Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2015

Registration No. 333-205501

 

 

 

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

 

 

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

2834

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

45-2748244

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

8000 Marina Blvd, Suite 300

Brisbane, CA 94005

(650) 614-5220

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

 

 

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

8000 Marina Blvd, Suite 300

Brisbane, CA 94005

(650) 614-5220

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

 

 

 

Copies to:

Patrick A. Pohlen, Esq.

Brian J. Cuneo, Esq.

Latham & Watkins LLP

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Telephone: (650) 328-4600

Facsimile: (650) 463-2600

 

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

8000 Marina Blvd, Suite 300

Brisbane, CA 94005

Telephone: (650) 614-5220

Facsimile: (650) 616-0075

 

Bruce K. Dallas, Esq.

Stephen P. Salmon, Esq.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

1600 El Camino Real

Menlo Park, CA 94025

Telephone: (650) 752-2000

Facsimile: (650) 752-2115

 

 

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 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

Amount

to be

Registered (1)(2)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate Offering

Price Per Share (2)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price (1) (2)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee (3)

Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share

  9,583,333   $16.00   $153,333,328   $17,818.00

 

 

(1) Includes 1,250,000 shares of common stock that the underwriters have the option to purchase.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(3) The registrant previously paid a total of $13,363.00 in connection with previous filings of the registration statement. In accordance with Rule 457(a), an additional registration fee of $4,455.00 is being paid with this amendment to the registration statement.

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.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Prospectus dated July 27, 2015

PROSPECTUS

8,333,333 Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

This is Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.’s initial public offering. We are selling 8,333,333 shares of our common stock.

We expect that the initial public offering price will be between $14.00 and $16.00 per share. Currently, no public market exists for the shares. After pricing of the offering, our shares will trade on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AIMT.”

We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and will be subject to reduced public company reporting requirements.

Investing in our common stock involves risks that are described in the “ Risk Factors ” section beginning on page 11 of this prospectus.

 

 

 

    

Per Share

      

Total

 

Public offering price

   $           $     

Underwriting discounts and commissions (1)

   $           $     

Proceeds, before expenses, to us

   $           $     

 

  (1) We refer you to “Underwriting” beginning on page 154 for additional disclosure regarding total underwriting compensation.

The underwriters may exercise their option to also purchase up to an additional 1,250,000 shares from us, at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discount, for 30 days the date of this prospectus.

Certain of our existing institutional investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price and on the same terms as the other purchasers in this offering. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, these investors may determine to purchase fewer shares than they indicate an interest in purchasing or not to purchase any shares in this offering. It is also possible that these investors could indicate an interest in purchasing more shares of our common stock. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer shares to any of these investors than the investors indicate an interest in purchasing or not to sell any shares to these investors.

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.

The shares will be ready for delivery on or about                     , 2015.

 

 

 

BofA Merrill Lynch   Credit Suisse   Piper Jaffray

 

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2015


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    

Page

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1   

THE OFFERING

     7   

RISK FACTORS

     11   

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     54   

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

     56   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     57   

DIVIDEND POLICY

     58   

CAPITALIZATION

     59   

DILUTION

     61   

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     63   

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

     65   

BUSINESS

     78   

MANAGEMENT

     109   

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     120   

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     135   

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     138   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     142   

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     147   

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

     150   

UNDERWRITING

     154   

LEGAL MATTERS

     161   

EXPERTS

     161   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     161   

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1   

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters are offering to sell shares of common stock and seeking offers to buy shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of shares of our common stock.

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 the United States. You are required to inform yourself about, and to observe any restrictions relating to, this offering and the distribution of this prospectus.

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.™, CODIT™ and our logo are some of our trademarks used in this prospectus. This prospectus also includes trademarks, tradenames and service marks that are the property of other organizations. Solely for convenience, our trademarks and tradenames referred to in this prospectus appear without the ® and ™ symbol, but those references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and tradenames.

 

i


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before deciding to invest in our common stock, you should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the sections of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes contained elsewhere in this prospectus. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to the “company,” “Aimmune,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing a new therapeutic approach, including the development of proprietary product candidates, for the treatment of peanut and other food allergies. It is estimated that over 30 million people in the United States and Europe have a food allergy, with peanut allergy being the most prevalent and most commonly associated with severe outcomes and life-threatening events. Our therapeutic approach, which we refer to as Characterized Oral Desensitization Immunotherapy, or CODIT, is a system designed to desensitize patients to food allergens using rigorously characterized biologic products, defined treatment protocols and tailored support services. In ARC001, our recently completed Phase 2 study of our lead CODIT product candidate, AR101, all of the 23 patients who completed the AR101 treatment regimen were desensitized to a clinically meaningful level of peanut protein of at least 443 mg, a level that substantially exceeds the amount of peanut protein typically encountered in an accidental exposure, which we believe to be approximately 100 mg or less. We intend to initiate a Phase 3 registration trial of AR101 in early 2016 and Phase 2 studies of other CODIT product candidates for two additional food allergies in 2016. AR101 has been granted Fast-Track designation and Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and, if our planned Phase 3 trial is successful, we intend to file a Biologics License Application with the FDA and a Marketing Authorization Application with the European Medicines Agency. We have worldwide commercial rights to all of our product candidates and, if approved, intend to commercialize in the United States and Europe with our own specialty sales force.

Food allergies are a severe and growing health problem in the United States, Europe and throughout the developed world. Peanut is the most common food allergy, and we estimate that there are over five million people in the United States and Europe with peanut allergy, including over two million children. The prevalence of peanut allergy in children in the United States is estimated to have increased at a constant annual growth rate of approximately 10% between 1997 and 2008, and experts believe it has continued to rise since 2008. Food-related allergic reactions are estimated to result in approximately 200,000 emergency room visits and over 10,000 hospital admissions each year in the United States.

There are currently no approved medical therapies to cure food allergies or prevent their effects. Avoidance is the primary method of managing a food allergy and successfully practicing avoidance can be virtually impossible, as allergic reactions can often be triggered by trace amounts of food proteins, or allergens. For example, of the over two million people with peanut allergy in the United States, 40% to 50% are sensitive to an exposure of 100 mg or less of peanut protein, the equivalent of less than half of a peanut kernel. For patients exposed to allergens, treatment options are limited. Epinephrine is used as a rescue medication, but its effectiveness is dependent on several factors, such as availability, the promptness of administration and sufficient dosage to counteract the effects of the allergic reaction. The stress of practicing avoidance and the limited availability of effective treatment options can result in a fear of a fatal accidental exposure, substantially diminishing the quality of life of patients and their families. This fear can lead to psychological traumas

 



 

1


Table of Contents

including fear of eating, social difficulties and severe anxiety. In addition, parents of food-allergic children often attempt to prevent accidental exposures by limiting their child’s participation in everyday activities.

We believe our CODIT system and product candidates, if approved, have the potential to reduce the dangers posed to food-allergic patients, such as accidental exposures resulting in anaphylactic reactions, emergency room visits or hospitalization. We expect that this potential protection from accidental exposures will reduce the stress and anxiety of patients and their families and enable patients to live more normal lives.

Our Lead Proprietary Product Candidate

Our lead CODIT product candidate, AR101, is a proprietary product designed to desensitize patients to a level of peanut protein that we believe substantially exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure using a gradual up-dosing and maintenance dosing regimen. Based on our clinical development to date, including our ARC001 study, we believe AR101 has the following key attributes:

 

    Proprietary Biologic Product : Our proprietary formulation is a complex mixture of naturally occurring proteins and pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that we developed to enable the convenient dosing of consistent amounts of peanut protein with well-defined relative concentrations of specific peanut allergens.

 

    Clinically Meaningful and Reliable Desensitization : In ARC001, 23 of the 23 peanut allergic patients who completed the AR101 treatment regimen achieved clinically meaningful desensitization to peanut allergens. ARC001 and independent scientific research have indicated that clinically meaningful desensitization can be attained through an oral immunotherapy treatment regimen, independent of gender, age and other demographics.

 

    Rapid and Predictable Onset of Action : In ARC001, a clinically meaningful level of protection was typically achieved by patients in the AR101 treatment group after only 22 weeks of dosing. Independent scientific research has also shown that continued maintenance dosing pursuant to an oral immunotherapy treatment regimen can confer increased protection over time.

 

    Attractive Safety Profile : In ARC001, most patients tolerated AR101 well, experiencing only mild, intermittent side effects commonly associated with food allergies, during the up-dosing phase of treatment. The most frequent of these side effects included gastrointestinal symptoms ranging from itching of the lips to vomiting, hives, throat itching or discomfort and nasal congestion. Once patients are desensitized and on maintenance dosing, we believe that they are likely to experience few or no side effects.

 

    Convenient Oral Administration : AR101 is designed to be provided to patients as a convenient, orally administered, once daily therapy that is mixed with common age-appropriate foods.

 

    Direct, Targeted Mechanism of Action : Oral administration of AR101 enables the allergen to interact directly with immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract responsible for mediating the allergic reaction to peanuts. Oral desensitization works by gradually shifting the balance of the immune system to dampen the allergic response in the case of accidental exposure.

 

    Compatibility with Current Clinical Practice and Infrastructure : The AR101 up-dosing regimen is similar to existing, widely adopted regimens for the treatment of non-food allergies, such as pollen and pet dander. We believe this feature will facilitate adoption by allergists and reimbursement by payors if AR101 is approved.

 



 

2


Table of Contents
    CODIT Support Services : We intend to provide physician education, patient guidance and other support services to facilitate the administration of AR101, if approved.

In June 2015, we presented our ARC001 Phase 2 data as a late-breaking abstract at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress. In ARC001, all patients who completed the up-dosing regimen in the AR101 treatment group were desensitized to a cumulative dose of 443 mg of peanut protein, the equivalent of approximately two peanut kernels, as compared to five of the 26 patients who received placebo. In addition, 18 of the 23 patients who completed the up-dosing regimen in the AR101 treatment group were desensitized to a cumulative dose of 1,043 mg of peanut protein, the equivalent of approximately four peanut kernels, as compared to none of the 26 patients who received placebo. Our ongoing open label Phase 2 study, ARC002, is evaluating, among other things, the long-term safety and tolerability of a regimen of daily maintenance doses of AR101 and its effect on desensitization.

Regulatory Status of AR101

In September 2014, the FDA granted AR101 Fast-Track designation for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive adults and children and in June 2015, the FDA granted AR101 Breakthrough Therapy designation for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive children and adolescents (ages 4 through 17). These designations are intended to facilitate the development and to expedite the review of drugs and biologics that are intended for the treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions and, in the case of a Fast-Track designation, that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition or, in the case of a Breakthrough Therapy designation, where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. Sponsors of products under development with a Fast-Track designation or Breakthrough Therapy designation may have greater interactions with the FDA, including the involvement of more senior staff members, and the FDA may initiate review of sections of a Fast-Track product’s marketing application before the application is complete. A product that receives these designations may be eligible for accelerated approval and priority review, if relevant criteria are met.

Key Advantages of Our CODIT System

Our CODIT system for the treatment of food allergies leverages and improves upon the extensive independent scientific research supporting oral immunotherapy, or OIT. Based on our clinical development to date, including our ARC001 study, we believe that our CODIT system will have the following key attributes:

 

    Standardized Products : Our proprietary biologic product candidates are derived from natural food products and are designed to contain precisely defined dosages of well-characterized food proteins so that each dosage is consistent for total protein and relative allergen content. In addition, we expect each of our product candidates, if approved, to be provided to patients as a convenient, orally administered, once daily therapy.

 

    Safe and Well-Defined Treatment Regimens : We intend to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of each CODIT product candidate in large scale, well-controlled clinical trials. In addition, we expect each CODIT product candidate to feature clearly defined clinical protocols with gradual up-dosing and practical maintenance dosing regimens designed to enhance safety, tolerability and efficacy.

 

    Clinically Meaningful Desensitization : We expect each approved CODIT product candidate to provide patients with protection from food allergens at a level that exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure.

 



 

3


Table of Contents
    Compatibility with Clinical Practice : We expect our protocols for each CODIT product candidate to be similar to treatment regimens currently utilized by allergists for non-food allergies.

 

    Tailored Support Services : We intend to provide physician education, patient guidance and other support services to facilitate the administration of each approved CODIT product candidate.

 

    Regulatory Approval : We believe regulatory approval of our CODIT product candidates, if obtained, will validate the extensive existing scientific research supporting oral desensitization and could lead to widespread adoption of our system.

Additional Pipeline Product Candidates

We intend to leverage the expertise gained in our development of AR101 to develop CODIT product candidates for a range of additional food allergies. We are in the process of developing formulations for CODIT product candidates for the treatment of two additional food allergies. We currently anticipate that we will initiate Phase 2 studies of two additional CODIT product candidates in 2016.

Our Strategy

Our goal is to build a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes proprietary therapies to improve the lives of food-allergic patients and their families. We intend to achieve this goal by pursuing the following key strategic objectives:

 

    Complete development and obtain approval of AR101 in the United States and Europe for the treatment of peanut allergy.

 

    Commercialize AR101 in the United States and Europe through our own specialty sales force.

 

    Leverage the CODIT system to develop additional proprietary product candidates for the treatment of food allergies.

 

    Strategically pursue collaborations to develop and commercialize product candidates.

Our History and Leadership

We were formed after a 2011 conference where leading researchers, clinicians, patient advocates and regulators in the field of food allergies concluded that oral desensitization had a strong scientific basis but required greater standardization and validation for widespread adoption. With the support of Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), a leading patient advocacy organization, we were founded to pursue the development and commercialization of standardized oral desensitization medical therapies for the treatment of food allergies. To execute on this vision, we have assembled a team of experienced biotechnology and pharmaceutical executives who have collectively contributed to the development and regulatory approval of over 30 drugs and biologics. We believe that the quality of our team will strongly influence our ability to develop a new class of CODIT products to address the unmet medical needs of food-allergic patients. Our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stephen Dilly, was previously Chief Executive Officer at APT Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Senior Vice President, Head of Development, Chief Medical Officer at Chiron BioPharmaceuticals, a division of Chiron Corporation, and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Genentech, Inc. Other members of our management team have held senior positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Chiron Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novartis AG, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Roche Holding AG and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited. We also have leading financial investors such as Adage Capital, Aisling Capital, funds affiliated with Fidelity Management & Research Company, Foresite Capital, Longitude Capital, Palo Alto Investors and RA Capital.

 



 

4


Table of Contents

Risks 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. These risks include, among others:

 

    We have a limited operating history, have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future.

 

    We have never generated any revenue from product sales and may never be profitable.

 

    Even if this offering is successful, we will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals.

 

    We are substantially dependent on the success of our lead product candidate, AR101, which will require significant additional clinical testing before we can seek regulatory approval and potentially launch commercial sales, and which may not be successful in clinical trials, receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized, even if approved.

 

    The clinical drug development and regulatory approval process is lengthy, time-consuming and inherently unpredictable, and we may experience significant delays in obtaining regulatory approval of AR101, if at all, which would harm our business and our results of operations.

 

    We use peanut flour from a single supplier as the source material for AR101 and are exposed to a number of sole supplier risks.

Corporate Information

We were founded on June 24, 2011 as a Delaware corporation under the name Allergen Research Corporation. In May 2015, we changed our name to Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 8000 Marina Blvd, Suite 300, Brisbane, CA 94005, and our telephone number is (650) 614-5220. Our website address is www.aimmune.com. The information on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. We have included our website address as an inactive textual reference only.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering, (2) the last day of the year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.0 billion, (3) the last day of the year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting requirements and is relieved of certain other significant requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As an emerging growth company:

 

    we will present only two years of audited consolidated financial statements, plus unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for any interim period, and related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations;

 

    we will avail ourselves of the exemption from the requirement to obtain an attestation and report from our auditors on the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Sarbanes Oxley;

 



 

5


Table of Contents
    we will provide less extensive disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and

 

    we will not require shareholder non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.

However, we are choosing to “opt out” of the extended transition periods available under the JOBS Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that our decision to opt out of the extended transition periods for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable.

 



 

6


Table of Contents

THE OFFERING

 

Issuer

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Common stock offered by us

8,333,333 shares.

 

Common stock to be outstanding after the offering

39,012,871 shares.

 

Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares

1,250,000 shares.

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $112.7 million, or approximately $130.2 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

  We currently expect to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the continued clinical development of AR101, including to fund our planned Phase 3 registration trial through data readout, to fund the development of additional product candidates and for working capital and general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 57 for a more complete description of the intended use of proceeds from this offering.

 

Risk factors

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 11 and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should consider carefully before deciding to invest in our common stock.

 

NASDAQ Global Select Market symbol

“AIMT”

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 30,679,538 shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2015, and excludes the following:

 

    189,853 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2015, having a weighted-average exercise price of $0.14 per share;

 

    4,078,078 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2013 Stock Plan, as amended, as of March 31, 2015. Of such shares, 3,228,100 shares of common stock are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that have been granted between March 31, 2015 and July 20, 2015, having a weighted-average exercise price of $3.56 per share;

 

    4,681,544 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering; and

 

   

390,128 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our

 



 

7


Table of Contents
 

common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering.

In addition, unless we specifically state otherwise, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

    a 1-for-1.317 split of our outstanding common stock and preferred stock, which will occur prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part;

 

    the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock at March 31, 2015 into an aggregate of 25,051,257 shares of common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering;

 

    the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in Delaware and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws, each of which will occur immediately prior to the consummation of this offering;

 

    no exercise of outstanding stock options subsequent to March 31, 2015; and

 

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

We refer to our Series A and Series B convertible preferred stock collectively as “convertible preferred stock” in this prospectus, as well as for financial reporting purposes and in the financial tables included in this prospectus, as more fully explained in Note 6 to our unaudited interim condensed financial statements included in this prospectus.

Indications of Interest

Certain of our existing institutional investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price and on the same terms as the other purchasers in this offering. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, these investors may determine to purchase fewer shares than they indicate an interest in purchasing or not to purchase any shares in this offering. It is also possible that these investors could indicate an interest in purchasing more shares of our common stock. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer shares to any of these investors than the investors indicate an interest in purchasing or not to sell any shares to these investors.

 



 

8


Table of Contents

SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA

The following tables present summary financial data for our business. You should read this data together with our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the information under the captions “Selected Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

We derived the following statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 from our audited financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The statement of operations data for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 and the balance sheet data as of March 31, 2015 have been derived from our unaudited interim condensed financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year. The unaudited interim condensed 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 present fairly our financial position as of March 31, 2015 and the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of our future results.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2014     2014     2015  
                 (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Statement of Operations Data:

  

Operating expenses:

  

Research and development

   $ 3,495      $ 8,181      $ 1,199      $ 2,069   

General and administrative

     1,263        2,951        401        1,372   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     4,758        11,132        1,600        3,441   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (4,758     (11,132     (1,600     (3,441

Other income (expense), net

        

Interest income

     24        12        7        —     

Interest expense

     (91     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

     (67     12        7        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (4,825   $ (11,120   $ (1,593   $ (3,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted (1)

   $ (1.65   $ (3.80   $ (0.54   $ (0.81
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted (1)

     2,926,665        2,928,896        2,926,665        4,258,877   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted (unaudited) (1)

     $ (0.69     $ (0.15
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted (unaudited) (1)

       16,192,863          22,467,561   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1) See Note 10 to our audited financial statements and Note 7 to our unaudited interim condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for an explanation of the calculations of our net loss per share, basic and diluted, pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted, and the shares used in computing the net loss per share, basic and diluted, and pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted.

 



 

9


Table of Contents

The table below presents our balance sheet data as of March 31, 2015:

 

    on an actual basis;

 

    on a pro forma basis to give effect to: (i) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 25,051,257 shares of common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering; and (ii) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the consummation of this offering; and

 

    on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to the sale of 8,333,333 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

     As of March 31, 2015  
    

Actual

   

Pro Forma

   

Pro Forma as
Adjusted (1)

 
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data :

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 65,313      $ 65,313      $ 178,063   

Working capital

     64,065        64,065        176,815   

Total assets

     65,895        65,895        178,645   

Convertible preferred stock

     83,811        —          —     

Accumulated deficit

     (20,958     (20,958     (20,958

Total stockholders’ equity

     64,239        64,239        176,989   

 

(1) Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), would increase (decrease) the amount of cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets and total stockholders’ equity by $7.7 million, 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 estimated underwriting discount and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase (decrease) the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 in the number of shares we are offering would increase (decrease) the amount of cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets and stockholders’ equity by approximately $14.0 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 



 

10


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this prospectus, including our financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History, Financial Condition and Capital Requirements

We have a limited operating history, have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We have only one product candidate in clinical trials and no product sales, which, together with our limited operating history, make it difficult to assess our future viability.

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history. Biopharmaceutical product development is a highly speculative undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk. To date, we have focused primarily on developing our CODIT system and our lead product candidate, AR101, which is currently our only product in clinical development, and researching additional product candidates. We are not profitable and have incurred losses each year since our inception in June 2011. We have only a limited operating history upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects. In addition, we have limited experience and have not yet demonstrated an ability to successfully overcome many of the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in new and rapidly evolving fields, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. We have not generated any revenue from product sales and, as a result, we have incurred significant losses. We incurred a net loss of $4.8 million and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively, and $1.6 and $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. At December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, our accumulated deficit was $17.5 million and $21.0 million, respectively. We expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, and we anticipate these losses will increase as we continue our development of, seek regulatory approval for and begin to commercialize AR101, and as we develop other product candidates. Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent periods. Our prior losses, combined with expected future losses, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital.

Even if this offering is successful, we will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development, other operations or commercialization efforts.

Since commencing our operations in 2011, substantially all of our efforts have been focused on research, development and the advancement of AR101. As of March 31, 2015, we had capital resources consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $65.3 million. We believe that we will continue to expend substantial resources for the foreseeable future as we continue clinical development, seek regulatory approval for and prepare for the commercialization of AR101, and as we develop other product candidates.

These expenditures will include costs associated with research and development, conducting nonclinical studies and clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals, manufacturing and supply, sales and marketing and general operations. In addition, other unanticipated costs may arise. Because the outcome of any clinical trial and/or regulatory approval process is highly uncertain, we may not be able to accurately estimate the actual amounts necessary to successfully complete the development, regulatory approval process and commercialization of AR101 or any other product candidates.

 

11


Table of Contents

We believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, will allow us to fund our planned operations for the 24 months following the date of this offering, including through data readout of our planned Phase 3 registration trial for AR101. However, our operating plan may change as a result of many factors, including factors currently unknown to us, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned, through public or private equity, debt financings or other sources, such as strategic collaborations. Such financing may result in dilution to stockholders, imposition of debt covenants and repayment obligations or other restrictions that may affect our business. If we raise additional capital through strategic collaborations agreements, we may have to relinquish valuable rights to our product candidates including possible future revenue streams. In addition, any additional fundraising efforts may divert our management from their day-to-day activities, which may adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates. Furthermore, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations.

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

 

    the time and cost necessary to initiate and complete our anticipated Phase 3 registration trial for AR101;

 

    the time and cost associated with clinical trials and pre-clinical development of other product candidates;

 

    our ability to obtain regulatory approval for and subsequently commercialize AR101 or any other product candidates we develop;

 

    the time and cost necessary to develop clinical supplies and a commercial-scale manufacturing process for AR101;

 

    sales and marketing costs associated with AR101, if approved, including the cost and timing of developing our sales and marketing capabilities;

 

    the amount of sales and other revenue from AR101, if approved;

 

    our ability to achieve sufficient market acceptance, coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors and adequate market share for our product candidates;

 

    the costs associated with any additional clinical trials of AR101;

 

    the cash requirements of any future acquisitions or discovery of product candidates;

 

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

 

    our ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel; and

 

    our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for AR101 or any future product candidate and the associated costs of such activities, including for filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patents for AR101 or any future product candidate.

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 to us on a timely basis, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate:

 

    clinical trials or other development activities for AR101 or any future product candidate;

 

    our research and development activities; or

 

12


Table of Contents
    our establishment of sales and marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to commercialize AR101 or any future product candidate.

Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes our future operating results difficult to predict and could cause our operating results to fall below expectations or our guidance.

Our quarterly and annual operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes it difficult for us to predict our future operating results. These fluctuations may occur due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control and may be difficult to predict, including:

 

    the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research, development and commercialization activities relating to our product candidates, which may change from time to time;

 

    coverage and reimbursement policies with respect to our product candidates, if approved, and potential future drugs that compete with our product candidates;

 

    the cost of manufacturing our product candidates, which may vary depending on the quantity of production and the terms of our agreements with manufacturers;

 

    expenditures that we may incur to acquire, develop or commercialize additional product candidates and technologies;

 

    the level of demand for our products, if approved, which may vary significantly;

 

    future accounting pronouncements or changes in our accounting policies; and

 

    the timing and success or failure of clinical trials for our product candidates or competing product candidates, or any other change in the competitive landscape of our industry, including consolidation among our competitors or partners.

The cumulative effects of these factors could result in large fluctuations and unpredictability in our quarterly and annual operating results. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. Investors should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance.

This variability and unpredictability could also result in our failing to meet the expectations of industry or financial analysts or investors for any period. If our revenue or operating results fall below the expectations of analysts or investors or below any forecasts we may provide to the market, or if the forecasts we provide to the market are below the expectations of analysts or investors, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Such a stock price decline could occur even when we have met any previously publicly stated revenue and/or earnings guidance we may provide.

Risks Related to Our Business

We are substantially dependent on the success of AR101 which will require significant additional clinical testing before we can seek regulatory approval and potentially launch commercial sales, and which may not be successful in clinical trials, receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized, even if approved.

To date, we have invested substantially all of our efforts and financial resources in the research and development of our CODIT system and AR101, which is currently our only product candidate in clinical development. Before seeking marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of AR101, we must conduct extensive clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of the product in humans. We are not permitted to market or promote any of our product candidates before we receive regulatory approval from the

 

13


Table of Contents

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and we may never receive such regulatory approval. We cannot be certain that AR101 will be successful in clinical trials. Further, AR101 may not receive regulatory approval even if it is successful in clinical trials. If we do not receive regulatory approvals for AR101, we may not be able to continue our operations. Our prospects, including our ability to finance our operations and generate revenue, will depend largely on the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of AR101. We do not expect that such commercialization will occur for at least the next two years, if ever. The clinical and commercial success of AR101 will depend on a number of factors, including the following:

 

    the results from our planned Phase 3 registration trial of AR101, and from ARC002, our ongoing open label Phase 2 clinical trial of AR101;

 

    the frequency and severity of adverse effects of AR101;

 

    the ability of third-party manufacturers to manufacture supplies of AR101 and to develop, validate and maintain a commercial-scale manufacturing process that is compliant with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMP;

 

    our ability to maintain our exclusive supply relationship with the Golden Peanut Company;

 

    our ability to demonstrate AR101’s safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities;

 

    whether we are required by the FDA to conduct additional clinical trials prior to the approval to market AR101 and whether the FDA may disagree with the number, design, size, conduct or implementation of our clinical trials;

 

    the receipt of necessary marketing approvals from the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities;

 

    whether the FDA may require implementation of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, as a condition of approval or post-approval;

 

    whether the FDA may restrict the use of our products to a narrow population;

 

    our ability to successfully commercialize AR101, if approved for marketing and sale by the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities, whether alone or in collaboration with others;

 

    our success in educating physicians and patients about the benefits, administration and use of AR101;

 

    acceptance of AR101 as safe and effective by patients and the medical community;

 

    the availability, perceived advantages, relative cost, relative safety and relative efficacy of alternative and competing treatments;

 

    achieving and maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements applicable to AR101;

 

    the effectiveness of our own or any future collaborators’ marketing, pricing, coverage and reimbursement, sales and distribution strategies and operations;

 

    our ability to obtain issued patents that cover AR101 and to enforce such patents and other intellectual property rights in and to AR101;

 

14


Table of Contents
    our ability to avoid third-party intellectual property claims; and

 

    a continued acceptable safety profile of AR101 following approval.

Many of these factors are beyond our control. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will ever be able to generate revenue through the sale of AR101. If we are not successful in commercializing AR101, or are significantly delayed in doing so, our business will be materially harmed.

Clinical drug development involves a lengthy and expensive process with an uncertain outcome, and we may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials. Furthermore, results of earlier studies may not be predictive of future studies’ results.

Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. Failure can occur at any time during the clinical trial process. The results of early clinical trials of our product candidates may not be predictive of the results of later-stage clinical trials and of similar academic research studies. For example, the positive results generated to date in our Phase 2 clinical trial of AR101 do not ensure that our planned Phase 3 registration trial will demonstrate similar results. Product candidates in later stages of clinical trials may fail to show the desired safety and efficacy despite having progressed through initial clinical trials. A number of companies in the pharmaceutical industry have suffered significant setbacks in advanced clinical trials due to lack of efficacy or adverse safety profiles, notwithstanding promising results in earlier studies, and we cannot be certain that we will not face similar setbacks. Even if our clinical trials are completed, the results may not be sufficient to obtain regulatory approval or commercial acceptance for our product candidates.

In addition, we do not know whether our anticipated Phase 3 registration trial of AR101 or clinical trials of other product candidates will begin on time, need to be redesigned, enroll an adequate number of patients on time or be completed on schedule, if at all. Clinical trials can be delayed or terminated for a variety of reasons, including delay or failure to:

 

    obtain regulatory approval to commence a clinical trial;

 

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

 

    obtain institutional review board, or IRB, or foreign equivalent approval at each site;

 

    recruit suitable patients to participate in a clinical trial;

 

    have patients complete a clinical trial or return for post-treatment follow-up;

 

    ensure that clinical sites observe clinical trial protocols, operate in accordance with good clinical practice standards, or continue to participate in a clinical trial;

 

    address any patient safety concerns that arise during the course of a clinical trial, particularly with respect to the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges;

 

    address any conflicts with new or existing laws or regulations;

 

    initiate or add a sufficient number of clinical trial sites; or

 

    manufacture sufficient quantities of product candidate for use in clinical trials.

 

15


Table of Contents

For example, subsequent to filing our IND for AR101, the FDA put the Phase 2 clinical trial on clinical hold in order to obtain additional information regarding our manufacturing process and to request certain changes to the design of the clinical trial. Specifically, the FDA requested information regarding the procedures used to ensure that the drug product was not contaminated, the procedures used to ensure the uniformity and consistency of the drug product, our acceptance procedures for the drug product and the placebo, and procedures to ensure correct dosing. In addition, the FDA requested changes to the clinical trial relating to the stopping rules for the trial, withdrawal criteria for the trial, exclusion criteria for patients, the appearance of the drug and the placebo and the drug lots used in the trial. We provided the FDA with the information it requested and made agreed upon changes to the clinical trial. However, complying with the FDA’s request resulted in an approximately two month delay in initiation of the trial.

We rely on CROs and clinical trial sites to ensure the proper and timely conduct of our clinical trials and, while we have agreements governing their committed activities, we have limited influence over their actual performance and, as a result, may be subject to unanticipated delays. We anticipate that we will conduct our clinical trials, at least in part, at leading academic allergy research centers in the United States and Europe. The number and capacity of such sites is limited and our ability to access the sites may be affected by the number and size of other trials occurring at the same time, including trials sponsored by our competitors. If adequate capacity at these sites is not available, the initiation and pace of our clinical trials may be adversely affected.

Conducting clinical trials in foreign countries, as we intend to do for our Phase 3 registration trial of AR101, presents additional risks that may delay completion of our clinical trials. These risks include the failure of physicians or enrolled patients in foreign countries to adhere to clinical protocol as a result of differences in healthcare services or cultural customs, managing additional administrative burdens associated with foreign regulatory schemes and political and economic risks relevant to such foreign countries. In addition, the FDA may determine that our clinical trial results obtained in foreign subjects are not representative of the U.S. patient population and are thus not supportive of a Biologics License Application, or BLA, approval in the United States.

Patient enrollment is a significant factor in the timing of clinical trials and is affected by many factors, including the size and nature of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria for the clinical trial, the design of the clinical trial, safety, competing clinical trials and clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages of the drug being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs or treatments that may be approved for the indications we are investigating. In addition, certain sub-groups of patients may be more difficult to recruit than others. For example, in our planned Phase 3 registration trial of AR101, we currently intend to recruit a significant number of patients over the age of 26. We have not enrolled patients in this age group before and believe they may be more difficult to recruit than younger patients. If we are not able to recruit sufficient numbers of patients over the age of 26 into our Phase 3 registration trial, any approval that we obtain, if any, will not include an indication for patients over the age of 26. If we are not able to recruit patients to participate in our clinical trials in a timely manner, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.

We could also encounter delays if a clinical trial is suspended or terminated by us, by the IRBs of the institutions in which such studies are being conducted, by an independent Safety Review Board for such clinical trial or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. Such authorities may suspend or terminate a clinical trial due to a number of factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols, failure to pass inspections of the clinical trial operations or trial site by the FDA or other regulatory authorities, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using the product, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial. For example, the protocols for our clinical trials require that patients participate in food challenges where they receive increasing amounts of the food to which they are allergic. In our clinical trials, participation in these food challenges has resulted in allergic reactions severe enough to require treatment with epinephrine. It is possible that patients could have allergic reactions severe enough to require hospitalization or even cause death. In such event, we could be required to suspend or terminate our clinical trials.

 

16


Table of Contents

If we experience delays in the completion of, or termination of, any clinical trial of our product candidates, the commercial prospects of our product candidates may be harmed, and our ability to generate product revenues from any of these product candidates will be delayed. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical trials will increase our costs, slow down our product candidate development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenues. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price. In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our product candidates.

In our clinical trials, we utilize an oral food challenge procedure designed to trigger an allergic reaction, which could be severe or life threatening.

In accordance with our food allergy clinical trial protocols, we utilize a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge procedure. This consists of giving the offending food protein to patients in order to assess the sensitivity of their food allergy, and thus the safety and efficacy of our product candidates versus placebo. The food challenge protocol is meant to induce objective symptoms of an allergic reaction. These oral food challenge procedures can potentially trigger anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening systemic allergic reaction. Even though these procedures are well-controlled, standardized and performed in highly specialized centers with intensive care units, there are inherent risks in conducting a clinical trial of this nature. Such risks may dissuade patients, particularly children, or their parents from participating in our clinical trials. In addition, an uncontrolled allergic reaction could potentially lead to serious or even fatal reactions and any such serious clinical event could potentially adversely affect our clinical development timelines, including a complete clinical hold on our food allergy clinical trials. For instance, we are aware of one clinical trial for a peanut allergy treatment that was terminated by its safety monitoring committee because of severe adverse events arising from the administration of food challenges. We may also become liable to subjects who participate in our clinical trials and experience any such serious or fatal reactions. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

The regulatory approval process is lengthy, time-consuming and inherently unpredictable, and we may experience significant delays in obtaining regulatory approval of AR101, if at all, which would delay the commercialization of AR101, adversely impact our ability to generate revenue, and harm our business and our results of operations.

To gain approval to market a biologic product candidate, such as AR101, we must provide the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities with clinical, non-clinical and manufacturing data that adequately demonstrates to the satisfaction of such regulatory authority the safety, purity, potency and effectiveness of the product for the intended indication applied for in the BLA or other relevant regulatory filing. We have not previously submitted a BLA to the FDA, or similar approval filings to comparable foreign regulatory authorities. A BLA or other relevant regulatory filing must include extensive nonclinical and clinical data and supporting information to establish that the product candidate is safe, pure and potent for each desired indication. The BLA or other relevant regulatory filing must also include significant information regarding the chemistry, manufacturing and controls for the product.

The FDA or any foreign regulatory bodies can delay, limit or deny approval to market AR101 for many reasons, including:

 

    our inability to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory body that AR101 is safe, pure and potent for the proposed indication;

 

    the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authority may disagree with the interpretation of data from clinical trials;

 

    our inability to demonstrate that the clinical and other benefits of AR101 outweigh any safety or other perceived risks;

 

17


Table of Contents
    the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authority may require additional nonclinical studies or clinical trials;

 

    the CROs that we retain to conduct our clinical trials may take actions outside of our control that materially adversely impact our clinical trials;

 

    the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authority may not approve or disagree with the formulation, labeling and/or the specifications of AR101;

 

    if our BLA, if and when submitted, is reviewed by an advisory committee, the FDA may have difficulties scheduling an advisory committee meeting in a timely manner or the advisory committee may recommend against approval of our application or may recommend that the FDA require, as a condition of approval, additional nonclinical studies or clinical trials, limitations on approved labeling or distribution and use restrictions;

 

    the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authority may require development of a REMS as a condition of approval or post-approval;

 

    our inability to demonstrate that the manufacturing process for AR101 is adequately controlled to ensure that all product produced meets required quality standards;

 

    the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authority may fail to approve the third-party manufacturers or testing laboratories with which we contract; or

 

    the potential for approval policies or regulations of the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authorities to significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval.

Of the large number of drugs and biologics in development, only a small percentage successfully complete the FDA or other regulatory approval processes and are commercialized. In addition, the FDA has never approved a drug based on efficacy as measured by a double-blind, placebo controlled food challenge, which is the testing mechanism for determining the desensitization efficacy of AR101.

Even if we eventually complete clinical testing and receive approval of a BLA or foreign marketing authorization for AR101, the FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authority may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly additional clinical trials. The FDA or the applicable foreign regulatory authority may also approve AR101 for a more limited indication and/or a narrower patient population than we originally request, and the FDA or applicable foreign regulatory authority may not approve the labeling that we believe is necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization of AR101. Any delay in obtaining, or inability to obtain, applicable regulatory approval or a regulatory approval for a more limited indication and/or narrower patient population would delay, prevent, or limit commercialization of AR101 and would materially adversely impact our business and prospects.

If we do not receive marketing approval for AR101 or are otherwise not successful in commercializing AR101, or are significantly delayed in doing so, our business will be materially harmed and we may need to curtail or cease operations. We currently have no products approved for sale, and we may never obtain regulatory approval to commercialize AR101.

If we do not achieve our projected development and commercialization goals in the timeframes we announce and expect, the commercialization of AR101 or any future product candidates may be delayed, and our business will be harmed.

We sometimes estimate for planning purposes the timing of the accomplishment of various scientific, clinical, regulatory and other product development objectives. These milestones may include our expectations regarding the commencement or completion of scientific studies, clinical trials, the submission of regulatory filings, or commercialization objectives. From time to time, we may publicly announce the expected timing of

 

18


Table of Contents

some of these milestones, such as the completion of an ongoing clinical trial, the initiation of other clinical programs, receipt of marketing approval, or a commercial launch of a product. The achievement of many of these milestones may be outside of our control. All of these milestones are based on a variety of assumptions which may cause the timing of achievement of the milestones to vary considerably from our estimates, including:

 

    our available capital resources or capital constraints we experience;

 

    the rate of progress, costs and results of our clinical trials and research and development activities, including the extent of scheduling conflicts with participating clinicians and collaborators, and our ability to identify and enroll patients who meet clinical trial eligibility criteria;

 

    our receipt of approvals by the FDA and other regulatory authorities and the timing thereof;

 

    other actions, decisions or rules issued by regulators;

 

    our ability to access sufficient, reliable and affordable supplies of materials used in the manufacture of our product candidates;

 

    the efforts of our collaborators with respect to the commercialization of our products; and

 

    the securing of, costs related to, and timing issues associated with, product manufacturing as well as sales and marketing activities.

If we fail to achieve announced milestones in the timeframes we expect, the commercialization of AR101 and any future product candidates may be delayed, and our business and results of operations may be harmed.

We rely exclusively on the Golden Peanut Company to provide the source material for AR101 and are exposed to a number of sole supplier risks.

The source material for AR101 is a specific type of peanut flour, which we purchase from the Golden Peanut Company, or GPC, pursuant to a long-term exclusive commercial supply agreement. In order to develop AR101 as an FDA-approvable biological product we were required to precisely characterize the protein signature of the flour. We believe the flour produced by GPC has a distinct protein signature that is significantly different from the protein signatures of other commercially available peanut flours and, as a result, it is unlikely that we could use any other peanut flours as the source material for AR101. If GPC became unwilling or unable to supply us with peanut flour, our business and operating results would be materially adversely affected.

In addition, our agreement with GPC does not require GPC to provide us with peanut flour with a specific protein signature. We have tested multiple lots of GPC peanut flour produced in several different years and have not identified a significant variation in protein signature between lots. However, we can provide no assurance that natural variations or variations in GPC’s manufacturing process will not result in alterations in the protein signature in GPC’s peanut flour that would make it unsuitable for use in AR101. If such variations occurred, we would not be able to manufacture AR101 and our business and operating results would be materially adversely affected.

Our agreement with GPC restricts it from selling peanut flour of the type (or equivalent to the type) we use to any third party in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the European Union or Japan for use in oral immunotherapy, or OIT, for peanut allergy. The agreement remains in effect until five years after the first delivery to us of peanut flour for commercial use and includes an option for us to extend the term for an additional five years, however GPC may terminate the agreement upon 60 days’ written notice if we fail to meet our minimum annual purchase commitment and fail to pay an amount equal to GPC’s standard price for the

 

19


Table of Contents

unpurchased quantity within the notice period. GPC may also terminate the agreement if we fail to cure a material breach within 30 days of receiving notice of such breach from GPC or if we fail to perform our obligations under the agreement for a continuous period of 90 days due to a force majeure event or an insolvency or bankruptcy-related events. If GPC were to make sales despite the restrictions set forth in the agreement, or terminate the agreement as a result of any of the foregoing or if we were to otherwise lose exclusivity, we could face additional competition from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, with considerably more resources and experience than we have, that are researching and selling products designed to treat food allergies or allergies in general.

AR101 may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit the commercial profile of an approved label, or result in significant negative consequences following marketing approval, if any.

Undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or other comparable foreign regulatory authorities. To date, patients treated with AR101 have experienced drug-related side effects, which mainly include gastrointestinal issues ranging from itching of the lips to vomiting. Results of our trials could reveal a high and unacceptable severity and prevalence of these or other side effects. In such an event, our clinical trials could be suspended or terminated and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease further development of or deny approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications. The drug-related side effects could affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete the clinical trial or result in potential product liability claims. Any of these occurrences may harm our business, financial condition and prospects significantly.

In addition, clinical trials by their nature utilize a sample of the potential patient population. With a limited number of subjects and limited duration of exposure in our clinical trials, we cannot be assured that rare and severe adverse effects of AR101 will not be uncovered when a significantly larger number of patients are exposed to the drug. Further, we have not designed our clinical trials to determine the effect and safety consequences of taking AR101 over a multi-year period.

Although we have monitored the subjects in our studies for certain safety concerns and we have not seen evidence of significant safety concerns in our clinical trials, patients treated with AR101 may experience adverse reactions. For instance, in independent research studies, patients receiving OIT for peanut allergy have suffered severe anaphylactic reactions. While we have developed AR101 and its associated treatment regimen in a manner which we believe reduces the risk of adverse reactions, we can provide no assurance that patients administered AR101 will not also suffer severe anaphylactic reactions, including reactions leading to death. For example, in our ARC001 clinical trial, one patient had an allergic reaction that was attributed to AR101 that was severe enough to require the administration of epinephrine and six patients in our ARC001 clinical trial who received AR101 and who did not achieve desensitization dropped out of the clinical trial early in the treatment regimen due to gastrointestinal side effects. It is possible that the FDA may ask for additional data regarding such matters.

If safety problems are identified prior to approval of AR101, the FDA or other regulatory agencies may not approve AR101, may limit the population it is used in or may require warnings on the label. If AR101 is ultimately approved and we or others later identify undesirable side effects caused by AR101, the FDA or other regulatory agencies may require that we amend the labeling of AR101, require additional warnings, create a medication guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients, order us to recall AR101 or even withdraw marketing approval for AR101. In addition, we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients and our reputation may suffer. Each of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of AR101, if approved, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

 

20


Table of Contents

The potential efficacy of AR101, if approved, is dependent upon patient compliance with the prescribed dosing regimen and failure to adhere to the dosing regimen could increase the potential of a patient experiencing an adverse allergic reaction.

The AR101 treatment regimen, if approved, would require that patients start with a very low dose of AR101 and gradually increase their dose over time. Based on our existing clinical data, we anticipate it will take patients between five and six months to reach a daily dose level of 300 mg of peanut protein. Patients would then continue on a daily 300 mg maintenance dose.

In order to maintain desensitization, patients would need to continue to take a daily 300 mg maintenance dose. The potential efficacy of AR101, if approved, is dependent upon patients complying with the prescribed dosing regimen, including the continued maintenance dosing. Based on our studies and independent studies, we do not believe that the occasional failure to take a dose will affect desensitization. However, in the event a patient fails to follow the prescribed dosing regimen, halts or skips treatment and then restarts the dosing regimen, the likelihood of an adverse allergic reaction to the allergen is greatly increased, as any level of desensitization previously achieved may have dissipated. Further, patients will be required to continue to practice avoidance to peanut exposure and if patients begin to achieve desensitization, it is possible that they may become less vigilant in practicing avoidance and further increase their risk of an accidental exposure. As a result, a lack of patient compliance and the resulting increased likelihood for adverse safety events could have a material adverse effect on our ability to obtain and maintain, if approved, the regulatory approval necessary to commercialize AR101. Failure to do so would significantly harm our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price. In addition, if patients drop out of our clinical trial due to the strict dosing regimen, the likelihood that we will be able to demonstrate clinically meaningful desensitization will be decreased.

We intend to rely on third parties to manufacture our clinical and commercial drug supply of AR101 and to manufacture nonclinical, clinical and commercial supplies of any future product candidate.

We do not currently have, nor do we currently plan to acquire, the infrastructure or internal capability to produce our clinical or commercial supply of AR101, and we lack the internal resources and the capability to manufacture any product candidates on a nonclinical, clinical or commercial scale. The FDA and other comparable foreign regulatory authorities must, pursuant to inspections that will be conducted before and after we submit our BLA or relevant foreign regulatory submission, approve our contract manufacturers to manufacture AR101 or any future product candidates.

We do not directly control the manufacturing of, and are completely dependent on, contract manufacturers for compliance with cGMP for manufacture of our products and product candidates. If our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDA or foreign regulatory authorities, they will not be able to secure and/or maintain regulatory approval for their manufacturing facilities. In addition, we have no direct control over the ability of our contract manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. Furthermore, all of our contract manufacturers are engaged with other companies to supply and/or manufacture materials or products for such companies, which exposes our manufacturers to regulatory risks for the production of such materials and products. As a result, failure to meet the regulatory requirements for the production of those materials and products may generally affect the regulatory clearance of our contract manufacturers’ facilities. If the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority does not approve these facilities for the manufacture of our product candidates or if it withdraws its approval in the future, we may need to find alternative manufacturing facilities, which would negatively impact our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market our product candidates, if approved.

We intend to rely on a single manufacturer for each of the production of the drug product used in AR101 and the packaging of AR101. If one of these manufacturers encountered financial difficulties and was unable to continue operating or was acquired by a third party and changed strategic direction, our ability to obtain supplies of AR101 or future product candidates could be materially adversely affected.

 

21


Table of Contents

We have not yet entered into an agreement with a third-party manufacturer to produce commercial quantities of AR101 and any failure to reach such an agreement and commence the development process for AR101 in a timely manner would delay commercialization of AR101.

We intend to rely on a third-party manufacturer to develop a commercial-scale manufacturing process for AR101. While we have identified a potential manufacturing partner for the commercial supply of AR101 we have not yet entered into agreements with respect to that supply. Aspects of our manufacturing process for AR101 are complex and our existing manufacturing process will need to be scaled up to meet our anticipated commercial requirements. If we and our third-party manufacturer are not able to successfully develop a commercial manufacturing process or do so in a timely manner, we will not be able to initiate commercialization of AR101 within our estimated timeline, if at all. We anticipate that we will initially be dependent on a single contract manufacturer for the production of AR101 and that during such time, our commercialization efforts will be substantially dependent on this single contract manufacturer’s ability to scale up the manufacturing process for AR101. In addition, we will need to make a substantial investment in property and equipment in order to support the commercial production of AR101. Any delay in making that investment and acquiring the necessary infrastructure could delay commercial production of AR101.

We rely on third parties to conduct our clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or meet expected deadlines, we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize AR101 or any future product candidates.

We do not have the ability to independently conduct clinical trials. We rely and plan to continue to rely on medical institutions, clinical investigators, contract laboratories, collaborative partners and other third parties, such as CROs, to conduct clinical trials on our product candidates. The third parties with whom we contract for execution of our clinical trials play a significant role in the conduct of these studies and the subsequent collection and analysis of data. However, these third parties are not our employees, and except for contractual duties and obligations, we have limited ability to control the amount or timing of resources that they devote to our programs. Although we rely on these third parties to conduct our clinical trials, we remain responsible for ensuring that each of our clinical trials is conducted in accordance with the applicable protocol, legal, regulatory and scientific standards, and our reliance on these third parties does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities.

The FDA and foreign regulatory authorities require us and our third-party contractors to comply with regulations and standards, including regulations commonly referred to as good clinical practices, or GCPs, which are regulations and guidelines enforced by the FDA and foreign regulatory authorities for conducting, monitoring, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials to ensure that the data and results are scientifically credible and accurate, and that the clinical trial subjects are adequately informed of the potential risks of participating in clinical trials. Regulatory authorities enforce these GCPs through periodic inspections of clinical trial sponsors, principal investigators and clinical trial sites. If we or any of our third-party contractors fail to comply with applicable GCPs, the clinical data generated in our clinical trials may be deemed unreliable and the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may require us to perform additional clinical trials before approving our marketing applications. We cannot assure you that upon inspection by a given regulatory authority, such regulatory authority will determine that any of our clinical trials complies with GCP regulations. In addition, certain of our clinical trials must be conducted with product produced under current good manufacturing practice, or cGMP, regulations. Our failure to comply with these regulations may require us to repeat clinical trials, which would delay the regulatory approval process.

In addition, the execution of clinical trials, and the subsequent compilation and analysis of the data produced, requires coordination among various parties. In order for these functions to be carried out effectively and efficiently, it is imperative that these parties communicate and coordinate with one another. Moreover, these third parties may also have relationships with other commercial entities, some of which may compete with us. In addition, our agreements with third parties may typically be terminated by such third parties upon as little as 30 days’ prior written notice or, in certain cases, under certain other circumstances, including our insolvency. If the

 

22


Table of Contents

third parties conducting our clinical trials do not perform their contractual duties or obligations, experience work stoppages, do not meet expected deadlines, terminate their agreements with us or 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 trial protocols or GCPs, or for any other reason, we may need to enter into new arrangements with alternative third parties, which could be difficult, costly or impossible, and our clinical trials may be extended, delayed or terminated or may need to be repeated. If any of the foregoing were to occur, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize the product candidate being tested in such studies.

Even if AR101 or any future product candidates obtain regulatory approval, they may never achieve market acceptance or commercial success, which will depend, in part, upon the degree of acceptance among clinicians, patients, patient advocacy groups, healthcare payors and the general medical community.

Even if we obtain FDA or other regulatory approvals, AR101 or any future product candidates may not achieve market acceptance among clinicians, patients, patient advocacy groups, healthcare payors and the general medical community. With respect to AR101, which we intend to market as a means of obtaining protection from accidental exposure to peanut protein and not as a cure for peanut allergy, we anticipate that clinicians will continue to recommend that their patients strictly avoid foods that may contain any amount of peanut protein and continue to carry epinephrine auto-injectors even if the patients have been successfully desensitized with AR101. As a result, if we are unable to persuade clinicians, patients and caregivers that AR101 has therapeutic value when used in conjunction with the practice of avoidance, our sales will be adversely affected.

In addition, we may face challenges in gaining market acceptance as a result of our therapeutic approach, which exposes patients to the exact allergen that poses a risk of causing a severe allergic reaction. Many clinicians believe that previous oral immunotherapy approaches to the treatment of peanut allergy are too unsafe or unreliable to use in clinical practice. We are also susceptible to changes in the public perception of the safety and efficacy of desensitization treatments. For example, if a competitor’s desensitization treatment similar to our own had significant safety issues, perceptions of our products could also be negatively impacted even if our product did not have similar safety issues. If we are unable to convince clinicians and their patients that AR101 is safe and reliable, our sales will be adversely affected.

Furthermore, market acceptance of AR101 or any future product candidates for which we receive approval depends on a number of factors, including:

 

    the efficacy of the product as demonstrated in clinical trials;

 

    the frequency and severity of any adverse effects and overall safety profile of the product;

 

    the clinical indication for which the product is approved including any limitations on the patient population for which it is indicated;

 

    acceptance by clinicians and patients of the product as a safe and effective treatment and their perceptions of the benefit of the product;

 

    the evaluation of our products by governmental health technology assessment organizations;

 

    the relative convenience and ease of administration of our products, including patients’ acceptance of the need to take our product candidates mixed with food;

 

    patient and parent acceptance of our product’s form factor and packaging;

 

    the willingness of patients to comply with a treatment regimen that requires daily administration of our product candidates on a chronic basis;

 

23


Table of Contents
    the potential and perceived advantages of our product candidates over current treatment options or alternative treatments, including future alternative treatments;

 

    the cost of treatment in relation to alternative treatments and willingness to pay for our products, if approved, on the part of clinicians and patients;

 

    the availability of products and their ability to meet market demand, including a reliable supply for long-term daily treatment;

 

    the strength of our marketing and distribution organizations;

 

    the quality of our relationships with patient advocacy groups; sufficient third-party coverage or reimbursement for our product candidates; and

 

    sufficient third-party payments to clinicians for the procedures necessary to administer product candidates.

Any failure by our product candidates that obtain regulatory approval to achieve market acceptance or commercial success would adversely affect the results of our operations.

AR101, if approved, or any future product candidates may face significant competition and our failure to effectively compete may prevent us from achieving significant market penetration.

The pharmaceutical market is highly competitive and dynamic, and is characterized by rapid and substantial technological development and product innovations. In particular, we compete in the segments of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other related markets that address the treatment of food allergies. As a result, we may face competition from many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, with considerably more resources and experience than we have, that are researching and selling products designed to treat food allergies or allergies in general. We are aware that DBV Technologies S.A. is developing a treatment for peanut allergy though we cannot predict the timing or success of such development. Many of our competitors have materially greater financial, manufacturing, marketing, research and drug development resources than we do. Large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in particular have extensive expertise in nonclinical and clinical testing and in obtaining regulatory approvals for drugs. In addition, academic institutions, government agencies and other public and private organizations conducting research may seek patent protection with respect to potentially competitive products or technologies. These organizations may also establish exclusive collaborative or licensing relationships with our competitors. Failure to effectively compete against future products approved for the treatment of peanut allergy could harm our business and results of operations.

In addition, we may face competition from clinicians who provide oral immunotherapy to patients using commercially available source material. If we are unable to convince clinicians, patients and caregivers, that our products have advantages over these self-developed approaches to oral immunotherapy, our business and results of operation could be materially adversely affected.

AR101 and any future product candidates are regulated as biological products, or biologics, which may subject them to competition sooner than anticipated.

With the enactment of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or BPCIA, as part of the Affordable Care Act, an abbreviated pathway for the approval of biosimilar and interchangeable biological products was created. The abbreviated regulatory pathway establishes legal authority for the FDA to review and approve biosimilar biologics, including the possible designation of a biosimilar as “interchangeable” based on its similarity to an existing brand product. To be considered biosimilar, a product candidate must be highly similar to the reference product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components. In addition, there

 

24


Table of Contents

can be no clinically meaningful differences between the product candidate and the reference product in terms of the safety, purity and potency of the product. For the FDA to approve a biosimilar product as interchangeable with a reference product, the agency must find that the biosimilar product can be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product, and (for products administered multiple times) that the biologic and the reference biologic may be switched after one has been previously administered without increasing safety risks or risks of diminished efficacy relative to exclusive use of the reference biologic. We believe that the concentrations of relevant proteins in the peanut flour we source pursuant to our exclusive contract with GPC are significantly different from the concentrations of proteins found in other commercially available sources of peanut flour, and that a product candidate using different concentrations of such proteins or different proteins might not be considered “highly similar” to AR101 by the FDA. In that case, such a product candidate would not be eligible for the biosimilar approval pathway. However, there can be no guarantee that the FDA would agree with this interpretation. Indeed, the BPCIA is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As a result, its ultimate impact, implementation and meaning are subject to uncertainty. While it is uncertain when such processes intended to implement the BPCIA may be fully adopted by the FDA, any such processes could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial prospects for our biological product candidates.

Under the BPCIA, no approval of an application for a biosimilar product may be made effective until 12 years after the original branded product is first licensed by the FDA pursuant to the approval of a BLA. We believe that if the FDA approves a BLA for AR101, AR101 should qualify for this 12-year period of market exclusivity, known as reference product exclusivity, such that no approval of a biosimilar version of our product could become effective prior to the expiration of that 12-year period. However, these exclusivity provisions have been subject to various interpretations that have not yet been fully addressed by the FDA, and there is a risk that this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider AR101 to be eligible for reference product exclusivity, potentially creating the opportunity for competition sooner than anticipated. In addition, even if AR101 were to receive reference product exclusivity, a competitor may seek approval of a product candidate under a full BLA rather than a biosimilar product application. In such a case, although the competitor would not enjoy the benefits of the abbreviated pathway for biosimilar approval created under the BPCIA, the FDA would not be precluded from making effective an approval of the competitor product pursuant to a BLA prior to the expiration of our 12-year period of marketing exclusivity.

In addition, the extent to which a biosimilar, once approved, will be substituted for any one of our reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for non-biological products is not yet clear. In particular, it is unclear at this juncture whether products deemed “interchangeable” by the FDA will, in fact, be readily substituted by pharmacies. Such substitution will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing.

We currently have no sales organization or distribution network. If we are unable to establish sales capabilities and a distribution network on our own or through third parties, we may not be able to market, sell and distribute AR101, if approved, or any future product candidates or generate product revenue.

We currently do not have a sales organization. In order to commercialize AR101, we will need to build our marketing, sales, distribution, managerial and other non-technical capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform these services, and we may not be successful in doing so. If AR101 receives regulatory approval, we expect to establish a specialty sales organization with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize our product candidates, which will be expensive and time-consuming. We have no prior experience in the marketing, sale and distribution of pharmaceutical products and there are significant risks involved in building and managing a sales organization, including our ability to hire, retain, and incentivize qualified individuals, generate sufficient sales leads, provide adequate training to sales and marketing personnel, and effectively manage a geographically dispersed sales and marketing team. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of these products. Further, given our lack of prior experience in marketing, selling and distributing pharmaceutical products, our estimates of the number of sales representatives needed to

 

25


Table of Contents

commercialize AR101 may be materially less than the actual number of sales representatives required. As such, we may be required to hire substantially more sales representatives to adequately support the commercialization of AR101, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

We may choose to collaborate with third parties that have direct sales forces or established distribution systems, either to augment our own sales force and distribution systems or in lieu of our own sales force and distribution systems. If we are unable to enter into such arrangements on acceptable terms or at all, we may not be able to successfully commercialize AR101. If we are not successful in commercializing AR101 or any future product candidates, either on our own or through collaborations with one or more third parties, our future product revenue will suffer and we would incur significant additional losses.

Any product candidate that we are able to commercialize may become subject to unfavorable pricing regulations, third-party coverage or reimbursement policies.

Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any drug candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval. Our ability to commercialize any products successfully in the United States will depend in part on the extent to which coverage and reimbursement for these products becomes available from third-party payors, including government health administration authorities, such as those that administer the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and private health insurers. Third-party payors decide which medications they will cover and establish reimbursement levels. A primary trend in the U.S. healthcare industry is cost containment. Government programs and other third-party payors have attempted to control costs by limiting coverage and the amount of reimbursement for particular medications. We cannot assure you that coverage and reimbursement will be available for any product that we commercialize and, if reimbursement is available, what the level of reimbursement will be. Coverage and reimbursement may impact the demand for, or the price of, any product for which we obtain marketing approval. Increasingly, third-party payors are requiring that companies provide them with predetermined discounts from list prices and are challenging the prices charged for medical products. If coverage and reimbursement are not available or are available only at limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize any product candidate that we successfully develop.

There may be significant delays in obtaining coverage and reimbursement for approved products, and coverage may be more limited than the purposes for which the product is approved by the FDA. Moreover, eligibility for reimbursement does not imply that any product will be paid for in all cases or at a rate that covers our costs, including research, development, manufacture, sale and distribution. Interim payments for new products, if applicable, may also not be sufficient to cover our costs and may not be made permanent. Payment rates may vary according to the use of the product and the clinical setting in which it is used, may be based on payments allowed for lower cost products that are already reimbursed and may be incorporated into existing payments for other services. Net prices for products may be reduced by mandatory discounts or rebates required by government healthcare programs or private payors and by any future relaxation of laws that presently restrict imports of products from countries where they may be sold at lower prices than in the United States. In the United States, private third-party payors often rely upon Medicare coverage and reimbursement policies and payment limitations in setting their own coverage and reimbursement policies. Our inability to promptly obtain coverage, reimbursement and profitable payment rates from both government funded and private payors for new products that we develop could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

In addition, the anticipated treatment regimen for AR101 and our other products candidates requires a clinician to see the patient every two weeks during the up-dosing portion of the regimen. These appointments may take significant time as the patient has to be monitored for two hours after receiving an increased dose. It is not certain whether the existing reimbursement codes that can be appropriately used for these visits adequately compensate clinicians for the time spent on the visits. We may decide to seek the creation of new codes and associated reimbursement rates to ensure that clinicians are adequately compensated; however, creation of new

 

26


Table of Contents

codes is a complicated and lengthy process and we may not be successful in any such efforts. If appropriate codes and compensation are not available, clinicians may be deterred from offering AR101 to their patients and our business and operating results would be adversely affected.

In addition, under the Medicare program, physician payments are updated on an annual basis according to a statutory formula. Because application of the statutory formula for the update factor would have resulted in a decrease in total physician payments for the past several years, Congress has intervened with interim legislation to prevent the reductions. In April 2015, however, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, or MACRA, was signed into law, which repealed and replaced the statutory formula for Medicare payment adjustments to physicians. MACRA provides a permanent end to the annual interim legislative updates that had previously been necessary to delay or prevent significant reductions to payments under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. MACRA extended existing payment rates through June 30, 2015, with a 0.5% update for July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015, and for each calendar year through 2019, after which there will be a 0% annual update each year through 2025. In addition, MACRA requires the establishment of the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (“MIPS”), beginning in 2019, under which physicians may receive performance-based payment incentives or payment reductions based on their performance with respect to clinical quality, resource use, clinical improvement activities and meaningful use of electronic health records. MACRA also requires Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, beginning in 2019, to provide incentive payments for physicians and other eligible professionals that participate in alternative payment models, such as accountable care organizations, that emphasize quality and value over the traditional volume-based fee-for-service model. It is unclear what impact, if any, MACRA will have on our business and operating results, but any resulting decrease in payment may result in reduced demand for our product candidates or additional pricing pressures.

Outside of the United States, the regulations that govern marketing approvals, pricing, coverage and reimbursement for new therapeutic products vary widely from country to country. Some countries require approval of the sale price of a product before it can be marketed. In many countries, the pricing review period begins after marketing or product licensing approval is granted. In some foreign markets, prescription pharmaceutical pricing remains subject to continuing governmental control even after initial approval is granted. As a result, we might obtain regulatory approval for a product in a particular country, but then be subject to price regulations that delay or prevent our commercial launch of the product and negatively impact the revenue we are able to generate from the sale of the product in that country. We will need to evaluate clinician compensation mechanisms in each market outside of the United States to determine whether any action needs to be taken to allow for payment of physicians for administration of the treatment regimens.

If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of AR101 or any future product candidates, and our existing insurance coverage may not be sufficient to satisfy any liability that may arise.

We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our product candidates and will face an even greater risk if we commercialize any products. For example, we may be sued if any product we develop allegedly causes injury or is found to be otherwise unsuitable during product testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. In addition, we may be sued if our product fails to protect a patient from exposure to a food allergen. 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 and a breach of warranties. 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. Even successful defense would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:

 

    decreased demand for AR101 or any future product candidates;

 

    injury to our reputation;

 

27


Table of Contents
    withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

 

    costs to defend the related litigation;

 

    a diversion of management’s time and our resources;

 

    substantial monetary awards to clinical trial participants or patients;

 

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

 

    loss of revenue; and

 

    the inability to commercialize AR101 or any future product candidates.

Our inability to obtain and maintain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost and scope of coverage to protect against potential product liability claims could prevent or inhibit the commercialization of AR101 or any future products we develop. We currently carry product liability insurance covering use in our clinical trials in the amount of $5.0 million in the aggregate. Although we maintain such insurance, any claim that may be brought against us could result in a court judgment or settlement in an amount that is not covered, in whole or in part, by our insurance or that is in excess of the limits of our insurance coverage. Our insurance policies also have various exclusions and deductibles, and we may be subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. We will have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient capital to pay such amounts. Moreover, in the future, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses.

If and when we obtain approval for marketing AR101, we intend to expand our insurance coverage to include the sale of AR101. However, we may be unable to obtain this liability insurance on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

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

As of June 30, 2015, we had 21 full-time employees. We will need to continue to expand our managerial, operational, finance, clinical, manufacturing, commercial and other resources in order to manage our operations, regulatory filings, manufacturing and supply activities, marketing and commercialization activities, clinical trials and develop and commercialize AR101 or any future product candidates. Our management, personnel, systems and facilities currently in place may not be adequate to support this future growth. Our need to effectively execute our growth strategy requires that we:

 

    expand our general and administrative, manufacturing, sales, marketing and clinical development organizations;

 

    identify, recruit, retain, incentivize and integrate additional employees;

 

    establish the infrastructure necessary to support international operations;

 

    manage our internal development efforts effectively while carrying out our contractual obligations to third parties; and

 

    continue to improve our operational, legal, financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures.

We may be unable to successfully implement these tasks, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

 

28


Table of Contents

If we fail to attract and retain senior management, we may be unable to successfully develop AR101 or any future product candidates, conduct our clinical trials and commercialize AR101 or any future product candidates.

Our success depends in part on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified personnel. In particular, we are highly dependent upon our senior management. The loss of services of any of these individuals could delay or prevent the successful development of our product pipeline, completion of our planned clinical trial or the commercialization of AR101 or any future product candidates. Although we have entered into employment agreements with our senior management team, these agreements do not provide for a fixed term of service.

Although we have not historically experienced unique difficulties attracting and retaining qualified employees, we could experience such problems in the future. For example, competition for qualified personnel in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals field is intense due to the limited number of individuals who possess the skills and experience required by our industry. We will need to hire additional personnel as we expand our clinical development and manufacturing activities. We may not be able to attract and retain quality personnel on acceptable terms or at all. In addition, to the extent we hire personnel from competitors, we may be subject to allegations that they have been improperly solicited or that they have divulged proprietary or other confidential information, or that their former employers own their research output.

We will incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives. We may fail to comply with the rules that apply to public companies, including Section 404 of Sarbanes Oxley, which could result in sanctions or other penalties that would harm our business.

We will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses as a public company, including costs resulting from public company reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and regulations regarding corporate governance practices. The listing requirements of The NASDAQ Global Select Market require that we satisfy certain corporate governance requirements relating to director independence, distributing annual and interim reports, stockholder meetings, approvals and voting, soliciting proxies, conflicts of interest and a code of conduct. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to ensure that we comply with all of these requirements. Moreover, the reporting requirements, rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. Any changes we make to comply with these obligations may not be sufficient to allow us to satisfy our obligations as a public company on a timely basis, or at all. These reporting requirements, rules and regulations, coupled with the increase in potential litigation exposure associated with being a public company, could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or board committees or to serve as executive officers, or to obtain certain types of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ insurance, on acceptable terms.

In addition, we expect that we will need to implement an enterprise resource planning, or ERP, system for our company. An ERP system is intended to combine and streamline the management of our financial, accounting, human resources, sales and marketing and other functions, enabling us to manage operations and track performance more effectively. However, an ERP system would likely require us to complete many processes and procedures for the effective use of the system or to run our business using the system, which may result in substantial costs. Additionally, during the conversion process, we may be limited in our ability to convert any business that we acquire to the ERP. Any disruptions or difficulties in implementing or using an ERP system could adversely affect our controls and harm our business, including our ability to forecast or make sales and collect our receivables. Moreover, such disruption or difficulties could result in unanticipated costs and diversion of management attention.

After this offering, we will be subject to Section 404, or Section 404, of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Sarbanes Oxley, and the related rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, which

 

29


Table of Contents

generally require our management and independent registered public accounting firm to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Beginning with the second annual report that we will be required to file with the SEC, Section 404 requires an annual management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, for so long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404. Once we are no longer an emerging growth company or, if prior to such date, we opt to no longer take advantage of the applicable exemption, we will be required to include an opinion from our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) of the last day of the year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering, (2) the last day of the year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.0 billion, (3) the last day of the year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

To date, we have never conducted a review of our internal control for the purpose of providing the reports required by these rules. During the course of our review and testing, we may identify deficiencies and be unable to remediate them before we must provide the required reports. For example, during the course of our audit for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 we identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. If we are unable to remediate this weakness or if additional material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting are identified, we may not detect errors on a timely basis and our financial statements may be materially misstated. We or our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, which could harm our operating results, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and cause the trading price of our stock to fall. In addition, as a public company we will be required to file accurate and timely quarterly and annual reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act. Any failure to report our financial results on an accurate and timely basis could result in sanctions, lawsuits, delisting of our shares from The NASDAQ Global Select Market or other adverse consequences that would materially harm our business. We anticipate that to meet these new reporting obligations, we will need to implement new finance and accounting systems.

We identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014, and we may identify additional material weaknesses in the future that may cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatements of our financial statements. If we fail to remediate any material weaknesses or if we otherwise fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results could be adversely affected.

In connection with the contemporaneous audit of our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we identified control deficiencies in the design and operation of our internal control over financial reporting that constituted a material weakness. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

The material weakness identified in our internal control over financial reporting related to our lack of written policies regarding our accounting function, lack of oversight of account reconciliations, lack of control of manual journal entries and inadequate segregation of duties for check writing and wire transfers. We have taken certain actions to remediate the material weakness, including implementing new procedures for review of account reconciliations and manual journal entries and restricting check writing and wire transfer authority. We intend to implement further segregation of duties and to establish formal written policies for our accounting function by the

 

30


Table of Contents

end of the year. However, we cannot assure you that these measures will be sufficient to remediate the material weakness that has been identified or prevent future material weaknesses or significant deficiencies from occurring. We also cannot assure you that we have identified all of our existing material weaknesses.

Neither we nor our independent registered public accounting firm has performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting during any period in accordance with the provisions of Sarbanes Oxley. In light of the control deficiencies and the resulting material weakness that were previously identified as a result of the limited procedures performed, we believe that it is possible that, had we and our independent registered public accounting firm performed an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley, additional material weaknesses and significant control deficiencies may have been identified.

