Richard,

We are pleased to offer you, on the terms set forth in this letter (the “ Agreement ”), a position of employment as Chief Financial Officer (“ CFO ”) of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”). Your employment with the Company will start on October 15, 2012 (the “ Start Date ”).

 

  1. Reporting, Duties and Responsibilities, Employee Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition; Indemnification .

 

  a. Reporting; Duties and Responsibilities . During the term hereof, from and after the Start Date until this Agreement is terminated as provided herein, you will serve as Chief Financial Officer, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “ CEO ”). Your specific duties and responsibilities as CFO will be determined by the CEO, but will primarily consist of leading the Company’s financial operations, strategy and planning, managing financial audits in addition to contributing to any business transactions, fundraising and networking within the financial and investor community. This offer is for a full-time position at the Company’s New Jersey office, except as travel to other locations may be necessary to fulfill your responsibilities. You may spend time for charitable, civic and academic responsibilities, and such other activities as the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) approves from time to time, as will not adversely impact your ability to perform your obligations hereunder, with such impact being determined, as necessary, by the CEO in good faith after reasonable consultation with you with respect thereto.

 

  b. Employee Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement . As a condition of your employment hereunder, you shall on or prior to the Start Date execute the Company’s standard form of Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement (the “ Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement ”).


  c. Indemnification . You will be subject to such indemnification as is provided under the Company’s Bylaws.

 

  2. Salary; Bonuses; Benefits; Reimbursement; Relocation; Stock Options .

 

  a. Salary . Your initial annual base salary rate (less applicable deductions), commencing on the Start Date, will be at a rate of $12,500 per semi-monthly pay period, prorated for partial periods, which is an annualized salary rate of $300,000, subject to increase by the CEO and the Board, payable in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practice as in effect from time to time. Your salary as in effect at the time during the term hereof may not be decreased by the Board except as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries of all other officers of the Company at the level of Vice President and above as part of an overall reduction in salaries decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer salaries remain so reduced.

 

  b. Bonuses .

 

  i. Annual Performance Bonus . In addition to your salary, during the Term of your employment with the Company, you will be eligible to earn an annual performance-based bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) as follows:

 

  (A) Amount . Such annual bonus as to your performance for 2012 or a subsequent year will equal up to twenty percent (20%) of your annual salary for the relevant calendar year, or, as determined by the CEO and the Board of the Company, to which such Annual Bonus relates. Your 2012 Annual Bonus will be prorated to the Start Date. The exact amount of any Annual Bonus for each calendar year will be determined in good faith by the Board in its complete and sole discretion on the same date as such determination is made for all other executive officers of the Company, but in no event later than April 1 of the calendar year following the performance period based on your achievement of objectives for the relevant performance measurement period. If a bonus is awarded, it will be paid between January 1 and April 15 of the calendar year following the one to which it relates.

 

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  (B) Objectives . No later than sixty (60) days after the Start Date, the CEO, or the Compensation Committee of the Board, and you will mutually determine in good faith your performance objectives for calendar year 2012, which agreed objectives will be set forth in writing by the CEO to you and which thereafter cannot be changed for such calendar year without written notice to you. If you and the CEO, or the Compensation Committee as applicable, do not agree upon such objectives for the relevant year within such 60 day period, then the objectives will be determined by the CEO, in his sole discretion, within 30 days after such 60 day period has expired and will be communicated to you in writing after being so determined and will be deemed to have been accepted by you. Thereafter, the procedures set forth above will be followed for any subsequent years in which you are employed by the Company.

 

  c. Benefits . From and after the Start Date, during your employment hereunder:

 

  i. Benefits Generally . You will receive the Company’s standard employee benefits package (including health and disability insurance paid by the Company, participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan subject to the terms and conditions thereof) as such packages and policies are in effect from time to time, and as such benefits package may be adjusted by the Board in good faith during the term hereof, as applicable to all employees, which benefits package can be increased, but cannot be decreased unless such decrease is effected in connection with, and is proportional to, an overall reduction in the relevant benefits to all executive officers decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other relevant executive officer benefits remain so reduced. In addition, you will be entitled to paid time off in accordance with Company policy.

 

  ii. Life Insurance . Within ninety (90) days of the Start Date, the Company will provide you, at the Company’s expense, as part of such benefits package, with a life insurance benefit plan with terms and coverage appropriate for your position, but in no event less than one year’s Base Salary.

 

  d.

Reimbursement . You will be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all commercially reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by you in connection with the Company’s business, including without limitation, your reasonable domestic economy airfare, food, lodging, automobile rental and incidental expenses in performing your duties hereunder, provided, as to a given expense, that you have

 

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  submitted commercially customary support documentation within thirty (30) days of incurring such expense. You will obtain the approval of the CEO in writing prior to incurring any expenses other than ordinary course expenses as described generally in the preceding sentence of this Section 2(d).

 

  e. Stock options .

 

  i. Initial Option . You will be granted, subject to Board approval at the first Board meeting held after the Start Date, an incentive stock option (your “ Initial Option ”) under the Company’s current stock option plan (the “ Plan ”), to purchase up to One Million Seven Hundred Twenty Five (1,725,000) shares of Common Stock of the Company. The exercise price per share of your Initial Option will be equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the date that such Initial Option is granted by the Board. Such Initial Option will become exercisable over the forty-eight (48) month period commencing with the Start Date (the “ Vesting Start Date ”), as to 25% of the total number of shares under such Initial Option on the first annual anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, rounded downward to the nearest whole share to avoid fractional shares, and will become exercisable as to an additional 2.084 % of the total number of shares under such Initial Option at each of the succeeding 36 monthly anniversaries after such one year anniversary, rounded downward to the nearest whole share for the first 35 of such monthly anniversaries to avoid fractional shares, and as to the remaining number of shares under such Initial Option at the 48th monthly anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, provided as to such one-year anniversary and as to each such relevant monthly anniversary thereafter you then are employed by or are rendering services as a consultant to the Company.

 

  ii. Other Options or Awards . During the term hereof, you will also be eligible to be granted such other stock options and/or stock awards, under or outside of the Plan and under any successor equity incentive plans of the Company, as the Company deems to be appropriate.

 

  f. Taxes . You shall be responsible for any taxes payable with regard to any compensation of benefits provided for in this Agreement.

 

  3. Representations and Warranties .

 

  a.

You represent and warrant to the Company that your performance of this Agreement and employment with the Company does not and will not breach any noncompetition agreement or any agreement to keep in

 

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  confidence proprietary information acquired by you in confidence or in trust prior to your employment with the Company. You also represent and warrant to the Company that you have not entered into, and during the Term, agree not to enter into, any agreement that conflicts or violates this Agreement.

 

  b. You represent and warrant to the Company that you have not brought and shall not bring to the Company, or use in the performance of your responsibilities for the Company, any materials or documents of a former employer which are not generally available to the public or which did not belong to you prior to your employment with the Company, unless you have obtained written authorization from the former employer or other owner for their possession and use and provided the Company with a copy thereof.

 

  4. Certain Definitions; “At Will” Basis of Your Employment; Term; Survival of Certain Obligations; Post-Termination Matters .

 

  a. At Will” Basis of Your Employment; Term . Your employment with Company is on an “at will” basis, and either you or the Company may terminate your employment with the Company at any time, for any reason, or for no reason, with written notice to you of any voluntary termination by you, provided that, if you desire to terminate this Agreement voluntarily, you will give the Company at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of the intended effective date of such voluntary termination, which notice period may be waived or shortened by the Company upon your giving to the Company such written notice. Unless terminated earlier as provided herein, including “at will” termination, or unless extended in writing by you and the Company, the term of this Agreement is for three (3) years from and after the Start Date, ending at 5:00 p.m. local time at the then current location of the principal offices of the Company, on the third (3rd) annual anniversary of the Start Date.

 

  b. Post-Termination Matters .

 

  i. Automatic Resignation From Office . By your signature on this Agreement, unless the Company agrees otherwise in writing with you, this Agreement will serve automatically, without the need for any further signatures, as your resignation, effective as of the date of your termination of employment hereunder, for whatever reason, from any and all offices you may hold with the Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company at the date of such termination.

 

  ii.

Return of Materials . Upon any termination hereof, you will promptly return to the Company all copies and originals of documents and other tangible impressions, in any medium,

 

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  containing confidential or proprietary information of the Company. After such termination you will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except to the extent required by law, any such information which is not at the time of disclosure otherwise public information through no breach by you of your obligations of confidentiality under this Section 4(b)(ii), provided that if there is in effect at the date of such determination a written nondisclosure agreement between you and the Company, the terms and conditions of such nondisclosure agreement will govern over the provisions in this sentence.

 

  iii. Accrued Salary and Bonus . After such termination, the Company will only be obliged to pay, and will pay when due, to you only such amounts of salary and bonus (if any) accrued under any bonus plan through, and payable at, the date of such termination.

 

  iv. Expenses . The Company will pay reasonably promptly all expenses permitted to be reimbursed hereunder for which appropriate documentation has been submitted by you.

 

  v. Non-solicitation . In order to avoid disruption of the Company’s business, for a period of one (1) year after termination of your employment hereunder for any reason other than your death, you will not, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit for any competitor to the Company, or for any other purpose competitive with the Company, any customer of the Company known to you during the period of your employment with the Company to have been a customer of the Company, (B) directly or indirectly encourage or induce any third party licensor, licensee, distributor or research, development or commercialization collaborator of the Company to terminate or reduce its business activities with the Company, or (C) solicit for employment any person employed by the Company.

 

  5. Dispute Resolution .

 

  a.

Arbitrable Claims; Intended Third-Party Beneficiaries . To the fullest extent permitted by law, except for disputes relating to intellectual property of the Company, for which the parties reserve the right to resolution by litigation and which will not be Arbitrable Claims, all disputes between you (and your attorneys, successors, and assigns) and the Company (and its affiliates, shareholders, Directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, attorneys, and assigns) of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, all disputes relating in any manner to the employment by the Company of you, or the termination of your employment by the Company, and all disputes arising under this Agreement, including without limitation any disputes as to matters arising after the Start Date, whether or not the Start Date ever occurs (collective,

 

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  and individually, “ Arbitrable Claims ”) will be resolved by arbitration as provided herein. Arbitrable Claims will include, but are not limited to, contract (express or implied) and tort claims of all kinds, as well as all claims based on any federal, state, or local law, statute, or regulation, excepting only claims under applicable workers compensation law and unemployment insurance claims. By way of example and not in limitation of the foregoing, Arbitrable Claims will include (to the fullest extent permitted by law) any claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination as well as any claims asserting wrongful termination, harassment, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent or intentional misrepresentation, negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage, defamation, invasion of privacy, and claims related to disability. All persons and entities specified in the first sentence of this Section 5(a), other than the Company and you, will be considered third-party beneficiaries of the rights and obligations created by this Section 5.

 

  b. Procedure; Location Of Arbitration . Arbitration of Arbitrable Claims will be in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, as amended (“ AAA Employment Rules ”), as augmented in this Agreement. Arbitration will be initiated as provided by the AAA Employment Rules, although the written notice to the other party initiating arbitration will also include a statement of the claim(s) asserted and the facts upon which the claim(s) are based. Arbitration will be final and binding upon the parties and will be the exclusive remedy for all Arbitrable Claims. Either party may bring an action in court to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Otherwise, neither party will initiate or prosecute any lawsuit or administrative action in any way related to any Arbitrable Claim. All arbitration hearings under this Agreement will be conducted in the city in which the principal offices of the Company are located at the time of initiation of such arbitration. The Federal Arbitration Act will govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Section 5. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN REGARD TO ARBITRABLE CLAIMS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AS TO THE MAKING, EXISTENCE, VALIDITY, OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE.

 

  c.

Arbitrator Selection and Authority . Arbitration shall be initiated and all Claims shall be decided by a single, neutral arbitrator in accordance with the AAA Employment Rules. The arbitrator will have authority to award equitable relief, damages, costs, and fees to the greatest extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, any remedy or relief that a court would have. The arbitrator will have exclusive authority to resolve all

 

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  Arbitrable Claims, including, but not limited to, whether any particular claim is arbitrable and whether all or any part of this Agreement is void or unenforceable.

 

  d. Litigation . For matters arising hereunder for which arbitration is not legally available, and for disputes between you and the Company as to intellectual property rights, you and the Company hereby consent to venue in, and to the in personam jurisdiction of, the federal and State courts located in the State of New Jersey.

 

  e. Confidentiality . All proceedings and all documents prepared in connection with any Arbitrable Claim will be confidential and, unless otherwise required by law, the subject matter thereof will not be disclosed to any person other than the parties to the proceedings, their counsel, witnesses and experts, the arbitration panel, and, if involved, the court and court staff. All documents filed with the arbitration panel or with a court will be filed under seal to the extent permitted by the applicable rules. The parties will stipulate to all arbitration and court orders necessary to effectuate fully the provisions of this subsection concerning confidentiality.

 

  f. Expenses of Arbitration . Each party will pay its own expenses for participation in such arbitration, including the fees and expenses of such party’s legal counsel and other advisors, provided that the Company will pay all fees and expenses of the arbitrators and any fees or charges imposed by the arbitral body for such arbitration, provided that the arbitral body shall have authority to require you to pay fees or charges if you initiate the arbitration and it determines that your claims are frivolous or without merit.

 

  g. Continuing Obligations . Your rights and obligations and those of the Company set forth in this Section 5 will survive the termination of your employment with the Company.

 

  6.

Notices . All notices, demands or requests with respect to this Agreement will be effective only if in writing and delivered by hand, including by FedEx or other courier, or by facsimile with confirmed answerback, or by electronic mail (email) with electronic evidence of delivery, to the address, or the facsimile number, or email, for the receiving party as set forth under our signatures below. Notices under this Agreement may not be delivered by mail . Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder upon personal delivery, if delivered by hand, or the date sent by facsimile or email. You and the Company may change the relevant address for notice under this Agreement by giving notice thereof to the other party hereto in conformity with this Section 6. Whenever days are to be counted under this Agreement, the first day of the period which requires such notice to be given will not be counted, and the last day for the relevant period will be counted (i.e.,

 

8


  to count a 30-day period following the Start Date, the first day after the Start Date will be the first day for counting such 30 days).

 

  7. General . This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to its body of law controlling conflict of laws. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) counterparts, each of which will be an original and both of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Upon your signature below, this will become our binding Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this letter, superseding in their entirety all other or prior Agreements by you with the Company as to the specific subject matter of this Agreement, will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of our respective successors and assigns (provided that you cannot assign this Agreement or any of your rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company), and your heirs, administrators and executors, and may only be amended in a writing signed by you and the Company.

We look forward to working together with you for the success of the Company.

 

Sincerely,

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.

Name:   Thomas J. van Haarlem, M.D.
Title:   President & Chief Executive Officer
Address:
1335 US Highway 206, Suite 15
Bedminster, NJ 07921
Phone: 908-470-4320
Facsimile: 908-470-4329
Email: tvanhaarlem@aeriepharma.com

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:

 

By:  

/s/ Richard J. Rubino

Name:   Richard J. Rubino
Date signed: 10-3-12
Address : 3 Apache Drive, Oakland, NJ 07436
Phone: Tel: 201-247-9191
E-Mail: rich957@optonline.net

 

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Exhibit 10.14

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

135 US Highway 206, Suite 9

Bedminster, NJ 07921

December 15, 2011

Brian Levy O.D. M.Sc.

250 E 30th St. #14D

New York, NY 10016

(585) 978-1943

 

Re: Your Employment with Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc .

Dear Brian:

We are pleased to offer you, on the terms set forth in this letter (the “ Agreement ”), a position of employment as Chief Medical Officer of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). Your employment with the Company will start on January 2, 2012 (the “ Start Date ”).

1. Reporting; Duties and Responsibilities; Employee Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement; Indemnification; D&O Insurance .

(a) Reporting; Duties and Responsibilities . During the term hereof, from and after the Start Date until this Agreement is terminated as provided herein, you will serve as Chief Medical Officer of the Company, reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “ CEO ”). Your specific duties and responsibilities as Chief Medical Officer will be determined by the CEO, but will primarily consist of leading Aerie’s global clinical development strategy, clinical study operations, medical affairs, clinical regulatory affairs and professional networking with the glaucoma community. This offer is for a full-time position at the Company’s New Jersey office, except as travel to other locations may be necessary to fulfill your responsibilities. You will initially be employed for a period (the “ Introductory Period ”) commencing on the Start Date and ending on June 1, 2012 (the “ Notice Date ”), during which time you will be evaluated on your performance and you will receive important information regarding the performance requirements of your position. Should the Company elect to terminate your employment during the Introductory Period, then the Company will provide you with written notice of termination on or prior to the Notice Date. If the Company elects to extend your employment beyond the Introductory Period, then your relationship with the Company shall be governed by the terms herein, the employee handbook and policies of the Company put in place from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a discrepancy between this Agreement and the employee handbook and policies, this Agreement shall govern. The Introductory Period does not change your status as an at-will employee, and the Company reserves the right to terminate your employment at any time during the Introductory Period. If the Company decides not to extend your employment beyond the Introductory Period, this will not be considered an involuntary


termination, but will be considered an expiration of the employment relationship by the terms of this letter agreement. If you complete at least three months of satisfactory service to the Company and the Company terminates your employment prior to the Notice Date without Cause or decides not to extend your employment beyond the Introductory Period , the Company will pay you as severance a lump sum of $11,875 (less any applicable deductions). You may spend time for charitable, civic and academic responsibilities, and such other activities as the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) approves from time to time, as will not adversely impact your ability to perform your obligations hereunder, with such impact being determined, as necessary, by the CEO in good faith after reasonable consultation with you with respect thereto.