If we identify future material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting or fail to meet the demands that will be placed upon us as a public company, including the requirements of the Sarbanes Oxley, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results, or report them within the timeframes required by law or stock exchange regulations. Under Section 404, we will be required to evaluate and determine the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and, beginning with our second annual report following this offering, which will be the annual report for the year ended December 31, 2016, provide a management report as internal control over financial reporting. Failure to comply with Section 404 could also potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. We cannot assure that our existing material weakness will be remediated or that additional material weaknesses will not exist or otherwise be discovered, any of which could adversely affect our reputation, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are not successful in identifying, acquiring or commercializing additional product candidates, our ability to expand our business and achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired.

Although a substantial amount of our effort will focus on the continued clinical testing, potential approval and commercialization of AR101, an important element of our strategy is to expand our product portfolio by identifying, developing and commercializing additional therapies including therapies using our CODIT system. Other than AR101, none of our product candidates have been tested in human clinical trials and many of our potential product candidates are still in the discovery stage. In addition, while we intend to evaluate product candidates and technologies for the treatment of food allergies, we currently have no plans to acquire or in-license any specific product candidate. Our efforts to develop, acquire or in-license product candidates may be unsuccessful for many reasons, including:

 

    we may not be successful in identifying potential product candidates;

 

    we may not accurately assess the relative technical feasibility or commercial potential of potential product candidates and may not select the most promising product candidates for development, acquisition or in-licensing;

 

    competitors may develop alternatives that render our product candidates obsolete or less attractive;

 

    product candidates we develop, acquire or in-license may nevertheless be covered by third-parties’ patents or other exclusive rights;

 

    the market for a product candidate may change over time so that such a product may become unreasonable to continue to develop;

 

    a product candidate may on further study be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate it is unlikely to be effective or otherwise does not meet applicable regulatory criteria;

 

31


Table of Contents
    a product candidate may not be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all; and

 

    a product candidate may not be accepted as safe and effective by clinicians, patients, patient advocacy groups, healthcare payors or the general medical community.

If we fail to develop and successfully commercialize other product candidates, our business and future prospects may be harmed and our business will be more vulnerable to any problems that we encounter in developing and commercializing AR101.

Any collaboration arrangements that we may enter into in the future may not be successful, which could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize AR101 and potential future product candidates.

We may seek collaboration arrangements with pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies for the development or commercialization of AR101 and other product candidates depending on the merits of retaining commercialization rights for ourselves as compared to entering into collaboration arrangements. 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, implement and maintain. We may not be successful in our efforts to establish and implement collaborations or other alternative arrangements should we so chose to enter into such arrangements. The terms of any collaborations or other arrangements that we may establish may not be favorable to us.

Any future collaborations that we enter into may not be successful. The success of our collaboration arrangements will depend heavily on the efforts and activities of our collaborators. Collaborations are subject to numerous risks, which may include that:

 

    collaborators have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to collaborations;

 

    collaborators may not pursue development and commercialization of our product candidates or may elect not to continue or renew development or commercialization programs based on clinical trial results, changes in their strategic focus due to the acquisition of competitive products, availability of funding or other external factors, such as a business combination that diverts resources or creates competing priorities;

 

    collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for a clinical trial program, stop a clinical trial, abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing;

 

    collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete directly or indirectly with our products or product candidates;

 

    a collaborator with marketing, manufacturing and distribution rights to one or more products may not commit sufficient resources to or otherwise not perform satisfactorily in carrying out these activities;

 

    we could grant exclusive rights to our collaborators that would prevent us from collaborating with others;

 

    collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our intellectual property or proprietary information in a way that gives rise to actual or threatened litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property or proprietary information or expose us to potential liability;

 

32


Table of Contents
    disputes may arise between us and a collaborator that causes the delay or termination of the research, development or commercialization of our current or future products or that results in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management attention and resources;

 

    collaborations may be terminated, and, if terminated, may result in a need for additional capital to pursue further development or commercialization of the applicable current or future products;

 

    collaborators may own or co-own intellectual property covering our products that results from our collaborating with them, and in such cases, we would not have the exclusive right to develop or commercialize such intellectual property; and

 

    a collaborator’s sales and marketing activities or other operations may not be in compliance with applicable laws resulting in civil or criminal proceedings.

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

Although we currently have no plans to do so, we may attempt to acquire businesses, technologies, services, products or product candidates that we believe are a strategic fit with our business. 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 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, 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.

If we obtain approval to commercialize AR101 outside of the United States, a variety of risks associated with international operations could materially adversely affect our business.

If we or a collaborator seek to commercialize AR101 outside the United States, we expect that we will be subject to additional risks related to entering into these international markets or business relationships, including:

 

    different regulatory requirements for drug approvals in foreign countries;

 

    different approaches by reimbursement agencies regarding the assessment of the cost effectiveness of AR101;

 

    differing U.S. and foreign drug import and export rules;

 

    reduced protection for intellectual property rights in certain foreign countries;

 

    unexpected changes in tariffs, trade barriers and regulatory requirements;

 

    different reimbursement systems for food allergy medications and for clinicians treating food allergy patients;

 

    economic weakness, including inflation, or political instability in particular foreign economies and markets;

 

33


Table of Contents
    compliance with tax, employment, immigration and labor laws for employees living or traveling abroad;

 

    foreign taxes, including withholding of payroll taxes;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

    potential liability resulting from activities conducted on our behalf by distributors or other vendors we engage; and

 

    business interruptions resulting from geopolitical actions, including war and terrorism, or natural disasters.

Our business involves the use of hazardous materials and we and our third-party manufacturers and suppliers must comply with environmental laws and regulations, which can be expensive and restrict how we do business.

Our research and development activities and our third-party manufacturers’ and suppliers’ activities involve the controlled storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials. We and our manufacturers and suppliers are subject to laws and regulations governing the use, manufacture, storage, handling and disposal of these hazardous materials. In some cases, these hazardous materials and various wastes resulting from their use are stored at our and our manufacturers’ facilities pending their use and disposal. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination, which could cause an interruption of our commercialization efforts, research and development efforts and business operations, environmental damage resulting in costly clean up and liabilities under applicable laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and specified waste products. Although we believe that the safety procedures utilized by our third-party manufacturers for handling and disposing of these materials generally comply with the standards prescribed by these laws and regulations, we cannot guarantee that this is the case or eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. In such an event, we may be held liable for any resulting damages and such liability could exceed our resources and governmental authorities may curtail our use of certain materials and/or interrupt our business operations. Furthermore, environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent. We cannot predict the impact of such changes and cannot be certain of our future compliance. We do not currently carry biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage. Any of the foregoing risks could have a material adverse impact on our business.

Unfavorable global economic conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our results of operations could be adversely affected by general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets. The recent global financial crisis caused extreme volatility and disruptions in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn, such as the recent global financial crisis, could result in a variety of risks to our business, including reduced ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy could also strain our suppliers, possibly resulting in supply disruption. Any of the foregoing could have a materially adverse impact on our business and we cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the current economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.

 

34


Table of Contents

We or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by earthquakes or other natural disasters and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster.

Our corporate headquarters is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, which in the past has experienced severe earthquakes. We do not carry earthquake insurance. Earthquakes or other natural disasters could severely disrupt our operations, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

If a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters, that damaged critical infrastructure, such as our enterprise financial systems or manufacturing resource planning and enterprise quality systems, or that otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we have in place currently are limited and are unlikely to prove adequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, which, particularly when taken together with our lack of earthquake insurance, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Furthermore, our contract manufacturer and integral parties in our supply chain, are operating from single sites, increasing their vulnerability to natural disasters or other sudden, unforeseen and severe adverse events. In particular, our contract manufacturer’s facility is located in Florida, which in the past has experienced severe hurricanes. If hurricanes or other natural disasters were to affect our contract manufacturer or our supply chain, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

Our internal computer systems, or those of our CROs or other contractors or consultants, may fail or suffer security breaches, which could result in a material disruption of our drug development programs.

Despite the implementation of security measures, our internal computer systems and those of our CROs and other contractors and consultants are vulnerable to damage from computer viruses, unauthorized access, natural disasters, terrorism, war and telecommunication and electrical failures. While we have not experienced any such system failure, accident or security breach to date, 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 clinical trials for any of our product candidates 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.

Our product development programs for candidates may require substantial financial resources and may ultimately be unsuccessful.

In addition to the development of AR101, we are pursuing development of our other early-stage development programs. Our current early-stage development programs are still in the pre-clinical formulation phase and may not result in product candidates we can advance to the clinical development phase. None of our other potential product candidates have commenced clinical trials, and there are a number of FDA and foreign regulatory requirements that we must satisfy before we can commence these clinical trials. Satisfaction of these requirements will entail substantial time, effort and financial resources. We may never satisfy these requirements. Any time, effort and financial resources we expend on our other early-stage development programs may adversely affect our ability to continue development and commercialization of AR101 product candidates, and we may never commence clinical trials of such development programs despite expending significant resources in pursuit of their development. Even if we do commence clinical trials of our other potential product candidates, such product candidates may never be approved by the FDA or the foreign regulatory authorities.

 

35


Table of Contents

Risks Related to Government Regulation

The regulatory approval process is highly uncertain and we may not obtain regulatory approval for the commercialization of AR101 or any future product candidates.

The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, approval, selling, import, export, marketing and distribution of biologics are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA and other regulatory authorities in the United States and other countries, which regulations differ from country to country.

Neither we nor any future collaboration partner will be permitted to market AR101 or any future product candidate in the United States until we receive approval of a BLA from the FDA, and we will not be permitted to market AR101 in other countries until similar regulatory approvals are obtained in those countries. We have not submitted an application or obtained marketing approval for AR101 anywhere in the world and will not be able to do so until we complete additional clinical trials. Obtaining regulatory approval of a BLA in the United States and similar applications in other countries can be a lengthy, expensive and uncertain process. In addition, failure to comply with FDA and other applicable United States and foreign regulatory requirements may subject us to administrative or judicially imposed sanctions or other actions, including:

 

    warning letters;

 

    civil and criminal penalties;

 

    injunctions;

 

    withdrawal of regulatory approval of products;

 

    product seizure or detention;

 

    product recalls;

 

    total or partial suspension of production; and

 

    refusal to approve pending BLAs or supplements to approved BLAs.

Prior to obtaining approval to commercialize a product candidate in the United States or abroad, we or our collaborators must demonstrate with substantial evidence from well-controlled clinical trials, and to the satisfaction of the FDA or other foreign regulatory authorities, that such product candidates are safe, pure and potent for their intended uses. The number of nonclinical studies and clinical trials that will be required for FDA approval varies depending on the product candidate, the disease or condition that the product candidate is designed to address, and the regulations applicable to any particular product candidate. Results from nonclinical studies and clinical trials can be interpreted in different ways. Even if we believe the nonclinical or clinical data for our product candidates are promising, regulatory authorities may not agree that such data are sufficient to support approval. Administering product candidates to humans may produce undesirable side effects, which could interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and result in the FDA or other regulatory authorities denying approval of a product candidate for any or all targeted indications.

Regulatory approval of a BLA or equivalent application in other territories is not guaranteed, and the approval process is expensive and may take several years. The FDA and foreign regulatory authorities also have substantial discretion in the approval process and we may be required to expend additional time and resources and any approval we may seek may be delayed or prevented. For example, the FDA or other regulatory authority may require us to conduct additional studies or studies for AR101 either prior to or post-approval, such as

 

36


Table of Contents

additional or safety or efficacy studies or studies in specific patient subpopulations, or it may object to elements of our clinical development program. Despite the time and expense exerted, failure can occur at any stage. Regulatory authorities can delay, limit or deny approval of a drug candidate for many reasons, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    a drug candidate may not be deemed safe or effective;

 

    the characterization of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and the data to demonstrate adequate control of the manufacturing process may be deemed insufficient;

 

    regulatory officials may not find the data from nonclinical studies and clinical trials sufficient;

 

    the regulatory authorities might not approve our third-party manufacturers’ processes or facilities; or

 

    the regulatory authorities may change its approval policies or adopt new regulations.

If AR101 or any future product candidate fails to demonstrate safety and efficacy in clinical trials or does not gain regulatory approval, our business and results of operations will be materially and adversely harmed. Additionally, if the FDA or other regulatory authorities require that we conduct additional clinical trials, place limitations on AR101 in our label, delay approval to market AR101 or limit the use of AR101, our business and results of operations may be harmed.

Even if we receive regulatory approval for AR101 or any future product candidates, we will be subject to ongoing regulatory obligations and continued regulatory review, which may result in significant additional expense. Additionally, any product candidates, if approved, could be subject to labeling and other restrictions and market withdrawal, and we may be subject to penalties if we fail to comply with regulatory requirements or experience unanticipated problems with our products.

Even if a drug is approved, regulatory authorities may still impose significant restrictions on a product’s indicated uses or marketing or impose ongoing requirements for potentially costly post-marketing studies. Furthermore, any new legislation addressing drug safety issues could result in delays or increased costs to assure compliance.

If AR101 is approved it will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping and submission of safety and other post-marketing information, including both federal and state requirements in the United States and the requirements of the regulatory agencies in other countries. In addition, manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive regulatory requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to current cGMP requirements. As such, we and our contract manufacturers are subject to continual review and periodic inspections to assess compliance with cGMP. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue 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 regulatory authorities, and to comply with requirements concerning advertising and promotion for our products. Promotional communications with respect to prescription drugs are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the product’s approved label. As such, we may not promote our products for indications or uses for which they do not have regulatory approval.

If a regulatory authority 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

 

37


Table of Contents

disagrees with the promotion, marketing or labeling of a product, a regulatory authority may impose restrictions on that product or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market. If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, a regulatory authority or enforcement authority may:

 

    issue warning letters;

 

    impose civil or criminal penalties;

 

    suspend or withdraw regulatory approval;

 

    suspend any of our ongoing clinical trials;

 

    refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications submitted by us;

 

    impose restrictions on our operations, including closing our contract manufacturers’ facilities; or

 

    seize or detain products or require a product recall.

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 AR101. 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 the sale of AR101 our potential for achieving profitability will be diminished and the capital necessary to fund our operations will be increased.

If approved, AR101 or any future products may cause or contribute to adverse medical events that we are required to report to regulatory authorities and if we fail to do so we could be subject to sanctions that would materially harm our business.

Some participants in our clinical trials have reported adverse effects after being treated with AR101. For example, in our ARC001 clinical trial, one patient had an allergic reaction that was attributed to AR101 that was severe enough to require the administration of epinephrine and six patients in our ARC001 clinical trial receiving AR101 dropped out of the trial early in the treatment regimen due to gastrointestinal side effects. If we are successful in completing the development of, obtaining approval for, and commercializing AR101 or any other products, FDA and foreign regulatory authority regulations require that we report certain information about adverse medical events if those products may have caused or contributed to those adverse events. The timing of our obligation to report would be triggered by the date we become aware of the adverse event as well as the nature of the event. We may fail to report adverse events we become aware of within the prescribed timeframe. We may also fail to appreciate that we have become aware of a reportable adverse event, especially if it is not reported to us as an adverse event or if it is an adverse event that is unexpected or removed in time from the use of our products. If we fail to comply with our reporting obligations, the FDA or a foreign regulatory authority could take action, including criminal prosecution, the imposition of civil monetary penalties, seizure of our products or delay in approval or clearance of future products.

Our failure to obtain regulatory approvals in foreign jurisdictions for AR101 would prevent us from marketing AR101 internationally.

In order to market any product in the European Economic Area, or EEA (which is composed of the 28 Member States of the European Union plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), and many other foreign jurisdictions, separate regulatory approvals are required. In the EEA, medicinal products can only be

 

38


Table of Contents

commercialized after obtaining a Marketing Authorization, or MA. Before granting the MA, the European Medicines Agency 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.

The approval procedures vary among countries and can involve additional clinical testing, and the time required to obtain approval may differ from that required to obtain FDA approval. Clinical trials conducted in one country may not be accepted by regulatory authorities in other countries. Approval by the FDA does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other countries, and approval by one or more foreign regulatory authorities does not ensure approval by regulatory authorities in other foreign countries or by the FDA. However, a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory process in others. The foreign regulatory approval process may include all of the risks associated with obtaining FDA approval. We may not be able to file for foreign regulatory approvals or do so on a timely basis, and even if we do file we may not receive necessary approvals to commercialize our products in any market.

We may be subject to healthcare laws, regulation and enforcement.

Although we do not currently have any products on the market, once we begin commercializing our products, we will be subject to additional healthcare statutory and regulatory requirements and enforcement by the U.S. by the federal government and the states and by the governments of other countries where we conduct our business. The laws that will affect our ability to operate as a commercial organization include:

 

    the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons from knowingly and willfully soliciting, receiving, offering or paying remuneration, directly or indirectly, in exchange for or to induce either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, order or recommendation of, any good or service for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it to have committed a violation. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the false claims laws;

 

    U.S. federal false claims laws which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payors that are false or fraudulent;

 

    U.S. federal criminal laws that prohibit executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of these statutes or specific intent to violate them to have committed a violation;

 

    the U.S. federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which governs the conduct of certain electronic healthcare transactions and protects the security and privacy of protected health information;

 

    the U.S. federal physician sunshine requirements under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, or collectively, the Affordable Care Act, which requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics, and medical supplies to report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians, other healthcare providers, and teaching hospitals, and ownership and investment interests held by physicians and other healthcare providers and their immediate family members;

 

39


Table of Contents
    state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers;

 

    state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the applicable compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources;

 

    state laws that require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures; and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways, thus complicating compliance efforts; and

 

    European and other foreign law equivalents of each of the laws, including reporting requirements detailing interactions with and payments to healthcare providers.

Because of the breadth of these laws and the narrowness of the statutory exceptions and safe harbors available, it is possible that some of our business activities could be subject to challenge under one or more of such laws. The risk of our being found in violation of these laws is increased by the fact that many of them have not been fully interpreted by the regulatory authorities or the courts, and their provisions are open to a variety of interpretations. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert our management’s attention from the operation of our business. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental laws and regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, the curtailment or restructuring of our operations, the exclusion from participation in federal and state healthcare programs and imprisonment, any of which could adversely affect our ability to market our products and adversely impact our financial results.

Legislative or regulatory healthcare reforms in the United States may make it more difficult and costly for us to obtain regulatory clearance or approval of our product candidates and to produce, market and distribute our products after clearance or approval is obtained.

From time to time, legislation is drafted and introduced in Congress that could significantly change the statutory provisions governing the regulatory approval, manufacture, and marketing of regulated products or the reimbursement thereof. In addition, FDA regulations and guidance are often revised or reinterpreted by the FDA in ways that may significantly affect our business and our products. Any new regulations or revisions or reinterpretations of existing regulations may impose additional costs or lengthen review times of our product candidates. We cannot determine what effect changes in regulations, statutes, legal interpretation or policies, when and if promulgated, enacted or adopted may have on our business in the future. Such changes could, among other things, require:

 

    additional clinical trials to be conducted prior to obtaining approval;

 

    changes to manufacturing methods;

 

    recall, replacement or discontinuance of one or more of our products; and

 

    additional record keeping.

Each of these would likely entail substantial time and cost and could materially harm our business and our financial results. In addition, delays in receipt of or failure to receive regulatory clearances or approvals for any future products could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, prospects and stock price.

 

40


Table of Contents

In addition, the full impact of recent healthcare reform and other changes in the healthcare industry and in healthcare spending is currently unknown, and may adversely affect our business model. In the United States, the Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010 with a goal of reducing the cost of healthcare and substantially changing the way healthcare is financed by both government and private insurers. The Affordable Care Act, among other things, increased the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program and extended the rebate program to individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations, established annual fees and taxes on manufacturers of certain branded prescription drugs, and created a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period as a condition for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. On August 2, 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011 created measures for spending reductions by Congress. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, tasked with recommending a targeted deficit reduction of at least $1.2 trillion for the years 2013 through 2021, was unable to reach required goals, thereby triggering the legislation’s automatic reduction to several government programs. This included aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year, which went into effect on April 1, 2013 and, due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, will remain in effect through 2024 unless additional Congressional action is taken. On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several providers, including hospitals.

It is likely that federal and state legislatures within the United States and foreign governments will continue to consider changes to existing healthcare legislation. We cannot predict the reform initiatives that may be adopted in the future or whether initiatives that have been adopted will be repealed or modified. The continuing efforts of the government, insurance companies, managed care organizations and other payors of healthcare services to contain or reduce costs of healthcare may adversely affect the demand for any drug products for which we may obtain regulatory approval, our ability to set a price that we believe is fair for our products, our ability to obtain coverage and reimbursement approval for a product, our ability to generate revenues and achieve or maintain profitability, and the level of taxes that we are required to pay.

Neither a Fast-Track designation nor a Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA may actually lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process.

Even though we do have Fast-Track designation for AR101 for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive adults and children and Breakthrough Therapy designation for AR101 for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive children and adolescents (ages 4-17), we may not experience a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may withdraw Fast-Track designation or Breakthrough Therapy designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program or other sources.

Risks Related to Intellectual Property

If we are unable to obtain and maintain adequate intellectual property protection for AR101 or any future product candidates, we may not be able to compete effectively in our market.

Our commercial success depends in part on our ability to obtain and maintain proprietary or intellectual property protection in the United States and other countries for AR101 and any future product candidates. We intend to rely upon a combination of patents, trademarks, trade secrets and confidentiality agreements to protect our product candidates. Evaluating the strength of patents in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical fields involves complex legal and scientific questions and, as a result, the patent position of biopharmaceutical companies can generally be highly uncertain. Further, any disclosure to or misappropriation by third parties of our confidential or proprietary information could enable competitors to quickly duplicate or surpass our technological achievements, thus eroding our competitive position in our market.

 

41


Table of Contents

The degree of patent protection we require to successfully commercialize our product candidates may be unavailable or severely limited in some cases and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or maintain any competitive advantage. For instance, we do not currently own or license any issued patents, and we do not anticipate that we will be able to obtain a composition of matter patent over the active pharmaceutical ingredient in AR101 or for any other product candidates that are based on widely or readily available food products. Although we have filed patent applications that relate to the manufacture, formulation, stability and other aspects of AR101, none of these patent applications have resulted in issued patents and we cannot assure you that they will result in any issued patents in the U.S. or foreign countries. Even if any such patents issue, we cannot assure you that they or any other patents we obtain will include any claims with a scope sufficient to protect AR101 or any other future product candidate or otherwise provide us with meaningful protection or competitive advantage.

The patent prosecution process is expensive and time-consuming, and we may not be able to file and prosecute all necessary or desirable patent applications at a reasonable cost or in a timely manner. It is also possible that we will fail to identify patentable aspects of our research and development output before it is too late to obtain patent protection. In addition, the laws of foreign countries may not protect our rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Furthermore, patents have a limited lifespan. In the United States, the natural expiration of a patent is generally twenty years after it is filed. Various extensions may be available; however, the life of a patent, and the protection it affords, is limited. Given the amount of time required for the development, testing and regulatory review of new drug candidates, patents protecting such candidates might expire before or shortly after such candidates are commercialized. If we encounter delays in our clinical trials or other delays during the regulatory approval process, even if we obtain patents covering AR101 or other product candidates, the period of time during which we could exclusively market AR101 or such other product candidates under such patents would be reduced. As a result, any patents we obtain may not provide us with adequate and continuing patent protection sufficient to exclude others from commercializing products similar or identical to our product candidates, including generic versions of such products.

The issuance of a patent is not conclusive as to its inventorship, scope, validity or enforceability, and therefore, even if we acquire patent protection with respect to AR101 or other product candidates, third parties may challenge our patents in the courts or patent offices in the United States and abroad. Any issued patents we obtain could be narrowed, invalidated, held unenforceable or circumvented, any of which could limit our ability to prevent competitors and other third parties from developing and marketing similar products or limit the length of terms of patent protection we may obtain for our product candidates. Competitors or other third parties may also claim that they invented the inventions claimed in our patent applications, or any patents that may issue in the future, prior to us, or may file patent applications before we do. Further, our competitors might conduct research and development activities in countries where we do not have patent rights and then use the information learned from such activities to develop competitive products for sale in our major commercial markets.

Such challenges may also result in our inability to manufacture or commercialize our future products, including AR101, without infringing third-party patent rights. If the breadth or strength of protection provided by any patents we obtain with respect to AR101 or any future product candidates is successfully challenged, then our ability to commercialize AR101 or any future product candidates could be negatively affected, and we may face unexpected competition that could have a material adverse impact on our business.

Even if they are unchallenged, any patents issuing from our pending patent applications may not adequately protect our intellectual property or prevent others from designing around our claims to circumvent those patents by developing similar or alternative technologies or drugs in a non-infringing manner. For example, a third party may develop a competitive product that provides benefits similar to AR101 or a future product candidate but falls outside the scope of our patent protection. If the patent protection covering our product candidates is not sufficiently broad to impede such competition, our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates could be negatively affected, which would harm our business.

 

42


Table of Contents

In addition, we may in the future be subject to claims by our former employees or consultants asserting an ownership right in our patents or patent applications, as a result of the work they performed on our behalf. Although we generally require all of our employees, consultants and advisors and any other third parties who have access to our proprietary know-how, information or technology to assign to their inventions to us, we cannot be certain that we have executed such agreements with all parties who may have contributed to our intellectual property, nor can we be certain that our agreements with such parties will be upheld in the face of a potential challenge, or that they will not be breached, for which we may not have an adequate remedy.

We may become subject to claims alleging infringement of third-party patents or proprietary rights, the outcome of which could result in delay or prevent the development and commercialization of AR101 or any future product candidates or otherwise prevent us from competing effectively in our market.

Our commercial success depends upon our ability and the ability of our collaborators to develop, manufacture, market and sell our drug candidates and use our proprietary technologies without infringing or otherwise violating the proprietary rights and intellectual property of third parties. The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are characterized by extensive and frequent litigation regarding patents and other intellectual property rights. Third parties, including our competitors may initiate legal proceedings against us or our collaborators alleging that we are infringing or otherwise violating their patent or other intellectual property rights. Given the vast number of patents in our field of technology, we cannot assure you that AR101 or any future product candidates we develop will not infringe existing patents or patents that may be granted in the future. Because patent applications can take many years to issue and may be confidential for 18 months or more after filing, and because pending patent claims can be revised before issuance, there may be applications now pending of which we are unaware that may later result in issued patents that may be infringed by the manufacture, use or sale of AR101 or any future product candidates. If a patent holder believes our drug product candidate infringes on its patent, the patent holder may sue us even if we have received patent protection for our technology.

If a patent infringement suit were brought against us or any future collaborators, we or they could be forced to stop or delay the research, development, manufacturing or sales of the product or product candidate that is the subject of the suit. Defending any such claims would cause us to incur substantial expenses of financial and other resources and, if unsuccessful, we could be forced to pay substantial damages, including treble damages and attorney’s fees if we are found to have willfully infringed a third-party patent. Furthermore, we may be required to indemnify our collaborators against such claims.

We may choose to seek, or may be required to seek, a license from the third-party patent holder and would most likely be required to pay license fees or royalties or both, each of which could be substantial. These licenses may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, however, or at all. Even if we were able to obtain a license, the rights we obtain may be nonexclusive, which would provide our competitors access to the same intellectual property rights upon which we are forced to rely. Ultimately, we could be prevented from commercializing a product, or forced to redesign it, or to cease aspects of our business operations if, as a result of actual or threatened patent infringement claims, we or our collaborators are unable to enter into licenses on acceptable terms. Even if we are successful in defending against any infringement claims, litigation is expensive and time-consuming and is likely to divert management’s attention and substantial resources from our core business, which could harm our business.

We may become involved in lawsuits to protect or enforce our patents and other intellectual property rights, the outcome of which would be uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on the success of our business.

Competitors and other third parties may infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any patents we obtain or other intellectual property rights. To counter infringement or unauthorized use, we may be required to initiate infringement proceedings, which can be expensive and time-consuming. A court may disagree with our

 

43


Table of Contents

allegations, however, and may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our patents do not cover the third-party technology in question. Further, such third parties could counterclaim that we infringe their intellectual property or that a patent we have asserted against them is invalid or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of asserted patents are commonplace.

In addition, third parties may initiate their own legal proceedings against us to assert such challenges to our intellectual property rights. For example, we may be subject to a third-party submission of prior art to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, challenging the priority of an invention claimed within any patents we may obtain. Such third-party prior art submissions may also be made prior to a patent’s issuance, precluding such issuance at all. We may become involved in opposition, derivation, reexamination, inter partes review, post-grant review or interference proceedings challenging our patent rights or the patent rights of others from whom we have obtained licenses to such rights. We may also become involved in similar opposition proceedings in the European Patent Office or similar offices in other jurisdictions regarding our intellectual property rights.

The outcome of any such proceeding is generally unpredictable. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including lack of novelty, obviousness or non-enablement. Patents may be unenforceable if someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO or made a misleading statement during prosecution. It is possible that prior art of which we and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution exists, which could render any patents we obtain invalid. Moreover, it is also possible that prior art may exist that we are aware of but do not believe is relevant to patents we may obtain, but that could nevertheless be determined to render such patents invalid. An adverse result in any litigation or other proceeding to defend or enforce any patents we may obtain could put one or more of such patents at risk of being invalidated, held unenforceable, or interpreted narrowly. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity or unenforceability of any patents we obtain covering AR101 or future product candidates, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of any patent protection covering such product candidate, which would materially impair our competitive position.

Intellectual property litigation could cause us to spend considerable resources and would be likely to distract our personnel from their normal responsibilities.

Litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims, with or without merit, is unpredictable and generally expensive and time-consuming and is likely to divert significant resources from our core business, including distracting our technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities. 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 this type of litigation. 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 substantial adverse effect on the price of our common stock. Such litigation or proceedings could substantially increase our operating losses and reduce the resources available for development activities or any future sales, marketing or distribution activities.

We may not have sufficient financial or other resources to adequately conduct such litigation or proceedings. 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 and more mature and developed intellectual property portfolios. Accordingly, despite our efforts, we may not be able to prevent third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating or from successfully challenging our intellectual property rights. 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.

 

44


Table of Contents

Changes in U.S. patent law could diminish the value of patents in general, thereby impairing our ability to protect our products.

As is the case with other biopharmaceutical companies, our success is heavily dependent on intellectual property, including patents. Obtaining and enforcing patents in the biopharmaceutical industry involve both technological and legal complexity. Therefore, obtaining and enforcing biopharmaceutical patents is costly, time-consuming and inherently uncertain. Recent patent reform legislation in the United States and other countries, including the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or Leahy-Smith Act, signed into law on September 16, 2011, could increase those uncertainties and costs. The Leahy-Smith Act includes a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art and provide more efficient and cost-effective avenues for competitors to challenge the validity of patents. In addition, the Leahy-Smith Act has transformed the U.S. patent system into a “first-to-file” system. The first-to-file provisions, however, only became effective on March 16, 2013. Accordingly, it is not yet clear what, if any, impact the Leahy-Smith Act will have on the operation of our business. However, the Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could make it more difficult to obtain patent protection for our technology and could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of any patents we obtain, all of which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The United States Supreme Court has ruled on several patent cases in recent years, either narrowing the scope of patent protection available in certain circumstances or weakening the rights of patent owners in certain situations. In addition to increasing uncertainty with regard to our ability to obtain patents in the future, this combination of events has created uncertainty with respect to the value of patents once obtained. Depending on future actions by the U.S. Congress, the federal courts, and the USPTO, the laws and regulations governing patents could change in unpredictable ways that would weaken our ability to obtain new patents or to enforce any patents that we might obtain in the future.

Obtaining and maintaining our patent protection depends on compliance with various procedural, document submission, fee payment and other requirements imposed by governmental patent agencies, and our patent protection could be reduced or eliminated for non-compliance with these requirements.

The USPTO and various foreign patent agencies require compliance with a number of procedural, documentary, fee payment and other provisions to maintain patent applications and issued patents. In addition, periodic maintenance fees and various other governmental fees on patents and patent applications often must be paid to the USPTO and foreign patent agencies over the lifetime of the patents or for the prosecution of patent applications. While an unintentional lapse can in many cases be cured by payment of a late fee or by other means in accordance with the applicable rules, there are situations in which noncompliance can result in abandonment or lapse of the patent or patent application, resulting in partial or complete loss of patent rights in the relevant jurisdiction. Non-compliance events that could result in abandonment or lapse of a patent or patent application include, but are not limited to, failure to respond to official actions within prescribed time limits, non-payment of fees and failure to properly legalize and submit formal documents. If we fail to maintain the patents and patent applications covering our products or procedures, we may not be able to stop a competitor from marketing products that are the same as or similar to our products, which would have a material adverse effect on our business.

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

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on our product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive. Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in certain foreign jurisdictions. The requirements for patentability differ, in varying degrees, from country to country. The legal systems of some countries, particularly developing countries, do not favor the enforcement of patent and other intellectual property rights, especially those relating to life sciences. This could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of any patents we obtain or the

 

45


Table of Contents

misappropriation of our other intellectual property rights. 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. Moreover, our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights may be adversely affected by unforeseen changes in foreign intellectual property laws.

Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions, regardless of whether successful, would result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business. Furthermore, while we intend to protect our intellectual property rights in our expected significant markets, we cannot ensure that we will be able to initiate or maintain similar efforts in all jurisdictions in which we may wish to market AR101 or any future products. Accordingly, our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights in such countries may be inadequate, which may have an adverse effect on our ability to successfully commercialize our products in all of our expected significant foreign markets.

If we are unable to protect the confidentiality of our trade secrets and proprietary know-how or if competitors independently develop viable competing products, our business and competitive position may be harmed.

We rely on trade secrets and confidentiality agreements to protect our proprietary know-how and other confidential information related to our development processes and other elements of our technology for which patent protection may not be available or may be difficult to obtain or enforce. Although we require all of our employees to assign their inventions to us, and endeavor to execute confidentiality agreements with all of our employees, consultants, advisors and any third parties who have access to our proprietary know-how and other confidential information related to such technology, we cannot be certain that we have executed such agreements with all parties who may have helped to develop our intellectual property or who had access to our proprietary information, nor can we be certain that our agreements will not be breached.

Monitoring unauthorized uses and disclosures is difficult, and we do not know whether the steps we have taken to protect our proprietary technologies will be effective. We cannot guarantee that our trade secrets and other proprietary and confidential information will not be disclosed or that competitors will not otherwise gain access to our trade secrets. If any of the parties to these confidentiality agreements breaches or violates the terms of such agreements, we may not have adequate remedies for any such breach or violation, and we could lose our trade secrets as a result. Enforcing a claim that a third party illegally obtained and is using our trade secrets, like patent litigation, is expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Further, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent or in the same manner as the laws of the United States. As a result, we may encounter significant problems in protecting and defending our intellectual property both in the United States and abroad.

Even if we are able to adequately protect our trade secrets and proprietary information, our trade secrets could otherwise become known or could be independently discovered by our competitors. Competitors could purchase our products and attempt to replicate some or all of the competitive advantages we derive from our development efforts, willfully infringe our intellectual property rights, design around our protected technology or develop their own competitive technologies that fall outside of our intellectual property rights. If any of our trade secrets were to be lawfully obtained or independently developed by a competitor, in the absence of patent protection, we would have no right to prevent them, or those to whom they communicate, from using that technology or information to compete with us. If our trade secrets are not adequately protected so as to protect our market against competitors’ products, our competitive position could be adversely affected, as could our business.

 

46


Table of Contents

Risks Related to Our Common Stock and This Offering

Our stock price may be volatile and you may not be able to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid.

The trading price of our common stock following this offering could be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. These factors include those discussed in this “Risk Factors” section and others such as:

 

    results of, or delays in, our clinical trials;

 

    regulatory approval or our receipt of a complete response letter to AR101 and our other product candidates, or limitations to specific label indications or patient populations for its use, or changes or delays in the regulatory review process;

 

    severe adverse events in our trials or in our competitors’ trials as a result of exposure to the peanut allergen;

 

    therapeutic innovations or new products developed by us or our competitors;

 

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

 

    changes or developments in laws or regulations applicable to AR101 and our other product candidates;

 

    any changes to our relationship with any manufacturers or suppliers;

 

    the success or failure of our efforts to acquire, license or develop additional product candidates;

 

    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;

 

    manufacturing, supply or distribution delays or shortages;

 

    acquisitions or significant partnerships by us or our competitors;

 

    actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results;

 

    changes in financial estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;

 

    failure to meet financial projections that we or the investment community may provide;

 

    trading volume of our common stock;

 

    an inability to obtain additional funding;

 

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

 

47


Table of Contents
    general economic and market conditions and overall fluctuations in the United States equity markets; and

 

    additions or departures of any of our key scientific or management personnel.

In addition, the stock markets in general, and the markets for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that may have been unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price or liquidity of our common stock. In the past, when the market price of a stock has been volatile, holders of that stock have sometimes instituted securities class action litigation against the issuer. If any of our stockholders were to bring such a lawsuit against us, we could incur substantial costs defending the lawsuit and the attention of our management would be diverted from the operation of our business, which could seriously harm our financial position. Any adverse determination in litigation could also subject us to significant liabilities.

An active, liquid and orderly market for our common stock may not develop, and you may not be able to resell your common stock at or above the public offering price.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our common stock, and an active public market for our shares may not develop or be sustained after this offering. We and the representatives of the underwriters will determine the initial public offering price of our common stock through negotiation. This price will not necessarily reflect the price at which investors in the market will be willing to buy and sell our shares following this offering. In addition, an active trading market may not develop following the consummation of this offering or, if it is developed, may not be sustained. Further, certain of our existing institutional investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price and on the same terms as the other purchasers in this offering and, to the extent these affiliated investors purchase shares in this offering, fewer shares may be actively traded in the public market because these stockholders will be restricted from selling the shares by restrictions under applicable securities laws and the lock-up agreements described in the “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” and “Underwriting” sections of this prospectus, which would reduce the liquidity of the market for our common stock. The lack of an active market may impair your ability to sell your shares at the time you wish to sell them or at a price that you consider reasonable. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other businesses, applications or technologies using our shares as consideration.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding 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 publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no or few securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, our intellectual property or our stock performance, or if our clinical trials and operating results fail to meet the expectations of analysts, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

We are an “emerging growth company” and as a result of the reduced disclosure and governance requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, our common stock may be less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and, for so long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from

 

48


Table of Contents

various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we will 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. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering, (2) the last day of the year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.0 billion, (3) the last day of the year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

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

If our existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the lock-up and other legal restrictions on resale discussed in this prospectus lapse, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Based upon the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2015, upon the closing of this offering, we will have outstanding a total of 39,012,871 shares of common stock, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. Of these shares, approximately 8,333,333 shares of our common stock sold in this offering, plus any shares sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market immediately following this offering, subject to the lock-up agreements described below.

The lock-up agreements pertaining to this offering will expire 180 days from the date of this prospectus. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, however, may, in their sole discretion, permit our officers, directors and other stockholders who are subject to these lock-up agreements to sell shares prior to the expiration of the lock-up agreements. After the lock-up agreements expire, as of March 31, 2015, up to an additional 30,679,538 shares of common stock will be eligible for sale in the public market, of which 8,816,609 shares are held by current directors, executive officers and their respective affiliates and may be subject to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

If these additional shares of common stock are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline. After this offering, the holders of approximately 25.1 million shares of our common stock, or approximately 81.7% of our total outstanding common stock as of March 31, 2015 will be entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act, subject to vesting schedules and to the lock-up agreements described above. 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 purchased by affiliates. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.

As of July 24, 2015, our executive officers, directors, holders of 5% or more of our capital stock and their respective affiliates beneficially owned approximately 89.4% of our outstanding voting stock and, upon the

 

49


Table of Contents

closing of this offering, that same group will hold approximately 71.2% of our outstanding voting stock (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares and no exercise of outstanding options). Certain of our existing institutional investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. Any such purchases, if completed, would be made on the same terms as the shares that are sold to the public generally and not pursuant to any pre-existing contractual rights or obligations. If such investors purchase all shares they have indicated interests in purchasing, our executive officers, directors, holders of 5% or more of our capital stock and their respective affiliates will beneficially own approximately 75.3% of our outstanding voting stock upon the closing of this offering (based on the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares and no exercise of outstanding options). Therefore, even after this offering these stockholders will have the ability to influence us through this ownership position. These stockholders may be able to determine all matters requiring stockholder approval. For example, these stockholders may be able to control elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets, or other major corporate transaction. This may 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.

We have broad discretion to determine how to use the funds raised in this offering, and may use them in ways that may not enhance our operating results or the price of our common stock.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, and we could spend the proceeds from this offering in ways our stockholders may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return, if at all. We currently intend to use our net proceeds from this offering to fund the continued clinical development of AR101, including to fund our planned Phase 3 registration trial through data readout, to fund the development of additional product candidates and for working capital and general corporate purposes. However, our use of these proceeds may differ substantially from our current plans. If we do not invest or apply the proceeds of this offering in ways that improve our operating results, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

Provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could discourage a takeover that stockholders may consider favorable and may lead to entrenchment of management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will contain provisions that could significantly reduce the value of our shares to a potential acquirer or delay or prevent changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of our board of directors. The provisions in our charter documents will include the following:

 

    a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which may delay the ability of stockholders to change the membership of a majority of our board of directors;

 

    no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;

 

    the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the board of directors or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors;

 

    the required approval of at least 66  2 3 % of the shares entitled to vote to remove a director for cause, and the prohibition on removal of directors without cause;

 

50


Table of Contents
    the ability of our board of directors to authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquiror;

 

    the ability of our board of directors to alter our bylaws without obtaining stockholder approval;

 

    the required approval of at least 66  2 3 % of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors to adopt, amend or repeal our bylaws or repeal the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation regarding the election and removal of directors;

 

    a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent, which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;

 

    the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board of directors, the chief executive officer, the president or the board of directors, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors; and

 

    advance notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquiror’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

In addition, these provisions would apply even if we were to receive an offer that some stockholders may consider beneficial.

We are also subject to the anti-takeover provisions contained in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under Section 203, a corporation may not, in general, engage in a business combination with any holder of 15% or more of its capital stock unless the holder has held the stock for three years or, among other exceptions, the board of directors has approved the transaction. For a description of our capital stock, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock.”

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for substantially all disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty, any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. This provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

We provide broad indemnity to our directors and officers. Claims for such indemnification may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. In

 

51


Table of Contents

addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated bylaws to be effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering and our indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and officers provide that:

 

    We will indemnify our directors and officers for serving us in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at our request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

    We may, in our discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law.

 

    We are required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such directors or officers shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

    We will not be obligated pursuant to our amended and restated bylaws to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person against us or our other indemnitees, except with respect to proceedings authorized by our board of directors or brought to enforce a right to indemnification.

 

    The rights conferred in our amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive, and we are authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons.

 

    We may not retroactively amend our amended and restated bylaw provisions to reduce our indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in its equity ownership over a rolling three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards to offset its post-change taxable income may be limited. Limitations may also apply to the utilization of other pre-change tax attributes as a result of an ownership change. As of December 31, 2014, we had generated NOL carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of $11.9 million and for state income tax purposes of $11.9 million. These federal and state NOL carryforwards will begin to expire in 2031, if not utilized. As described above, our ability to utilize NOL carryforwards or other tax attributes, such as research tax credits, in any taxable year may be limited if we have experienced an ownership change under Section 382 of the Code. Following the issuance of the Series B convertible preferred stock in January and February 2015, we performed a Section 382 analysis and believe that we experienced multiple ownership changes under Section 382 of the Code prior to March 31, 2015 and, as a result, such federal and state NOL carryforwards and our tax credits are subject to limitation. In addition, we may have experienced ownership changes since March 31, 2015 and could experience ownership changes in the future, including in connection with this offering and as a result of future changes in our stock ownership, some of which changes may be outside our control. As a result, if we earn net taxable income, our ability to use our pre-change NOL carryforwards to offset post-change taxable income may be subject to limitations. For these reasons, we may not be able to utilize a material portion of our NOL carryforwards and other tax attributes, which could adversely affect our future cash flows.

 

52


Table of Contents

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock, and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We currently intend to invest our future earnings, if any, to fund our growth. Therefore, you are not likely to receive any dividends on your common stock for the foreseeable future. Since we do not intend to pay dividends, your ability to receive a return on your investment will depend on any future appreciation in the market value of our common stock. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate or even maintain the price at which our holders have purchased it.

 

53


Table of Contents

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements concerning our business, operations and financial performance and condition, as well as our plans, objectives and expectations for our business operations and financial performance and condition. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “positioned,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

    our expectations regarding the potential market size and the size of the patient populations for AR101 and our future product candidates, if approved for commercial use;

 

    clinical and regulatory development plans with respect to AR101 and our future product candidates;

 

    timing of commencement of future clinical trials and research and development programs;

 

    our ability to develop, acquire and advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials;

 

    our intention and our ability to establish collaboration partnerships;

 

    the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for AR101 and our future product candidates;

 

    our ability to commercialize AR101 and our future product candidates;

 

    our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities;

 

    the pricing and reimbursement of AR101 and our future product candidates, if approved;

 

    the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business, product candidates and technology;

 

    the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates, including the projected terms of patent protection;

 

    estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, our needs for additional financing and our ability to obtain additional capital;

 

    our use of proceeds from this offering;

 

    our financial performance;

 

    developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing therapies; and

 

    other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.”

These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and management’s beliefs and

 

54


Table of Contents

assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in some cases beyond our control. As a result, any or all of our forward-looking statements in this prospectus may turn out to be inaccurate. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future. You should, however, review the factors and risks we describe in the reports we will file from time to time with the SEC after the date of this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

55


Table of Contents

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

This prospectus contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, and the markets for our product candidates, including data regarding the estimated food-allergic patient population and the prevalence and severity of peanut allergy, as well as data regarding market research, estimates and forecasts prepared by our management. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which this data is derived. In that regard, when we refer to one or more sources of this type of data in any paragraph, you should assume that other data of this type appearing in the same paragraph is derived from the same sources, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

56


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of 8,333,333 shares of common stock in this offering will be approximately $112.7 million at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, we estimate that net proceeds will be approximately $130.2 million after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, by approximately $7.7 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 in the number of shares we are offering would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, by approximately $14.0 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price stays the same. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. 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 intended uses of the net proceeds from this offering, although it may impact the amount of time prior to which we may need to seek additional capital.

We currently expect to use our net proceeds from this offering as follows:

 

    approximately $80.0 million to $90.0 million to fund the continued clinical development of AR101, including to fund our planned Phase 3 registration trial through data readout;

 

    approximately $30.0 million to $35.0 million to fund the development of additional product candidates; and

 

    the remainder, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes.

However, due to the uncertainties inherent in the clinical development and regulatory approval process, it is difficult to estimate with certainty the exact amounts of the net proceeds from this offering that may be used for the above purposes. As such, our management will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering. The amounts and timing of our expenditures will depend upon numerous factors, including (i) the time and cost necessary to implement our anticipated Phase 3 registration trial of AR101; (ii) the time and cost associated with clinical trials and pre-clinical development of other product candidates; (iii) our ability to obtain regulatory approval for and subsequently commercialize AR101 or any other product candidates we develop; and (iv) the time and cost necessary to develop clinical supplies and a commercial-scale manufacturing process for AR101.

We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our planned operations for the 24 months following the date of this offering. Following this offering, we will require substantial capital in order to commercialize AR101 and complete the clinical development of any additional product candidate. For additional information regarding our potential capital requirements, see “Even if this offering is successful, we will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development, other operations or commercialization efforts” under the heading “Risk Factors.”

Pending the use of the proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government securities.

 

57


Table of Contents

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings, if any, to fund the development and expansion of our business and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination related to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors.

 

58


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2015:

 

    on an actual basis;

 

    on a pro forma basis to give effect to: (i) the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 25,051,257 shares of common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering and (ii) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the consummation of this offering; and

 

    on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to the sale of 8,333,333 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

You should read this information together with our audited financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus and the information set forth under the headings “Selected Financial Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

     As of March 31, 2015  
     Actual     Pro Forma     Pro Forma As
Adjusted (1)
 
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 65,313      $ 65,313      $ 178,063   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity:

      

Convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 25,248,814 shares authorized; 25,051,257 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     83,811        —          —     

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

     —          —         
—  
  

Common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, 50,046,000 shares authorized, 5,628,281 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 290,000,000 shares authorized, 30,679,538 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma, and 290,000,000 shares authorized, 39,012,871 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     —          3        4   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,386        85,194        197,943   

Accumulated deficit

     (20,958     (20,958     (20,958
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     64,239        64,239        176,989   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 64,239      $ 64,239      $ 176,989   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), would increase (decrease) the amount of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholder’s equity and total capitalization by $7.7 million, assuming the number of shares offered

 

59


Table of Contents
  by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase (decrease) the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 in the number of shares we are offering would increase (decrease) the amount of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $14.0 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price per share, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

The outstanding share information in the table above excludes the following:

 

    189,853 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2015, having a weighted-average exercise price of $0.14 per share;

 

    4,078,078 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2013 Stock Plan, as amended, as of March 31, 2015. Of such shares, 3,228,100 shares of common stock are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that have been granted between March 31, 2015 and July 20, 2015, having a weighted-average exercise price of $3.56 per share;

 

    4,681,544 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering; and

 

    390,128 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering.

 

60


Table of Contents

DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your interest will be immediately diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. As of March 31, 2015, we had a historical net tangible book value of $64.2 million, or $11.41 per share of common stock. Our net tangible book value represents total tangible assets less total liabilities all divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding on March 31, 2015. Our pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2015, before giving effect to this offering, was $64.2 million, or $2.09 per share of our common stock. Pro forma net tangible book value, before the issuance and sale of shares in this offering, gives effect to:

 

    the conversion of all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 25,051,257 shares of common stock immediately prior to the consummation of this offering; and

 

    the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will occur immediately prior to the consummation of this offering.

After giving effect to the sale of shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2015 would have been approximately $177.0 million, or $4.54 per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $2.45 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $10.46 per share to new investors. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

   $                   15.00

Historical net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2015

     11.41     

Pro forma decrease in net tangible book value per share

     (9.32  
  

 

 

   

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2015

     2.09     

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors

     2.45     
  

 

 

   

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

     4.54
    

 

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering

     $10.46
    

 

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus) would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2015 after this offering by approximately $7.7 million, or approximately $0.20 per share, and would decrease (increase) dilution to investors in this offering by approximately $0.80 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 in the number of shares we are offering would increase (decrease) our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2015 after this offering by approximately $14.0 million, or approximately $0.35 per share, and would decrease (increase) dilution to investors in this offering by approximately $0.24 per share, assuming the assumed initial public offering price per share remains the same, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only, and we will adjust this information based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

If the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional shares, pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering would increase to approximately $4.83 per share, and there would be an immediate dilution of approximately $0.29 per share to new investors.

 

61


Table of Contents

To the extent that outstanding options with an exercise price per share that is less than the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share, before giving effect to the issuance and sale of shares in this offering, are exercised, new investors will experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

The following table shows, as of March 31, 2015, on a pro forma as adjusted basis, after giving effect to the pro forma adjustments described above, the number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid to us and the average price paid per share by existing stockholders and by new investors purchasing common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), before deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us (in thousands, except share and per share amounts and percentages):

 

    

Shares Purchased

   

Total Consideration

   

Average
Price Per

Share

 
    

Number

    

Percent

   

Amount

    

Percent

   

Existing stockholders (1)

     30,679,538         78.6   $ 95,391,149         43.3   $ 3.11   

Investors participating in this offering (1)

     8,333,333         21.4        124,999,995         56.7      $ 15.00   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

     39,012,871         100   $ 220,391,144         100  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

(1) Certain of our existing institutional investors have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. The presentation in this table regarding ownership by existing stockholders does not give effect to any purchases in this offering by such investors. See the footnotes to the beneficial ownership table in “Principal Stockholders” for more details.

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2015 and excludes the following:

 

    189,853 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2015, having a weighted-average exercise price of $0.14 per share;

 

    4,078,078 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2013 Stock Plan, as amended, as of March 31, 2015. Of such shares, 3,228,100 shares of common stock are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options that have been granted between March 31, 2015 and July 20, 2015 having a weighted-average exercise price of $3.56 per share;

 

    4,681,544 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering; and

 

    390,128 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as well as any automatic increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under this plan, which will become effective prior to the consummation of this offering.

 

62


Table of Contents

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 and the selected balance sheet data as of December 31, 2013 and 2014 are derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected statement of operations data for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 and the selected balance sheet data as of March 31, 2015 are derived from our unaudited interim condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited interim condensed financial information has been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial information and, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information set forth in those statements.

Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in the future, and our interim unaudited results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. You should read the following selected financial data together with the section of this prospectus entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and the related notes included in this prospectus.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2013     2014     2014     2015  
                 (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Statement of Operations Data:

  

Operating expenses:

  

Research and development

   $ 3,495      $ 8,181      $ 1,199      $ 2,069   

General and administrative

     1,263        2,951        401        1,372   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     4,758        11,132        1,600        3,441   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (4,758     (11,132     (1,600     (3,441

Other income (expense), net

        

Interest income

     24        12        7        —     

Interest expense

     (91     —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

     (67     12        7        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (4,825   $ (11,120   $ (1,593   $ (3,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted (1)

   $ (1.65   $ (3.80   $ (0.54   $ (0.81
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted (1)

     2,926,665        2,928,896        2,926,665        4,258,877   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted (unaudited) (1)

     $ (0.69     $ (0.15
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted (unaudited) (1)

       16,192,863          22,467,561   
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

(1) See Note 10 to our audited financial statements and Note 7 to our unaudited interim condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for an explanation of the calculations of our net loss per share, basic and diluted, pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted, and the shares used in computing the net loss per share, basic and diluted, and pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted.

 

63


Table of Contents
     As of
December 31,
     As of
March 31,
2015
 
     2013      2014     
                   (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Balance Sheet Data:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 11,951       $ 2,269       $ 65,313   

Working capital

     11,552         571         64,065   

Total assets

     12,156         2,531         65,895   

Convertible preferred stock

     16,928         16,928         83,811   

Accumulated deficit

     (6,397      (17,517      (20,958

Total stockholders’ equity

     11,637         671         64,239   

 

64


Table of Contents

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

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with the section entitled “Selected Financial Data” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion and other parts of this prospectus contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and beliefs. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below and those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing a new therapeutic approach, including the development of proprietary product candidates, for the treatment of peanut and other food allergies. It is estimated that over 30 million people in the United States and Europe have a food allergy, with peanut allergy being the most prevalent and most commonly associated with severe outcomes and life-threatening events. Our therapeutic approach, which we refer to as Characterized Oral Desensitization Immunotherapy, or CODIT, is a system designed to desensitize patients to food allergens using rigorously characterized biologic products, defined treatment protocols and tailored support services. In ARC001, our recently completed Phase 2 study of our lead CODIT product candidate, AR101, all of the 23 patients who completed the AR101 treatment regimen were desensitized to a clinically meaningful level of peanut protein of at least 443 mg, a level that substantially exceeds the amount of peanut protein typically encountered in an accidental exposure, which we believe to be approximately 100 mg or less. Our ARC002 study, an open label Phase 2 follow on study of patients who participated in ARC001, is ongoing. We intend to initiate a Phase 3 registration trial of AR101 and Phase 2 studies of other CODIT product candidates for two additional food allergies in 2016. AR101 has been granted Fast-Track designation and Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and, if our planned Phase 3 trial is successful, we intend to file a Biologics License Application, or BLA, with the FDA and a Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA, with the European Medicines Agency, or EMA. We have worldwide commercial rights to all of our product candidates and, if approved, we intend to commercialize in the United States and Europe with our own specialty sales force.

Since commencing our operations in 2011, substantially all of our efforts have been focused on research, development and the advancement of our lead CODIT product candidate, AR101. We have not generated any revenue from product sales and, as a result, we have incurred significant losses. We incurred a net loss of $4.8 million and $11.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, respectively, and $1.6 and $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, our accumulated deficit was $17.5 million and $21.0 million, respectively. We expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, and we anticipate these losses will increase as we continue our development of, seek regulatory approval for, and begin to commercialize, AR101 and as we develop other product candidates.

Since our inception and through March 31, 2015, we have funded our operations primarily through the sale and issuance of convertible preferred stock. In January and February 2015, we received net proceeds of $79.8 million from the sale of our Series B convertible preferred stock, of which $12.9 million was used to repurchase outstanding shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock. As of March 31, 2015, we had $65.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our planned operations for the 24 months following the date of this offering, including through data readout of our planned Phase 3 registration trial for AR101.

We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development of, obtain regulatory approval for, and begin to commercialize one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years and is subject to significant uncertainty. Accordingly,

 

65


Table of Contents

we anticipate that we will need to raise additional capital to fund our future operations. Until such time that we can generate substantial revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operating activities through a combination of equity offerings and debt financings and we may seek to raise additional capital through strategic collaborations. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all, which would have a negative impact on our financial condition and could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our development programs or commercialization efforts or grant to others rights to develop or market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. Failure to receive additional funding could cause us to cease operations, in part or in full. Furthermore, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations.

We have no manufacturing facilities and all of our manufacturing activities are contracted out to third parties. Additionally, we currently utilize third-party clinical research organizations, or CROs, to carry out our clinical trials and we do not yet have a sales organization. We expect to significantly increase our investment in costs relating to our manufacturing process and sales organization as we prepare for the filing of a BLA with the FDA and a MAA with the EMA and prepare for a possible commercial launch of AR101.

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported revenue generated and expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our 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. We believe that the accounting policies discussed below are critical to understanding our historical and future performance, as these policies relate to the more significant areas involving management’s judgments and estimates.

Research and Development Costs

We record accrued expenses for estimated costs of our research and development activities conducted by third-party service providers, which include the conduct of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and contract manufacturing activities. We record the estimated costs of research and development activities based upon the estimated amount of services provided but not yet invoiced, and we include these costs in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets and within research and development expense in the statement of operations and comprehensive loss. These costs are a significant component of our research and development expenses. We record accrued expenses for these costs based on the estimated amount of work completed and in accordance with agreements established with these third parties.

We estimate the amount of work completed through discussions with internal personnel and external service providers as to the progress or stage of completion of the services and the agreed-upon fee to be paid for such services. We make significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrued balance in each reporting period. As actual costs become known, we adjust our accrued estimates. Although we do not expect our estimates to be materially different from amounts actually incurred, our understanding of the status and timing of services performed, the number of patients enrolled and the rate of patient enrollment may vary from our estimates and could result in us reporting amounts that are too high or too low in any particular period. Our accrued expenses are dependent, in part, upon the receipt of timely and accurate reporting from clinical research organizations and other third-party service providers. To date, there have been no material differences from our accrued expenses to actual expenses.

 

66


Table of Contents

Stock-Based Compensation

We recognize compensation costs related to stock options granted to employees and directors based on the estimated fair value of the awards on the date of grant, net of estimated forfeitures. We estimate the grant date fair value using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The grant date fair value of the stock-based awards is generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period of the respective awards.

We recorded stock-based compensation expense related to options granted of $0.1 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, and $16,000 and $26,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

In determining the fair value of the stock-based awards, we use the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and assumptions discussed below. Each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires significant judgment to determine.

 

    Expected Term. The expected term represents the period that stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding. We used the simplified method to determine the expected term, which is calculated as the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term of the options.

 

    Expected Volatility . Since we are not yet a public company and do not have any trading history for our common stock, the expected volatility was estimated based on the average historical volatilities of common stock of comparable publicly traded entities over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. The comparable companies were chosen based on their similar size, stage in the life cycle or area of specialty. We will continue to apply this process until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of our own stock price becomes available.

 

    Risk-Free Interest Rate . The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of the option.

 

    Expected Dividend . We have never paid dividends on our common stock and have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock. Therefore, we used an expected dividend yield of zero.

The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013     2014  

Weighted-average exercise price of options granted

   $ 0.14      $ 0.14   

Expected volatility

     85.52     79.62

Risk-free interest rate

     1.56     1.51

Dividend yield

     0.00     0.00

Expected term (in years)

     4.76        4.65   

No stock options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 and, as such, no weighted average assumptions for estimating fair value of options granted during such periods are available. Between March 31, 2015 and July 20, 2015, 3,228,100 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options have been granted with a weighted-average exercise price of $3.56 per share.

In addition to the Black-Scholes assumptions, we estimate our forfeiture rate based on an analysis of our actual forfeitures and will continue to evaluate the adequacy of the forfeiture rate based on actual forfeiture experience, analysis of employee turnover behavior and other factors. The impact from any forfeiture rate adjustment would be recognized in full in the period of adjustment, and if the actual number of future forfeitures differs from our estimates, we might be required to record adjustments to stock-based compensation in future periods.

 

67


Table of Contents

See Note 7 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for information concerning certain of the specific assumptions used in applying the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to determine the estimated fair value of employee stock options granted in 2013 and 2014. In addition to the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, we must also estimate a forfeiture rate to calculate the stock-based compensation expense for our awards. We will continue to use judgment in evaluating the expected volatility, expected terms and forfeiture rates utilized for our stock-based compensation expense calculations on a prospective basis.

As of March 31, 2015, we had $86,000 of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested stock options, which is expected to be recognized over an estimated weighted-average period of 2.2 years. For stock option awards subject to ratable vesting, we recognize compensation cost on a straight-line basis over the service period for the entire award. In future periods, our stock-based compensation expense is expected to increase as a result of recognizing our existing unrecognized stock-based compensation for awards that will vest and as we issue additional stock-based awards to attract and retain our employees.

Common Stock Valuation

Historically, for all periods prior to this offering, the fair value of the shares of common stock underlying our share-based awards were estimated on each grant date by our board of directors. In order to determine the fair value of our common stock underlying option grants, our board of directors considered, among other things, contemporaneous valuations of our common stock prepared by an unrelated third-party valuation firm at March 31, 2013, May 31, 2014, February 28, 2015, May 18, 2015 and July 6, 2015 in accordance with the guidance provide by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Practice Guide, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation. Given the absence of a public trading market for our common stock, our board of directors exercised reasonable judgment and considered a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common stock, including our stage of development; progress of our research and development efforts; the rights, preferences and privileges of our preferred stock relative to those of our common stock; equity market conditions affecting comparable public companies and the lack of marketability of our common stock.

The unrelated third-party valuations were prepared using the Probability Weighted Expected Return Method, or PWERM, to arrive at the estimated fair value of our common stock. The PWERM is a scenario-based analysis that estimates the value per share of common stock based on the probability-weighted present value of expected future equity values for the common stock, under various possible future liquidity event scenarios, including initial public offering, sale of the company, dissolution and staying private. The PWERM utilized in each of the March 31, 2013, May 31, 2014, February 28, 2015, May 18, 2015 and July 6, 2015 valuations was based on several assumptions applicable at the time of the valuation, including the likelihood of successfully completing our then-planned clinical trials, the likelihood of receiving necessary regulatory approvals to commercialize AR101 and the likely timeframe of the relative liquidity event scenarios based, in part, on the occurrence of the preceding assumptions. The company valuation used in the exit scenarios utilized in the PWERM were derived from a combination of input from the company’s management, valuations for comparable companies in comparable exit scenarios (initial public offering or sale) and comparable public company analysis. The results of the PWERM were then gauged for appropriateness by comparing them against results from the market and income approach, however, neither the market or income approach was relied upon to determine the company valuation in the exit scenarios.

After the completion of this offering, our board of directors will determine the fair value of each share of underlying common stock based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the date of grant.

 

68


Table of Contents

The table below shows the intrinsic value of our outstanding vested and unvested options as of March 31, 2015 based upon an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, which is the mid-point of the range reflected on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

    

Number of
shares
underlying
options

    

Intrinsic value

 
     (in thousands, except per
share data)
 

Total vested options outstanding

     140,495       $ 2,088   

Total unvested options outstanding

     49,358       $ 733   

Total options outstanding

     189,853       $ 2,821   

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred income taxes for temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes. We periodically evaluate the positive and negative evidence bearing upon realizability of our deferred tax assets. Based upon the weight of available evidence, which includes our historical operating performance, reported cumulative net losses since inception and difficulty in accurately forecasting our future results, we maintained a full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax assets. We intend to maintain a full valuation allowance on the federal and state deferred tax assets until sufficient positive evidence exists to support reversal of the valuation allowance.

As of December 31, 2014, we had generated net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of $11.9 million and for state income tax purposes of $11.9 million. These federal and state NOL carryforwards will begin to expire in 2031, if not utilized. Our ability to utilize NOL carryforwards or other tax attributes, such as research tax credits, in any taxable year may be limited if we have experienced an ownership change under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. Following the issuance of the Series B convertible preferred stock in January and February 2015, we performed a Section 382 analysis and believe that we have experienced multiple ownership changes under Section 382 of the Code and, as a result, our federal and state NOL carryforwards and tax credits are subject to limitation.

We record unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities and adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the unrecognized tax benefit liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information is available. As of December 31, 2013 and 2014 and March 31, 2015, we did not have any unrecognized tax benefits.

Components of Results of Operations

Research and Development Expenses

The largest component of our total operating expenses has historically been our investment in research and development activities. Research and development expenses consist primarily of:

 

    costs incurred to conduct research, such as the discovery and development of our product candidates;

 

    costs related to production of clinical supplies, including fees paid to contract manufacturers;

 

    fees paid to clinical consultants, clinical trial sites and vendors, including clinical research organizations in conjunction with implementing and monitoring our clinical trials and acquiring and evaluating clinical trial data, including all related fees, such as for investigator grants, patient screening fees, laboratory work and statistical compilation and analysis;

 

69


Table of Contents
    salaries and related costs, including stock-based compensation expense, for personnel in our research and development functions; and

 

    costs related to compliance with drug development regulatory requirements.

We recognize all research and development costs as they are incurred. Clinical trial costs, contract manufacturing and other development costs incurred by third parties are expensed as the contracted work is performed.

We expect our research and development expenses to increase in absolute dollars in the future as we advance our product candidates into and through clinical trials and pursue regulatory approval of our product candidates in the United States and Europe. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming. The actual probability of success for our product candidates and technology platforms may be affected by a variety of factors including: the quality of our product candidates, early clinical data, investment in our clinical program, competition, manufacturing capability and commercial viability. We may never succeed in achieving regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. As a result of the uncertainties discussed above, we are unable to determine the duration and completion costs of our research and development projects or when and to what extent we will generate revenue from the commercialization and sale of our product candidates.

General and Administrative Expenses

General and administrative expenses include personnel costs, expenses for outside professional services and other allocated expenses. Personnel costs consist of salaries, bonuses, severance, benefits and stock-based compensation. Outside professional services consist of legal, accounting and audit services and other consulting fees. Allocated expenses consist of rent expense related to our office facility. We expect to incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including expenses related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and those of The NASDAQ Global Select Market, additional insurance expenses, investor relations activities and other administrative and professional services.

Interest Income (Expense)

Interest income consists of interest earned on our cash and cash equivalents. Interest expense consists of interest expense on amounts borrowed under a convertible note.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2015

 

    

Three Months Ended
March 31,

               
     2014      2015      $ Change      % Change  
     (unaudited)                
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Operating expenses:

  

Research and development

   $ 1,199       $ 2,069       $ 870         73%   

General and administrative

     401         1,372         971         242%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     1,600         3,441         1,841         115%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from operations

     (1,600      (3,441      (1,841      115%   

Other income (expense), net

           

Interest income

     7         —           (7      *     

Interest expense

     —           —           —           —       
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

     7         —           (7      *     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss and comprehensive loss

   $ (1,593    $ (3,441    $ (1,848      116%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Percentage not meaningful.

 

70


Table of Contents

Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes our research and development expenses incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015:

 

    

Three Months Ended
March 31,

               
     2014      2015      $ Change      % Change  
     (unaudited)                
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Clinical development and regulatory

   $ 405       $ 971       $ 566         140%    

Contract manufacturing

     416         669         253         61%    

Compensation and related personnel costs

     355         330         (25      (7)%   

Other research and development costs

     —           50         50           

Facility costs

     23         49         26         113%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total research and development

   $ 1,199       $ 2,069       $ 870         73%    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Percentage not meaningful.

Research and development expenses were $2.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, an increase of $0.9 million, from $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. This increase was primarily attributable to a $0.6 million increase in clinical development expenses mainly associated with our ongoing trials and a $0.3 million increase in contract manufacturing costs of our clinical product candidates. The decrease in compensation and related personnel costs was due to departure of certain executives in our clinical development function. We have subsequently filled these positions and we expect to incur additional compensation and related personnel costs in connection with our ongoing open label Phase 2 study of AR101, ARC002.

General and Administrative Expenses

The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015:

 

    

Three Months Ended
March 31,

               
       2014          2015        $ Change      % Change  
     (unaudited)                
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Compensation and related personnel costs

   $ 179       $ 646       $ 467         261%   

Outside professional services

     93         548         455         489%   

Facility costs

     37         58         21         57%   

Other general and administrative

     92         120         28         30%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total general and administrative

   $ 401       $ 1,372       $ 971         242%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses were $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, an increase of $1.0 million, from $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. This increase was primarily due to a $0.5 million increase in compensation expenses primarily related to our additional administrative and executive personnel and severance payments to certain former executives, and $0.5 million in professional fees incurred in connection with financial consulting, public relations and communications activities.

 

71


Table of Contents

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2014

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
               
     2013      2014      $ Change      % Change  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Operating expenses:

  

Research and development

   $ 3,495       $ 8,181       $ 4,686         134%   

General and administrative

     1,263         2,951         1,688         134%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     4,758         11,132         6,374         134%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income (Loss) from operations

     (4,758      (11,132      (6,374      134%   

Other income (expense), net

           

Interest income

     24         12         (12      *   

Interest expense

     (91      —           91         *   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

     (67      12         79         *   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss and comprehensive loss

   $ (4,825    $ (11,120    $ (6,295      130%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Percentage not meaningful.

Research and Development Expenses

The following table summarizes our research and development expenses incurred during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
               
     2013      2014      $ Change      % Change  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Clinical development and regulatory

   $ 2,228       $ 4,565       $ 2,337         105%   

Contract manufacturing

     114         1,834         1,720         *   

Compensation and related personnel costs

     1,101         1,559         458         42%   

Facility costs

     52         149         97         187%   

Other research and development costs

     —           74         74         *   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total research and development

   $ 3,495       $ 8,181       $ 4,686         134%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

* Percentage not meaningful.