(b) Employee Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement . As a condition of your employment hereunder, you also will on or prior to the Start Date execute the Company’s standard form of Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement (the “ Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement ”).

(c) Indemnification . You will be subject to such indemnification as is provided under the Company’s Bylaws.

(d) Directors’ and Officers’ insurance . The Company has Directors’ and Officers’ insurance in place for its officers, which policy shall be amended to include you as a named executive within 30 days of the Start Date.

2. Salary; Bonuses; Benefits; Reimbursement; Relocation; Stock Options .

(a) Salary . Your initial annual base salary rate (less applicable deductions), commencing on the Start Date, will be at a rate of $11,875 per semi-monthly pay period, prorated for partial periods, which is an annualized salary rate of $285,000.00, subject to increase by the CEO and the Board, payable in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practice as in effect from time to time. Your salary as in effect at the time during the term hereof may not be decreased by the Board except as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries of all other officers of the Company at the level of Vice President and above as part of an overall reduction in salaries decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer salaries remain so reduced.

(b) Bonuses .

(i) Annual Performance Bonus . In addition to your salary, during the Term of your employment with the Company, you will be eligible to earn an annual performance-based bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) as follows:

(A) Amount . Such Annual Bonus as to your performance for 2012 or a subsequent year will be equal to up to twenty percent (20%) of your annual salary for the relevant calendar year, or, as determined by the CEO and the Board of the Company, to which such Annual Bonus relates. The exact amount of such Annual Bonus for each calendar year will be determined in good faith by the Board on the same date as such determination is made for all other executive officers of the Company, but in no event later than April 1 of the calendar year following the performance period based on your achievement of objectives for the relevant performance measurement period. If a bonus is awarded, it will be paid between January 1 and April 1 of the calendar year following the one to which it relates.

 

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(B) Objectives . No later than March 1, 2012, the CEO, or the Compensation Committee of the Board, and you will mutually determine in good faith your performance objectives for calendar year 2012, which agreed objectives will be set forth in writing by the CEO to you and which thereafter cannot be changed for such calendar year without your written consent. If you and the CEO, or the Compensation Committee as applicable, do not agree upon such objectives for the relevant year within such 60-day period, despite mutual good faith efforts to do so, then the objectives will be determined in good faith by the CEO within 30 days after such 60-day period has expired and will be communicated promptly to you in writing after being so determined and will be deemed to have been accepted by you. Thereafter, the procedure set forth above will be followed for 2013 and each subsequent calendar year.

(c) Benefits . From and after the Start Date, during your employment hereunder:

(i) Benefits Generally . You will receive the Company’s standard employee benefits package (including health and disability insurance paid by the Company, participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan subject to the terms and conditions thereof) as such package and policies are in effect from time to time, and as such benefits package may be adjusted by the Board in good faith during the term hereof, as applicable to all employees, which benefits package can be increased, but cannot be decreased unless such decrease is effected in connection with, and is proportional to, an overall reduction in the relevant benefits to all executive officers decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other relevant executive officer benefits remain so reduced. In addition, you will be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation time annually subject to the Company’s vacation policy

(ii) Life Insurance . Within 90 days after the Start Date, the Company will provide you, at the Company’s expense, as part of such benefits package, with a life insurance benefit plan with terms and coverage appropriate for your position with the Company, but in no event less than one year’s Base Salary.

(d) Reimbursement . You will be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all commercially reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by you in connection with the Company’s business, including without limitation your reasonable domestic economy airfare, food, lodging, automobile rental and incidental expenses in performing your duties hereunder, provided, as to a given expense, that you have submitted commercially customary support documentation therefore to the Company. You will obtain the approval of the CEO in writing prior to incurring any expenses other than ordinary course expenses as described generally in the preceding sentence of this Section 2(d).

 

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(e) Stock Options .

(i) Initial Option . You will be granted, subject to Board approval at the first Board meeting held after the Start Date, an incentive stock option (your “ Initial Option ”) under the Company’s current stock option plan (the “ Plan ”) having a term of 10 years, to purchase up to Seven Hundred Seventy Thousand (770,000) shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “ Initial Option Shares ”). This amount represents approximately 1.0% of the Company’s common stock on a fully diluted basis. The exercise price per share of your Initial Option will be equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the date that such Initial Option is granted by the Board. Such Initial Option will become exercisable over the 48 month period, as follows:

 

  (1) On the first anniversary of the Start Date (the “Vesting Start Date”), 192,500 Initial Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable; and

 

  (2) Thereafter, 16,046 Initial Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable on and each one month anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, and continuing for a total of thirty-five (35) months; and

 

  (3) On the 48th monthly anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, the remaining 15,890 shares of Initial Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable, such that on and after the 48th monthly anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, the Initial Option may be exercised to purchase up to 100% of the number of Initial Option shares.

The vesting of the Initial Option on the Vesting Start Date and each monthly date thereafter is subject to your being employed by or rendering services as a consultant to the Company on each such date.

Notwithstanding the standard provisions of the Plan, the Initial Options shall provide that if (1) a Transfer of Control (as such term is defined in the Plan) occurs while you are employed by the Company and (2) the successor corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation): (A) does not offer employment to you on terms comparable to your then existing terms of employment with the Company, including without limitation, a reduction in your base salary or bonus, or material reduction in duties; or (B) terminates your employment without Cause (as defined below) within one-year after the Transfer of Control, then the entire unexercisable portion of the Initial Option shall become vested and exercisable immediately.

(ii) Other Options or Awards . During the term hereof, you also will be eligible to be granted stock options, under or outside of the Plan and under any successor equity incentive plans of the Company, as the CEO and the Compensation Committee of the Board determine to be appropriate.

(f) Taxes . You shall be responsible for any taxes payable with regard to any compensation or benefits provided for in this Agreement.

 

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3. Representations and Warranties .

(a) You represent and warrant to the Company that your performance of this Agreement and employment by the Company does not and will not breach any noncompetition agreement or any agreement to keep in confidence proprietary information acquired by you in confidence or in trust prior to your employment by the Company. You also represent and warrant to the Company that you have not entered into, and during the Term, agree not to enter into, any agreement that conflicts with or violates this Agreement.

(b) You represent and warrant to the Company that you have not brought and shall not bring with you to the Company, or use in the performance of your responsibilities for the Company, any materials or documents of a former employer which are not generally available to the public or which did not belong to you prior to your employment with the Company, unless you have obtained written authorization from the former employer or other owner for their possession and use and provided the Company with a copy thereof.

4. Certain Definitions; “At Will” Basis Of Your Employment; Term; Termination For Cause; Cure; Automatic Termination Upon Certain Termination Of Consulting Agreement; Survival Of Certain Obligations; Payments Upon Termination; Post-Termination Matters .

(a) Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Section 4 the following phrases or words will have the following meanings:

(i) The phrases “ determined by the Board ,” “ decided by the Board ,” “ as decided by the Board ,” and “ if the Board decides ” mean in each case a determination or decision made by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of members of the Board serving at that time.

(ii) “ Cause ” means any of the following acts or failures to act, which are or would be, in each case, and as determined by the Board after reasonable and good faith consultation with you, materially detrimental to the interests of the Company and its stockholders: (A) your willful failure to follow lawful and commercially reasonable directives of the Board communicated to you, and/or (B) intentional damage to the tangible or intangible property of the Company, and/or (C) conviction of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude, and/or (D) the performance of any dishonest or fraudulent act.

(iii) A termination “ without Cause ” means a termination at the will of the Company, as determined by the Board, other than for Cause. A termination also will be deemed to have been without Cause under this Agreement if (A) a Constructive Termination Event, as defined in Section 4(a)(iv) hereof, occurs and (B) you timely give a Constructive Termination Event Notice, as defined and determined under Section 4(a)(v) hereof, and (C) such Constructive Termination Event is not cured within the Constructive Termination Event Cure Period as defined in Section 4(a)(vi) hereof, and (D) you have not otherwise consented to such Constructive Termination Event in writing, and (E) within 30 days after the expiration of such Constructive Termination Event Cure Period you resign in writing, delivered to the Company, stating that your resignation is as a result of, and specifying the nature of, such uncured Constructive Termination Event.

 

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(iv) Constructive Termination Event . If the Company elects to continue your employment beyond the Introductory Period, a “ Constructive Termination Event ” will be deemed to have occurred at the Company’s close of business on the first day that any of the following actions is taken by the Company:

(A) Reduction in Salary and/or Benefits . Your salary, and/or aggregate benefits, and/or Annual Bonus amounts are materially reduced below those in effect immediately prior to the effective date of such Constructive Termination Event, except, as to salary and/or benefits (but not as to bonus amounts mutually agreed or set prior to the date of such reduction), if such reduction is made as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries and/or benefits of all other executive officers as part of an overall reduction in executive officer salaries and/or benefits decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders; and/or

(B) Change in Duties . Your duties and/or authority are materially decreased or increased from those in effect immediately prior to such Constructive Termination Event, in a way that is adverse to you, and/or

(C) Change in Title . The title of one or more of your positions with the Company is changed to a title that, under customary practice within the biotechnology industry within the State in which the Company’s principal offices are located at the date of such reduction, would be considered to be a lower-level title than your immediately prior most-senior ranking title, and/or

(D) Nonassumption . Absent your written consent to such nonassumption, this Agreement is not assumed in full in writing by any successor to the Company on or prior to the closing of such succession, including any acquiror of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, to whom this Agreement is not automatically assigned in full by operation of law upon such succession, and/or

(E) Change in Reporting . The change in your reporting to anyone other than the CEO without your written consent, and/or

(F) Relocation . The relocation of your primary office to a distance more than fifty (50) miles from Bedminster, N.J., and/or

(G) Material Breach . The material breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement.

(v) “ Constructive Termination Event Notice ” means a written notice delivered by you to the Company, within 30 days after the date upon which you believe, in good faith, that a Constructive Termination Event has occurred, which states the nature of such alleged Constructive Termination Event, referring specifically to the relevant Constructive Termination Event description in Section 4(a)(iv) hereof, and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts upon which you base your belief that such Constructive Termination Event has occurred and the date upon which you believe it occurred.

 

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(vi) “ Constructive Termination Event Cure Period ” means the fourteen (14) day period commencing with the date you give the Company a Constructive Termination Event Notice.

(b) “ At Will” Basis of Your Employment; Term . Your employment with the Company is on an “at will” basis, and either you or the Company may terminate your employment with the Company at any time, for any reason, or for no reason, upon written notice to the other of such termination (other than due to a Constructive Termination Event as provided in Section 4(a)(iv) hereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, apart from any voluntary resignation by you other than due to an uncured Constructive Termination Event as provided in Section 4(a)(iv) hereof, if you desire to terminate this Agreement voluntarily you will give the Company at least 30 days prior written notice of the intended effective date of such voluntary termination, which notice period may be waived or shortened by the Board. Unless terminated earlier as provided herein, including any “at will” termination, or unless extended in writing by you and the Company, the term of this Agreement is for four (4) years from and after the Start Date, ending at 5:00 pm local time at the then-current location of the principal offices of the Company, on the fourth annual anniversary of the Start Date (the “ Term ”). This Agreement will renew automatically for successive one (1) year periods (each, a “ Renewal Period ”) unless previously terminated as provided herein or either party gives notice of non-renewal at least 90 days prior to the commencement of the Renewal Period.

(c) Termination for Cause; Cure . You will not be terminated for Cause unless the Chairman of the Board has given you a written notice, signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Board, (a “ Cause Termination Notice ”) within 30 days after the date upon which the Cause for the termination, as provided in Section 4(a)(ii) hereof, has occurred in the good faith view of the Board, which states that it has been decided by the Board to terminate your employment for Cause unless such Cause is cured within the period (the “ Cause Cure Period ”) set forth in such notice, which period will be at least 30 days after the date of such notice, and which sets forth in reasonable detail the reason for such termination for Cause. Once the relevant Cause Cure Period has expired, the Board will have 30 days thereafter to inform you in writing, signed by the Chairman of the Board (a “ Cause Cure Determination Notice ”), whether the Board has, at the end of such Cause Cure Period, determined that (i) you have cured such Cause, in which case your employment will not be terminated for such specific event which was Cause for such initial Cause Termination Notice, or that (ii) the Board has further determined to waive such occurrence of Cause, in which case your employment will not be terminated for such specific event which was Cause for such initial Cause Termination Notice, or that (iii) your employment is terminated for the occurrence of such uncured Cause, and which will set forth the date of such termination, which will not be before the date of such Cause Cure Determination Notice.

(d) Survival of Certain Obligations . Your obligations to the Company under any other written agreement, including without limitation any nondisclosure agreement, including the Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement, between you and the Company, will survive any termination hereof except to the extent otherwise stated in such relevant agreement(s). If no written nondisclosure agreement has been executed by you and the Company, you will treat as confidential and proprietary to the Company, and will promptly return to the Company within five (5) days after any such termination, all materials related to the Company supplied by the Company to you prior to, on and after the Start Date which are marked

 

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as confidential or proprietary or which you have been informed in writing by the Chairman of the Board are confidential and proprietary to the Company, and will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except to the extent required by law, any such information which is not at the time of disclosure otherwise public information through no breach by you of your obligations of confidentiality under this Section 4(d), provided that if there is in effect at the date of such termination a written nondisclosure agreement between you and the Company, the terms and conditions of such nondisclosure agreement will govern over the provisions in this sentence.

(e) Payments upon Termination .

(i) Termination Without Cause . If your employment with the Company is terminated for any reason before the end of the Introductory Period, you will not be eligible for any severance benefits except as provided for in the first paragraph of this letter. If your employment hereunder is terminated after the Introductory Period by the Company without Cause (excluding as a result of your death or disability) or by you upon a Constructive Termination Event, the Company will pay you the amounts set forth below:

(ii) Severance and Certain Acceleration upon Termination without Cause or Upon a Constructive Termination Event .

(A) General . If your employment hereunder is terminated after the Introductory Period by the Company without Cause or by you as a result of a Constructive Termination Event, then:

(i) Severance . In addition to any other accrued amounts you may be due hereunder or by law at the time of such termination, the Company will, provided you execute a release in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company releasing the Company from any and all other claims related to your employment and the termination thereof, pay you an amount, as severance, equal to six (6) months of your annual base monthly salary with the Company as in effect immediately prior to the date of such termination (the “ Severance Amount ”). The Severance Amount will be paid to you in installments at the time when your salary would otherwise have been paid, had you continued employment with the Company or, at the Company’s election, in a lump sum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if paying you the Severance Amount in a lump sum will avoid the imposition of excise taxes on either you or the Company, then as so determined by the Company, or upon your written request to the Company as to such determination by you, the Company will pay the Severance Amount to you in a lump sum, provided that if you deliver such written request the Company will not be obligated to make such payment in a lump sum, and may continue to pay such Severance Amount in installments, if the Board, after consultation with the company’s legal counsel and the Company’s tax advisors, determines that (a) installment payment of such Severance Amount will not result in the imposition of excise taxes upon you, and/or that (b) payment of such Severance Amount as a lump sum would adversely effect the Company’s ability to pay its debts as they come due or would otherwise violate any obligations or covenants of the Company under any written agreement by the Company with any third party, including without limitation with any investor in Preferred Stock of the Company or with any bank or other financial institution or with any lessor of real estate or equipment to the Company.

 

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(B) Certain Limitations . You will not be entitled to claim that your termination is without Cause, and the provisions of Section 4(e)(ii)(A) hereof will not apply, if (i) a Constructive Termination Event occurs, but you do not give a Constructive Termination Event Notice within the time period provided therefor in Section 4(a)(v) hereof, and if you then thereafter resign, or (ii) (a) you timely deliver a Constructive Termination Event Notice and (b) the Company does not cure such Constructive Termination Event within the Constructive Termination Event Cure Period and (c) you do not resign within the thirty (30) period after expiration of the Constructive Termination Event Cure Period but resign thereafter.

(f) Post-Termination Matters .

(i) Automatic Resignation from Office . By your signature on this Agreement, unless the Company, by the determination of the Board, agrees otherwise in writing with you, this Agreement will serve automatically, without the need for any further signatures, as your resignation, effective as of the date of your termination of employment hereunder, for whatever reason, from any and all offices you may hold with the Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company at the date of such termination, including without limitation the position of Chief Financial Officer.