Research and development expenses were $8.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $4.7 million, from $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was primarily attributed to a $2.3 million increase in clinical development expenses mainly associated with ongoing trials, a $1.7 million increase in contract manufacturing costs of our clinical product candidates, a $0.5 million increase in compensation expenses primarily related to hiring of additional research and development staff and a $0.2 million increase in facility costs and other research and development costs.

 

72


Table of Contents

General and Administrative Expenses

The following table summarizes our general and administrative expenses incurred during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
               
     2013      2014      $ Change      % Change  
     (in thousands, except percentages)  

Compensation and related personnel costs

   $ 533       $ 1,716       $ 1,183         222%   

Outside professional services

     405         786         381         94%   

Other general and administrative

     225         274         49         22%   

Facility costs

     100         175         75         75%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total general and administrative

   $ 1,263       $ 2,951       $ 1,688         134%   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

General and administrative expenses were $3.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $1.7 million, from $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was primarily due to a $1.2 million increase in compensation expenses primarily related to our additional administrative and executive personnel, and $0.4 million in professional fees incurred in connection with public relations and communications activities.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was nil for the year ended December 31, 2014, a decrease of $91,000 from the year ended December 31, 2013. The interest expense in 2013 was primarily attributable to the conversion of a convertible note payable into Series A preferred stock and expensing the remaining unamortized conversion discount on the convertible note.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Plan of Operations

Since our inception and through March 31, 2015, we have funded our operations primarily through the sale and issuance of convertible preferred stock. In January and February 2015, we received net proceeds of $79.8 million from the sale of our Series B convertible preferred stock, of which $12.9 million was used to repurchase outstanding shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock. As of March 31, 2015, we had $65.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, together with the net proceeds from this offering, will be sufficient to fund our planned operations for the 24 months following the date of this offering, including through data readout of our planned Phase 3 registration trial for AR101.

We do not expect to generate revenue from product sales unless and until we successfully complete development of, obtain regulatory approval for and begin to commercialize one or more of our product candidates, which we expect will take a number of years and is subject to significant uncertainty. Accordingly, we anticipate that we will need to raise additional capital to fund our future operations. Until such time that we can generate substantial revenue from product sales, if ever, we expect to finance our operating activities through a combination of equity offerings and debt financings and we may seek to raise additional capital through strategic collaborations. However, we may be unable to raise additional funds or enter into such arrangements when needed on favorable terms, or at all, which would have a negative impact on our financial condition and could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our development programs or commercialization efforts or grant to others rights to develop or market product candidates that we would otherwise prefer to develop and market ourselves. Failure to receive additional funding could cause us to cease operations, in part or in full. Furthermore, even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations.

 

73


Table of Contents

Our future funding requirements will depend on many factors, including the following:

 

    the time and cost necessary to initiate and complete our anticipated Phase 3 registration trial for AR101;

 

    the time and cost associated with clinical trials and pre-clinical development of other product candidates;

 

    our ability to obtain regulatory approval for and subsequently commercialize AR101 or any other product candidates we develop;

 

    the time and cost necessary to develop clinical supplies and a commercial-scale manufacturing process for AR101;

 

    sales and marketing costs associated with AR101, if approved, including the cost and timing of developing our sales and marketing capabilities;

 

    the amount of sales and other revenue from AR101, if approved;

 

    our ability to achieve sufficient market acceptance, coverage and reimbursement from third-party payors and adequate market share for our product candidates;

 

    the costs associated with any additional clinical trials of AR101;

 

    the cash requirements of any future acquisitions or discovery of product candidates;

 

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

 

    our ability to attract, hire and retain qualified personnel; and

 

    our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for AR101 and the associated costs of such activities, including for filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing any patents for AR101.

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 to us on a timely basis, we may be required to delay, limit, reduce or terminate:

 

    clinical trials or other development activities for AR101 or any future product candidate;

 

    our research and development activities; or

 

    our establishment of sales and marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to commercialize AR101 or any future product candidate.

Cash Flows

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2015

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

    

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
     2014      2015  
     (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Net cash provided by (used in)

     

Operating activities

   $ (1,949    $ (3,993

Investing activities

     (5      (44

Financing activities

     —           67,081   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (1,954    $ 63,044   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

74


Table of Contents

Net Cash Used In Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities was $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, an increase of $2.1 million, from $1.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. This increase was primarily due to to higher net loss from operations resulting from increased research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses.

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of investment in equipment.

Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2015 consisted primarily of the proceeds of $79.8 million from the issuance of the Series B convertible preferred stock, net of offering costs, and $0.2 million from the exercise of stock options, offset in part by $12.9 million from the repurchase of shares of Series A from certain investors.

As of March 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of $65.3 million, including the net proceeds we received from the issuance of Series B convertible preferred stock in January and February 2015.

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2014

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013      2014  
     (in thousands)  

Net cash provided by (used in)

     

Operating activities

   $ (4,362    $ (9,777

Investing activities

     (69      (96

Financing activities

     16,164         191   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 11,733       $ (9,682
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Cash Used In Operating Activities

Net cash used in operating activities was $9.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, an increase of $5.4 million, from $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. This increase was primarily due to to higher net loss from operations resulting from increased research and development expenses and general and administrative expenses.

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

Cash used in investing activities consisted primarily of investment in equipment.

Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, a decrease of $16.0 million, from $16.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013. The net cash provided by financing activities in 2014 was primarily from the exercise of stock options and the net cash provided by financing activities in 2013 was primarily from the sale of preferred stock.

As of December 31, 2014, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $2.3 million.

 

75


Table of Contents

Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2014:

 

     Payments due by periods  
    

Total

    

Less than 1
year

    

1 to 3 years

    

3 to 5 years

    

More than 5
years

 
     (in thousands)  

Operating leases (1)(2)

   $ 423       $ 167       $ 170       $ 86       $     —     

Other purchase commitments (3)

     —           —           —           —           —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

   $ 423       $ 167       $ 170       $ 86       $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) In March 2015, we signed a new facility lease for our corporate headquarters and research facilities in Brisbane, California. The new headquarters lease calls for future aggregate non-cancellable lease payments of $2.0 million over a period of 51 months, which have not been reflected in the table above.
(2) In June 2015, we signed a new facility lease for a manufacturing facility Clearwater, Florida. The new manufacturing facility lease calls for future aggregate lease payments of $1.7 million over a period of 10 years, which have not been reflected in the table above.
(3) We purchase peanut flour, the source material for AR101, from the Golden Peanut Company pursuant to a long-term exclusive commercial supply agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, our purchase obligation commences with the first delivery of peanut flour for commercial use, which we currently anticipate will not occur prior to 2018. Assuming that our first delivery for commercial use occurs in 2018, which is not assured, the aggregate purchase commitment under this agreement would be $1.2 million over the following five years.

We enter into agreements in the normal course of business with contract research organizations for clinical trials and with vendors for pre-clinical studies and other services and products for operating purposes which are cancelable at any time by us, generally upon 30 days prior written notice. These payments are not included in this table of contractual obligations.

Except for the new facility lease described above, our contractual obligations as of March 31, 2015 have not materially changed from December 31, 2014.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have not entered into any off-balance sheet arrangements and do not have variable interests in variable interest entities.

Material Weakness

In connection with the contemporaneous audit of our financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, we identified control deficiencies in the design and operation of our internal control over financial reporting that aggregated to a material weakness. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

The material weakness identified in our internal control over financial reporting related to our lack of written policies regarding our accounting function, lack of oversight of account reconciliations, lack of independent review of manual journal entries and inadequate segregation of duties for check writing and wire transfers. We have taken certain actions to remediate this material weakness, including implementing new procedures for review of account reconciliations and manual journal entries and restricting check writing and wire transfer authority. We intend to implement further segregation of duties and to establish formal written policies for our accounting function by the end of the year. However, we cannot assure you that these measures will be sufficient to remediate or prevent future material weaknesses or significant deficiencies from occurring. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to our Business—We identified a material weakness in our internal control

 

76


Table of Contents

over financial reporting at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014, and we may identify additional material weaknesses in the future that may cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations or result in material misstatements of our financial statements. If we fail to remediate any material weaknesses or if we fail to establish and maintain effective control over financial reporting, our ability to accurately and timely report our financial results could be adversely affected.”

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

As of March 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of $65.3 million, which consisted primarily of bank and money market deposits. Such interest-earning instruments carry a degree of interest rate risk; however, historical fluctuations of interest income have not been significant. We had no outstanding debt as of March 31, 2015.

We have not historically been exposed to material risks due to changes in interest rates. A hypothetical 10% change in interest rates during any of the periods presented would not have had a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act of 2012. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have irrevocably elected not to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and, therefore, 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 May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , which provides a framework for addressing revenue recognition issues and, upon its effective date, replaces almost all existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, in current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The ASU provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The ASU will require many companies to use more judgment than under current U.S. GAAP. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, for public business entities. On April 29, 2015, the FASB issued for comment a proposed ASU, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The proposed ASU would permit both public and nonpublic organizations to adopt the new revenue standard early, but not before the original public organization effective date (that is, annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017).

In June 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-10, Development Stage Entities (Topic 915): Elimination of Certain Financial Reporting Requirements, Including an Amendment to Variable Interest Entities Guidance in Topic 810, Consolidation . ASU 2014-10 simplifies the accounting guidance by removing all incremental financial reporting requirements for development stage entities. The amendments related to the elimination of the inception-to-date information and other disclosure requirements of Topic 915 should be applied retrospectively and are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014 and interim periods therein. We have elected to early adopt this guidance and, accordingly, there is no inception to date information presented in our financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. ASU 2014-15 requires management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. In doing so, companies will have reduced diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures than under today’s guidance. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the first quarter of 2016 with early adoption permitted. We do not believe the impact of adopting ASU 2014-15 on our financial statements will be material.

 

77


Table of Contents

BUSINESS

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company advancing a new therapeutic approach, including the development of proprietary product candidates, for the treatment of peanut and other food allergies. It is estimated that over 30 million people in the United States and Europe have a food allergy, with peanut allergy being the most prevalent and most commonly associated with severe outcomes and life-threatening events. Our therapeutic approach, which we refer to as Characterized Oral Desensitization Immunotherapy, or CODIT, is a system designed to desensitize patients to food allergens using rigorously characterized biologic products, defined treatment protocols and tailored support services. In ARC001, our recently completed Phase 2 study of our lead CODIT product candidate, AR101, all of the 23 patients who completed the AR101 treatment regimen were desensitized to a clinically meaningful level of peanut protein of at least 443 mg, a level that substantially exceeds the amount of peanut protein typically encountered in an accidental exposure, which we believe to be approximately 100 mg or less. We intend to initiate a Phase 3 registration trial of AR101 in early 2016 and Phase 2 studies of other CODIT product candidates for two additional food allergies in 2016. AR101 has been granted Fast-Track designation and Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, and, if our planned Phase 3 trial is successful, we intend to file a Biologics License Application, or BLA, with the FDA and a Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA, with the European Medicines Agency, or EMA. We have worldwide commercial rights to all of our product candidates and, if approved, we intend to commercialize in the United States and Europe with our own specialty sales force.

Our CODIT system for the treatment of food allergies leverages and improves upon the extensive independent scientific research demonstrating that food-allergic patients can be desensitized to clinically meaningful levels of a food allergen by orally administering them increasing amounts of such allergen over a period of months. Based on our clinical development to date, including our ARC001 study, we believe that our CODIT system will have the following key attributes:

 

    Standardized Products : Our proprietary biologic product candidates are derived from natural food products and are designed to contain precisely defined dosages of well-characterized food proteins so that each dosage is consistent for total protein and relative allergen content. In addition, we expect each of our product candidates, if approved, to be provided to patients as a convenient, orally administered, once daily therapy.

 

    Safe and Well-Defined Treatment Regimens : We intend to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of each CODIT product candidate in large scale, well-controlled clinical trials. In addition, we expect each CODIT product candidate to feature clearly defined clinical protocols with gradual up-dosing and practical maintenance dosing regimens designed to enhance safety, tolerability and efficacy.

 

    Clinically Meaningful Desensitization : We expect each approved CODIT product candidate to provide patients with protection from food allergens at a level that exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure.

 

    Compatibility with Clinical Practice : We expect our protocols for each CODIT product candidate to be similar to treatment regimens currently utilized by allergists for non-food allergies.

 

    Tailored Support Services : We intend to provide physician education, patient guidance and other support services to facilitate the administration of each approved CODIT product candidate.

 

    Regulatory Approval : We believe regulatory approval of our CODIT product candidates, if obtained, will validate the extensive existing scientific research supporting oral desensitization and could lead to widespread adoption of our system.

 

78


Table of Contents

Food allergies are a severe and growing health problem in the United States, Europe and throughout the developed world. Peanut is the most common food allergy, and we estimate that there are over five million people in the United States and Europe with peanut allergy, including over two million children. The prevalence of peanut allergy in children in the United States is estimated to have increased at a constant annual growth rate of approximately 10% between 1997 and 2008, and experts believe it has continued to rise since 2008. Food-related allergic reactions are estimated to result in approximately 200,000 emergency room visits and over 10,000 hospital admissions each year in the United States.

There are currently no approved medical therapies to cure food allergies or prevent their effects. Avoidance is the primary method of managing a food allergy and successfully practicing avoidance can be virtually impossible, as allergic reactions can often be triggered by trace amounts of food proteins, or allergens. For example, of the over two million people with peanut allergy in the United States, 40% to 50% are sensitive to an exposure of 100 mg or less of peanut protein, the equivalent of less than half of a peanut kernel. For patients exposed to allergens, treatment options are limited. Epinephrine is used as a rescue medication, but its effectiveness is dependent on several factors, such as availability, the promptness of administration and sufficient dosage to counteract the effects of the allergic reaction. The stress of practicing avoidance and the limited availability of effective treatment options can result in a fear of a fatal accidental exposure, substantially diminishing the quality of life of patients and their families. This fear can lead to psychological traumas, including fear of eating, social difficulties and severe anxiety. In addition, parents of food-allergic children often attempt to prevent accidental exposures by limiting their child’s participation in everyday activities.

We believe our CODIT system and product candidates, if approved, have the potential to reduce the dangers posed to food-allergic patients, such as accidental exposures resulting in anaphylactic reactions, emergency room visits or hospitalization. For instance, at high levels of accidental exposure, we believe the severity of an allergic response could potentially be reduced from a severe event requiring the use of epinephrine to a non-life-threatening warning sign, such as itching of the mouth or pruritus. We expect that this potential protection from accidental exposures will reduce the stress and anxiety of patients and their families and enable patients to live more normal lives.

Our lead CODIT product candidate, AR101, is a proprietary product designed to desensitize patients to a level of peanut protein that we believe substantially exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure using gradual up-dosing and practical maintenance dosing regimens. Based on our clinical development to date, including our ARC001 study, we believe AR101 has the following key attributes:

 

    Proprietary Biologic Product : Our proprietary formulation is a complex mixture of naturally occurring proteins and pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that we developed to enable the convenient dosing of consistent amounts of peanut protein with well-defined relative concentrations of specific peanut allergens.

 

    Clinically Meaningful and Reliable Desensitization : In ARC001, 23 of the 23 peanut allergic patients who completed the AR101 treatment regimen achieved clinically meaningful desensitization to peanut allergens. ARC001 and independent scientific research have indicated that clinically meaningful desensitization can be attained through an oral immunotherapy treatment regimen, independent of gender, age and other demographics.

 

    Rapid and Predictable Onset of Action : In ARC001, a clinically meaningful level of protection was typically achieved by patients in the AR101 treatment group after only 22 weeks of dosing. Independent scientific research has also shown that continued maintenance dosing pursuant to an oral immunotherapy treatment regimen can confer increased protection over time.

 

   

Attractive Safety Profile : In ARC001, most patients tolerated AR101 well, experiencing only mild, intermittent side effects commonly associated with food allergies during the up-dosing phase of treatment. The most frequent of these side effects included gastrointestinal symptoms ranging from itching of the lips

 

79


Table of Contents
 

to vomiting, hives, throat itching or discomfort and nasal congestion. Once patients are desensitized and on maintenance dosing, we believe that they are likely to experience few or no side effects.

 

    Convenient Oral Administration : AR101 is designed to be provided to patients as a convenient, orally administered, once daily therapy that is mixed with common age-appropriate foods.

 

    Direct, Targeted Mechanism of Action : Oral administration of AR101 enables the allergen to interact directly with the immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract responsible for mediating the allergic reaction to peanuts. Oral desensitization works by gradually shifting the balance of the immune system to dampen the allergic response in the case of accidental exposure.

 

    Compatibility with Current Clinical Practice and Infrastructure : The AR101 up-dosing regimen is similar to existing, widely adopted regimens for the treatment of non-food allergies, such as pollen and pet dander. We believe this feature will facilitate adoption by allergists and reimbursement by payors if AR101 is approved.

 

    CODIT Support Services : We intend to provide physician education, patient guidance and other support services to facilitate the administration of AR101, if approved.

In June 2015, we presented our ARC001 Phase 2 data as a late-breaking abstract at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Congress, or EAACI. In ARC001, all patients who completed the up-dosing regimen in the AR101 treatment group were desensitized to a cumulative dose of 443 mg of peanut protein, the equivalent of approximately two peanut kernels, as compared to five of the 26 patients who received placebo. In addition, 18 of the 23 patients who completed the up-dosing regimen in the AR101 treatment group were desensitized to a cumulative dose of 1,043 mg of peanut protein, the equivalent of approximately four peanut kernels, as compared to none of the 26 patients who received placebo. Our ongoing open label Phase 2 study, ARC002, is evaluating, among other things, the long-term safety and tolerability of a regimen of daily maintenance doses of AR101 and its effect on desensitization.

We believe the consistency and reliability of patients’ responses to AR101, if confirmed in future studies and if AR101 is approved for its intended use, will result in patients and their caregivers feeling less stress and anxiety about the possibility of an accidental exposure and allow them to lead more normal lives. We intend to initiate a Phase 3 registration trial of AR101 in early 2016 and Phase 2 studies of CODIT product candidates for two additional food allergies in 2016. The FDA has granted AR101 Fast-Track designation for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive adults and children and Breakthrough Therapy designation for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive children and adolescents (ages 4-17) and, if our planned Phase 3 registration trial is successful, we intend to file a BLA with the FDA and a MAA with the EMA.

We were formed after a 2011 conference where leading researchers, clinicians, patient advocates and regulators in the field of food allergies concluded that oral desensitization had a strong scientific basis but required greater standardization and validation for widespread adoption. With the support of Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), a leading patient advocacy organization, we were founded to pursue the development and commercialization of standardized oral desensitization medical therapies for the treatment of food allergies. To execute on this vision, we have assembled a team of experienced biotechnology and pharmaceutical executives who have collectively contributed to the development and regulatory approval of over 30 drugs and biologics. We believe that the quality of our team will strongly influence our ability to develop a new class of CODIT products to address the unmet medical needs of food-allergic patients. Our Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stephen Dilly, was previously Chief Executive Officer at APT Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Senior Vice President, Head of Development, Chief Medical Officer at Chiron BioPharmaceuticals, a division of Chiron Corporation, and Vice President of Medical Affairs at Genentech, Inc. Other members of our management team have held senior positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Chiron Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Novartis AG, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Roche Holding AG and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited. We also have leading financial investors such as Adage Capital, Aisling Capital, funds affiliated with Fidelity Management & Research Company, Foresite Capital, Longitude Capital, Palo Alto Investors and RA Capital.

 

80


Table of Contents

Our Strategy

Our goal is to build a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes proprietary therapies to improve the lives of food-allergic patients and their families. We intend to achieve this goal by pursuing the following key strategic objectives:

 

    Complete development and obtain approval of AR101 in the United States and Europe for the treatment of peanut allergy : In early 2016, we intend to initiate a Phase 3 registration trial of AR101 in patients with peanut allergy to support the submission of a BLA in the United States and a MAA in the European Union.

 

    Commercialize AR101 in the United States and Europe through our own specialty sales force : We own worldwide commercial rights to our product candidates. If AR101 is approved for the treatment of peanut allergy, we intend to commercialize our lead product candidate by developing a specialty sales force targeting a subset of the approximately 4,500 practicing allergists in the United States as well as allergy-focused clinicians in the five largest European markets. We anticipate that this sales force could also support the commercialization of additional CODIT product candidates, if approved.

 

    Leverage the CODIT system to develop additional proprietary product candidates for the treatment of food allergies : Leveraging the expertise we have gained developing AR101, we intend to initiate Phase 2 studies for two additional CODIT product candidates for food allergies in 2016.

 

    Strategically pursue collaborations : We intend to evaluate opportunities to work with partners that meaningfully enhance our capabilities with respect to the development and commercialization of our product candidates. In addition, working with key opinion leaders and academic researchers, we intend to evaluate the potential to develop other approaches to treating food allergies.

Food Allergy Overview

Food Allergies are a Significant and Growing Health Problem

Food allergies are a significant and growing health problem in the United States, Europe and throughout the developed world. It is estimated that over 30 million people in the United States and Europe have a food allergy, including over 11 million children. According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, the economic cost of food allergies in the United States is estimated to equal approximately $25 billion per year, of which approximately $4 billion is associated with direct medical expenses. Food allergies are a particularly urgent issue for children because of the greater prevalence of food allergies in that age group and because of the increased risk of accidental exposures leading to a serious allergic reaction. A recent large scale study concluded that approximately 8% of children in the United States have a food allergy and that approximately 39% of that group had a history of at least one severe allergic reaction. We estimate that over 50% of patients with peanut allergy experience a severe allergic reaction each year.

Peanut is the most common type of food allergy. Among children with food allergies in the United States, approximately 25% are allergic to peanuts, with other common food allergies being milk (21%), shellfish (17%), tree nut (13%) and egg (10%). We estimate that there are over five million people in the United States and Europe with peanut allergy, including over two million children . The prevalence of peanut allergy in children in the United States is estimated to have increased at a constant annual growth rate of approximately 10% between 1997 and 2008, and experts believe it has continued to rise since 2008.

Risks Associated with Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions to food are painful, frightening and potentially deadly. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include hives, swelling, vomiting, abdominal pain, wheezing, breathlessness and lowered blood

 

81


Table of Contents

pressure. Severe and potentially life-threatening reactions are referred to as anaphylaxis and such reactions require urgent medical attention and often result in treatment at hospital emergency departments. Food-related allergic reactions are estimated to result in approximately 200,000 emergency room visits and over 10,000 hospital admissions each year in the United States.

Allergic reactions, including severe allergic reactions, can be triggered by exposure to minute quantities of the relevant food allergen. For example, of the over two million people with peanut allergy in the United States, 40% to 50% are sensitive to an exposure of 100 mg or less of peanut protein, the equivalent of less than half of a peanut kernel. In addition, people with peanut allergy are often sensitive to as little as 10 mg of peanut protein, the equivalent of approximately 1/25th of a peanut kernel. As a result, accidental exposure arising from contamination of a food source or the inaccurate or confusing labeling of food products occurs regularly and can result in severe allergic reactions.

Causes of Allergic Reactions

Food allergies occur when the immune system responds to a harmless food as if it were a threat. The human gastrointestinal tract contains immune cells whose purpose is to identify and mount a response against proteins deemed to be foreign and unsafe. These cells come into contact with a large amount and variety of food proteins. In a non-allergic person, a tolerance for food proteins develops early in life, and the immune cells do not mount a response when food proteins are detected. In contrast, in an allergic patient, the immune system is sensitized to one or more food proteins, or allergens. As a result of this sensitization, the immune system produces antibodies, known as IgE antibodies, which are directed against a particular allergen, such as a specific peanut protein. The IgE antibodies link with mast cells and basophils, which are other immune cells. When an IgE antibody linked to these immune cells encounters the allergen it is directed against, the immune cells are activated and release histamine and other inflammatory mediators into the blood. These mediators then provoke the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

The development and progression of food allergies is highly variable. It is unknown why some people develop food allergies while others do not. For certain types of allergies, such as milk and egg, patients may outgrow their allergies, but for others, such as peanuts, tree nuts and shellfish, most patients remain allergic for life. In addition, a person’s sensitivity appears to vary over time based on a range of factors. It is not unusual for a person’s first allergic reaction to be mild and their second allergic reaction to be severe or life-threatening.

Challenges in the Current Treatment and Management of Food Allergies

There are currently no approved medical therapies to cure food allergies or prevent their symptoms. The most common practices are strict avoidance of food allergens and emergency treatment of allergy symptoms in the event of an accidental exposure. These options have substantial limitations and the burdens of practicing avoidance and stress caused by the limited availability of effective treatment options for accidental exposure can have a substantial negative impact on the quality of life of food-allergic patients and their families. For example, food-allergic patients and their caregivers often have difficulties managing their social and day-to-day lives, and live with an ongoing fear of accidental exposure and anaphylaxis. One study found that children with peanut allergy reported a poorer quality of life than children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A separate study found that the parents of peanut-allergic children reported more disruption in their family’s lives than the parents of children with rheumatological disease.

Limitations of Practicing Avoidance of Food Allergens

Successfully practicing avoidance can be very difficult and requires careful reading of food labels, care in the storage and preparation of foods, awareness of product recalls for mislabeling and contamination, and oftentimes avoidance of cuisines where the food allergen is known to be common. In addition, activities such as attending a sporting event, traveling by airplane or visiting public spaces become difficult and stressful for food-allergic patients and their families. Practicing avoidance can be particularly difficult on food-allergic children as

 

82


Table of Contents

parents often attempt to prevent accidental exposures by limiting their child’s participation in everyday activities, including social activities, eating outside the home and sometimes even choosing to home school their child because such food-allergic children may not have the awareness or self-regulation skills to practice avoidance by themselves.

Limitations of Emergency and Symptomatic Treatments

Due to a lack of approved symptomatic or disease-modifying food allergy treatments, food-allergic patients typically must carry rescue medication to treat severe and possibly life-threatening allergic reactions. The most widely used treatment is epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) which is administered using an auto-injector, such as an EpiPen or Auvi-Q. Epinephrine blunts certain symptoms of the allergic reaction by increasing heart rate and blood pressure and dilating airways, but it does not treat the allergic reaction itself. While epinephrine is useful as a rescue medication, it is not always administered properly or quickly enough and may not be sufficient to counteract the effects of the allergic reaction.

Limitations of Current Desensitization Treatments

Emergency and symptomatic remedies are reactive treatments and often ineffective in the chronic management of food allergies. The most commonly practiced proactive therapy for food and other allergies is desensitization therapy. Desensitization therapy consists of repeated administrations of increasing quantities of an allergen to an allergic patient in order to decrease the immune response to that allergen. The most common form of desensitization therapy is subcutaneous injections for patients with environmental allergies. While desensitization therapy has had significant success in the treatment of environmental allergies, it has been less successful in the treatment of food allergies. Four different desensitization therapy approaches to food allergies have been researched:

 

    Subcutaneous Injections : Involves the subcutaneous injection of the food allergen. This approach has been shown to induce desensitization in some patients but has had an unacceptably high incidence of adverse events and research on this approach has largely been abandoned.

 

    Sublingual Immunotherapy : Involves the administration of increasing amounts of food extract under a patient’s tongue. This approach has been shown to be safe, but it appears to induce only a modest degree of desensitization.

 

    Epicutaneous Desensitization : Involves the use of a patch that causes allergens to be absorbed by the skin. Clinical trials are ongoing to explore the potential viability of this approach.

 

    Oral Immunotherapy : Involves the administration of increasing doses of a food-based product on a daily basis over a period of months. This approach has the potential to produce a high degree of desensitization but adoption has been hampered by lack of standardization for products and protocols.

We believe the most effective form of desensitization therapy is oral immunotherapy, or OIT.

Immunology of Oral Desensitization

Oral desensitization works by gradually shifting the balance of the immune system to dampen the allergic response in the case of accidental exposure.

The initial step in an immune response is the presentation of an allergenic protein by an antigen presenting cell, such as a dendritic cell, and subsequent recognition of the allergenic protein by T-cells. T-cells proliferate into Th2 cells upon antigen recognition and secrete a set of proteins called inflammatory cytokines,

 

83


Table of Contents

such as IL-5 and IL-13, which are important in cell signaling. Secretion of this group of cytokines results in B-cell maturation and production of IgE antibodies. IgE antibody cross-linking at the surface of mast cells results in the mast cells releasing histamines, proteoglycans and other molecules, which elicit symptoms of an allergic reaction.

In oral desensitization, very low levels of allergen insufficient to trigger an IgE-mediated allergic reaction induce regulatory T-cells, which dampen the Th2 immune response and induce B-cells to produce IgG4 antibodies. IgG4 antibodies compete with IgE antibodies for mast cell binding and inhibit IgE antibody cross-linking at the surface of the mast cells. As such, when IgG4 antibodies are bound to mast cells, they act to dampen the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

The following provides an overview of the immunology of allergies.

LOGO

Oral Desensitization in Practice

In an OIT treatment regimen, the initial administration of a particular dose of the food allergen will typically be provided in an allergist’s office and the subsequent administrations will be done at home. The highest level of dosing administration will vary depending on the patient and the protocol, but generally the goal is to achieve desensitization to a level of food allergen greater than the amount a patient might be exposed to in an accidental exposure. Once the highest dosing level is attained, the patient will continue to be administered a maintenance dose on a regular basis. Over time, this regular administration has been shown to result in the patient being desensitized to an amount of food substantially greater than the maintenance dose.

Numerous clinical trials at leading academic research centers have shown that OIT can desensitize patients to a range of food allergies, including peanut, egg and milk. While OIT generally does not cure a patient of their allergy, it can provide protection from food allergens at a level that exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure. For many patients, this protection meaningfully decreases their stress and anxiety and enables them to lead a more normal life.

 

84


Table of Contents

While OIT has been shown to be effective, it has not been widely adopted and is currently available only from a limited number of academic research centers and specialized allergy clinics. These institutions have access to compounding pharmacies to produce the doses of food-based product necessary for the therapy and also have the resources to provide the required patient support. However, because no OIT protocol or product has been validated in a large scale clinical trial or approved by the FDA, the treatment regimen and food source used in OIT treatment is determined by the allergist based on their experience and review of the scientific literature, which can lead to varying results. While studies have shown that most patients tolerate OIT well, the incidence of severe adverse events associated with OIT treatment has historically been high enough to raise concerns in the medical community that it is not safe enough to be a standard part of an allergist’s practice. We believe these safety concerns along with complexity and lack of standardization have limited the adoption of OIT by community-based allergists. As a result, we believe that a widely adoptable OIT approach must feature:

 

    Standardized Products : The product used must be well-defined and be manufactured to the same standards as other pharmaceutical-grade products.

 

    Safe and Well-Defined Treatment Regimens : The safety and efficacy of the treatment approach must be demonstrated in a large scale, well-controlled clinical trial and the treatment regimen must be clearly established so that allergists can be confident that they are administering the product appropriately.

 

    Clinically Meaningful Desensitization : The treatment must result in the patient attaining protection from food allergens at a level that exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure.

 

    Compatibility with Clinical Practice : The treatment must be compatible with existing practices of allergists and must enable allergists to reliably, conveniently and safely use oral desensitization as part of their regular clinical practice.

 

    Availability of Support Services : Physicians, parents and patients should have access to support services to guide them through the treatment regimen.

 

    Regulatory Approval : The treatment approach must be reviewed and approved by independent regulatory authorities in order to appeal to patients, parents, allergists and payors.

Our Solution

Our CODIT system for the treatment of food allergies leverages and improves upon the extensive independent scientific research supporting OIT. Based on our clinical development to date, including our ARC001 study, we believe that our CODIT system has the potential to be widely adopted by allergists and to appeal to patients and parents as a result of the following key attributes:

 

    Standardized Products : Our proprietary biologic product candidates are derived from natural food products and are designed to contain precisely defined dosages of well-characterized food proteins so that each dosage is consistent for total protein and relative allergen content. In addition, we expect each of our product candidates, if approved, to be provided to patients as a convenient, orally administered, once daily therapy.

 

    Safe and Well-Defined Treatment Regimens : We intend to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of each CODIT product candidate in large scale, well-controlled clinical trials. In addition, we expect each CODIT product candidate to feature clearly defined clinical protocols with gradual up-dosing and practical maintenance dosing regimens designed to enhance safety, tolerability and efficacy.

 

85


Table of Contents
    Clinically Meaningful Desensitization : We expect each approved CODIT product candidate to provide patients with protection from food allergens at a level that exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure.

 

    Compatibility with Clinical Practice : We expect our protocols for each CODIT product candidate to be similar to treatment regimens currently utilized by allergists for non-food allergies.

 

    Tailored Support Services : We intend to provide physician education, patient guidance and other support services to facilitate the administration of each approved CODIT product candidate.

 

    Regulatory Approval : We believe regulatory approval of our CODIT product candidates, if obtained, will validate the extensive existing scientific research supporting oral desensitization and could lead to widespread adoption of our system.

We believe our CODIT system and product candidates, if approved, have the potential to reduce the dangers posed to food-allergic patients, such as accidental exposures resulting in anaphylactic reactions, emergency room visits or hospitalization. We expect that this potential protection from accidental exposures will reduce the stress and anxiety of patients and their families and enable patients to live more normal lives.

AR101 for Peanut Allergy

Overview

We are developing our lead CODIT product candidate, AR101, for the treatment of peanut allergy in children and adults. AR101 is intended to desensitize patients to a level of peanut protein that substantially exceeds the amount typically encountered in an accidental exposure. Patients successfully treated with AR101 will still need to avoid the consumption of peanuts and foods containing peanuts, but we believe that protection from accidental exposure will significantly improve the lives of food-allergic patients and their families.

We believe AR101, if approved, will provide allergists with a safe and practical means of providing oral desensitization treatment to their patients with peanut allergy. AR101 is designed to be taken orally once daily after having been mixed with a common age-appropriate food. As with OIT, patients would start with a very low dose of AR101 and gradually increase their dose over time. The initial assessment of patients and each initial increase in dosage would occur at an allergist’s office. Based on our existing clinical data, we anticipate it will take patients between five and six months to reach a daily dose level of 300 mg of peanut protein. Patients would then continue on a daily 300 mg maintenance dose. Based on independent scientific research, we anticipate that with continued maintenance dosing, patients’ level of desensitization will increase over time. In order to maintain desensitization, patients would need to continue to take a daily 300 mg maintenance dose; however, based on experience with OIT, we do not believe that the occasional failure to take a maintenance dose will significantly affect desensitization.

 

86


Table of Contents

Our up-dosing and maintenance dosing regimens are set forth below:

 

LOGO

For patients in the up-dosing phase of the AR101 treatment regimen, AR101 would be provided in a series of color coded pharmaceutical grade capsules of various dose levels. These capsules can be easily opened and the contents mixed with food. For patients who have reached the 300 mg maintenance dose level, AR101 would be provided in an easy to open sachet. We are in the process of evaluating additional delivery forms for AR101 for the maintenance phase including caplets that could be swallowed.

AR101 Product Characteristics

We believe the following characteristics of AR101 could enable it, if approved, to achieve widespread market acceptance and distinguish it from existing treatments and potentially competing products in development:

 

    Proprietary Biologic Product : Our proprietary formulation is a complex mixture of naturally occurring proteins and pharmaceutical-grade ingredients that we developed to enable the convenient dosing of consistent amounts of peanut protein with well-defined relative concentrations of peanut specific allergens.

 

    Clinically Meaningful and Reliable Desensitization : Based on the results of ARC001, we believe that patients who successfully complete the AR101 up-dosing regimen will be desensitized to a level of peanut protein that substantially exceeds the amount typically found in a peanut-contaminated food product. In addition, even if such patients have an allergic reaction, based on the results of ARC001, we believe it is likely to be less severe as a result of treatment with AR101. ARC001 and independent scientific research have indicated that clinically meaningful desensitization can be attained through an oral immunotherapy treatment regimen, independent of gender, age and other demographics.

 

    Rapid and Predictable Onset of Action : In ARC001, a clinically meaningful level of protection was typically achieved by patients in the AR101 treatment group after only 22 weeks of dosing. Independent scientific research has also shown that continued maintenance dosing pursuant to an oral immunotherapy treatment regimen can confer increased protection over time.

 

   

Attractive Safety Profile : In ARC001, most patients tolerated AR101 well, experiencing only mild, intermittent side effects commonly associated with food allergies during the up-dosing phase of treatment. The most frequent of these side effects included gastrointestinal symptoms ranging from itching of the lips to vomiting, hives, throat itching or discomfort and nasal congestion. We believe that many of these side effects are associated with the increases in dosage amounts during the initial up-dosing phase of the treatment regimen. Once patients are desensitized and on maintenance dosing, we believe that they are likely to experience few or no side effects. Of the 29 patients

 

87


Table of Contents
 

treated with AR101, 23 completed the AR101 treatment regimen, with six patients discontinuing treatment due to gastrointestinal side effects that occurred in the first two to four weeks, which were resolved, in each case, within one to three weeks after cessation of treatment.

 

    Convenient Oral Administration : AR101 is designed to be provided to patients as a convenient, orally administered, once daily therapy that is mixed with common age-appropriate foods. Compared to subcutaneous, epicutaneous or sublingual administration, we believe our CODIT system represents a more convenient and practical method of dosing, particularly in young patients.

 

    Direct, Targeted Mechanism of Action : Oral administration of AR101 enables the allergen to interact directly with immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract responsible for mediating the allergic reaction to peanuts. Oral desensitization works by gradually shifting the balance of the immune system to dampen the allergic response in the case of accidental exposure.

 

    Compatibility with Current Clinical Practice and Infrastructure : The AR101 up-dosing regimen involves a series of visits to an allergist. This process is similar in many ways to existing regimens for the treatment of non-food allergies, such as pollen and pet dander, which we believe will facilitate adoption by allergists and reimbursement by payors if AR101 is approved.

 

    CODIT Support Services : We intend to provide physician education, patient guidance and other support services to facilitate the administration of AR101, if approved.

Phase 2 Clinical Trials—ARC001

Clinical Trial Design

Our first clinical trial, ARC001, was a randomized, multi-center, double blind, placebo controlled Phase 2 trial of AR101 for the treatment of peanut allergy. Fifty-five patients with confirmed peanut allergy ranging in age from four to 21 years old participated in the trial, which was conducted at eight leading academic medical research centers in the United States. Of the fifty-five patients, 29 received AR101 and 26 received placebo. Patients were required to have experienced a prior allergic reaction that was attributed to peanuts, have elevated levels of anti-peanut protein antibodies in their blood and/or tested positive for peanut allergy on a skin prick test, and failed a double blind placebo controlled food challenge, or DBPCFC, at a dosage level of 100 mg of peanut protein or less. A DBPCFC is generally considered the “gold standard” method of measuring a patient’s sensitivity to peanuts or other foods. A DBPCFC is performed in a clinical setting in two sessions that are usually on two separate days. On each day, the patient is orally administered escalating doses of either a suspected allergenic food or a placebo over time and monitored to see if an allergic reaction is elicited. For example, in the entry DBPCFC for ARC001, patients were administered challenge does of 3 mg, 10 mg, 30 mg and 100 mg of peanut protein 20 to 30 minutes apart in one session and a series of placebo doses on the same schedule in the other session. Neither the patient nor the clinicians overseeing the DBPCFC knew what substance was being administered in a given session. If the patient developed a moderate or stronger allergic reaction after being administered a dose of peanut protein, then such patient was deemed to have failed the food challenge at that dosage level. While in our clinical trials we screened patients for peanut allergy using a DBPCFC because of its sensitivity, we do not anticipate that a DBPCFC will be a requirement for prescribing AR101 as DBPCFCs are not widely used a diagnostic tool in current clinical practice.

 

88


Table of Contents

The table below shows the escalation of challenge doses in a peanut DBPCFC along with the corresponding cumulative exposure attained at each dose level:

 

             

Dose #

  

Challenge

  Dose Amount  

(mg)

    

  Cumulative  

Exposure

(mg)

 

1

     3         3   

2

     10         13   

3

     30         43   

4

     100         143   

5

     300         443   

6

     600         1,043   

7

     1,000         2,043   

We selected failure at a challenge dose of 100 mg or less on a DBPCFC as an inclusion criteria for ARC001 to enable the study of AR101 in patients with more severe allergies. In addition, because a patient’s sensitivity to peanut protein can fluctuate significantly based on various factors, we believed that using a lower maximum tolerated dose would reduce the likelihood that patients in the trial would pass the exit DBPCFC at 300 mg solely due to natural variations in their sensitivity.

The table below shows the baseline demographics of patients participating in ARC001:

 

     

Active AR101

  

Placebo

Intent To Treat    29 patients    26 patients (1)
Gender    20 male; 9 female    16 male; 10 female
Median Age (min, max)    7 years (4 to 21)    8 years (4 to 14)
Median Peanut Specific IgE (min, max)    64.3 (0.8 to >100)    100.0 (3.5 to >100)
Median Wheal (min, max)    14 mm (5 to 30)    13 mm (5 to 26)
Median Max Tolerated Dose, Cumulative (min, max)    13 mg (3 to 43)    28 mg (3 to 43)

 

(1) The placebo group initially contained 27 patients, with one patient withdrawing from the study prior to the commencement of treatment.

In ARC001, 29 patients received AR101 and 26 patients received placebo. On the first day of the study, patients were up-dosed to a dose of 3 mg or 6 mg at the clinical site. Patients then took a daily 3 mg or 6 mg dose at home for two weeks and returned to the clinical site to be up-dosed to the next dose level, either 6 mg or 12 mg dose. This process continued with doses of 12 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, 80 mg, 120 mg, 160 mg, 200 mg, 240 mg and, finally, 300 mg. If a patient had an allergic reaction at a particular level, the allergist could maintain the patient at that dose for a longer period of time or reduce the dose for a period of time before resuming up-dosing. In addition, if a patient’s schedule did not allow him or her to visit an allergist’s office exactly two weeks after an up-dosing, the patient was permitted to remain on the current dose until he or she was able to visit an allergist. Even with this flexibility, the median completion time for the patients in the AR101 group was not significantly longer than the scheduled completion time. After patients had been taking the 300 mg dose for two weeks, they were administered a DBPCFC with a maximum challenge dose of 600 mg.

 

89


Table of Contents

The trial design for ARC001 is set forth below:

LOGO

Clinical Trial Results and Key Metrics

As the tables below show, ARC001 met the primary endpoint of passing a DBPCFC at a 300 mg challenge dose and met an additional endpoint of passing a DBPCFC at a 600 mg challenge dose.

 

Primary Endpoint = Pass 300 mg (443 mg cumulative) Challenge at Exit (p<0.0001)

 

    

Active AR101 (29 patients)

  

Placebo (26 patients)

     

        Patients        

  

            %             

  

        Patients        

  

            %             

Responder

   23    79%    5    19%

Non-responder

   6 (1)    21%    21    81%

Additional Endpoint = Pass 600 mg (1,043 mg cumulative) Challenge at Exit (p<0.0001)

 

    

Active AR101 (29 patients)

  

Placebo (26 patients)

     

        Patients        

  

            %             

  

        Patients        

  

            %             

Responder

   18    62%    0    0%

Non-responder

   11 (2)    38%    26    100%
(1) All were early discontinuations.
(2) Includes the 6 early discontinuations.

Statistical significance is denoted in the table above by reference to the p-values in the Primary Endpoint and Additional Endpoint. The p-value is a measure that states the probability that a comparable or better result would be produced purely by chance. A p-value <0.0001 in the chart means that if the drug was only as effective as the placebo, there would be less than a 0.01% chance that a comparable or better result would be produced purely by chance. A p-value £ 0.05 is a commonly used criterion for statistical significance. When evaluating the potential efficacy of a drug product, the FDA reviews a statistical analysis to determine whether the results of the clinical trial demonstrated that the drug product was efficacious, and a showing of statistical significance in favor of the tested criterion supports the finding of efficacy.

 

90


Table of Contents

In ARC001, 23 of the 29 patients in the AR101 treatment group completed the trial. All 23 patients who completed the trial passed an exit DBPCFC at a 300 mg challenge dose as compared with five of the 26 patients who received placebo (p £ 0.0001). In addition, 18 of the 23 patients in the AR101 treatment group that completed the trial passed an exit DBPCFC at a 600 mg challenge dose compared to none of the 26 patients who received placebo (p £ 0.0001). Those patients who passed the DBPCFC at a 300 mg challenge dose had received a cumulative dose of 443 mg of peanut protein, the equivalent of approximately two peanut kernels, and those patients who passed the DBPCFC at a 600 mg challenge dose had received a cumulative dose of 1,043 mg of peanut protein, the equivalent of approximately four peanut kernels. We believe these results suggest that AR101 has the potential to provide patients with peanut allergy protection from accidental exposure to peanut protein even when taking into account natural variations in sensitivity. Consistent with independent academic research, our results in ARC001 indicate that clinically meaningful desensitization can be attained independent of gender, age and other demographics.

The charts below illustrate the efficacy results from ARC001:

 

LOGO

 

91


Table of Contents

In addition, we believe that AR101 may lessen the severity of a patient’s reaction to an accidental exposure. As the charts below indicate, patients in the placebo group had significantly more severe reactions to exposure to peanut protein in the exit DBPCFCs compared to patients in the AR101 group at the same challenge dose level.

LOGO

These results are corroborated by the use of epinephrine during the entry and exit DBPCFCs. During the entry DBPCFCs, four patients in each of the AR101 group and the placebo group had an allergic reaction severe enough to require the use of epinephrine. In contrast, in the exit DBPCFCs, only two patients in the AR101 group needed epinephrine, while eleven patients in the placebo group were administered epinephrine, including three who required two doses. The epinephrine use in the placebo group was caused by severe reactions starting at doses as low as 30 mg, while in the active group, both uses were triggered by moderate reactions at the highest challenge dose of 600 mg.

The results of ARC001 also indicate that AR101 was well-tolerated. Among patients in the AR101 treatment group, there was only one incident of anaphylactic reaction of moderate severity that was treated with epinephrine, and there were no other serious or severe adverse events related to treatment with AR101 in the study. Six of the 29 patients in the AR101 treatment group dropped out of the trial. Four patients dropped out of the trial because of moderate gastrointestinal side effects, such as abdominal discomfort and vomiting, and two dropped out of the trial because of a combination of gastrointestinal side effects and compliance issues. This drop-out rate was consistent with prior academic OIT studies. The patients in ARC001 who discontinued treatment prematurely all began to have gastrointestinal symptoms at the 3 mg or 12 mg dose level and generally dropped out of the study early. Their gastrointestinal issues resolved without significant medical intervention within one to three weeks. One of the patients was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE, a condition in which a certain type of white blood cell accumulates in the esophagus. EoE is an immune condition that can be triggered by exposure to food allergens. The standard of care for EoE is simply to avoid exposure to the triggering food allergen, which allows the condition to resolve. Once this patient ceased ingesting AR101, the patient’s EoE symptoms resolved within three weeks. No patients in the placebo group dropped out and there were no incidents of anaphylaxis or other severe or serious adverse events related to treatment in the placebo group.

 

92


Table of Contents

Phase 2 Clinical Trials—ARC002

Patients who completed ARC001 were eligible to participate in our Phase 2 follow-on study, ARC002, an open label study designed to evaluate the long-term safety, efficacy and tolerability of AR101. In ARC002, those patients who had been in the AR101 treatment group for ARC001 were maintained on a 300 mg maintenance dose for three months and then administered a DBPCFC with a the maximum challenge dose of 1,000 mg, resulting in a maximum cumulative dose of 2,043 mg. After administration of this DBPCFC, the patients could choose to continue with a 300 mg maintenance dose or to up-titrate to a higher dose level. Patients who had been in the placebo group in ARC001 began ARC002 by going through the same up-titration regimen that had been administered to the active group in ARC001 and then were placed on a 300 mg maintenance dose for three months. As with the original active group, they were administered DBPCFCs at the end of both the up-titration period and the three month maintenance period. They then could choose to either stay at a daily dose of 300 mg or begin an up-titration regimen. Independent scientific research has shown that continued maintenance dosing can confer increased protection over time.

Based on independent scientific research, we believe that chronic administration of AR101 will generally be safe and well-tolerated. Those patients in the AR101 treatment group who completed ARC001 reported mild and intermittent sides effects generally related to gastrointestinal issues. These side effects appear to be the result of the increasing dose levels during the initial part of the treatment regimen. Once patients are desensitized and on maintenance dosing, we believe that they are likely to experience few or no side effects.

AR101 Historical Clinical Development Program

Our development of AR101 leveraged the substantial pre-existing independent scientific research on peanut allergy and OIT. In connection with our IND submission, we licensed data from studies conducted at three leading academic research institutions. These studies demonstrated the potential of using OIT to desensitize peanut allergic patients. The results of the studies are as follows:

 

    In a placebo controlled study conducted jointly at Duke University and the University of Arkansas, 16 out of 17 patients were successfully up-dosed to a daily dose of 2,400 mg of peanut protein over the course of a year. At the end of the study, the 16 patients in the active group who completed treatment passed a DBPCFC at a mean level of 5,000 mg of peanut protein while the nine patients in the placebo group passed at a mean level of 280 mg of peanut protein (p=0.0001).

 

    For the purposes of creating a safety database, the results of the above study were combined with results from an open label crossover study of the placebo patients from the above study and also with an open label OIT study conducted at Stanford University. This safety analysis covered a total of 53 patients who received OIT treatment with peanut flour. The analysis concluded that the therapy was generally well-tolerated and no specific safety concerns were noted.

We have also leveraged academic studies that have shown that the daily administration of a relatively low maintenance dose can enable patients to attain and sustain a significant degree of desensitization. For example, in one study, 29 children with peanut allergy completed an OIT up-dosing regimen and then received a 300 mg daily maintenance dose of peanut protein for 12 months. At the end of that period, 27 of the patients were desensitized to exposure of 3,900 mg of peanut protein and the remaining two were desensitized to exposure of 2,100 mg of peanut protein. Two other studies have also shown that 300 mg maintenance doses can result in consistent desensitization to exposure many times the level of the maintenance dose.

Our clinical trial designs were developed following a review of the academic study protocols described above as well as protocols used in clinical practice. Many of the protocols used in clinical practice have maximum dose levels of several thousand milligrams of peanut protein and use aggressive dose escalation rates to reach the maximum dose levels quickly. We believe that, as a result, patients under these protocols sometimes

 

93


Table of Contents

receive too much peanut protein too soon and consequently suffer anaphylaxis, contributing to the perception that OIT is not safe. In designing our clinical trials, we have incorporated low initial dose levels, a more gradual escalation of the dosing and much lower maintenance dose levels. We believe that this approach provides for an improved protocol and has the potential to enable patients to safely attain a clinically significant level of desensitization in a reasonable time frame.

We also believe that a successful oral desensitization treatment regimen requires a well-characterized and precisely manufactured drug product. Independent scientific research has shown that the quantity of peanut protein and the relative concentrations of key peanut proteins can vary widely between the different commercially available peanut products that could potentially be used as a source for oral desensitization therapy. These variations could significantly impact the reliability and safety of an oral desensitization treatment regimen. In order to reduce the potential for variability, we have chosen to use peanut flour solely from the Golden Peanut Company, or GPC, as the basis for AR101. This flour has been used in most of the leading academic studies of peanut allergy OIT and, based on our own testing, shows little variation in the level of peanut protein in different batches of the company’s flour, including between batches produced in different years. In order to develop AR101 as an FDA-approvable biological product, we took the further step of precisely characterizing the protein signature of GPC flour. Independent scientific research has identified numerous peanut proteins that are the allergens that cause allergic reactions to peanuts. Three of these proteins appear to be the most significant and representative of the levels of the other proteins. Our characterization of AR101 is based on precisely measuring total protein amount and the concentrations of those three key proteins.

We filed an Investigational New Drug application for AR101 in April 2013 for use in oral desensitization therapy for peanut allergy in children and adults. In June 2013, the FDA placed our proposed Phase 2 clinical trial on hold in order to obtain additional information regarding our manufacturing process and to request certain changes to the trial design. Specifically, the FDA requested information regarding the procedures used to ensure that the drug product was not contaminated, the procedures used to ensure the uniformity and consistency of the drug product, our acceptance procedures for the drug product and the placebo, and procedures to ensure correct dosing. In addition, the FDA requested changes to the clinical trial relating to the stopping rules for the trial, withdrawal criteria for the trial, exclusion criteria for patients, the appearance of the drug and the placebo, and the drug lots used in the trial. We provided the FDA with the information it requested and made agreed upon changes to the clinical trial. The FDA lifted the clinical hold in August 2013.

Because there are no robust animal models of peanut allergy, we did not conduct any pre-clinical efficacy studies of AR101. In addition, because AR101 is based on a food product, the FDA did not require us to submit any pre-clinical toxicology data.

AR101 Development and Commercialization Plan

We have developed AR101 in close consultation with the FDA and the EMA. In September 2014, the FDA granted AR101 Fast-Track designation for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive adults and children and in June 2015, the FDA granted AR101 Breakthrough Therapy designation for oral immunotherapy of peanut sensitive children and adolescents (ages 4 through 17). These designations are intended to facilitate the development and to expedite the review of drugs and biologics that are intended for the treatment of serious or life-threatening diseases or conditions and, in the case of a Fast-Track designation, that demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition or, in the case of a Breakthrough Therapy designation, where preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. Sponsors of products under development with a Fast-Track designation or Breakthrough Therapy designation may have greater interactions with the FDA, including the involvement of more senior staff members, and the FDA may initiate review of sections of a Fast-Track product’s marketing application before the application is complete. A product that receives these designations may be eligible for accelerated approval and priority review, if relevant criteria are met.

 

94


Table of Contents

We have had several formal communications and meetings with the FDA relating to the clinical development of AR101 and its manufacture, and we participated in two end-of-Phase 2 meetings with the FDA in July 2015. We have had two country level scientific advice meetings with European regulatory authorities and have received positive preliminary feedback on our Pediatric Investigation Plan for AR101 from the EMA.

We anticipate initiating ARC003, a Phase 3 registration trial of AR101, in early 2016. ARC003 will be a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study of AR101 for the treatment of peanut allergy in children and adults. We anticipate that ARC003 will enroll approximately 500 patients, including 400 patients between the ages of 4 and 17 and approximately 100 patients between the ages of 18 and 55. The study protocol will largely be a combination of the protocols for ARC001 and ARC002. Patients will be randomized at a three to one ratio between the AR101 group and a placebo group. Patients in ARC003 will be up-dosed to a daily 300 mg dose over a period of five to six months and then maintained at that dose level for approximately six months. At the end of the maintenance period, patients will be administered a DBPCFC. The primary endpoint of the study will be desensitization to cumulative exposure to 1,043 mg of peanut protein, and secondary endpoints will include desensitization to cumulative exposure of 443 mg of peanut protein and desensitization to cumulative exposure of 2,043 mg of peanut protein. Subgroup analysis will also be performed. We anticipate conducting the study at approximately 35 sites in the United States and approximately 15 sites in Europe. Assuming we are able to initiate the study in early 2016, we anticipate completing the study in 2017. Based on our discussions with regulatory authorities, we anticipate that ARC003, if it meets its primary endpoint, will be sufficient to support the filing of a BLA with the FDA and an MAA with the EMA.

If AR101 is approved by the FDA and the EMA for the treatment of peanut allergy, we intend to commercialize it by developing a specialty sales force targeting a subset of the approximately 4,500 practicing allergists in the United States as well as allergy-focused clinicians in the five largest European markets.

Additional Food Allergy Research and Development

We intend to leverage the expertise gained in our development of AR101 to develop CODIT product candidates for a range of additional food allergies. A critical part of our process is transforming natural food products into biopharmaceuticals. This process requires identifying the key proteins that need to be in the product, developing characterizations methods for those proteins, creating usable formulations and ensuring the stability of those formulations.

We are in the process of developing formulations for CODIT product candidates for the treatment of two additional food allergies. We currently anticipate that we will initiate Phase 2 studies of two additional CODIT product candidates in 2016. We expect to conduct these studies at leading academic allergy research centers in the United States and Europe. As there are a limited number of such sites and their capacity to conduct clinical trials is limited, the timing of the initiation of the Phase 2 studies may be affected by the available capacity of the sites.

Based on existing scientific research, we believe that once a significant level of desensitization to the allergens in certain foods has been achieved, it may be possible to re-introduce that food into the patients’ diet in a controlled manner. The level of desensitization necessary to allow for reintroduction of those foods into the diet is likely to be much higher than is necessary to reduce the risk from accidental exposure. Therefore, the CODIT treatment regimen to reintroduce food may be significantly longer. In addition, the development pathway for those therapies may be different from the one used for AR101.

We are also researching potential CODIT product candidates for several other food allergies and for the treatment of two or more food allergies at once. We also believe that AR101 and our other potential future CODIT product candidates could potentially be used in conjunction with certain drugs on the market and in development for environmental allergies and asthma. We believe that using these drugs in combination with our CODIT product candidates, if approved, could allow for a quicker up-dosing regimen or for the treatment of highly sensitive patients. We are currently evaluating potential clinical approaches to studying these drug combinations.

 

95


Table of Contents

Manufacturing

We currently do not own manufacturing facilities and have limited personnel with manufacturing experience. We contract with third-party manufacturers to produce the food product and final biologic product for our product candidates and to package our product candidates. We plan to continue to rely on contract manufacturers for the production of supply for our clinical trials, and if we receive marketing approval for a product candidate, for commercial supply.

Our product candidates are manufactured in accordance with stringent manufacturing processes. Our processes are designed to ensure that that the total protein content of each formulation and the relative concentrations of particular proteins are consistent. Through our contract manufacturers, we are capable of producing dosages with protein content as small as 0.5 mg and have developed advanced analytical methods to ensure each dose contains precisely defined amounts of multiple well-characterized allergenic proteins. Our formulations are also designed to ensure that the drug product is acceptably stable and can be easily mixed with food.

AR101 is currently produced for us by a contract manufacturer using our proprietary process. This process involves several blending and characterization steps intended to ensure that each dose contains a precise amount of peanut flour containing a specific concentration of peanut protein. Because peanut flour is a sensitizing agent, AR101 must be produced on a manufacturing line that is physically separated from other manufacturing lines and that has its own ventilation system. The manufacturing line that we have used to produce the clinical supply for our planned Phase 3 trial will not be adequate to produce commercial supplies of AR101. In June 2015, we leased space in a building proximate to our current contract manufacturer’s existing facility and intend to establish a commercial scale manufacturing line for AR101 in that space. We are currently in the process of negotiating a supply agreement with our contract manufacturer pursuant to which the manufacturer would use our manufacturing line to produce commercial supplies of AR101 for us. Producing commercial quantities of AR101 will require us to scale up our existing manufacturing process and institute rigorous quality control and assurance procedures. In addition, we will need to engage a new provider of packaging services. Contract manufacturers often encounter difficulties involving production yields, quality control and quality assurance, as well as shortages of qualified personnel. Qualifying manufacturers and providers of packaging services is a lengthy process. If at any time, one or more of our qualified contract organizations were not able to manufacture or package our drug product candidate or provide other requisite services, our business and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

Our third-party suppliers, their facilities and all lots of product candidates used in our clinical trials are required to be in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMP. The cGMP regulations include requirements relating to organization and personnel, buildings and facilities, equipment, control of components and drug product containers and closures, production and process controls, packaging and labeling controls, holding and distribution, laboratory controls, records and reports, and returned or salvaged products. The manufacturing facilities for our products must meet cGMP requirements to the FDA’s satisfaction before any product is approved and we can manufacture commercial products. Our third-party manufacturers are also subject to periodic inspections of facilities by the FDA and other authorities, which may include the evaluation of procedures and operations used in the testing and manufacture of our products to assess compliance with applicable regulations.

Suppliers

Our lead product candidate, AR101, contains peanut flour and pharmaceutical-grade ingredients. We source the peanut flour from GPC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Archer Daniels Midland. We chose to use peanut flour from GPC as the basis for AR101 because its peanut flour has been used in most of the leading academic studies of peanut allergy OIT and because we believe that the widespread use of GPC peanut products in the United States may make their peanut flour representative of the type of peanut protein that patients are

 

96


Table of Contents

most likely to encounter in an accidental exposure. The other ingredients in AR101, such as diluents, glidants and lubricants, are sourced from established producers of pharmaceutical grade ingredients. In order to develop AR101 as an FDA-approvable biological product, we took the further step of precisely characterizing the protein signature of GPC flour. Independent scientific research has identified numerous peanut proteins that are the allergens that cause allergic reactions to peanuts. Three of these proteins appear to be the most significant and representative of the levels of the other proteins. Our characterization of AR101 is based on precisely measuring total protein amount and the concentrations of those three key proteins.

We purchase standard food-grade peanut flour from GPC pursuant to a long term exclusive commercial supply agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, we are obligated to purchase peanut flour exclusively from GPC provided that GPC is able to supply us in a timely manner with the quantity of peanut flour that we require. GPC is not allowed to sell peanut flour of the type (or equivalent to the type) we use to any third party in United States, Mexico, Canada, the European Union or Japan for use in OIT for peanut allergy provided that we are in compliance with our exclusive purchase obligation and meet specified annual purchase commitments. The agreement remains in effect until five years after the first delivery to us of peanut flour for commercial use and includes an option for us to extend the term for an additional five years. We may terminate the agreement at any time for any reason upon providing 60 days’ written notice to GPC, and GPC may terminate the agreement upon 60 days’ written notice if we fail to meet our minimum annual purchase commitment and fail to pay an amount equal to GPC’s standard price for the unpurchased quantity within the notice period. Either party may terminate the agreement if the other party fails to cure their material breach within 30 days of receiving notice of such breach from the non-breaching party or if the other party fails to perform their obligations under the agreement for a continuous period of 90 days due to a force majeure event or an insolvency or bankruptcy-related events.

Intellectual Property

We have filed patent applications in the United States and international patent applications pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty relating to the manufacture, formulation and stability of AR101 and anticipate filing similar applications with respect to our other product candidates. None of our existing patent applications have resulted in issued patents and there is no assurance that any patents will be issued from any of these applications. Even if patents do issue, there can be no assurance that the scope of the claims contained in the patents will be broad enough to provide protection from potentially competing products. If issued, our patents relating to AR101 are projected to expire between 2033 and 2034 without taking into account any potential patent term extensions. Our patent applications seek protection relating to our formulations and methods of manufacture. We do not own or license, and do not anticipate that we will be able to obtain, a composition of matter patent over the active pharmaceutical ingredient in AR101 or for any other product candidates that are based on widely or readily available food products.

In addition to patents, we rely upon unpatented trade secrets, know-how, and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position. We protect our proprietary information, in part, using confidentiality agreements with our commercial partners, collaborators, employees and consultants and invention assignment agreements with our employees. We also have confidentiality agreements or invention assignment agreements with our commercial partners and selected consultants. Despite these measures, any of our intellectual property and proprietary rights could be challenged, invalidated, circumvented, infringed or misappropriated, or such intellectual property and proprietary rights may not be sufficient to permit us to take advantage of current market trends or otherwise to provide competitive advantages. For more information, please see “Risk Factors—Intellectual Property.”

Sales and Marketing

Subject to regulatory approval, we intend to commercialize AR101 in the United States and Europe by developing a specialty sales force targeting a subset of the approximately 4,500 practicing allergists in the United States as well as allergy-focused clinicians in the five largest European markets. We anticipate that this sales force could also support the commercialization of additional CODIT product candidates, if approved. We intend

 

97


Table of Contents

to focus our sales efforts on patients with more severe food allergies, particularly children. While in our clinical trials we have screened patients for peanut allergy using a DBPCFC because of its sensitivity, we do not anticipate that a DBPCFC will be a requirement for prescribing AR101 as DBPCFCs are not widely used a diagnostic tool in current clinical practice. We anticipate that our CODIT system for food allergies will encompass providing a range of services to patients and their physicians including telephone and e-mail support for patients, physician awareness and education activities, reimbursement assistance, benefit navigation and co-pay and patient assistance programs. Based on the estimated direct medical expenses associated with peanut allergy and the estimated number of people with peanut allergy in the United States, we believe the potential market opportunity for approved peanut allergy treatments in the United States could exceed one billion dollars annually.

Competition

Our industry is highly competitive and subject to rapid and significant technological change. While we believe that our development experience and scientific knowledge provide us with competitive advantages, we may face competition from large pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, smaller pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, specialty pharmaceutical companies, generic drug companies, academic institutions, government agencies and research institutions and others.

Many of our potential competitors may have significantly greater financial, technical and human resources than we have. 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 could be reduced or eliminated if our competitors develop or market products or other novel technologies that are more effective, safer or less costly than any that will be commercialized by us, or if they obtain regulatory approval for their product candidates more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours. Our success will be based in part on our ability to identify, develop and manage a portfolio of drugs that are safer, more efficacious and/or more cost-effective than alternative therapies.

Currently there are no approved medical therapies for the treatment of food allergies. We are aware that DBV Technologies S.A., or DBV, is developing treatments for peanut allergy and other food allergies based on a patch technology that epicutaneously delivers food allergens to the patient with the goal of desensitizing the patient to the allergens. DBV completed a Phase 2 study for the treatment of peanut allergy in 2014. If AR101 and/or any future product candidate of ours is approved, they may face competition from DBV’s product candidates, if approved.

In addition, we may face competition from allergists who decide to provide OIT and other desensitization therapies to their patients using their own formulations of food allergens and treatment protocols rather than adopting our product candidates or we may face competition from companies that develop their own OIT products or other desensitization therapy products.

In the future, we may face competition from competitors seeking to use AR101 as a reference product while developing a biosimilar product candidate using the FDA’s abbreviated approval pathway for biosimilar products. The abbreviated regulatory pathway, created pursuant to the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or BPCIA, establishes legal authority for the FDA to review and approve biosimilar biologics. To be considered a biosimilar, a product candidate must be highly similar to the reference product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components. In addition, there can be no clinically meaningful differences between the product candidate and the reference product in terms of the safety, purity, and potency of the product. We believe that the concentrations of relevant proteins in the peanut flour we source pursuant to our exclusive contract with the GPC are significantly different from the concentrations of proteins found in other commercially available sources of protein flour, and that a product candidate using different concentrations of such proteins or different proteins might not be considered “highly similar” to AR101 by the FDA. Such a product candidate would not be eligible for the biosimilar approval pathway. However, there can be no guarantee that the FDA would agree with this interpretation.

 

98


Table of Contents

Under the BPCIA, a reference product may be eligible for a 12-year period of exclusivity starting from the date that the product is first licensed by the FDA pursuant to the approval of a BLA, during which time no approval of a biosimilar product under the abbreviated approval pathway may be made effective. We believe that if the FDA approves a BLA for AR101, AR101 should qualify for this 12-year period of market exclusivity, known as reference product exclusivity, such that no approval of a biosimilar version of our product could become effective prior to the expiration of that 12-year period. However, these exclusivity provisions have been subject to various interpretations that have not yet been fully addressed by the FDA, and there is a risk that this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider AR101 to be eligible for reference product exclusivity, potentially creating the opportunity for competition sooner than anticipated. In addition, even if AR101 were to receive reference product exclusivity, a competitor may seek approval of a product candidate under a full BLA rather than a biosimilar product application. In such a case, although the competitor would not enjoy the benefits of the abbreviated pathway for biosimilar approval created under the BPCIA, the FDA would not be precluded from making effective an approval of the competitor product pursuant to a BLA prior to the expiration of our 12-year period of marketing exclusivity.

Coverage and Reimbursement

Significant uncertainty exists as to the coverage and reimbursement status of any product candidates for which we obtain regulatory approval. In the United States and markets in other countries, sales of any products for which we receive regulatory approval for commercial sale will depend in part on the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors. Third-party payors include government payor programs at the federal and state levels, including Medicare and Medicaid, managed care providers, private health insurers and other organizations. The process for determining whether a payor will provide coverage for a product may be separate from the process for setting the price or reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, or formulary, which might not include all of the FDA-approved drug products for a particular indication. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the price and examining the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of medical products and services, in addition to their safety and efficacy. We may need to conduct expensive pharmacoeconomic studies in order to demonstrate the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of our products, in addition to the costs required to obtain the FDA approvals. Our product candidates may not be considered medically necessary or cost-effective. A payor’s decision to provide coverage for a product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Adequate third-party reimbursement may not be available to enable us to maintain price levels sufficient to realize an appropriate return on our investment in product development.

The cost of pharmaceuticals continues to generate substantial governmental and third-party payor interest. We expect that the pharmaceutical industry will experience pricing pressures due to the trend toward managed healthcare, the increasing influence of managed care organizations and possible legislative proposals. Third-party payors are increasingly challenging the prices charged for medical products and services and examining the medical necessity and cost-effectiveness of medical products and services, in addition to their safety and efficacy. If these 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 at a profit. The U.S. government, state legislatures and foreign governments have shown significant interest in implementing cost containment programs to limit the growth of government-paid healthcare costs, including price controls, restrictions on coverage and reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products for branded prescription drugs. Adoption of such controls and measures, and tightening of restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could limit payments for pharmaceuticals such as the drug candidates that we are developing and could adversely affect our net revenue and results.

Different pricing and reimbursement schemes exist in each country. In the European Community, governments influence the price of pharmaceutical products through their pricing and reimbursement rules and control of national healthcare systems that fund a large part of the cost of those products to consumers. Some

 

99


Table of Contents

jurisdictions operate positive and negative list systems under which products may only be marketed once a reimbursement price has been agreed. To obtain reimbursement or pricing approval, some of these countries may require the completion of clinical trials that compare the cost-effectiveness of a particular drug candidate to currently available treatment approaches. Other member states allow companies to set their own prices for medicines, but monitor and control company profits. The downward pressure on healthcare costs in general, particularly prescription drugs, has become very intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products. In addition, in some countries, cross-border imports from low-priced markets exert a commercial pressure on pricing within a country. There can be no assurance that any country that has price controls or reimbursement limitations for drug products will allow favorable reimbursement and pricing arrangements for any of our products.

Significant uncertainty also surrounds the reimbursement of allergists for administering the anticipated treatment regimen for AR101 and our other products candidates. In the United States, it is not certain whether the existing reimbursement codes that can be appropriately used for AR101 up-dosing sessions will adequately compensate clinicians for the time spent on these visits. We may decide to seek the creation of new codes and associated reimbursement rates to ensure that clinicians are adequately compensated; however, creation of new codes is a complicated and lengthy process, and we may not be successful in any such efforts. In markets outside of the United States, we will need to evaluate clinician compensation mechanisms in each market to determine whether any action needs to be taken to ensure appropriate payment of physicians for administration of the treatment regimens.

Healthcare Reform

In the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, there have been, and we expect there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system that could affect our future results of operations as we begin to directly commercialize our products.

In particular, there have been and continue to be a number of initiatives at the U.S. federal and state level that seek to reduce healthcare costs. Initiatives to reduce the federal deficit and to reform healthcare delivery are increasing cost-containment efforts. We anticipate that Congress, state legislatures and the private sector will continue to review and assess alternative benefits, controls on healthcare spending through limitations on the growth of private health insurance premiums and Medicare and Medicaid spending, the creation of large insurance purchasing groups, price controls on pharmaceuticals and other fundamental changes to the healthcare delivery system. Any proposed or actual changes could limit or eliminate our spending on development projects and affect our ultimate profitability.

In March 2010, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, which has the potential to substantially change the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. The Affordable Care Act, among other things, established: an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drugs and biologic agents; revised the methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers for covered outpatient drugs under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated; increased the minimum Medicaid rebates owed by most manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program; extended the Medicaid Drug Rebate program to utilization of certain injectable outpatient drugs, as well as prescriptions of individuals enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations; and required manufacturers to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts on negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D.

In the future, there may continue to be additional proposals relating to the reform of the United States healthcare system, some of which could further limit the prices we are able to charge for our products candidates, or the amounts of reimbursement available for our product candidates. If future legislation were to impose direct governmental price controls and access restrictions, it could have a significant adverse impact on our business. Managed care organizations, as well as Medicaid and other government agencies, continue to seek price

 

100


Table of Contents

discounts. Some states have implemented, and other states are considering, price controls or patient access constraints under the Medicaid program, and some states are considering price-control regimes that would apply to broader segments of their populations that are not Medicaid-eligible. Due to the volatility in the current economic and market dynamics, we are unable to predict the impact of any unforeseen or unknown legislative, regulatory, payor or policy actions, which may include cost containment and healthcare reform measures. Such policy actions could have a material adverse impact on our profitability.

Government Regulation

Government Regulation in the United States

Government authorities in the United States at the federal, state and local level, as well as in foreign countries, extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacturing, labeling, packaging, promotion, advertising, storage, distribution, marketing, post-approval monitoring and reporting, and export and import of biologics such as those we are developing. We, along with third-party contractors, will be required to navigate the various pre-clinical, clinical and commercial requirements of the governing regulatory agencies of the countries in which we wish to conduct studies or seek approval or licensure of our product candidates. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local, and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources.

Overview of Biologics Regulation in the United States

In the United States, our product candidates are regulated by the FDA as biologics under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, or the FDCA, the Public Health Service Act, or PHSA, and regulations implemented by the FDA. Section 351(i)(1) of the PHSA defines a biological product (biologic) as a virus, therapeutic serum, toxin, antitoxin, vaccine, blood, blood component or derivative, allergenic product, protein (except any chemically synthesized polypeptide), or analogous product applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of a disease or condition of human beings. The process required by the FDA before biologic product candidates may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:

 

    completion of pre-clinical laboratory tests and animal studies performed in accordance with the FDA’s Good Laboratory Practices, or GLP, regulations;

 

    submission to the FDA of an IND which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin and must be updated annually;

 

    approval by an independent Institutional Review Board, or IRB, or ethics committee at each clinical site before the trial is initiated;

 

    performance of adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to establish the safety, purity and potency of the proposed biologic product candidate for its intended purpose;

 

    preparation, and submission to, the FDA of a BLA after completion of clinical trials;

 

    a determination by the FDA within 60 days of its receipt of a BLA to file the application for review;

 

    satisfactory completion of an FDA Advisory Committee review, if applicable;

 

    satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the proposed product is produced to assess compliance with cGMP requirements, and to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the biological product’s continued safety, purity and potency; and

 

101


Table of Contents
    FDA review and approval of the BLA prior to any commercial marketing or sale of the product in the United States.

Pre-clinical Studies and Investigational New Drug Application

Prior to beginning the first clinical trial with a product candidate, we must submit an IND to the FDA. An IND is a request for authorization from the FDA to administer an investigational new drug product to humans. The central focus of an IND submission is on the general investigational plan and the protocol(s) for clinical trials. The IND also generally includes results of animal and in vitro studies assessing the toxicology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, and pharmacodynamic characteristics of the product; chemistry, manufacturing, and controls information; and any available human data or literature to support the use of the investigational product. Because there are no robust animal models of peanut allergy, we did not conduct any pre-clinical efficacy studies of AR101. In addition, because AR101 is based on a food product, the FDA did not require us to submit any pre-clinical toxicology data.

Clinical Trials

An IND must become effective before human clinical trials may begin. An IND will automatically become effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless before that time the FDA raises concerns or questions related to the proposed clinical trials. In such a case, the IND may be placed on clinical hold and the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns or questions before the clinical trials can begin. Accordingly, submission of an IND may or may not result in the FDA allowing clinical trials to commence.

Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational product to human subjects under the supervision of qualified investigators in accordance with Good Clinical Practices, or GCPs, which include the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent for their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the study, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. Each clinical protocol and any subsequent protocol amendments must be submitted to the FDA as part of the IND, and an IRB at each site where the study is to be conducted must also approve the study. The IRB must monitor the study until completed. There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical trials and clinical trial results to public registries. Clinical trials typically are conducted in three or four sequential phases, but the phases may overlap or be combined.

 

    Phase 1 . The investigational product is initially introduced into healthy human subjects or patients with the target disease or condition. These studies are designed to evaluate the safety, dosage tolerance, metabolism and pharmacologic actions of the investigational product in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and, if possible, to gain early evidence on effectiveness.

 

    Phase 2 . The investigational product is administered to a limited patient population to evaluate dosage tolerance and optimal dosage, identify possible adverse side effects and safety risks and preliminarily evaluate efficacy.

 

    Phase 3 . The investigational product is administered to an expanded patient population, generally at geographically dispersed clinical study sites to generate enough data to statistically evaluate dosage, clinical effectiveness and safety, to establish the overall benefit-risk relationship of the investigational product, and to provide an adequate basis for product licensure.

 

    Phase 4 . In some cases, the FDA may condition approval of a BLA for a product candidate on the sponsor’s agreement to conduct additional clinical trials after approval. In other cases, a sponsor may voluntarily conduct additional clinical trials after approval to gain more information about the product. Such post-approval studies are typically referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials.

 

102


Table of Contents

The FDA, the IRB, or the clinical trial sponsor may suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Additionally, some clinical trials are overseen by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical trial sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board or committee. This group provides authorization for whether or not a trial may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the trial. We may also suspend or terminate a clinical trial based on evolving business objectives and/or competitive climate. Concurrent with clinical trials, companies may complete additional in vitro studies and develop additional information about the biological characteristics of the product candidate, and must finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, must develop methods for testing the safety, purity and potency of the final product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.

Review and Approval of a Biologics License Application

Assuming successful completion of all required testing in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements, detailed information regarding the investigational product is submitted to the FDA in the form of a BLA requesting approval to market the product for one or more indications. The BLA must include all relevant data available from pertinent pre-clinical 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 the product, or from a number of alternative sources, including studies initiated by investigators. Under federal law, the submission of most BLAs is subject to an application user fee, and the sponsor of an approved BLA is also subject to annual product and establishment user fees. These fees are typically increased annually. A waiver of user fees may be obtained under certain limited circumstances.

Once a BLA has been submitted, the FDA’s goal is to review the application within ten months after it accepts the application for filing, or, if the application relates to an unmet medical need in a serious or life-threatening indication, six months after the FDA accepts the application for filing. The review process is often significantly extended by FDA requests for additional information or clarification. The FDA reviews a BLA to determine, among other things, whether a product is safe, pure and potent and the facility in which it is manufactured, processed, packed, or held meets standards designed to assure the product’s continued safety, purity and potency.

Before approving a BLA, the FDA typically will inspect the facility or facilities at which the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve the application 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 a BLA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites to assure compliance with GCP requirements. If the FDA determines that the application, manufacturing process or manufacturing facilities are not acceptable, it will outline the deficiencies in the submission and often will request additional testing or information. 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 is required to refer an application for a novel product to an advisory committee or explain why such referral was not made. Typically, an advisory committee is a panel of independent experts, including clinicians and other scientific experts, that reviews, evaluates and provides a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions.

After the FDA evaluates a BLA and conducts inspections of manufacturing facilities where the investigational product and/or its substance will be produced, the FDA may issue an approval letter or a Complete Response Letter. An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific

 

103


Table of Contents

prescribing information for specific indications. A Complete Response Letter indicates that the review cycle of the application is complete and the application is not ready for approval. A Complete Response Letter may require additional clinical data and/or an additional pivotal Phase 3 trial or trials, and/or other significant, expensive and time-consuming requirements related to clinical trials, pre-clinical trials or manufacturing. Even if such additional information is submitted, the FDA may ultimately decide that the BLA does not satisfy the criteria for approval. The FDA may also approve the BLA with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (“REMS”) plan to mitigate risks, which could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. The FDA also may condition approval on, among other things, changes to proposed labeling, development of adequate controls and specifications, or a commitment to conduct one or more post-market studies or clinical trials, and may limit further marketing of the product based on results of these post-marketing studies. Such post-market testing may include Phase 4 trials and surveillance to further assess and monitor the product’s safety and effectiveness after commercialization. In addition, once approved, the FDA may withdraw the product approval if compliance with pre- and post-marketing regulatory standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the marketplace. New government requirements, including those resulting from new legislation, may also be established, or the FDA’s policies may change, which could delay or prevent regulatory approval of our products under development.

Expedited Review and Approval Programs

A sponsor may seek approval of its product candidate under programs designed to accelerate FDA’s review and approval of new drugs and biological products that meet certain criteria. Specifically, new drugs and biological products are eligible for Fast-Track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for that disease or condition. For a Fast-Track product, the FDA may consider sections of the BLA for review on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted if relevant criteria are met. A Fast-Track designated product candidate may also qualify for priority review, under which the FDA sets the target date for FDA action on the BLA at six months after the FDA accepts the application for filing. Priority review is granted when there is evidence that the proposed product would be a significant improvement in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of a serious condition. If criteria are not met for priority review, the application is subject to the standard FDA review period of 10 months after FDA accepts the application for filing. Priority review designation does not change the scientific or medical standard for approval or the quality of evidence necessary to support approval.

Under the accelerated approval program, the FDA may approve a BLA on the basis of either a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit, or on a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality, that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity, or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. Post-marketing studies or completion of ongoing studies after marketing approval are generally required to verify the biologic’s clinical benefit in relationship to the surrogate endpoint or ultimate outcome in relationship to the clinical benefit. In September 2014, the FDA granted AR101 Fast-Track designation.

In 2012, Congress enacted the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, or FDASIA. This law established a new regulatory scheme allowing for expedited review of products designated as “Breakthrough Therapies.” A product may be designated as a Breakthrough Therapy if it is intended, either alone or in combination with one or more other products, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the product may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. The FDA may take certain actions with respect to Breakthrough Therapies, including holding meetings with the sponsor throughout the development process; providing timely advice to the product sponsor regarding development and approval; involving more senior staff in the review process; assigning a cross disciplinary project lead for the review team; and taking other steps to design the clinical trials in an efficient manner.

 

104


Table of Contents

Post-Approval Requirements

Biologics manufactured or distributed pursuant to FDA approvals are subject to pervasive and continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, requirements relating to recordkeeping, periodic reporting, product sampling and distribution, advertising and promotion and reporting of adverse experiences with the product. After approval, most changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications or other labeling claims are subject to prior FDA review and approval. There also are continuing, annual user fee requirements for any marketed products and the establishments at which such products are manufactured, as well as new application fees for supplemental applications with clinical data. Manufacturers of biologics and their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and state agencies for compliance with cGMP requirements, which impose certain procedural and documentation requirements upon us and our third-party manufacturers. Changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and, depending on the significance of the change, may require prior FDA approval before being implemented. FDA regulations also require investigation and correction of any deviations from cGMP and impose reporting and documentation requirements upon us and any third-party manufacturers that we may decide to use. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain compliance with cGMP and other aspects of regulatory compliance.

The FDA may withdraw approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information; imposition of post-market studies or clinical trials to assess new safety risks; or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:

 

    restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or product recalls;

 

    fines, warning letters or holds on post-approval clinical trials;

 

    refusal of the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals;

 

    product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products; or

 

    injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

The FDA strictly regulates the marketing, labeling, advertising, and promotion of biologics. A company may make only those claims relating to safety and efficacy, purity and potency that are approved by the FDA and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses, and a company that is found to have improperly promoted off-label uses may be subject to significant liability. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in, among other things, adverse publicity, warning letters, corrective advertising and potential civil and criminal penalties. Physicians may prescribe legally available products for uses that are not described in the product’s labeling and that differ from those tested by us and approved by the FDA. Such off-label uses are common across medical specialties. Physicians may believe that such off-label uses are the best treatment for many patients in varied circumstances. The FDA does not regulate the behavior of physicians in their choice of treatments. The FDA does, however, restrict manufacturers’ communications on the subject of off-label use of their products.

 

105


Table of Contents

Abbreviated Licensure Pathway of Biological Products as Biosimilar or Interchangeable

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA, signed into law on March 23, 2010, included the BPCIA, which amended the PHSA and established a regulatory scheme authorizing the FDA to approve biosimilars and interchangeable biosimilars. To date, only one biosimilar has been licensed under the BPCIA, although numerous biosimilars have been approved in Europe. The FDA has issued several guidance documents outlining an approach to review and approval of biosimilars.

Under the BPCIA, a manufacturer may submit an application for licensure of a biologic product that is “biosimilar to” or “interchangeable with” a previously approved biological product or “reference product.” In order for the FDA to approve a biosimilar product, it must find that there are no clinically meaningful differences between the reference product and proposed biosimilar product in terms of safety, purity, and potency. For the FDA to approve a biosimilar product as interchangeable with a reference product, the agency must find that the biosimilar product can be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product, and (for products administered multiple times) that the biologic and the reference biologic may be switched after one has been previously administered without increasing safety risks or risks of diminished efficacy relative to exclusive use of the reference biologic.

Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product may not be submitted to the FDA until four years after the date that the reference product is first licensed by the FDA. In addition, the approval of an application for a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years after the date that the reference product is first licensed by the FDA. These exclusivity provisions have been subject to various interpretations that have not yet been fully addressed by the FDA. In addition, even if a product is considered to be a reference product eligible for exclusivity, another company could market a competing version of that product if the FDA approves a full BLA for such product containing the sponsor’s own pre-clinical data and data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of their product. The BPCIA also created certain exclusivity periods for biosimilars approved as interchangeable products. At this juncture, it is unclear whether products deemed “interchangeable” by the FDA will, in fact, be readily substituted by pharmacies, which are governed by state pharmacy law.

Other Healthcare Laws in the United States

In the United States, our activities 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 United States Department of Health and Human Services (e.g., the Office of Inspector General), the United States Department of Justice and individual United States Attorney offices within the Department of Justice, and state and local governments. The laws we are subject to include, without limitation, state and federal anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, false claims, physician payment transparency and privacy and security laws and regulations.

The federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, any person from knowingly and willfully offering, soliciting, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual, for an item or service or the purchasing or ordering of a good or service, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The Anti-Kickback Statute is subject to evolving interpretations. In the past, the government has enforced the Anti-Kickback Statute to reach large settlements with healthcare companies based on sham consulting and other financial arrangements with physicians. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the federal False Claims Act. The majority of states also have anti-kickback laws which establish similar prohibitions and in some cases may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including commercial insurers.

 

106


Table of Contents

Additionally, the civil False Claims Act prohibits knowingly presenting or causing the presentation of a false, fictitious or fraudulent claim for payment to the United States government. Actions under the False Claims Act may be brought by the Attorney General or as a qui tam action by a private individual in the name of the government. Violations of the False Claims Act can result in very significant monetary penalties and treble damages. The federal government is using the False Claims Act, and the accompanying threat of significant liability, in its investigation and prosecution of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies throughout the country, for example, in connection with the promotion of products for unapproved uses and other sales and marketing practices. The government has obtained multi-million and multi-billion dollar settlements under the False Claims Act in addition to individual criminal convictions under applicable criminal statutes. Given the significant size of actual and potential settlements, it is expected that the government will continue to devote substantial resources to investigating healthcare providers’ and manufacturers’ compliance with applicable fraud and abuse laws.

The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, also created federal criminal statutes that prohibit among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors, knowingly and willfully embezzling or stealing from a healthcare benefit program, willfully obstructing a criminal investigation of a healthcare offense, and 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. Similar to the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation.

There has also been a recent trend of increased federal and state regulation of payments made to physicians and other healthcare providers. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively, the Affordable Care Act, among other things, imposed new reporting requirements on drug manufacturers for payments made by them to physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members. Failure to submit required information may result in civil monetary penalties of up to an aggregate of $150,000 per year (or up to an aggregate of $1 million per year for “knowing failures”), for all payments, transfers of value or ownership or investment interests that are not timely, accurately and completely reported in an annual submission. Drug manufacturers are required to submit reports to the government by the 90th day of each calendar year. Certain states also mandate implementation of compliance programs, impose restrictions on drug manufacturer marketing practices and/or require the tracking and reporting of gifts, compensation and other remuneration to physicians.

We may also be subject to data privacy and security regulation by both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology and Clinical Health Act, or HITECH, and their respective implementing regulations, including the final omnibus rule published on January 25, 2013, imposes specified requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information. Among other things, HITECH makes HIPAA’s privacy and security standards directly applicable to “business associates,” defined as independent contractors or agents of covered entities that create, receive, maintain or transmit protected health information in connection with providing a service for or on behalf of a covered entity. HITECH also increased the civil and criminal penalties that may be imposed against covered entities, business associates and possibly other persons, and gave state attorneys general new authority to file civil actions for damages or injunctions in federal courts to enforce the federal HIPAA laws and seek attorney’s fees and costs associated with pursuing federal civil actions. In addition, state laws govern the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways, thus complicating compliance efforts.

Government Regulation in Europe

In the European Economic Area, or EEA, (which is composed of the 28 Member States of the European Union plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), medicinal products can only be commercialized after obtaining a Marketing Authorization, or MA.

 

107


Table of Contents

There are two types of MAs:

 

    The Community MA, which is issued by the European Commission through the Centralized Procedure, based on the opinion of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, or CHMP, of the EMA, and which is valid throughout the entire territory of the EEA. The Centralized Procedure is mandatory for certain types of products, such as biotechnology medicinal products, orphan medicinal products, and medicinal products 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. Under the Centralized Procedure the maximum timeframe for the evaluation of a marketing authorization application is 210 days (excluding clock stops, when additional written or oral information is to be provided by the applicant in response to questions asked by the CHMP). Accelerated evaluation might be granted by the CHMP in exceptional cases, when the authorization of a medicinal product is of major interest from the point of view of public health and in particular from the viewpoint of therapeutic innovation. Under the accelerated procedure the standard 210 days review period is reduced to 150 days.

 

    National MAs, which are issued by the competent authorities of the Member States of the EEA and only cover their respective territory, are available 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 above described procedures, 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.

Employees

As of June 30, 2015, we had 21 full-time employees. Of these employees, fifteen are engaged in research and development. Our employees are not represented by labor unions or covered by collective bargaining agreements. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good.

Facilities

We lease approximately 11,500 square feet of office space in Brisbane, California under a lease that expires in 2019 and approximately 20,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Clearwater, Florida pursuant to a lease that expires in 2025. We believe that our existing facilities and other available properties will be sufficient for our needs for the foreseeable future.

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently party to any material legal proceedings.

 

108


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT

Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers, directors and key employees as of the date of this prospectus:

 

Name

  

Age

  

Position(s)

Executive Officers and Employee Directors

     

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

   56    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Warren L. DeSouza.

   46    Chief Financial Officer

Howard V. Raff, Ph.D.

   64    Chief Operating Officer

Robert M. Elfont, M.D., Ph.D.

   57    Chief Medical Officer

Mary M. Rozenman, Ph.D.

   34    Senior Vice President, Corporate and Commercial Development

Key Employees

     

Michael S. Holfinger, Ph.D.

   52    Vice President, Manufacturing

Joseph W. Suttner.

   49    Vice President, Clinical Operations

Non-Employee Directors

     

Patrick G. Enright

   53    Director

Kathryn E. Falberg.

   55    Director

Mark T. Iwicki

   48    Director

Mark D. McDade

   60    Chairman of the Board

Stacey D. Seltzer.

   39    Director

Executive Officers and Employee Directors

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 2014 and as a member of our board of directors since April 2013. Dr. Dilly was Chief Executive Officer of PhotoThera, Inc., a medical device company, from January 2012 to December 2012. Since April 2010, Dr. Dilly has served as an independent director of Sangamo Biosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, where he also currently serves as chair of the clinical review committee. From 2006 to December 2011, Dr. Dilly served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of APT Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a drug development company. From 2007 to 2009, he was a member of the board of directors of Avigen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, which merged with MediciNova, Inc. in December 2009. From 2003 to 2006, he served as Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Development of Chiron BioPharma, a biotechnology company which was later acquired by Novartis International AG. From 1998 to 2003, Dr. Dilly held various management positions at Genentech, Inc., a biotechnology company, including Vice President of Development Sciences from 2002 to 2003 and Vice President of Medical Affairs from 1998 to 2001. From 1988 to 1998, Dr. Dilly held various management positions in drug development with SmithKline Beecham, PLC, a healthcare company in the U.K. During his career, Dr. Dilly has been closely associated with the development and launch of marketed drugs for many therapeutic areas, including Kytril, Paxil, Kredex, Requip, TNKase, Xolair, Avastin, Raptiva, Tarceva, Lucentis and Cubicin. Dr. Dilly received an M.B.B.S., the equivalent of an M.D., from the University of London in the U.K. and a Ph.D. in cardiac physiology from University of London. We believe that Dr. Dilly is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive management experience in the life science industry and drug development experience.

Warren L. DeSouza has served as our Chief Financial Officer since April 2015. Mr. DeSouza served as a consultant on financial matters to Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., or Onyx, a biopharmaceutical company, from August 2013 to January 2014, during which the company was acquired by Amgen, Inc. From January 2005 to August 2013, Mr. DeSouza served as Vice President, Finance for Onyx, where he led accounting, SEC reporting,

 

109


Table of Contents

purchasing, tax, treasury and risk management. From 2002 to 2005, Mr. DeSouza served as a senior manager at Deloitte & Touche LLP, an accounting firm. From 1990 to 2002, Mr. DeSouza was a senior manager at Arthur Andersen LLP, an accounting firm. Mr. DeSouza received a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and is a certified public accountant (inactive).

Howard V. Raff, Ph.D. has served as our Chief Operating Officer since July 2012. From 2007 to March 2012, Dr. Raff served as Chief Operating Officer for APT Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. Dr. Raff was Vice President of Development Management for Chiron Corporation, a biotechnology company, from 1995 until its acquisition by Novartis International AG, a pharmaceutical company, in 2006. Dr. Raff also served as the head of west coast operations for The Biologics Consulting Group, a regulatory consulting firm in product development and regulatory strategy for biologics, drugs and medical devices, and spent 11 years in discovery research and development for Bristol-Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical company. Dr. Raff has been involved with the development and approval of several drugs in the U.S. and Europe, including CTLA4-lg, Proleukin, Menjugate vaccine and Cubicin. Dr. Raff received a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Illinois and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from Washington State University.

Robert M. Elfont, M.D., Ph.D has served as our Chief Medical Officer since March 2014. From April 2012 to March 2014, Dr. Elfont served as Chief Medical Officer for PhotoThera, Inc., a medical device company. From December 2009 to March 2014, he was a consultant for Strategic Clinical Development, LLC, a life sciences consulting company, of which he was a founder. From 2008 to December 2009, Dr. Elfont served as Associate Vice President of Clinical Development and Acting Chief Medical Officer at Avigen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. During 2007, he served as Vice President of Clinical Development for Medivation, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 2005 to 2007, Dr. Elfont was Clinical Research and Licensing Liaison, Neuroscience, at Roche Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company. Dr. Elfont also served as Medical Director, Early Clinical Development for Pfizer, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2002 to 2005, and as Medical Director for Teva Neuroscience, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. Prior to that, Dr. Elfont was an assistant professor of neurology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Elfont received an A.B. in Biology and English from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.D. and Ph.D. in Neuroanatomy from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Elfont is Board-certified in neurology.

Mary M. Rozenman, Ph.D. has served as our Senior Vice President, Corporate and Commercial Development, since February 2015. From February 2013 to January 2015, Dr. Rozenman was Vice President at Longitude Capital Management Co., LLC, a venture investment company, where she focused on biotechnology investments in therapeutics, diagnostics and research and development tools and services. From February 2008 to January 2013, Dr. Rozenman was at McKinsey & Company, a management-consulting company, where she most recently served as Associate Principal. Dr. Rozenman previously served as an observer on the boards of directors of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and CardioDx, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company. Dr. Rozenman received a B.A. in Biochemistry and Russian Literature from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University.

Key Employees

Michael S. Holfinger, Ph.D. has served as our Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply Chain since March 2015. From June 2013 to March 2015, Dr. Holfinger was Vice President, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management at Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From 2006 to June 2013, he served in various roles at Affymax, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, including Executive Director, Senior Director and Director of API Manufacturing and Process Development and, most recently, Vice President, Manufacturing and CMC Development. Previously, Dr. Holfinger served as Senior Manager, API Support Team at Pfizer, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from 2002 to 2006, and as Scientist, Research Scientist and Senior Research Scientist, Process Development for Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, LLC, a biopharmaceutical

 

110


Table of Contents

company and a subsidiary of Pfizer, Inc., from 1992 to 2002. Dr. Holfinger received a B.S. in Chemistry and a B.S. in Applied Science, Paper Science and Engineering from Miami University and a Ph.D. Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Joseph W. Suttner has served as our Vice President, Clinical Operations since November 2012. From July 2012 to November 2012, he served as Director, Clinical Operations at PhotoThera, Inc., a medical device company. From March 2011 to June 2012, he served as Director, Clinical Operations at Ipsen, a pharmaceutical company. From 2007 to April 2011, Mr. Suttner served as Director, Clinical Development for Peplin, Ltd., a pharmaceutical company. Mr. Suttner received a B.A. in Liberal Arts from California State University-Long Beach and an M.B.A. from the University of Liverpool.

Non-Employee Directors

Patrick G. Enright has served as a member of our board of directors since April 2013. Since July 2007, Mr. Enright has served as a Managing Director of Longitude Capital, a venture capital firm, of which he is a founder. From 2002 through 2006, Mr. Enright was a Managing Director of Pequot Ventures, a venture capital investment firm, where he co-led the life sciences investment practice. He currently serves on the board of directors and as a member of the compensation committee of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, where he also served as a member of the audit committee from 2009 to 2014. Mr. Enright also currently serves on the board of directors and as a member of the audit committee of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated, a pharmaceutical company and Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. Mr. Enright received a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. We believe that Mr. Enright is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience serving on the board of directors of clinical-stage biotechnology companies and his investment experience in the life sciences industry.

Kathryn E. Falberg has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2015. Ms. Falberg served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Jazz Pharmaceuticals, PLC, a biopharmaceutical company, from March 2012 to March 2014, after serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since December 2009. From 1995 to 2001, Ms. Falberg was with Amgen Inc., a biotechnology company, where she served as Senior Vice President, Finance and Strategy and Chief Financial Officer, and before that as Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer and Vice President, Treasurer. Ms. Falberg currently serves as chair of the board of directors and chair of the audit committee of Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, Medivation, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, and aTyr Pharma, Inc., a biotherapeutics company. She previously served on the board of directors of QLT Inc., a biotechnology company. Ms. Falberg received a B.A. in Economics and M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a certified public accountant (inactive). We believe Ms. Falberg is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive financial experience as a certified public accountant and principal financial officer of numerous public companies, as well as her experience as a director of numerous public companies in the life science industry.

Mark T. Iwicki has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2015. Mr. Iwicki served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Civitas Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, from January 2014 until its acquisition by Acorda Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, in September 2014. From December 2012 to January 2014, Mr. Iwicki served as President and Chief Executive Officer and director at Blend Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company. From 2007 to June 2012, Mr. Iwicki was President and Chief Executive Officer and director of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly Sepracor, Inc., a pharmaceutical company. From 1998 to 2007, Mr. Iwicki served as Vice President and Business Unit Head at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a pharmaceuticals company. Mr. Iwicki has also held management positions at Astra Merck Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc., pharmaceutical companies. Mr. Iwicki received a B.A. in Business Administration from Ball State University and an M.B.A. from Loyola University. We believe that Mr. Iwicki is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his executive management and operational experience in the life science industry.

 

111


Table of Contents

Mark D. McDade has served as the Chairman of our board of directors since May 2015. He is currently the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at UCB S.A., a biopharmaceutical company, where he previously served as Executive Vice President, Established Brands, Solutions and Supply and Executive Vice President, Global Operations since joining in 2008. From 2002 to 2007, Mr. McDade served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of PDL BioPharma, Inc., a biotechnology company. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. McDade was Chief Executive Officer of Signature BioScience, Inc., a drug discovery company. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. McDade served as Chief Operating Officer and a director of Corixa Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company he co-founded. At Corixa, he most recently served as its President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. McDade currently serves on the board of directors and as a member of the audit and conflicts committees for Phillips Edison Grocery Center REIT II, Inc., a real estate investment company. He has served on the board of directors of Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, since 2006 and Dermira, Inc., biopharmaceutical company, since August 2014. He previously served on the board of directors of several public and private companies, including Cytokinetics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, PDL BioPharma, Inc., a biotechnology company, and Valentis, Inc., a biotechnology company. Mr. McDade received a B.A. in history from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. We believe that Mr. McDade is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his executive management and leadership experience in the life science industry, as well as extensive experience as a director of public companies.

Stacey D. Seltzer has served as a member of our board of directors since January 2015. Ms. Seltzer is currently a partner at Aisling Capital, where she previously served as principal since joining in September 2008. From 2004 to 2008, Ms. Seltzer held various positions at Schering-Plough Corporation, a pharmaceutical company, including U.S. Schering-Plough Brand Lead for Zetia, Associate Director, U.S. Marketing, Senior Manager, Global Licensing and Management Associate. From 2001 to 2002, Ms. Seltzer served as Director of Business Development for Akceli, Inc., a biotechnology company. Ms. Seltzer serves on the board of directors of Miramar Labs, Inc., a privately-held medical device company. She previously served as a board observer for Agile Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, Durata Therapeutics, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, and Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc. a medical equipment supplier. Ms. Seltzer received a B.S. and M.S. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. We believe that Ms. Seltzer is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her investment and management experience in the life science industry.

Board Composition

Director Independence

Our board of directors currently consists of six members. Our board of directors has determined that all of our directors, other than Dr. Dilly, qualify as “independent” directors in accordance with The NASDAQ Global Select Market listing requirements. Dr. Dilly is not considered independent because he is an employee of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. The NASDAQ Global Select Market’s independence definition includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his or her family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as required by The NASDAQ Global Select Market rules, our board of directors has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exists that, in the opinion of our board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our board of directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s business and personal activities and relationships as they may relate to us and our management. There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

Classified Board of Directors

In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three classes with

 

112


Table of Contents

staggered, three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following election. Effective upon the consummation of this offering, we expect that our directors will be divided among the three classes as follows:

 

    the Class I directors will be Dr. Dilly and Mr. Iwicki, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2016;

 

    the Class II directors will be Mr. McDade and Ms. Seltzer, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2017; and

 

    the Class III directors will be Mr. Enright and Ms. Falberg, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2018.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. The division of our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control of our company.

Voting Arrangements

The election of the members of our board of directors is governed by the amended and restated voting agreement, as amended, that we entered into with certain holders of our common stock and certain holders of our convertible preferred stock and the related provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

Pursuant to the voting agreement and these provisions the holders of our Series A convertible preferred stock, voting together as a single class, have the right to elect one (1) director to our board of directors, the holders of our Series B convertible stock, voting together as a single class, have the right to elect two (2) directors to our board of directors, the holders of our common stock, voting together as a single class, have the right to elect one (1) director to our board of directors and the holders of our common stock and any other class or series of voting stock (including our convertible preferred stock), voting together as a single class, have the right to elect the balance of the total number of our directors, which are designated as follows:

 

    one (1) member designated by Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. (together with its affiliated funds) and elected by our Series A convertible preferred stock, for which Mr. Enright has been designated;

 

    one (1) member designated by Foresite Capital Fund II, L.P. (together with its affiliated funds) and elected by our Series B convertible preferred stock, which is currently vacant;

 

    one (1) member designated by Aisling Capital III, L.P. (together with its affiliated funds) and elected by our Series B convertible preferred stock, for which Ms. Seltzer has been designated;

 

    one (1) member designated and elected by the holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock, for which Dr. Dilly has been designated; and

 

    three (3) members designated and elected by the holders of a majority of our voting capital stock, including our preferred stock and common stock, voting together as a single class on an as-converted basis, for which Kathryn E. Falberg, Mark T. Iwicki and Mark D. McDade have been designated.

 

113


Table of Contents

The holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock who are parties to our voting agreement are obligated to vote for such designees indicated above. The provisions of this voting agreement will terminate upon the consummation of this offering and our certificate of incorporation will be amended and restated, after which there will be no further contractual obligations or charter provisions regarding the election of our directors. Our directors hold office until their successors have been elected and qualified or appointed, or the earlier of their death, resignation or removal.

Leadership Structure of the Board

Our bylaws and corporate governance guidelines provide our board of directors with flexibility to combine or separate the positions of chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer and/or the implementation of a lead director in accordance with its determination that utilizing one or the other structure would be in the best interests of our company. Mr. McDade currently serves as the Chairman of our board of directors. In that role, Mr. McDade presides over the executive sessions of the board of directors.

Our board of directors has concluded that our current leadership structure is appropriate at this time. However, our board of directors will continue to periodically review our leadership structure and may make such changes in the future as it deems appropriate.

Role of Board in Risk Oversight Process

Risk assessment and oversight are an integral part of our governance and management processes. Our board of directors encourages management to promote a culture that incorporates risk management into our corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. Management discusses strategic and operational risks at regular management meetings, and conducts specific strategic planning and review sessions during the year that include a focused discussion and analysis of the risks facing us. Throughout the year, senior management reviews these risks with the board of directors at regular board meetings as part of management presentations that focus on particular business functions, operations or strategies, and presents the steps taken by management to mitigate or eliminate such risks.

Our board of directors does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through our board of directors as a whole, as well as through various standing committees of our board of directors that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. In particular, our board of directors is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, our audit committee is responsible for overseeing our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures. The audit committee also monitors compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and considers and approves or disapproves any related person transactions. Our nominating and corporate governance committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines. Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking.

Board Committees

Audit Committee

Our audit committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process. Among other matters, the audit committee:

 

    appoints our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

    evaluates the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance;

 

    determines the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

114


Table of Contents
    reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit and the audit fee;

 

    discusses with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the annual audit and the review of our quarterly financial statements;

 

    approves the retention of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any proposed permissible non-audit services;

 

    monitors the rotation of partners of the independent registered public accounting firm on our engagement team in accordance with requirements established by the SEC;

 

    is responsible for reviewing our financial statements and our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations to be included in our annual and quarterly reports to be filed with the SEC;

 

    reviews our critical accounting policies and estimates; and

 

    reviews the audit committee charter and the committee’s performance at least annually.

The current members of our audit committee are Kathryn E. Falberg, Mark T. Iwicki and Stacey D. Seltzer. Ms. Falberg serves as the chairperson of the committee. All members of our audit committee meet the requirements for financial literacy under the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and The NASDAQ Global Select Market. Our board of directors has determined that Ms. Falberg is an audit committee financial expert as defined under the applicable rules of the SEC and has the requisite financial sophistication as defined under the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Global Select Market. Under the rules of the SEC, members of the audit committee must also meet heightened independence standards. Our board of directors has determined that each of Ms. Falberg, Mr. Iwicki and Ms. Seltzer are independent under the applicable rules of the SEC and The NASDAQ Global Select Market. The audit committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and The NASDAQ Global Select Market.

Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee oversees policies relating to compensation and benefits of our officers and employees. The compensation committee reviews and recommends corporate goals and objectives relevant to compensation of our executive officers (other than our Chief Executive Officer), evaluates the performance of these officers in light of those goals and objectives and approves the compensation of these officers based on such evaluations. The compensation committee also recommends to our board of directors the issuance of stock options and other awards under our stock plans (other than for our Chief Executive Officer). The compensation committee reviews the performance of our Chief Executive Officer and makes recommendations to our board of directors with respect to his compensation, and our board of directors retains the authority to make compensation decisions relative to our Chief Executive Officer. The compensation committee will review and evaluate, at least annually, the performance of the compensation committee and its members, including compliance by the compensation committee with its charter. The current members of our compensation committee are Patrick G. Enright, Kathryn E. Falberg and Mark D. McDade. Mr. Enright serves as the chairman of the committee. Each of the members of our compensation committee is independent under the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Global Select Market, is a “non-employee director” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and is an “outside director” as that term is defined in Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or Section 162(m). The compensation committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and The NASDAQ Global Select Market.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for making recommendations to our board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of our board of directors.

 

115


Table of Contents

In addition, the nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for overseeing our corporate governance policies and reporting and making recommendations to our board of directors concerning governance matters. The current members of our nominating and corporate governance committee are Patrick G. Enright, Mark D. McDade and Stacey D. Seltzer. Mr. McDade serves as the chairman of the committee. Each of the members of our nominating and corporate governance committee is an independent director under the applicable rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Global Select Market relating to nominating and corporate governance committee independence. The nominating and corporate governance committee operates under a written charter that satisfies the applicable standards of the SEC and The NASDAQ Global Select Market.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

During the year ended December 31, 2014, our compensation committee consisted of Patrick G. Enright, Walter Flamenbaum, M.D. and Joon Yun, M.D. Each of Drs. Flamenbaum and Yun resigned from our board of directors in 2015. None of the members of our compensation committee has at any time been one of our officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past fiscal year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers on our board of directors or compensation committee.

Board Diversity

Upon consummation of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for reviewing with the board of directors, on an annual basis, the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience required for the board of directors as a whole and its individual members. In evaluating the suitability of individual candidates (both new candidates and current members), the nominating and corporate governance committee, in recommending candidates for election, and the board of directors, in approving (and, in the case of vacancies, appointing) such candidates, may take into account many factors, including but not limited to the following:

 

    personal and professional integrity;

 

    ethics and values;

 

    experience in corporate management, such as serving as an officer or former officer of a publicly held company;

 

    experience in the industries in which we compete;

 

    experience as a board member or executive officer of another publicly held company;

 

    diversity of expertise and experience in substantive matters pertaining to our business relative to other board members;

 

    conflicts of interest; and

 

    practical and mature business judgment.

Currently, our board of directors evaluates, and following the consummation of this offering will evaluate, each individual in the context of the board of directors as a whole, with the objective of assembling a group that can best maximize the success of the business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment using its diversity of experience in these various areas.

 

116


Table of Contents

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we will adopt a code of business conduct and ethics that will apply to all of our employees, officers and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. Following the consummation of this offering, the code of business conduct and ethics will be available on our website. We expect that any amendments to the code, or any waivers of its requirements, will be disclosed on our website.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, will contain provisions that limit the liability of our directors for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Consequently, our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for:

 

    any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

    any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

    unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions as provided in Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or

 

    any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Each of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, will provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Our amended and restated bylaws will also obligate us to advance expenses incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of any action or proceeding, and permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in that capacity regardless of whether we would otherwise be permitted to indemnify him or her under Delaware law. We have entered and expect to continue to enter into agreements to indemnify our directors, executive officers and other employees as determined by our board of directors. With specified exceptions, these agreements provide for indemnification for related expenses including, among other things, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by any of these individuals in any action or proceeding. We believe that these bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and officers for breach of their fiduciary duty. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage.

Director Compensation

The following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our board of directors during the year ended December 31, 2014. Other than as set forth in the table

 

117


Table of Contents

below, in the year ended December 31, 2014 we did not grant any equity awards, or pay any other compensation to, any of the non-employee members of our board of directors. We reimburse our directors for travel and other necessary business expenses incurred in the performance of their services for us.

Dr. Dilly served as a non-employee member of our board of directors until his commencement of employment with us in April 2014. Dr. Walser served as a member of our board of directors during his employment with us, and following cessation of employment, as a non-employee member of our board of directors.

Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information for the year ended December 31, 2014 regarding the compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our non-employee directors:

 

Name (1)

  

Fees Earned or Paid
in Cash ($)

    

Total ($)

 

Patrick Enright

     25,000         25,000   

Walter Flamenbaum, M.D. (2)

     70,000         70,000   

Bryan Walser, M.D., J.D. (2)(3)

     —           —     

Joon Yun, M.D. (2)(4)

     —           —     

 

(1) The compensation that Dr. Dilly received during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 in his capacity as a director is reflected in the 2014 Summary Compensation Table below in accordance with SEC disclosure rules.

 

(2) Dr. Flamenbaum resigned from our Board in March 2015, Dr. Walser resigned from our Board in May 2015 and Dr. Yun resigned from our Board in April 2015.

 

(3) Dr. Walser did not receive any compensation for his role as a director. See the 2014 Summary Compensation Table below for information regarding his compensation as our former Chief Executive Officer and as a consultant to us.

 

(4) Dr. Yun was entitled to $25,000 cash compensation as a director. However, Dr. Yun requested that we not pay him his cash compensation.

As of December 31, 2014, (i) Patrick Enright held options to purchase 65,850 shares of our common stock; (ii) Dr. Bryan Walser held options to purchase 742,864 shares of our common stock, which he exercised in full; and (iii) Drs. Walter Flamenbaum and Joon Yun each held options to purchase 65,850 shares of our common stock. No other non-employee director held any outstanding equity awards as of December 31, 2014.

In July 2015, our board of directors approved a compensation policy for our non-employee directors to be effective in connection with the consummation of this offering, or the Post-IPO Director Compensation Program. Pursuant to the Post-IPO Director Compensation Program, our non-employee directors will receive cash compensation, paid quarterly in arrears, as follows:

 

    Each non-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $35,000.

 

    The chairperson of the board will receive additional annual cash compensation of $30,000 for such chairperson’s service on the board.

 

    The chairperson of the audit committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $20,000 for such chairperson’s service on the audit committee. Each non-chairperson member of the audit committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 for such member’s service on the audit committee.

 

118


Table of Contents
    The chairperson of the compensation committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $12,000 for such chairperson’s service on the compensation committee. Each non-chairperson member of the compensation committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $6,000 for such member’s service on the compensation committee.

 

    The chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $8,000 for such chairperson’s service on the nominating and corporate governance committee. Each non-chairperson member of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $4,000 for such member’s service on the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Under the Post-IPO Director Compensation Program, each non-employee director who is elected or appointed to our board of directors after the completion of this offering will automatically be granted an option to purchase 39,510 shares of our common stock upon the director’s initial appointment or election to our board of directors, referred to as the Initial Grant. In addition, each non-employee director who is serving on our board of directors immediately following an annual stockholder’s meeting will automatically be granted an annual option to purchase 19,755 shares of our common stock on the date of such annual stockholder’s meeting, referred to as the Annual Grant. The Initial Grant will vest as to 1/36th of the shares subject to the Initial Grant each month following the applicable grant date, subject to continued service through each applicable vesting date. The Annual Grant will vest as to all of the shares subject to the Annual Grant on the earlier of the first anniversary of the applicable grant date or the next annual stockholders’ meeting, subject to continued service through the vesting date. All equity awards, including any Initial Grants and Annual Grants, held by our non-employee directors will vest in full immediately prior to the occurrence of a change in control.

 

119


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Overview

This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the “2014 Summary Compensation Table” below. In 2014, our “named executive officers” and their positions were as follows:

 

    Dr. Stephen G. Dilly, Chief Executive Officer;

 

    Dr. Bryan Walser, Former Chief Executive Officer;

 

    Dr. Howard Raff, Chief Operating Officer; and

 

    Dr. Robert Elfont, Chief Medical Officer.

Dr. Walser served as our Chief Executive Officer through April 4, 2014. Dr. Dilly commenced employment with us in April 2014 and has served as our Chief Executive Officer since April 5, 2014.

2014 Summary Compensation Table

The following table shows information regarding the compensation of our named executive officers for services performed in the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

   

Salary($)

   

Bonus($)

   

Option
Awards
($) (1)

   

Non-Equity

Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)

   

All Other

Compensation

($)

   

Total($)

 

Dr. Stephen G. Dilly (2)

    2014      $ 262,500      $ 125,000      $ 57,181        —        $ 25,000 (3)     $ 469,681   

Chief Executive Officer

             

Dr. Bryan Walser (4)

    2014      $ 107,510        —          —          —        $ 406,994 (5)     $ 514,504   

Former Chief Executive Officer

             

Dr. Howard Raff.

    2014      $ 275,000      $ 55,000        —          —          —        $ 330,000   

Chief Operating Officer

             

Dr. Robert Elfont (6)

    2014      $ 219,984      $ 55,000      $ 30,171        —          —        $ 305,155   

Chief Medical Officer

             

 

(1) Amounts reported in the Option Awards column represent the grant date fair values of stock options granted during 2014, calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 718. For a discussion of the assumptions used to calculate the value of our stock options, see Note 7 to our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

(2) Dr. Dilly commenced employment with us in April 2014.

 

(3) Represents cash director fees of $25,000 in respect of Dr. Dilly’s service as a director prior to his commencement of employment with us during the year ended December 31, 2014.

 

(4) Dr. Walser’s employment with us terminated on April 4, 2014.

 

(5) Represents (a) the following severance payments and benefits: (i) continued payment of Dr. Walser’s base salary for twelve months following termination ($300,000), (ii) Company-paid COBRA coverage for up to twelve months following termination (valued at $10,494) and (iii) his target annual bonus for the year of termination ($90,000), and (b) consulting fees equal to $6,500.

 

(6) Dr. Elfont commenced employment with us in March 2014.

 

120


Table of Contents

Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table

2014 Salaries

The named executive officers receive a base salary to compensate them for services rendered to us. The base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities. The actual base salaries paid to each named executive officer for 2014 are set forth in the 2014 Summary Compensation Table above. For 2014, Dr. Dilly’s annual base salary was $350,000, Dr. Walser’s annual base salary was $300,000, Dr. Elfont’s annual base salary was $265,000 and Dr. Raff’s annual base salary was $275,000.

2014 Bonuses

During 2014, each of Drs. Dilly, Raff and Elfont were eligible to receive annual cash bonuses pursuant to their respective employment letters or Board approved compensation arrangements with the Company. The 2014 annual bonuses for Drs. Dilly, Elfont and Raff were targeted at 40%, 20% and 20% of their respective base salaries. The annual bonuses, which are determined by the board of directors, are discretionary and are not based on pre-determined Company or individual goals or metrics. Instead, the board determines individual bonus amounts at the end of each fiscal year based on a comprehensive assessment of the applicable executive’s performance and the Company’s operational and financial performance. In determining 2014 annual bonuses, the board considered each named executive officer’s individual performance and the Company’s financial and operational performance during 2014.

The actual 2014 annual bonuses paid to each of Drs. Dilly, Raff and Elfont for 2014 are set forth in the 2014 Summary Compensation Table above.

Dr. Walser, whose employment with us terminated on April 4, 2014, became entitled to his 2014 target annual bonus pursuant to the terms of his settlement agreement with the Company, described below under “Executive Compensation Arrangements—Bryan Walser Agreements.”

Equity Compensation

We have historically granted stock options under our 2013 Stock Plan, as amended, to our named executive officers. Our stock options generally may be exercised in full at any time, subject to a right of repurchase upon a termination of the applicable executive’s employment prior to the final vesting date of the underlying stock option.

During 2014, Drs. Dilly and Elfont received grants of stock options covering 563,672 shares and 299,002 shares of our common stock, respectively, under our 2013 Stock Plan. These stock options vest over a four-year period, with 25% of the shares subject to the option vesting on the first anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date and one-forty-eighth of the shares subject to the option vesting on each monthly anniversary of the vesting commencement date thereafter, subject to the applicable executive officer’s continued service through the vesting date. For additional information about the 2013 Stock Plan, please see “2013 Stock Plan” below.

In April 2014, in connection with Dr. Walser’s termination as our Chief Executive Officer, our board of directors modified his outstanding vested stock options to provide for such options to remain exercisable for six (6) months following his termination of employment with us.

In connection with this offering, we adopted the 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan in order to facilitate the grant of cash and equity incentives to directors, employees (including our named executive officers) and consultants of our company and certain of its affiliates and to enable our company and certain of its affiliates to obtain and retain services of these individuals, which is essential to our long-term success. We expect that the

 

121


Table of Contents

2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan will be effective on the date on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, subject to approval of such plan by our stockholders. For additional information about the 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, please see “2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan” below.

Other Elements of Compensation

Retirement Plan

We maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan for the benefit of our employees, including our named executive officers, who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Under the 401(k) plan, eligible employees may elect to defer a portion of their compensation, within the limits prescribed by the Internal Revenue Code, on a pre-tax or after-tax (Roth) basis through contributions to the 401(k) plan. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings though our 401(k) plan adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our employees, including our named executive officers, in accordance with our compensation policies.

Employee Benefits and Perquisites

All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans, including medical, dental and vision benefits, medical flexible spending accounts, short-term and long-term disability insurance and life insurance. We do not provide our named executive officers with perquisites or other personal benefits, other than the retirement, health and welfare benefits that apply uniformly to all of our employees.

No Tax Gross-Ups

We are not required to make gross-up payments to cover our named executive officers’ personal income taxes that may pertain to any of the compensation or perquisites paid or provided by our company.

 

122


Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

The following table sets forth specified information concerning the outstanding equity awards held by each of the named executive officers as of December 31, 2014.

 

                Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Grant
Date
    Vesting
Commence-
ment Date
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
(1)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number
of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
(#)
    Market
Value of
Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
($) (2)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares,
Units or
Other
Rights
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
 

Dr. Stephen G. Dilly

    8/22/2013        4/1/2013        —          —          —          —          —          31,746 (3)     $ 4,580        —          —     

Chief Executive Officer

    12/5/2013        4/1/2013        —          —          —          —          —          23,810 (3)     $ 3,435        —          —     
    9/30/2014        4/1/2014        —          —          —          —          —          563,672 (4)     $ 81,319        —          —     

Dr. Bryan Walser

    8/22/2013        12/2/2011        742,864 (5)       —          —        $ 0.14        8/21/2023           

Former Chief Executive Officer

                     

Dr. Howard Raff

    8/22/2013        7/1/2012        —          —          —            8/21/2024        169,645 (4)     $ 24,474        —          —     

Chief Operating Officer

                     

Dr. Robert Elfont

    9/30/2014        3/1/2014        299,002 (5)       —          —        $ 0.14        9/29/2024        —          —          —          —     

Chief Medical Officer

                     

 

(1) Stock options are exercisable immediately, in whole or in part, conditioned upon the holder entering into a restricted stock purchase agreement with respect to any unvested shares.

 

(2) Based on the per share price of our common stock as of December 31, 2014 ($0.14 per share).

 

(3) Represents shares of Company common stock acquired upon the early exercise of stock options by the applicable holder. One-twenty-fourth of the shares are released from the Company’s right of repurchase on each monthly anniversary of the vesting commencement date, subject to the applicable executive’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

 

(4) Represents shares of Company common stock acquired upon the early exercise of stock options by the applicable holder. One-fourth of the shares are released from the Company’s right of repurchase on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date and 1/48 th of the shares are released from the Company’s right of repurchase on each monthly anniversary of the vesting commencement date thereafter, subject to the applicable executive’s continued service through the applicable vesting date.

 

(5) Represents stock options which vest as to as to 1/4 th of the shares subject thereto on the first anniversary of the vesting commencement date, and as to 1/48 th of the shares subject thereto on each monthly anniversary of the vesting commencement date thereafter, subject to the applicable executive’s continued service through the applicable vesting date. The applicable holder may exercise the stock option in full at any time, subject to a right of repurchase upon a termination of his employment prior to the fourth anniversary of the grant date.

Executive Compensation Arrangements

Howard Raff Offer Letter

Under Dr. Raff’s offer of employment letter with the Company, dated July 2, 2012, Dr. Raff receives an annual base salary of $275,000. In addition, Dr. Raff is eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan, with an annual bonus targeted at 20% of his base salary, and customary benefit plans available to similarly situated executives. Dr. Raff is not entitled to any severance benefits under his offer of employment letter with the Company.

Robert Elfont Offer Letter

Under Dr. Elfont’s offer of employment letter with the Company, dated February 24, 2014, Dr. Elfont receives an annual base salary of $265,000. In addition, Dr. Elfont is eligible to participate in the Company’s annual bonus plan,

 

123


Table of Contents

with an annual bonus targeted at 20% of his base salary, and customary benefit plans available to similarly situated executives. Dr. Elfont is not entitled to any severance benefits under his offer of employment letter with the Company.

Bryan Walser Agreements

In connection with his termination of employment in April 2014, we entered into a settlement agreement with Dr. Walser, or the Walser Agreement, pursuant to which he became entitled to receive certain severance payments and benefits. Pursuant to the Walser Agreement, upon his termination of employment with us, subject to his execution and non-revocation of a general release of claims, Dr. Walser became entitled to receive (i) continued payment of his base salary for twelve months following termination, (ii) Company-paid COBRA coverage for up to six months following termination and (iii) his target annual bonus for the year of termination. In addition, pursuant to the Walser Agreement we modified Dr. Walser’s outstanding vested stock options to provide for such options to remain exercisable for six months following cessation of services to the Company.

In connection with Dr. Walser’s termination of employment with the Company in April 2014, we entered into a consulting agreement with Dr. Walser, or the Walser Consulting Agreement, pursuant to which he provided consulting services to the Company from April 4, 2014 through October 4, 2014. Pursuant to the Walser Consulting Agreement, Dr. Walser was entitled to a consulting fee equal to $2,000 for each day during which he provided consulting services to us (or, if less, $250 per hour multiplied by the number of hours worked during such day), as well as reimbursement for ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in connection with his performance of the consulting services. The Walser Consulting Agreement includes confidentiality restrictions effective during the term of Dr. Walser’s consulting relationship with the Company, as well as non-solicit restrictions effective during the term of Dr. Walser’s consulting relationship with the Company and for a period of two years thereafter.

Executive Employment Agreements

In connection with this offering, we have entered into executive employment agreements with each of our current executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer. These agreements supersede the existing offer letters of employment for each of Drs. Elfont and Raff. The agreements are substantially similar other than the level of pay and benefits provided to each executive officer and specify that each executive officer is an at-will employee. The agreements provide for Drs. Dilly, Elfont and Raff be provided an annual base salary of $400,000, $331,250 and $300,000, respectively, and an annual target bonus of 40%, 30% and 30%, respectively, of base salary. Under the agreements, if an executive officer is terminated by us without “cause” or resigns for “good reason”, then in exchange for providing us a general release of claims, the executive officer is entitled to receive continued base salary payments for nine months or, in the case of Dr. Dilly, twelve months and reimbursement of premiums for continued healthcare coverage for nine months or, in the case of Dr. Dilly, twelve months. In addition, the vesting of equity awards, including stock options, held by each executive officer accelerates by six months and any vested stock options remain exercisable for twelve months after his termination of employment or resignation. If the termination or resignation occurs during the period commencing three months prior to a change in control and ending twelve months after a change in control, then, in lieu of the foregoing benefits, each executive officer is entitled to receive a cash lump sum payment equal to twelve months’ or, in the case of Dr. Dilly, eighteen months’ base salary, target bonus and reimbursement of continued healthcare coverage premiums. In addition, the vesting of each equity award, including stock option, held by each executive officer accelerates with respect to all of the shares subject thereto and any stock options remain exercisable for twelve months following such termination or resignation.

For the purposes of the employment agreements, “cause” means any of the following events: (a) the executive officer’s theft, dishonesty or falsification of any employment or company records that is non-trivial in nature; (b) the executive officer’s malicious or reckless disclosure of our confidential or proprietary information or any material breach by the executive officer of his obligations under the proprietary information and invention assignment agreement with us; (c) the conviction of the executive officer of a felony (excluding motor vehicle

 

124


Table of Contents

violations) or the commission of gross negligence or willful misconduct, where a majority of the non-employee members of our board of directors reasonably determines that such act or misconduct has (i) seriously undermined the ability of the board of directors or management to entrust the executive officer with important matters or otherwise work effectively with the executive officer, (ii) substantially contributed to our loss of significant revenues or business opportunities, or (iii) significantly and detrimentally affected our business or reputation; and/or (d) the willful failure or refusal by the executive officer to follow the reasonable and lawful directives of our board of directors, provided such willful failure or refusal continues after the executive officer’s receipt of reasonable notice in writing of such failure or refusal and a reasonable opportunity of not less than 30 days to correct the problem.

The employment agreements provide that “good reason” means any of the following are undertaken without the executive officer’s prior written consent: (a) a material diminution in the executive officer’s authority, duties, or responsibilities which substantially reduces the nature or character of the executive officer’s position with us; (b) a material reduction by us of the executive officer’s base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (c) a relocation of the executive officer’s principal office to a location that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than thirty-five (35) miles; or (d) any material breach by us of any provision of his employment agreement, in each case, subject to notice and cure requirements.

The employment agreements provide for “change in control” to have the same definition as in the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan.

Equity Compensation Plans

2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan

In connection with this offering, we adopted the 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, or 2015 Plan, which will be effective on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The principal purpose of the 2015 Plan is to attract, retain and motivate selected employees, consultants and directors through the granting of stock-based compensation awards and cash-based performance bonus awards. The material terms of the 2015 Plan, as it is currently contemplated, are summarized below.

Share Reserve. Under the 2015 Plan, an aggregate of 4,681,544 shares of our common stock will be initially reserved for issuance pursuant to a variety of stock-based compensation awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, or SARs, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, deferred stock awards, dividend equivalent awards, stock payment awards and performance awards. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance or transfer pursuant to awards under the 2015 Plan will be increased by (i) the number of shares represented by awards outstanding under our 2013 Stock Plan that are forfeited or lapse unexercised following the effective date and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning in 2016 and ending in 2025, equal to the lesser of (A) four percent (4.0%) of the shares of stock outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of shares of stock as determined by our board of directors; provided, however, that no more than 35,000,000 shares of stock may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options.

The following counting provisions will be in effect for the share reserve under the 2015 Plan:

 

    to the extent that an award terminates, expires or lapses for any reason or an award is settled in cash without the delivery of shares, any shares subject to the award at such time will be available for future grants under the 2015 Plan;

 

    to the extent shares are tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant, exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any award under the 2015 Plan, such tendered or withheld shares will be available for future grants under the 2015 Plan;

 

125


Table of Contents
    to the extent that shares of our common stock are repurchased by us prior to vesting so that shares are returned to us, such shares will be available for future grants under the 2015 Plan;

 

    the payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding awards will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan; and

 

    to the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by us or any of our subsidiaries will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2015 Plan.

Awards granted under the 2015 Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, awards authorized or outstanding under a qualifying equity plan maintained by an entity with which the company enters into a merger or similar corporate transaction will not reduce the shares available for grant under the 2015 Plan.

Administration. The compensation committee of the company’s board of directors is expected to administer the 2015 Plan. The board or compensation committee may delegate their duties and responsibilities to committees of directors and/or officers, subject to certain limitations that may be imposed under Section 162(m) of the Code, Section 16 of the Exchange Act and/or stock exchange rules. The plan administrator must consist of at least two members of our board of directors, each of whom is intended to qualify as an “outside director,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, a “non-employee director” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and an “independent director” within the meaning of the rules of the applicable stock exchange, or other principal securities market on which shares of our common stock are traded. The 2015 Plan provides that the board or compensation committee may delegate its authority to grant awards to employees other than executive officers and certain senior executives of the company to a committee consisting of one or more members of our board of directors or one or more of our officers, other than awards made to our non-employee directors, which must be approved by our full board of directors. Our board of directors may at any time remove the compensation committee as the administrator and revest in itself the authority to administer the 2015 Plan.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the 2015 Plan, the administrator has the authority to select the persons to whom awards are to be made, to determine the number of shares to be subject to awards and the terms and conditions of awards and to make all other determinations and to take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2015 Plan. The administrator is also authorized to adopt, amend or rescind rules relating to administration of the 2015 Plan.

Eligibility. Options, SARs, restricted stock and all other stock-based and cash-based awards under the 2015 Plan may be granted to individuals who are then our officers, employees or consultants or are the officers, employees or consultants of certain of our subsidiaries. Such awards also may be granted to our directors. Only employees of our company or certain of our subsidiaries may be granted incentive stock options, or ISOs.

Awards. The 2015 Plan provides that the administrator may grant or issue stock options, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock, dividend equivalents, performance awards, stock payments and other stock-based and cash-based awards, or any combination thereof. Each award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the person receiving the award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of the award.

 

    Nonstatutory Stock Options , or NSOs, will provide for the right to purchase shares of our common stock at a specified price which may not be less than fair market value on the date of grant, and usually will become exercisable (at the discretion of the administrator) in one or more installments after the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued employment or service with us and/or subject to the satisfaction of corporate performance targets and individual performance targets established by the administrator. NSOs may be granted for any term specified by the administrator that does not exceed ten years.

 

126


Table of Contents
    Incentive Stock Options , or ISOs, will be designed in a manner intended to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and will be subject to specified restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, may only be granted to employees and must not be exercisable after a period of ten years measured from the date of grant. In the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the 2015 Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the ISO must not be exercisable after a period of five years measured from the date of grant.

 

    Restricted Stock may be granted to any eligible individual and made subject to such restrictions as may be determined by the administrator. Restricted stock, typically, may be forfeited for no consideration or repurchased by us at the original purchase price if the conditions or restrictions on vesting are not met. In general, restricted stock may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions are removed or expire. Purchasers of restricted stock, unlike recipients of options, will have voting rights and will have the right to receive dividends, if any, prior to the time when the restrictions lapse, however, extraordinary dividends will generally be placed in escrow, and will not be released until restrictions are removed or expire.

 

    Restricted Stock Units may be awarded to any eligible individual, typically without payment of consideration, but subject to vesting conditions based on continued employment or service or on performance criteria established by the administrator. Like restricted stock, restricted stock units may not be sold, or otherwise transferred or hypothecated, until vesting conditions are removed or expire. Unlike restricted stock, stock underlying restricted stock units will not be issued until the restricted stock units have vested, and recipients of restricted stock units generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

 

    Deferred Stock Awards represent the right to receive shares of our common stock on a future date. Deferred stock may not be sold or otherwise hypothecated or transferred until issued. Deferred stock will not be issued until the deferred stock award has vested, and recipients of deferred stock generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time when the vesting conditions are satisfied and the shares are issued. Deferred stock awards generally will be forfeited, and the underlying shares of deferred stock will not be issued, if the applicable vesting conditions and other restrictions are not met.

 

    Stock Appreciation Rights , or SARs, may be granted in connection with stock options or other awards, or separately. SARs granted in connection with stock options or other awards typically will provide for payments to the holder based upon increases in the price of our common stock over a set exercise price. The exercise price of any SAR granted under the 2015 Plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. Except as required by Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to a SAR intended to qualify as performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m) of the Code, there are no restrictions specified in the 2015 Plan on the exercise of SARs or the amount of gain realizable therefrom, although restrictions may be imposed by the administrator in the SAR agreements. SARs under the 2015 Plan will be settled in cash or shares of our common stock, or in a combination of both, at the election of the administrator.

 

    Dividend Equivalents represent the value of the dividends, if any, per share paid by us, calculated with reference to the number of shares covered by the award. Dividend equivalents may be settled in cash or shares and at such times as determined by the compensation committee or board of directors, as applicable.

 

127


Table of Contents
    Performance Awards may be granted by the administrator on an individual or group basis. Generally, these awards will be based upon specific performance targets and may be paid in cash or in common stock or in a combination of both. Performance awards may include “phantom” stock awards that provide for payments based upon the value of our common stock. Performance awards may also include bonuses that may be granted by the administrator on an individual or group basis and which may be payable in cash or in common stock or in a combination of both.

 

    Stock Payments may be authorized by the administrator in the form of common stock or an option or other right to purchase common stock as part of a deferred compensation or other arrangement in lieu of all or any part of compensation, including bonuses, that would otherwise be payable in cash to the employee, consultant or non-employee director.

Change in Control. In the event of a change in control where the acquiror does not assume or replace awards granted, prior to the consummation of such transaction, awards issued under the 2015 Plan will be subject to accelerated vesting such that 100% of such awards will become vested and exercisable or payable, as applicable. In the event that within the twelve (12) month period immediately following a change in control, a the holder of an award under the 2015 Plan is terminated other than cause or by the leaves the company for good reason, then the vesting and, if applicable, exercisability of one hundred percent (100%) of the then-unvested shares subject to the outstanding awards shall accelerate upon the termination date. In addition, the administrator will also have complete discretion to structure one or more awards under the 2015 Plan to provide that such awards will become vested and exercisable or payable on an accelerated basis in the event such awards are assumed or replaced with equivalent awards but the individual’s service with us or the acquiring entity is subsequently terminated within a designated period following the change in control event. The administrator may also make appropriate adjustments to awards under the 2015 Plan and is authorized to provide for the acceleration, cash-out, termination, assumption, substitution or conversion of such awards in the event of a change in control or certain other unusual or nonrecurring events or transactions. Under the 2015 Plan, a change in control is generally defined as:

 

    the transfer or exchange in a single transaction or series of related transactions by our stockholders of more than 50% of our voting stock to a person or group;

 

    a change in the composition of our board of directors over a two-year period such that 50% or more of the members of the board of directors were elected through one or more contested elections;

 

    a merger, consolidation, reorganization or business combination in which we are involved, directly or indirectly, other than a merger, consolidation, reorganization or business combination which results in our outstanding voting securities immediately before the transaction continuing to represent a majority of the voting power of the acquiring company’s outstanding voting securities and after which no person or group beneficially owns 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity immediately after the transaction;

 

    the sale, exchange or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets; or

 

    stockholder approval of our liquidation or dissolution.

Adjustments of Awards. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off, recapitalization, distribution of our assets to stockholders (other than normal cash dividends) or any other corporate event affecting the number of outstanding shares of our common stock or the share price of our common stock other than an equity restructuring (as defined below), the administrator will make appropriate, proportionate adjustments to:

 

    the aggregate number and type of shares subject to the 2015 Plan;

 

128


Table of Contents
    the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards and terms and conditions of outstanding awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect to such awards); and

 

    the grant or exercise price per share of any outstanding awards under the 2015 Plan.

In the event of one of the adjustments described above or other corporate transactions, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the potential benefits intended to be made available under the 2015 Plan, the administrator has the discretion to make such equitable adjustments and may also:

 

    provide for the termination or replacement of an award in exchange for cash or other property;

 

    provide that any outstanding award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event;

 

    provide that awards may be exercisable, payable or fully vested as to shares of common stock covered thereby; or

 

    provide that an award under the 2015 Plan cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

In the event of an equity restructuring, the administrator will make appropriate, proportionate adjustments to the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable. In addition, the administrator will make equitable adjustments, as the administrator in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such equity restructuring, with respect to the aggregate number and type of shares subject to the 2015 Plan. The adjustments upon an equity restructuring are nondiscretionary and will be final and binding on the affected holders and the Company.

For purposes of the 2015 Plan, “equity restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between us and our stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of shares (or other securities) or the share price of our common stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the common stock underlying outstanding stock-based awards granted under the 2015 Plan.

Foreign Participants, Claw-Back Provisions and Transferability . The plan administrator may modify award terms, establish subplans and/or adjust other terms and conditions of awards, subject to the share limits described above, in order to facilitate grants of awards subject to the laws and/or stock exchange rules of countries outside of the United States. All awards will be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable award agreement. With limited exceptions for estate planning, domestic relations orders, certain beneficiary designations and the laws of descent and distribution, awards under the 2015 Plan are generally non-transferable prior to vesting unless otherwise determined by the plan administrator, and are exercisable only by the participant.

Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors or the compensation committee (with board approval) may terminate, amend or modify the 2015 Plan at any time and from time to time. However, we must generally obtain stockholder approval:

 

    to increase the number of shares available under the 2015 Plan (other than in connection with the automatic annual increases and certain corporate events, in each case, as described above);

 

    to reduce the price per share of any outstanding option or SAR granted under the 2015 Plan;

 

    to cancel any outstanding option or SAR in exchange for cash or another award when the option or SAR price per share exceeds the fair market value of the underlying shares; or

 

129


Table of Contents
    to the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation (including any applicable stock exchange rule).

Termination. The board of directors may terminate the 2015 Plan at any time. No incentive stock options may be granted pursuant to the 2015 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2015 Plan, and no additional annual share increases to the 2015 Plan’s aggregate share limit will occur from and after such anniversary. Any award that is outstanding on the termination date of the 2015 Plan will remain in force according to the terms of the 2015 Plan and the applicable award agreement.

We intend to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 covering the shares of our common stock issuable under the 2015 Plan.

2013 Stock Plan

We currently maintain the 2013 Stock Plan, as amended, or the 2013 Plan. The purposes of the 2013 Plan are to attract, retain and provide additional incentives to eligible employees, officers, directors and consultants and to promote the success of our business. The material terms of the 2013 Plan, as amended, are summarized below.

Share Reserve. The 2013 Plan reserved an aggregate of 6,969,545 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to awards of stock options, restricted stock purchase rights and restricted stock bonuses. The following counting provisions are in effect for the share reserve under the 2013 Plan:

 

    to the extent that an award terminates, expires or is canceled for any reason, any shares subject to the award at such time will be available for future grants under the 2013 Plan; and

 

    to the extent shares are subject to an award that is settled in cash or withheld or reacquired by the Company in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations, such shares will be available for future grants under the 2013 Plan.

Administration. The Company’s board of directors administers the 2013 Plan. Subject to the terms and conditions of the 2013 Plan, the plan administrator has the authority to select the persons to whom awards are to be made, to determine the types of awards granted, the number of shares to be subject to awards and the terms and conditions of awards, and to adopt, amend or rescind rules relating to administration of the 2013 Plan.

Eligibility. Awards under the 2013 Plan may be granted to individuals who are then our officers, employees or consultants or are the officers, employees or consultants of certain of our parents and subsidiaries. Such awards also may be granted to our directors. Only employees of our company or certain of our subsidiaries may be granted ISOs.

Awards. The 2015 Plan provides that the administrator may grant or issue stock options, restricted stock purchase rights, restricted stock bonuses or any combination thereof. Each award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the person receiving the award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of the award.

 

    Nonstatutory Stock Options , or NSOs, provide for the right to purchase shares of our common stock at a specified price which may not be less than fair market value on the date of grant, and usually will become exercisable (at the discretion of the administrator) in one or more installments after the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued employment or service with us and/or subject to the satisfaction of corporate performance targets and individual performance targets established by the administrator. NSOs may be granted for any term specified by the administrator that does not exceed ten years.

 

130


Table of Contents
    Incentive Stock Options , or ISOs, are intended to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and will be subject to specified restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, may only be granted to employees, and must not be exercisable after a period of ten years measured from the date of grant. In the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the 2013 Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the ISO must not be exercisable after a period of five years measured from the date of grant.