(ii) Return of Materials . Upon any termination hereof, you will promptly return to the Company all copies and originals of documents and other tangible impressions, in any medium, containing confidential or proprietary information of the Company. After such termination you will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except to the extent required by law, any such information which is not at the time of disclosure otherwise public information through no breach by you of your obligations of confidentiality under this Section 4(f)(ii), provided that if there is in effect at the date of such determination a written nondisclosure agreement between you and the Company, the terms and conditions of such nondisclosure agreement will govern over the provisions in this sentence.

(iii) Accrued Salary and Bonus . After such termination, the Company will only be obliged to pay, and will pay when due, to you (A) all accrued but unpaid base salary and Annual Bonus, which is due and payable to you at the date of such termination ( that is , any Annual Bonus which the Board has determined is payable before the termination date, but has not yet then been paid), (B) such amounts of bonus that are payable after such termination by the terms of a written bonus agreement or under any mutually agreed bonus plan as in effect at the date of such termination and (C) if you are terminated without Cause, the Severance Amount provided in Section 4(e)(ii)(A) hereof.

(iv) Expenses . The Company will promptly pay all expenses permitted to be reimbursed hereunder for which appropriate documentation has been submitted by you in accordance with the Company’s expense reimbursement policy.

(v) Nonsolicitation . In order to avoid disruption of the Company’s business, for a period of one year following the termination of your employment hereunder for any reason other than your death, you will not, directly or indirectly, (A) directly or indirectly encourage or induce any third party licensor, licensee, distributor or research, development or commercialization collaborator of the Company to terminate or reduce its business activities with the Company nor (B) solicit for employment any person employed by the Company.

 

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5. Dispute Resolution .

(a) Arbitrable Claims; Intended Third-Party Beneficiaries . To the fullest extent permitted by law, except for disputes relating to intellectual property of the Company, for which the parties reserve the right to resolution by litigation and which will not be Arbitrable Claims, all disputes between you (and your attorneys, successors, and assigns) and the Company (and its affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, attorneys, and assigns) of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, all disputes relating in any manner to the employment by the Company of you, or the termination of your employment by the Company, and all disputes arising under this Agreement, including without limitation any disputes as to matters arising after the Start Date, whether or not the Start Date ever occurs (collective, and individually, “ Arbitrable Claims ”) will be resolved by arbitration as provided herein. Arbitrable Claims will include, but are not limited to, contract (express or implied) and tort claims of all kinds, as well as all claims based on any federal, state, or local law, statute, or regulation, excepting only claims under applicable workers compensation law and unemployment insurance claims. By way of example and not in limitation of the foregoing, Arbitrable Claims will include (to the fullest extent permitted by law) any claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as any claims asserting wrongful termination, harassment, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent or intentional misrepresentation, negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage, defamation, invasion of privacy, and claims related to disability. All persons and entities specified in the first sentence of this Section 5(a), other than the Company and you, will be considered third-party beneficiaries of the rights and obligations created by this Section 5.

(b) Procedure; Location of Arbitration . Arbitration of Arbitrable Claims will be in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, as amended (“ AAA Employment Rules ”), as augmented in this Agreement Arbitration will be initiated as provided by the AAA Employment Rules, although the written notice to the other party initiating arbitration will also include a statement of the claim(s) asserted and the facts upon which the claim(s) are based. Arbitration will be final and binding upon the parties and will be the exclusive remedy for all Arbitrable Claims. Either party may bring an action in court to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Otherwise, neither party will initiate or prosecute any lawsuit or administrative action in any way related to any Arbitrable Claim. All arbitration hearings under this Agreement will be conducted in the State of New Jersey, in a City determined in accordance with the AAA Employment Rules. The parties to this Agreement irremovably consent to venue in New Jersey in accordance with this paragraph. The Federal Arbitration Act will govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Section 5. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN REGARD TO ARBITRABLE CLAIMS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AS TO THE MAKING, EXISTENCE, VALIDITY, OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE.

 

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(c) Arbitration . All disputes involving Arbitrable Claims will be decided by arbitration pursuant to the AAA Employment Rules. The arbitrator(s) will have authority to award equitable relief, damages, costs, and fees to the greatest extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, any remedy or relief that a court would have. The arbitrator(s) will have exclusive authority to resolve all Arbitrable Claims, including, but not limited to, whether any particular claim is arbitrable and whether all or any part of this Agreement is void or unenforceable.

(d) Litigation . For matters arising hereunder for which arbitration is not legally available, and for disputes between you and the Company as to intellectual property rights, you and the Company hereby consent to venue in, and to the in personam jurisdiction of, the federal and State courts located in the State of New Jersey.

(e) Confidentiality . All proceedings and all documents prepared in connection with any Arbitrable Claim will be confidential and, unless otherwise required by law, the subject matter thereof will not be disclosed to any person other than the parties to the proceedings, their counsel, witnesses and experts, the arbitration panel, and, if involved, the court and court staff. All documents filed with the arbitration panel or with a court will be filed under seal to the extent permitted by the applicable rules. The parties will stipulate to all arbitration and court orders necessary to effectuate fully the provisions of this subsection concerning confidentiality.

(f) Expenses of Arbitration . Each party will pay its own expenses for participation in such arbitration, including the fees and expenses of such party’s legal counsel and other advisors, provided that the Company will pay all fees and expenses of the arbitrators and any fees or charges imposed by the arbitral body for such arbitration, provided that the arbitral body shall have authority to require you to pay fees or charges if you initiate the arbitration and it determines that your claims are frivolous or without merit.

(g) Continuing Obligations . Your rights and obligations and those of the Company set forth in this Section 5 will survive the termination of your employment with the Company.

6. Notices . All notices, demands or requests with respect to this Agreement will be effective only if in writing and delivered by hand, FedEx or other courier, or by facsimile with confirmed answerback, or by electronic mail (email) with electronic evidence of delivery, to the address, or the facsimile number, or email, for the receiving party as set forth under our signatures below. Notices under this Agreement may not be delivered by standard first class mail . Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder upon personal delivery, if delivered by hand, or the date sent by facsimile or email. You and the Company may change the relevant address for notice under this Agreement by giving notice thereof to the other party hereto in conformity with this Section 6. Whenever days are to be counted under this Agreement, the first day of the period which requires such notice to be given will not be counted, and the last day for the relevant period will be counted ( i.e ., to count a 30-day period following the Start Date, the first day after the Start Date will be the first day for counting such 30 days).

 

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7. General . This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to its body of law controlling conflict of laws. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) counterparts, each of which will be an original and both of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Upon your signature below, this will become our binding Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this letter, superseding in their entirety all other or prior Agreements by you with the Company as to the specific subject matter of this Agreement, will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of our respective successors and assigns (provided that you cannot assign this Agreement or any of your rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company), and your heirs, administrators and executors, and may only be amended in a writing signed by you and the Company.

We look forward to working together with you for the success of the Company.

 

Sincerely,

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem, MD

Thomas J. van Haarlem, MD
President and Chief Executive Officer
Address :
135 US Highway 206, Suite 9
Bedminster, NJ 07921
Phone: 908 470 4320
Fax: 908 470 4329

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED :

 

By:  

/s/ Brian Levy

Brian Levy, O.D. M.Sc
Date signed December     , 2011

Address:

250 E 30th St. #14D

New York, NY 10016

 

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Exhibit 10.15

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

106 Glenhaven Drive

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516

July 29, 2005

Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

106 Glenhaven Drive

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516

 

  Re: Your Employment With Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Dear Casey:

We are pleased to offer you, on the terms set forth in this letter (the “ Agreement ”), a position as the Chief Operating Officer of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) as of the above date (the “ Effective Date ”).

1. Reporting; Duties and Responsibilities; Employee Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement; Indemnification; D&O Insurance .

(a) Reporting; Duties and Responsibilities . During the term hereof, from and after the Effective Date until this Agreement is terminated as provided herein, you will serve as Chief Operating Officer of the Company, reporting to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). Your specific duties and responsibilities as Chief Operating Officer will be determined by the Board, but will be consistent with the customary duties of a Chief Operating Officer of a biotechnology company located in the United States. This offer is for a full time position, except (i) as travel to other locations may be necessary to fulfill your responsibilities, and (ii) that you may spend such time for charitable, civic and academic responsibilities, and for such other activities as the Board approves from time to time, as will not adversely impact your ability to perform your obligations hereunder, with such impact being determined, as necessary, by the Board in good faith after reasonable consultation with you with respect thereto.

(b) Employee Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement . As a condition of your employment hereunder, you also will on or prior to the Effective Date execute the Company’s standard form of Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement (the “ Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement ”).

(c) Indemnification . You will be subject to such indemnification as is provided under the Company’s Bylaws.


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 2

 

2. Salary; Bonuses; Benefits; Reimbursement; Relocation; Stock Options .

(a) Salary . Your initial base salary, commencing on the Effective Date, will be $15,8333.33 per month, prorated for partial months, which is an annualized salary of $190,000.00, subject to increase by the Board, payable in accordance with the Company’s customary payroll practice as in effect from time to time. Your salary as in effect at the time during the term hereof may not be decreased by the Board except as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries of all other officers of the Company at the level of Vice President and above (“ executive officers ”), as part of an overall reduction in executive officer salaries decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer salaries remain so reduced.

(b) Bonuses .

(i) Annual Performance Bonus . In addition to your salary, you will be eligible to earn an annual performance-based bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) as to your service during the term hereof, as follows:

(A) Amount . Such Annual Bonus as to your performance for a given year or prorated portion thereof will be equal to up to twenty percent (20%) of your annual salary for the relevant calendar year, or, as determined by the Board, fiscal year, of the Company to which such Annual Bonus relates. The exact amount of such Annual Bonus for each calendar, or fiscal, year, including calendar year 2005, will be determined in good faith by the Board, based on your achievement of objectives for the relevant performance measurement period.

(B) Objectives For 2005 . No later than thirty (30) days after the Effective Date, you and the Board, or the Compensation Committee of the Board, will agree in writing upon the relevant objectives for your performance as Chief Operating Officer of the Company for the balance of 2005 remaining from and after the Effective Date, which agreement, when mutually executed will be attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference, and when so attached will be incorporated herein by reference, provide that if you and the Board, or the Compensation Committee as relevant, do not agree upon such objectives for 2005 within 30 days after the Effective Date, despite mutual good faith efforts to do so, then such objectives will be determined in good faith by the Board within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such initial 30-day period, and will be communicated promptly to you in writing after being so determined by the Board, and will be attached hereto as Exhibit A and will be deemed to have been accepted by you.

(C) Objectives For Years Subsequent To 2005 . No later than sixty (60) days after the commencement of the relevant calendar or fiscal year, commencing with calendar year 2006 during the term hereof, the Board, or the Compensation Committee of the Board, and you will mutually determine in good faith your performance objectives for such calendar, or fiscal, year, which agreed objectives will be set forth in writing by the Board to you and which thereafter cannot be changed for such calendar, or fiscal, year without your written consent. If you and the Board, or the Compensation Committee as relevant, do not agree upon such objectives for the relevant year within such sixty-day period, despite mutual good faith efforts to do so, then the objectives will be determined in good faith by the Board within thirty (30) days after such sixty-day period has expired and will be communicated promptly to you in writing after being so determined and will be deemed to have been accepted by you.


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 3

 

(c) Benefits . From and after the Effective Date, during your employment hereunder:

(i) Benefits Generally . You will receive the Company’s standard employee benefits package, including health and disability insurance, and will be subject to the Company’s vacation and sick leave policy, as such package and policies are in effect from time to time, and as such benefits package may be adjusted by the Board in good faith during the term hereof, as applicable to all employees, which benefits package can be increased, but cannot be decreased unless such decrease is effected in connection with, and is proportional to, an overall reduction in the relevant benefits to all executive officers decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer relevant benefits remain so reduced. It is understood that the Company does not yet have employee benefits available. Accordingly, for a reasonable period of time not to exceed ninety (90) days from the Effective Date, the Company may, in lieu of providing benefits directly, reimburse you for reasonable costs incurred to maintain health and disability insurance.

(ii) Life Insurance . Within sixty (60) days after the Effective Date, the Company will provide you, at the Company’s expense, as part of such benefits package, with a life insurance benefit plan with terms and coverage appropriate for your position with the Company.

(d) Reimbursement . You will be entitled to reimbursement from the Company for all commercially reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by you in connection with the Company’s business, including without limitation your reasonable economy airfare, food, lodging, automobile rental and incidental expenses in performing your duties hereunder, provided, as to a given expense, that you have submitted commercially customary support documentation therefor to the Company. You will obtain the approval of the Chairman of the Board in writing prior to incurring any expenses other than ordinary course expenses as described generally in the preceding sentence of this Section 2(d).

(e) Stock Options .

(i) Initial Option . At the meeting of the Board held next after the Effective Date, you will be granted an incentive stock option (your “ Initial Option ”) under the Company’s initial equity incentive or stock option plan (the “ Plan ”) which will be in place at or prior to the Effective Date, to purchase up to one hundred seventy-two thousand (172,000) shares of Common Stock of the Company, additional to the total of 528,000 shares of Common Stock of the Common issued to you upon the formation of the Company. The exercise price per share of your Initial Option will be equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the date that such Initial Option is approved by the Board; such exercise price currently is expected to be the price per share at which Common Stock is initially issued to the


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 4

 

founders of the Company as the first issuance of stock by the Company upon its formation. Such Initial Option will become exercisable over the sixty (60) month period commencing with the Effective Date (the “ Vesting Start Date ”), as to 20% of the total number of shares under such Initial Option on the first annual anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, rounded downward to the nearest whole share to avoid fractional shares, and will become exercisable as to an additional 1.666% of the total number of shares under such Initial Option at each of the succeeding 48 monthly anniversaries after such one year anniversary, rounded downward to the nearest whole share for the first 47 of such monthly anniversaries to avoid fractional shares, and as to the remaining number of shares under such Initial Option at the 60th monthly anniversary of the Vesting Start Date, provided as to such one-year anniversary and as to each such relevant monthly anniversary thereafter you then are employed by or are rendering services as a consultant to the Company.

(ii) Other Options Or Awards . During the term hereof, you also will be eligible to be granted such other stock options and/or such stock awards, under or outside of the Plan and under any successor equity incentive plans of the Company, as the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board determine to be appropriate.

3. Certain Definitions; “At Will” Basis Of Your Employment; Term; Acceleration Of Vesting As To Your Founder’s Common Stock Upon Termination Without Cause; Survival Of Certain Obligations; Post-Termination Matters .

(a) “At Will” Basis Of Your Employment; Term . Your employment with the Company is on an “ at will ” basis, and either you or the Company may terminate your employment with the Company at any time, for any reason, or for no reason, with written notice to you of any voluntary termination by you, provided that, if you desire to terminate this Agreement voluntarily you will give the Company at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of the intended effective date of such voluntary termination, which notice period may be waived or shortened by the Board upon your giving to the Company of such written notice. Unless terminated earlier as provided herein, including any “at will” termination, or unless extended in writing by you and the Company, the term of this Agreement is for three (3) years from and after the Effective Date, ending at 5:00 pm local time at the then-current location of the principal offices of the Company, on the third (3rd) annual anniversary of the Effective Date.

(b) Acceleration Of Vesting As To Your Founder’s Common Stock Upon Termination Without Cause .

(i) Acceleration Of Vesting . If during the term hereof your employment hereunder is terminated by the Company without Cause, as defined in Section 3(b)(ii) hereof, and as Cause or lack thereof as to such termination is determined by the Board, all lapsing contractual rights of the Company to repurchase from you, upon such termination, any shares of the Common Stock you were issued as a founder of the Company, will automatically lapse as of the effective date of such termination, and you will hold all such shares free of any such repurchase right, provided that such shares will remain subject to such restrictions on transfer thereafter as are imposed upon them from time to time by law, and under the Company’s Bylaws, and/or under any separate written agreement between you and the Company.


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 5

 

(ii) Definition Of Cause . For purpose of this Section 3(b), “ Cause ” means any of the following acts or failures to act, which are or would be, in each case, and as determined by the Board after reasonable and good faith consultation with you, materially detrimental to the interests of the Company and its stockholders: (A) your willful failure to follow lawful and commercially reasonable directives of the Board communicated to you, and/or (B) intentional damage to the tangible or intangible property of the Company, and/or (C) conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, and/or (D) the performance of any dishonest or fraudulent act.

(c) Survival Of Certain Obligations . Your obligations to the Company under any other written agreement, including without limitation any nondisclosure agreement, including the Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement, between you and the Company, will survive any termination hereof except to the extent otherwise stated in such relevant agreement(s). If, despite the provisions of Section 1(b) hereof, for any reason other than your refusal to sign the Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement, which refusal will be breach of this Agreement), no written nondisclosure agreement has been executed by you and the Company at the time of such termination, you will treat as confidential and proprietary to the Company, and will promptly return to the Company within five (5) days after any such termination, all materials related to the Company supplied by the Company to you prior to, on and after the Effective Date which are marked as confidential or proprietary or which you have been informed in writing by the Chairman of the Board are confidential and proprietary to the Company, and will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except to the extent required by law, any such information which is not at the time of disclosure otherwise public information through no breach by you of your obligations of confidentiality under this Section 3(c), provided that if there is in effect at the date of such termination a written nondisclosure agreement between you and the Company, including the Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement, the terms and conditions of such nondisclosure agreement will control rather than the provisions of this sentence.

(d) Post-Termination Matters .

(i) Automatic Resignation From Office . By your signature on this Agreement, unless the Company, by the determination of the Board, agrees otherwise in writing with you, this Agreement will serve automatically, without the need for any further signatures, as your resignation, effective as of the date of your termination of employment hereunder, for whatever reason, from any and all offices you may hold with the Company at the date of such termination, including without limitation the position of Chief Operating Officer.

(ii) Return of Materials . Upon any termination hereof, you will promptly return to the Company all copies and originals of documents and other tangible impressions, in any medium, containing confidential or proprietary information of the Company. After such termination you will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 6

 

to the extent required by law, any such information which is not at the time of disclosure otherwise public information through no breach by you of your obligations of confidentiality under this Section 3(d)(ii), provided that if there is in effect at the date of such determination a written nondisclosure agreement between you and the Company, the terms and conditions of such nondisclosure agreement will govern over the provisions in this sentence,

(iii) Accrued Salary and Bonus . After such termination, the Company will only be obliged to pay, and will pay when due, to you (A) such amounts of salary and bonus accrued under any bonus plan through, and payable at, the date of such termination, and (B) such amounts of bonus that are payable after such termination by the terms of a written bonus agreement or under any mutually agreed bonus plan as in effect at the date of such termination.

(iv) Expenses . The Company will pay reasonably promptly all expenses permitted to be reimbursed hereunder for which appropriate documentation has been submitted by you.

(v) Nonsolicitation . In order to avoid disruption of the Company’s business, for a period of one (1) year after termination of your employment hereunder for any reason other than your death, you will not, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit for any competitor to the Company, or for any other purpose competitive with the Company, any customer of the Company known to you during the period of your employment with the Company to have been a customer of the Company, (B) directly or indirectly encourage or induce any third party licensor, licensee, distributor or research, development or commercialization collaborator of the Company to terminate or reduce its business activities with the Company nor (C) solicit for employment any person employed by the Company.

4. Dispute Resolution .

(a) Arbitrable Claims; Intended Third-Party Beneficiaries . To the fullest extent permitted by law, except for disputes relating to intellectual property of the Company, for which the parties reserve the right to resolution by litigation and which will not be Arbitrable Claims, all disputes between you (and your attorneys, successors, and assigns) and the Company (and its affiliates, shareholders, Directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, attorneys, and assigns) of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, all disputes relating in any manner to the employment by the Company of you, or the termination of your employment by the Company, and all disputes arising under this Agreement, including without limitation any disputes as to matters arising after the Effective Date, whether or not the Effective Date ever occurs (collective, and individually, “ Arbitrable Claims ”) will be resolved by arbitration as provided herein. Arbitrable Claims will include, but are not limited to, contract (express or implied) and tort claims of all kinds, as well as all claims based on any federal, state, or local law, statute, or regulation, excepting only claims under applicable workers compensation law and unemployment insurance claims. By way of example and not in limitation of the foregoing, Arbitrable Claims will include (to the fullest extent permitted by law) any claims arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as any claims asserting wrongful termination, harassment, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 7

 

good faith and fair dealing, negligent or intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent or intentional misrepresentation, negligent or intentional interference with contract or prospective economic advantage, defamation, invasion of privacy, and claims related to disability. All persons and entities specified in the first sentence of this Section 4(a), other than the Company and you, will be considered third-party beneficiaries of the rights and obligations created by this Section 4.

(b) Procedure; Location Of Arbitration . Arbitration of Arbitrable Claims will be in accordance with the National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes of the American Arbitration Association, as amended (“ AAA Employment Rules ”), as augmented in this Agreement. Arbitration will be initiated as provided by the AAA Employment Rules, although the written notice to the other party initiating arbitration will also include a statement of the claim(s) asserted and the facts upon which the claim(s) are based. Arbitration will be final and binding upon the parties and will be the exclusive remedy for all Arbitrable Claims. Either party may bring an action in court to compel arbitration under this Agreement and to enforce an arbitration award. Otherwise, neither party will initiate or prosecute any lawsuit or administrative action in any way related to any Arbitrable Claim. All arbitration hearings under this Agreement will be conducted in the city in which the principal offices of the Company are located at the time of initiation of such arbitration. The Federal Arbitration Act will govern the interpretation and enforcement of this Section 4. THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHTS THEY MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN REGARD TO ARBITRABLE CLAIMS, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY AS TO THE MAKING, EXISTENCE, VALIDITY, OR ENFORCEABILITY OF THE AGREEMENT TO ARBITRATE.

(c) Arbitrator Selection and Authority . All disputes involving Arbitrable Claims will be decided by a three-person arbitration panel. Each party will appoint one member of the arbitration panel within thirty (30) days after the effective date of the notice initiating the arbitration. Thereafter, the two appointed arbitrators will mutually agree on a third member within a second thirty (30) day period. If any party fails to appoint an arbitrator, or the two arbitrators cannot agree on a third, the complaining party will notify the AAA at the end of the above notice periods and request selection of the remaining member(s) of the panel in accordance with AAA Employment Rules. The arbitration panel will have authority to award equitable relief, damages, costs, and fees to the greatest extent permitted by law, including, but not limited to, any remedy or relief that a court would have. The arbitration panel will have exclusive authority to resolve all Arbitrable Claims, including, but not limited to, whether any particular claim is arbitrable and whether all or any part of this Agreement is void or unenforceable.

(d) Litigation . For matters arising hereunder for which arbitration is not legally available, and for disputes between you and the Company as to intellectual property rights, you and the Company hereby consent to venue in, and to the in personam jurisdiction of, the federal and State courts located in the State of North Carolina.


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 8

 

(e) Confidentiality . All proceedings and all documents prepared in connection with any Arbitrable Claim will be confidential and, unless otherwise required by law, the subject matter thereof will not be disclosed to any person other than the parties to the proceedings, their counsel, witnesses and experts, the arbitration panel, and, if involved, the court and court staff. All documents filed with the arbitration panel or with a court will be filed under seal to the extent permitted by the applicable rules. The parties will stipulate to all arbitration and court orders necessary to effectuate fully the provisions of this subsection concerning confidentiality.

(f) Expenses Of Arbitration . Each party will pay its own expenses for participation in such arbitration, including the fees and expenses of such party’s legal counsel and other advisors, provided that the Company will pay all fees and expenses of the arbitrators and any fees or charges imposed by the arbitral body for such arbitration, provided that the arbitral body shall have authority to require you to pay fees or charges if you initiate the arbitration and it determines that your claims are frivolous or without merit.

(g) Continuing Obligations . Your rights and obligations and those of the Company set forth in this Section 4 will survive the termination of your employment with the Company.

5. Notices . All notices, demands or requests with respect to this Agreement will be effective only if in writing and delivered by hand, including by FedEx or other courier, or by facsimile with confirmed answerback, or by electronic mail (email) with electronic evidence of delivery, to the address, or the facsimile number, or email, for the receiving party as set forth under our signatures below. Notices under this Agreement may not be delivered by mail . Notices will be deemed to have been given hereunder upon personal delivery, if delivered by hand, or the date sent by facsimile or email. You and the Company may change the relevant address for notice under this Agreement by giving notice thereof to the other party hereto in conformity with this Section 5. Whenever days are to be counted under this Agreement, the first day of the period which requires such notice to be given will not be counted, and the last day for the relevant period will be counted (i.e., to count a 30-day period following the Effective Date, the first day after the Effective Date will be the first day for counting such 30 days).

6. General . This Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to its body of law controlling conflict of laws. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be an original and both of which together will constitute one and the same instrument. Upon your signature below, this will become our binding Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this letter, superseding in their entirety all other or prior Agreements by you with the Company as to the specific subject matter of this Agreement, will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of our respective successors and assigns (provided that you cannot assign this Agreement or any of your rights and obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the Company), and your heirs, administrators and executors, and may only be amended in a writing signed by you and the Company.


Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

Employment Agreement

July 29, 2005

Page 9

 

We look forward to working together with you for the success of the Company.

 

Sincerely,
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem, MD

Name:   Thomas J. van Haarlem, MD
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
Address :

Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Attention: Chairman of the Board

106 Glenhaven Drive

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516

Facsimile: 919-969-7055
Email tom.vanhaarlem@meddsglobal.com

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED :

/s/ Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.

          (Signature)
Printed name: Casey Kopczynski, Ph.D.
Date signed: July 31, 2005
Address :

106 Glenhaven Drive

Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516

Facsimile: 919-969-7055
Email: cckopczynski@earthlink,net

Exhibit 10.16

AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “ Amendment ”) is executed and delivered effective as of September 28, 2009 (“ Amendment Effective Date ”), by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) and Casey Kopczynski, an individual resident of the State of North Carolina (“ Employee ”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS , the Company and Employee previously executed and delivered an Employment Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2005 (the “ Original Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS , the Company and Employee now wish to amend the Original Agreement in order to renew the term of the Original Agreement and to provide a transaction bonus payable in consideration of Employee’s efforts in leading the Company to a strategic transaction resulting in significant value for the Company’s stockholders, pursuant to the terms and conditions described herein;

WHEREAS , the Company and Employee now wish to additionally amend the Original Agreement in order to memorialize Employee’s severance benefits as previously approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on June 12, 2006 pursuant to the terms and conditions described herein;

NOW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, the Company and Employee, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

1. A new Section 2(f) is added to the Original Agreement reading as follows:

“(f) Transaction Bonus . Provided you remain in the employ of the Company through the initial closing of a Corporate Transaction (as defined below) in which the holders of the Company’s Preferred Stock are entitled to receive the liquidation preference set forth in Article V, Section 3.1 of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation filed February 17, 2009, and provided that you first execute and do not revoke a release and settlement agreement in a form acceptable to the Company (the “ Release ”), you will be paid a transaction bonus (the “ Transaction Bonus ”) as follows:

(i) Amount . The amount of the Transaction Bonus will be one million fifty thousand dollars ($1,050,000) if a Corporate Transaction occurs on or before March 31, 2010 and eight hundred fifty thousand dollars ($850,000) if a Corporate Transaction occurs on or after April 1, 2010 and on or before December 31, 2010. Any Transaction Bonus payable will be subject to applicable tax withholding.

(ii) Corporate Transaction . A “ Corporate Transaction ” shall be defined as any of the following transactions, the initial closing of which occurs during the applicable period set forth above and which


results in net payment to the Company’s stockholders of cash or property with a fair market value exceeding one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) (the “ Threshold Amount ”), provided , however , that the Board shall determine [a] the fair market value of property or payments over time, and [b] under parts (C) and (D) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive:

(A) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the state in which the Company is incorporated;

(B) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company;

(C) any reverse merger or series of related transactions culminating in a reverse merger (including, but not limited to, a tender offer followed by a reverse merger) in which the Company is the surviving entity but (A) the shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to such merger are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, or (B) in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger or the initial transaction culminating in such merger; or

(D) acquisition in a single or series of related transactions by any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or by a Company-sponsored employee benefit plan) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities.

(iii) Payment . Any Transaction Bonus earned shall be paid to you promptly upon the initial closing of a Corporate Transaction provided that you have previously executed and not revoked the Release and in no event later than the date that is two and one-half (2-1/2) months after the end of the calendar year in which the initial closing occurs.

(iv) Termination “without Cause ”. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, you shall be eligible to be paid the Transaction Bonus if your employment is terminated “without Cause” (including a termination by you pursuant to a “Constructive Termination Event” provided that you followed all of the procedures designated in below) within the sixty (60) days prior to the initial closing of a Corporation Transaction.

 

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2. Section 3 of the Original Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“3. Certain Definitions; “At Will” Basis Of Your Employment; Term; Termination For Cause; Cure; Survival Of Certain Obligations; Payments Upon Termination; Post-Termination Matters .

(a) Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Section 3 the following phrases or words will have the following meanings:

(i) The phrases “ determined by the Board, ” “ decided by the Board, ” “ as decided by the Board, ” and “ if the Board decides ” mean in each case a determination or decision made by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the total number of members of the Board serving at that time calculated without counting you.

(ii) “ Cause ” means any of the following acts or failures to act, which are or would be, in each case, and as determined by the Board after reasonable and good faith consultation with you, materially detrimental to the interests of the Company and its stockholders: (A) your willful failure to follow lawful and commercially reasonable directives of the Board communicated to you, and/or (B) intentional damage to the tangible or intangible property of the Company, and/or (C) conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, and/or (D) the performance of any dishonest or fraudulent act.

(iii) A termination “ without Cause ” means a termination at the will of the Company, as determined by the Board, other than for Cause. A termination also will be deemed to have been without Cause under this Agreement if (A) a Constructive Termination Event, as defined in Section 3 (a)(iv) hereof, occurs and (B) you timely give a Constructive Termination Event Notice, as defined and determined under Section 3(a)(v) hereof, and (C) such Constructive Termination Event is not reversed within the Constructive Termination Event Cure Period as defined in Section 3(a)(vi) hereof, and (D) you have not otherwise consented to such Constructive Termination Event in writing, and (E) within thirty (30) days after the expiration of such Constructive Termination Event Cure Period you resign in writing, delivered to the Company, stating that your resignation is as a result of, and specifying the nature of, such uncured Constructive Termination Event.

 

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(iv) Constructive Termination Event . A “ Constructive Termination Event ” will be deemed to have occurred at the Company’s close of business on the first day that any of the following actions is taken by the Company:

(A) Reduction In Salary And/Or Benefits . Your salary, and/or aggregate benefits, and/or Annual Bonus amounts are materially reduced below those in effect immediately prior to the effective date of such Constructive Termination Event, except, as to salary and/or benefits (but not as to bonus amounts mutually agreed or set prior to the date of such reduction), if such reduction is made as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries and/or benefits of all other executive officers as part of an overall reduction in executive officer salaries and/or benefits decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and/or

(B) Change In Duties . Your duties and/or authority are materially decreased or increased from those in effect immediately prior to such Constructive Termination Event, in a way that is adverse to you, and/or

(C) Change In Title . The title of one or more of your positions with the Company is changed to a title that, under customary practice within the biotechnology industry within the State in which the Company’s principal offices are located at the date of such reduction, would be considered to be a lower-level title than your immediately prior most-senior ranking title, and/or

(D) Nonassumption . Absent your written consent to such nonassumption, this Agreement is not assumed in full in writing by any successor to the Company, including any acquiror of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, to whom this Agreement is not automatically assigned in full by operation of law upon such succession.

(v) “ Constructive Termination Event Notice ” means a written notice delivered by you to the Company, within thirty (30) days after the date upon which you believe, in good faith, that a Constructive Termination Event has occurred, which states the nature of such alleged Constructive Termination Event, referring specifically to the relevant Constructive Termination Event description in Section 3(a)(iv) hereof, and which sets forth in reasonable detail the facts upon which you base your belief that such Constructive Termination Event has occurred and the date upon which you believe it occurred.

(vi) “ Constructive Termination Event Cure Period ” means the fourteen (14) day period commencing with the date you give the Company a Constructive Termination Event Notice.

(b) “At Will” Basis Of Your Employment; Term . Your employment with the Company is on an “ at will ” basis, and either you or the Company may terminate your employment with the Company at any

 

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time, for any reason, or for no reason, with written notice to you of any voluntary termination by you (other than due to a Constructive Termination Event as provided in Section 3(a)(iv) hereof), provided that, apart from any voluntary resignation by you other than due to an uncured Constructive Termination Event as provided in Section 3(a)(iv) hereof, if you desire to terminate this Agreement voluntarily you will give the Company at least thirty (30) days prior written notice of the intended effective date of such voluntary termination, which notice period may be waived or shortened by the Board upon your giving to the Company of such written notice. Unless terminated earlier as provided herein, including any “ at will ” termination, or unless extended in writing by you and the Company, the term of this Agreement from the Amendment Effective Date ending at 5:00 pm local time at the then-current location of the principal offices of the Company, on December 31, 2010.

(c) Termination For Cause; Cure . You will not be terminated for Cause unless the Chairman of the Board has given you a written notice, signed by the Chairman on behalf of the Board, (a “ Cause Termination Notice ”) within thirty (30) days after the date upon which the Cause for the termination, as provided in Section 3(a)(ii) hereof, has occurred in the good faith view of the Board, which states that it has been decided by the Board to terminate your employment for Cause unless such Cause is cured within the period (the “ Cause Cure Period ”) set forth in such notice, which period will be at least thirty (30) days after the date of such notice, and which sets forth in reasonable detail the reason for such termination for Cause Once the relevant Cause Cure Period has expired, the Board will have thirty (30) days thereafter to inform you in writing, by the Chairman of the Board (a “ Cause Cure Determination Notice ”), whether the Board has, at the end of such Cause Cure Period, determined that (i) you have cured such Cause, in which case your employment will not be terminated for such specific event which was Cause for such initial Cause Termination Notice, or that (ii) the Board has further determined to waive such occurrence of Cause, in which case your employment will not be terminated for such specific event which was Cause for such initial Cause Termination Notice, or that (iii) your employment is terminated for the occurrence of such uncured Cause, and which will set forth the date of such termination, which will not be before the date of such Cause Cure Determination Notice. If the Board does not timely deliver a Cause Cure Termination Notice to you, then your employment will not be terminated for the specific event which was Cause for such initial Cause Termination Notice from the Board.