 

    Restricted Stock Bonuses may be awarded to any eligible individual and made subject to such restrictions as may be determined by the administrator. Restricted stock bonuses may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions are removed or expire. Restricted stock bonuses may not be sold or otherwise transferred until vesting conditions are removed or expire. Recipients of restricted stock bonuses generally will have no dividend rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

 

    Restricted Stock Purchase Rights represent the right to purchase shares of Company common stock for a per share purchase price determined by the administrator. Restricted stock purchase rights are exercisable during a specified period, typically thirty days following the grant date, established by the administrator. Like restricted stock bonuses, restricted stock purchase rights are typically subject to such vesting conditions based on continued employment or service or on performance criteria established by the administrator. Restricted stock purchase rights may not be sold or otherwise transferred until vesting conditions are removed or expire. Recipients of restricted stock purchase rights generally will have no dividend rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

Change in Control. In the event of a change in control of the Company, the board of directors may provide that (i) outstanding awards will vest and, if applicable, become exercisable in full, (ii) the acquiror will assume or replace awards granted, awards issued under the 2013 Plan; provided that any such awards that are not assumed or replaced will terminate upon such change in control; or (iii) outstanding awards will be cancelled in exchange for cash or other property.

280G Best Pay Provision . The 2013 Plan includes a Section 280G “best pay” provision, whereby if any accelerated vesting or other payments or benefits received by a participant in connection with a change in control of the Company would subject a participant to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, the participant may elect to receive either (i) the full amount of such payments and benefits or (ii) a reduced amount of such payments or benefits that will not result in the imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (whichever results in the greater after-tax benefit to the participant).

Adjustments of Awards. In the event of any change in Company common stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the administrator will make appropriate, proportionate adjustments to:

 

    the aggregate number and type of shares subject to the 2013 Plan;

 

    the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding awards; and

 

    the purchase or exercise price per share of any outstanding awards under the 2013 Plan.

Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may terminate, amend or suspend the 2013 Plan at any time and from time to time. However, we must generally obtain stockholder approval:

 

    to increase the number of shares available under the 2013 Plan (other than in connection with certain corporate events, as described above);

 

131


Table of Contents
    to change the individuals eligible to receive incentive stock options; or

 

    to the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation (including any applicable stock exchange rule).

2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In connection with this offering, we will adopt the 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we refer to as our ESPP, which will be effective on the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The ESPP is designed to allow our eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock, at semi-annual intervals, with their accumulated payroll deductions. The ESPP is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code.

Plan Administration . Subject to the terms and conditions of the ESPP, our compensation committee will administer the ESPP. Our compensation committee can delegate administrative tasks under the ESPP to the services of an agent and/or employees to assist in the administration of the ESPP. The administrator will have the discretionary authority to administer and interpret the ESPP. Interpretations and constructions of the administrator of any provision of the ESPP or of any rights thereunder will be conclusive and binding on all persons. We will bear all expenses and liabilities incurred by the ESPP administrator.

Shares Available Under ESPP . The maximum number of our shares of our common stock which will be authorized for sale under the ESPP is equal to the sum of (a) 390,128 shares of common stock and (b) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2016 and ending in 2025, equal to the lesser of (i) one percent (1.0%) of the shares of common stock outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) such number of shares of common stock as determined by our board of directors; provided, however, no more than 8,000,000 shares of our common stock may be issued under the ESPP. The shares made available for sale under the ESPP may be authorized but unissued shares or reacquired shares reserved for issuance under the ESPP.

Eligible Employees . Employees eligible to participate in the ESPP for a given offering period generally include employees who are employed by us or one of our designated subsidiaries on the first day of the offering period, or the enrollment date. Our employees and any employees of our subsidiaries who customarily work less than five months in a calendar year or are customarily scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week will not be eligible to participate in the ESPP. Finally, an employee who owns (or is deemed to own through attribution) 5% or more of the combined voting power or value of all our classes of stock or of one of our subsidiaries will not be allowed to participate in the ESPP.

Participation . Employees will enroll under the ESPP by completing a payroll deduction form permitting the deduction from their compensation of at least 1% of their compensation but not more than the lesser of 15% of their compensation and $30,000 per offering period. Such payroll deductions are expressed as a whole number percentage and the accumulated deductions will be applied to the purchase of shares on each semi-annual purchase date. However, a participant may not purchase more than 10,000 shares in each offering period, and may not subscribe for more than $25,000 in fair market value of shares our common stock (determined at the time the option is granted) per calendar year falling in the offering period. The ESPP administrator has the authority to change these limitations for any subsequent offering period.

Offering . Under the ESPP, participants are offered the option to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount during a series of successive offering periods. The offering periods will commence and end on dates as determined by the ESPP administrator. However, in no event may an offering period be longer than 27 months in length.

 

132


Table of Contents

The option purchase price will be the lower of 85% of the closing trading price per share of our common stock on the first trading date of an offering period in which a participant is enrolled or 85% of the closing trading price per share on the semi-annual purchase date, which will occur on the last trading day of each offering period.

Unless a participant has previously canceled his or her participation in the ESPP before the purchase date, the participant will be deemed to have exercised his or her option in full as of each purchase date. Upon exercise, the participant will purchase the number of whole shares that his or her accumulated payroll deductions will buy at the option purchase price, subject to the participation limitations listed above.

A participant may cancel his or her payroll deduction authorization at any time prior to the end of the offering period. Upon cancellation, the participant will have the option to either (a) receive a refund of the participant’s account balance in cash without interest or (b) exercise the participant’s option for the current offering period for the maximum number of shares of common stock on the applicable purchase date, with the remaining account balance refunded in cash without interest. Following at least one payroll deduction, a participant may also decrease (but not increase) his or her payroll deduction authorization once during any offering period. If a participant wants to increase or decrease the rate of payroll withholding, he or she may do so effective for the next offering period by submitting a new form before the offering period for which such change is to be effective.

A participant may not assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution) payroll deductions credited to a participant’s account or any rights to exercise an option or to receive shares of our common stock under the ESPP, and during a participant’s lifetime, options in the ESPP shall be exercisable only by such participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will not be given effect.

Adjustments upon Changes in Recapitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale . In the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of our common stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the common stock or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of common stock effected without receipt of consideration by us, we will proportionately adjust the aggregate number of shares of our common stock offered under the ESPP, the number and price of shares which any participant has elected to purchase pursuant under the ESPP and the maximum number of shares which a participant may elect to purchase in any single offering period.

If there is a proposal to dissolve or liquidate us, then the ESPP will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, and any offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new purchase date to take place before the date of our dissolution or liquidation. We will notify each participant of such change in writing at least ten business days prior to the new exercise date. If we undergo a merger with or into another corporation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or the parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume the outstanding options or substitute equivalent options, then any offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new purchase date to take place before the date of our proposed sale or merger. We will notify each participant of such change in writing at least ten business days prior to the new exercise date.

Amendment and Termination . Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the ESPP at any time. However, the board of directors may not amend the ESPP without obtaining stockholder approval within 12 months before or after such amendment to the extent required by applicable laws. The ESPP will terminate on the 10th anniversary of the date of its initial approval of our stockholders, unless earlier terminated.

We intend to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 covering our shares issuable under the ESPP.

 

133


Table of Contents

Rule 10b5-1 Sales Plans

Our directors and executive officers may adopt written plans, known as Rule 10b5-1 plans, in which they will contract with a broker to buy or sell shares of common stock on a periodic basis. Under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, a broker executes trades pursuant to parameters established by the director or officer when entering into the plan, without further direction from the director or executive officer. The director or executive officer may amend or terminate the plan in limited circumstances. Our directors and executive officers may also buy or sell additional shares of common stock outside of a Rule 10b5-1 plan when they are not in possession of material, nonpublic information.

 

134


Table of Contents

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following is a description of transactions since January 1, 2012 to which we have been a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or an affiliate or immediate family member thereof, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Sales and Purchases of Securities

Convertible Promissory Note

In June 2012, we entered into an unsecured convertible promissory note in aggregate principal amount of $750,000 with Food Allergy & Research Education, Inc. The note provided for an annual interest rate of 3% and a due date of December 31, 2013, but could be extended by mutual agreement for an additional year. Under the terms of the note, under certain circumstances, the balance of the note, including any accrued interest, would convert into preferred stock upon the closing of a future preferred stock financing that met specified criteria. Such conversion would be at a 15% discount to the per share price of the preferred stock sold in the financing. In February 2013, as part of the issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock, the note, plus $14,000 of accrued interest converted into 694,364 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock at a rate of $1.10 per share in full payment for the note and accrued interest.

Series A Preferred Stock Financing

In February and April 2013, we issued an aggregate of 13,263,967 shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock at a price per share of either (i) $1.29 in cash or (ii) with respect to 694,364 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock issued to Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. in exchange for the cancellation by Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. of a convertible promissory note issued by us, $1.10 in cancellation of indebtedness, for a total amount raised (including the cancellation of indebtedness) of $16.9 million, net of offering costs. The table below sets forth the number of shares of Series A preferred stock sold to our directors, executive officers or owners of more than 5% of a class of our capital stock, or an affiliate or immediate family member thereof:

 

Name

  

Number of Shares
of Series A
Preferred Stock

    

Purchase Price ($)

 

Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. (1)

     3,873,530         5,000,001   

Sunshine Charitable Foundation

     2,711,471         3,500,001   

Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. (2)

     2,708,600         3,364,487   

Explore Holdings LLC.

     2,324,117         3,000,000   

Winchester Partners, L.P. (3)

     774,705         1,000,000   

 

(1) Mr. Enright, who is a member of our board of directors, is a managing member of Longitude Capital Partners II, LLC, which is the general partner of Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P.

 

(2) Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. was a holder of more than 5% of a class of our capital stock at the time of the Series A convertible preferred stock financing.

 

(3) Winchester Partners, L.P. was a holder of more than 5% of a class of our capital stock at the time of the Series A convertible preferred stock financing.

Series B Preferred Stock Financing

In January and February 2015, we issued an aggregate of 14,047,996 shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock at a price per share of $5.69, for a total amount raised of $79.8 million, net of offering costs. The

 

135


Table of Contents

table below sets forth the number of shares of Series B convertible preferred stock sold to our directors, executive officers or owners of more than 5% of a class of our capital stock, or an affiliate or immediate family member thereof:

 

Name

  

Number of Shares
of Series B
Preferred Stock

    

Purchase Price ($)

 

Foresite Capital Fund II, L.P.

     3,775,400         21,500,003   

Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. (1)

     3,248,600         18,500,003   

Aisling Capital III, L.P.

     2,195,000         12,500,003   

Fidelity Select Portfolios: Biotechnology Portfolio, and its affiliated funds

     2,633,999         15,000,000   

 

(1) Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. was a holder of more than 5% of a class of our capital stock at the time of the Series B convertible preferred stock financing.

Series A Preferred Stock Repurchase

In January 2015, we repurchased an aggregate of 2,260,706 shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock at $5.69 per share for a total amount of $12,874,185, using proceeds from our Series B convertible preferred stock financing. The table below sets forth the number of shares of Series A convertible preferred stock purchased from our directors, executive officers or owners of more than 5% of a class of our capital stock, or an affiliate or immediate family member thereof:

 

Name

  

Number of Shares
of Series A
Preferred Stock

    

Purchase Price ($)

 

Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc (1) .

     1,354,300         7,712,415   

 

(1) Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. was a holder of more than 5% of a class of our capital stock at the time of the Series A convertible preferred stock repurchase.

Participation in this Offering

Certain of our existing institutional investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. Any such purchases, if completed, would be made on the same terms as the shares that are sold to the public generally and not pursuant to any pre-existing contractual rights or obligations. See the footnotes to the beneficial ownership table in “Principal Stockholders” for more details.

Consulting Agreements

In February 2015, we entered into a Consulting and Independent Contractor Agreement with Bryan L. Walser, M.D., J.D., a former member of our board of directors, or the 2015 Walser Consulting Agreement, under which Dr. Walser provides certain consulting services to us in connection with the development of additional oral immunotherapy product candidates. Pursuant to the 2015 Walser Consulting Agreement, Dr. Walser is entitled to a consulting fee equal to $300 per hour he provides consulting services to us, which is not to exceed 20 hours per week, as well as reimbursement for ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred in connection with his performance of the consulting services. The 2015 Walser Consulting Agreement includes confidentiality restrictions as well as non-solicit restrictions effective during the term of Dr. Walser’s consulting relationship with the Company and for a period of two years thereafter. This agreement terminates on December 31, 2015.

 

136


Table of Contents

Indemnification Agreements and Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance

We have entered into or intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. These agreements will require us to, among other things, indemnify each director and executive officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, penalties fines and settlement amounts incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of us, arising out of the person’s services as a director or executive officer. We have obtained an insurance policy that insures our directors and officers against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under applicable securities laws. For additional information see “Management—Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters.”

Investor Rights Agreements

We entered into an amended and restated investor rights agreement with the purchasers of our outstanding convertible preferred stock, including entities with which certain of our directors are affiliated. As of March 31, 2015, the holders of approximately 25.1 million shares of our common stock, including the shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of our convertible preferred stock, are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act. For a more detailed description of these registration rights, see “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.” The investor rights agreement also provides for a right of first refusal in favor of certain holders of convertible preferred stock with regard to certain issuances of our capital stock. The rights of first refusal will not apply to, and will terminate upon the consummation of, this offering.

Voting Agreement

We entered into an amended and restated voting agreement with certain holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock. Upon the consummation of this offering, the amended and restated voting agreement will terminate. For a description of the amended and restated voting agreement, see “Management—Board Composition—Voting Arrangements.”

Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement

We entered into an amended and restated right of first refusal and co-sale agreement with certain holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock. This agreement provides for rights of first refusal and co-sale relating to the shares of our common stock held by the parties to the agreement. Upon the consummation of this offering, the amended and restated right of first refusal and co-sale agreement will terminate.

Policies and Procedures for Related Party Transactions

Prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will adopt a written related person transaction policy, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering, setting forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy will cover, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which we were or are to be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including without limitation purchases of goods or services by or from the related person or entities in which the related person has a material interest, indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness and employment by us of a related person. In reviewing and approving any such transactions, our audit committee is tasked to consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including but not limited to whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. All of the transactions described in this section occurred prior to the adoption of this policy.

 

137


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth information relating to the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of July 24, 2015, by:

 

    each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock;

 

    each of our directors;

 

    each of our named executive officers; and

 

    all directors and executive officers as a group.

The number of shares beneficially owned by each entity, person, director or executive officer is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares over which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power as well as any shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days after July 24, 2015 through the exercise of any stock option, warrants or other rights. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock held by that person.

Certain of our existing institutional investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price and on the same terms as the other purchasers in this offering. However, because indications of interest are not binding agreements or commitments to purchase, these investors may determine to purchase fewer shares than they indicate an interest in purchasing or not to purchase any shares in this offering. It is also possible that these investors could indicate an interest in purchasing more shares of our common stock. In addition, the underwriters could determine to sell fewer shares to any of these investors than the investors indicate an interest in purchasing or not to sell any shares to these investors. The figures in the table below reflect the purchase of the shares in this offering (based on the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) by these potential investors in the amounts they have indicated an interest in purchasing.

 

138


Table of Contents

The percentage of shares beneficially owned is computed on the basis of 30,749,432 shares of our common stock outstanding as of July 24, 2015, which reflects the assumed conversion of all of our outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 25,051,257 shares of common stock. Shares of our common stock that a person has the right to acquire within 60 days after July 24, 2015 are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such rights, but are not deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person, except with respect to the percentage ownership of all directors and executive officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated below, the address for each beneficial owner listed is c/o Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., 8000 Marina Blvd, Suite 300, Brisbane, CA 94005.

 

   

Beneficial Ownership Prior to this Offering

   

Beneficial Ownership
After this Offering

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Number of
Outstanding
Shares
Beneficially
Owned

   

Number of
Shares
Exercisable
Within 60 Days

   

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned

   

Percentage
of Beneficial
Ownership

   

Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned

   

Percentage
of
Beneficial
Ownership

 

5% and Greater Stockholders:

           

Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. (1)

    7,122,130        0        7,122,130        23.16     7,455,463        19.08

Aisling Capital III, L.P. (2)

    2,195,000        0        2,195,000        7.14     2,861,666        7.32

Foresite Capital Fund II, L.P. (3)

    3,775,400        0        3,775,400        12.28     4,442,066        11.37

Entities affiliated with Fidelity Management & Research (4)

 

 

2,633,999

  

 

 

0

  

 

 

2,633,999

  

 

 

8.57

 

 

2,633,999

  

 

 

6.74

Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. (5)

    2,573,744        0        2,573,744        8.37     2,573,744        6.59

Explore Holdings LLC (6)

    2,324,117        0        2,324,117        7.56     2,324,117        5.95

Bryan L. Walser, M.D. (7)

    2,206,197        0        2,206,197        7.17     2,206,197        5.64

Sunshine Charitable Foundation (8)

    2,711,471        0        2,711,471        8.82     2,711,471        6.94

Executive Officers and Directors:

           

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S, Ph.D (9)

    897,008        595,942        1,492,950        4.76     1,492,950        3.76

Patrick G. Enright (10)

    7,122,130        118,270        7,240,400        23.46     7,573,733        19.32

Kathryn E. Falberg (11)

    69,894        0        69,894        *        69,894        *   

Mark T. Iwicki (12)

    0        139,789        139,789        *        139,789        *   

Mark D. McDade (13)

    0        104,842        104,842        *        104,842        *   

Stacey D. Seltzer (14)

    0        52,421        52,421        *        52,421        *   

Howard V. Raff, Ph.D. (15)

    428,575        98,775        527,350        1.71     527,350        1.35

Robert M. Elfont, M.D., Ph.D. (16)

    299,002        26,340        325,342        1.06     325,342        *   

All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons) (17)

    8,816,609        1,835,329        10,651,938        32.69     10,985,271        26.85
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

* Indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the total outstanding common stock.

 

(1) Consists of (a) 3,873,530 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock and (b) 3,248,600 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B convertible preferred stock. The number of shares beneficially owned after this offering assumes that the holder has purchased $5.0 million in shares, or 333,333 shares (based on the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). In the event that the holder does not purchase any shares in this offering, it will beneficially own 7,122,130 shares, or approximately 18.22% of the total outstanding common stock, after this offering. Longitude Capital Partners II, LLC (“Longitude Capital II”) is the general partner of Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. (“Longitude Venture II”). Longitude Capital II and Longitude Venture II may be deemed to have sole voting, investment and dispositive power over the shares held by Longitude Venture II. Patrick G. Enright and Juliett Tammenoms Bakker are the managing members of Longitude Capital II and in their capacity as such, may be deemed to exercise shared voting and investment power with respect to such shares. Each of Ms. Bakker and Mr. Enright disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his or her pecuniary interest therein. The address of Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. is 800 El Camino Real, Suite 220, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

 

139


Table of Contents
(2) Consists of 2,195,000 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B convertible preferred stock. The number of shares beneficially owned after this offering assumes that the holder has purchased $10.0 million in shares, or 666,666 shares (based on the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). In the event that the holder does not purchase any shares in this offering, it will beneficially own 2,195,000 shares, or approximately 5.62% of the total outstanding common stock, after this offering. Aisling Capital Partners III LLC (“Aisling Capital III”) is the general partner of Aisling Capital III, L.P. Steve Elms, Dennis J. Purcell and Andrew N. Schiff are the managing members of Aisling Capital III and in their capacity as such, may be deemed to have shared voting and investment power with respect to such shares. Each Mssrs. Elms, Pucell and Schiff disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. The address of Aisling Capital III, L.P. is 888 Seventh Avenue, 30 th Floor, New York, NY 10106.

 

(3) Consists of 3,775,400 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B convertible preferred stock. The number of shares beneficially owned after this offering assumes that the holder has purchased $10.0 million in shares, or 666,666 shares (based on the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus). In the event that the holder does not purchase any shares in this offering, it will beneficially own 3,775,400 shares, or approximately 9.66% of the total outstanding common stock, after this offering. Foresite Capital Management II, LLC (“Foresite Management II”) is the general partner of Foresite Capital Fund II, L.P. (“Foresite Capital II”). Foresite Management II may be deemed to have sole voting, investment and dispositive power over the shares held by Foresite Capital II. James Tananbaum is the managing member of Foresite Management II and in his capacity as such, may be deemed to exercise sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares. The address of Foresite Capital Fund II, L.P. is 101 California Street, Suite 4100, San Francisco, CA 94111.

 

(4) Consists of (a) 2,173,892 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B convertible preferred stock held by Fidelity Select Portfolios: Biotechnology Portfolio (“Fidelity Select Portfolios”) and (b) 460,107 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series B convertible preferred stock held by Fidelity Advisor Series VII: Fidelity Advisory Biotechnology Fund (“Fidelity Advisors,” and, together with Fidelity Select Portfolios, the “Fidelity Investments”). The Fidelity Investments are managed by direct or indirect subsidiaries of Fidelity Management and Research LLC (“FMR LLC”). Edward C. Johnson 3d is a Director and the Chairman of FMR LLC and Abigail P. Johnson is a Director, the Vice Chairman and the President of FMR LLC. Members of the family of Edward C. Johnson 3d, including Abigail P. Johnson, are the predominant owners, directly or through trusts, of Series B voting common shares of FMR LLC, representing 49% of the voting power of FMR LLC. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders have entered into a shareholders’ voting agreement under which all Series B voting common shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Series B voting common shares. Accordingly, through their ownership of voting common shares and the execution of the shareholders’ voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC. Neither FMR LLC nor Edward C. Johnson 3d nor Abigail P. Johnson has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the various investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act (“Fidelity Funds”) advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company (“FMR Co”), a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC, which power resides with the Fidelity Funds’ Boards of Trustees. Fidelity Management & Research Company carries out the voting of the shares under written guidelines established by the Fidelity Funds’ Boards of Trustees. The address of entities affiliated with Fidelity Investments is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02110.

 

(5) Consists of (a) 1,219,444 shares of common stock and (b) 1,354,300 shares of common stock issuable on conversion of Series A Preferred Stock. The Board of Directors of Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. (“FARE”) has sole voting, investment and dispositive power over such shares. The address of FARE is 7925 Jones Branch Dr. Suite 1100 McLean, VA 22102.

 

(6) Consists of 2,324,117 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock. Paul Dauber is the manager of Explore Holdings LLC and, in his capacity as such, may be deemed to have sole voting and investment power over such shares. The address of Explore Holdings LLC is Post Office Box 94314, Seattle, WA 98124.

 

(7) Consists of (a) 1,679,397 shares of common stock held by Dr. Walser individually, (b) 263,400 shares of common stock held by Bryan L. Walser, as Trustee of The Bryan L. Walser 2015 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust dated June 29, 2015 (“The Bryan Walser Trust”) and (c) 263,400 shares of common stock held by Bianca M. Walser, as Trustee of The Bianca M. Walser 2015 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust dated June 29, 2015 (“The Bianca Walser Trust”). Dr. Walser has sole voting, investment and dispositive power over the shares held by The Bryan Walser Trust. Ms. Walser has sole voting, investment and dispositive power over the shares held by The Bianca Walser Trust.

 

140


Table of Contents
(8) Consists of 2,711,471 shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A convertible preferred stock. The Board of Directors of Sunshine Charitable Foundation has sole voting, investment and dispositive power over such shares. The address of Sunshine Charitable Foundation is 225 East Deepath Road, Suite 210, Lake Forest, IL 60045.

 

(9) Consists of (a) 897,008 shares of common stock, of which 387,524 are subject to repurchase as of July 24, 2015, and (b) 595,942 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015. Of such 897,008 shares of common stock, (x) 765,308 shares are held by Dr. Dilly individually, (y) 65,850 shares are held by Stephen G. Dilly, as Trustee of The Stephen G. Dilly 2015 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust dated June 23, 2015 (“The Dilly Trust”) and (z) 65,850 shares are held by Edwina Lynette Mullens, as Trustee of The Edwina Lynette Mullens 2015 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust dated June 23, 2015 (“The Mullens Trust”). Dr. Dilly has sole voting, investment and dispositive power over the shares held by The Dilly Trust. Ms. Mullens has sole voting, investment and dispositive power over the shares held by The Mullens Trust.

 

(10) Consists of (a) 118,270 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015, and (b) the securities beneficially owned by Longitude Venture Partners II, L.P. as set forth in footnote (1). Mr. Enright disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares listed in footnote (1), except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.

 

(11) Consists of 69,894 shares of common stock, of which 61,158 shares were subject to repurchase as of July 24, 2015.

 

(12) Consists of 139,789 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015.

 

(13) Consists of 104,842 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015.

 

(14) Consists of 52,421 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015.

 

(15) Consists of (a) 428,575 shares of common stock held by Howard V. Raff, Trustee, and any successor trustee, of the Howard V. Raff Revocable Trust dated March 28, 2014 (“The Raff Trust”), of which 107,144 shares were subject to repurchase as of July 24, 2015 and (b) 98,775 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015. Dr. Raff has sole voting, investment and dispositive power over the shares held by The Raff Trust.

 

(16) Consists of (a) 299,002 shares of common stock, of which 199,335 shares were subject to repurchase as of July 24, 2015 and (b) 26,340 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015.

 

(17) Includes 1,694,481 shares of common stock and 7,122,130 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of shares of preferred stock, of which 755,161 shares were subject to repurchase within 60 days of July 24, 2015, and 1,835,534 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options within 60 days of July 24, 2015.

 

141


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary describes our capital stock and the material provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, the investor rights agreement to which we and certain of our stockholders are parties and of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and amended and restated investor rights agreement, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

General

Immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, we will file our amended and restated certificate of incorporation that authorizes 290,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share. As of March 31, 2015, there were outstanding:

 

    30,679,538 shares of our common stock, on an as-converted basis, held by approximately 25 stockholders of record; and

 

    189,853 shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options.

In connection with this offering, we will consummate a 1-for-1.317 stock split of our outstanding common stock and preferred stock which will occur prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Common Stock

Voting Rights

Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the voting shares are able to elect all of the directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of holders of 66  2 3 % of the voting power of all of the then outstanding voting stock will be required to take certain actions, including amending certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, such as the provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws, the classified board and director liability.

Dividends

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.

Liquidation

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.

 

142


Table of Contents

Rights and Preferences

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion, subscription or other rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to and may be adversely affected by the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate in the future.

Fully Paid and Nonassessable

All of our outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock to be issued in this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Stock

Immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, all outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock will be converted into shares of our common stock. See Note 6 to our unaudited interim condensed financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for a description of our currently outstanding convertible preferred stock. Immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be amended and restated to delete all references to such shares of convertible preferred stock. From and after the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will have the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of common stock. The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon our liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. Immediately after consummation of this offering, no shares of preferred stock will be outstanding, and we have no present plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Registration Rights

Under our amended and restated investor rights agreement, following the consummation of this offering, the holders of approximately 25.1 million shares of common stock, or their transferees, have the right to require us to register their shares under the Securities Act so that those shares may be publicly resold, or to include their shares in any registration statement we file, in each case as described below.

Demand Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2015, after the consummation of this offering, the holders of approximately 25.1 million shares of our common stock (on an as-converted basis), or their transferees, will be entitled to certain demand registration rights. Beginning one hundred eighty (180) days following the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, the holders of at least fifty percent (50%) of these shares can, on not more than two occasions, request that we register all or a portion of their shares if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $3,000,000. Additionally, we will not be required to effect a demand registration during the period beginning 90 days prior to the filing and ending 180 days following the effectiveness of a company-initiated registration statement relating to an initial public offering of our securities.

 

143


Table of Contents

Piggyback Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2015, after the consummation of this offering, in the event that we determine to register any of our securities under the Securities Act (subject to certain exceptions), either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the holders of approximately 25.1 million shares of our common stock (on an as-converted basis), or their transferees, will be entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing the holders to include their shares in such registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. As a result, whenever we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, other than with respect to a registration related to employee benefit plans, the offer and sale of debt securities, or corporate reorganizations or certain other transactions, the holders of these shares are entitled to notice of the registration and have the right, subject to limitations that the underwriters may impose on the number of shares included in the registration, to include their shares in the registration. In an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions, to limit the number of shares such holders may include.

Form S-3 Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2015, after the consummation of this offering, the holders of approximately 25.1 million shares of our common stock (on an as-converted basis), or their transferees, will be entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. The holders of any of at least twenty five percent (25%) of these shares can make a written request that we register their shares on Form S-3 if we are eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3 and if the aggregate price to the public of the shares offered is at least $1,000,000 net of certain expenses related to the sale of the shares. These stockholders may make an unlimited number of requests for registration on Form S-3, but in no event shall we be required to file more than two registrations on Form S-3 in any given calendar year.

Expenses of Registration

We will pay the registration expenses of the holders of the shares registered pursuant to the demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described above, including the expenses in an amount not to exceed $25,000 of one counsel for the selling holders.

Expiration of Registration Rights

The demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described above will expire, with respect to any particular stockholder, upon the earlier of five years after the consummation of this offering or when that stockholder can sell all of its shares under Rule 144 of the Securities Act during any three-month period.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our Amended and Restated Bylaws and Delaware Law

Some provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws that will become effective immediately prior to the consummation of this offering contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.

These provisions, 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. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our

 

144


Table of Contents

potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits persons deemed “interested stockholders” from engaging in a “business combination” with a publicly-held Delaware corporation for three years following the date these persons become interested stockholders unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, such as discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our common stock.

Undesignated Preferred Stock

The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.

Special Stockholder Meetings

Our amended and restated bylaws provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by our chairman of the board of directors, Chief Executive Officer or President, or by a resolution adopted by a majority of our board of directors.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors.

Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation eliminates the right of stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.

Classified Board; Election and Removal of Directors; Filling Vacancies

Effective upon consummation of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three classes. The directors in each class will serve for a three-year term, one class being elected each year by our stockholders, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides for the removal of any of our directors only for cause and requires a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66  2 3 % of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock. For more information on the classified board, see “Management—Board Composition.” Furthermore, any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board, may only be

 

145


Table of Contents

filled by a resolution of the board of directors unless the board of directors determines that such vacancies shall be filled by the stockholders. This system of electing and removing directors and filling vacancies may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us, because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.

Choice of Forum

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws; or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could find that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.

Amendment of Charter Provisions

The amendment of any of the above provisions, except for the provision making it possible for our board of directors to issue undesignated preferred stock, would require approval by a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66  2 3 % of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock.

The provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws could have the effect of discouraging others from attempting hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

Limitations of Liability and Indemnification Matters

For a discussion of liability and indemnification, see “Management—Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters.”

Listing

Our common stock has been approved for listing on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “AIMT.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Wells Fargo Shareowner Services. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120.

 

146


Table of Contents

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. Future sales of our common stock, including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, in the public market after this offering, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the prevailing market price for our common stock to fall or impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future. As described below, only a limited number of shares of our common stock will be available for sale in the public market for a period of several months after consummation of this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below. Future sales of our common stock in the public market either before (to the extent permitted) or after restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock at such time and our ability to raise equity capital at a time and price we deem appropriate.

Sale of Restricted Shares

Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2015 and assuming an initial public offering price of $15.00 per share (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover of this prospectus), upon the consummation of this offering and assuming (1) the conversion of our outstanding convertible preferred stock into 25,051,257 shares of common stock, (2) no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock and (3) no exercise of any of our other outstanding options, we will have outstanding an aggregate of approximately 39,012,871 shares of common stock. Of these shares, all of the shares of common stock to be sold in this offering, and any shares sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, will be freely tradable in the public market without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, unless the shares are held by any of our “affiliates” as such term is defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act. All remaining shares of common stock held by existing stockholders immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will be “restricted securities” as such term is defined in Rule 144. These restricted securities were issued and sold by us, or will be issued and sold by us, in private transactions and are eligible for public sale only if registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including the exemptions provided by Rule 144 or Rule 701, which rules are summarized below.

As a result of the lock-up agreements referred to below and the provisions of Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act, based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2015 and assumptions (1) – (3) described above, the shares of our common stock (excluding the shares sold in this offering) that will be available for sale in the public market are as follows:

 

Approximate Number of Shares

  

First Date Available for Sale into Public Market

30,679,538 shares

   180 days after the date of this prospectus upon expiration of the lock-up agreements referred to below, subject in some cases to applicable volume limitations under Rule 144

Lock-Up Agreements

In connection with this offering, we, our directors, our executive officers and substantially all of our other stockholders and option holders have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, with the underwriters 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 Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

Prior to the consummation of the offering, certain of our employees, including our executive officers, and/or directors may enter into written trading plans that are intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act. Sales under these trading plans would not be permitted until the expiration of the lock-up agreements relating to the offering described above.

 

147


Table of Contents

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, 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.

Rule 144

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, for at least 90 days, a person (or persons whose shares are required to be aggregated) who is not deemed to have been one of our “affiliates” for purposes of Rule 144 at any time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our “affiliates,” is entitled to sell those shares in the public market (subject to the lock-up agreement referred to above, if applicable) without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitations or notice provisions of Rule 144, but subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than “affiliates,” then such person is entitled to sell such shares in the public market without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144 (subject to the lock-up agreement referred to above, if applicable). In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, who have beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months are entitled to sell in the public market, upon expiration of any applicable lock-up agreements and within any three-month period, a number of those shares of our common stock that does not exceed the greater of:

 

    1% of the number of common shares then outstanding, which will equal approximately 390,128 shares of common stock immediately after this offering (calculated as of March 31, 2015 on the basis of the assumptions (1)—(3) described above); or

 

    the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale.

Such sales under Rule 144 by our “affiliates” or persons selling shares on behalf of our “affiliates” are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and to the availability of current public information about us. Notwithstanding the availability of Rule 144, the holders of substantially all of our restricted securities have entered into lock-up agreements as referenced above and their restricted securities will become eligible for sale (subject to the above limitations under Rule 144) upon the expiration of the restrictions set forth in those agreements.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701 as currently in effect, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who acquired common stock from us in connection with a written compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement in compliance with Rule 701 under the Securities Act before the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (to the extent such common stock is not subject to a lock-up agreement) is entitled to rely on Rule 701 to resell such shares beginning 90 days after we become subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act in reliance on Rule 144, but without compliance with the holding period requirements contained in Rule 144. Accordingly, subject to any applicable lock-up agreements, beginning 90 days after we become subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, under Rule 701 persons who are not our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, may resell those shares without complying with the minimum holding period or public information requirements of Rule 144, and persons who are our “affiliates” may resell those shares without compliance with Rule 144’s minimum holding period requirements (subject to the terms of the lock-up agreement referred to below, if applicable).

 

148


Table of Contents

Registration Rights

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2015, after the consummation of this offering, the holders of approximately 25.1 million shares of our common stock, or their transferees, will, subject to any lock-up agreements they have entered into, be entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration of the offer and sale of those shares under the Securities Act. For a description of these registration rights, see “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.” If the offer and sale of these shares are registered, they will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act.

Stock Plans

We intend to file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the shares of common stock that we may issue upon exercise of outstanding options reserved for issuance under our 2013 Stock Plan and our 2015 Equity Incentive Annual Plan, as well as shares reserved for issuance under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Such registration statement is expected to be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after the consummation of this offering. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will be available for sale in the open market following its effective date, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations and the lock-up agreements described above, if applicable.

 

149


Table of Contents

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock.

This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

    U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

    persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

    persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

 

    banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions;

 

    brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

 

    “controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

    partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

 

    tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

    persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; and

 

    tax-qualified retirement plans.

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR

 

150


Table of Contents

SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

    an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

    a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

    an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

    a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and all substantial decisions of which are controlled by one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy,” we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our common stock, such distributions 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. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “—Sale or Other Taxable Disposition.”

Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.

If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch

 

151


Table of Contents

profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

Subject to the discussion below regarding FATCA, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the 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 within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);

 

    the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or

 

    our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest (“USRPI”) by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation (“USRPHC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular graduated rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments of dividends on our common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the holder is a United States person and the holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any dividends on our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition

 

152


Table of Contents

of our common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting, if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person, or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker that does not have certain enumerated relationships with the United States generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund 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.

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or “FATCA”) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax will be imposed on dividends on, or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition on or after January 1, 2017 of, our common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States-owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our common stock.

 

153


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name below.

 

                           Underwriter   

Number
of Shares

 

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                      Incorporated

  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

  

Piper Jaffray & Co.

  
  

 

 

 

                     Total

     8,333,333   
  

 

 

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these shares 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.

Certain of our existing investors, including investors affiliated with certain of our directors, have indicated an interest in purchasing an aggregate of up to approximately $25.0 million in shares of our common stock in this offering at the initial public offering price. Any such purchases, if completed, would be made on the same terms as the shares that are sold to the public generally and not pursuant to any pre-existing contractual rights or obligations. Whether or not these investors purchase any or all of the shares for which they indicated an interest in purchasing will not affect the underwriters’ commitment to purchase the common shares offered by us if the underwriters purchase any shares.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $         per share. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares.

 

    

Per Share

    

Without Option

    

With Option

 

Public offering price

   $                    $                    $                

Underwriting discount

   $         $         $     

Proceeds, before expenses, to the Company

   $         $         $     

 

154


Table of Contents

The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $3.5 million and are payable by us. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for expenses of $35,000 relating to the clearance of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 1,250,000 additional shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We, our executive officers and directors and our other existing security holders have agreed not to sell or transfer any common stock or securities convertible into, exchangeable for, exercisable for, or repayable with common stock, for 180 days after the date of this prospectus without first obtaining the written consent of Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. Specifically, we and these other persons have agreed, with certain limited exceptions, not to directly or indirectly:

 

    offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any common stock,

 

    sell any option or contract to purchase any common stock,

 

    purchase any option or contract to sell any common stock,

 

    grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of any common stock,

 

    lend or otherwise dispose of or transfer any common stock,

 

    request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the common stock, or

 

    enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of any common stock whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

This lock-up provision applies to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with common stock. It also applies to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition.

The NASDAQ Global Select Market Listing

Our common stock has been approved for listing on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject to notice of issuance, under the symbol “AIMT.”

Before this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined through negotiations between us and the representatives. In addition to prevailing market conditions, the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering price are

 

    the valuation multiples of publicly traded companies that the representatives believe to be comparable to us,

 

    our financial information,

 

    the history of, and the prospects for, our company and the industry in which we compete,

 

155


Table of Contents
    an assessment of our management, its past and present operations and the prospects for, and timing of, our future revenues,

 

    the present state of our development, and

 

    the above factors in relation to market values and various valuation measures of other companies engaged in activities similar to ours.

An active trading market for the shares may not develop. It is also possible that after the offering the shares will not trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

The underwriters do not expect to sell more than 5% of the shares in the aggregate to accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares 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 granted to them. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of such option. 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 our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ 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. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

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. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

156


Table of Contents

Electronic Distribution

In connection with the offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.

Other Relationships

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their 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. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each, a “Relevant Member State”), no offer of shares may be made to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

 

  A. to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

  B. to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives; or

 

  C. in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive,

provided that no such offer of shares shall require the Company or the representatives to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

Each person in a Relevant Member State who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of the law in that Relevant Member State implementing Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive. In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant Member State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

The Company, the representatives and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

This prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of shares in any Relevant Member State will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Directive from the requirement to publish a

 

157


Table of Contents

prospectus for offers of shares. Accordingly any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant Member State of shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for the Company or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive in relation to such offer. Neither the Company nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of shares in circumstances in which an obligation arises for the Company or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer.

For the purpose of the above provisions, the expression “an offer to the public” in relation to any shares in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the shares, as the same may be varied in the Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in the Relevant Member State and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member States) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and

 

158


Table of Contents

has no responsibility for the prospectus. The shares to which this prospectus relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The shares have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial

 

159


Table of Contents

guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275, of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

  (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

  (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

  (a) to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

  (b) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  (c) where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

  (d) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore.

 

160


Table of Contents

LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of our common stock offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, Menlo Park, California. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Menlo Park, California, is acting as counsel for the underwriters in connection with this offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2013 and 2014 and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2014, have been included herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG, LLP, independent registered public accounting firm appearing elsewhere herein and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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 common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. and the common stock offered hereby, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. A copy of the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed therewith may be inspected without charge at the public reference room maintained by the SEC, located at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part of the registration statement may be obtained from such offices upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address is www.sec.gov.

Upon consummation of this offering, we will become subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such 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 www.aimmune.com. Upon consummation of this offering, 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 reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on our website, and you should not consider the contents of our website in making an investment decision with respect to our common stock.

 

161


Table of Contents

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Audited Financial Statements   

Page

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2   

Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2014

     F-3   

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2014

     F-4   

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2014

     F-5   

Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2014

     F-6   

Notes to Financial Statements

     F-7   

 

Unaudited Interim Condensed Financial Statements   

Condensed Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015

     F-19   

Condensed Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the Three Months Ended March  31, 2014 and 2015

     F-20   

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2014 and 2015

     F-21   

Notes to Unaudited Interim Condensed Financial Statements

     F-22   

 

F-1


Table of Contents

When the transaction referred to under the heading “Stock Split” in note 11 of the Notes to Financial Statements has been consummated, we will be in a position to render the following report.

/s/ KPMG LLP

San Francisco, California

Report of Independent Registered Accounting Firm

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2013 and 2014, and the related statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2014. 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 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. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2013 and 2014, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

San Francisco, California

June 4, 2015, except for note 11, which is as of                     , 2015

 

F-2


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    

December 31,

 
    

2013

   

2014

 

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 11,951      $ 2,269   

Prepaid expenses

     120        106   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     12,071        2,375   

Property and equipment, net

     60        87   

Restricted cash

     —          40   

Other assets

     25        29   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 12,156      $ 2,531   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 272      $ 478   

Accrued liabilities

     238        1,259   

Other current liabilities

     9        67   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     519        1,804   

Other liabilities

     —          56   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     519        1,860   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share—13,263,967 shares authorized as of December 31, 2013 and 2014; 13,263,967 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2014; aggregate liquidation preference of $16,989 as of December 31, 2013 and 2014

     16,928        16,928   

Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share—32,925,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2013 and 2014; 2,926,665 and 4,252,248 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2014 (including 788,873 shares subject to repurchase, legally issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014), respectively

     —          —     

Additional paid-in capital

     1,106        1,260   

Accumulated deficit

     (6,397     (17,517
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     11,637        671   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 12,156      $ 2,531   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended  
    

December 31,

 
    

2013

   

2014

 

Operating expenses:

    

Research and development

   $ 3,495      $ 8,181   

General and administrative

     1,263        2,951   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     4,758        11,132   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (4,758     (11,132

Other income (expense), net

    

Interest income

     24        12   

Interest expense

     (91     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

     (67     12   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and comprehensive loss

   $ (4,825   $ (11,120
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

   $ (1.65   $ (3.80
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted

     2,926,665        2,928,896   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted (unaudited)

     $ (0.69
    

 

 

 

Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted (unaudited)

       16,192,863   
    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

   

Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock

   

Common Stock

   

Additional
Paid-In

Capital

   

Accumulated

deficit

   

Total
Stockholders’

Equity

 
   

Shares

   

Amount

   

Shares

   

Amount

       

Balance as of December 31, 2012

    —        $ —          2,926,665      $ —        $ 1,025      $ (1,572   $ (547

Issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock for cash at $1.29 per share, net of $61 of issuance costs

    12,569,603        16,164        —          —          —          —          16,164   

Conversion of convertible promissory note at $1.10 per share of Series A convertible preferred stock

    694,364        764        —          —          —          —          764   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          81        —          81   

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (4,825     (4,825
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
             

Balance as of December 31, 2013

    13,263,967      $ 16,928        2,926,665        —        $ 1,106        (6,397   $ 11,637   

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of vested options

    —          —          1,325,583        —          77        —          77   

Stock-based compensation

    —          —          —          —          77        —          77   

Net loss

    —          —          —          —          —          (11,120     (11,120
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of December 31, 2014

    13,263,967      $ 16,928        4,252,248      $ —        $ 1,260      $ (17,517   $ 671   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended  
    

December 31,

 
    

2013

   

2014

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (4,825   $ (11,120

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation

     9        29   

Stock-based compensation

     81        77   

Non-cash interest expense on convertible note

     90        —     

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

    

Prepaid expenses

     (117     14   

Accounts payable

     208        206   

Accrued liabilities

     208        1,021   

Other

     (16     (4
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

   $ (4,362   $ (9,777
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of property and equipment

     (69     (56

Increase in restricted cash

     —          (40
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (69     (96
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Net cash proceeds from issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs

     16,164        —     

Net cash proceeds from exercise of stock options, including early exercise

     —          191   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     16,164        191   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     11,733        (9,682

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     218        11,951   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 11,951      $ 2,269   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash financing information:

    

Conversion of convertible promissory note and accrued interest into Series A convertible preferred stock

   $ 764      $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Organization and Description of Business

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (“Aimmune Therapeutics” or the “Company”) (formerly known as Allergen Research Corporation) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments to protect children with food allergies from the threatening consequences of accidental exposure. The Company is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and was incorporated in the state of Delaware on June 24, 2011.

Since inception, the Company has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company incurred a net loss of $4.8 million and $11.1 million, respectively, and used $4.4 million and $9.8 million of cash in operations, respectively. At December 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $6.4 million and $17.5 million, respectively, and does not expect to experience positive cash flows in the near future. The Company has financed operations to date primarily through private placements of equity securities. The Company’s ability to continue to meet its obligations and to achieve its business objectives is dependent upon, amongst other things, raising additional capital, obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) approval and commercializing in the United States and Europe, generating sufficient revenue and its ability to continue to control expenses, if necessary, to meet its obligations as they become due for the foreseeable future. Failure to obtain FDA and EMA approval, commercialize its lead product candidate, manage discretionary expenditures or raise additional financing, as required, may adversely impact the Company’s ability to achieve its intended business objectives.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates —The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United State of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of costs and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience when available and on various factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. The Company’s actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company operates in one reportable segment in the United States of America.

Cash and Cash Equivalents —The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist primarily of amounts invested in a bank high yield savings account.

Concentration of Credit Risk —Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a concentration of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held primarily in one large financial institution in the United States. Management believes that this financial institution is financially sound, and accordingly, minimal credit risk exists with respect to this financial institution. The Company is exposed to credit risk in the event of default by the financial institution holding its cash and cash equivalents to the extent recorded on the balance sheets.

Fair Value Measurement —The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities.

 

 

F-7


Table of Contents

Property and Equipment —Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Upon sale or retirement of assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and the resulting gain or loss, if any, is reflected in operations.

The useful lives of property and equipment are as follows:

 

Furniture and office equipment

     4 years   

Computer equipment

     3 years   

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets —The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired assets. The Company has not recorded impairment of any long-lived assets in the periods presented.

Leases —The Company has entered into lease agreements for its corporate headquarters and research facilities in San Mateo, California through July 2017. These leases are classified as operating leases. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the terms of the leases and, accordingly, the Company records the difference between cash rent payments and the recognition of rent expense as a deferred rent liability. Incentives granted under the Company’s facilities leases are deferred and recognized as adjustments to rental expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

In March 2015, the Company entered into a new lease for its corporate headquarters and research facilities in Brisbane, California. In May 2015, the Company ceased use of its San Mateo facilities and moved into its new facilities. The new lease, which expires in 2019, will also be classified as an operating lease. See Note 11, “Subsequent Events”.

Research and Development —The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred. The Company records accrued liabilities for estimated costs of research and development activities conducted by third-party service providers, which include the conduct of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and contract manufacturing activities. These costs are a significant component of the Company’s research and development expenses. The Company accrues for these costs based on factors such as estimates of the work completed and in accordance with agreements established with its third-party service providers under the service agreements. The Company makes significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrued liabilities balance in each reporting period. As actual costs become known, the Company adjusts its accrued liabilities. The Company has not experienced any material differences between accrued costs and actual costs incurred. However, the status and timing of actual services performed, number of patients enrolled and the rate of patient enrollments may vary from the Company’s estimates, resulting in adjustments to expense in future periods. Changes in these estimates that result in material changes to the Company’s accruals could materially affect the Company’s results of operations.

Stock-based Compensation —Stock-based awards issued to employees, including stock options, are measured at fair value on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period). Because noncash stock compensation expense is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it is reduced by an estimate for future forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimate at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from estimates.

 

F-8


Table of Contents

Income Taxes —The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of reported assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company must then assess the likelihood that the resulting deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Due to the Company’s lack of earnings history, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.

The Company has adopted Financial Accounted Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes, regarding how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented, and disclosed in the financial statements. As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements —The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act of 2012. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has irrevocably elected not to avail itself of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and therefore, will be subject to the same new revised accounting standard as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) , which provides a framework for addressing revenue recognition issues and, upon its effective date, replaces almost all existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, in current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The ASU provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The ASU will require many companies to use more judgment than under current U.S. GAAP. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, for public business entities. On April 29, 2015, the FASB issued for comment a proposed ASU, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The proposed ASU would permit both public and nonpublic organizations to adopt the new revenue standard early, but not before the original public organization effective date (that is, annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017).

In June 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU’) 2014-10, Development Stage Entities (Topic 915): Elimination of Certain Financial Reporting Requirements, Including an Amendment to Variable Interest Entities Guidance in Topic 810, Consolidation. ASU 2014-10 simplifies the accounting guidance by removing all incremental financial reporting requirements for development stage entities. The amendments related to the elimination of the inception-to-date information and other disclosure requirement of Topic 915 should be applied retrospectively, and are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014, and interim periods therein. The Company has elected to early adopt this guidance as of January 1, 2013.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern . ASU 2014-15 requires management to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. In doing so, companies will have reduced diversity in the timing and content of footnote disclosures than under today’s guidance. ASU 2014-15 is effective for the first quarter of 2016 with early adoption permitted. We do not believe the impact of adopting ASU 2014-15 on our financial statements will be material.

 

F-9


Table of Contents

3. Balance Sheet Components

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consists of the following (in thousands):

 

    

Year Ended
December 31,

 
    

2013

    

2014

 

Furniture and equipment

   $ 30       $ 58   

Computer equipment

     39         67   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, gross

     69         125   

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (9      (38
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Property and equipment, net

   $ 60       $ 87   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 was $9,000 and $29,000, respectively.

Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

    

Year Ended

December 31,

 
    

2013

    

2014

 

Compensation and benefits

   $ 208       $ 645   

Research and development

     —           542   

Professional and consulting

     30         71   

Other

     —           1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 238       $ 1,259   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

4. Commitments and Contingencies

Facility Leases

In July 2013, the Company entered into a 48-month lease for its corporate headquarters and research facilities. In July 2014, the Company entered into a second lease that expanded the current space and is for a term of 36 months beginning in July 2014 and coterminous with the first lease. Under both leases, the Company pays base rent plus the tenant’s proportionate share of estimated basic operating cost as defined in the leases. The leases required a $25,000 security deposit for the duration of the leases.

Future aggregate minimum lease payments under the non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2015

   $ 167   

2016

     170   

2017

     86   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 423   
  

 

 

 

 

F-10


Table of Contents

Rent expense under operating leases was $42,000 and $131,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014.

Purchase Commitments

The Company purchases peanut flour, the source material for AR101, from the Golden Peanut Company pursuant to a long term exclusive commercial supply agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, the Company’s purchase obligation commences with the first delivery of peanut flour for commercial use, which it currently anticipates will not occur prior to 2018. Assuming the Company starts its purchase obligation of peanut flour for commercial use in 2018, which is not assured, the aggregate purchase commitment under this agreement is $1.2 million over a term of five years.

Indemnifications

The Company indemnifies each of its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences, subject to certain limits, while the officer or director is or was serving at the Company’s request in such capacity, as permitted under Delaware law and in accordance with its certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The term of the indemnification period lasts as long as an officer or a director may be subject to any proceeding arising out of acts or omissions of such officer or director in such capacity. The maximum amount of potential future indemnification is unlimited; however, the Company currently holds director and officer liability insurance. This insurance allows the transfer of risk associated with the Company’s exposure and may enable it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. The Company believes that the fair value of these indemnification obligations is minimal. Accordingly, it has not recognized any liabilities relating to these obligations for any period.

5. Common Stock

As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company had authorized 32,925,000 shares of common stock. The Company has reserved sufficient shares of common stock for issuance upon conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock and the exercise of stock options. Common stockholders are entitled to dividends if and when declared by the Board of Directors subject to the prior rights of the Series A preferred stockholders. As of December 31, 2014, no common stock dividends had been declared by the Board of Directors.

6. Convertible Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company had authorized 13,263,967 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock. In February 2013, the Company issued 7,046,953 shares of Series A preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, original issue price of $1.29 in the case of cash proceeds and $1.10 in the case of an outstanding note and accrued interest converted into the Series A convertible preferred stock (see “Conversion of Convertible Note Payable” below). In April 2013, the Company issued an additional 6,217,014 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, original issue price of $1.29. As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, Series A convertible preferred stock consisted of the following (in thousands, except share amounts):

 

    

As of December 31, 2013 and 2014

 

Convertible preferred stock

  

Shares
Authorized

    

Shares
Issued and
Outstanding

    

Proceeds
Net of
Issuance
Costs

    

Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference

 

Series A

     13,263,967         13,263,967       $ 16,928       $ 16,989   

Significant provisions of Series A convertible preferred stock are as follows:

Dividends —Holders of Series A convertible preferred stock, in preference to common stockholders, shall be entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors non-cumulative cash dividends at

 

F-11


Table of Contents

the rate of 8% of the original issue price per annum on each outstanding share of Series A convertible preferred stock. No Series A convertible preferred stock dividends have been declared or paid as of December 31, 2014.

Liquidation —In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series A convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment shall be made to holders of common stock, an amount equal to $1.29 per share of Series A convertible preferred stock plus any declared but unpaid dividends. If upon such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the assets available for distribution to stockholders are insufficient to pay in full holders of Series A convertible preferred stock amounts to which they are entitled, the holders of Series A convertible preferred stock shall share ratably in any assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect to the shares held by them. Following payment in full to the holders of Series A convertible preferred stock, the remaining assets and funds of the Company, if any, shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

A consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations, acquisition by any other corporation or corporations, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets or voting control of the Company in which the prior stockholders of the Company do not own a majority of the outstanding shares of the surviving corporation is deemed to be a liquidation.

Conversion —Each share of Series A convertible preferred stock is convertible into shares of common stock at the option of the holder at any time. Conversion is automatic upon either the written consent of not less than 66.67% of the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock outstanding or the effective date of a firm commitment underwritten public offering that yields net proceeds to the Company of not less than $40,000,000 at an equivalent price per share of common stock of not less than $6.45. Each share of Series A convertible preferred stock is convertible into the number of shares of which results from dividing the original issue price of the Series A convertible preferred stock by the conversion price for the Series A convertible preferred Stock that is in effect at the time of conversion. As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, the conversion price of the Series A convertible preferred stock was $1.29 and, as such, all outstanding shares of Series A convertible preferred stock had a conversion ratio of 1-to-1.

Voting —Each holder of share of Series A convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which such shares of preferred stock could be converted and shall have voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of the holders of common stock. The holders of Series A convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to elect two directors of the Company.

Redemption —The Series A convertible preferred stock is not redeemable at the option of the holders and there is no event in which the Series A holders can require liquidation in which the common stockholders would not participate in the liquidation proceeds in accordance with their relative liquidation rights as described above.

Conversion of Convertible Note Payable

In June 2012, the Company entered into an unsecured convertible promissory note in the amount of $750,000 with an existing stockholder. The note provided for an annual interest rate of 3% and a due date of December 31, 2013, but could be extended by mutual agreement for an additional year. Under the terms of the note, under certain circumstances, the balance of the note, including any accrued interest, would convert into preferred stock upon the closing of a future preferred stock financing that met specified criteria. Such conversion would be at a 15% discount to the per share price of the preferred stock sold in the financing.

In February 2013, as part of the issuance of Series A convertible preferred stock, the note, plus $14,000 of accrued interest converted into 694,364 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock at a rate of $1.10 per

 

F-12


Table of Contents

share in full payment for the note and accrued interest. The discount of $112,000 was recorded at the time of issuance of the note as an offset to the note on the balance sheet and was amortized as additional interest expense over the original term of the note. At the conversion date, the remaining unamortized discount of $88,000 was recorded as interest expense.

7. Stock-based Awards

In January 2013, the Company adopted its Stock Plan (the “Plan”). Under the Plan, shares of the Company’s common stock have been reserved for the issuance of stock options and restricted stock to employees, directors, and consultants under terms and provisions established by the Board of Directors and approved by the Company’s stockholders. At December 31, 2013 and 2014, there were 609,958 and 639,625 shares available for future grant. Under the terms of the Plan, options may be granted at an exercise price not less than fair market value. For employees holding more than 10% of the voting rights of all classes of stock, the exercise prices for incentive stock options may not be less than 110% of fair market value, as determined by the Board of Directors. The terms of options granted under the Plan may not exceed ten years. All options issued to date have had a ten-year life. To date, options granted generally vest in two ways: 1) over four years at a rate of 25% upon the first anniversary of the issuance date and 1/48 th  per month thereafter, and 2) over two years at a rate of 1/24 th  per month. The Plan contains certain change of control provisions and the employment offer letters of certain employees provide for varied acceleration of vesting in the event of a change of control and/or termination without cause. It also contains a net exercise provision and allows for cashless exercise upon the class of shares subject to the option becoming publicly traded in an established securities market.

The Plan allows employees to exercise a stock option in exchange for stock before the requisite service is provided (e.g., before the award is vested under its original terms); however, such arrangements permit the Company to subsequently repurchase such shares at the exercise price if the vesting conditions are not satisfied. Such an exercise is not substantive for accounting purposes. Therefore, the payment received by the Company for the exercise price is recognized as an early exercise liability on the balance sheets and will be transferred to common stock and additional paid-in capital as such shares vest. At December 31, 2014, 788,873 unvested shares were legally issued and outstanding. In connection with these unvested shares, the Company has recorded an early exercise liability of $114,000, of which $58,000 is included in other current liabilities and $56,000 is included in other non-current liabilities in the Company’s Balance Sheet. No options were early exercised in 2013. These shares are excluded from basic net loss per share until the Company repurchase right lapses and the shares are no longer subject to the repurchase feature.

Activity under the Plan is set forth below:

 

    

Shares
Available
for Grant

   

Number of
Shares

   

Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

    

Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (in years)

 

Initial shares authorized, January 29, 2013

     1,334,219        —          

Additional shares authorized

     1,522,951        —          

Options granted

     (2,247,212     2,247,212      $ 0.14      
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

Balances, December 31, 2013

     609,958        2,247,212      $ 0.14         9.67   

Additional shares authorized

     885,724        —          

Options granted

     (1,635,681     1,635,681      $ 0.14      

Options exercised

     —          (536,710   $ 0.14      

Options cancelled

     779,624        (779,624   $ 0.14      
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

Balances, December 31, 2014

     639,625        2,566,559      $ 0.14         9.19   
  

 

 

   

 

 

      

Vested and expected to vest as of December 31, 2014

       2,251,169      $ 0.14         9.13   

Exercisable as of December 31, 2014

       1,777,683      $ 0.14         9.05   

 

F-13


Table of Contents

The aggregate intrinsic values of options outstanding, exercisable, and vested and expected to vest were calculated as the difference between the exercise price of the options and the estimated value of the Company common stock as determined by the Company’s Board of Directors as of December 31, 2014. The Plan provides for early exercise, therefore, all the Company’s outstanding stock options are exercisable. At December 31, 2013 and 2014, the exercise price of all stock options was $0.14 per share and the estimated value of the Company common stock was also $0.14 per share. Consequently, the intrinsic value for the options outstanding, exercisable, and vested was nil.

Stock Options Granted to Employees

During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company granted stock options to employees to purchase shares of common stock with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $0.09 and $0.09 per share, The fair value is being expensed over the vesting period of the options, which is either four years or two years on a straight-line basis as the services are being provided. No tax benefits were realized from options during the periods.

As of December 31, 2014, total unrecognized employee stock-based compensation was $120,000, which is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining vesting period of 2.43 years.

The fair value of employee stock options was estimated using the Black-Scholes pricing model, with the following weighted-average assumptions:

 

    

Year Ended
December 31,

 
    

2013

   

2014

 

Expected volatility

     85.52     79.62

Risk-free interest rate

     1.56     1.51

Dividend yield

     0.00     0.00

Expected term (in years)

     4.76        4.65   

Determining Fair Value of Stock Options

The fair value of each grant of stock options was determined by the Company using the methods and assumptions discussed below. The determination of each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires significant judgment.

Expected volatility —The expected stock price volatility assumption was determined by examining the historical volatilities of a group of industry peers, as the Company did not have any trading history for the Company’s common stock. The Company will continue to analyze the historical stock price volatility and expected term assumptions as more historical data for the Company’s common stock becomes available.

Expected term —The expected term of stock options represents the weighted average period the stock options are expected to be outstanding. The Company’s option grants are considered “plain vanilla.” Therefore, the Company has opted to use the simplified method for estimating the expected term as provided by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The simplified method calculates the expected term as the average time-to-vesting and the contractual life of the options.

Expected dividend —The expected dividend assumption was based on the Company’s history and expectation that it will not declare dividend payout for the near future.

Risk-free interest rate —The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected terms.

 

F-14


Table of Contents

Fair value of common stock —The fair value of the shares of common stock underlying the stock options has historically been the responsibility of and determined by the Company’s board of directors. Because there has been no public market for the Company’s common stock, the board of directors determined fair value of common stock at the time of grant of the option by considering a number of objective and subjective factors including independent third-party valuations of the Company’s common stock, sales of convertible preferred stock to unrelated third parties, operating and financial performance, the lack of liquidity of capital stock and general and industry specific economic outlook, amongst other factors.

The fair value of the underlying common stock will be determined by the Company’s board of directors until such time as the Company’s common stock is listed on an established exchange or national market system.

Stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, is reflected in the statements of operations and comprehensive loss as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2013      2014  

Operating expenses:

     

Research and development

   $ 21       $ 23   

General and administrative

     60         54   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 81       $ 77   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

8. Income Taxes

The Company has not recorded any net tax provision in the periods presented due to net operating losses incurred and the need for a full valuation allowance on deferred tax assets.

Income tax expense in 2013 and 2014 differed from the amount expected by applying the statutory federal tax rate to the loss before taxes as summarized below (in thousands):

 

    

Year Ended
December 31,

 
    

2013

    

2014

 

Federal tax benefit at statutory rate

   $ (1,640    $ (3,751

State tax benefit, net of federal benefit

     (313      (698

Change in valuation allowance

     1,975         4,549   

Research and development credits

     (53      (119

Other

     31         19   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The significant components of the Company’s deferred taxes are as follows (in thousands):

 

    

December 31,

 
    

2013

    

2014

 

Deferred tax assets (liabilities):

     

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ 1,663       $ 4,723   

Start-up costs

     596         1,736   

Tax credit carryforwards

     98         274   

Accruals

     78         227   

Other

     28         52   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets

     2,463         7012   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less: valuation allowance

     (2,463      (7,012
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net deferred income taxes

   $ —         $ —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

F-15


Table of Contents

The Company has provided a valuation allowance for the full amount of the net deferred tax assets as the realization of the deferred tax assets is not determined to be more likely than not. The valuation allowance increased by $2.0 and $4.5 million in 2013 and 2014, respectively, primarily due to the increase in net operating loss carryforwards and start-up costs.

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had $11.9 million in both federal and state net operating losses, which will begin to expire beginning in 2031 if not utilized. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, our ability to utilize net operating loss carryforwards or other tax attribute, such as research tax credits, in any taxable year may be limited if we have experienced an ownership change. Following the issuance of the Series B convertible preferred stock in January and February 2015 (see Note 11), we performed a Section 382 analysis and believe that we experienced multiple ownership changes under Section 382 of the Code and, as a result, our federal and state net operating loss carryforwards and tax credits are subject to limitation.

Realization of net operating loss carryforwards and research and development carryforwards may be impaired or limited in certain circumstances.

The Company has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (FASB ASC) 740, Income Taxes , regarding how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented and disclosed in the financial statements. As of December 31, 2013 and 2014, the Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits.

9. Defined Contribution Plan

The Company sponsors a 401(k) Plan which stipulates that eligible employees may contribute to the Plan subject to certain limitations. The Company may match employee contributions in amounts to be determined at the Company’s sole discretion. To date, the Company has not made any matching contributions.

10. Net Loss and Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2014 (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

    

Year ended December 31,

 
    

2013

    

2014

 

Numerator:

     

Net loss

   $ (4,825    $ (11,120
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

     

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     2,926,665         2,928,896   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

   $ (1.65    $ (3.80
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods present because including them would have been antidilutive:

 

    

Year ended December 31,

 
    

2013

    

2014

 

Series A convertible preferred stock

     10,769,030         13,263,967   

Stock options

     2,247,212         2,566,559   

 

F-16


Table of Contents

Unaudited Pro Forma

The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share during the year ended December 31, 2014 (in thousands, except for share and per share amounts).

 

Net loss

   $ (11,120
  

 

 

 

Shares used in computing net loss per share basic and diluted

     2,928,896   

Pro forma adjustments to reflect assumed conversion of convertible preferred stock

     13,263,967   
  

 

 

 

Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted

     16,192,863   
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted

   $ (0.69
  

 

 

 

11. Subsequent Events

Series B Convertible Preferred Stock

In January and February 2015, the Company authorized 14,245,550 and issued 14,047,996 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, original issue price of $5.69 per share, for cash proceeds of $66.9 million net of $12.9 million in repurchases of the Company’s Series A convertible preferred stock and $243,000 of offering costs. The Company plans to use the net proceeds to fund the upcoming Phase 3 registration trial of the Company’s AR101 product. The rights and preferences of the Series B convertible preferred stock are similar to those of the Series A convertible preferred stock.

New Facilities Lease

In March 2015, the Company signed a new facilities lease for its corporate headquarters and research facilities in Brisbane, California. In May 2015, the Company ceased use of its San Mateo facilities and accrued a liability for costs that will continue to be incurred under the San Mateo leases for the remaining terms, net of estimated sublease payments.

The new lease commenced on May 1, 2015 with an initial term of 51 months. The Company has the right to extend the lease term for an additional 3 years at the greater of the then current base rent or the then prevailing market rent, as defined by the Renewal Option contained in the lease. The agreement calls for a security deposit of $85,000. The new lease calls for future aggregate minimum noncancelable lease payments as of May 1, 2015 (the inception of the lease) as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2015

   $ 190   

2016

     464   

2017

     478   

2018

     492   

and after

     294   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,918   
  

 

 

 

The Company is responsible for operating expenses over base operating expenses as defined in the headquarters lease agreement.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

In June 2015, the Company signed a new facilities lease for a manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Florida. The new lease is expected to commence in mid to late September. The initial terms of the lease are for 120 months. The agreement calls for a security deposit of $35,000. The new lease calls for future aggregate minimum lease payments as of the commencement of the lease as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2015

   $ 38   

2016

     151   

2017

     156   

2018

     160   

and after

     1,198   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,703   
  

 

 

 

The Company is responsible for operating expenses including real estate taxes as defined in the manufacturing facility lease agreement.

Income Taxes

In July 2015, the Company formed a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary to which the Company licensed certain intangible rights. The Company expects that 2015 recognized revenue in the U.S., if any, as a result of this transaction will be fully offset by prior year NOLs and current year expenses. The Company expects to recognize revenue from the license in future years, in the form of royalties, if any are received in such years.

Stock Split

On                     , 2015, the Company effected a 1-for-1.317 stock split of the Company’s common stock and convertible preferred stock. The par value of the authorized stock was not adjusted as a result of the stock split. In addition, the Company also increased the number of shares of authorized common stock to 55,051,264 and the number of authorized shares of preferred stock to 25,051,264. All issued and outstanding common stock, convertible preferred stock, stock options and per share amounts contained in the accompanying financial statements and notes to the financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the stock split for all periods presented.

 

F-18


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    

December 31,
2014

   

March 31,
2015

   

Pro forma

Stockholders’

Equity as of

March 31,

2015

 
           (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  

Assets

    

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 2,269      $ 65,313     

Prepaid expenses

     106        309     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current assets

     2,375        65,622     

Property and equipment

     87        120     

Restricted cash

     40        40     

Other assets

     29        113     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Assets

   $ 2,531      $ 65,895     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

      

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

   $ 478      $ 977     

Accrued liabilities

     1,259        458     

Other current liabilities

     67        122     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current liabilities

     1,804        1,557     

Other liabilities

     56        99     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total liabilities

     1,860        1,656     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Commitments and contingencies (Note 4)

      

Stockholders’ equity:

      

Series A convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share—13,263,967 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014; 11,003,261 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2015 (unaudited); aggregate liquidation preference of $16,989 and $14,071 as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 (unaudited), respectively; no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma (unaudited).

     16,928        4,054        —     

Series B convertible preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share—no and 14,245,550 shares authorized as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 (unaudited), respectively; no and 14,047,996 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 (unaudited), respectively; aggregate liquation preference of nil and $80,000 as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 (unaudited); no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, pro forma (unaudited).

     —          79,757        —     

Common stock, par value $0.0001 per share—32,925,000 and 50,046,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, respectively; 4,252,248 and 5,628,281 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, respectively (unaudited) (including 788,873 and 1,328,993 shares subject to repurchase, legally issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015) (unaudited)

     —          —          —     

Additional paid-in capital

     1,260        1,386        85,197   

Accumulated deficit

     (17,517     (20,958     (20,958
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     671        64,239      $ 64,239   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 2,531      $ 65,895     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-19


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

    

Unaudited

Three Months Ended

 
    

March 31,

 
    

2014

   

2015

 

Operating expenses:

    

Research and development

   $ 1,199      $ 2,069   

General and administrative

     401        1,372   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     1,600        3,441   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (1,600     (3,441

Other income (expense), net

    

Interest income

     7        —     

Interest expense

     —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expense), net

     7        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss and comprehensive loss

   $ (1,593   $ (3,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

   $ (0.54   $ (0.81
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted

     2,926,665        4,258,877   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted

     $ (0.15
    

 

 

 

Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted

       22,467,561   
    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

    

Unaudited

Three Months Ended

 
    

March 31,

 
    

2014

   

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

  

 

Net loss

   $ (1,593   $ (3,441

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities

    

Depreciation

     5        11   

Stock-based compensation

     16        26   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Prepaid expenses

     (113     (203

Other assets

     (1     (84

Accounts payable

     (236     499   

Accrued liabilities

     (127     (801

Other

     100        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (1,949     (3,993
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of property and equipment

     (5     (44
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (5     (44
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Net proceeds from issuance of Series B convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs

     —          79,757   

Repurchase of Series A convertible preferred stock

     —          (12,874

Net cash proceeds from exercise of stock options, including early exercise

     —          229   

Repurchases of common stock subject to early exercise

     —          (31
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     —          67,081   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (1,954     63,044   

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     11,951        2,269   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 9,997      $ 65,313   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F-21


Table of Contents

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Formation and Business of the Company

Aimmune Therapeutics (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments to protect children with food allergies from the threatening consequences of accidental exposure. The Company is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area and was incorporated in the state of Delaware on June 24, 2011.