(d) Survival Of Certain Obligations . Your obligations to the Company under any other written agreement, including without limitation any nondisclosure agreement, including the Confidentiality, Inventions and Noncompetition Agreement, between you and the Company, will survive any termination hereof except to the extent otherwise stated in

 

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such relevant agreement(s). If no written nondisclosure agreement has been executed by you and the Company, you will treat as confidential and proprietary to the Company, and will promptly return to the Company within five (5) days after any such termination, all materials related to the Company supplied by the Company to you prior to, on and after the Effective Date which are marked as confidential or proprietary or which you have been informed in writing by the Chairman of the Board are confidential and proprietary to the Company, and will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except to the extent required by law, any such information which is not at the time of disclosure otherwise public information through no breach by you of your obligations of confidentiality under this Section 3(d), provided that if there is in effect at the date of such termination a written nondisclosure agreement between you and the Company, the terms and conditions of such nondisclosure agreement will govern over the provisions in this sentence.

(e) Payments Upon Termination .

(i) Termination Other Than Without Cause . If your employment hereunder is terminated after the Effective Date other than without Cause, the Company will pay you such amounts, to the extent and at the time, as required by law.

(ii) Severance And Certain Acceleration Upon Termination Without Cause .

(A) General . If your employment hereunder is terminated after the Effective Date by the Company without Cause, then:

(1) Severance . If such termination occurs during the term, then, in addition to any other accrued amounts you may be due hereunder or by law at the time of such termination, the Company will, provided you execute a release in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company releasing the Company from any and all other claims related to your employment and the termination thereof, pay you an amount, as severance, equal to twelve (12) months of your annual base monthly salary with the Company as in effect immediately prior to the date of such termination (the “ Severance Amount ”). The Severance Amount will be paid to you in installments at the time when your salary would otherwise have been paid, had you continued employment with the Company or, at the Company’s election, in a lump sum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if paying you the Severance Amount in a lump sum will avoid the imposition of excise taxes on either you or the Company, then as so determined by the Company, or upon your written request to the Company as to such determination by you, the Company will pay the Severance Amount to you in a lump sum,

 

6


provided that if you deliver such written request the Company will not be obligated to make such payment in a lump sum, and may continue to pay such Severance Amount in installments, if the Board, after consultation with the company’s legal counsel and the Company’s tax advisors, determines that (a) installment payment of such Severance Amount will not result in the imposition of excise taxes upon you, and/or that (b) payment of such Severance Amount as a lump sum would adversely effect the Company’s ability to pay its debts as they come due or would otherwise violate any obligations or covenants of the Company under any written agreement by the Company with any third party, including without limitation with any investor in Preferred Stock of the Company or with any bank or other financial institution or with any lessor of real estate or equipment to the Company.

(2) Acceleration Of Vesting As To Your Founder’s Common Stock Upon Termination Without Cause . If during the term hereof your employment hereunder is terminated by the Company without Cause and as Cause or lack thereof as to such termination is determined by the Board, all lapsing contractual rights of the Company to repurchase from you, upon such termination, any shares of the Common Stock you were issued as a founder of the Company, will automatically lapse as of the effective date of such termination, and you will hold all such shares free of any such repurchase right, provided that such shares will remain subject to such restrictions on transfer thereafter as are imposed upon them from time to time by law, and under the Company’s Bylaws, and/or under any separate written agreement between you and the Company.

(B) Certain Limitations . You will not be entitled to claim that your termination is without Cause, and the provisions of Section 3(e)(ii)(A) hereof will not apply, if (i) a Constructive Termination Event occurs, but you do not give a Constructive Termination Event Notice within the time period provided therefor in Section 3(a)(v) hereof, and if you then thereafter resign, or (ii) (a) you timely deliver a Constructive Termination Event Notice and (b) the Company does not cure such Constructive Termination Event within the Constructive Termination Event Cure Period and (c) you do not resign within the thirty (30) period after expiration of the Constructive Termination Event Cure Period but resign thereafter.

(f) Post-Termination Matters .

(i) Automatic Resignation From Office . By your signature on this Agreement, unless the Company, by the determination of the Board, agrees otherwise in writing with you, this Agreement will serve automatically, without the need for any further signatures, as your resignation, effective as of the date of your termination

 

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of employment hereunder, for whatever reason, from any and all offices you may hold with the Company or any subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company at the date of such termination, including without limitation the position of Chief Business Officer.

(ii) Return of Materials . Upon any termination hereof, you will promptly return to the Company all copies and originals of documents and other tangible impressions, in any medium, containing confidential or proprietary information of the Company. After such termination you will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except to the extent required by law, any such information which is not at the time of disclosure otherwise public information through no breach by you of your obligations of confidentiality under this Section 3(f)(ii), provided that if there is in effect at the date of such determination a written nondisclosure agreement between you and the Company, the terms and conditions of such nondisclosure agreement will govern over the provisions in this sentence.

(iii) Accrued Salary and Bonus . After such termination, the Company will only be obliged to pay, and will pay when due, to you (A) such amounts of salary and bonus accrued under any bonus plan through, and payable at, the date of such termination, (B) such amounts of bonus that are payable after such termination by the terms of a written bonus agreement or under any mutually agreed bonus plan as in effect at the date of such termination and (C) if you are terminated without Cause, the Severance Amount provided in Section 3(e)(ii)(A) hereof.

(iv) Expenses . The Company will pay reasonably promptly all expenses permitted to be reimbursed hereunder for which appropriate documentation has been submitted by you.

(v) Nonsolicitation . In order to avoid disruption of the Company’s business, for a period of one (1) year after termination of your employment hereunder for any reason other than your death, you will not, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit for any competitor to the Company, or for any other purpose competitive with the Company, any customer of the Company known to you during the period of your employment with the Company to have been a customer of the Company, (B) directly or indirectly encourage or induce any third party licensor, licensee, distributor or research, development or commercialization collaborator of the Company to terminate or reduce its business activities with the Company nor (C) solicit for employment any person employed by the Company.”

3. By entering into this Amendment, the Company and Employee, acknowledge and agree that they intend to renew the terms of the Original Agreement (as amended herein) which expired on July 29, 2008, effective as the Amendment Effective Date through December 31, 2010.

 

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4. In connection with the execution of this Amendment, the Company agrees that following each Closing of the sale of Notes and Warrants under the Company’s Note and Warrant Purchase Agreement dated February 17, 2007 (the “Agreement”) (capitalized terms as defined in the Agreement), until such time as the Company has issued promissory notes with an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000, you will be granted an additional option to purchase a number shares of the Company’s Common Stock such that following such grant, the total number of shares of Common Stock purchase by you (including shares subsequently transferred) or subject to options held by you (including options subsequently transferred) shall equal approximately 2.61% of the Company’s fully diluted capital stock. The exercise price of each such option shall be the fair market value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant, as determined by the Board of Directors. Each option shall vest monthly over a period of four years from the date of grant, and will be subject to the terms of the Company’s 2005 Stock Option Plan and the option agreement between you and the Company.

5. Except as modified herein, the Original Agreement shall remain in full force and effect

6. This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which shall be taken together and deemed to be one instrument.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereby execute this Amendment to Employment Agreement as of the date first above written.

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem

     

/s/ Thomas J. van Haarlem

Name:         Thomas J. van Haarlem
Title:   President & CEO      

S IGNATURE P AGE TO A MENDMENT TO E MPLOYMENT A GREEMENT

 

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Exhibit 10.17

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AUREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made this 31st day of July, 2013, by and between AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices at 135 US Highway 206, Suite 9, Bedminster, NJ 07921 (the “Company” ), and Mr, Thomas Mitro , residing at 26962 Escondido Lane, Mission Viejo, CA 92691 (the “Executive” ).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company desires to employ Executive as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company; and

WHEREAS, Executive desires to accept such employment and to serve the Company in such capacity, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Employment . The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

2. Term . Executive’s employment by the Company shall commence on August 5, 2013 (the “Effective Date” ) and continue for a period of four (4) years from the Effective Date unless terminated earlier as set forth in Section 9 below (the “Term”).

3. Duties; Place of Performance; Etc.

(a) Executive shall serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Executive shall have such powers and perform such duties as are customarily performed by the President and Chief Operating Officer of a similarly situated company including, but not limited to:

(i) developing business strategies of the Company and managing their implementation;

(ii) overseeing all research, development and commercial activities of the Company;

(iii) overseeing corporate hiring and supervising the performance of management;

(iv) maintaining active, honest communication with Board;

 

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(v) developing and maintaining strong relationships with key investor base, collaboration and development partners, customers, potential customers, media, analysts and the general public on behalf of the Company;

(vi) enhancing corporate visibility through active participation in investor meetings and industry conferences; and

(vii) managing and coordinating all Company public relations and the Company’s intellectual property portfolio.

(b) Executive shall also have such other powers and duties as may be from time to time directed by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, provided that the nature of Executive’s powers and duties so prescribed shall not be inconsistent with Executive’s position and duties herein.

(c) Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time, attention and energies to the business and affairs of the Company and shall use his best efforts to advance the interests of the Company and shall not during the Term be actively engaged in any other business activity, whether or not such business activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage, which will interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties hereunder or Executive’s availability to perform such duties or that will adversely affect, or negatively reflect upon, the Company.

(d) The duties to be performed by Executive hereunder shall be performed primarily at the headquarter offices of the Company; provided, however, that Executive understands that his duties will require periodic travel, which may be substantial at times.

4. Compensation. As full compensation for the performance by Executive of his duties under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive as follows:

(a) Base Salary . Executive’s initial base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) shall be Three Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($335,000.00) per annum, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices; provided, however, that Executive’s Base Salary may be increased at the discretion of the Board upon each anniversary of this Agreement. Executive’s salary may not be decreased by the Board except as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries of all other officers of the Company at the level of Vice President and above as part of an overall reduction in salaries decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer salaries remain so reduced.

(b) Performance Bonus .

(i) During the Term, Executive shall also be eligible to receive an annual cash performance bonus (the “Performance Bonus”), The amount of such Performance Bonus shall be determined by the Board and based on the achievement of specific objectives to be established by the Board, or a designated committee thereof, on an annual basis (the “Performance Goals”) which amount may be up to twenty percent (20%) of Executive’s Base Salary in the event of achievement of the Performance Goals.

 

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(ii) The Performance Goals for the first twelve (12) months of the Term shall be established at or promptly following the date of this Agreement by Executive and the Board (or the Compensation Committee thereof). Thereafter, each year during the Term, Executive and the Chief Executive Officer, or the Compensation Committee shall meet annually no later than December 1 st of each year to mutually determine Executive’s performance objectives for the subsequent calendar year. If Executive and the Chief Executive Officer, or the Compensation Committee as applicable, do not agree upon such objectives for the relevant year within such a 30-day period, despite mutual good faith efforts to do so, then the objectives will be determined in good faith by the Chief Executive Officer, or the Compensation Committee, no later than January 15 th and will be communicated promptly to Executive in writing after being so determined and will be deemed to have been accepted by Executive.

(iii) Any Performance Bonus earned by Executive will be paid to Executive on or before March 31 st of the subsequent calendar year.

(c) Withholding. The Company shall withhold all applicable federal, state and local taxes and social security and such other amounts as may be required by law from all amounts payable to Executive under this Section 4.

5. Options . Executive will be granted options (the “Options”) pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) to purchase One Million Five Hundred Forty Eight Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Three (1,548,263) shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Initial Option Shares”), which represents approximately two percent (2.0%) of the Company’s Common Stock on a fully diluted basis as of the date of this Agreement. The exercise price per share of Executive’s Initial Option will be equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s Common Stock as of the date that such Initial Option is granted by the Board. Such Initial Option will become exercisable over the 48 month period, as follows:

(a) On the first anniversary of the Start Date (the “Vesting Start Date”), Three Hundred Eighty Seven Thousand Sixty Six (387,066) Initial Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable; and

(b) Thereafter, the balance of the Initial Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable on in thirty-six (36) equal monthly installments on each one month anniversary of the Vesting Start Date.

The vesting of the Initial Option on the Vesting Start Date and each monthly date thereafter is subject to Executive’s being employed by or rendering services as a consultant to the Company on each such date.

(c) Additional Option Grants . During the term hereof, Executive will be eligible to receive additional stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity incentive awards under or outside of the Plan and under any successor equity incentive plans of the Company, as the Board in its sole discretion determines to be appropriate.

(d) Adjustments to Options . In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, stock splits, reverse stock splits, recapitalizations, reorganizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations or other changes in capitalization occurring after the date of this Agreement, the number of shares underlying the Options and, with respect to the Options, the exercise price, shall be equitably adjusted by the Board.

 

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(e) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all normal, usual and necessary expenses incurred by Executive in furtherance of the business and affairs of the Company, including reasonable travel and entertainment, upon timely receipt by the Company of appropriate vouchers or other proof of Executive’s expenditures and otherwise in accordance with any expense reimbursement policy as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(f) Insurance . Executive shall be designated as a named insured on directors’ and officers’ liability insurance of the Company.

(g) Executive Benefits . Executive will receive the Company’s standard employee benefits package (including health and disability insurance paid by the Company, participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan subject to the terms and conditions thereof) as such package and policies are in effect from time to time, and as such benefits package may be adjusted by the Board in good faith during the term hereof, as applicable to all employees, which benefits package can be increased, but cannot be decreased unless such decrease is effected in connection with, and is proportional to, an overall reduction in the relevant benefits to all executive officers decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other relevant executive officer benefits remain so reduced.

(h) Vacation . Executive shall, during the Term, be entitled to four (4) weeks of vacation per annum, in addition to nationally recognized holidays.

6. Confidential Information and Inventions .

(a) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that in the course of his duties he is likely to receive confidential or proprietary information owned by the Company, its affiliates or third parties with whom the Company or any such affiliates has an obligation of confidentiality. Accordingly, during and after the Term, Executive agrees to keep confidential and not disclose or make accessible to any other person or use for any other purpose other than in connection with the fulfillment of his duties under this Agreement, any Confidential and Proprietary Information (as defined below) owned by, or received by or on behalf of, the Company or any of its affiliates. “Confidential and Proprietary Information” shall include, but shall not be limited to, confidential or proprietary scientific or technical information, data, formulas and related concepts, business plans (both current and under development), client lists, promotion and marketing programs, trade secrets, or any other confidential or proprietary business information relating to development programs, costs, revenues, marketing, investments, sales activities, promotions, credit and financial data, manufacturing processes, financing methods, plans or the business and affairs of the Company or of any affiliate or client of the Company. Additionally, information that, by its nature and content, would be readily recognized by a reasonable person to be proprietary to the Company shall also be deemed Confidential and Proprietary Information. Executive expressly acknowledges the trade secret status of the Confidential and Proprietary Information and that the Confidential and Proprietary Information constitutes a profectable business interest of the Company. Executive agrees not to:

(i) use any such Confidential and Proprietary Information for personal use or for others; and

 

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(ii) permanently remove any Company material or reproductions (including but not limited to writings, correspondence, notes, drafts, records, invoices, technical and business policies, computer programs or disks) thereof from the Company’s offices at any time during his employment by the Company, except as required in the execution of Executive’s duties to the Company, provided; however, that Executive shall not be prevented from using or disclosing any Confidential and Proprietary Information:

A. that Executive can demonstrate was known to his prior to the effective date of this Agreement;

B. that is now, or becomes in the future, available to persons who are not legally required to treat such information as confidential unless such persons acquired the Confidential and Proprietary Information through acts or omissions of Executive; or

C. that he is compelled to disclose pursuant to the order of a court or other governmental or legal body having jurisdiction over such matter, provided that (1) Executive shall give Company sufficient advance written notice of such required disclosure to permit it to seek a protective order or other similar order with respect to such Confidential Information, and (2) thereafter Executive shall disclose only the minimum Confidential Information required to be disclosed in order to comply, whether or not a protective order or other similar order is obtained by the Company. The Confidential Information that is disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall remain Confidential Information for all other purposes.

(b) Executive agrees to return immediately all Company material and reproductions (including but not limited, to writings, correspondence, notes, drafts, records, invoices, technical and business policies, computer programs or disks) thereof in his possession to the Company upon request and in any event immediately upon termination of employment.

(c) Except with prior written authorization by the Company, Executive agrees not to disclose or publish any of the Confidential and Proprietary Information, or any confidential, scientific, technical or business information of any other party to whom the Company or any of its affiliates owes a legal duty of confidence, at any time during or after his employment with the Company.

(d) Executive agrees that all inventions, discoveries, improvements and patentable or copyrightable works, relating to the Company’s business (“Inventions”) initiated, conceived or made by her, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Term shall be the sole property of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and, to the extent permitted by law, shall be “works made for hire” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C.A., Section 101). The Company shall be the sole owner of all patents, copyrights, trade secret rights, and other intellectual property or other rights in connection therewith. Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest he may have or acquire in all such Inventions; provided, however, that the Board may in its sole discretion agree to waive the Company’s rights pursuant to this Section 6(d) with respect to

 

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any Invention that is not directly or indirectly related to the Company’s business. Executive further agrees to assist the Company in every proper way (but at the Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights or other rights on such Inventions in any and all countries, and to that end Executive will execute all documents necessary:

(i) to apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone (unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent, copyrights or other analogous protection in any country throughout the world and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same; and

(ii) to defend any opposition proceedings in respect of such applications and any opposition proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection.

(e) Executive acknowledges that while performing the services under this Agreement the Executive or, in the course of their services on behalf of the Company, other employees, agents or advisors of the Company or its affiliates may locate, identify and/or evaluate molecules, compounds, products and product candidates having commercial potential in the specific segments of the pharmaceutical or biotechnology research and development industries in which the Company is then operating (the “Corporate Opportunities”). Executive understands, acknowledges and agrees that, subject to the intellectual property rights of any third parties in such Corporate Opportunities, the Executive shall not pursue any such Corporate Opportunity for himself or for others unless on behalf of the Company or unless such Corporate Opportunity is first offered to the Company and the Company rejects such Corporate Opportunity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a limitation of Executive’s fiduciary duties as an officer and director of the Company.

(f) The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

7. Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement .

(a) During the Term and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company:

(i) solicit or induce any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company or such subsidiaries; or

(ii) solicit the business of any agent, client or customer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to products or services similar to and competitive with those provided or supplied by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(b) Executive and Company mutually agree that both during the Term and at all times thereafter, neither party shall directly or indirectly disparage, whether or not true, the name or reputation of the other party, and in the case of the Company including any officer, director or material shareholder of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the parties hereto or their successors from making truthful statements in the proper performance of their jobs or that are required by applicable law, regulation or legal process, and the parties shall not violate this provision in making truthful statements in response to disparaging statements made by the other party.

 

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(c) In the event that Executive materially breaches any provisions of Section 6 or this Section 7, then, in addition to any other rights which the Company may have, the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief to enforce the restrictions contained in such Sections which injunctive relief shall be in addition to any other rights or remedies available to the Company under the law or in equity.

(d) The right and remedy enumerated in Section 7(c) shall be independent of and shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other rights and remedies available to the Company at law or in equity. If any of the covenants contained in this Section 7, or any part of any of them, is hereafter construed or adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, the same shall not affect the remainder of the covenant or covenants or rights or remedies which shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid portions. If any of the covenants contained in this Section 7 are held to be invalid or unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or area of such provision and in its reduced form such provision shall then be enforceable. No such holding of invalidity or unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall bar or in any way affect the Company’s right to the relief provided in this Section 7 or otherwise in the courts of any other state or jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants as to breaches of such covenants in such other respective states or jurisdictions, such covenants being, for this purpose, severable into diverse and independent covenants.

(e) In the event that an actual proceeding is brought in equity to enforce the provisions of Section 6 or this Section 7, Executive shall not urge as a defense that there is an adequate remedy at law nor shall the Company be prevented from seeking any other remedies which may be available. Executive agrees that he shall not raise in any proceeding brought to enforce the provisions of Section 6 or this Section 7 that the covenants contained in such Sections limit his ability to earn a living.

The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive any termination of this Agreement, provided that the Company has not breached its obligations under this Agreement.

8. Representations and Warranties by Executive . Executive hereby represents and warrants to the Company as follows:

(a) Neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement nor the performance by Executive of his duties and other obligations hereunder violate or will violate any statute or law or conflict with or constitute a default or breach of any covenant or obligation, including without limitation any non-competition restrictions, under any prior employment agreement, contract, or other instrument to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound (whether immediately, upon the giving of notice or lapse of time or both).

(b) Executive has the full right, power and legal capacity to enter and deliver this Agreement and to perform his duties and other obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Executive enforceable against his in accordance with its terms. No approvals or consents of any persons or entities are required for Executive to execute and deliver this Agreement or perform his duties and other obligations hereunder.

 

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(c) Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he has not brought and shall not bring with him to the Company, or use in the performance of his responsibilities for the Company, any materials or documents of a former employer which are not generally available to the public or which did not belong to you prior to your employment with the Company, unless you have obtained written authorization from the former employer or other owner for their possession and use and provided the Company with a copy thereof.

9. Termination . Executive’s employment with the Company shall be at-will, and either party may terminate the employment at any time for any reason or no reason at all; provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to receive severance from the Company in the event of a termination as described in Section 9 below upon a termination by the Company for Cause, by the Executive for Good Reason or upon a Transfer of Control, each as defined in Section 10.

10. Severance .

(a) In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason, then upon such termination the Company shall pay Executive’s earned and accrued Base Salary and any earned but unpaid Performance Bonus through the date of termination, at the rate in effect at the time of termination, and in addition, the Company shall:

(i) continue to pay Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect at the time of termination (without regard to any reduction in Base Salary that served as the basis for a resignation for Good Reason) for a period of six (6) months following the date of termination (the “Severance Period”) in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practice;

(ii) provided that the Executive makes a timely election to continue coverage, pay directly to the insurance provider the premium for COBRA continuation coverage for the Executive and the Executive’s dependants during the Severance Period or he obtains new employment, whichever comes first (the benefits described in Sections 10(a)(i) and (ii) are collectively referred to as the “Severance Benefits”);

(iii) the vesting applicable to all unvested Options and other equity incentive awards shall cease immediately and the Executive shall have a period of 90 days to exercise any and all vested Options, after which time all Options shall expire; provided, however, that no such Options shall be exercisable after the expiration of its maximum term pursuant to the terms thereof.

(b) In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by Executive other than for Good Reason, then upon such termination the Company shall pay Executive’s earned and accrued Base Salary through the date of termination, at the rate in effect at the time of termination, and (i) Executive shall not be entitled to any Severance Benefits, and (ii) the vesting applicable to all unvested Options or other equity

 

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incentive awards shall cease immediately and the Executive shall have a period of 90 days to exercise any and all vested Options, after which time all Options shall expire; provided, however, that no such Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its maximum term pursuant to the terms thereof.

(c) In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated without Cause or Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason at any time during the 12 months following a Transfer of Control, then:

Executive shall be entitled to receive the Severance Benefits; and

(i) all unvested Options and other equity incentive awards shall immediately vest in full and remain exercisable, if applicable, for a period of 90 days following the date of such termination; provided, however, that no such Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of its maximum term. In order to give effect to the foregoing provision, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Executive’s option agreements regarding immediate forfeiture of unvested shares upon termination of service or the duration of post-termination of service exercise periods, following any termination of the Executive’s employment, none of Executive’s Options shall terminate with respect to any vested or unvested portion subject to such equity incentive awards before 90 days following such termination.

(d) This Section 9 sets forth the only obligations of the Company with respect to the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, and Executive acknowledges that, upon the termination of his employment, he shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits which are not explicitly provided in Section 9. Further, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall have no obligation to pay, and Executive shall have no obligation to receive, any compensation, benefits or other consideration provided for in this Section 9 (the “Payments”) following termination of Executive’s employment unless Executive executes in no event later than 45 days following Executive’s termination (the “Release Deadline”) a separate agreement (the “Release Agreement”), releasing the Company from any and all liability in connection with the termination of Executive’s employment; provided, however, that the failure to execute the Release Agreement shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to pay to Executive, and Executive shall be entitled to receive, the amount of any earned and/or accrued but unpaid Base Salary, earned but unpaid Performance Bonus and accrued vacation through the date of termination. The Company will pay the Payments in accordance with its regular payroll schedule; provided, however, that no Payments will be paid prior to the Release Deadline. If the Company determines that the Payments constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A (as defined in Section 11), and Executive’s Separation from Service (as defined in Section 11) occurs at a time during the calendar year when the Release Agreement could be executed in the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive’s Separation from Service occurs, then regardless of when the Release is returned to the Company, the Release will not be deemed executed any earlier than the Release Deadline. Notwithstanding any other payment schedule set forth in this Agreement, none of the Payments will be paid or otherwise delivered prior to the execution of the Release Agreement. Except to the extent that Payments may be delayed until the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date pursuant to Section 11, on the first regular payroll pay day following the execution of the Release, the Company will pay Executive the Payments Executive would otherwise have received under the Agreement on or prior to such date but for the delay in Payments related to the execution of the Release, with the balance of the Payments being paid as originally scheduled.

 

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(e) The Company shall withhold all applicable federal, state and local taxes and social security and such other amounts as may be required by law from all amounts payable to the Executive under this Section 9.

(f) The provisions of this Section 9 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

(g) For purposes of this Agreement, “Cause” shall include any of the following:

(i) Executive’s willful failure to perform the material duties or obligations hereunder, or willful misconduct by Executive in respect of such duties or obligations, including, without limitation, willful failure, disregard or refusal by Executive to abide by specific objective and lawful directions received by his in writing constituting an action of the Board and, within 30 days after written notice from the Company of such failure, disregard or refusal and Executive has not corrected such failure, disregard or refusal.

(ii) any willful, intentional or grossly negligent act by Executive having the reasonably foreseeable effect of actually and substantially injuring, whether financial or otherwise, the business reputation of the Company;

(iii) Executive’s indictment of any felony;

(iv) Executive being convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude that causes, or could reasonably be expected to cause, substantial harm to the Company or its reputation;

(v) the determination by the Company, after a reasonable and good-faith investigation by the Company following a written allegation by another employee of the Company, that Executive engaged in some form of harassment prohibited by law (including, without limitation, age, sex or race discrimination); provided, however, that Cause shall not exist under this clause (v) unless the Company gives written notice to Executive where such notice describes with particularity the alleged act(s) at issue and has given Executive an opportunity to be heard at a meeting of the Board with or without counsel, and the Board provides Executive with a summary of its findings;

(vi) any conduct on the part of the Executive that constitutes a breach of his duty of loyalty to the Company;

(vii) any misappropriation or embezzlement of the property of the Company or its affiliates (whether or not a misdemeanor or felony) by Executive; and

(viii) a material breach by the Executive of this Agreement.

(h) For purposes of this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean:

(i) any material diminution by the Company of Executive’s title, duties, reporting or Base Salary, other than as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries of all

 

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other officers of the Company at the level of Vice President and above as part of an overall reduction in salaries decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer salaries remain so reduced; or

(ii) a material breach by the Company of Section 4 or 5 of this Agreement; or

(iii) this Agreement is not assumed in full in writing by any successor to the Company on or prior to the closing of such succession, including any acquiror of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, to whom this Agreement is not automatically assigned in full by operation of law upon such succession.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, should the Executive wish to terminate this Agreement for Good Reason, he must provide the Company with written notice of such Good Reason within 30 days of the occurrence of such event and reasonably cooperate with the Company in remedying the condition causing Good Reason for a period of not more than 60 days (the “Cure Period”). If, following the Cure Period, the condition causing Good Reason remains uncured, then the Executive may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the Company within 30 days following the Cure Period.

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, “Transfer of Control” shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

11. Certain Tax Provisions .

(a) Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any payments and benefits provided under this Agreement (the “Severance Benefits”) that constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A”) shall not commence in connection with Executive’s termination of employment unless and until Executive has also incurred a “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) (“Separation From Service”), unless the Company reasonably determines that such amounts may be provided to Executive without causing Executive to incur the additional 20% tax under Section 409A. If Executive is, upon the separation from service, a “specified employee” of the Company or any successor entity thereto, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the Severance Benefit payments shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is six months and one day after Executive’s Separation From Service, or (ii) the date of Executive’s death (such applicable date, the “Specified Employee Initial Payment Date”), the Company (or the successor entity thereto, as applicable) shall pay to Executive a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the Severance Benefit payments that Executive would otherwise have received through the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date if the payment of the Severance Benefits had not been so delayed pursuant to this Section.

 

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(b) Section 280G.

(i) Until the date that is 24 months from the date of this Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement to the contrary, if any of the payments or benefits provided or to be provided by the Company or its affiliates to the Executive or for the Executive’s benefit pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (“Covered Payments”) constitute parachute payments (“Parachute Payments”) within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and will be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (collectively, the “Excise Tax”), then the Company shall pay to the Executive, no later than the time the Excise Tax is required to be paid by the Executive or withheld by the Company, an additional amount (the “Gross-up Payment”) equal to the sum of the Excise Tax payable by the Executive, plus the amount necessary to put the Executive in the same after-tax position (taking into account any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, employment and excise taxes (including the Excise Tax and any income and employment taxes imposed on the Gross-up Payment)) that he would have been in if the Executive had not incurred any tax liability under Section 4999 of the Code.

(ii) In light of the uncertainty in applying Section 4999 of the Code, if it is subsequently determined that the Gross-up Payment is not sufficient to put the Executive in the same after-tax position (taking into account any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, employment and excise taxes (including the Excise Tax and such taxes imposed on the Gross-up Payment)) that he would have been in if the Executive had not incurred the Excise Tax, then the Company shall promptly pay to or for the benefit of the Executive such additional amounts necessary to put the Executive in the same after-tax position that he would have been in if the Excise Tax had not been imposed. In the event that a written ruling of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is obtained by or on behalf of the Company or the Executive, which provides that the Executive is not required to pay, or is entitled to a refund with respect to, all or a portion of the Excise Tax, then the Executive shall reimburse the Company in an amount equal to the Gross-up Payment, less any amounts which remain payable by or are not refunded to the Executive, within 15 days of the date of the IRS determination or the date the Executive receives the refund, as applicable. The Executive and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with each other in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the existence or amount of liability for the Excise Tax.

(iii) Following the date that is 24 months from the date of this Agreement, any Parachute Payments to be made to Executive hereunder shall be payable either (1) in full or (2) as to such lesser amount which would result in no portion of such Payments being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code; whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999, results in Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of economic benefits under this Agreement, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. If a reduction in Parachute Payments is necessary so that no portion of the Parachute Payments is subject to the Excise Tax, reduction shall occur in the manner that results in the greatest economic benefit to Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so

 

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reduced will be reduced pro rata. If this Section 11(b)(iii) is applied to reduce an amount payable to Executive, and the IRS successfully asserts that, despite the reduction, Executive has nonetheless received payments that are in excess of the maximum amount that could have been paid to him without being subjected to any Excise Tax, then, unless it would be unlawful for the Company to make such a loan or similar extension of credit to Executive, Executive may repay such excess amount to the Company though such amount constitutes a loan to Executive made at the date of payment of such excess amount, bearing interest at 120% of the applicable federal rate (as determined under section 1274(d) of the Code in respect of such loan).

(iv) The independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the date of the event triggering a Payment (the “Triggering Event”) shall make all determinations required to be made under this Section 11(b). The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such independent registered public accounting firm required to be made hereunder.

(v) The independent registered public accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and Executive within 30 calendar days after the Triggering Date (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. If the independent registered public accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it shall furnish the Company and Executive with an opinion reasonably acceptable to Executive that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to such Payment. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive.

12. Miscellaneous .

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of New Jersey, without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws.

(b) Executive will be subject to such indemnification as is provided under the Company’s Bylaws.

(c) Any dispute arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement or the breach thereof (other than Sections 6 or 7 hereof), or regarding the interpretation thereof, shall be exclusively decided by binding arbitration conducted in New Jersey in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect before a single arbitrator appointed in accordance with such rules. Judgment upon any award rendered therein may be entered and enforcement obtained thereon in any court having jurisdiction. The arbitrator shall have authority to grant any form of appropriate relief, whether legal or equitable in nature, including specific performance. Each of the parties agrees that service of process in such arbitration proceedings shall be satisfactorily made upon it if sent by registered mail addressed to it at the address referred to in clause (h) below. The costs of such arbitration shall be borne proportionate to the finding of fault as determined by the arbitrator. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered by any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

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(d) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

(e) This Agreement, and Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by Executive. The Company may assign its rights, together with its obligations, hereunder in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of its business or assets provided the assignee entity which succeeds to the Company expressly assumes the Company’s obligations hereunder and complies with the terms of this Agreement.

(f) This Agreement cannot be amended orally, or by any course of conduct or dealing, but only by a written agreement signed by the parties hereto.

(g) The failure of either party to insist upon the strict performance of any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of future compliance therewith, and such terms, conditions and provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement on the part of either party shall be effective for any purpose whatsoever unless such waiver is in writing and signed by such party.

(h) All notices, requests, consents and other communications, required or permitted to be given hereunder, shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or by an overnight courier service or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the parties at the addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally or by overnight courier, or, if mailed, five (5) days after the date of deposit in the United States mails. Either party may designate another address, for receipt of notices hereunder by giving notice to the other party in accordance with this clause (h).

(i) This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. No representation, promise or inducement has been made by either party that is not embodied in this Agreement, and neither party shall be bound by or liable for any alleged representation, promise or inducement not so set forth.

(j) As used in this Agreement, “affiliate” of a specified Person shall mean and include any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the specified Person.

(k) The section headings contained herein are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Vincent J. Anido, Jr., Ph.D.