Since inception, the Company has incurred net losses and negative cash flows from operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company incurred a net loss of $3.4 million and used $4.0 million of cash in operations. At March 31, 2015 the Company had an accumulated deficit of $21.0 million and does not expect to experience positive cash flows in the near future. The Company has financed operations to date primarily through private placements of equity securities. The Company’s ability to continue to meet its obligations and to achieve its business objectives is dependent upon, amongst other things, raising additional capital, obtaining U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and European Medicines Agency (“EMA”) approval and commercializing in the United States and Europe, generating sufficient revenue and its ability to continue to control expenses, if necessary, to meet its obligations as they become due for the foreseeable future. Failure to obtain FDA and EMA approval, commercialize its lead product candidate, manage discretionary expenditures or raise additional financing, as required, may adversely impact the Company’s ability to achieve its intended business objectives.

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation and Use of Estimates —The preparation of the accompanying financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of costs and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience when available and on various factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. The Company’s actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Financial Statements —The interim condensed balance sheet as of March 31, 2015 and the condensed statements of operations and comprehensive loss, and the condensed statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 are unaudited. The unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position as of March 31, 2015 and its results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015. The financial data and the other financial information disclosed in these notes to the financial statements related to the three-month periods are also unaudited. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015 or for any other future annual or interim period. The condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2014 included herein was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Unaudited Pro Forma Stockholders’ Equity —The pro forma stockholders’ equity as of March 31, 2015 presents the Company’s stockholders’ equity as though all of the Company’s outstanding convertible preferred stock had automatically converted into shares of common stock upon the completion of an initial public offering (IPO) of the Company’s common stock.

 

F-22


Table of Contents

Fair Value Measurement —The carrying amounts of certain financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their relatively short maturities.

Research and Development —The Company expenses research and development costs as incurred. The Company records accrued liabilities for estimated costs of research and development activities conducted by third-party service providers, which include the conduct of preclinical studies and clinical trials and contract manufacturing activities. These costs are a significant component of the Company’s research and development expenses. The Company accrues for these costs based on factors such as estimates of the work completed and in accordance with agreements established with its third-party service providers under the service agreements. The Company makes significant judgments and estimates in determining the accrued liabilities balance in each reporting period. As actual costs become known, the Company adjusts its accrued liabilities. The Company has not experienced any material differences between accrued costs and actual costs incurred. However, the status and timing of actual services performed, number of patients enrolled and the rate of patient enrollments may vary from the Company’s estimates, resulting in adjustments to expense in future periods. Changes in these estimates that result in material changes to the Company’s accruals could materially affect the Company’s results of operations.

Stock-Based Compensation —Stock-based awards issued to employees, including stock options, are measured at fair value on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the employee’s requisite service period (generally the vesting period). Because noncash stock compensation expense is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it is reduced by an estimate for future forfeitures. Forfeitures are estimate at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent period if actual forfeitures differ from estimates. There were no stock options granted during the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2015.

Income taxes —The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial reporting and the tax bases of reported assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Company must then assess the likelihood that the resulting deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Due to the Company’s lack of earnings history, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance.

The Company has adopted Financial Accounted Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 740, Income Taxes, regarding how uncertain tax positions should be recognized, measured, presented, and disclosed in the financial statements. As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, the Company does not have any unrecognized tax benefits.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements —In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides a framework for addressing revenue recognition issues and, upon its effective date, replaces almost all existing revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance, in current U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). The ASU provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The ASU will require many companies to use more judgment than under current U.S. GAAP. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, for public business entities. On April 29, 2015, the FASB issued for comment a proposed ASU, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. The proposed ASU would permit both public and nonpublic organizations to adopt the new revenue standard early, but not before the original public organization effective date (that is, annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017).

The Company is an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act of 2012. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to

 

F-23


Table of Contents

the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has irrevocably elected not to avail itself of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and therefore, will be subject to the same new revised accounting standard as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

3. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

    

December 31,
2014

    

March 31,
2015

 

Compensation and benefits

   $ 645       $ 95   

Research and development

     542         363   

Professional and consulting

     71         —     

Other

     1         —     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,259       $ 458   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

4. Commitments and Contingencies

Facility Leases

In July 2013, the Company entered into a 48-month lease for its corporate headquarters and research facilities in San Mateo, California. In July 2014, the Company entered into a second lease that expanded the space and was for a term of 36 months beginning in July 2014 and coterminous with the first lease. Under both leases, the Company paid base rent plus the tenant’s proportionate share of estimated basic operating cost as defined in the leases. The leases required a $25,000 security deposit for the duration of the leases.

Rent expense under operating leases was $25,000 and $41,000 for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2015.

New Facilities Lease

In March 2015, the Company signed a new facilities lease for its corporate headquarters and research facilities in Brisbane, California. In May 2015, the Company ceased use of its San Mateo facilities and accrued a liability for costs that will continue to be incurred under the San Mateo leases for the remaining terms, net of estimated sublease payments.

The new lease commenced on May 1, 2015 with an initial term of 51 months. The Company has the right to extend the lease term for an additional 3 years at the greater of the then current base rent or the then prevailing market rent, as defined by the Renewal Option contained in the lease. The agreement calls for a security deposit of $85,000. The new lease calls for future aggregate minimum noncancelable lease payments as of May 1, 2015 (the inception of the lease) as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

2015

   $ 190   

2016

     464   

2017

     478   

2018

     492   

and after

     294   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,918   
  

 

 

 

 

F-24


Table of Contents

The Company is responsible for operating expenses over base operating expenses as defined in the headquarters lease agreement.

In June 2015, the Company signed a new facilities lease for a manufacturing facility in Clearwater, Florida. The new lease is expected to commence in mid to late September. The initial terms of the lease are for 120 months. The agreement calls for a security deposit of $35,000. The new lease calls for future aggregate minimum lease payments as of the commencement of the lease as follows (in thousands):

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2015

   $ 38   

2016

     151   

2017

     156   

2018

     160   

and after

     1,198   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 1,703   
  

 

 

 

The Company is responsible for operating expenses including real estate taxes as defined in the manufacturing facility lease agreement.

Indemnifications

The Company indemnifies each of its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences, subject to certain limits, while the officer or director is or was serving at the Company’s request in such capacity, as permitted under Delaware law and in accordance with its certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The term of the indemnification period lasts as long as an officer or a director may be subject to any proceeding arising out of acts or omissions of such officer or director in such capacity. The maximum amount of potential future indemnification is unlimited; however, the Company currently holds director and officer liability insurance. This insurance allows the transfer of risk associated with the Company’s exposure and may enable it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. The Company believes that the fair value of these indemnification obligations is minimal. Accordingly, it has not recognized any liabilities relating to these obligations for any period.

5. Common Stock

As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 (unaudited), the Company had authorized 32,925,000 and 50,046,000 shares of common stock. The Company has reserved sufficient shares of common stock for issuance upon the conversion of the Series A convertible preferred stock, the conversion of the series B convertible preferred stock and the exercise of stock options. Common stockholders are entitled to dividends if and when declared by the Board of Directors subject to the prior rights of the Series A and B convertible preferred stockholders. As of December 31, 2014, no common stock dividends had been declared by the Board of Directors.

6. Convertible Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015 (unaudited), the Company had authorized no and 14,245,550 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, respectively, and 13,263,967 and 11,003,261 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, respectively. In February 2013, the Company issued 7,046,953 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, original issue price of $1.29 in the case of cash proceeds and $1.10 in the case of an outstanding note and accrued interest converted into the Series A convertible preferred stock. In April 2013, the Company issued an additional 6,217,014 shares of Series A convertible

 

F-25


Table of Contents

preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, original issue price of $1.29. In January and February 2015, the Company issued 14,047,996 shares of Series B convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, original issue price of $5.69 per share, for gross cash proceeds of $80.0 million and, in January 2015, the Company repurchased 2,260,706 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock from certain investors. The purchase price of the Series A convertible preferred stock was $5.69 per share, the same as the issue price of the Series B convertible stock, and was at an aggregate cost of $12.9 million. The offering costs for the issuance and sale of Series B convertible preferred stock was $243,000. As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, the convertible preferred stock consisted of the following (in thousands, except share amounts):

 

    

As of December 31, 2014

 

Convertible Preferred Stock

  

Shares
Authorized

    

Shares
Issued and
Outstanding

    

Proceeds
Net of
Issuance
Costs

    

Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference

 

Series A

     13,263,967         13,263,967       $ 16,928       $ 16,989   

 

    

As of March 31, 2015

 

Convertible Preferred stock

  

Shares
Authorized

    

Shares
Issued and
Outstanding

    

Proceeds
Net of
Issuance
Costs and
Repurchases

    

Aggregate
Liquidation
Preference

 

Series A

     11,003,261         11,003,261       $ 4,054       $ 14,071   

Series B

     14,245,550         14,047,996       $ 79,757       $ 80,000   

Significant provisions of each series of convertible preferred stock are as follows:

Dividends —Holders of convertible preferred stock, in preference to common stockholders, shall be entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, non-cumulative cash dividends at the rate of 8% of the original issue price of such series of convertible preferred stock per annum on each outstanding share of convertible preferred stock. No convertible preferred stock dividends have been declared or paid as of March 31, 2015.

Liquidation —In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series B convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment shall be made to holders of common stock, an amount equal to $5.69 per share of Series B convertible preferred stock plus any declared but unpaid dividends. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the holders of Series A convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Company available for distribution to its stockholders, before any payment shall be made to holders of common stock, an amount equal to $1.29 per share of Series A convertible preferred stock plus any declared but unpaid dividends. If upon such liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the Company, the assets available for distribution to stockholders are insufficient to pay in full holders of the convertible preferred stock amounts to which they are entitled, the holders of convertible preferred stock shall share ratably in any assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect to the shares held by them. Following payment in full to the holders of convertible preferred stock, the remaining assets and funds of the Company, if any, shall be divided among and paid ratably to the holders of Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares held by them.

A consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations, acquisition by any other corporation or corporations, or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets or voting control of the Company in which the prior stockholders of the Company do not own a majority of the outstanding shares of the surviving corporation is deemed to be a liquidation.

Conversion —Each share of convertible preferred stock is convertible into shares of common stock at the option of the holder at any time. Conversion is automatic upon either (a) the written consent of not less than (i) a majority of the holders of the Series A convertible preferred stock outstanding and (ii) a majority of the

 

F-26


Table of Contents

holders of the Series B convertible preferred stock outstanding or (b) the effective date of a firm commitment underwritten public offering that yields net proceeds to the Company of not less than $40,000,000 at an equivalent price per share of common stock of not less than $8.54. Each share of convertible preferred stock is convertible into the number of shares of which results from dividing the original issue price of the 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. As of December 31, 2014 and March 31, 2015, the conversion price of the Series A convertible preferred stock and Series B convertible preferred stock was $1.29 and $5.69, respectively. As such, all outstanding shares of convertible preferred stock had a conversion ratio of 1-to-1.

Voting —Each holder of share of convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which such shares of convertible preferred stock could be converted and shall have voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of the holders of common stock. The holders of Series A convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to elect one director of the Company. The holders of Series B convertible preferred stock shall be entitled to elect two directors of the Company.

Redemption —The convertible preferred stock is not redeemable at the option of the holders and there is no event in which the holders of convertible preferred stock can require liquidation in which the common shareholders would not participate in the liquidation proceeds in accordance with their relative liquidation rights as described above.

7. Net Loss Per Share and Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share

Net Loss Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2015 (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

    

Three Months Ended

 
    

March 31,

 
    

2014

   

2015

 

Numerator:

    

Net loss

   $ (1,593   $ (3,441
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Denominator

    

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     2,926,665        4,258,877   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share basic and diluted

   $ (0.54   $ (0.81
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The following common stock equivalents were excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented because including them would have been antidilutive:

 

    

Three Months Ended

 
    

March 31,

 
    

2014

    

2015

 

Convertible preferred stock

     13,263,967         18,208,684   

Stock options

     2,247,212         1,730,647   

 

F-27


Table of Contents

Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share

The following table sets forth the computation of the Company’s unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share during the three months ended March 31, 2015 (in thousands, except for share and per share amounts):

 

Net loss

   $ (3,441
  

 

 

 

Shares used in computing net loss per share, basic and diluted

     4,258,877   

Pro forma adjustments to reflect assumed conversion of convertible preferred stock

     18,208,684   
  

 

 

 

Shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted

     22,467,561   
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted

   $ (0.15
  

 

 

 

8. Subsequent Events

Stock Split

On                       , 2015, the Company effected a 1-for-1.317 stock split of the Company’s common stock and convertible preferred stock. The par value of the authorized stock was not adjusted as a result of the stock split. In addition, the Company also increased the number of shares of authorized common stock to 55,051,264 and the number of shares of authorized preferred stock to 25,051,264. All issued and outstanding common stock, convertible preferred stock, stock options and per share amounts contained in the accompanying financial statements and notes to the financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to give effect to the stock split for all periods presented.

 

F-28


Table of Contents

 

 

Through and including                     , 2015, (the 25th day after the date of this prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to a dealer’s obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or subscription.

8,333,333 Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

BofA Merrill Lynch   Credit Suisse   Piper Jaffray

                    , 2015

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of Common Stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except for the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and The NASDAQ Global Select Market listing fee.

 

Item

  

Amount to
be paid

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 17,818   

FINRA filing fee

     23,500   

The NASDAQ Global Select Market Listing fee

     175,000   

Printing and engraving expenses

     300,000   

Legal fees and expenses

     1,600,000   

Accounting fees and expenses

     1,100,000   

Blue Sky, qualification fees and expenses

     10,000   

Transfer Agent fees and expenses

     5,000   

Miscellaneous expenses

     268,682   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,500,000   
  

 

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, we have adopted provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our directors for a breach of their fiduciary duty of care as a director. The duty of care generally requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:

 

    any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

    any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

    any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or

 

    any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.

As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated bylaws provide that:

 

    we may indemnify our directors, officers, and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions;

 

II-1


Table of Contents
    we may advance expenses to our directors, officers and employees in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions; and

 

    the rights provided in our amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, attached as Exhibit 3.3 hereto, and our amended and restated bylaws, attached as Exhibit 3.5 hereto, provide for the indemnification provisions described above and elsewhere herein. We intend to enter into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers which may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements generally require us, among other things, to indemnify our officers and directors against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also generally require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. In addition, we have purchased a policy of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insures our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

The form of Underwriting Agreement, attached as Exhibit 1.1 hereto, provides for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers who sign this Registration Statement and directors for specified liabilities, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

The following list sets forth information as to all securities we have sold since January 1, 2012, which were not registered under the Securities Act.

 

  1. In June 2012, we issued an unsecured convertible promissory note in the principal amount of $750,000 to one accredited investor.

 

  2. In February and April 2013, we issued an aggregate of 13,263,967 shares of our Series A convertible preferred stock at a price per share of either (i) $1.29 in cash or (ii) with respect to 694,364 shares of Series A convertible preferred stock issued to Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. in exchange for the cancellation by Food Allergy Research & Education, Inc. of a convertible promissory note issued by us, $1.10 in cancellation of indebtedness, for a total amount raised (including the cancellation of indebtedness) of $16.9 million, net of offering costs.

 

  3. In January and February 2015, we issued an aggregate of 14,047,996 shares of our Series B convertible preferred stock at a price per share of $5.69 for a total amount raised of $79.8 million, net of offering costs.

 

  4. We granted stock options and stock awards to employees, directors and consultants under our 2013 Stock Plan, covering an aggregate of 7,110,984 shares of common stock, at a weighted-average average exercise price of $1.69 per share. Of these, options covering an aggregate of 779,624 shares were cancelled without being exercised and 211,793 unvested shares were repurchased concurrent with employee terminations.

 

  5. We sold an aggregate of 2,913,407 shares of common stock to employees, directors and consultants for cash consideration in the aggregate amount of approximately $631,533 upon the exercise of stock options and stock awards.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

We claimed exemption from registration under the Securities Act for the sale and issuance of securities in the transactions described in paragraphs (1) through (4) by virtue of Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D promulgated thereunder as transactions not involving any public offering. All of the purchasers of unregistered securities for which we relied on Section 4(a)(2) and/or Regulation D represented that they were accredited investors as defined under the Securities Act. We claimed such exemption on the basis that (a) the purchasers in each case represented that they intended to acquire the securities for investment only and not with a view to the distribution thereof and that they either received adequate information about the registrant or had access, through employment or other relationships, to such information and (b) appropriate legends were affixed to the stock certificates issued in such transactions.

We claimed exemption from registration under the Securities Act for the sales and issuances of securities in the transactions described in paragraphs (5) and (6) above under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act in that such sales and issuances did not involve a public offering or under Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, in that they were offered and sold either pursuant to written compensatory plans or pursuant to a written contract relating to compensation, as provided by Rule 701.

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 Statement 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 notes thereto.

Item 17. Undertakings.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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.

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.

 

II-3


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Brisbane, California on July 27, 2015.

 

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Stephen G. Dilly

 

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ Stephen G. Dilly

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

 

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  July 27, 2015

/s/ Warren L. DeSouza

Warren L. DeSouza

 

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  July 27, 2015

*

Patrick G. Enright

  Director   July 27, 2015

*

Kathryn E. Falberg

  Director   July 27, 2015

*

Mark T. Iwicki

  Director   July 27, 2015

*

Mark D. McDade

  Director   July 27, 2015

*

Stacey D. Seltzer

  Director   July 27, 2015

 

By:   

/s/ Stephen G. Dilly

    July 27, 2015
 

Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.

Attorney-in-Fact

   

 

II-4


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

 

        

Incorporated by Reference

     

Exhibit
Number

 

Exhibit Description

  

  Form  

    

  Date  

  

  Number  

   

Filed
Herewith

  1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.            X
  3.1   Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, currently in effect.      S-1       7/6/2015      3.1     
  3.2   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effecting a stock split, to be in effect prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement.            X
  3.3   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, to be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of this offering.            X
  3.4   Bylaws, currently in effect.      S-1       7/6/2015      3.3     
  3.5   Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws, to be in effect immediately prior to the consummation of this offering.            X
  4.1   Reference is made to exhibits 3.1 through 3.5.           
  4.2   Form of Common Stock Certificate.            X
  5.1   Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.            X
10.1   Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated January 20, 2015, by and among Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. and the investors listed therein.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.1     
10.2†   Supply Agreement, dated as of October 13, 2014, by and between the Company and Golden Peanut Company, L.L.C.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.2     
10.3   Office Lease, dated February 23, 2015, by and between, the Company, Diamond Marina LLC and Diamond Marina II LLC.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.3     
10.4†   Manufacturing Facility Lease, dated June 8, 2015, by and between, the Company and MIDA Group, LLC.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.4     
10.5(a)#   2013 Stock Plan.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.5 (a)   
10.5(b)#   Amendment to the 2013 Stock Plan, dated January 20, 2015.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.5 (b)   
10.5(c)#   Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2013 Stock Plan.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.5 (c)   
10.5(d)#   Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement under the 2013 Stock Plan.      S-1       7/6/2015      10.5 (d)   
10.6(a)#   2015 Equity Incentive Annual Plan.            X
10.6(b)#   Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2015 Equity Incentive Annual Plan.            X
10.6(c)#   Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement and Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice under the 2015 Equity Incentive Annual Plan.            X


Table of Contents
         

Incorporated by Reference

      

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit Description

  

  Form  

  

  Date  

  

  Number  

    

Filed
Herewith

10.7#    Form of Indemnification Agreement for directors and officers.             X
10.8#    Executive Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D.             X
10.9#    Executive Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Warren L. DeSouza.             X
10.10#    Executive Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Howard V. Raff.             X
10.11#    Executive Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Robert M. Elfont.             X
10.12#    Executive Employment Agreement, by and between the Company and Mary M. Rozenman.             X
10.13#    Amended and Restated Settlement Agreement, dated May 5, 2015, by and between the Company and Bryan Walser.             X
10.14#†    Consulting Agreement, dated February 9, 2015, by and between the Company and Bryan Walser.    S-1    7/6/2015      10.13      
10.15#    Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.             X
10.16#    Non-Employee Director Compensation Program.             X
21.1    List of Subsidiaries.             X
23.1    Consent of independent registered public accounting firm.             X
23.2    Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).             X
24.1    Power of Attorney. Reference is made to the signature page to the Registration Statement.    S-1    7/6/2015      24.1      

 

Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment and this exhibit has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

# Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

Exhibit 1.1

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

         Shares of Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

            , 2015

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

 Incorporated

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

as Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

 Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10010

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of Delaware (the “Company”), confirms its agreement with Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”), Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch and Credit Suisse are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to (i) the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) set forth in Schedule A hereto and (ii) the grant by the Company to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of          additional shares of Common Stock. The aforesaid          shares of Common Stock (the “Initial Securities”) to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the          shares of Common Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the “Option Securities”) are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.”

The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-205501), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the sale of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933 Act Regulations”) and Rule 424(b)


(“Rule 424(b)”) of the 1933 Act Regulations. The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is herein called the “Rule 430A Information.” Such registration statement, including the amendments thereto, the exhibits thereto and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including the Rule 430A Information, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” and, after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “preliminary prospectus.” The final prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, is herein called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”).

As used in this Agreement:

“Applicable Time” means                     , New York City time, on                      or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.

“General Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the preliminary prospectus dated July 27, 2015 that was distributed to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule B-1 hereto, all considered together.

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 405”)) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “ bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433 (the “Bona Fide Electronic Road Show”)), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule B-2 hereto.

“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

“Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the 1933 Act.

 

2


“Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.

SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties .

(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time (as defined below) and any Date of Delivery (as defined below), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:

(i) Registration Statement and Prospectuses . Each of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied in all material respects with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.

Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(ii) Accurate Disclosure . Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the Applicable Time, none of (A) the General Disclosure Package, (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package and (C) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting–

 

3


Commissions and Discounts,” the information in the second, third and fourth paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting–Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids” and the information under the heading “Underwriting–Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares” in each case contained in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The Company has made available a Bona Fide Electronic Road Show in compliance with Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) such that no filing of any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433(h)) is required in connection with the offering of the Securities.

(iv) Testing-the-Waters Materials . The Company (A) has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the 1933 Act and (B) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule B-2 hereto.

(v) Company Not Ineligible Issuer . At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the 1933 Act Regulations) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.

(vi) Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any Person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the 1933 Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

(vii) Independent Accountants . The accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

(viii) Financial Statements . The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and, where applicable, its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except in the case of unaudited, interim financial statements, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the exclusion of certain

 

4


footnotes as permitted by the applicable rules of the Commission. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations.

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

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

(xi) Good Standing of Subsidiaries . Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has corporate or similar power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. The only subsidiaries of the Company are the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.

 

5


(xii) Capitalization . The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus in the column entitled “Actual” under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit or equity incentive plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.

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

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

(xv) Registration Rights . There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the 1933 Act pursuant to this Agreement, other than those rights that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and have been waived.

(xvi) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its charter, by-laws or similar organizational document, (B) in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”), except for such defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or operations (each, a “Governmental Entity”), except for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or

 

6


both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of (i) the provisions of the charter, by-laws or similar organizational document of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity, except, in the case of (ii), for such violations that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

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

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

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

(xx) Absence of Further Requirements . No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Governmental Entity is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except (A) such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the rules of the NASDAQ Global Select Market, state securities laws or the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

(xxi) Possession of Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate Governmental Entities necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the

 

7


aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are, and since January 1, 2013 have been, in compliance with all statutes, rules and regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, storage, import, export or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by or on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries or out-licensed by the Company (“Applicable Laws”), except for such noncompliance that, singly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, have not received any U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) Form 483, written notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other written correspondence or written notice from any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority alleging or asserting any non-compliance with (x) any Applicable Laws or (y) any licenses, exemptions, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws, except for such noncompliance that, singly or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(xxii) Title to Property . The Company and its subsidiaries have good title to all personal property (excluding for the purposes of this Section (1)(a)(xxii), Intellectual Property (as defined below)) owned by them, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (A) are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (B) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any notice of any claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease, except to the extent that any claim or adverse effect on the Company’s rights thereto would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries do not own any real property.

(xxiii) Possession of Intellectual Property . The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, have licenses to, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all patents, patent rights, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (including all registrations and applications for registration of, and all goodwill associated with, the foregoing) (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted as disclosed in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package

 

8


and/or Prospectus. Except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of (i) any infringement, misappropriation or other violation of, or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property rights of any third party or (ii) of any facts or circumstances which would render invalid or unenforceable any issued patents owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no material defects in any of the patents or patent applications owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(xxiv) Environmental Laws . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required for their operations under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigations or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances existing as of the date hereof that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Entity, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.

(xxv) Accounting Controls . The Company, on a consolidated basis, has used reasonable efforts such that it will comply, in the time period required, to the extent applicable to the Company, with Rule 13-a15 and 15d-15 under the Regulations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”)). The Company, on a consolidated basis, maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

9


(xxvi) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will be in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) that are then in effect and with which the Company is required to comply as of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(xxvii) Payment of Taxes . All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided and except insofar as the failures to do so would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The United States federal income tax returns of the Company through the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 have been settled and no assessment in connection therewith has been made against the Company. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company and its subsidiaries, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been established by the Company. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacies that would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.

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

(xxix) Investment Company Act . The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(xxx) Absence of Manipulation . Neither the Company nor any subsidiary of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take, directly or indirectly, without giving effect to activities by the Underwriters, any action which is designed, or would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the 1934 Act.

 

10


(xxxi) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

(xxxii) Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(xxxiii) OFAC . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Person, to fund any activities of or business with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.

(xxxiv) Lending Relationship . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(xxxv) Statistical and Market-Related Data . Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate in all material respects and, to the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.

 

11


(xxxvi) Clinical Trials . The clinical trials and preclinical studies conducted by or, to the knowledge of the Company after due inquiry, on behalf of or sponsored by the Company or its subsidiaries, or in which the Company or its subsidiaries have participated, that are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as applicable, were, and if still pending are, being conducted in all material respects in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations of the FDA and comparable drug regulatory agencies outside of the United States to which they are subject (collectively, the “Regulatory Authorities”) and current Good Clinical Practices and Good Laboratory Practices; the descriptions of the results of such trials and studies contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the data derived from such trials and studies; the Company has no knowledge of any other trials not described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the results of which are inconsistent with or call into question the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; the Company and its subsidiaries have operated at all times and are currently in compliance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws of the Regulatory Authorities; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have received any written notices, correspondence or other communications from the Regulatory Authorities or any other governmental agency requiring or threatening the termination, material modification or suspension of any clinical trials or preclinical studies that are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, other than ordinary course communications with respect to modifications in connection with the design and implementation of such trials, and, to the Company’s knowledge, there are no reasonable grounds for the same.

(xxxvii) Regulatory Filings . The Company has not failed to file with the Regulatory Authorities any required filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission (other than any such immaterial filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission) with respect to the Company’s product candidates that are described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; all such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions were in material compliance with applicable laws when filed; and no deficiencies regarding compliance with applicable law have been asserted by any applicable regulatory authority with respect to any such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions.

(xxxviii) No Rated Securities . Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have any debt securities or preferred stock that are rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating agency” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act).

(b) Officer’s Certificates . Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing .

(a) Initial Securities . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, that number of Initial Securities set forth in

 

12


Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(b) Option Securities . In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional          shares of Common Stock, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part at any time from time to time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, any Date of Delivery occurring after the Closing Time shall not be later than seven full business days nor earlier than two full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.

(c) Payment . Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 1600 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).

In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from Merrill Lynch to the Company.

Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates or security entitlements for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

 

13


SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests . The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives as soon as possible, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

(b) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws . The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representatives notice of such event, (B) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

(c) Delivery of Registration Statements . The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration

 

14


Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(d) Delivery of Prospectuses . The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(e) Blue Sky Qualifications . The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.

(f) Rule 158 . The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

(g) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

(h) Listing . The Company will use its best efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Common Stock (including the Securities) NASDAQ Global Select Market.

(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities . During a period of 180 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder, (B) any shares of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (C) any shares of Common Stock issued

 

15


or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (D) any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (E) the filing of a registration statement on Form S-8 or any successor form thereto with respect to the registration of securities to be offered under any employee benefit or equity incentive plans of the Company described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (F) the entry into agreements providing for the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock in connection with the acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the securities, business, property or other assets of another person or entity pursuant to an employee benefit plan assumed by the Company in connection with such acquisition, and the issuance of any such securities pursuant to any such agreement, and (G) the entry into agreements providing for the issuance of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock in connection with joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions, and the issuance of any such securities pursuant to any such agreement; provided that in the case of clauses (F) and (G), the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that the Company may sell or issue or agree to sell or issue pursuant to clauses (F) and (G) shall not exceed 5% of the total number of shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding as of immediately prior to the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and provided further that, in the case of clauses (B) through (G), the Company shall cause each recipient of such securities to execute and deliver, on or prior to the issuance of such securities, a lock-up agreement on substantially the same terms as the lock-up agreements described in Section 5(j) hereof to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer, and (y) the Company shall authorize its transfer agent to decline to make any transfer of such shares in violation of such lock-up agreements.

(j) If the Representatives, in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up agreement described in Section 5(i) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(k) Reporting Requirements . The Company, during the period when a Prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and 1934 Act Regulations. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Securities as may be required under Rule 463 under the 1933 Act.

(l) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule B-2 hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives. The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or

 

16


occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

(m) Testing-the-Waters Materials . If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

(n) Emerging Growth Company Status . The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the 180-day restricted period referred to in Section 3(i).

SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Expenses . The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates or security entitlements for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto in an amount not to exceed $2,500, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, documented fees and expenses of any consultants engaged with the prior written consent of the Company in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company (which, for the avoidance of doubt, does not include the Underwriters or their representatives for purposes of this Section 4(a)(vii)) and any such consultants, and fifty percent (50%) of the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show (it being understood that the Underwriters pay the remaining fifty percent (50%) of such costs), (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities (provided that the Company shall not be required to reimburse or pay more than $35,000 of the reasonable fees of such counsel), and (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

17


(b) Termination of Agreement . If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i) or (iii) or Section 10 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Securities; provided, however, that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10, the Company shall only be required to reimburse such expenses, fees and disbursements of, or attributable to, the Underwriters that have not failed to purchase the Securities that they have agreed to purchase hereunder.

SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information . The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and, at the Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated; and the Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.

(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Time, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

(c) Opinion of Intellectual Property Counsel for Company . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Thomson Law PLLC, special intellectual property counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

(d) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Time, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(e) Officers’ Certificate . At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly

 

18


made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated.

(f) Accountant’s Comfort Letter . At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter, dated such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter . At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.

(h) Approval of Listing . At the Closing Time, the Securities shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.

(i) No Objection . FINRA has confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.

(j) Lock-up Agreements . At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto signed by all of the Company’s directors and officers and substantially all of the Company’s securityholders.

(k) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities . In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company and any of its subsidiaries hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:

(i) Officers’ Certificate . A certificate, dated such Date of Delivery, of the President or a Vice President (or equivalent thereof) of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.

(ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company . If requested by the Representatives, the opinion and negative assurance letter of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, each dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.

(iii) Opinion of Intellectual Property Counsel for Company . If requested by the Representatives, the opinion of Thomson Law PLLC, special intellectual property counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.

 

19


(iv) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters . If requested by the Representatives, the opinion and negative assurance letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, each dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.

(v) Bring-down Comfort Letter . If requested by the Representatives, a letter from KPMG LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.

(l) Additional Documents . At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

(m) Termination of Agreement . If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15 and 16 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act (each, an “Affiliate”)), its selling agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included (A) in any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities (“Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company

 

20


(whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission in any preliminary prospectus, Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, Prospectus or in any Marketing Materials of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;

(iii) against any and all reasonably documented expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Merrill Lynch), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers . Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.

(c) Actions against Parties; Notification . Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any

 

21


investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse . If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 6, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

SECTION 7. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.

The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

22


Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public.

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive . All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.

SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement .

(a) Termination . The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NASDAQ Global Select Market, or (iv) if trading generally on the NYSE MKT or the New York Stock Exchange or in the NASDAQ Global Select Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (v) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in Europe, or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.

 

23


(b) Liabilities . If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14 , 15 and 16 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters . If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the Company to sell, the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either (i) the Representatives or (ii) the Company shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

SECTION 11. Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to (i) Merrill Lynch at One Bryant Park, New York, New York 10036, attention of Syndicate Department (facsimile: (646) 855-3073), with a copy to ECM Legal (facsimile: (212) 230-8730 and, (ii) Credit Suisse at Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD; notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., 8000 Marina Boulevard, Suite 300, Brisbane, CA 94005-1884, attention of Stephen G. Dilly and with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Latham & Watkins LLP, 140 Scott Drive. Menlo Park, California 94025 (facsimile: (650) 463-2600; attn: Patrick A. Pohlen and Brian J. Cuneo).

SECTION 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the initial public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-

 

24


length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of its subsidiaries on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and the Company has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

SECTION 13. Parties . This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

SECTION 14. Trial by Jury . The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates) and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

SECTION 15. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.

SECTION 16. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity . Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in (i) the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan or (ii) the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

25


SECTION 17. TIME . TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

SECTION 18. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

SECTION 19. Effect of Headings . The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

26


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.

 

Very truly yours,
AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By  

 

  Title:

 

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:

  

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

                              INCORPORATED

  

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

  
By:  

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

                              INCORPORATED

By  

 

  Authorized Signatory
By:   CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC
By  

 

  Authorized Signatory

For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

 

27


SCHEDULE A

The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $         .

The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $         , being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $         per share.

 

Name of Underwriter    Number of
Initial Securities

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated

  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC.

  

Piper Jaffray & Co.

  
  

 

Total

  
  

 

 

Sch A-1


SCHEDULE B-1

Pricing Terms

1. The Company is selling         shares of Common Stock.

2. The Company has granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional         shares of Common Stock.

3. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $         .

 

A-1


SCHEDULE B-2

Free Writing Prospectuses

[SPECIFY EACH ISSUER GENERAL USE FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS]

 

A-2


Exhibit A

Form of Lock-Up Agreement

 

B-1


            , 2015

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                     Incorporated,

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,

as Representatives of the several

Underwriters to be named in the

within-mentioned Underwriting Agreement

 

c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith

                              Incorporated

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

 

c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

Eleven Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10010-3629

 

  Re: Proposed Public Offering by Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, a stockholder, an officer and/or director of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), understands that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“ Merrill Lynch ”) and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (together, the “ Representatives ”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”) with the Company providing for the public offering of shares (the “ Public Offering ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”). In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder and an officer and/or director of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with the Representatives on behalf of the underwriters that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on, and including, the date that is 180 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “ Lock-Up Period ”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “ Lock-Up Securities ”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-Up Securities, or file or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (other than the delivery of a notice to exercise piggyback rights in connection with a registration of any Lock-Up Securities that is to be filed after the Lock-Up Period), or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership

 

B-2


of the Lock-Up Securities (a “ Hedging Transaction ”), whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise (for purposes of clarity, nothing herein shall require the consent of the Representatives in respect of the conversion of shares of preferred stock of the Company into shares of Common Stock of the Company in connection with the consummation of the Public Offering). If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any issuer-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the offering.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (1) the Representatives agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of the Common Stock, the Representatives will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (2) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (i) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (ii) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Representatives:

 

a) provided that (1) the Representatives receive a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be, (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (3) such transfers are not required to be reported with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 4 in accordance with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act ”), and (4) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers (other than Form 5 with respect to a bona fide gift or gifts):

 

  i. as a bona fide gift or gifts; or

 

  ii. to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or

 

  iii. by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned; or

 

  iv. as a distribution to partners, members or stockholders of the undersigned; or

 

B-3


  v. to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned; or

 

b) to the Company, upon (1) a vesting event of any equity award granted under any stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company in effect as of the date of the Public Offering and described in the prospectus relating to the Public Offering, or (2) upon the exercise by the undersigned of options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted under any stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company in effect as of the date of the Public Offering and described in the prospectus relating to the Public Offering, in each case, on a “cashless” or “net exercise” basis and/or to cover tax withholding obligations of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or exercise, provided that (A) any filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that (x) the filing relates to the circumstances described above and (y) no Lock-Up Securities were sold by the reporting person other than such transfers to the Company as described above and (B) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any other public filing or report regarding such transfer during the Lock-Up Period; or

 

c) to the Company, not at the option of the undersigned, pursuant to equityholder agreements or agreements pursuant to which such securities were issued and under which the Company has an option to repurchase such shares of Common Stock upon the termination of the employment of the undersigned, provided that (A) any filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that (x) the filing relates to the circumstances described above and (y) no Lock-Up Securities were sold by the reporting person other than such transfers to the Company as described above (and a draft of such Section 16 filing shall be provided to the Representatives one business day before it is filed) (B) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any other public filing or report regarding such transfer during the Lock-Up Period; or

 

d) in a transfer or disposition of Lock-Up Securities that occurs by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement, provided that (A) no filing under the Exchange Act shall be required or voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period, (B) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any other public filing or report regarding such transfer during the Lock-Up Period and (C) the Representatives shall receive a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from such transferee.

Further, this lock-up agreement shall not restrict any sale, disposal or transfer of Lock-Up Securities to a bona fide third party pursuant to a tender offer for securities of the Company or any merger, consolidation or other business combination involving a Change of Control of the Company occurring after the settlement of the Public Offering, that, in each case, has been approved by the board of directors of the Company; provided that all Lock-Up Securities subject to this lock-up agreement that are not so transferred, sold, tendered or otherwise disposed of remain subject to this lock-up agreement; and provided , further , that it shall be a condition of transfer, sale, tender or other disposition that if such tender offer or other transaction is not completed, any Lock-Up Securities subject to this lock-up agreement shall remain subject to the restrictions herein. For the purposes of this paragraph, “ Change of Control ” means the

 

B-4


consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction, the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, other than the Company or its subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of at least 100% of the total voting power of the voting share capital of the Company.

Furthermore, notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by this lock-up agreement, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (i) sell or enter into Hedging Transactions with respect to shares of Common Stock of the Company purchased by the undersigned in the Public Offering (other than, if the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, any issuer-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the offering, as set forth in the last sentence of the first paragraph of this lock-up agreement) or on the open market following the Public Offering, if and only if (A) such sales are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise (other than pursuant to a Schedule 13D, 13F or 13G that sets forth that the circumstances of such sale or Hedging Transaction), and (B) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales; (ii) establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, provided that (A) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Lock-Up Securities during the lock-up period, (B) the establishment of such plan is not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise, and (C) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding the establishment of such plan; or (iii) receive from the Company shares of Common Stock upon the vesting of equity awards or exercise of options to purchase the Company’s securities issued pursuant to any stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company in effect as of the date of the Public Offering and described in the prospectus relating to the Public Offering, provided , that (A) any shares of Common Stock received upon such receipt or exercise shall remain subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement and (B) if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act in connection with such receipt or exercise, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that the shares of Common Stock received upon such receipt or exercise shall remain subject to the terms of this lock-up agreement, and the undersigned shall not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report in connection with such receipt or exercise.

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

The undersigned hereby agrees that, to the extent that the terms of this lock-up agreement conflict with or are in any way inconsistent with any registration rights agreement or similar agreement to which the undersigned and the Company may be a party, this lock-up agreement supersedes such registration rights agreement or similar agreement.

If (i) the Company notifies the Representatives in writing prior to the date of execution of the Underwriting Agreement that it does not intend to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the Public Offering is withdrawn, (iii) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by February 16, 2016, or (iv) for any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, this lock-up agreement shall be terminated and the undersigned shall be released from its obligations hereunder.

 

B-5


This lock-up agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related hereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

Very truly yours,

 

Signature:  

 

 

Print Name:

 

B-6


Exhibit B

FORM OF PRESS RELEASE

TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(j)

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

[Date]

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that                     , book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of         shares of common stock, are releasing a lock-up restriction with respect to         shares of the Company’s common stock held by certain officers or directors of the Company. The release will take effect on     ,         20    , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

C-1

Exhibit 3.2

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the

General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware)

Allergen Research Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”),

DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

1. That the name of this corporation is Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., and that this corporation was originally incorporated pursuant to the General Corporation Law on June 24, 2011 under the name Allergen Research Corporation. The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 20, 2015. Certificates of Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation were filed on February 25, 2015, and May 27, 2015.

2. That the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) duly adopted resolutions proposing to amend and restate the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of this corporation, declaring said amendment and restatement to be advisable and in the best interests of this corporation and its stockholders and authorizing the appropriate officers of this corporation to solicit the consent of the stockholders therefor, which resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and restatement is as follows:

RESOLVED , that the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of this corporation be amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

FIRST : The name of this corporation is Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”)

SECOND : The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Zip Code 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

THIRD : The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law.

FOURTH :

Forward Stock Split .

1. Effective upon the filing of this Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Restated Certificate ”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware


(the “ Effective Time ”), each share of Common Stock (as defined below) issued and outstanding shall be reclassified as 1.317 shares of Common Stock, and each share of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock (as each is defined below) issued and outstanding shall be reclassified as 1.317 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock, respectively (the “ Forward Stock Split ”).

2. Each stock certificate representing shares of any class or series of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (as defined below) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, represent that number of shares of the class or series of Common Stock or Preferred Stock into which such shares shall have been reclassified pursuant to the Forward Stock Split; provided, however, that each holder of any stock certificate(s) that represented shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be entitled to receive, upon surrender of such certificate(s), one or more certificates (or book entry shares) evidencing and representing the number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock into which the shares represented by such certificate(s) shall have been reclassified pursuant to the Forward Stock Split.

3. No fractional shares shall be issued for shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock pursuant to the Forward Stock Split. If the Forward Stock Split would result in the issuance of any fractional share of any class or series of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall, in lieu of issuing any such fractional share, pay cash in an amount equal to the fair value of such fractional share (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors). All share, per share and dollar references in this Restated Certificate have been adjusted for the Forward Stock Split only as explicitly provided herein.

The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is (i) 55,051,264 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“ Common Stock ”) and (ii) 25,051,264 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“ Preferred Stock ”) of which (A) 11,003,264 shares are designated as Series A Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“ Series A Preferred Stock ”) and (B) 14,048,000 shares are designated as Series B Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (“ Series B Preferred Stock ”).

The following is a statement of the designations and the powers, privileges and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect of each class of capital stock of the Corporation.

 

  A. COMMON STOCK

1. General . The voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock are subject to and qualified by the rights, powers and preferences of the holders of the Preferred Stock set forth herein.

2. Voting . The holders of the Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock held at all meetings of stockholders (and written actions in lieu of meetings). There shall be no cumulative voting. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by (in

 

2


addition to any vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock that may be required by the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation) the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of capital stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the votes represented by all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the General Corporation Law.

 

  B. PREFERRED STOCK

The Preferred Stock shall have the following rights, preferences, powers, privileges and restrictions, qualifications and limitations. Unless otherwise indicated, references to “sections” or `subsections” in this Part B of this Article Fourth refer to sections and subsections of Part B of this Article Fourth.

1. Dividends .

(a) Holders of Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of Common Stock, shall be entitled to receive when, as and if declared by the Board, but only out of funds that are legally available therefor, non-cumulative cash dividends at the rate of eight percent (8%) of the Original Issue Price (as defined below) for such series of Preferred Stock per annum on each outstanding share of such series of Preferred Stock. The Board is under no obligation to declare dividends, and no rights shall accrue to the holders of Preferred Stock if dividends are not declared. The holders of the outstanding Preferred Stock can waive any dividend preference that such holders shall be entitled to receive under this Section 1 upon the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class and on an as-converted basis (the “ Requisite Holders ”).

(b) The “ Original Issue Price ” shall be $1.291 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits, recapitalizations and the like with respect to such shares after the filing date hereof) and $5.695 per share for the Series B Preferred Stock (as adjusted for any stock dividends, combinations, splits, recapitalizations and the like with respect to such shares after the filing date hereof).

(c) So long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not pay or declare any dividend, whether in cash or property, or make any other distribution on the Common Stock, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value any shares of Common Stock until all dividends as set forth in Section 1(a) above on the Preferred Stock shall have been paid, declared and set apart.

(d) In the event dividends are paid or distributions made on any share of Common Stock, whether in cash or property, the Corporation shall pay an additional dividend or make a distribution on all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock in a per share amount equal (on an as-if converted to Common Stock basis) to the amount paid or set aside for each share of Common Stock.

(e) The provisions of Sections 1(c) and (d) above shall not apply to (i) a dividend payable solely in Common Stock, (ii) acquisitions of Common Stock by the

 

3


Corporation pursuant to agreements which permit the Corporation to repurchase such shares upon termination of services to the Corporation, or (iii) acquisitions of Common Stock in exercise of the Corporation’s right of first refusal to repurchase such shares, in each case, that are approved by the Board.

(f) Whenever a dividend provided for in this Section 1 shall be payable in property other than cash, the value of such dividend shall be the fair market value of such distribution as determined in good faith by the Board.

2. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up; Certain Mergers, Consolidations and Asset Sales .

2.1. Preferential Payments to Holders of Preferred Stock . In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders before any payment shall be made to the holders of Common Stock by reason of their ownership thereof, an amount per share, subject to Subsection 2.3 hereof, equal to the Original Issue Price for such series of Preferred Stock, plus any dividends declared but unpaid thereon. If upon any such liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event, the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be insufficient to pay the holders of shares of Preferred Stock the full amount of the Original Issue Price for Preferred Stock to which they shall be entitled under this Subsection 2.1, the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall share ratably in any distribution of the assets available for distribution in proportion to the respective amounts which would otherwise be payable in respect of the shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable on or with respect to such shares were paid in full.

2.2. Deemed Conversion . Notwithstanding the above, for purposes of determining the amount each holder of shares of a particular series of Preferred Stock is entitled to receive with respect to such shares in connection with a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event, each such holder of shares of such series of Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have converted (regardless of whether such holder actually converted such holder’s shares of such series of Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event) if, as a result of an actual conversion, such holder would receive with respect to such shares, in the aggregate, an amount greater than the amount that would be distributed to such holder with respect to such shares if such holder did not convert such shares of such series of Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock. If any such holder shall be deemed to have converted shares of Preferred Stock into Common Stock pursuant to this paragraph, then such holder shall not be entitled to receive any distribution that would otherwise be made to holders of such series of Preferred Stock that have not converted (or have not been deemed to have converted) into shares of Common Stock. The aggregate amount which a holder of a share of Preferred Stock is entitled to receive under Subsections 2.1 and 2.2 is hereinafter referred to as the “ Preferred Liquidation Amount ”.

 

4


2.3. Distribution of Remaining Assets . In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or Deemed Liquidation Event, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Preferred Stock, the remaining assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders shall be distributed among the holders of the shares of Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of shares held by each such holder.

2.4. Deemed Liquidation Events .

2.4.1. Definition . Each of the following events shall be considered a “ Deemed Liquidation Event ” unless the Requisite Holders and the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate series (the “ Required Series B Holders ”), elect otherwise by written notice sent to the Corporation at least ten (10) days prior to the effective date of any such event:

(a) a merger or consolidation in which

(i) the Corporation is a constituent party or

(ii) 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 (A) any such merger or consolidation involving the Corporation or a subsidiary in which the shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation continue to represent, or are converted into or exchanged for shares of capital stock that represent, immediately following such merger or consolidation, at least a majority, by voting power, of the capital stock of (1) the surviving or resulting corporation or (2) if the surviving or resulting corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of another corporation immediately following such merger or consolidation, the parent corporation of such surviving or resulting corporation; (B) a consolidation by the Corporation with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation; or (C) a merger effected exclusively to change the domicile of the Corporation.

(b) the sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, by the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation of all or substantially all the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or the sale or disposition (whether by merger or otherwise) of one or more subsidiaries of the Corporation if substantially all of the assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole are held by such subsidiary or subsidiaries, except where such sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition is to a wholly owned subsidiary of the Corporation.

 

5


2.4.2. Effecting a Deemed Liquidation Event .

(a) The Corporation shall not have the power to effect a Deemed Liquidation Event referred to in Subsection 2.4.1(a)(i) unless the agreement or plan of merger or consolidation for such transaction (the “ Merger Agreement ”) 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 Subsections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3.

(b) In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event referred to in Subsection 2.4.1(a)(ii) or 2.4.1(b), if the Corporation does not effect a dissolution of the Corporation under the General Corporation Law within 90 days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, then (i) the Corporation shall send a written notice to each holder of Preferred Stock no later than the 90th day after the Deemed Liquidation Event advising such holders of their right (and the requirements to be met to secure such right) pursuant to the terms of the following clause (ii) to require the redemption of such shares of Preferred Stock, and (ii) if the Requisite Holders so request in a written instrument delivered to the Corporation not later than 120 days after such Deemed Liquidation Event, the Corporation shall use the consideration received by the Corporation for such Deemed Liquidation Event (net of any retained liabilities associated with the assets sold or technology licensed, as determined in good faith by the Board), together with any other assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders, all to the extent permitted by Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders (the “ Available Proceeds ”), on the 150th day after such Deemed Liquidation Event, to redeem all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock at a price per share equal to the applicable Preferred Liquidation Amount. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a redemption pursuant to the preceding sentence, if the Available Proceeds are not sufficient to redeem all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall redeem shares of Preferred Stock to the fullest extent of such Available Proceeds, and shall redeem the remaining shares as soon as it may lawfully do so under Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders. Prior to the distribution or redemption provided for in this Subsection 2.4.2(b), the Corporation shall not expend or dissipate the consideration received for such Deemed Liquidation Event, except to discharge expenses incurred in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event or in the ordinary course of business.

2.4.3. Amount Deemed Paid or Distributed . The amount deemed paid or distributed to the holders of capital stock of the Corporation upon any such merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, exclusive license, other disposition or

 

6


redemption shall be the cash or the value of the property, rights or securities paid or distributed to such holders by the Corporation or the acquiring person, firm or other entity. The value of such property, rights or securities shall be determined in good faith by the Board.

2.4.4. Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration . In the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event pursuant to Subsection 2.4.1(a)(i), if any portion of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation is payable only upon satisfaction of contingencies (the “ Additional Consideration ”), the Merger Agreement shall provide that (a) the portion of such consideration that is not Additional Consideration (such portion, the “ Initial Consideration ”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Subsections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event and (b) any Additional Consideration which becomes payable to the stockholders of the Corporation upon satisfaction of such contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with Subsections 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration as part of the same transaction. For the purposes of this Subsection 2.4.4, consideration placed into escrow or retained as holdback to be available for satisfaction of indemnification or similar obligations in connection with such Deemed Liquidation Event shall be deemed to be Additional Consideration.

3. Voting .

3.1. General . On any matter presented to the stockholders of the Corporation for their action or consideration at any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (or by written consent of stockholders in lieu of meeting), each holder of outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to cast the number of votes equal to the number of whole shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock held by such holder are convertible as of the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote on such matter. Fractional votes shall not be permitted, and any fractional voting rights available on an as-converted basis (after aggregating all shares into which shares of Preferred Stock held by each holder could be converted) shall be rounded to the nearest whole number. Except as provided by law or by the other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, holders of Preferred Stock shall vote together with the holders of Common Stock as a single class.

3.2. Election of Directors . The holders of record of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock, exclusively and as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Corporation (the “ Series A Director ”). The holders of record of the shares of Series B Preferred Stock, exclusively and as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect two (2) directors of the Corporation (the “ Series B Directors ,” and collectively with the Series A Director, the “ Preferred Directors ”). The holders of record of the shares of Common Stock, exclusively and as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect one (1) director of the Corporation. Any director elected as provided in the preceding sentence may be removed without cause by, and only by, the affirmative vote of the holders of the

 

7


shares of the class or series of capital stock entitled to elect such director or directors, given either at a special meeting of such stockholders duly called for that purpose or pursuant to a written consent of stockholders. If the stockholders of the Corporation that are entitled to elect a person to fill a directorship, as set forth above, fail to elect a sufficient number of directors to fill all directorships for which they are entitled to elect directors, then any directorship not so filled shall remain vacant until such time as the specified holders elect a person to fill such directorship by vote or written consent in lieu of a meeting; and no such directorship may be filled by stockholders of the Corporation other than by the stockholders of the Corporation that are entitled to elect a person to fill such directorship, voting exclusively and as a separate class. The holders of record of the shares of Common Stock and of any other class or series of voting stock (including the Preferred Stock), voting together as a single class and on an as-converted basis, shall be entitled to elect the balance of the total number of directors of the Corporation. At any meeting held for the purpose of electing a director, the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the class or series entitled to elect such director shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of electing such director. Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection 3.2, a vacancy in any directorship filled by the holders of any class or series shall be filled only by vote or written consent in lieu of a meeting of the holders of such class or series or by any remaining director or directors elected by the holders of such class or series pursuant to this Subsection 3.2.

3.3. Preferred Stock Protective Provisions . At any time when at least 3,150,000 shares of Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization) are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, take any of the following actions without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of the Requisite Holders, given in writing or by vote at a meeting, and any such action entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force or effect.

3.3.1. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws;

3.3.2. Any action which (i) authorizes, creates or issues any other equity security convertible into or exercisable for any equity security, or shares of any class of stock having rights, preferences, privileges or protections senior to or on parity with the any series of Preferred Stock; or (ii) authorizes, creates or issues any series of Preferred Stock which (A) has a higher liquidation preference multiple (i.e., greater than a return solely of the amount invested in such future series of Preferred Stock), or (B) shall entitle the holders of such future series of Preferred Stock to share together with the Common Stock in proceeds remaining after full distribution to the Preferred Stock of the liquidation preference to which the Preferred Stock is entitled;

 

8


3.3.3. Any action which reclassifies any outstanding shares into shares having rights, preferences, privileges or protections senior to or on parity with the any series of Preferred Stock;

3.3.4. Any increase in the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock;

3.3.5. Any merger or consolidation of the Corporation with one or more other corporations in which the stockholders of the Corporation immediately after such merger or consolidation hold stock representing less than a majority of the voting power of the outstanding stock of the surviving corporation;

3.3.6. The sale, lease or transfer of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets;

3.3.7. The liquidation, winding up or dissolution of the Corporation;

3.3.8. The declaration or payment of a dividend on the Common Stock;

3.3.9. The repurchase or redemption by the Corporation of any shares of its capital stock, except repurchase of shares of Common Stock from employees or consultants upon termination of their employment or service pursuant to written agreements by the Corporation with such persons providing for such repurchase; and

3.3.10. Any changes in the authorized size of the Board.

The provisions of this Section 3.3 may only be amended by an amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation including in the approval thereof the affirmative vote of the Requisite Holders.

3.4. Series A Preferred Stock Protective Provisions . At any time when at least 1,400,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization) are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, given in writing or by vote at a meeting, consenting or voting (as the case may be) separately as a class (the “ Required Series A Holders ”), amend, modify or repeal any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws in a way that adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Series A Preferred Stock, and any such action entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force or effect. The provisions of this Section 3.4 may only be amended by an amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation including in the approval thereof the affirmative vote of the Required Series A Holders. For clarity, the future issuance of a series of Preferred Stock which is pari passu or senior to the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to materially and/or adversely affect the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

9


3.5. Series B Preferred Stock Protective Provisions . At any time when at least 1,750,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization) are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of the Required Series B Holders, given in writing or by vote at a meeting, consenting or voting (as the case may be) separately as a class, amend, modify or repeal any provision of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws in a way that adversely affects the powers, preferences or rights of the Series B Preferred Stock, and any such action entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force or effect. The provisions of this Section 3.5 may only be amended by an amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation including in the approval thereof the affirmative vote of the Required Series B Holders. For clarity, the future issuance of a series of Preferred Stock which is pari passu or senior to the Series B Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to materially and/or adversely affect the Series B Preferred Stock.

4. Optional Conversion .

The holders of the Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows (the “ Conversion Rights ”):

4.1. Right to Convert .

4.1.1. Conversion Ratio . Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time and from time to time, and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof, into such number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock as is determined by dividing the applicable Original Issue Price by the applicable Conversion Price (as defined below) in effect at the time of conversion. The “ Conversion Price ” shall initially be equal to $1.291 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock and $5.695 per share for the Series B Preferred Stock. Such initial Conversion Price, and the rate at which shares of Preferred Stock may be converted into shares of Common Stock, shall be subject to adjustment as provided below.

4.1.2. Termination of Conversion Rights . In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or a Deemed Liquidation Event, the Conversion Rights shall terminate at the close of business on the last full day preceding the date fixed for the payment of any such amounts distributable on such event to the holders of Preferred Stock.

4.2. Fractional Shares . No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined in good faith by the Board. Whether or not fractional shares would be issuable upon such

 

10


conversion shall be determined on the basis of the total number of shares of each series 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.

4.3. Mechanics of Conversion .

4.3.1. Notice of Conversion . In order for a holder of Preferred Stock to voluntarily convert shares of Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock, such holder shall surrender the certificate or certificates for such shares of Preferred Stock (or, if such registered holder alleges that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and agreement reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate), at the office of the transfer agent for the Preferred Stock (or at the principal office of the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent), together with written notice that such holder elects to convert all or any number of the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such certificate or certificates and, if applicable, any event on which such conversion is contingent. Such notice shall state such holder’s name or the names of the nominees in which such holder wishes the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock to be issued. If required by the Corporation, certificates surrendered for conversion shall be endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the registered holder or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing. The close of business on the date of receipt by the transfer agent (or by the Corporation if the Corporation serves as its own transfer agent) of such certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) and notice shall be the time of conversion (the “ Conversion Time ”), and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the shares represented by such certificate shall be deemed to be outstanding of record as of such date. The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after the Conversion Time, (i) issue and deliver to such holder of Preferred Stock, or to his, her or its nominees, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof and a certificate for the number (if any) of the shares of Preferred Stock represented by the surrendered certificate that were not converted into Common Stock, (ii) pay in cash such amount as provided in Subsection 4.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion and (iii) pay all declared but unpaid dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock converted.

4.3.2. Reservation of Shares . The Corporation shall at all times when the Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued capital stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the Preferred Stock, such number of its duly authorized shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all outstanding 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

 

11


of all then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall take such corporate action as may be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purposes, including, without limitation, engaging in best efforts to obtain the requisite stockholder approval of any necessary amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation. Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment reducing the applicable Conversion Price below the then par value of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall 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 applicable Conversion Price.

4.3.3. 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 at the Conversion Time, 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 Subsection 4.2 and to receive payment of any dividends declared but unpaid thereon. 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.

4.3.4. No Further Adjustment . Upon any such conversion, no adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price shall be made for any declared but unpaid dividends on the Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion or on the Common Stock delivered upon conversion.

4.3.5. 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 4. The Corporation shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be 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.

4.4. Adjustments to Conversion Price for Diluting Issues .

4.4.1. Special Definitions . For purposes of this Article Fourth, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “ Option ” shall mean rights, options or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

 

12


(b) “ Original Issue Date ” shall mean the date on which the first share of Series B Preferred Stock was issued.

(c) “ Convertible Security ” shall mean any evidences of indebtedness, shares or other securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, but excluding Options.

(d) “ Additional Shares of Common Stock ” shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued (or, pursuant to Subsection 4.4.3 below, deemed to be issued) by the Corporation after the Original Issue Date other than the following (collectively, “ Excluded Securities ”):

(i) Issuances of Common Stock, or Options or other rights thereto, to employees and officers and directors of, or consultants to, the Corporation pursuant to stock purchase or stock option plans or agreements or other incentive stock arrangements; and

(ii) Issuances of Common Stock, or Options or Convertible Securities or other rights thereto, for and in connection with a merger or acquisition of assets by the Corporation; and

(iii) Issuances of Common Stock or Convertible Securities issued as part of bank or other institutional lender financing transactions by the Corporation; or in connection with and as part of any equipment leasing financing or Company facilities lease transaction by the Corporation as lessee; and

(iv) Issuances of Common Stock upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock, or as a dividend or distribution on any Preferred Stock of the Corporation; and

(v) Securities issued by the Corporation in, or in connection with, any public offering by the Corporation of any of its securities.

4.4.2. No Adjustment of Conversion Price . No adjustment in the applicable Conversion Price of a series of Preferred Stock shall be made as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock if the Corporation receives written consent from the Required Series A Holders, with respect to an adjustment to the Conversion Price of the Series A Preferred Stock, or the Required Series B Holders, with respect to an adjustment to the Conversion Price of the Series B Preferred Stock, as applicable, agreeing that no such adjustment shall be made as the result of the issuance or deemed issuance of such Additional Shares of Common Stock.

 

13


4.4.3. Deemed Issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock .

(a) If the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities (excluding Options or Convertible Securities which are themselves Excluded Securities) or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class of securities entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto, assuming the satisfaction of any conditions to exercisability, convertibility or exchangeability but without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities and Options therefor, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, shall be deemed to be Additional Shares of Common Stock issued as of the time of such issue or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date.

(b) If the terms of any Option or Convertible Security, the issuance of which resulted in an adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4, are revised as a result of an amendment to such terms or any other adjustment pursuant to the provisions of such Option or Convertible Security (but excluding automatic adjustments to such terms pursuant to anti-dilution or similar provisions of such Option or Convertible Security) to provide for either (1) any increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion and/or exchange of any such Option or Convertible Security or (2) any increase or decrease in the consideration payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion and/or exchange, then, effective upon such increase or decrease becoming effective, the applicable Conversion Price computed upon the original issue of such Option or Convertible Security (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto) shall be readjusted to such applicable Conversion Price as would have obtained had such revised terms been in effect upon the original date of issuance of such Option or Convertible Security. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no readjustment pursuant to this clause (b) shall have the effect of increasing the applicable Conversion Price to an amount which exceeds the lower of (i) the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to the original adjustment made as a result of the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security, or (ii) the applicable Conversion Price that would have resulted from any issuances of Additional Shares of Common Stock (other than deemed issuances of Additional Shares of Common Stock as a result of the issuance of such Option or Convertible Security) between the original adjustment date and such readjustment date.

 

14


(c) If the terms of any Option or Convertible Security (excluding Options or Convertible Securities which are themselves Excluded Securities), the issuance of which did not result in an adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4 (either because the consideration per share (determined pursuant to Subsection 4.4.5) of the Additional Shares of Common Stock subject thereto was equal to or greater than the applicable Conversion Price then in effect, or because such Option or Convertible Security was issued before the Original Issue Date), are revised after the Original Issue Date as a result of an amendment to such terms or any other adjustment pursuant to the provisions of such Option or Convertible Security (but excluding automatic adjustments to such terms pursuant to anti-dilution or similar provisions of such Option or Convertible Security) to provide for either (1) any increase in the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of any such Option or Convertible Security or (2) any decrease in the consideration payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion or exchange, then such Option or Convertible Security, as so amended or adjusted, and the Additional Shares of Common Stock subject thereto (determined in the manner provided in Subsection 4.4.3(a) shall be deemed to have been issued effective upon such increase or decrease becoming effective.

(d) Upon the expiration or termination of any unexercised Option or unconverted or unexchanged Convertible Security (or portion thereof) which resulted (either upon its original issuance or upon a revision of its terms) in an adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4, the applicable Conversion Price shall be readjusted to such applicable Conversion Price as would have obtained had such Option or Convertible Security (or portion thereof) never been issued.

(e) If the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion and/or exchange of any Option or Convertible Security, or the consideration payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion and/or exchange, is calculable at the time such Option or Convertible Security is issued or amended but is subject to adjustment based upon subsequent events, any adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price provided for in this Subsection 4.4.3 shall be effected at the time of such issuance or amendment based on such number of shares or amount of consideration without regard to any provisions for subsequent adjustments (and any subsequent adjustments shall be treated as provided in clauses (b) and (c) of this Subsection 4.4.3). If the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion and/or exchange of any Option or Convertible Security, or the consideration

 

15


payable to the Corporation upon such exercise, conversion and/or exchange, cannot be calculated at all at the time such Option or Convertible Security is issued or amended, any adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price that would result under the terms of this Subsection 4.4.3 at the time of such issuance or amendment shall instead be effected at the time such number of shares and/or amount of consideration is first calculable (even if subject to subsequent adjustments), assuming for purposes of calculating such adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price that such issuance or amendment took place at the time such calculation can first be made.

4.4.4. Adjustment of Conversion Price Upon Issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock . In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the Original Issue Date issue Additional Shares of Common Stock (including Additional Shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued pursuant to Subsection 4.4.3), without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue, then the applicable Conversion Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest one-hundredth of a cent) determined in accordance with the following formula:

CP 2 =CP 1 * (A + B) ÷ (A + C).

For purposes of the foregoing formula, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “CP 2 ” shall mean the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately after such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock

(b) “CP 1 ” shall mean the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock;

(c) “A” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issue of Additional Shares of Common Stock (treating for this purpose as outstanding all shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of Options outstanding immediately prior to such issue or upon conversion or exchange of Convertible Securities (including the Preferred Stock) outstanding (assuming exercise of any outstanding Options therefor) immediately prior to such issue);

(d) “B” shall mean the number of shares of Common Stock that would have been issued if such Additional Shares of Common Stock had been issued at a price per share equal to CP 1 (determined by dividing the aggregate consideration received by the Corporation in respect of such issue by CP 1 ); and

(e) “C” shall mean the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock issued in such transaction.

 

16


4.4.5. Determination of Consideration . For purposes of this Subsection 4.4, the consideration received by the Corporation for the issue of any Additional Shares of Common Stock shall be computed as follows:

(a) Cash and Property : Such consideration shall:

(i) insofar as it consists of cash, be computed at the aggregate amount of cash received by the Corporation, excluding amounts paid or payable for accrued interest;

(ii) insofar as it consists of property other than cash, be computed at the fair market value thereof at the time of such issue, as determined in good faith by the Board; and

(iii) in the event Additional Shares of Common Stock are issued together with other shares or securities or other assets of the Corporation for consideration which covers both, be the proportion of such consideration so received, computed as provided in clauses (i) and (ii) above, as determined in good faith by the Board.

(b) Options and Convertible Securities . The consideration per share received by the Corporation for Additional Shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued pursuant to Subsection 4.4.3, relating to Options and Convertible Securities, shall be determined by dividing the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Corporation as consideration for the issue of such Options or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to the Corporation upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, by

(i) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

4.4.6. 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

 

17


transaction or a series of related transactions and that would result in an adjustment to the applicable Conversion Price pursuant to the terms of Subsection 4.4.4 , and such issuance dates occur within a period of no more than ninety (90) days from the first such issuance to the final such issuance, then, upon the final such issuance, the applicable Conversion Price 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).

4.5. Adjustment for Stock Splits and Combinations . If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date effect a subdivision of the outstanding Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately before that subdivision shall be proportionately decreased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. If the Corporation shall at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date combine the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately before the combination shall be proportionately increased so that the number of shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion of each share of such series shall be decreased in proportion to such decrease in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding. Any adjustment under this subsection shall become effective at the close of business on the date the subdivision or combination becomes effective.

4.6. Adjustment for Certain Dividends and Distributions . In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable on the Common Stock in additional shares of Common Stock, then and in each such event the applicable Conversion Price in effect immediately before such event shall be decreased as of the time of such issuance or, in the event such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, by multiplying the applicable Conversion Price then in effect by a fraction:

(1) the numerator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date, and

(2) the denominator of which shall be the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the time of such issuance or the close of business on such record date plus the number of shares of Common Stock issuable in payment of such dividend or distribution.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) if such record date shall have been fixed and such dividend is not fully paid or if such distribution is not fully made on the date fixed therefor, the applicable Conversion Price shall be recomputed accordingly as of the close of business on such record date and thereafter the applicable Conversion Price shall be

 

18


adjusted pursuant to this subsection as of the time of actual payment of such dividends or distributions; and (b) that no such adjustment shall be made if the holders of the relevant series of Preferred Stock simultaneously receive a dividend or other distribution of shares of Common Stock in a number equal to the number of shares of Common Stock as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.

4.7. Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions . In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Original Issue Date shall make or issue, or fix a record date for the determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive, a dividend or other distribution payable in securities of the Corporation (other than a distribution of shares of Common Stock in respect of outstanding shares of Common Stock) or in other property and the provisions of Section 1 do not apply to such dividend or distribution, then and in each such event the holders of Preferred Stock shall receive, simultaneously with the distribution to the holders of Common Stock, a dividend or other distribution of such securities or other property in an amount equal to the amount of such securities or other property as they would have received if all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock had been converted into Common Stock on the date of such event.

4.8. Adjustment for Merger or Reorganization, etc. Subject to the provisions of Subsection 2.4, if there shall occur any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger involving the Corporation in which the Common Stock (but not one or more series of the Preferred Stock) is converted into or exchanged for securities, cash or other property (other than a transaction covered by Subsections 4.4, 4.6 or 4.7), then, following any such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger, each share of such series of Preferred Stock shall thereafter be convertible in lieu of the Common Stock into which it was convertible prior to such event into the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation issuable upon conversion of one share of such series of Preferred Stock immediately prior to such reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation or merger would have been entitled to receive pursuant to such transaction; and, in such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined in good faith by the Board) shall be made in the application of the provisions in this Section 4 with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the holders of the such series of Preferred Stock, to the end that the provisions set forth in this Section 4 (including provisions with respect to changes in and other adjustments of the applicable Conversion Price) shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be, in relation to any securities or other property thereafter deliverable upon the conversion of such series of Preferred Stock. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Subsection 4.8 shall be construed as preventing the holders of Preferred Stock from seeking any appraisal rights to which they are otherwise entitled under the DGCL in connection with a merger triggering an adjustment hereunder, nor shall this Subsection 4.8 be deemed conclusive evidence of the fair value of the shares of Preferred Stock in any such appraisal proceeding.

4.9. Certificate as to Adjustments . Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the applicable Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 4, the

 

19


Corporation at its expense shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter, compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each relevant holder of Preferred Stock a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment (including the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property into which the Preferred Stock is convertible) and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the written request at any time of any holder of Preferred Stock (but in any event not later than ten (10) days thereafter), furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a certificate setting forth (i) the applicable Conversion Price then in effect, and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other securities, cash or property which then would be received upon the conversion of Preferred Stock.