Name:   Vincent J. Anido, Jr., Ph.D.
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
By:  

 

Name:   Thomas Mitro
Date:  

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
        By:  

 

        Name:   Vincent J. Anido, Jr., Ph.D.
        Title:   Chief Executive Officer
        EXECUTIVE
        By:  

/s/ Thomas Mitro

        Name:   Thomas Mitro
        Date: 7/30/2013

 

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Exhibit 10.18

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made this 20 th day of September, 2013 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc ., a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices at 135 US Highway 206, Suite 9, Bedminster, NJ 07921 (the “ Company ”), and Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D. , residing at 1621 Bayside Dr., Corona del Mar, CA 92625 (the “ Executive ”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Executive currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company;

WHEREAS, Executive was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective July 25, 2013; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to formalize the terms and conditions of Executive’s employment as Chief Executive Officer.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1. Employment . The Company agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to be employed by the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

2. Term . Executive’s employment by the Company commenced on July 25, 2013 (the “ Start Date ”) and shall continue for a period of four (4) years from the Effective Date unless terminated earlier as set forth in Section 9 below (the “ Term ”).

3. Duties; Place of Performance; Etc .

(a) Executive shall serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board” ). Subject to the direction of the Board, Executive shall have such powers and perform such duties as are customarily performed by the Chief Executive Officer of a similarly situated company including, without limitation, using his reasonable best efforts:

(i) to lead, in conjunction with the Board, the development of the Company’s strategy;

(ii) to lead and oversee the implementation of the Company’s long and short term plans in accordance with its strategy;

(iii) to ensure the Company is appropriately organized and staffed and to have the authority to hire and terminate staff as necessary to enable it to achieve the approved strategy;

(iv) to ensure that expenditures of the Company are within the authorized annual budget of the Company;

(v) to assess the principal risks of the Company and to ensure that these risks are being monitored and managed;


(vi) to ensure effective internal controls and management information systems are in place;

(vii) to ensure that the Company has appropriate systems to enable it to conduct its activities both lawfully and ethically;

(viii) to ensure that the Company maintains high standards of corporate citizenship and social responsibility wherever it does business;

(ix) to communicate effectively with shareholders, employees, Government authorities, other stakeholders and the public;

(x) to keep abreast of all material undertakings and activities of the Company and all material external factors affecting the Company and to ensure that processes and systems are in place to ensure that the management of the Company is adequately informed;

(xi) to ensure that the Directors are properly informed and that sufficient information is provided to the Board to enable the Directors to form appropriate judgments;

(xii) to ensure the integrity of all public disclosure by the Company;

(xiii) to develop Board agendas;

(xiv) to request that special meetings of the Board be called when appropriate;

(xv) to determine the date, time and location of the annual meeting of shareholders and to develop the agenda for the meeting;

(xvi) to sit on committees of the Board where appropriate as determined by the Board; and

(xvii) to abide by specific internally established control systems and authorities;

(xviii) to lead by personal example and encourage all employees to conduct their activities in accordance with all applicable laws and the Company’s standards and policies.

(b) Executive shall also have such other powers and duties as may be from time to time directed by the Board, provided that the nature of Executive’s powers and duties so prescribed shall not be inconsistent with Executive’s position and duties herein.

(c) Executive shall devote substantially all of his business time, attention and energies to the business and affairs of the Company and shall use his best efforts to advance the interests of the Company and shall not during the Term be actively engaged in any other business activity, whether or not such business activity is pursued for gain, profit or other pecuniary advantage, which will interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties hereunder or Executive’s availability to perform such duties or that will adversely affect, or negatively reflect upon, the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may continue to be involved in other business ventures as set forth on Schedule A , attached hereto and made a part hereof. Following execution of this Agreement, should Executive desire to become engaged as a consultant, owner, director officer or advisor of any other venture, Executive must first obtain the prior written consent of the Board, which consent may be withheld in the Board’s sole discretion.

 

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(d) The duties to be performed by Executive hereunder shall be performed primarily at the various offices of the Company or such other place as the Board may authorize; provided, however, that Executive understands that his duties will require periodic travel, which may be substantial at times. The Company understands and agrees that Executive will not be required to relocate from his current primary residence.

4. Compensation . As full compensation for the performance by Executive of his duties under this Agreement, the Company shall pay Executive as follows:

(a) Base Salary . Executive’s initial base salary (the “ Base Salary ”) shall be Four Hundred Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($475,000.00) per annum, payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll practices. Executive’s Base Salary may be increased at the discretion of the Board but may not be decreased by the Board except as a proportional reduction, as to the salaries of all other officers of the Company at the level of Vice President and above as part of an overall reduction in salaries decided by the Board in good faith as being in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer salaries remain so reduced.

(b) Performance Bonus .

(i) During the Term, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual cash performance bonus (the “ Performance Bonus ”). The amount of such Performance Bonus shall be determined by the Board and based on the achievement of specific objectives to be established by the Board, or a designated committee thereof, on an annual basis (the “ Performance Goals ”) which amount may be up to fifty percent (50%) of Executive’s then current Base Salary in the event of achievement of the Performance Goals. Executive’s 2013 Performance Bonus will be calculated on a pro rata basis from the Start Date

(ii) The Performance Goals for 2013, which have been previously established by the Executive and the Company, shall govern Executive’s Performance Bonus for 2013. Thereafter, during the Term of this Agreement, Executive and the compensation committee shall meet no later than December 1 st of each year to mutually determine Executive’s performance objectives for the subsequent calendar year. If Executive and the Board do not agree upon such objectives for the relevant year within such a 30-day period, despite mutual good faith efforts to do so, then the objectives will be determined in the good faith discretion by the Board no later than January 15 th and will be communicated promptly to Executive in writing after being so determined and will be deemed to have been accepted by Executive.

(iii) Any Performance Bonus payable to Executive pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be paid to Executive on or before March 31 st of the subsequent calendar year.

(c) Withholding . The Company shall withhold all applicable federal, state and local taxes and social security and such other amounts as may be required by law from all amounts payable to Executive under this Section 4.

5. Options .

(a) Executive has previously been granted an option to purchase 619,305 shares of common stock of the Company in connection with his appointment as Chairman of the

 

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Board of Directors (the “ Board Options ”), which Board Options are evidenced by that certain option agreement between the Company and Executive dated March 21, 2013. The Board Options shall continue to vest in accordance with the terms of such option agreement so long as Executive continues to serve on the Board of the Company

(b) Executive will be granted an option (the “ Initial Option ”) pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan (the “Plan” ) to purchase 4,612,341 shares of common stock of the Company (the “ Initial Option Shares ”). The exercise price per share of Executive’s Initial Option will be equal to the fair market value per share of the Company’s common stock as of the date that such Initial Option is granted by the Board. Such Initial Option shall vest and become exercisable over a 48 month period, as follows:

(i) On the first anniversary of the Start Date (the “ Initial Vesting Date ”), 1,153,086 Initial Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable; and

(ii) Thereafter, the balance of the Initial Option Shares shall vest and become exercisable on in thirty-six (36) equal monthly installments on each consecutive monthly anniversary of the Initial Vesting Date.

The vesting of the Initial Option on the Initial Vesting Date and each monthly date thereafter is subject to Executive’s being employed by the Company on each such date.

(c) Additional Option Grants . During the Term hereof, Executive will be eligible to receive additional stock options, restricted stock grants or other equity incentive awards under or outside of the Plan and under any successor equity incentive plans of the Company, as the Board in its sole discretion determines to be appropriate.

(d) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse Executive for all normal, usual and necessary expenses incurred by Executive in furtherance of the business and affairs of the Company, including reasonable travel and entertainment, upon timely receipt by the Company of appropriate vouchers or other proof of Executive’s expenditures and otherwise in accordance with any expense reimbursement policy as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(e) Insurance . At all times while Executive is serving as an officer and/or director of the Company, the Company will procure and maintain directors and officers liability insurance in amounts and durations determined by the Board. Such insurance shall designation Executive as a named insured and shall provide Executive with the same rights and benefits as are accorded to the most favorably insured of the Company’s officers and directors.

(f) Executive Benefits . Executive will receive the Company’s standard employee benefits package (including health and disability insurance paid by the Company, participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan subject to the terms and conditions thereof) as such package and policies are in effect from time to time, and as such benefits package may be adjusted by the Board in good faith during the Term hereof, as applicable to all employees, which benefits package can be increased, but cannot be decreased unless such decrease is effected in connection with, and is proportional to, an overall reduction in the relevant benefits to all executive officers, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other relevant executive officer benefits remain so reduced.

 

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(g) Vacation . Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid vacation per annum, in addition to nationally recognized holidays.

6. Confidential Information and Inventions .

(a) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that in the course of his duties he is likely to receive confidential or proprietary information owned by the Company, its affiliates or third parties with whom the Company or any such affiliates has an obligation of confidentiality. Accordingly, during and after the Term, Executive agrees to keep confidential and not disclose or make accessible to any other person or use for any other purpose other than in connection with the fulfillment of his duties under this Agreement, any Confidential and Proprietary Information (as defined below) owned by, or received by or on behalf of, the Company or any of its affiliates. “ Confidential and Proprietary Information ” shall include, but shall not be limited to, confidential or proprietary scientific or technical information, data, formulas and related concepts, business plans (both current and under development), client lists, promotion and marketing programs, trade secrets, or any other confidential or proprietary business information relating to development programs, costs, revenues, marketing, investments, sales activities, promotions, credit and financial data, manufacturing processes, financing methods, plans or the business and affairs of the Company or of any affiliate or client of the Company. Executive expressly acknowledges the trade secret status of the Confidential and Proprietary Information and that the Confidential and Proprietary Information may constitute a protectable business interest of the Company. Executive agrees not to:

(i) use any such Confidential and Proprietary Information for personal use or for others; and

(ii) permanently remove any Company material or reproductions (including but not limited to writings, correspondence, notes, drafts, records, invoices, technical and business policies, computer programs or disks) thereof from the Company’s offices at any time during his employment by the Company, except as required in the execution of Executive’s duties to the Company; provided, however, that Executive shall not be prevented from using or disclosing any Confidential and Proprietary Information:

A. that Executive can demonstrate was known to him prior to March 21, 2013;

B. that is now, or becomes in the future, available to persons who are not required, by contract or otherwise, to treat such information as confidential unless such persons acquired the Confidential and Proprietary Information through acts or omissions of Executive; or

C. that Executive is compelled to disclose pursuant to the order of a court or other governmental or legal body having jurisdiction over such matter, provided that (1) Executive shall use his reasonable best efforts to give Company sufficient advance written notice of such required disclosure to permit it to seek a protective order or other similar order with respect to

 

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such Confidential and Proprietary Information, and (2) thereafter Executive shall disclose only the minimum Confidential and Proprietary Information required to be disclosed in order to fully and truthfully comply, whether or not a protective order or other similar order is obtained by the Company. The Confidential and Proprietary Information that is disclosed pursuant to this paragraph shall remain Confidential and Proprietary Information for all other purposes.

(b) Executive agrees to immediately return to the Company all Company material and reproductions thereof (including but not limited, to writings, correspondence, notes, drafts, records, invoices, technical and business policies, computer programs or disks) in his possession upon request and in any event immediately upon termination of employment.

(c) Except with prior written authorization by the Company, Executive agrees not to disclose or publish any of the Confidential and Proprietary Information, or any confidential, scientific, technical or business information of any other party to whom the Company or any of its affiliates owes a legal duty of confidence, at any time during or after his employment with the Company.

(d) Executive agrees that all inventions, discoveries, improvements and patentable or copyrightable works, relating to the Company’s business (“ Inventions ”) initiated, conceived or made by him, either alone or in conjunction with others, during the Term shall be the sole property of the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and, to the extent permitted by law, shall be “works made for hire” as that term is defined in the United States Copyright Act (17 U.S.C.A., Section 101). The Company shall be the sole owner of all patents, copyrights, trade secret rights, and other intellectual property or other rights in connection therewith. Executive hereby assigns to the Company all right, title and interest he may have or acquire in all such Inventions; provided, however, that the Board may in its sole discretion agree to waive the Company’s rights pursuant to this Section 6(d) with respect to any Invention that is not directly or indirectly related to the Company’s business. Executive further agrees to assist the Company in every proper way (but at the Company’s expense) to obtain and from time to time enforce patents, copyrights or other rights on such Inventions in any and all countries, and to that end Executive will execute all documents necessary:

(i) to apply for, obtain and vest in the name of the Company alone (unless the Company otherwise directs) letters patent, copyrights or other analogous protection in any country throughout the world and when so obtained or vested to renew and restore the same; and

(ii) to defend any opposition proceedings in respect of such applications and any opposition proceedings or petitions or applications for revocation of such letters patent, copyright or other analogous protection.

(e) Executive acknowledges that while performing the services under this Agreement the Executive or other employees, agents or advisors of the Company or its affiliates in the course of their services on behalf of the Company, may locate, identify and/or evaluate molecules, compounds, products and product candidates having commercial potential in the specific segments of the pharmaceutical or biotechnology research and development industries in which the Company is then operating (the “ Corporate Opportunities ”). Executive understands, acknowledges and agrees that the Executive shall not pursue any such Corporate Opportunity for

 

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himself or for others unless on behalf of the Company or unless such Corporate Opportunity is first offered to the Company and the Board rejects such Corporate Opportunity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as a limitation of Executive’s fiduciary duties as an officer and director of the Company.

(f) The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

7. Non-Solicitation; Non-Disparagement .

(a) During the Term and for a period of 12 months thereafter, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company engage in any Prohibited Solicitation. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Prohibited Solicitation ” shall mean the Executive’s (a) directly or indirectly hiring, contacting, inducing or soliciting (or assisting any person to hire, contact, induce or solicit) for employment any person who is, or within six (6) months prior to the date of such hiring, contacting, inducing or soliciting was, an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, or (b) directly or indirectly inducing or soliciting (or assisting any person to induce or solicit) any customer, client or vendor of, or other person having a material business relationship with, the Company or any of its Affiliates to terminate its relationship or otherwise cease doing business in whole or in part with the Company or any of its Affiliates, or directly or indirectly interfering with (or assist any person to interfere with) any relationship between the Company or any of its Affiliates and any of their respective customers, clients, vendors or any third party with whom the Company has a material business relationship. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the prohibition on hiring any person described in the immediately preceding sentence shall apply during the Term and shall continue for a period of six (6) months and be limited to a person who is, or within the three (3) months prior to the date of such hiring was, an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates. Moreover, there shall be no prohibition on Executive’s hiring any person who was terminated or otherwise laid off by the Company.

(b) Executive and the Company mutually agree that both during the Term and at all times thereafter, neither party shall directly or indirectly make or encourage any other individual to make any public or private comments, orally or in written form (including, without limitation by e-mail or other electronic transmission), whether or not true, that would “disparage” the other party and in the case of the Company, any of its officers, directors, managers, or significant stockholders. “Disparaging” statements are those which impugn the character, capabilities, reputation or integrity of the aforesaid individuals or entity or which accuse the aforesaid individuals or entity of acting in violation of any law or governmental regulation or of condoning any such action, or otherwise acting in an unprofessional, dishonest, disreputable, improper, incompetent or negligent manner, but shall not include truthful statements required by due legal process. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the parties hereto or their successors from making truthful statements in the proper performance of their jobs or that are required by applicable law, regulation or legal process, and the parties shall not violate this provision in making truthful statements in response to disparaging statements made by the other party.

 

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(c) In the event that either party materially breaches any provisions of Section 6 or this Section 7, then, in addition to any other rights that the either party may have, either party shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief to enforce the restrictions contained in such Sections, which injunctive relief shall be in addition to any other rights or remedies available under the law or in equity.

(d) The right and remedy enumerated in Section 7(c) shall be independent of and shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any other rights and remedies available at law or in equity. If any of the covenants contained in this Section 7, or any part of any of them, is hereafter construed or adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable, the same shall not affect the remainder of the covenant or covenants or rights or remedies which shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid portions. If any of the covenants contained in this Section 7 are held to be invalid or unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area covered thereby, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the duration and/or area of such provision and in its reduced form such provision shall then be enforceable. No such holding of invalidity or unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall bar or in any way affect a party’s right to the relief provided in this Section 7 or otherwise in the courts of any other state or jurisdiction within the geographical scope of such covenants as to breaches of such covenants in such other respective states or jurisdictions, such covenants being, for this purpose, severable into diverse and independent covenants.

(e) In the event that an actual proceeding is brought in equity to enforce the provisions of Section 6 or this Section 7, Executive shall not urge as a defense that there is an adequate remedy at law nor shall the Company be prevented from seeking any other remedies that may be available. Executive agrees that he shall not raise in any proceeding brought to enforce the provisions of Section 6 or this Section 7 that the covenants contained in such Sections limit his ability to earn a living.

(f) The provisions of this Section 7 shall survive any termination of this Agreement, provided that the Company has not breached its obligations under this Agreement.

8. Representations and Warranties . The parties hereby represent and warrant to the other as follows:

(a) Neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement nor the performance by Executive of his duties and other obligations hereunder violate or will violate any statute or law or conflict with or constitute a default or breach of any covenant or obligation, including without limitation any non-competition restrictions, under any prior employment agreement, contract, or other instrument to which Executive is a party or by which he is bound (whether immediately, upon the giving of notice or lapse of time or both).