4.10. 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 Deemed Liquidation Event; or

(c) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding-up of the Corporation,

then, and in each such case, the Corporation shall 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, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up 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, consolidation, merger, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, and the amount per share and character of such exchange applicable to each series of Preferred Stock and the Common Stock. Such notice shall be sent at least ten (10) days prior to the record date or effective date for the event specified in such notice.

 

20


5. Mandatory Conversion .

5.1. Trigger Events . Upon either (a) the closing of the sale of shares of Common Stock to the public at a price of at least $8.542 per share (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock), in a firm-commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, resulting in at least $40,000,000.00 of gross proceeds to the Corporation (a “ Qualified Public Offering ”) or (b) the date and time, or the occurrence of an event, specified by vote or written consent of the Required Series A Holders and the Required Series B Holders (the time of such closing or the date and time specified or the time of the event specified in such vote or written consent is referred to herein as the “ Mandatory Conversion Time ”), (i) all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into shares of Common Stock, at the then effective conversion rate and (ii) such shares may not be reissued by the Corporation. At any time when at least 1,400,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization) are outstanding, the Corporation shall not amend the voting threshold set forth in clause (b) of this section without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of the Requisite Holders, and at any time when at least 1,750,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock (subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar recapitalization) are outstanding, the Corporation shall not amend the voting threshold set forth in clause (b) of this section without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of the Required Series B Holders.

5.2. Procedural Requirements . All holders of record of shares of Preferred Stock shall be sent written notice of the Mandatory Conversion Time and the place designated for mandatory conversion of all such shares of Preferred Stock pursuant to this Section 5. Such notice need not be sent in advance of the occurrence of the Mandatory Conversion Time. Upon receipt of such notice, each holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall surrender his, her or its certificate or certificates for all such shares (or, if such holder alleges that such certificate has been lost, stolen or destroyed, a lost certificate affidavit and agreement reasonably acceptable to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate) to the Corporation at the place designated in such notice. If so required by the Corporation, certificates surrendered for conversion shall be endorsed or accompanied by written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the registered holder or by his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing. All rights with respect to the Preferred Stock converted pursuant to Subsection 5.1, including the rights, if any, to receive notices and vote (other than as a holder of Common Stock), shall terminate at the Mandatory Conversion Time (notwithstanding the failure of the holder or holders thereof to surrender the certificates at or prior to such time), except only the rights of the holders thereof, upon surrender of their certificate or certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) therefor, to receive the items provided for in the next sentence of this

 

21


Subsection 5.2. As soon as practicable after the Mandatory Conversion Time and the surrender of the certificate or certificates (or lost certificate affidavit and agreement) for Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to such holder, or to his, her or its nominees, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable on such conversion in accordance with the provisions hereof, together with cash as provided in Subsection 4.2 in lieu of any fraction of a share of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion and the payment of any declared but unpaid dividends on the shares of Preferred Stock converted. Such converted Preferred Stock 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.

6. Redemption . Subject to the rights set forth under Section 2.4.2(b), the Preferred Stock is not mandatorily redeemable by the Corporation.

7. Waiver . Except as otherwise set forth herein, any of the rights, powers, preferences and other terms of the Preferred Stock set forth herein may be waived on behalf of all holders of the Preferred Stock by the affirmative written consent or vote of the Requisite Holders, provided, however, a waiver of any of the rights, powers, preferences any other terms that affects only a particular series of Preferred Stock may only be waived on behalf of all holders of such series of Preferred Stock by the affirmative written consent or vote of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of such series of Preferred Stock.

8. Notices . Any notice required or permitted by the provisions of this Article Fourth to be given to a holder of shares of Preferred Stock shall be mailed, postage prepaid, to the post office address last shown on the records of the Corporation, or given by electronic communication in compliance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law, and shall be deemed sent upon such mailing or electronic transmission.

FIFTH : Subject to any additional vote required by the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board is expressly authorized to make, repeal, alter, amend and rescind any or all of the Bylaws of the Corporation.

SIXTH : Subject to any additional vote required by the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be determined in the manner set forth in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

SEVENTH : Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

EIGHTH : Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws of the Corporation may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

22


NINTH : To the fullest extent permitted by law, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the General Corporation Law or any other law of the State of Delaware is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article Ninth to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law as so amended.

Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article Ninth by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at the time of, or increase the liability of any director of the Corporation with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to, such repeal or modification.

TENTH : To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Corporation is authorized to provide indemnification of (and advancement of expenses to) directors, officers and agents of the Corporation (and any other persons to which General Corporation Law permits the Corporation to provide indemnification) through Bylaw provisions, agreements with such agents or other persons, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, in excess of the indemnification and advancement otherwise permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law.

Any amendment, repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article Tenth shall not adversely affect any right or protection of any director, officer or other agent of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

ELEVENTH : The Corporation renounces, to the fullest extent permitted by law, 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.

TWELFTH : For purposes of Section 500 of the California Corporations Code (to the extent applicable), in connection with any repurchase of shares of Common Stock permitted under this Certificate of Incorporation from employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation in connection with a termination of employment or services pursuant to agreements or arrangements approved by the Board (in addition to any other consent required under this Certificate of Incorporation), such repurchase may be made without regard to any “preferential dividends arrears amount” or “preferential rights amount” (as those terms are defined in Section 500 of the California Corporations Code). Accordingly, for purposes of making any calculation under California Corporations Code Section 500 in connection with such repurchase, the amount of any “preferential dividends arrears amount” or “preferential rights amount” (as those terms are defined therein) shall be deemed to be zero.

*    *    *

 

23


3. That the foregoing amendment and restatement was approved by the holders of the requisite number of shares of this corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law.

4. That this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of this Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by a duly authorized officer of this corporation on this      th day of             , 2015.

 

By:  

 

 

Stephen G. Dilly, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

 

24

Exhibit 3.3

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “ Corporation ”), hereby certifies as follows:

The name of the Corporation is Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 24, 2011 under the name Allergen Research Corporation. The Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 20, 2015. Amendments to the Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation were filed on February 25, 2015, and May 27, 2015.

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

The text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as heretofore amended or supplemented is hereby restated and further amended to read in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed this      day of             , 2015.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

 

 

Stephen G. Dilly, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer


EXHIBIT A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ Delaware General Corporation Law ”), hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of this corporation is Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.. This corporation was originally incorporated under the name “Allergen Research Corporation” and the original certificate of incorporation of this corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 24, 2011.

2. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, which restates and further amends the provisions of this corporation’s certificate of incorporation, has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

3. The certificate of incorporation of this corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE AND DURATION

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. The Corporation is to have a perpetual existence.


ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 1. This Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of capital stock which shall be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares that the Corporation is authorized to issue is [Three Hundred Million (300,000,000)], of which [Two Hundred Ninety Million (290,000,000)] shares shall be Common Stock and [Ten Million (10,000,000)] shares shall be Preferred Stock. The Common Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share and the Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.0001 per share. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation with the power to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law or any successor provision thereof, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

Section 2. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board of Directors ”) is hereby authorized to provide from time to time by resolution or resolutions for the creation and issuance, out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of one or more series of Preferred Stock by filing a certificate (a “ Certificate of Designation ”) pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, setting forth such resolution and, with respect to each such series, establishing the designation of such series and the number of shares to be included in such series and fixing the voting powers (full or limited, or no voting power), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of each such series. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any series of Preferred Stock may, to the extent permitted by law, provide that such series shall be superior to, rank equally with or be junior to the Preferred Stock of any other series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may be different from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any series of Preferred Stock, no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation establishing a series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors may, by resolution or resolutions, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of such series and, if the number of shares of such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.


ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:

Section 1.

(a) The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly delegated by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to appoint and remove officers of the Corporation.

(b) Other than any directors elected by the separate vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, as nearly equal in number as possible. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. At the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Qualifying Record Date ”), the term of office of the Class I directors shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Qualifying Record Date, the term of office of the Class II directors shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Qualifying Record Date, the term of office of the Class III directors shall expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, at each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual meeting.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article V Section 1(b), each director shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification, retirement or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote at an election of directors (the “ Voting Stock ”).

(d) Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, retirement, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders, and except as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the


directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of the class to which the director shall have been appointed and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation, disqualification, retirement or removal.

Section 2.

(a) In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation. In addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

(b) The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and the taking of any action by written consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting of the stockholders is specifically denied.

Section 2. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time by the Board of Directors, but such special meetings may not be called by stockholders or any other person or persons.

Section 3. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a


director. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended, automatically and without further action, upon the date of such amendment.

Section 2. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall indemnify and advance expenses to any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director or officer at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

Section 3. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may indemnify and advance expenses to any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as an employee or agent at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

Section 4. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption by amendment of this certificate of incorporation of any provision inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VII in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise) prior to such amendment or repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

ARTICLE VIII

EXCLUSIVE FORUM

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, or (4) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article VIII.


ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the Voting Stock required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Articles V, VI, VII, VIII and this Article IX.

* * * *

4. This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be effective as of [●] a.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2015.

Exhibit 3.5

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(a Delaware corporation)


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES

     1   

1.1

 

REGISTERED OFFICE

     1   

1.2

 

OTHER OFFICES

     1   

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

     1   

2.1

 

PLACE OF MEETINGS

     1   

2.2

 

ANNUAL MEETING

     1   

2.3

 

SPECIAL MEETING

     1   

2.4

 

ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE A MEETING

     2   

2.5

 

ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS.

     5   

2.6

 

NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

     8   

2.7

 

MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE

     8   

2.8

 

QUORUM

     9   

2.9

 

ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE

     9   

2.10

 

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

     9   

2.11

 

VOTING

     9   

2.12

 

NO STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

     10   

2.13

 

RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS

     10   

2.14

 

PROXIES

     10   

2.15

 

LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE

     11   

2.16

 

INSPECTORS OF ELECTION

     11   

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

     12   

3.1

 

POWERS

     12   

3.2

 

NUMBER OF DIRECTORS

     12   

3.3

 

ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS

     12   

3.4

 

RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES

     12   

3.5

 

PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE

     13   

3.6

 

REGULAR MEETINGS

     13   

3.7

 

SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE

     13   

3.8

 

QUORUM

     14   

3.9

 

BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING

     14   

3.10

 

FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

     14   

3.11

 

REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

     14   

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

     14   

4.1

 

COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

     14   

4.2

 

COMMITTEE MINUTES

     15   

4.3

 

MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES

     15   

 

-i-


TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS    16  

5.1

 

OFFICERS

     16   

5.2

 

APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS

     16   

5.3

 

SUBORDINATE OFFICERS

     16   

5.4

 

REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS

     16   

5.5

 

VACANCIES IN OFFICES

     16   

5.6

 

REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS

     16   

5.7

 

AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

     17   

ARTICLE VI - RECORDS AND REPORTS

     17   

6.1

 

MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS

     17   

6.2

 

INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS

     17   

ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MATTERS

     17   

7.1

 

EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS

     17   

7.2

 

STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES

     18   

7.3

 

SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES

     18   

7.4

 

LOST CERTIFICATES

     18   

7.5

 

CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS

     19   

7.6

 

DIVIDENDS

     19   

7.7

 

FISCAL YEAR

     19   

7.8

 

SEAL

     19   

7.9

 

TRANSFER OF STOCK

     19   

7.10

 

STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS

     19   

7.11

 

REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

     20   

7.12

 

WAIVER OF NOTICE

     20   

ARTICLE VIII - NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

     20   

8.1

 

NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

     20   

8.2

 

DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

     21   

ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION

     21   

9.1

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     21   

9.2

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS

     21   

9.3

 

PREPAYMENT OF EXPENSES

     22   

9.4

 

DETERMINATION; CLAIM

     22   

9.5

 

NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS

     22   

9.6

 

INSURANCE

     22   

9.7

 

OTHER INDEMNIFICATION

     22   

9.8

 

CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION

     23   

9.9

 

AMENDMENT OR REPEAL

     23   

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

     23   

 

-ii-


AMENDED AND RESTATED

BYLAWS OF

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

ARTICLE I - CORPORATE OFFICES

1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE.

The registered office of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) shall be fixed in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”).

1.2 OTHER OFFICES.

The Corporation’s board of directors (the “ Board ”) may at any time establish other offices at any place or places where the Corporation is qualified to do business.

ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS.

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place, within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.

2.2 ANNUAL MEETING.

The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 may be transacted.

2.3 SPECIAL MEETING.

Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, a special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Board, but such special meetings may not be called by the stockholders or any other person or persons.

No business may be transacted at such special meeting other than the business specified in such notice to stockholders. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 2.3 shall be construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board may be held.


2.4 ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE A MEETING.

(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, (b) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board or the chairperson of the Board, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in person who (A)(1) was a beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 in all applicable respects, or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “ Exchange Act ”). The foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling the meeting pursuant to Section 2.3 of these bylaws, and stockholders shall not be permitted to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. For purposes of this Section 2.4, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual meeting of the Corporation, or, if the proposing stockholder is not an individual, a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be, if such proposing stockholder is (x) a general or limited partnership, any general partner or person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership or who controls the general or limited partnership, (y) a corporation or a limited liability company, any officer or person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company or any officer, director, general partner or person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (z) a trust, any trustee of such trust. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 of these bylaws, and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 of these bylaws.

(ii) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (b) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however , that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the ninetieth (90 th ) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “ Timely Notice ”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

 

-2-


(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(a) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “ Stockholder Information ”);

(b) As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“ Synthetic Equity Position ”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided , further , that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C)(x) if such Proposing Person is (i) a general or limited partnership, syndicate or other group, the identity of each general partner and each person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership, each member of the syndicate or group and each person controlling the general partner or member, (ii) a corporation or a limited liability company, the identity of each officer and each person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company, each person controlling the corporation or limited liability company and each officer, director, general partner and person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (iii) a trust, any trustee of such trust (each such person or persons set forth in the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), a “ Responsible Person ”), any fiduciary duties owed by such Responsible Person to the equity holders or other beneficiaries of such Proposing Person and any material interests or relationships of such Responsible Person that are not shared generally by other record or beneficial holders of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Proposing Person to propose such business to be brought before the meeting, and (y) if such Proposing Person is a natural person, any material interests or relationships of such

 

-3-


natural person that are not shared generally by other record or beneficial holders of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation and that reasonably could have influenced the decision of such Proposing Person to propose such business to be brought before the meeting, (D) any material shares or any Synthetic Equity Position in any principal competitor of the Corporation in any principal industry of the Corporation held by such Proposing Persons, (E) a summary of any material discussions regarding the business proposed to be brought before the meeting (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other record or beneficial holder of the shares of any class or series of the Corporation (including their names), (F) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (G) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation, on the other hand, (H) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement) and (I) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (I) are referred to as “ Disclosable Interests ”); provided , however , that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

(c) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among any of the Proposing Persons or between or among any Proposing Person and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided , however , that the disclosures required by this Section 2.4(iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

 

-4-


(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “ Proposing Person ” shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made and (c) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation or associate (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for the purposes of these bylaws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

(v) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(vi) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The presiding officer of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

(vii) This Section 2.4 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders, other than any proposal made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s proxy statement. In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

(viii) For purposes of these bylaws, “ public disclosure ” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE PROCEDURES FOR NOMINATIONS OF DIRECTORS.

(i) Nominations of any person for election to the Board at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting) may be made at such meeting only (a) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (b) by a stockholder present in person (A) who was a beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (C) has complied with this Section 2.5 as to such notice and nomination.

 

-5-


The foregoing clause (b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting or special meeting. For purposes of this Section 2.5, “present in person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the meeting of the Corporation, or, if the proposing stockholder is not an individual, a qualified representative of such stockholder, appear at such meeting. A “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be, if such proposing stockholder is (x) a general or limited partnership, any general partner or person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership or who controls the general or limited partnership, (y) a corporation or a limited liability company, any officer or person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company or any officer, director, general partner or person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (z) a trust, any trustee of such trust.

(ii) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4(ii) of these bylaws) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its proposed nominee as required by this Section 2.5, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. Without qualification, if the election of directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the person calling such special meeting, then for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board at a special meeting, the stockholder must (a) provide timely notice thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (b) provide the information with respect to such stockholder and its proposed nominee as required by this Section 2.5, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice for nominations to be made at a special meeting must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the one hundred twentieth (120 th ) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the ninetieth (90 th ) day prior to such special meeting or, if later, the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which public disclosure (as defined in Section 2.4(ix) of these bylaws) of the date of such special meeting was first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(a) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(a) of these bylaws) except that for purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(a);

(b) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(b), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(b) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(iii)(b) shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting);

(c) As to each person whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be

 

-6-


required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such proposed nominee that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such proposed nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (C) are referred to as “ Nominee Information ”), and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.5(vi); and

(d) The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information (A) as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s Corporate Governance Guidelines or (B) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence or lack of independence of such proposed nominee.

(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “ Nominating Person ” shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made and (c) any associate of such stockholder or beneficial owner or any other participant in such solicitation.

(v) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(vi) To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting, the proposed nominee must be nominated in the manner prescribed in Section 2.5 and must deliver (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such proposed nominee given by or on behalf of the Board), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in a form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such proposed nominee and (b) a written

 

-7-


representation and agreement (in form provided by the Corporation) that such proposed nominee (A) is not and, if elected as a director during his or her term of office, will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given and will not give any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “ Voting Commitment ”) or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director and (C) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to directors and in effect during such person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any proposed nominee, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such proposed nominee all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

(vii) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.

(viii) No proposed nominee shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such proposed nominee and the Nominating Person seeking to place such proposed nominee’s name in nomination have complied with this Section 2.5, as applicable. The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Section 2.5, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the proposed nominee in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots case for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.

2.6 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETINGS.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with either Section 2.7 or Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

2.7 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE.

Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed given:

(i) if mailed, when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the Corporation’s records; or

(ii) if electronically transmitted as provided in Section 8.1 of these bylaws.

 

-8-


An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by mail or by a form of electronic transmission, as applicable, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

2.8 QUORUM.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.

2.9 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE.

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

2.10 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.

The chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of business.

2.11 VOTING.

The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.13 of these bylaws, subject to Section 217 (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors and joint owners of stock) and Section 218 (relating to voting trusts and other voting agreements) of the DGCL.

Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

At all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders, at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, all other elections and questions presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, shall be decided by the majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) and shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation.

 

-9-


2.12 NO STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.

Subject to the rights of the holders of the shares of any series of Preferred Stock or any other class of stock or series thereof having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, and except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

2.13 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or 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 may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other such action.

If the Board does not so fix a record date:

(i) The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

(ii) The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

2.14 PROXIES.

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.

 

-10-


2.15 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE.

The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, 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. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. 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 Corporation’s principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be 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 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. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them.

2.16 INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Board shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three (3). If any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the chairperson of the meeting may, and upon the request of any stockholder or a stockholder’s proxy shall, appoint a person to fill that vacancy.

Such inspectors shall:

(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies;

(ii) receive votes or ballots;

(iii) hear and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote;

(iv) count and tabulate all votes;

(v) determine when the polls shall close;

(vi) determine the result; and

(vii) do any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders.

 

-11-


The inspectors of election shall perform their duties impartially, in good faith, to the best of their ability and as expeditiously as is practical. If there are three (3) inspectors of election, the decision, act or certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

3.1 POWERS.

Subject to the provisions of the DGCL and any limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws relating to action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board.

3.2 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS.

The authorized number of directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board, provided the Board shall consist of at least one (1) member and not more than (12) members. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS.

Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe other qualifications for directors.

As provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three (3) classes.

3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES.

Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in this section in the filling of other vacancies.

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall, unless the Board determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders, be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for

 

-12-


the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist under these bylaws in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.

3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE.

The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

3.6 REGULAR MEETINGS.

Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

3.7 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE.

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, the secretary or a majority of the authorized number of directors.

Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:

(i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

(ii) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

(iii) sent by facsimile; or

(iv) sent by electronic mail,

directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or (iii) sent by electronic mail, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice may be communicated to the director. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.

 

-13-


3.8 QUORUM.

At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

3.9 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING.

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, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board 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 or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

3.10 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

3.11 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS.

Except as otherwise provided by the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, but only with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty six and two thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote at an election of directors (the “ Voting Stock ”).

No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director’s term of office.

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS.

The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may

 

-14-


unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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 that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.

4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES.

Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES.

Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

(i) Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone);

(ii) Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

(iii) Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice);

(iv) Section 3.8 (quorum);

(v) Section 7.12 (waiver of notice); and

(vi) Section 3.9 (action without a meeting),

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However :

(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;

(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or the chairperson of the applicable committee;

(iii) notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members, who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee; and

(iv) the Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

 

-15-


ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

5.1 OFFICERS.

The officers of the Corporation shall be a president and a secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a chairperson of the Board, a vice chairperson of the Board, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer or treasurer, one (1) or more vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant treasurers, one (1) or more assistant secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

5.2 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS.

The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

5.3 SUBORDINATE OFFICERS.

The Board may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president, to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.

5.4 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS.

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an affirmative vote of the majority of the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

5.5 VACANCIES IN OFFICES.

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Section 5.2.

5.6 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS.

The chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this Corporation, or any other person authorized by the Board , the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations

 

-16-


standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.

5.7 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS.

All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be designated from time to time by the Board or the stockholders and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.

ARTICLE VI - RECORDS AND REPORTS

6.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS.

The Corporation shall, either at its principal executive office or at such place or places as designated by the Board, keep a record of its stockholders listing their names and addresses and the number and class of shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these bylaws as amended to date, accounting books and other records.

Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the Corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent so to act on behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the Corporation at its registered office in Delaware or at its principal executive office.

6.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS.

Any director shall have the right to examine the Corporation’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records for a purpose reasonably related to his or her position as a director. The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether a director is entitled to the inspection sought. The Court may summarily order the Corporation to permit the director to inspect any and all books and records, the stock ledger, and the stock list and to make copies or extracts therefrom. The Court may, in its discretion, prescribe any limitations or conditions with reference to the inspection, or award such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

ARTICLE VII - GENERAL MATTERS

7.1 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS.

The Board, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified

 

-17-


by the Board or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

7.2 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES.

The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates or shall be uncertificated. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Board, or the president or vice-president, and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

The Corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent any such partly paid shares, upon the books and records of the Corporation in the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated. Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the Corporation shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.

7.3 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES.

If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however , that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate that the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, the designations, the preferences and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

7.4 LOST CERTIFICATES.

Except as provided in this Section 7.4, no new certificates for shares shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

-18-


7.5 CONSTRUCTION; DEFINITIONS.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, and the term “person” includes both a corporation and a natural person.

7.6 DIVIDENDS.

The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

7.7 FISCAL YEAR.

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.

7.8 SEAL.

The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

7.9 TRANSFER OF STOCK.

Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the persons from and to whom it was transferred.

7.10 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS.

The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

 

-19-


7.11 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS.

The Corporation:

(i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner;

(ii) shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares; and

(iii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

7.12 WAIVER OF NOTICE.

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends 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 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.

ARTICLE VIII - NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION

8.1 NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, 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. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:

(i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and

(ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice.

However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

 

-20-


Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:

 

  (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

 

  (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

 

  (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and

 

  (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

8.2 DEFINITION OF ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION.

An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION

9.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “ Proceeding ”) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such person only if the Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board.

9.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS.

The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an 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 of a partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.

 

-21-


9.3 PREPAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any officer or director of the Corporation, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, 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 person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.

9.4 DETERMINATION; CLAIM.

If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) or advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant 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 to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

9.5 NON-EXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS.

The rights conferred on any person by this Article IX 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 bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.6 INSURANCE.

The 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, partnership, joint venture, trust enterprise or non-profit entity 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 under the provisions of the DGCL.

9.7 OTHER INDEMNIFICATION.

The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or non-profit enterprise.

 

-22-


9.8 CONTINUATION OF INDEMNIFICATION.

The rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such person.

9.9 AMENDMENT OR REPEAL.

The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such person’s performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article IX the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the Corporation. With respect to current and former directors and officers of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of theses bylaws. With respect to any directors or officers of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or officer of the Corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 9.9 of these bylaws or the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, the Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of the bylaws of the Corporation by the Board shall require the approval of a majority of the authorized number of directors. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however , that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock.

 

-23-


AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF BYLAWS

The undersigned hereby certifies that he or she is the duly elected, qualified, and acting Secretary of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and that the foregoing bylaws were amended and restated on             , 2015 by the Corporation’s board of directors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his or her hand this      day of         , 2015.

 

 

Warren L. DeSouza
Secretary

Exhibit 4.2

    

LOGO

 

COMMON STOCK SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS CUSIP 00900T 10 7 AIMT INCORPORATED UNDER THE LOSS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE THIS CERTIFIES THAT SPECIMEN Is the owner of FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE COMMON SHARES, $0.0001 PAR VALUE OF AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC. transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by Attorney upon surrender of this certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid until countersigned and registered by the Transfer Agent and Registrar. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said Corporation has caused this certificate to be signed by facsimile signatures of its duly authorized officers. Dated: Countersigned and registered WELLSFARGO. N.A CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND CORPORATE SECRETARY TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR BY AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


LOGO

 

The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock, Common Stock and Preferred Stock. A statement of the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights as established from time to time, by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation and by any certificate of determination, the number of shares constituting each class and series and the designations thereof, may be obtained by the holder hereof upon request and without charge at the principal office of the Corporation. The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations: UTMA – Custodian TEN COM – as tenants in common (Cust) (Minor) TEN ENT – as tenants by entireties under Uniform Transfers to Minors JT TEN – as joint tenants with right of survivorship Act and not as tenants in common (State) Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list. For value received hereby sell, assign, and transfer unto PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE (PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE) Shares of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Attorney to transfer the said stock on the books of the within-named Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises. Dated NOTICE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER. SIGNATURE GUARANTEED ALL GUARANTEES MUST BE MADE BY A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (SUCH AS A BANK OR BROKER) WHICH IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE SECURITIES TRANSFER AGENTS MEDALLION PROGRAM (“STAMP”), THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, INC. MEDALLION SIGNATURE PROGRAM (“MSP”), OR THE STOCK EXCHANGES MEDALLION PROGRAM (“SEMP”) AND MUST NOT BE DATED. GUARANTEES BY A NOTARY PUBLIC ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.

Exhibit 5.1

 

 

LOGO

 

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

Tel: +1.650.328.4600 Fax: +1.650.463.2600

www.lw.com

 

FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES

  Abu Dhabi   Milan
  Barcelona   Moscow
  Beijing   Munich
  Boston   New Jersey
  Brussels   New York
July 27, 2015   Century City   Orange County
  Chicago   Paris
  Dubai   Riyadh
  Düsseldorf   Rome
  Frankfurt   San Diego
  Hamburg   San Francisco
  Hong Kong   Shanghai
  Houston   Silicon Valley
  London   Singapore
  Los Angeles   Tokyo
  Madrid   Washington, D.C.

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

8000 Marina Boulevard, Suite 300

Brisbane, CA 94005

 

  Re: Form S-1 Registration Statement File No. 333-205501

Initial Public Offering of up to 9,583,333 Shares of Common Stock

of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the proposed issuance of up to 9,583,333 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “ Shares ”). The Shares are included in a registration statement on Form S–1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) on July 6, 2014 (Registration No. 333-205501) (as amended, the “ Registration Statement ”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”), other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor in the circumstances contemplated by the form of underwriting agreement most recently filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the issue


July 27, 2015

Page 2

 

LOGO

 

and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the DGCL.

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

Exhibit 10.6a

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

ARTICLE 1.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan (as it may be amended from time to time, the “ Plan ”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”) by linking the individual interests of Directors, Employees and Consultants to those of the Company’s stockholders and by providing such individuals with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to the Company’s stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Directors, Employees and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely dependent.

ARTICLE 2.

DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION

Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

2.1 “ Administrator ” shall mean the entity that conducts the general administration of the Plan as provided in Article 13 hereof. With reference to the duties of the Administrator under the Plan which have been delegated to one or more persons pursuant to Section 13.6 hereof, or as to which the Board has assumed, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such person(s) unless the Committee or the Board has revoked such delegation or the Board has terminated the assumption of such duties.

2.2 “ Affiliate ” shall mean any Parent or Subsidiary.

2.3 “ Applicable Accounting Standards ” shall mean Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States, International Financial Reporting Standards or such other accounting principles or standards as may apply to the Company’s financial statements under United States federal securities laws from time to time.

2.4 “ Applicable Law ” shall mean any applicable law, including without limitation, (i) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (ii) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (iii) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

2.5 “ Award ” shall mean an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, a Performance Award, a Dividend Equivalent award, a Deferred Stock award, a Deferred Stock Unit award, a Stock Payment award or a Stock Appreciation Right, in any case, which may be awarded or granted under the Plan.


2.6 “ Award Agreement ” shall mean any written notice, agreement, terms and conditions, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium, which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Administrator shall determine consistent with the Plan.

2.7 “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.8 “ Cause ,” with respect to a Holder, shall mean “Cause” (or any term of similar effect) as defined in such Holder’s applicable Award Agreement or written employment or other agreement between a Holder and the Company or, if no such agreement exists or such agreement does not contain a definition of “Cause” (or term of similar effect), then “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the Holder’s gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of the duties and services with the Company; (ii) the Holder’s conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or crime involving moral turpitude (or any similar crime in any jurisdiction outside the United States); (iii) the Holder’s willful refusal to perform the duties and responsibilities required of the Holder or as lawfully directed by the Company; (iv) the Holder’s material breach of any employment agreement, confidentiality agreement or other agreement with the Company or corporate code or policy; (v) any act of fraud, embezzlement, material misappropriation or dishonesty committed by the Holder against the Company; or (vi) any acts, omissions or statements by the Holder which the Company determines to be materially detrimental or damaging to the reputation, operations, prospects or business relations of the Company.

2.9 “ Change in Control ” shall mean the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:

(a) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or a “person” that, prior to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or

(b) During any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.9(a) or 2.9(c)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the two (2)-year period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

2


(c) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

(i) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “ Successor Entity ”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and

(ii) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.9(c)(ii) as beneficially owning fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or

(d) The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event or a toggle event with respect to any Award (or portion thereof) that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A of the Code, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code.

The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the occurrence of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

2.10 “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, together with the regulations and official guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

3


2.11 “ Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board, a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee or subcommittee of the Board, appointed as provided in Section 13.1 hereof.

2.12 “ Common Stock ” shall mean the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share.

2.13 “ Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1 hereof.

2.14 “ Consultant ” shall mean any consultant or advisor engaged to provide services to the Company or any Affiliate who qualifies as a consultant or advisor under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement or any successor Form thereto or, prior to the Public Trading Date, under Rule 701 of the Securities Act.

2.15 “ Covered Employee ” shall mean any Employee who is, or could be, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

2.16 “ Deferred Stock ” shall mean a right to receive Shares awarded under Section 10.4 hereof.

2.17 “ Deferred Stock Unit ” shall mean a right to receive Shares awarded under Section 10.5 hereof.

2.18 “ Director ” shall mean a member of the Board, as constituted from time to time.

2.19 “ Dividend Equivalent ” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on Shares, awarded under Section 10.2 hereof.

2.20 “ DRO ” shall mean a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, or the rules thereunder.

2.21 “ Effective Date ” shall mean immediately prior to the time at which the Company registration statement relating to its initial public offering becomes effective, provided that the Board has adopted the Plan prior to or on such date, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

2.22 “ Eligible Individual ” shall mean any person who is an Employee, a Consultant or a Non-Employee Director, as determined by the Administrator.

2.23 “ Employee ” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or any Affiliate.

2.24 “ Equity Restructuring ” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of

 

4


Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding stock-based Awards.

2.25 “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

2.26 “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean, as of any given date, the value of a Share determined as follows:

(a) If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(b) If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

(c) If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted after the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering and prior to the Public Trading Date, the Fair Market Value shall mean the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2.27 “ Good Reason ,” with respect to a Holder, shall mean “Good Reason” (or any term of similar effect) as defined in such Holder’s applicable Award Agreement or written employment or other agreement between a Holder and the Company or, if no such agreement exists or such agreement does not contain a definition of “Good Reason” (or term of similar effect), then “Good Reason” shall mean, without the Holder’s prior written consent,(I) a material reduction of the Holder’s base salary; provided , however , that a material reduction in the Holder’s base salary pursuant to a salary reduction program affecting all or substantially all of the employees of the Company and that does not adversely affect Holder to a greater extent than other similarly situated employees shall not constitute Good Reason; or (II) the Holder

 

5


being required to relocate the Holder’s primary work location to a facility or location that would increase the Holder’s one way commute distance by more than thirty-five (35) miles from the Holder’s primary work location as of immediately prior to such change. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder’s Termination of Service shall not constitute a termination for “Good Reason” as a result of any event described in the preceding sentence unless (A) the Holder provides written notice thereof to the Company within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of such event, (B) to the extent correctable, the Company fails to remedy such circumstance or event within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of such written notice and (C) the effective date of the Holder’s resignation for “Good Reason” is not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period.

2.28 “ Greater Than 10% Stockholder ” shall mean an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” (as defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code, respectively).

2.29 “ Holder ” shall mean a person who has been granted an Award.

2.30 “ Incentive Stock Option ” shall mean an Option that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

2.31 “ Non-Employee Director ” shall mean a Director of the Company who is not an Employee.

2.32 “ Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6 hereof.

2.33 “ Non-Qualified Stock Option ” shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option but does not meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

2.34 “ Option ” shall mean a right to purchase Shares at a specified exercise price, granted under Article 6 hereof. An Option shall be either a Non-Qualified Stock Option or an Incentive Stock Option; provided , however , that Options granted to Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall only be Non-Qualified Stock Options.

2.35 “ Option Term ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.4 hereof.

2.36 “ Parent ” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities ending with the Company if each of the entities other than the Company beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

2.37 “ Performance Award ” shall mean a cash bonus award, stock bonus award, performance award or incentive award that is paid in cash, Shares or a combination of both, awarded under Section 10.1 hereof.

 

6


2.38 “ Performance-Based Compensation ” shall mean any compensation that is intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.

2.39 “ Performance Criteria ” shall mean the criteria (and adjustments) that the Committee selects for an Award for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a Performance Period, determined as follows:

(a) The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: (i) net earnings (either before or after one or more of the following: (A) interest, (B) taxes, (C) depreciation, (D) amortization and (E) non-cash equity-based compensation expense); (ii) gross or net sales or revenue; (iii) net income (either before or after taxes); (iv) adjusted net income; (v) operating income, earnings or profit (either before or after taxes); (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, cash flow return on investments, operating cash flow and free cash flow); (vii) return on assets; (viii) return on capital; (ix) return on stockholders’ equity; (x) total stockholder return; (xi) return on sales; (xii) gross or net profit or operating margin; (xiii) costs; (xiv) funds from operations; (xv) expenses; (xvi) working capital; (xvii) earnings per Share; (xviii) adjusted earnings per share; (xix) price per Share; (xx) regulatory body approval for commercialization of a product; (xxi) implementation or completion of critical projects; (xxii) market share; (xxiii) economic value; (xxiv) debt levels or reduction; (xxv) customer retention; (xxvi) sales-related goals; (xxvii) comparisons with other stock market indices; (xxviii) operating efficiency; (xxix) customer satisfaction and/or growth; (xxx) employee satisfaction; (xxxi) research and development achievements; (xxxii) financing and other capital raising transactions; (xxxiii) recruiting and maintaining personnel; and (xxxiv) year-end cash, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms for the Company or any department or operating unit of the Company or as compared to any incremental increase or decrease or as compared to results of a peer group or to market performance indicators or indices.

(b) The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide that one or more objectively determinable adjustments shall be made to one or more of the Performance Goals. Such adjustments may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: (i) items related to a change in accounting principle; (ii) items relating to financing activities; (iii) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (iv) other non-operating items; (v) items related to acquisitions; (vi) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the Performance Period; (vii) items related to the sale or disposition of a business or segment of a business; (viii) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under Applicable Accounting Standards; (ix) items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock occurring during the Performance Period; (x) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (xi) items relating to unusual or extraordinary corporate transactions, events or developments, (xii) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (xiii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (xiv) items related to acquired in-process research and development; (xv) items relating to changes in tax laws; (xvi) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; (xvii) items relating to asset impairment charges; (xviii) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; or (xix) items relating to any other

 

7


unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in Applicable Laws, accounting principles or business conditions. For all Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, such determinations shall be made within the time prescribed by, and otherwise in compliance with, Section 162(m) of the Code.

2.40 “ Performance Goals ” shall mean, with respect to a Performance Period, one or more goals established in writing by the Administrator for the Performance Period based upon one or more Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of overall Company performance or the performance of an Affiliate, a division, business unit or one or more individuals. The achievement of each Performance Goal shall be determined, to the extent applicable, with reference to Applicable Accounting Standards.

2.41 “ Performance Period ” shall mean one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Administrator may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Holder’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance Award.

2.42 “ Performance Stock Unit ” shall mean a Performance Award awarded under Section 10.1 hereof which is denominated in units of value including dollar value of Shares.

2.43 “ Permitted Transferee ” shall mean, with respect to a Holder, (a) prior to the Public Trading Date, any “family member” of the Holder, as defined under Rule 701 of the Securities Act and (b) on or after the Public Trading Date, any “family member” of the Holder, as defined under the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act or any successor Form thereto, or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator, after taking into account Applicable Law.

2.44 “ Plan ” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 1 hereof.

2.45 “ Prior Plan ” shall mean the Allergen Research Corporation 2013 Stock Plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time.

2.46 “ Program ” shall mean any program adopted by the Administrator pursuant to the Plan containing the terms and conditions intended to govern a specified type of Award granted under the Plan and pursuant to which such type of Award may be granted under the Plan.

2.47 “ Public Trading Date ” shall mean the first date upon which the Common Stock is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

2.48 “ Restricted Stock ” shall mean an award of Shares made under Article 8 hereof that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of forfeiture or repurchase.

2.49 “ Restricted Stock Unit ” shall mean a contractual right awarded under Article 9 hereof to receive a Share or the Fair Market Value thereof in cash.

 

8


2.50 “ Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.51 “ Shares ” shall mean shares of Common Stock.

2.52 “ Share Limit ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) hereof.

2.53 “ Stock Appreciation Right ” shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under Article 11 hereof.

2.54 “ Stock Appreciation Right Term ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.4 hereof.

2.55 “ Stock Payment ” shall mean (a) a payment in the form of Shares, or (b) an option or other right to purchase Shares, as part of a bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, awarded under Section 10.3 hereof.

2.56 “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

2.57 “ Substitute Award ” shall mean an Award granted under the Plan upon the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding equity awards previously granted by a company or other entity in connection with a corporate transaction, such as a merger, combination, consolidation or acquisition of property or stock; provided , however , that in no event shall the term “Substitute Award” be construed to refer to an award made in connection with the cancellation and repricing of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

2.58 “ Termination of Service ” shall mean:

(a) As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Holder as a Consultant to the Company or an Affiliate is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.

(b) As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when a Holder who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.

(c) As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Holder and the Company or any Affiliate is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where the Holder simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Affiliate.

 

9


The Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, the question of whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service; provided , however , that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, unless the Administrator otherwise provides in the terms of any Program, the Award Agreement or otherwise, a leave of absence, change in status from an employee to an independent contractor or other change in the employee-employer relationship shall constitute a Termination of Service only if, and to the extent that, such leave of absence, change in status or other change interrupts employment for the purposes of Section 422(a)(2) of the Code and the then applicable regulations and revenue rulings under said Section. For purposes of the Plan, a Holder’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relations shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Affiliate employing or contracting with such Holder ceases to remain an Affiliate following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off).

ARTICLE 3.

SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

3.1 Number of Shares .

(a) Subject to Sections 14.1, 14.2 and 3.1(b) hereof, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of (i) 4,681,544 Shares, (ii) any of the Shares which as of the Effective Date are subject to awards under the Prior Plan that, on or after the Effective Date, terminate, expire or lapse for any reason without the delivery of Shares to the holder thereof, up to a maximum of 4,267,931 Shares, and (iii) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2016 and ending in 2025 equal to the lesser of (A) four percent (4%) of the Shares outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board (such sum, the “ Share Limit ”); provided , however , no more than 35,000,000 Shares may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Shares added to the Share Limit pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(ii) or Section 3.1(a)(iii) hereof shall be available for issuance as Incentive Stock Options only to the extent that making such Shares available for issuance as Incentive Stock Options would not cause any Incentive Stock Option to cease to qualify as such. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted under Applicable Law, Awards that provide for the delivery of Shares subsequent to the applicable grant date may be granted in excess of the Share Limit if such Awards provide for the forfeiture or cash settlement of such Awards to the extent that insufficient Shares remain under the Share Limit in this Section 3.1(a) at the time that Shares would otherwise be issued in respect of such Award. As of the Effective Date, no further awards may be granted under the Prior Plan; however, any awards under the Prior Plan that are outstanding as of the Effective Date shall continue to be subject to the terms and conditions of the Prior Plan.

 

10


(b) If any Shares subject to an Award are forfeited or expire or such Award is settled for cash (in whole or in part), the Shares subject to such Award shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration or cash settlement, again be available for future grants of Awards under the Plan. In addition, the following Shares shall be available for future grants of Awards under the Plan: (i) Shares tendered by a Holder or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option; (ii) Shares tendered by the Holder or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award; and (iii) Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Rights on exercise thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Shares purchased on the open market with the cash proceeds from the exercise of Options shall not be available for future grants of Awards. Any Shares repurchased by the Company under Section 8.4 hereof at the same price paid by the Holder or a lower price so that such Shares are returned to the Company will again be available for Awards. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

(c) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Affiliate combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by its stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by or providing services to the Company or its Affiliates immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

3.2 Stock Distributed . Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Common Stock, treasury Common Stock or Common Stock purchased on the open market.

3.3 Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards to Non-Employee Directors . The maximum aggregate value of Awards (with such value determined as of the date of grant under Applicable Accounting Standards) that may be granted to any Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall be $600,000 or, with respect to a newly elected or appointed Non-Employee Director, $1,000,000.

 

11


ARTICLE 4.

GRANTING OF AWARDS

4.1 Participation . The Administrator may, from time to time, select from among all Eligible Individuals, those to whom an Award shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each Award, which shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Plan. Except as provided in Section 4.6 hereof regarding the grant of Awards pursuant to the Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy, no Eligible Individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.

4.2 Award Agreement . Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that sets forth the terms, conditions and limitations for such Award, which may include the term of the Award, the provisions applicable in the event of the Holder’s Termination of Service, and the Company’s authority to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an Award. Award Agreements evidencing Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.

4.3 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

4.4 At-Will Employment; Voluntary Participation . Nothing in the Plan or in any Program or Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon any Holder any right to continue as an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or any Affiliate, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any Affiliate, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Holder at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, and with or without notice, or to terminate or change all other terms and conditions of employment or engagement, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Holder and the Company or any Affiliate. Participation by each Holder in the Plan shall be voluntary and nothing in the Plan shall be construed as mandating that any Eligible Individual participate in the Plan.

4.5 Foreign Holders . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in countries other than the United States in which the Company and its Affiliates operate or have Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants, or in order to comply with the requirements of any foreign securities exchange, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to: (a) determine which Affiliates shall be covered by the Plan; (b) determine which Eligible Individuals outside the United States are

 

12


eligible to participate in the Plan; (c) modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Eligible Individuals outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange; (d) establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable (any such subplans and/or modifications may be attached to the Plan as appendices); provided , however , that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations contained in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof; and (e) take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals or listing requirements of any such foreign securities exchange. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate Applicable Law. For purposes of the Plan, all references to foreign laws, rules, regulations or taxes shall be references to the laws, rules, regulations and taxes of any applicable jurisdiction other than the United States or a political subdivision thereof.

4.6 Non-Employee Director Awards . The Administrator may, in its discretion, provide that Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors shall be granted pursuant to a written non-discretionary formula established by the Administrator (the “ Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy ”), subject to the limitations of the Plan. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy shall set forth the type of Award(s) to be granted to Non-Employee Directors, the number of Shares to be subject to Non-Employee Director Awards, the conditions on which such Awards shall be granted, become exercisable and/or payable and expire, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine in its discretion. The Non-Employee Director Equity Compensation Policy may be modified or terminated by the Administrator from time to time in its discretion.

4.7 Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards . Awards granted pursuant to the Plan may, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, be granted either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.

ARTICLE 5.

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS INTENDED TO QUALIFY AS

PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION.

5.1 Purpose . The Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine at the time an Award is granted or at any time thereafter whether any Award is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. If the Committee, in its sole discretion, decides to grant such an Award to an Eligible Individual that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, then the provisions of this Article 5 shall control over any contrary provision contained in the Plan. The Administrator may in its sole discretion grant Awards to other Eligible Individuals that are based on Performance Criteria or Performance Goals but that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 5 and that are not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee at the time of grant, the Performance Criteria with respect to an Award intended to be Performance-Based Compensation payable to a Covered Employee shall be determined on the basis of Applicable Accounting Standards.

 

13


5.2 Applicability . The grant of an Award to an Eligible Individual for a particular Performance Period shall not require the grant of an Award to such Eligible Individual in any subsequent Performance Period and the grant of an Award to any one Eligible Individual shall not require the grant of an Award to any other Eligible Individual in such period or in any other period.

5.3 Types of Awards . Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may grant any Award to an Eligible Individual intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, including, without limitation, Restricted Stock the restrictions with respect to which lapse upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals, Restricted Stock Units that vest and become payable upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals and any Performance Awards that vest or become exercisable or payable upon the attainment of one or more specified Performance Goals.

5.4 Procedures with Respect to Performance-Based Awards . To the extent necessary to comply with the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award granted to one or more Eligible Individuals which is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, no later than ninety (90) days following the commencement of any Performance Period or any designated fiscal period or period of service (or such earlier time as may be required under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (a) designate one or more Eligible Individuals, (b) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance Period, (c) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period based on the Performance Criteria, and (d) specify the relationship between the Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period, the Committee shall certify in writing whether and the extent to which the applicable Performance Goals have been achieved for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned under such Awards, unless otherwise provided in an applicable Program or Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the right to reduce or eliminate (but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant, including the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period.

5.5 Payment of Performance-Based Awards . Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Program or Award Agreement or pursuant to Section 14.2 hereof and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, as to an Award that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Holder must be employed by the Company or an Affiliate throughout the applicable Performance Period. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Performance Goals, Program or Award Agreement, a Holder shall be eligible to receive payment pursuant to such Awards for a Performance Period only if and to the extent the Performance Goals for such applicable Performance Period are achieved.

 

14


5.6 Additional Limitations . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan and except as otherwise determined by the Administrator, any Award which is granted to an Eligible Individual and is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for qualification as Performance-Based Compensation, and the Plan and any applicable Program and Award Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

ARTICLE 6.

GRANTING OF OPTIONS

6.1 Granting of Options to Eligible Individuals . The Administrator is authorized to grant Options to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.

6.2 Qualification of Incentive Stock Options . No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any person who is not an Employee of the Company or any subsidiary corporation or parent corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) and (e), respectively, of the Code) of the Company. No person who qualifies as a Greater Than 10% Stockholder may be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code. Any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan may be modified by the Administrator, with the consent of the Holder, to disqualify such Option from treatment as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Holder during any calendar year under the Plan, and all other plans of the Company and any subsidiary or parent corporation thereof (each as defined in Section 424(f) and (e), respectively, of the Code), exceeds $100,000, the Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the respective options were granted. In addition, to the extent that any Options otherwise fail to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, such Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options.

6.3 Option Exercise Price . Except as provided in Article 14 hereof, the exercise price per Share subject to each Option shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or, as to Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). In addition, in the case of Incentive Stock Options granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, such price shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted (or the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code).

 

15


6.4 Option Term . The term of each Option (the “ Option Term ”) shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided , however , that the Option Term shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted, or five (5) years from the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder. The Administrator shall determine the time period, including the time period following a Termination of Service, during which the Holder has the right to exercise the vested Options, which time period may not extend beyond the last day of the Option Term. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A or Section 422 of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder, the Administrator may extend the Option Term of any outstanding Option, may extend the time period during which vested Options may be exercised following any Termination of Service of the Holder, and may amend, subject to Section 14.1, any other term or condition of such Option relating to such a Termination of Service.

6.5 Option Vesting .

(a) The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, an Option vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator and the Administrator may determine that an Option may not be exercised in whole or in part for a specified period after it is granted. Such vesting may be based on service with the Company or any Affiliate, any of the Performance Criteria, or any other criteria selected by the Administrator. At any time after the grant of an Option, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, accelerate the vesting of the Option, including following a Termination of Service; provided, that in no event shall an Option become exercisable following its expiration, termination or forfeiture.

(b) No portion of an Option which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator either in a Program, an Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Option.

6.6 Substitute Awards . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article 6 to the contrary, in the case of an Option that is a Substitute Award, the price per share of the shares subject to such Option may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the excess of: (a) the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date such Substitute Award is granted) of the shares subject to the Substitute Award, over (b) the aggregate exercise price thereof does not exceed the excess of: (x) the aggregate fair market value (as of the time immediately preceding the transaction giving rise to the Substitute Award, such fair market value to be determined by the Administrator) of the shares of the predecessor entity that were subject to the grant assumed or substituted for by the Company, over (y) the aggregate exercise price of such shares.

6.7 Substitution of Stock Appreciation Rights . The Administrator may provide in an applicable Program or Award Agreement evidencing the grant of an Option that the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to substitute a Stock Appreciation Right for such Option at any time prior to or upon exercise of such Option; provided that such Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable with respect to the same number of Shares for which such substituted Option would have been exercisable, and shall also have the same exercise price, vesting schedule and remaining Option Term as the substituted Option.

 

16


ARTICLE 7.

EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

7.1 Partial Exercise . An exercisable Option may be exercised in whole or in part. However, an Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional Shares and the Administrator may require that, by the terms of the Option, a partial exercise must be with respect to a minimum number of Shares.

7.2 Manner of Exercise . All or a portion of an exercisable Option shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company, or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:

(a) A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Option, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option;

(b) Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with all Applicable Laws. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, also take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect such compliance including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop-transfer notices to agents and registrars;

(c) In the event that the Option shall be exercised pursuant to Section 12.3 hereof by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option, as determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator; and

(d) Full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes to the stock administrator of the Company for the Shares with respect to which the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised, in a manner permitted by Section 12.1 and 12.2 hereof.

7.3 Notification Regarding Disposition . The Holder shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two (2) years from the date of grant (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) of such Option to such Holder, or (b) one (1) year after the transfer of such Shares to such Holder.

 

17


ARTICLE 8.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

8.1 Award of Restricted Stock .

(a) The Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Eligible Individuals, and shall determine the terms and conditions, including the restrictions applicable to each award of Restricted Stock, which terms and conditions shall not be inconsistent with the Plan, and may impose such conditions on the issuance of such Restricted Stock as it deems appropriate.

(b) The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock; provided , however , that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law.

8.2 Rights as Stockholders . Subject to Section 8.4 hereof, upon issuance of Restricted Stock, the Holder shall have, unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, all the rights of a stockholder with respect to said Shares, subject to the restrictions in the applicable Program or in each individual Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares; provided , however , that, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, any extraordinary distributions with respect to the Shares shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 8.3 hereof. In addition, with respect to a share of Restricted Stock with performance-based vesting, dividends which are paid prior to vesting shall only be paid out to the Holder to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the share of Restricted Stock vests.

8.3 Restrictions . All shares of Restricted Stock (including any shares received by Holders thereof with respect to shares of Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall, in the terms of the applicable Program or Award Agreement, be subject to such restrictions and vesting requirements as the Administrator shall provide. Such restrictions may include, without limitation, restrictions concerning voting rights and transferability and such restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times and pursuant to such circumstances or based on such criteria as selected by the Administrator, including, without limitation, criteria based on the Holder’s duration of employment, directorship or consultancy with the Company, the Performance Criteria, Company or Affiliate performance, individual performance or other criteria selected by the Administrator. By action taken after the Restricted Stock is issued, the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the vesting of such Restricted Stock by removing any or all of the restrictions imposed by the terms of any applicable Program and/or the Award Agreement. Restricted Stock may not be sold or encumbered until all restrictions are terminated, lapse or expire.

8.4 Repurchase or Forfeiture of Restricted Stock . Except as otherwise determined by the Administrator at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, if no price was paid by

 

18


the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions shall lapse and such Restricted Stock shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled without consideration. If a price was paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock, upon a Termination of Service during the applicable restriction period, the Company shall have the right to repurchase from the Holder the unvested Restricted Stock then subject to restrictions at a cash price per Share equal to the price paid by the Holder for such Restricted Stock or such other amount as may be specified in an applicable Program or the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator in its sole discretion may provide that in the event of certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service or any other event, the Holder’s rights in unvested Restricted Stock shall not lapse, such Restricted Stock shall vest and, if applicable, the Company shall not have a right of repurchase.

8.5 Certificates for Restricted Stock . Restricted Stock may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine. Certificates or book entries evidencing shares of Restricted Stock must include an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. The Company may, in its sole discretion, (a) retain physical possession of any stock certificate evidencing shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed and/or (b) require that the stock certificates evidencing shares of Restricted Stock be held in custody by a designated escrow agent (which may but need not be the Company) until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that the Holder deliver a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Restricted Stock.

8.6 Section 83(b) Election . If a Holder makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Holder would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Holder shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.

ARTICLE 9.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

9.1 Grant of Restricted Stock Units . The Administrator is authorized to grant Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Eligible Individual selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator.

9.2 Term . Except as otherwise provided herein, the term, if any, of a Restricted Stock Unit award shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

9.3 Purchase Price . The Administrator shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the Holder to the Company with respect to any Restricted Stock Unit award; provided , however , that value of the consideration shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.

9.4 Vesting of Restricted Stock Units . At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and

 

19


nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, vesting based upon the Holder’s duration of service to the Company or any Affiliate, one or more Performance Criteria, Company or Affiliate performance, individual performance or other specific criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods, as determined by the Administrator.

9.5 Maturity and Payment . At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the maturity date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units which shall be no earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the election of the Holder (if permitted by the applicable Award Agreement); provided that, except as otherwise determined by the Administrator and set forth in any applicable Award Agreement, and subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, in no event shall the maturity date relating to each Restricted Stock Unit occur following the later of (a) the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) month following the end of calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Unit vests; or (b) the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) month following the end of the Company’s fiscal year in which the Restricted Stock Unit vests. On the maturity date, the Company shall, subject to Section 12.4(e) hereof, transfer to the Holder one unrestricted, fully transferable Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited, or, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the maturity date or a combination of cash and Shares as determined by the Administrator.

9.6 Payment upon Termination of Service . An Award of Restricted Stock Units shall only be payable while the Holder is an Employee, a Consultant or a member of the Board, as applicable; provided , however , that the Administrator, in its sole and absolute discretion may provide (in an Award Agreement or otherwise) that a Restricted Stock Unit award may be paid subsequent to a Termination of Service in certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service.

9.7 No Rights as a Stockholder . Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, a Holder of Restricted Stock Units shall possess no incidents of ownership with respect to the Shares represented by such Restricted Stock Units, unless and until such Shares are transferred to the Holder pursuant to the terms of this Plan and the Award Agreement.

9.8 Dividend Equivalents . Subject to Section 10.2 hereof, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be earned by a Holder of Restricted Stock Units based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates with respect to dividends with record dates that occur during the period between the date an Award of Restricted Stock Units is granted to a Holder and the maturity date of such Award.

 

20


ARTICLE 10.

AWARD OF PERFORMANCE AWARDS, DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS, STOCK

PAYMENTS, DEFERRED STOCK, DEFERRED STOCK UNITS

10.1 Performance Awards .

(a) The Administrator is authorized to grant Performance Awards, including Awards of Performance Stock Units, to any Eligible Individual and to determine whether such Performance Awards shall be Performance-Based Compensation. The value of Performance Awards, including Performance Stock Units, may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific criteria determined by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. Performance Awards, including Performance Stock Unit awards may be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, as determined by the Administrator.

(b) Without limiting Section 10.1(a) hereof, the Administrator may grant Performance Awards to any Eligible Individual in the form of a cash bonus payable upon the attainment of objective Performance Goals, or such other criteria, whether or not objective, which are established by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. Any such bonuses paid to a Holder which are intended to be Performance-Based Compensation shall be based upon objectively determinable bonus formulas established in accordance with the provisions of Article 5 hereof.

10.2 Dividend Equivalents .

(a) Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Administrator based on dividends declared on the Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates with respect to dividends with record dates that occur during the period between the date an Award is granted to a Holder and the date such Award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the Administrator. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Administrator. In addition, Dividend Equivalents with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting that are based on dividends which are paid prior to the vesting of such Award shall only be paid out to the Holder to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

10.3 Stock Payments . The Administrator is authorized to make Stock Payments to any Eligible Individual. The number or value of Shares of any Stock Payment shall be determined by the Administrator and may be based upon one or more Performance Criteria or any other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Affiliate, determined by the Administrator. Shares underlying a Stock Payment which is subject to a vesting schedule or other conditions or criteria set by the Administrator will not be issued until those conditions have been satisfied. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, a Holder of a Stock Payment shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Stock Payment

 

21


until such time as the Stock Payment has vested (if applicable) and the Shares underlying the Award have been issued to the Holder. Stock Payments may, but are not required to, be made in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to such Eligible Individual.

10.4 Deferred Stock . The Administrator is authorized to grant Deferred Stock to any Eligible Individual. The number of shares of Deferred Stock shall be determined by the Administrator and may (but is not required to) be based on one or more Performance Criteria or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Affiliate, as the Administrator determines, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. Shares underlying a Deferred Stock award which is subject to a vesting schedule or other conditions or criteria set by the Administrator will be issued on the vesting date(s) or date(s) that those conditions and criteria have been satisfied, as applicable. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, a Holder of Deferred Stock shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Deferred Stock until such time as the Award has vested and any other applicable conditions and/or criteria have been satisfied and the Shares underlying the Award have been issued to the Holder.

10.5 Deferred Stock Units . The Administrator is authorized to grant Deferred Stock Units to any Eligible Individual. The number of Deferred Stock Units shall be determined by the Administrator and may (but is not required to) be based on one or more Performance Criteria or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Affiliate, as the Administrator determines, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. Each Deferred Stock Unit shall entitle the Holder thereof to receive one Share on the date the Deferred Stock Unit becomes vested or upon a specified settlement date thereafter (which settlement date may (but is not required to) be the date of the Holder’s Termination of Service). Shares underlying a Deferred Stock Unit award which is subject to a vesting schedule or other conditions or criteria set by the Administrator will not be issued until on or following the date that those conditions and criteria have been satisfied. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, a Holder of Deferred Stock Units shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Deferred Stock Units until such time as the Award has vested and any other applicable conditions and/or criteria have been satisfied and the Shares underlying the Award have been issued to the Holder.

10.6 Term . The term, if any, of a Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent award, Stock Payment award, Deferred Stock award and/or Deferred Stock Unit award shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

10.7 Purchase Price . The Administrator may establish the purchase price of a Performance Award, Shares distributed as a Stock Payment award, shares of Deferred Stock or Shares distributed pursuant to a Deferred Stock Unit award; provided , however , that value of the consideration shall not be less than the par value of a Share, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law.

10.8 Termination of Service . A Performance Award, Stock Payment award, Dividend Equivalent award, Deferred Stock award and/or Deferred Stock Unit award is distributable only while the Holder is an Employee, Director or Consultant, as applicable. The

 

22


Administrator, however, in its sole discretion may provide that the Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent award, Stock Payment award, Deferred Stock award and/or Deferred Stock Unit award may be distributed subsequent to a Termination of Service in certain events, including a Change in Control, the Holder’s death, retirement or disability or any other specified Termination of Service.

ARTICLE 11.

AWARD OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

11.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights .

(a) The Administrator is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Eligible Individuals from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine consistent with the Plan.

(b) A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per Share of the Stock Appreciation Right from the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose. Except as described in (c) below or in Section 14.2 hereof, the exercise price per Share subject to each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 11.1(b) hereof to the contrary, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the price per Share of the Shares subject to such Stock Appreciation Right may be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the excess of: (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date such Substitute Award is granted) of the shares subject to the Substitute Award, over (ii) the aggregate exercise price thereof does not exceed the excess of: (x) the aggregate fair market value (as of the time immediately preceding the transaction giving rise to the Substitute Award, such fair market value to be determined by the Administrator) of the shares of the predecessor entity that were subject to the grant assumed or substituted for by the Company, over (y) the aggregate exercise price of such shares.

11.2 Stock Appreciation Right Vesting .

(a) The period during which the right to exercise, in whole or in part, a Stock Appreciation Right vests in the Holder shall be set by the Administrator and the Administrator may determine that a Stock Appreciation Right may not be exercised in whole or in part for a specified period after it is granted. Such vesting may be based on service with the Company or any Affiliate, any of the Performance Criteria or any other criteria selected by the Administrator. At any time after grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion and subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects, accelerate the period during which a Stock Appreciation Right vests.

 

23


(b) No portion of a Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Holder’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator either in the applicable Program or Award Agreement or by action of the Administrator following the grant of the Stock Appreciation Right, including following a Termination of Service; provided, that in no event shall a Stock Appreciation Right become exercisable following its expiration, termination or forfeiture.

11.3 Manner of Exercise . All or a portion of an exercisable Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the stock administrator of the Company, or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator, or his, her or its office, as applicable:

(a) A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Stock Appreciation Right, or a portion thereof, is exercised. The notice shall be signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right or such portion of the Stock Appreciation Right;

(b) Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with all Applicable Laws. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, also take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect such compliance; and

(c) In the event that the Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised pursuant to this Section 11.3 hereof by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right.

11.4 Stock Appreciation Right Term . The term of each Stock Appreciation Right (the “ Stock Appreciation Right Term ”) shall be set by the Administrator in its sole discretion; provided , however , that the term shall not be more than ten (10) years from the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted. The Administrator shall determine the time period, including the time period following a Termination of Service, during which the Holder has the right to exercise the vested Stock Appreciation Rights, which time period may not extend beyond the expiration date of the Stock Appreciation Right Term. Except as limited by the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and regulations and rulings thereunder or the first sentence of this Section 11.4, the Administrator may extend the Stock Appreciation Right Term of any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, may extend the time period during which vested Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised following any Termination of Service of the Holder, and may amend, subject to Section 14.1, any other term or condition of such Stock Appreciation Right relating to such a Termination of Service.

11.5 Payment . Payment of the amounts payable with respect to Stock Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Article 11 shall be in cash, Shares (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised), or a combination of both, as determined by the Administrator.

 

24


ARTICLE 12.

ADDITIONAL TERMS OF AWARDS

12.1 Payment . The Administrator shall determine the methods by which payments by any Holder with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan shall be made, including, without limitation: (a) cash or check, (b) Shares (including, in the case of payment of the exercise price of an Award, Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Award) or Shares held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences, in each case, having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate payments required, (c) delivery of a written or electronic notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise or vesting of an Award, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the aggregate payments required; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, or (d) other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator. The Administrator shall also determine the methods by which Shares shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Holders. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Holder who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

12.2 Tax Withholding . The Company or any Affiliate shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Holder to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes (including the Holder’s FICA or employment tax or other social security contribution obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Holder arising as a result of the Plan. The Administrator may in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement determine to satisfy, or allow a Holder to satisfy, such obligations by any payment means described in Section 12.1 hereof, including without limitation, by withholding Shares, or allowing such Holder to elect to have the Company withhold Shares, otherwise issuable under an Award (or providing for the surrender of Shares). The number of Shares which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income. The Administrator shall determine the fair market value of the Shares, consistent with applicable provisions of the Code, for tax withholding obligations due in connection with a broker-assisted cashless Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise involving the sale of Shares to pay the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exercise price or any tax withholding obligation.

 

25


12.3 Transferability of Awards .

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Sections 12.3(b) and 12.3(c) hereof:

(i) No Award under the Plan may be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed;

(ii) No Award or interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Holder or the Holder’s successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until such Award has been exercised, or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed, and any attempted disposition of an Award prior to the satisfaction of these conditions shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by clause (i) of this Section 12.3(a); and

(iii) During the lifetime of the Holder, only the Holder may exercise an Award (or any portion thereof) granted to such Holder under the Plan, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO; after the death of the Holder, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement, be exercised by the Holder’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Holder’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 12.3(a) hereof, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Holder or a Permitted Transferee of such Holder to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option (unless such Incentive Stock Option is to become a Non-Qualified Stock Option) to any one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee (other than to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Holder) other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a DRO; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Holder (other than the ability to further transfer the Award); and (iii) the Holder (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 12.3(a) hereof, a Holder may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Holder and to receive any distribution with respect to any Award upon the Holder’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Program and/or Award Agreement applicable to the Holder, except to the extent the Plan, an applicable Program and/or the Award Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate

 

26


by the Administrator. If the Holder is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as the Holder’s beneficiary with respect to more than fifty percent (50%) of the Holder’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Holder’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives the Holder, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to the Holder’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Holder at any time; provided that the change or revocation is filed with the Administrator prior to the Holder’s death.

12.4 Conditions to Issuance of Shares .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with all Applicable Laws, and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Holder make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such Applicable Law.

(b) All Share certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to comply with Applicable Law. The Administrator may place legends on any Share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.

(c) The Administrator shall have the right to require any Holder to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Administrator.

(d) No fractional Shares shall be issued and the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether cash shall be given in lieu of fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares shall be eliminated by rounding down.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator or required by any Applicable Law, the Company shall not deliver to any Holder certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares shall be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

 

27


12.5 Forfeiture and Claw-Back Provisions . Pursuant to its general authority to determine the terms and conditions applicable to Awards under the Plan, the Administrator shall have the right to provide, in an Award Agreement or otherwise, or to require a Holder to agree by separate written or electronic instrument, that:

(a) (i) Any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Holder upon any receipt or exercise of the Award, or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award, must be paid to the Company, and (ii) the Award shall terminate and any unexercised portion of the Award (whether or not vested) shall be forfeited, if (x) a Termination of Service occurs prior to a specified date, or within a specified time period following receipt or exercise of the Award, or (y) the Holder at any time, or during a specified time period, engages in any activity in competition with the Company, or which is inimical, contrary or harmful to the interests of the Company, as further defined by the Administrator or (z) the Holder incurs a Termination of Service for “cause” (as such term is defined in the sole discretion of the Administrator, or as set forth in a written agreement relating to such Award between the Company and the Holder); and

(b) All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Holder upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of Applicable Law, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Agreement.

12.6 Prohibition on Repricing . Subject to Section 14.2 hereof, the Administrator shall not, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, (i) authorize the amendment of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its price per Share, or (ii) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per Share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares.

12.7 Leave of Absence . Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder shall be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Holder shall not cease to be considered an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant, as applicable, in the case of any (a) leave of absence approved by the Company, (b) transfer between locations of the Company or between the Company and any of its Affiliates or any successor thereof, or (c) change in status (Employee to Director, Employee to Consultant, etc.), provided that such change does not affect the specific terms applying to the Holder’s Award.

ARTICLE 13.

ADMINISTRATION

13.1 Administrator . The Committee (or another committee or a subcommittee of the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board assuming the functions of the Committee under the Plan) shall administer the Plan (except as otherwise permitted herein) and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall consist solely of two (2) or more Non-Employee

 

28


Directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, each of whom is intended to qualify as both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule, an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded; provided that any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in this Section 13.1 or otherwise provided in any charter of the Committee. Except as may otherwise be provided in any charter of the Committee, appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written or electronic notice to the Board. Vacancies in the Committee may only be filled by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the full Board, acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors and, with respect to such Awards, the terms “Administrator” and “Committee” as used in the Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board and (b) the Board or Committee may delegate its authority hereunder to the extent permitted by Section 13.6 hereof.

13.2 Duties and Powers of Administrator . It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with its provisions. The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan, any Program and any Award Agreement, and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are not inconsistent therewith, to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules and to amend any Program or Award Agreement; provided that the rights or obligations of the Holder of any Award that is the subject of any such Program or Award Agreement are not affected materially and adversely by such amendment, unless the consent of the Holder is obtained or such amendment is otherwise permitted under Section 14.10 hereof. Any such grant or award under the Plan need not be administered or interpreted the same with respect to each Holder. Any such interpretations and rules with respect to Incentive Stock Options shall be consistent with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code. In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule, or Section 162(m) of the Code, or any regulations or rules issued thereunder, or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

13.3 Action by the Committee . Unless otherwise established by the Board or in any charter of the Committee, a majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and the acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by all members of the Committee in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.

 

29


13.4 Authority of Administrator . Subject to the Company’s Bylaws, the Committee’s Charter and any specific designation in the Plan, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to:

(a) Designate Eligible Individuals to receive Awards;

(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Eligible Individual;

(c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;

(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any performance criteria, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, and any provisions related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such considerations as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines;

(e) Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;

(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be identical for each Holder;

(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection with an Award;

(h) Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;

(i) Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the Plan, any Program or any Award Agreement;

(j) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan; and

(k) Accelerate wholly or partially the vesting or lapse of restrictions of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of an Award, subject to whatever terms and conditions it selects and Sections 3.4 and 14.2(d) hereof.

13.5 Decisions Binding . The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, any Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Program, any Award Agreement and all decisions and determinations by the Administrator with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and conclusive on all parties.

 

30


13.6 Delegation of Authority . To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to Article 13; provided , however , that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant awards to, or amend awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (b) Covered Employees, or (c) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided , further , that any delegation of administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under Section 162(m) of the Code and Applicable Law. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 13.6 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.

ARTICLE 14.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

14.1 Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan . Except as otherwise provided in this Section 14.1, the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board or the Committee. However, without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after the action by the Administrator, no action of the Administrator may, except as provided in Section 14.2 hereof, (a) increase the limits imposed in Section 3.1 hereof on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan or the individual Award limits specified in Section 3.3 hereof or take any action prohibited under Section 12.6 hereof, or (b) reduce the price per Share of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan, or (c) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or Stock Appreciation Right price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares. Except as provided in Section 14.10 hereof, no amendment, suspension or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Holder, materially and adversely affect any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted or awarded, unless the Award itself otherwise expressly so provides. No Awards may be granted or awarded during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and in no event may any Incentive Stock Option be granted under the Plan after the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the Effective Date.

14.2 Changes in Common Stock or Assets of the Company, Acquisition or Liquidation of the Company and Other Corporate Events .