(b) Executive and Company each have the full right, power and legal capacity to enter and deliver this Agreement and to perform their respective duties and other obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of each party enforceable against the other in accordance with its terms. No approvals or consents of any person or entities are required for either party to execute and deliver this Agreement or perform his duties and other obligations hereunder.

 

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(c) Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he has not brought and shall not bring with him to the Company, or use in the performance of his responsibilities for the Company, any materials or documents of a former employer which are not generally available to the public or which did not belong to you prior to your employment with the Company, unless you have obtained written authorization from the former employer or other owner for their possession and use and provided the Company with a copy thereof.

9. Termination . Either party may terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment at any time for any reason or no reason at all upon written notice to the other; provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to receive severance from the Company in the event of a termination as described in Section 10 below upon a termination by the Company without Cause, by the Executive for Good Reason or upon a Transfer of Control, each as defined in Section 10.

10. Payments Upon Termination; Severance .

(a) In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause, or by Executive for Good Reason, then the Company shall:

(i) immediately pay in a lump sum Executive’s earned and accrued Base Salary, accrued but unused vacation, and any earned but unpaid Performance Bonus through the date of termination, at the rate in effect at the time of termination and reimburse Executive for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination;

(ii) (1) provide Executive with a lump sum severance payment equal to six (6) months of Base Salary; and (2) commencing on the date that is six (6) months following the termination date, continue to pay Executive’s Base Salary at the rate in effect at the time of termination (without regard to any reduction in Base Salary that served as the basis for a resignation for Good Reason) for a period of six (6) months (the “Severance Period” ) in accordance with the Company’s ordinary payroll practice, or, at the Company’s sole discretion, pay such amount to Executive in a single lump sum payment;

(iii) pay the executive a Performance Bonus in an amount equal to the greater of (1) the target bonus for the applicable calendar year; and (2) the average of the Performance Bonus received by Executive for the three years immediately preceding termination.

(iv) provided that the Executive makes a timely election to continue coverage, pay directly to the insurance provider the premium for COBRA continuation coverage for the Executive and the Executive’s dependents, less the amount payable by an active employee for such coverage, during the Severance Period or until he becomes eligible for health insurance through new employment, whichever comes first (the benefits described in Sections 10(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) are collectively referred to as the “Severance Benefits” ); and

(v) the vesting applicable to all unvested Initial Options and other equity incentive awards granted during the Term (collectively, the “ Equity Awards ”) shall cease immediately and the Executive shall have a period of 90 days to exercise any and all vested Equity Awards, after which time all Equity Awards shall expire; provided, however , that no such Equity Award shall be exercisable after the expiration of its maximum term pursuant to the terms thereof.

 

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(b) In the event that Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company for Cause, or by Executive other than for Good Reason, then:

(i) the Company shall immediately pay in a lump sum Executive’s earned and accrued Base Salary, accrued but unused vacation, and any earned but unpaid Performance Bonus through the date of termination, at the rate in effect at the time of termination and reimburse Executive for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination;

(ii) the Company shall pay Executive’s earned and accrued Base Salary through the date of termination, at the rate in effect at the time of termination;

(iii) Executive shall not be entitled to receive any Severance Benefits; and

(iv) the vesting applicable to all unvested Equity Awards shall cease immediately and the Executive shall have a period of 90 days to exercise any and all vested Equity Awards, after which time all Equity Awards shall expire; provided, however , that no such Equity Award shall be exercisable after the expiration of its maximum term pursuant to the terms thereof.

(c) If, at any time during the twelve (12) months following a Transfer of Control, Executive’s employment is terminated by such successor corporation without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, then:

(i) the Company shall immediately pay in a lump sum Executive’s earned and accrued Base Salary, accrued but unused vacation, and any earned but unpaid Performance Bonus through the date of termination, at the rate in effect at the time of termination and reimburse Executive for any unreimbursed business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination;

(ii) Executive shall be entitled to receive the Severance Benefits; provided, however, that if the Company is a publicly reporting company at the time of the Transfer of Control then the Severance Period shall be for a period of eighteen (18) months from the date of termination; and

(iii) all unvested Equity Awards shall immediately vest in full and remain exercisable, if applicable, for a period of 90 days following the date of such termination; provided, however , that no such Equity Award shall be exercisable after the expiration of its maximum term. In order to give effect to the foregoing provision, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Executive’s option agreements regarding immediate forfeiture of unvested shares upon termination of service or the duration of post-termination of service exercise periods, following any termination of the Executive’s employment, none of Executive’s Equity Awards shall terminate with respect to any vested or unvested portion subject to such Equity Awards before 90 days following such termination.

 

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(d) The Company and Executive agree that if the Board approves a decision to liquidate, dissolve or terminate the business or operations of the Company (other than in connection with the sale of the assets or merger of the Company) (a “ Liquidation ”), Executive will immediately resign from all currently held employment, officer and director positions. Immediately upon any such resignation, Executive will be fully relieved of all duties and responsibilities as an employee, officer and director of the Company, and consistent therewith, the Company understands and agrees that Executive will not be required to oversee, participate or assist in any way in the Company’s subsequent Liquidation. Executive’s resignation under these circumstances will be deemed voluntary, in good faith and for the benefit of the Company. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to pay Executive any Severance Benefits in the event of a Liquidation.

(e) This Section 10 sets forth the only severance obligations of the Company with respect to the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company, and Executive acknowledges that, upon the termination of his employment, he shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits which are not explicitly provided in Section 10. Further, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall have no obligation to pay, and Executive shall have no obligation to receive, any of the Severance Benefits provided for in this Section 10 (the “ Payments ”) following termination of Executive’s employment unless Executive executes in no event later than 45 days following Executive’s termination (the “ Release Deadline ”) a separate agreement (the “ Release Agreement ”) releasing the Company from any and all liability in connection with the termination of Executive’s employment; provided, however , that the failure to execute the Release Agreement shall not relieve the Company of its obligation to pay to Executive, and Executive shall be entitled to receive immediately upon termination in a lump sum, the amount of any earned and/or accrued but unpaid Base Salary, earned but unpaid Performance Bonus and accrued but unused vacation through the date of termination and reimbursement of unreimbursed business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination. Other than with respect to the immediately preceding sentence, the Company will make the Payments in accordance with its regular payroll schedule; provided, however , that no Payments will be paid prior to the Release Deadline. If the Company determines that the Payments constitute “deferred compensation” under Section 409A (as defined in Section 11), and Executive’s Separation from Service (as defined in Section 11) occurs at a time during the calendar year when the Release Agreement could be executed in the calendar year following the calendar year in which Executive’s Separation from Service occurs, then regardless of when the Release is returned to the Company, the Release will not be deemed executed any earlier than the Release Deadline. Notwithstanding any other payment schedule set forth in this Agreement, none of the Payments will be paid or otherwise delivered prior to the execution of the Release Agreement. Except to the extent that Payments may be delayed until the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date pursuant to Section 11, on the first regular payroll pay day following the execution of the Release, the Company will pay Executive the Payments Executive would otherwise have received under the Agreement on or prior to such date but for the delay in Payments related to the execution of the Release, with the balance of the Payments being paid as originally scheduled.

(f) Unless otherwise agreed to by Executive and the Board, upon termination of Executive’s employment hereunder for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned as director of the Company, effective as of the date of such termination.

 

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(g) The Company shall withhold all applicable federal, state and local taxes and social security and such other amounts as may be required by law from all amounts payable to the Executive under this Section 10.

(h) The provisions of this Section 10 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

(i) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Cause ” shall include any of the following:

(i) Executive’s willful failure to perform the material duties and obligations hereunder, or willful misconduct by Executive in respect of such duties or obligations, including, without limitation, willful failure, disregard or refusal by Executive to abide by specific, objective and lawful directions received by him in writing constituting an action of the Board, which willful failure, disregard or refusal is not cured by Executive within 30 days following written notice from the Company.

(ii) any willful, intentional or grossly negligent act by Executive having the reasonably foreseeable effect of actually and substantially injuring, whether financial or otherwise, the business or reputation of the Company;

(iii) Executive’s indictment of any felony;

(iv) Executive being convicted of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude that causes, or could reasonably be expected to cause, substantial harm to business or reputation of the Company;

(v) conduct by Executive that constitutes unlawful harassment prohibited by law (including, without limitation, age, sex or race discrimination) as determined by the Company, after a reasonable and good-faith investigation by the Company following a written allegation by another employee of the Company, ; provided, however, that Cause shall not exist under this clause (v) unless the Company gives written notice to Executive where such notice describes with particularity the alleged act(s) at issue and has given Executive a reasonable and good faith opportunity to be heard at a meeting of the Board with or without counsel, and the Board provides Executive with a summary of its findings;

(vi) any conduct on the part of the Executive that constitutes a breach of his fiduciary duties to the Company as determined by the Board;

(vii) any misappropriation or embezzlement of the property of the Company or its affiliates (whether or not a misdemeanor or felony) by Executive; and

(viii) a material breach by the Executive of this Agreement.

(j) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Good Reason ” shall mean:

(i) any material diminution by the Company of Executive’s title, duties, authority or compensation hereunder, other than (1) as a proportional reduction,

 

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consistent with the reductions in the salaries of all other executive officers of the Company at the level of Vice President and above as part of an overall reduction in salaries of executive officers of the Company, and will only be so reduced during such time as all such other executive officer salaries remain so reduced or (2) in connection with a Liquidation; or

(ii) a material breach by the Company of this Agreement;

(iii) any requirement that Executive relocate his primary residence; or

(iv) this Agreement is not assumed in full in writing by any successor to the Company on or prior to the closing of such succession, including any acquiror of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, to whom this Agreement is not automatically assigned in full by operation of law upon such succession.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, should the Executive wish to terminate this Agreement for Good Reason, he must provide the Company with written notice of such Good Reason within 30 days of the occurrence of such event and reasonably cooperate with the Company in remedying the condition causing Good Reason for a period of not more than 60 days (the “Cure Period” ). If, following the Cure Period, the condition causing Good Reason remains uncured, then the Executive may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to the Company within 30 days following the Cure Period.

(k) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Transfer of Control ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Plan.

11. Certain Tax Provisions .

(a) Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, any payments and benefits provided under this Agreement (the “Severance Benefits” ) that constitute “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code” ) and the regulations and other guidance thereunder and any state law of similar effect (collectively “Section 409A” ) shall not commence in connection with Executive’s termination of employment unless and until Executive has also incurred a “separation from service” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h) ( “Separation From Service” ), unless the Company reasonably determines that such amounts may be provided to Executive without causing Executive to incur the additional 20% tax under Section 409A. If Executive is, upon the separation from service, a “specified employee” of the Company or any successor entity thereto, as such term is defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, then, solely to the extent necessary to avoid the incurrence of the adverse personal tax consequences under Section 409A, the timing of the Severance Benefit payments shall be delayed until the earlier to occur of: (i) the date that is six months and one day after Executive’s Separation From Service, or (ii) the date of Executive’s death (such applicable date, the “Specified Employee Initial Payment Date” ), the Company (or the successor entity thereto, as applicable) shall pay to Executive a lump sum amount equal to the sum of the Severance Benefit payments that Executive would otherwise have received through the Specified Employee Initial Payment Date if the payment of the Severance Benefits had not been so delayed pursuant to this Section.

 

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(b) Section 280G .

(i) Until the date that is 48 months from the Effective Date of this Agreement, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any other plan, arrangement or agreement to the contrary, if any of the payments or benefits provided or to be provided by the Company or its affiliates to the Executive or for the Executive’s benefit pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise ( “Covered Payments” ) constitute parachute payments ( “Parachute Payments” ) within the meaning of Section 280G (as may be amended or replaced) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code” ) and will be subject to the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code (or any successor provision thereto) or any interest or penalties with respect to such excise tax (collectively, the “Excise Tax” ), then the Company shall pay to the Executive, no later than the time the Excise Tax is required to be paid by the Executive or withheld by the Company, an additional amount (the “Gross-up Payment” ) equal to the sum of the Excise Tax payable by the Executive, plus the amount necessary to put the Executive in the same after-tax position (taking into account any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, employment and excise taxes (including the Excise Tax and any income and employment taxes imposed on the Gross-up Payment)) that he would have been in if the Executive had not incurred any tax liability under Section 4999 of the Code.

(ii) In light of the uncertainty in applying Section 4999 of the Code, if it is subsequently determined that the Gross-up Payment is not sufficient to put the Executive in the same after-tax position (taking into account any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign income, employment and excise taxes (including the Excise Tax and such taxes imposed on the Gross-up Payment)) that he would have been in if the Executive had not incurred the Excise Tax, then the Company shall promptly pay to or for the benefit of the Executive such additional amounts necessary to put the Executive in the same after-tax position that he would have been in if the Excise Tax had not been imposed. In the event that a written ruling of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is obtained by or on behalf of the Company or the Executive, which provides that the Executive is not required to pay, or is entitled to a refund with respect to, all or a portion of the Excise Tax, then the Executive shall reimburse the Company in an amount equal to the Gross-up Payment, less any amounts which remain payable by or are not refunded to the Executive, within 15 days of the date of the IRS determination or the date the Executive receives the refund, as applicable. The Executive and the Company shall reasonably cooperate with each other in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings concerning the existence or amount of liability for the Excise Tax.

(iii) Following the date that is 48 months from the date of this Agreement, any Parachute Payments to be made to Executive hereunder shall be payable either (1) in full or (2) as to such lesser amount which would result in no portion of such Payments being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code; whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999, results in Executive’s receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of economic benefits under this Agreement, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. If a reduction in Parachute

 

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Payments is necessary so that no portion of the Parachute Payments is subject to the Excise Tax, reduction shall occur in the manner that results in the greatest economic benefit to Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata. If this Section 11(b)(iii) is applied to reduce an amount payable to Executive, and the IRS successfully asserts that, despite the reduction, Executive has nonetheless received payments that are in excess of the maximum amount that could have been paid to him without being subjected to any Excise Tax, then, unless it would be unlawful for the Company to make such a loan or similar extension of credit to Executive, Executive may repay such excess amount to the Company though such amount constitutes a loan to Executive made at the date of payment of such excess amount, bearing interest at 120% of the applicable federal rate (as determined under section 1274(d) of the Code in respect of such loan).

(iv) The independent registered public accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the date of the event triggering a Parachute Payment (the “ Triggering Event ”) shall make all determinations required to be made under this Section 11(b). The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such independent registered public accounting firm required to be made hereunder.

(v) The independent registered public accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and Executive within 30 calendar days after the Triggering Date (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. If the independent registered public accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it shall furnish the Company and Executive with a written opinion reasonably acceptable to Executive that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to such Payment. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive.

12. Miscellaneous .

(a) This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to its principles of conflicts of laws.

(b) Executive will be subject to such indemnification as is provided under the Company’s Bylaws and that certain Indemnification Agreement entered into by and among the Company and the Executive dated March 21, 2013 as amended September 20, 2013 (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), and under director and officer liability insurance provided by the Company.

(c) This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

(d) This Agreement, and Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by Executive. The Company may assign its rights, together with its obligations, hereunder in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition of all or

 

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substantially all of its business or assets provided the assignee entity which succeeds to the Company expressly assumes the Company’s obligations hereunder and complies with the terms of this Agreement.

(e) This Agreement cannot be amended orally, or by any course of conduct or dealing, but only by a written agreement signed by the parties hereto.

(f) The failure of either party to insist upon the strict performance of any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall not be construed as a waiver or relinquishment of future compliance therewith, and such terms, conditions and provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement on the part of either party shall be effective for any purpose whatsoever unless such waiver is in writing and signed by such party.

(g) All notices, requests, consents and other communications, required or permitted to be given hereunder, shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or by an overnight courier service or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the parties at the addresses set forth on the first page of this Agreement, and shall be deemed given when so delivered personally or by overnight courier, or, if mailed, five (5) days after the date of deposit in the United States mails. Either party may designate another address, for receipt of notices hereunder by giving notice to the other party in accordance with this clause (h).

(h) This Agreement, the Indemnification Agreement and that certain letter agreement between the Company and Executive dated March 21, 2013, pursuant to which Executive was appointed as Chairman of the Board ,set forth the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, written or oral, relating to the subject matter hereof. No representation, promise or inducement has been made by either party that is not embodied in this Agreement, and neither party shall be bound by or liable for any alleged representation, promise or inducement not so set forth.

(i) As used in this Agreement, “affiliate” of a specified Person shall mean and include any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the specified Person.

(j) The section headings contained herein are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

(k) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

[Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

AERIE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Thomas Mitro

Name:   Thomas Mitro
Title:   President and Chief Operating Officer
EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D.

Name:   Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D.
Date:   9/20/13

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Depomed, Inc.

  Director

QLT Inc.

  Director

NicOx Inc.

  Director

 

18

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1/A, of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of our report dated May 10, 2013 relating to the financial statements of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which appears in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Florham Park, NJ

October 3, 2013