(a) In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of the Company’s

 

31


stock or the share price of the Company’s stock other than an Equity Restructuring, the Administrator may make equitable adjustments, if any, to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued under the Plan and adjustments to the individual Award limits specified in Section 3.3 hereof); (ii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) the number and kind of Shares (or other securities or property) for which grants are subsequently to be made to new and continuing Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section 4.6 hereof; (iv) the terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (v) the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan. Any adjustment affecting an Award intended as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 14.2(a) hereof or any unusual or nonrecurring transactions or events affecting the Company, any Affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in Applicable Law, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon the Holder’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:

(i) To provide for either (A) termination of any such Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or other property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction or event described in this Section 14.2 the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion having an aggregate value not exceeding the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested;

(ii) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;

(iii) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of the Company’s stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and in the number and kind of outstanding Restricted Stock or Deferred Stock and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards and Awards which may be granted in the future;

 

32


(iv) To provide that such Award shall be exercisable or payable or fully vested with respect to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the applicable Program or Award Agreement; and

(v) To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event.

(c) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Sections 14.2(a) and 14.2(b) hereof:

(i) The number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted; and/or

(ii) The Administrator shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Administrator in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued under the Plan and adjustments of the individual Award limits specified in Section 3.3 hereof).

The adjustments provided under this Section 14.2(c) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Holder and the Company.

(d) Change in Control .

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, each outstanding Award shall be assumed or an equivalent Award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation, in each case, as determined by the Administrator.

(ii) In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control and its parents and subsidiaries refuse to assume or substitute for any Award in accordance with Section 14.2(d)(i) hereof or it is otherwise determined that Awards shall not be so assumed or substituted, each such non-assumed/substituted Award, except for any Performance Awards, shall become fully vested and, as applicable, exercisable and shall be deemed exercised, immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, and all forfeiture restrictions on any or all such Awards shall lapse at such time. For the avoidance of doubt, the vesting of any Performance Awards not assumed in a Change in Control will not be automatically accelerated pursuant to this Section 14.2(d)(ii) and will instead vest pursuant to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement upon a Change in Control where the successor corporation and its parents and subsidiaries refuse to assume or substitute for any Award in accordance with Section 14.2(d)(i) hereof. If an Award vests and, as applicable, is exercised in lieu of assumption or substitution in connection with a Change in Control, the Administrator shall notify the Holder of such vesting and any applicable exercise period, and the Award shall terminate upon the

 

33


Change in Control. For the avoidance of doubt, if the value of an Award that is terminated in connection with this Section 14.2(d)(ii) is zero or negative at the time of such Change in Control, such Award shall be terminated upon the Change in Control without payment of consideration therefor.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, in the event that, within the twelve (12) month period immediately following a Change in Control, a Holder experiences a Termination of Service by the Company for other than Cause or by the Holder for Good Reason, then the vesting and, if applicable, exercisability of one hundred percent (100%) of the then-unvested Shares (or other securities or property) subject to the outstanding Awards held by such Holder shall accelerate upon the date of such Termination of Service.

(e) The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, include such further provisions and limitations in any Award, agreement or certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

(f) With respect to Awards which are granted to Covered Employees and are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, no adjustment or action described in this Section 14.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause such Award to fail to so qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, unless the Administrator determines that the Award should not so qualify. No adjustment or action described in this Section 14.2 or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code. Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act unless the Administrator determines that the Award is not to comply with such exemptive conditions.

(g) No action shall be taken under this Section 14.2 which shall cause an Award to fail to be exempt from or comply with Section 409A of the Code or the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

(h) The existence of the Plan, any Program, the Award Agreement and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

(i) In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the Shares or the

 

34


share price of the Common Stock including any Equity Restructuring, for reasons of administrative convenience, the Company in its sole discretion may refuse to permit the exercise of any Award during a period of up to thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such transaction.

14.3 Approval of Plan by Stockholders . The Plan will be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Awards may be granted or awarded prior to such stockholder approval; provided that such Awards shall not be exercisable, shall not vest and the restrictions thereon shall not lapse and no Shares shall be issued pursuant thereto prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the stockholders; and provided , further , that if such approval has not been obtained at the end of said twelve (12) month period, all Awards previously granted or awarded under the Plan shall thereupon be canceled and become null and void.

14.4 No Stockholders Rights . Except as otherwise provided herein, a Holder shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Holder becomes the record owner of such Shares.

14.5 Paperless Administration . In the event that the Company establishes, for itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the documentation, granting or exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive voice response, then the paperless documentation, granting or exercise of Awards by a Holder may be permitted through the use of such an automated system.

14.6 Effect of Plan upon Other Compensation Plans . The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any Affiliate: (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees, Directors or Consultants of the Company or any Affiliate, or (b) to grant or assume options or other rights or awards otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose including without limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm or association.

14.7 Compliance with Laws . The Plan, the granting and vesting of Awards under the Plan and the issuance and delivery of Shares and the payment of money under the Plan or under Awards granted or awarded hereunder are subject to compliance with all Applicable Law, and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under the Plan shall be subject to such restrictions, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

 

35


14.8 Titles and Headings, References to Sections of the Code or Exchange Act . The titles and headings of the Sections in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict, the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control. References to sections of the Code or the Exchange Act shall include any amendment or successor thereto.

14.9 Governing Law . The Plan and any agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

14.10 Section 409A . To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, any Program pursuant to which such Award is granted and the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan, any Program and any Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Program and Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of any penalty taxes under such Section.

14.11 No Rights to Awards . No Eligible Individual or other person shall have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Eligible Individuals, Holders or any other persons uniformly.

14.12 Unfunded Status of Awards . The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Holder pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Program or Award Agreement shall give the Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

14.13 Indemnification . To the extent allowable pursuant to Applicable Law, each member of the Committee or of the Board and any officer or other employee to whom authority to administer any component of the Plan is delegated shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all

 

36


amounts paid by him or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her; provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

14.14 Relationship to other Benefits . No payment pursuant to the Plan shall be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Affiliate except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

14.15 Expenses . The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the Company and its Affiliates.

* * * * *

I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. on July 24, 2015.

* * * * *

I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was approved by the stockholders of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. on             , 2015.

Executed on this    day of            , 2015.

 

                                                                                          

 

37

Exhibit 10.6(b)

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (“ Participant ”), an option to purchase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock (“ Stock ”), set forth below (the “ Option ”). This Option is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein, as well as in the Plan and the Stock Option Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Stock Option Agreement ”), each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Grant Notice and the Stock Option Agreement.

 

Participant:    «Participant»
Grant Date:    «Grant_Date»
Vesting Commencement Date:    «VCD»
Exercise Price per Share:    $[        ]
Total Exercise Price:    «Total_Price»
Total Number of Shares Subject to the Option:    «Shares» shares
Expiration Date:    «Expiration»
Vesting Schedule:    «Vesting_Schedule»

Type of Option:         ¨   Incentive Stock Option         ¨   Non-Qualified Stock Option

By his or her signature and the Company’s signature below, Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Stock Option Agreement, and this Grant Notice. Participant has reviewed the Stock Option Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice, the Stock Option Agreement and the Plan. Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, this Grant Notice or the Stock Option Agreement.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.:      PARTICIPANT:
By:  

 

     By:  

 

Print Name:        Print Name:   «Participant»
Title:         
Address:        Address:  
        


EXHIBIT A

TO STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC. STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Stock Option Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) to which this Stock Option Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is attached, Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), has granted to Participant an Option under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), to purchase the number of shares of Stock indicated in the Grant Notice.

ARTICLE 1.

GENERAL

1.1 Defined Terms . Wherever the following terms are used in this Agreement they shall have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan and the Grant Notice.

1.2 Incorporation of Terms of Plan . The Option is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

ARTICLE 2.

GRANT OF OPTION

2.1 Grant of Option . In consideration of Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or any Affiliate and for other good and valuable consideration, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice (the “ Grant Date ”), the Company irrevocably grants to Participant the Option to purchase any part or all of an aggregate of the number of shares of Stock set forth in the Grant Notice, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, subject to adjustments as provided in Section 14.2 of the Plan. Unless designated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option in the Grant Notice, the Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option to the maximum extent permitted by law.

2.2 Exercise Price . The exercise price of the shares of Stock subject to the Option shall be as set forth in the Grant Notice, without commission or other charge; provided , however , that the price per share of the shares of Stock subject to the Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and Participant is a Greater Than 10% Stockholder as of the Date of Grant, the exercise price per share of the shares of Stock subject to the Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Grant Date.

2.3 Consideration to the Company . In consideration of the grant of the Option by the Company, Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Affiliate. Nothing in the Plan or this Agreement shall confer upon Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or an Affiliate and Participant.

 

A-1


ARTICLE 3.

PERIOD OF EXERCISABILITY

3.1 Commencement of Exercisability .

(a) Subject to Sections 3.2, 3.3, 5.11 and 5.17 hereof, the Option shall become vested and exercisable in such amounts and at such times as are set forth in the Grant Notice.

(b) No portion of the Option which has not become vested and exercisable at the date of Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become vested and exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided by the Administrator or as set forth in a written agreement between the Company and Participant.

(c) Notwithstanding Sections 3.1(a) hereof and the Grant Notice, but subject to Section 3.1(b) hereof, in the event of a Change in Control the Option shall be treated pursuant to Section 14.2 of the Plan.

3.2 Duration of Exercisability . The installments provided for in the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice are cumulative. Each such installment which becomes vested and exercisable pursuant to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice shall remain vested and exercisable until it becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof.

3.3 Expiration of Option . The Option may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:

(a) The Expiration Date set forth in the Grant Notice, which shall in no event be more than ten (10) years from the Grant Date;

(b) If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and Participant, at the time the Option was granted, was a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the expiration of five (5) years from the Grant Date;

(c) The expiration of three (3) months from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service, unless such termination occurs by reason of Participant’s death or disability; or

(d) The expiration of one (1) year from the date of Participant’s Termination of Service by reason of Participant’s death or disability.

3.4 Special Tax Consequences . Participant acknowledges that, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options, including the Option (if applicable), are exercisable for the first time by Participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, the Option and such other options shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options to the extent necessary to comply with the limitations imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code. Participant further acknowledges that the rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking the Option and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted, as determined under Section 422(d) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Participant also acknowledges that an Incentive Stock Option exercised more than three (3) months after Participant’s Termination of Employment, other than by reason of death or disability, will be taxed as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

A-2


3.5 Tax Indemnity .

(a) Participant agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified the Company, any Affiliate and Participant’s employing company, if different, from and against any liability for or obligation to pay any Tax Liability (a “ Tax Liability ” being any liability for income tax, withholding tax and any other employment related taxes or social security contributions in any jurisdiction) that is attributable to (1) the grant or exercise of, or any benefit derived by Participant from, the Option, (2) the acquisition by Participant of the Stock on exercise of the Option or (3) the disposal of any Stock.

(b) The Option cannot be exercised until Participant has made such arrangements as the Company may require for the satisfaction of any Tax Liability that may arise in connection with the exercise of the Option and/or the acquisition of the Stock by Participant. The Company shall not be required to issue, allot or transfer Stock until Participant has satisfied this obligation.

(c) Participant hereby acknowledges that the Company (i) makes no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax Liabilities in connection with any aspect of the Option and (ii) does not commit to and is under no obligation to structure the terms of the grant or any aspect of any Award, including the Option, to reduce or eliminate Participant’s liability for Tax Liabilities or achieve any particular tax result. Furthermore, if Participant becomes subject to tax in more than one jurisdiction between the date of grant of an Award, including the Option, and the date of any relevant taxable event, Participant acknowledges that the Company may be required to withhold or account for Tax Liabilities in more than one jurisdiction.

ARTICLE 4.

EXERCISE OF OPTION

4.1 Person Eligible to Exercise . Except as provided in Section 5.3 hereof, during the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option or any portion thereof, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO. After the death of Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when the Option becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof, be exercised by the deceased Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then applicable laws of descent and distribution.

4.2 Partial Exercise . Any exercisable portion of the Option or the entire Option, if then wholly exercisable, may be exercised in whole or in part at any time prior to the time when the Option or portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof. However, the Option shall not be exercisable with respect to fractional shares of Stock.

4.3 Manner of Exercise . The Option, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Secretary of the Company (or any third party administrator or other person or entity designated by the Company; for the avoidance of doubt, delivery shall include electronic delivery), during regular business hours, of all of the following prior to the time when the Option or such portion thereof becomes unexercisable under Section 3.3 hereof:

(a) An exercise notice in a form specified by the Administrator, stating that the Option or portion thereof is thereby exercised, such notice complying with all applicable rules established by the Administrator. The notice shall be signed by Participant or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option;

 

A-3


(b) The receipt by the Company of full payment for the shares of Stock with respect to which the Option or portion thereof is exercised, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which shall be made by deduction from other compensation payable to Participant or in such other form of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof that is acceptable to the Company;

(c) Any other written representations or documents as may be required in the Administrator’s sole discretion to evidence compliance with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other applicable law, rule or regulation; and

(d) In the event the Option or portion thereof shall be exercised pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by any person or persons other than Participant, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to specify all conditions of the manner of exercise, which conditions may vary by country and which may be subject to change from time to time.

4.4 Method of Payment . Payment of the exercise price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of Participant:

(a) Cash or check;

(b) With the consent of the Administrator, surrender of shares of Stock (including, without limitation, shares of Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of the Option) held for such period of time as may be required by the Administrator in order to avoid adverse accounting consequences and having a Fair Market Value on the date of delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof; or

(c) Other legal consideration acceptable to the Administrator (including, without limitation, through the delivery of a notice that Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company, but in any event not later than the settlement of such sale).

4.5 Conditions to Issuance of Stock . The shares of Stock deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or any portion thereof, may be either previously authorized but unissued shares of Stock or issued shares of Stock which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such shares of Stock shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of the Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the conditions in Section 12.4 of the Plan and following conditions:

(a) The admission of such shares of Stock to listing on all stock exchanges on which such Stock is then listed;

(b) The completion of any registration or other qualification of such shares of Stock under any state or federal law or under rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or of any other governmental regulatory body, which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

 

A-4


(c) The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Administrator shall, in its absolute discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

(d) The receipt by the Company of full payment for such shares of Stock, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which may be in one or more of the forms of consideration permitted under Section 4.4 hereof; and

(e) The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the Option as the Administrator may from time to time establish for reasons of administrative convenience.

4.6 Rights as Stockholder . The holder of the Option shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to dividends, in respect of any shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of any part of the Option unless and until such shares of Stock shall have been issued by the Company and held of record by such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the shares of Stock are issued, except as provided in Section 14.2 of the Plan.

ARTICLE 5.

OTHER PROVISIONS

5.1 Administration . The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the Option.

5.2 Whole Shares . The Option may only be exercised for whole shares of Stock.

5.3 Option Not Transferable .

(a) Subject to Section 4.1 hereof, the Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned or transferred in any manner other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a DRO, unless and until the Option has been exercised and the shares of Stock underlying the Option have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such shares of Stock have lapsed. Neither the Option nor any interest or right therein shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy) unless and until the Option has been exercised, and any attempted disposition thereof prior to exercise shall be null and void and of no effect, except to the extent that such disposition is permitted by the preceding sentence.

 

A-5


(b) During the lifetime of Participant, only Participant may exercise the Option (or any portion thereof), unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a DRO; after the death of Participant, any exercisable portion of the Option may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or this Agreement, be exercised by Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then-applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to the Option upon Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and this Agreement, except to the extent the Plan and this Agreement otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If Participant is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than Participant’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of Participant’s interest in the Option shall not be effective without the prior written consent of Participant’s spouse or domestic partner. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant to Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the Administrator prior to Participant’s death.

5.4 Tax Consultation . Participant understands that Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of the grant, vesting and/or exercise of the Option, and/or with the purchase or disposition of the shares of Stock subject to the Option. Participant represents that Participant has consulted with any tax consultants Participant deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of such shares of Stock and that Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

5.5 Binding Agreement . Subject to the limitation on the transferability of the Option contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

5.6 Adjustments Upon Specified Events . The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the Option in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events relating to the Stock contemplated by Section 14.2 of the Plan (including, without limitation, an extraordinary cash dividend on such Stock), the Administrator shall make such adjustments the Administrator deems appropriate in the number of shares of Stock subject to the Option, the exercise price of the Option and the kind of securities that may be issued upon exercise of the Option. Participant acknowledges that the Option is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Section 14.2 of the Plan.

5.7 Notices . Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to Participant shall be addressed to Participant at Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 5.7, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice which is required to be given to Participant shall, if Participant is then deceased, be given to the person entitled to exercise his or her Option pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof by written notice under this Section 5.7. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

 

A-6


5.8 Titles . Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

5.9 Governing Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

5.10 Conformity to Securities Laws . Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all Applicable Law and regulations and rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and state securities laws and regulations. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Option is granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

5.11 Amendment, Suspension and Termination . To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the Option in any material way without the prior written consent of Participant.

5.12 Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 5.3 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

5.13 Notification of Disposition . If this Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option, Participant shall give prompt notice to the Company of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of Stock acquired under this Agreement if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two (2) years from the Grant Date with respect to such shares of Stock or (b) within one (1) year after the transfer of such shares of Stock to Participant. Such notice shall specify the date of such disposition or other transfer and the amount realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, by Participant in such disposition or other transfer.

5.14 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Plan, the Option and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

5.15 Not a Contract of Service Relationship . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Affiliates or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or to terminate for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, the services of Participant’s at any time.

 

A-7


5.16 Entire Agreement . The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

5.17 Section 409A . This Option is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “ Section 409A ”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement (or any Exhibits hereto), if at any time the Administrator determines that the Option (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement (or any Exhibits hereto), or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate either for the Option to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

5.18 Limitation on Participant’s Rights . Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Option, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Stock as a general unsecured creditor with respect to options, as and when exercised pursuant to the terms hereof.

5.19 Consent to Personal Data Use . Participant acknowledges and agrees that the Company is permitted to collect, hold, store, process, modify, transfer, lock or delete certain personal (and sensitive) data in any medium about Participant (i.e., name, home address, telephone number, e-mail address, date of birth, tax identification number and payroll information) as a part of its personnel and other business records for the exclusive purpose of tracking stock option grants, processing stock option exercises and subsequent share transfers and sales, arranging for appropriate tax reporting and withholding and regulatory tracking and reporting purposes and the Company may disclose such information to third parties in the event that such disclosure is in the Company’s view required for the proper tracking of stock option grants, processing stock option exercises and subsequent share transfers and sales, arranging for appropriate tax reporting and withholding and regulatory tracking. For these purposes, this personal data will be transferred to other locations, including locations outside of the European Union and in so-called insecure third-party countries that do not guarantee the data privacy protection level of the European Union.

 

A-8


5.20 Rules Particular To Specific Countries .

(a) Generally . Participant shall, if required by the Administrator, enter into an election with the Company or an Affiliate (in a form approved by the Company) under which any liability to the Company’s (or an Affiliate’s) Tax Liability, including, but not limited to, National Insurance Contributions (“ NICs ”) and the Fringe Benefit Tax (“ FBT ”), is transferred to and met by Participant. For purposes of this Section 5.20, Tax Liability shall mean any and all liability under applicable non-U.S. laws, rules or regulations from any income tax, the Company’s (or an Affiliate’s) NICs, FBT or similar liability and Participant’s NICs, FBT or similar liability that are attributable to:

(A) the grant or exercise of, or any other benefit derived by Participant from the Option; (B) the acquisition by Participant of the shares of Stock on exercise of the Option; or (C) the disposal of any shares of Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option.

(b) Tax Indemnity . Participant shall indemnify and keep indemnified the Company and any of its Affiliates from and against any Tax Liability.

*    *    *    *     *

 

A-9

Exhibit 10.6(c)

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the holder listed below (the “ Participant ”), an award of restricted stock units (“ Restricted Stock Units ” or “ RSUs ”). Each vested Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive, in accordance with the Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”), one share of Common Stock (“ Share ”). This award of Restricted Stock Units is subject to all of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Agreement and the Plan, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) and the Agreement.

 

Participant:    [                    ]
Grant Date:    [                    ]
Total Number of RSUs:    [                    ]
Vesting Commencement Date:    [                    ]
Vesting Schedule:    [                    ]
Termination:    If the Participant experiences a Termination of Service prior to the applicable vesting date, all RSUs that have not become vested on or prior to the date of such Termination of Service (after taking into consideration any vesting that may occur in connection with such Termination of Service, if any) will thereupon be automatically forfeited by the Participant without payment of any consideration therefor.

By his or her signature and the Company’s signature below, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice. The Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, this Grant Notice or the Agreement. In addition, by signing below, the Participant also agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, may satisfy any withholding obligations in accordance with Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement by (i) withholding shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs, (ii) instructing a broker on the Participant’s behalf to sell shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the RSUs and submit the proceeds of such sale to the Company, or (iii) using any other method permitted by Section 2.6(b) of the Agreement or the Plan.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.:      PARTICIPANT:
By:  

 

     By:  

 

Print Name:        Print Name:  
Title:         
Address:        Address:  


EXHIBIT A

TO RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD GRANT NOTICE

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) to which this Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is attached, Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), has granted to the Participant the number of restricted stock units (“ Restricted Stock Units ” or “ RSUs ”) set forth in the Grant Notice under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”). Each vested Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one share of Common Stock (“ Share ”). Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan and Grant Notice.

ARTICLE I.

GENERAL

1.1 Incorporation of Terms of Plan . The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

ARTICLE II.

GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

2.1 Grant of RSUs . Pursuant to the Grant Notice and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice, the Company hereby grants to the Participant an award of RSUs under the Plan in consideration of the Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or any Affiliates and for other good and valuable consideration.

2.2 Unsecured Obligation to RSUs . Unless and until the RSUs have vested in the manner set forth in Article 2 hereof, the Participant will have no right to receive Common Stock under any such RSUs. Prior to actual payment of any vested RSUs, such RSUs will represent an unsecured obligation of the Company, payable (if at all) only from the general assets of the Company.

2.3 Vesting Schedule . Subject to Section 2.5 hereof, the RSUs shall vest and become nonforfeitable with respect to the applicable portion thereof according to the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice (rounding down to the nearest whole Share).

2.4 Consideration to the Company . In consideration of the grant of the award of RSUs pursuant hereto, the Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Affiliate.

2.5 Forfeiture, Termination and Cancellation upon Termination of Service . Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement or the Plan, upon the Participant’s Termination of Service for any or no reason, all Restricted Stock Units which have not vested prior to or in connection with such Termination of Service (after taking into consideration any accelerated vesting which may occur in connection with such Termination of Service (if any)) shall thereupon automatically be forfeited, terminated and cancelled as of the applicable termination date without payment of any consideration by the Company, and the Participant, or the Participant’s beneficiary or personal representative, as the case may be, shall have no further rights hereunder. No portion of the RSUs which has not become vested as of the date on which the Participant incurs a Termination of Service shall thereafter become vested.

 

1


2.6 Issuance of Common Stock upon Vesting .

(a) As soon as administratively practicable following the vesting of any Restricted Stock Units pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after such vesting date (for the avoidance of doubt, this deadline is intended to comply with the “short term deferral” exemption from Section 409A of the Code), the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or any transferee permitted under Section 3.2 hereof) a number of Shares (either by delivering one or more certificates for such Shares or by entering such Shares in book entry form, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion) equal to the number of RSUs subject to this Award that vest on the applicable vesting date, unless such RSUs terminate prior to the given vesting date pursuant to Section 2.5 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event Shares cannot be issued pursuant to Section 12.4 of the Plan, the Shares shall be issued pursuant to the preceding sentence as soon as administratively practicable after the Administrator determines that Shares can again be issued in accordance with such Section.

(b) As set forth in Section 12.2 of the Plan, the Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the Restricted Stock Units. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any new certificate representing Shares to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative or enter such Shares in book entry form unless and until the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state and local taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from the grant or vesting of the Restricted Stock Units or the issuance of Shares.

2.7 Conditions to Delivery of Shares . The Shares deliverable hereunder may be either previously authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares or issued Shares which have then been reacquired by the Company. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares deliverable hereunder prior to fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 12.4 of the Plan.

2.8 Rights as Stockholder . The holder of the RSUs shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to dividends, in respect of the RSUs and any Shares underlying the RSUs and deliverable hereunder unless and until such Shares shall have been issued by the Company and held of record by such holder (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company). No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 14.2 of the Plan.

ARTICLE III.

OTHER PROVISIONS

3.1 Administration . The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the RSUs.

3.2 RSUs Not Transferable . The RSUs shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in Section 12.3 of the Plan; provided, however , that this Section 3.2 notwithstanding, with the consent of the Administrator, the RSUs may be transferred to one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to and in accordance with Section 12.3 of the Plan.

 

2


3.3 Tax Consultation . The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences in connection with the RSUs granted pursuant to this Agreement (and the Shares issuable with respect thereto). The Participant represents that the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants the Participant deems advisable in connection with the RSUs and the issuance of Shares with respect thereto and that the Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

3.4 Binding Agreement . Subject to the limitation on the transferability of the RSUs contained herein, this Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, legatees, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

3.5 Adjustments Upon Specified Events . The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the RSUs in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. The Participant acknowledges that the RSUs are subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Section 14.2 of the Plan.

3.6 Notices . Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.6, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

3.7 Participant’s Representations . If the Shares issuable hereunder have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state laws on an effective registration statement at the time of such issuance, the Participant shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with such issuance, make such written representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and/or its counsel.

3.8 Titles . Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

3.9 Governing Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

3.10 Conformity to Securities Laws . The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any other Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the RSUs are granted, only in such a manner as to conform to Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

3.11 Amendment, Suspension and Termination . To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however, that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the RSUs in any material way without the prior written consent of the Participant.

3.12 Successors and Assigns . The Company may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth in Section 3.2 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

3


3.13 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Plan, the RSUs and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

3.14 Not a Contract of Service Relationship . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon Participant any right to continue to serve as an employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Affiliates or interfere with or restrict in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or to terminate for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, the services of the Participant’s at any time.

3.15 Entire Agreement . The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto, if any) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

3.16 Section 409A . This Award is not intended to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (together with any Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof, “ Section 409A ”). However, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, if at any time the Administrator determines that this Award (or any portion thereof) may be subject to Section 409A, the Administrator shall have the right in its sole discretion (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify Participant or any other person for failure to do so) to adopt such amendments to the Plan, the Grant Notice or this Agreement, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate for this Award either to be exempt from the application of Section 409A or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

3.17 Limitation on Participant’s Rights . Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. The Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company and its Affiliates with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the RSUs, and rights no greater than the right to receive the Common Stock as a general unsecured creditor with respect to RSUs, as and when payable hereunder.

 

4


AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2015 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD GRANT NOTICE

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Company ”), pursuant to its 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), hereby grants to the individual listed below (the “ Participant ”), in consideration of the mutual agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock set forth below (the “ Shares ”). This Restricted Stock award is subject to all of the terms and conditions as set forth herein and in the Restricted Stock Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “ Agreement ”) (including without limitation the Restrictions on the Shares set forth in the Agreement) and the Plan, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) and the Agreement.

 

Participant:

   [                    ]

Grant Date:

   [                    ]

Total Number of Shares of Restricted Stock:

   [                    ] Shares

Vesting Commencement Date:

   [                    ]

Vesting Schedule:

   [                    ]

Termination:

   If the Participant experiences a Termination of Service prior to the applicable vesting date, any portion of the Award (and the Shares subject thereto) that has not become vested on or prior to the date of such Termination of Service (after taking into consideration any vesting that may occur in connection with such Termination of Service, if any) will thereupon be automatically forfeited by the Participant, and the Participant’s rights in such portion of the Award and any Shares subject thereto shall thereupon lapse and expire.

By his or her signature and the Company’s signature below, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Agreement and this Grant Notice. The Participant has reviewed the Agreement, the Plan and this Grant Notice in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Grant Notice and fully understands all provisions of this Grant Notice, the Agreement and the Plan. The Participant hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan, this Grant Notice or the Agreement. In addition, by signing below, the Participant also agrees that the Company, in its sole discretion, may satisfy any withholding obligations in accordance with Section 2.2(c) of the Agreement by (i) withholding shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock, (ii) instructing a broker on the Participant’s behalf to sell shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant upon vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock and submit the proceeds of such sale to the Company, or (iii) using any other method permitted by Section 2.2(c) of the Agreement or the Plan. If the participant is married or part of a registered domestic partnership, his or her spouse or domestic partner has signed the Consent of Spouse or Registered Domestic Partner attached to this Grant Notice as Exhibit B .

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.:      PARTICIPANT:
By:  

 

     By:  

 

Print Name:             Print Name:  
Title:         
Address:        Address:  

 

5


EXHIBIT A

TO RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD GRANT NOTICE

RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT

Pursuant to the Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) to which this Restricted Stock Award Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is attached, Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) has granted to the Participant the number of shares of Restricted Stock (the “ Shares ”) under the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), as set forth in the Grant Notice. Capitalized terms not specifically defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan and Grant Notice.

ARTICLE IV.

GENERAL

4.1 Incorporation of Terms of Plan . The Award (as defined below) is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of any inconsistency between the Plan and this Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall control.

ARTICLE V.

AWARD OF RESTRICTED STOCK

5.1 Award of Restricted Stock .

(a) Award . Pursuant to the Grant Notice and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this Agreement, effective as of the Grant Date set forth in the Grant Notice, the Company has granted to the Participant an award of Restricted Stock (the “ Award ”) under the Plan in consideration of the Participant’s past and/or continued employment with or service to the Company or any Affiliate, and for other good and valuable consideration. The number of Shares subject to the Award is set forth in the Grant Notice. The Participant is an Employee, Director or Consultant of the Company or one of its Affiliates.

(b) Book Entry Form; Certificates . At the sole discretion of the Administrator, the Shares will be issued in either (i) uncertificated form, with the Shares recorded in the name of the Participant in the books and records of the Company’s transfer agent with appropriate notations regarding the restrictions on transfer imposed pursuant to this Agreement, and upon vesting and the satisfaction of all conditions set forth in Sections 2.2(b) and (d) hereof, the Company shall remove such notations on any such vested Shares in accordance with Section 2.2(e) below; or (ii) certificated form pursuant to the terms of Sections 2.1(c), (d) and (e) below.

(c) Legend . Certificates representing Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement shall, until all Restrictions (as defined below) imposed pursuant to this Agreement lapse or have been removed and the Shares have thereby become vested or the Shares represented thereby have been forfeited hereunder, bear the following legend (or such other legend as shall be determined by the Administrator):

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN VESTING REQUIREMENTS AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE UNDER THE TERMS OF A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT, BY

 

A-1


AND BETWEEN AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC. AND THE REGISTERED OWNER OF SUCH SHARES, AND SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OFFERED, TRANSFERRED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCEPT PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUCH AGREEMENT.”

(d) Escrow . The Secretary of the Company or such other escrow holder as the Administrator may appoint may retain physical custody of any certificates representing the Shares until all of the Restrictions on transfer imposed pursuant to this Agreement lapse or shall have been removed; in such event, the Participant shall not retain physical custody of any certificates representing unvested Shares issued to him or her. The Participant, by acceptance of the Award, shall be deemed to appoint, and does so appoint, the Company and each of its authorized representatives as the Participant’s attorney(s)-in-fact to effect any transfer of unvested forfeited Shares (or Shares otherwise reacquired by the Company hereunder) to the Company as may be required pursuant to the Plan or this Agreement and to execute such documents as the Company or such representatives deem necessary or advisable in connection with any such transfer.

(e) Removal of Notations; Delivery of Certificates Upon Vesting . As soon as administratively practicable after the vesting of any Shares subject to the Award pursuant to Section 2.2(b) hereof, the Company shall, as applicable, either remove the notations on any Shares subject to the Award issued in book entry form which have vested or deliver to the Participant a certificate or certificates evidencing the number of Shares subject to the Award which have vested (or, in either case, such lesser number of Shares as may be permitted pursuant to Section 12.2 of the Plan). The Participant (or the beneficiary or personal representative of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death or incapacity, as the case may be) shall deliver to the Company any representations or other documents or assurances required by the Company. The Shares so delivered shall no longer be subject to the Restrictions hereunder.

5.2 Restrictions .

(a) Forfeiture . Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this Agreement, upon the Participant’s Termination of Service for any or no reason, any portion of the Award (and the Shares subject thereto) which has not vested prior to or in connection with such Termination of Service (after taking into consideration any accelerated vesting and lapsing of Restrictions which may occur in connection with such Termination of Service (if any)) shall thereupon be forfeited immediately and without any further action by the Company, and the Participant’s rights in any Shares and such portion of the Award shall thereupon lapse and expire. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Restrictions ” shall mean the restrictions on sale or other transfer set forth in Section 3.3 hereof and the exposure to forfeiture set forth in this Section 2.2(a).

(b) Vesting and Lapse of Restrictions . Subject to Section 2.2(a) above, the Award shall vest and Restrictions shall lapse in accordance with the vesting schedule set forth in the Grant Notice (rounding down to the nearest whole Share).

(c) Tax Withholding . As set forth in Section 12.2 of the Plan, the Company shall have the authority and the right to deduct or withhold, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable federal, state and local taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising in connection with the Award. The Company shall not be obligated to deliver any new certificate representing Shares to the Participant or the Participant’s

 

A-2


legal representative or enter such Shares in book entry form unless and until the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative shall have paid or otherwise satisfied in full the amount of all federal, state and local taxes applicable to the taxable income of the Participant resulting from the grant or vesting of the Award or the issuance of Shares.

(d) Conditions to Delivery of Shares . Subject to Section 2.1 above, the Shares deliverable under this Award may be either previously authorized but unissued Shares, treasury Shares or Shares purchased on the open market. Such Shares shall be fully paid and nonassessable. The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any Shares under this Award prior to fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Section 12.4 of the Plan.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance of such Shares shall not be delayed if and to the extent that such delay would result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code. In the event that the Company delays the issuance of such Shares because it reasonably determines that the issuance of such Shares will violate Applicable Law, such issuance shall be made at the earliest date at which the Company reasonably determines that issuing such Shares will not cause such violation, as required by Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(7)(ii).

(e) To ensure compliance with the Restrictions, the provisions of the charter documents of the Company, and/or Applicable Law and for other proper purposes, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” and other instructions to its transfer agent with respect to the Restricted Stock. The Company shall notify the transfer agent as and when the Restrictions lapse.

5.3 Consideration to the Company . In consideration of the grant of the Award pursuant hereto, the Participant agrees to render faithful and efficient services to the Company or any Affiliate.

ARTICLE VI.

OTHER PROVISIONS

6.1 Section 83(b) Election . If the Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Participant hereby agrees to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service.

6.2 Administration . The Administrator shall have the power to interpret the Plan and this Agreement and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon the Participant, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Administrator or the Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, this Agreement or the Award.

6.3 Restricted Stock Not Transferable . Until the Restrictions hereunder lapse or expire pursuant to this Agreement and the Shares vest, the Restricted Stock (including any Shares received by holders thereof with respect to Restricted Stock as a result of stock dividends, stock splits or any other form of recapitalization) shall be subject to the restrictions on transferability set forth in Section 12.3 of the Plan; provided, however , that this Section 3.3 notwithstanding, with the consent of the Administrator, the Shares may be transferred to one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to and in accordance with Section 12.3 of the Plan.

 

A-3


6.4 Rights as Stockholder . Except as otherwise provided herein, upon the Grant Date, the Participant shall have all the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to the Shares, subject to the Restrictions, including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to receive any cash or stock dividends, in respect of the Shares subject to the Award and deliverable hereunder.

6.5 Tax Consultation . The Participant understands that the Participant may suffer adverse tax consequences in connection with the Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Agreement (and the Shares issuable with respect thereto). The Participant represents that the Participant has consulted with any tax consultants the Participant deems advisable in connection with the Restricted Stock and that the Participant is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

6.6 Adjustments Upon Specified Events . The Administrator may accelerate the vesting of the Restricted Stock in such circumstances as it, in its sole discretion, may determine. The Participant acknowledges that the Restricted Stock is subject to adjustment, modification and termination in certain events as provided in this Agreement and Section 14.2 of the Plan.

6.7 Notices . Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal office, and any notice to be given to the Participant shall be addressed to the Participant at the Participant’s last address reflected on the Company’s records. By a notice given pursuant to this Section 3.7, either party may hereafter designate a different address for notices to be given to that party. Any notice shall be deemed duly given when sent via email or when sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) and deposited (with postage prepaid) in a post office or branch post office regularly maintained by the United States Postal Service.

6.8 Participant’s Representations . If the Shares issuable hereunder have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state laws on an effective registration statement at the time of such issuance, the Participant shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with such issuance, make such written representations as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Company and/or its counsel.

6.9 Titles . Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

6.10 Governing Law . The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity, administration, enforcement and performance of the terms of this Agreement regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of laws.

6.11 Conformity to Securities Laws . The Participant acknowledges that the Plan and this Agreement are intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and any and all Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and the Award is granted, only in such a manner as to conform to such Applicable Law. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such Applicable Law.

6.12 Amendment, Suspension and Termination . To the extent permitted by the Plan, this Agreement may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator or the Board; provided, however , that, except as may otherwise be provided by the Plan, no amendment, modification, suspension or termination of this Agreement shall adversely affect the Award in any material way without the prior written consent of the Participant.

 

A-4


6.13 Successors and Assigns . The Company or any Affiliate may assign any of its rights under this Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company and its Affiliates. Subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in Section 3.3 hereof, this Agreement shall be binding upon the Participant and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

6.14 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or this Agreement, if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the Plan, the Award and this Agreement shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Agreement shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

6.15 Not a Contract of Service Relationship . Nothing in this Agreement or in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue to serve as an Employee or other service provider of the Company or any of its Affiliates or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and its Affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of the Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in a written agreement between the Company or an Affiliate and the Participant.

6.16 Entire Agreement . The Plan, the Grant Notice and this Agreement (including all Exhibits thereto, if any) constitute the entire agreement of the parties and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and its Affiliates and the Participant with respect to the subject matter hereof.

6.17 Limitation on the Participant’s Rights . Participation in the Plan confers no rights or interests other than as herein provided. This Agreement creates only a contractual obligation on the part of the Company as to amounts payable and shall not be construed as creating a trust. Neither the Plan nor any underlying program, in and of itself, has any assets. The Participant shall have only the rights of a general unsecured creditor of the Company and its Affiliates with respect to amounts credited and benefits payable, if any, with respect to the Shares issuable hereunder.

 

A-5


EXHIBIT B

TO RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD GRANT NOTICE

CONSENT OF SPOUSE OR REGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNER

I,             , spouse or domestic partner of             , have read and approve the Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice (the “ Grant Notice ”) to which this Consent of Spouse or Registered Domestic Partner is attached and the Restricted Stock Award Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) attached to the Grant Notice. In consideration of issuing to my spouse or domestic partner the shares of the common stock of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. set forth in the Grant Notice, I hereby appoint my spouse or domestic partner as my attorney-in-fact in respect to the exercise of any rights under the Agreement and agree to be bound by the provisions of the Agreement insofar as I may have any rights in said Agreement or any shares of the common stock of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. issued pursuant thereto under the community property laws or similar laws relating to marital property in effect in the state of our residence as of the date of the signing of the foregoing Agreement.

 

Dated:

     

 

      Signature of Spouse or Domestic Partner

 

A-1

Exhibit 10.7

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

This Indemnification Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is effective as of                     by and between Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and                     (“ Indemnitee ”).

A. The Company recognizes the difficulty in obtaining liability insurance for its directors, officers, employees, controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents and affiliates, the significant cost of such insurance and the general limitations in the coverage of such insurance.

B. The Company further recognizes the substantial increase in corporate litigation in general, subjecting directors, officers, employees, controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents and affiliates to expensive litigation risks at the same time as the availability and coverage of liability insurance has been severely limited.

C. The current protection available to directors, officers, employees, controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents and affiliates of the Company may not be adequate under the present circumstances, and directors, officers, employees, controlling persons, fiduciaries and other agents and affiliates of the Company (or persons who may be alleged or deemed to be the same), including the Indemnitee, may not be willing to serve or continue to serve or be associated with the Company in such capacities without additional protection.

D. The Company (a) desires to attract and retain the involvement of highly qualified persons, such as Indemnitee, to serve and be associated with the Company, and (b) accordingly, wishes to provide for the indemnification and advancement of expenses to the Indemnitee to the maximum extent permitted by law.

E. In view of the considerations set forth above, the Company desires that Indemnitee shall be indemnified and advanced expenses by the Company as set forth herein.

AGREEMENT :

In consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Certain Definitions.

(a) “ Change in Control ” shall be deemed to have occurred if, on or after the date of this Agreement, (i) any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company acting in such capacity or a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company

 

1


representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power represented by the Company’s then outstanding Voting Securities, (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of the Company and any new director whose election by the Board of Directors or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two- thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof, (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Voting Securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into Voting Securities of the surviving entity) at least eighty percent (80%) of the total voting power represented by the Voting Securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

(b) “ Claim ” shall mean with respect to a Covered Event: any threatened, asserted, pending or completed action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, or any hearing, inquiry or investigation (formal or informal) that Indemnitee (or in the case of a Fund Indemnitor (as defined in Section 18 below) seeking to be indemnified, a Fund Indemnitor) in good faith believes might lead to the institution of any such action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other, including any appeal therefrom.

(c) References to the “ Company ” shall include, in addition to Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc., any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger to which Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries) is a party, which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, so that if Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise, Indemnitee shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as Indemnitee would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

(d) “ Covered Event ” shall mean any event or occurrence by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, direct or indirect, whether before or after the date of this Agreement, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of Indemnitee while serving in such capacity, whether before or after the date of this Agreement.

 

2.


(e) “ Expense Advance ” shall mean a payment to Indemnitee for Expenses pursuant to Section 3 hereof, in advance of the settlement of or final judgment in any action, suit, proceeding or alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation, which constitutes a Claim.

(f) “ Expenses ” shall mean any and all direct and indirect costs, losses, claims, damages, fees, expenses and liabilities, joint or several (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs, expenses and obligations reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness in or participating in (including on appeal), or preparing to defend, to be a witness in or to participate in, any action, suit, proceeding, alternative dispute resolution mechanism, hearing, inquiry or investigation), judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (if such settlement is approved in advance by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) actually and reasonably incurred, of any Claim and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on the Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement.

(g) “ Independent Legal Counsel ” shall mean an attorney or firm of attorneys, selected in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(d) hereof, who shall not have otherwise performed services for (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning the rights of Indemnitee under this Agreement, or of other indemnitees under similar indemnity agreements) or (ii) any other party to the Claim giving rise to a claim for indemnification hereunder, within the last three (3) years. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Legal Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.

(h) References to “ other enterprises ” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “ fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “ serving at the request of the Company ” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or its beneficiaries; and if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan, Indemnitee shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “ not opposed to the best interests of the Company ” as referred to in this Agreement.

(i) “ Reviewing Party ” shall mean, subject to the provisions of Section 2(d), any person or body appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with applicable law to review the Company’s obligations hereunder and under applicable law, which may include a member or members of the Company’s Board of Directors, Independent Legal Counsel or any other person or body not a party to the particular Claim for which Indemnitee is seeking indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights. In the absence of the appointment of another Reviewing Party, but subject to the provisions of Section 2(d), the full Board of Directors shall be deemed to be the “Reviewing Party” within the meaning of this Agreement.

 

3.


(j) “ Section ” refers to a section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.

(k) “ Voting Securities ” shall mean any securities of the Company that vote generally in the election of directors.

2. Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification of Expenses . Subject to the provisions of Section 2(b) below, the Company shall indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless Indemnitee for Expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law if Indemnitee was, is or becomes a party to or witness or other participant in, or is threatened to be made a party to or witness or other participant in, any Claim (whether by reason of or arising in part out of a Covered Event), including all interest, assessments and other charges incurred in connection with or in respect of such Expenses.

(b) Review of Indemnification Obligations .

(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event any Reviewing Party shall have determined (in a written opinion, in any case in which Independent Legal Counsel is the Reviewing Party) that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless hereunder under applicable law, (A) the Company shall have no further obligation under Section 2(a) to make any payments to Indemnitee not made prior to such determination by such Reviewing Party and (B) the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee (who hereby agrees to reimburse the Company) for all Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying, exonerating or holding harmless Indemnitee (within thirty (30) days after such determination); provided , however , that if Indemnitee has commenced or thereafter commences legal proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to secure a determination that Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless hereunder under applicable law, any determination made by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified hereunder under applicable law shall not be binding and Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any Expenses theretofore paid in indemnifying, exonerating or holding harmless Indemnitee until a final judicial determination is made with respect thereto (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed). Indemnitee’s obligation to reimburse the Company for any Expenses shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.

(ii) Subject to Section 2(b)(iii) below, if the Reviewing Party shall not have made a determination within forty-five (45) days after receipt by the Company of the request therefor, the requisite determination of entitlement to indemnification shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be deemed to have been made and Indemnitee shall be entitled to such indemnification, absent (A) a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification or (B) a prohibition of such indemnification under applicable law; provided , however , that such 45-day period may be extended for a reasonable time, not to exceed an additional thirty (30) days, if the person, persons or entity making the determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification in good faith requires such additional time for the obtaining or evaluating of documentation and/or information relating thereto.

 

4.


(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, no determination as to entitlement of Indemnitee to indemnification under this Agreement shall be required to be made prior to the final disposition of the Claim.

(c) Indemnitee Rights on Unfavorable Determination; Binding Effect . If any Reviewing Party determines that Indemnitee substantively is not entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless hereunder in whole or in part under applicable law, Indemnitee shall have the right to commence litigation seeking an initial determination by the court or challenging any such determination by such Reviewing Party or any aspect thereof, including the legal or factual bases therefor, and, subject to the provisions of Section 15 hereof, the Company hereby consents to service of process and to appear in any such proceeding. Absent such litigation, any determination by any Reviewing Party shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and Indemnitee.

(d) Selection of Reviewing Party; Change in Control . If there has not been a Change in Control, any Reviewing Party shall be selected by the Board of Directors, which may be the full Board of Directors in the absence of the selection of another Reviewing Party, and if there has been such a Change in Control (other than a Change in Control which has been approved by a majority of the Company’s Board of Directors who were directors immediately prior to such Change in Control), any Reviewing Party with respect to all matters thereafter arising concerning Indemnitee’s indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights for Expenses under this Agreement or any other agreement or under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws as now or hereafter in effect, or under any other applicable law, if desired by Indemnitee, shall be Independent Legal Counsel selected by the Indemnitee and approved by Company (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld). Such counsel, among other things, shall render its written opinion to the Company and Indemnitee as to whether and to what extent Indemnitee would be entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless hereunder under applicable law and the Company agrees to abide by such opinion. The Company agrees to pay the reasonable fees of the Independent Legal Counsel referred to above and to fully indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless such counsel against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), claims, liabilities and damages arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its engagement pursuant hereto. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to pay Expenses of more than one Independent Legal Counsel in connection with all matters concerning a single Indemnitee, and such Independent Legal Counsel shall be the Independent Legal Counsel for any or all other Indemnitees unless (i) the Company otherwise determines or (ii) any Indemnitee shall provide a written statement setting forth in detail a reasonable objection to such Independent Legal Counsel representing other Indemnitees.

(e) Mandatory Payment of Expenses . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement other than Section 10 hereof, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to the extent that Indemnitee was a party to (or participant in) and has been successful on the merits or otherwise, including, without limitation, the dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any Claim, Indemnitee shall be indemnified, exonerated and held harmless against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Claim but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Claim, the Company shall indemnify

 

5.


Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with or related to each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter to the fullest extent permitted by law. For purposes of this Section and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Claim by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.

(f) Contribution . If the indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights provided for in this Agreement is for any reason held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnitee, then in lieu of indemnifying, exonerating or holding harmless Indemnitee thereunder, the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or required to be paid by Indemnitee as a result of such Expenses (i) in such proportion as is deemed fair and reasonable in light of all of the circumstances in order to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee as a result of the event(s) and/or transaction(s) giving cause to such Claim or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company (and its directors, officers, employees and agents) and Indemnitee in connection with the action or inaction which resulted in such Expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. In connection with the registration of the Company’s securities, the relative benefits received by the Company and Indemnitee shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions that the net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and Indemnitee, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the applicable prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the securities so offered. The relative fault of the Company and Indemnitee shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or Indemnitee and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

The Company and Indemnitee agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 2(f) were determined by pro rata or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. In connection with the registration of the Company’s securities, in no event shall Indemnitee be required to contribute any amount under this Section 2(f) in excess of the net proceeds received by Indemnitee from its sale of securities under such registration statement. No person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

3. Expense Advances .

(a) Obligation to Make Expense Advances . The Company shall make Expense Advances to Indemnitee upon receipt of a written undertaking, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A , by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amounts if it shall ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless therefor by the Company.

 

6.


(b) Form of Undertaking . Any written undertaking by the Indemnitee to repay any Expense Advances hereunder shall be unsecured and no interest shall be charged thereon.

4. Procedures for Indemnification and Expense Advances .

(a) Timing of Payments . All payments of Expenses (including without limitation Expense Advances) by the Company to the Indemnitee pursuant to this Agreement shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law as soon as practicable after written demand by Indemnitee therefor is presented to the Company, but in no event later than forty-five (45) days after such written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company, except in the case of Expense Advances, which shall be made no later than twenty (20) days after such written demand by Indemnitee is presented to the Company. If the Company disputes a portion of the amounts for which indemnification is requested, the undisputed portion shall be paid and only the disputed portion withheld pending resolution of any such dispute.

(b) Notice/Cooperation by Indemnitee . Indemnitee shall, as a condition precedent to Indemnitee’s right to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless or Indemnitee’s right to receive Expense Advances under this Agreement, give the Company notice in writing as soon as practicable of any Claim made against Indemnitee for which indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights will or could be sought under this Agreement. Notice to the Company shall be directed to the President and the Secretary of the Company at the address shown on the signature page of this Agreement (or such other address as the Company shall designate in writing to Indemnitee) and shall include a description of the nature of the Claim and the facts underlying the Claim, in each case to the extent known to Indemnitee. To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification following the final disposition of such Claim. In addition, Indemnitee shall give the Company such information and cooperation as the Company may reasonably require and as shall be within Indemnitee’s power. The failure by Indemnitee to notify the Company hereunder will not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to Indemnitee hereunder or otherwise than under this Agreement, and any delay in so notifying the Company shall not constitute a waiver by Indemnitee of any rights under this Agreement, except to the extent (solely with respect to the indemnity hereunder) that such failure or delay materially prejudices the Company.

(c) No Presumptions; Burden of Proof . For purposes of this Agreement, the termination of any Claim by judgment, order, settlement (whether with or without court approval) or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere , or its equivalent, shall not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet any particular standard of conduct or have any particular belief or that a court has determined that indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless right is not permitted by this Agreement or applicable law. In addition, neither the failure of any Reviewing Party to have made a determination as to whether Indemnitee has met any particular standard of conduct or had any particular belief, nor an actual determination by any Reviewing Party that Indemnitee has not met such standard of conduct or did not have such belief, prior to the commencement of legal proceedings by Indemnitee to secure a judicial determination that

 

7.


Indemnitee should be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless under this Agreement or applicable law, shall be a defense to Indemnitee’s claim or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met any particular standard of conduct or did not have any particular belief. In connection with any determination by any Reviewing Party or otherwise as to whether the Indemnitee is entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless hereunder, the burden of proof shall be on the Company to establish that Indemnitee is not so entitled.

(d) Notice to Insurers . If, at the time of the receipt by the Company of a notice of a Claim pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof, the Company has liability insurance in effect which may cover such Claim, the Company shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such Claim to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies. The Company shall thereafter take all reasonably necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all amounts payable as a result of such Claim in accordance with the terms of such policies.

(e) Selection of Counsel . In the event the Company shall be obligated hereunder to provide indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights for or make any Expense Advances with respect to the Expenses of any Claim, the Company, if appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such Claim with counsel approved by Indemnitee (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of the Company’s election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and the retention of such counsel by the Company, the Company will not be liable to Indemnitee under this Agreement for any fees or expenses of separate counsel subsequently employed by or on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to the same Claim; provided, however , that (i) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ Indemnitee’s separate counsel in any such Claim at Indemnitee’s expense and (ii) if (A) the employment of separate counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized by the Company, (B) Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict of interest between the Company and Indemnitee in the conduct of any such defense or (C) the Company shall not continue to retain such counsel to defend such Claim, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s separate counsel shall be Expenses for which Indemnitee may receive indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights or Expense Advances hereunder. The Company shall have the right to conduct such defense as it sees fit in its sole discretion, including the right to settle any claim, action or proceeding against Indemnitee without the consent of Indemnitee, provided that the terms of such settlement include either: (i) a full release of Indemnitee by the claimant from all liabilities or potential liabilities under such claim or (ii), in the event such full release is not obtained, the terms of such settlement do not limit any indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights Indemnitee may now, or hereafter, be entitled to under this Agreement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws, any agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) or otherwise.

5. Additional Indemnification Rights; Nonexclusivity .

(a) Scope . The Company hereby agrees to indemnify, exonerate and hold harmless the Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by law, notwithstanding that such indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless right is not specifically authorized by the other provisions of this Agreement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Company’s

 

8.


bylaws or by statute, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors, or otherwise. The rights of indemnification and to receive Expense Advances as provided by this Agreement shall be interpreted independently of, and without reference to, any other such rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled. In the event of any change after the date of this Agreement in any applicable law, statute or rule which expands the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless a member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, it is the intent of the parties hereto that Indemnitee shall enjoy by this Agreement the greater benefits afforded by such change. In the event of any change in any applicable law, statute or rule which narrows the right of a Delaware corporation to indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless a member of its board of directors or an officer, employee, agent or fiduciary, such change, to the extent not otherwise required by such law, statute or rule to be applied to this Agreement, shall have no effect on this Agreement or the parties’ rights and obligations hereunder except as set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.

(b) Nonexclusivity . The indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights and the payment of Expense Advances provided by this Agreement shall be in addition to any rights to which Indemnitee may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, its bylaws, any other agreement, any vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, the DGCL, or otherwise. The indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights and the payment of Expense Advances provided under this Agreement shall continue as to Indemnitee for any action taken or not taken while serving in an indemnified, exonerated or held harmless capacity even though subsequent thereto Indemnitee may have ceased to serve in such capacity.

6. No Duplication of Payments . The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any Claim made against Indemnitee to the extent Indemnitee has otherwise actually received payment (under any insurance policy, provision of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise payable hereunder, except as provided in Section 18 below.

7. Partial Indemnification . If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights by the Company for some or a portion of Expenses incurred in connection with any Claim, but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Company shall nevertheless indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless Indemnitee for the portion of such Expenses to which Indemnitee is entitled.

8. Mutual Acknowledgment . Both the Company and Indemnitee acknowledge that in certain instances, federal law or applicable public policy may prohibit the Company from indemnifying, exonerating or holding harmless its directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries under this Agreement or otherwise. Indemnitee understands and acknowledges that the Company may be required in the future to undertake with the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit the question of indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights to a court in certain circumstances for a determination of the Company’s right under public policy to indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless Indemnitee.

9. Liability Insurance . To the extent the Company maintains liability insurance applicable to directors, officers, employees, agents or fiduciaries, Indemnitee shall be covered by such policies in such a manner as to provide Indemnitee the same rights and benefits as are

 

9.


provided to the most favorably insured of the Company’s directors who are not employees of the Company, if Indemnitee is a director who is not employed by the Company; or of the Company’s officers, if Indemnitee is a director of the Company and is also employed by the Company, or is not a director of the Company but is an officer; or in the Company’s sole discretion, if Indemnitee is not an officer or director but is an employee, agent or fiduciary.

10. Exceptions . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be obligated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement:

(a) Excluded Action or Omissions . To indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless Indemnitee for Expenses resulting from acts, omissions or transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights under this Agreement or applicable law; provided, however , that notwithstanding any limitation set forth in this Section 10(a) regarding the Company’s obligation to provide indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights to Indemnitee, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive Expense Advances hereunder with respect to any such Claim unless and until a court having jurisdiction over the Claim shall have made a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee has engaged in acts, omissions or transactions for which Indemnitee is prohibited from receiving indemnification under this Agreement or applicable law.

(b) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee . To indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless or make Expense Advances to Indemnitee with respect to Claims initiated or brought voluntarily by Indemnitee and not by way of defense, counterclaim or cross claim, except (i) with respect to actions or proceedings brought to establish or enforce an indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless right under this Agreement or any other agreement or insurance policy or under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws now or hereafter in effect relating to Claims for Covered Events, (ii) in specific cases if the Board of Directors has approved the initiation or bringing of such Claim or (iii) as otherwise required under Section 145 of the DGCL, regardless of whether Indemnitee ultimately is determined to be entitled to such indemnification, exoneration, hold harmless right, Expense Advances or insurance recovery, as the case may be.

(c) Lack of Good Faith . To indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless Indemnitee for any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to any action instituted (i) by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over such action determines as provided in Section 13 hereof that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous or (ii) by or in the name of the Company to enforce or interpret this Agreement, if a court having jurisdiction over such action determines as provided in Section 13 hereof that each of the material defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous.

(d) Claims Under Section 16(b) or Sarbanes-Oxley Act . To indemnify, exonerate or hold harmless Indemnitee for expenses and the payment of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute or (ii) any reimbursement of the Company by Indemnitee of any bonus or other incentive-based or equity-based compensation or of any profits realized by Indemnitee from the sale of securities of the Company, as required

 

10.


in each case under the Exchange Act (including any such reimbursements that arise from an accounting restatement of the Company pursuant to Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), or the payment to the Company of profits arising from the purchase and sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act); provided, however, that notwithstanding any limitation set forth in this Section 10(d) regarding the Company’s obligation to provide indemnification or exoneration or hold harmless, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 hereof to receive Expense Advances hereunder with respect to any such Claim unless and until a court having jurisdiction over the Claim shall have made a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that Indemnitee has violated said statute.

11. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts and by facsimile or electronic transmission, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which, together, shall constitute one instrument.

12. Binding Effect; Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company), spouses, heirs, and personal and legal representatives. The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all, or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement shall continue in effect regardless of whether Indemnitee continues to serve as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary (as applicable) of the Company or of any other enterprise at the Company’s request. The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Fund Indemnitors (as defined in Section 18 below) are express third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.

13. Expenses Incurred in Action Relating to Enforcement or Interpretation . In the event that any action is instituted by Indemnitee under this Agreement or under any liability insurance policies maintained by the Company to enforce or interpret any of the terms hereof or thereof, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee with respect to such action (including without limitation attorneys’ fees), regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately successful in such action, unless as a part of such action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that each of the material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made in good faith or was frivolous; provided , however , that until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to such action. In the event of an action instituted by or in the name of the Company under this Agreement to enforce or interpret any of the terms of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless for all Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in defense of such action (including without limitation costs and expenses incurred with respect to Indemnitee’s counterclaims and cross-claims made in such action), unless as a part of such action a court having jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination (as to which all rights of

 

11.


appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that each of the material defenses asserted by Indemnitee in such action was made in bad faith or was frivolous; provided , however , that until such final judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section 3 to receive payment of Expense Advances hereunder with respect to such action.

14. Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given (i) if delivered by hand and signed for by the party addressed, on the date of such delivery or (ii) if mailed by domestic certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date postmarked. Addresses for notice to either party are as shown on the signature page of this Agreement or as subsequently modified by written notice.

15. Consent to Jurisdiction . The Company and Indemnitee each hereby irrevocably consent to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware for all purposes in connection with any action or proceeding which arises out of or relates to this Agreement and agree that any action instituted under this Agreement shall be commenced, prosecuted and continued only in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County, which shall be the exclusive and only proper forum for adjudicating such a claim.

16. Severability . The provisions of this Agreement shall be severable in the event that any of the provisions hereof (including any provision within a single section, paragraph or sentence) are held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, and the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Furthermore, to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation each portion of this Agreement containing any provision held to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

17. Choice of Law . This Agreement, and all rights, remedies, liabilities, powers and duties of the parties to this Agreement, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

18. Primacy of Indemnification; Subrogation .

(a) The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee has or may in the future have certain indemnification, exoneration, hold harmless or Expense advancement rights and/or insurance provided by Fund and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “ Fund Indemnitors ”). The Company hereby agrees (i) that it is the indemnitor of first resort ( i.e. , its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Fund Indemnitors to advance Expenses or to provide indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights for the same Expenses incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that it shall be required to advance the full amount of Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, to the extent legally permitted and as required by the Certificate of Incorporation or bylaws of the Company (or any agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Fund Indemnitors, (iii) that it irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Fund Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Fund

 

12.


Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof and (iv) if any Fund Indemnitor is a party to or a participant in a legal proceeding, which participation or involvement arises solely and exclusively as a result of Indemnitee’s service to the Company as a director of the Company, then such Fund Indemnitor shall be entitled to all of the indemnification rights and remedies under this Agreement to the same extent as Indemnitee. The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Fund Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any Claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification, exoneration or hold harmless rights from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Fund Indemnitors shall have a right to receive from the Company, contribution and/or be subrogated, to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company.

(b) Except as provided in Section 18(a) above, in the event of payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee from any insurance policy purchased by the Company, who shall execute all documents required and shall do all acts that may be necessary to secure such rights and to enable the Company effectively to bring suit to enforce such rights. In no event, however, shall the Company or any other person have any right of recovery, through subrogation or otherwise, against (i) Indemnitee, or (ii) any Fund Indemnitor or (iii) any insurance policy purchased or maintained by Indemnitee or any Fund Indemnitor.

19. Amendment and Termination . No amendment, modification, termination or cancellation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed by both the parties hereto. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to be or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar), nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

20. Integration and Entire Agreement . This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes and merges all previous written and oral negotiations, commitments, understandings and agreements relating to the subject matter hereof between the parties hereto, including any existing director or officer indemnification agreement; provided , however , that this Agreement is a supplement to and in furtherance of the Certificate of Incorporation, the bylaws, any directors and officers insurance maintained by the Company and applicable law, and shall not be deemed a substitute therefor, nor to diminish or abrogate any rights of Indemnitee thereunder.

21. No Construction as Employment Agreement . Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as giving Indemnitee any right to employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliated entities.

22. Additional Acts . If for the validation of any of the provisions in this Agreement any act, resolution, approval or other procedure is required, the Company undertakes to cause such act, resolution, approval or other procedure to be affected or adopted in a manner that will enable the Company to fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.

(The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.)

 

13.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the parties hereto have executed this Indemnification Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

 

  A UTHORIZED O FFICER
Address:
8000 Marina Blvd, Suite 300
Brisbane, CA 94005

A GREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY :

INDEMNITEE:

 

By:  

 

Date:
Address:

 

14.


EXHIBIT A

Form of Undertaking

AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING FOR ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

PURSUANT TO SECTION 145(e) OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

Pursuant to Section 145(e) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”), Section 9.3 of the Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “ Bylaws ”) of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”), and Section 3(a) of my Indemnification Agreement with the Company (the “ Indemnification Agreement ”), I understand that I must provide a written undertaking in order for the Company to make Expense Advances to me in connection with                     , as well as in any related action, suit or proceeding that is threatened, pending or may be filed in the future in which I am a party, a witness or other participant.

The capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.

I hereby affirm my good-faith belief that I have met the standard of conduct for indemnification imposed by Section 145(d) of the DGCL. I affirm that in connection with the matters for which I seek Expense Advances, I have acted in good faith and in a manner I reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful.

I hereby undertake to repay the Expense Advances if it is ultimately determined that I am not entitled to be indemnified, exonerated or held harmless therefor by the Company under Section 145 of the DGCL, Article IX of the Bylaws or the Indemnification Agreement.

This undertaking is a general, unsecured obligation, and no interest shall be charged hereon.

I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this     day of             , 20    .

 

                                                                                          

Exhibit 10.8

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 24, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Stephen G. Dilly, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. (“ Executive ”) and Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

W HEREAS , Executive is currently employed by Company as its President and Chief Executive Officer, and Company desires to have Executive’s employment continue in such capacity, and Executive desires to continue to serve in such capacity, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:

1.1. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.2. Cause means any of the following events:

(a) Executive’s theft, dishonesty or falsification of any employment or Company records that is non-trivial in nature;

(b) Executive’s malicious or reckless disclosure of the Company’s confidential or proprietary information or any material breach by Executive of his obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement;

(c) the conviction of the Executive of a felony (excluding motor vehicle violations) or the commission of gross negligence or willful misconduct, where a majority of the non-employee members of the Board reasonably determines that such act or misconduct has (i) seriously undermined the ability of the Board or management of the Company to entrust Executive with important matters or otherwise work effectively with Executive, (ii) substantially contributed to the Company’s loss of significant revenues or business opportunities, or (iii) significantly and detrimentally affected the business or reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and/or

(d) the willful failure or refusal by Executive to follow the reasonable and lawful directives of the Board, provided such willful failure or refusal continues after Executive’s receipt of reasonable notice in writing of such failure or refusal and a reasonable opportunity of not less than 30 days to correct the problem.

For the purpose of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, shall be considered “willful” unless undertaken by Executive with an absence of good faith that this act, or failure to act, was in the best interests of the Company.


1.3. Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time; provided, that such transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

1.4. COBRA means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

1.5. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.6. Company means Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. or any successor thereto.

1.7. Confidential Information Agreement means that certain Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement by and between Executive and the Company.

1.8. Covered Termination means (a) an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or (b) a voluntary termination for Good Reason, in either case, provided that such termination also constitutes a Separation from Service.

1.9. Good Reason means any of the following are undertaken without Executive’s prior written consent: (a) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities which substantially reduces the nature or character of Executive’s position with the Company; (b) a material reduction by the Company of Executive’s Base Salary (as defined in Section 3.1 below) as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (c) a relocation of Executive’s principal office to a location that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than thirty-five (35) miles, provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, reasonable required travel by Executive on the Company’s business shall not constitute a relocation; or (d) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s resignation shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” as a result of any event described in the preceding sentence unless (A) Executive provides written notice thereof to the Company within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of such event, (B) to the extent correctable, the Company fails to remedy such circumstance or event within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of such written notice and (C) the effective date of Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” is not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period under subclause (B).

1.10. Involuntary Termination Without Cause means Executive’s dismissal or discharge by the Company other than for Cause. The termination of Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or inability to perform the essential functions of his job due to disability will not be deemed to be an Involuntary Termination Without Cause.

1.11. Separation from Service means Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

2


ARTICLE II

EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY

2.1. Position and Duties. Subject to terms set forth herein, Executive shall continue to serve in an executive capacity and shall continue to perform such duties as are customarily associated with the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as are assigned to Executive by the Board. Executive shall also continue to serve as a member of the Board, and, while Executive is employed hereunder, the Company shall nominate Executive for reelection as a member of the Board at the end of each Board term. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention (except for vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company’s general employment policies or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement) to the business of the Company.

2.2. Employment at Will. Both the Company and Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. Upon certain terminations of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive may become eligible to receive the severance benefits provided in Article IV of this Agreement.

2.3. Employment Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE III

COMPENSATION

3.1. Base Salary. As of the Effective Date, Executive shall receive for services to be rendered hereunder an annual base salary of $400,000 (“ Base Salary ”), payable on the regular payroll dates of the Company (but no less often than monthly), subject to increase in the sole discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board.

3.2. Annual Bonus. For each calendar year ending during the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) targeted at forty percent (40%) of Base Salary (the “ Target Bonus ”), on such terms and conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board. The actual amount of any Annual Bonus (if any) will be determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board and will be (a) subject to achievement of any applicable bonus objectives and/or conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board, (b) subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the end of the applicable calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates, and (c) payable to Executive during the year following the end of the applicable calendar year at the same time as bonuses for other Company executives are paid generally, but in no event later than March 15 th of the year following the year to which such Annual Bonus relates.

 

3


3.3. Standard Company Benefits . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be entitled to all rights and benefits for which Executive is eligible under the terms and conditions of the standard Company benefits and compensation practices that may be in effect from time to time and are provided by the Company to its executive employees generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.3 shall not create or be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt or maintain any benefits or compensation practices at any time.

3.4. Equity Awards . Executive will be eligible to receive stock options and other equity incentive grants as determined by the Board or a committee of the Board in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE IV

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS

4.1. Severance Benefits. Upon Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and other accrued and unpaid compensation, including any accrued but unpaid vacation and Annual Bonus that has been earned with respect to any calendar year ending prior to Executive’s termination date, but remains unpaid as of the date of the termination. If the termination is due to a Covered Termination, provided that Executive delivers an effective general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates in a form acceptable to the Company (a “ Release of Claims ”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days following the Covered Termination, Executive shall also be entitled to receive the severance benefits described in Section 4.1(a) or (b), as applicable.

(a) Covered Termination Not Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination which occurs more than three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or more than twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) An amount equal to twelve (12) months of Executive’s Base Salary payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies, less applicable withholdings, with such installments to commence on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and irrevocable (such payroll date not to be later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the first (1st) anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an

 

4


amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option, restricted stock unit award and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to that number of shares that would have vested and, if applicable, become exercisable in the six (6) months immediately following Executive’s Covered Termination had Executive’s employment continued during such twelve month period. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

(b) Covered Termination Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination that occurs within three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or during the twelve (12) month period commencing on a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to one and a half (1.5) multiplied by the sum of: (i) Executive’s Base Salary and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus, in each case, at the rate in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination of employment, payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and, in any event, no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s
plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(b)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall

 

5


immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject thereto. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

4.2. 280G Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“ Payment ”) would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this Section 4.2 will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive.

4.3. Section 409A .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed at the time of his Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code which would subject Executive to a tax obligation under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six- month period measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(b) Any reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to the Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than 30 days after Executive provides the Company with a written request for reimbursement, and to the extent that any such reimbursements are deemed to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the

 

6


Code (i) such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive promptly, but in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred, (ii) the amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and (iii) Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(c) For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive installment payments under the Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

4.4. Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of the Covered Termination, or otherwise.

ARTICLE V

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS

5.1. Agreement. Executive agrees to continue to abide by the Confidential Information Agreement.

5.2. Remedies. Executive’s duties under the Confidential Information Agreement shall survive termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Executive acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of the Confidential Information Agreement, as well as Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.2 and Article 7 below, would be inadequate, and Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in case of any such breach or threatened breach.

ARTICLE VI

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

6.1. Other Activities.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1(b), Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise, other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor, unless he obtains the prior written consent of the Board.

(b) Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. In addition, Executive shall be allowed to serve as a member of the board of directors of up to two (2) other for-profit entities at any time during the term of this Agreement, so long as such service does not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; provided, however, that the Board, in its discretion, may require that Executive resign from one or both of such director positions if it determines that such resignation(s) would be in the best interests of the Company.

 

7


6.2. Competition/Investments. During the term of Executive’s employment by the Company, except on behalf of the Company, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which are known by Executive to compete directly with the Company, throughout the world, in any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company; provided, however, that anything above to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive may own, as a passive investor, securities of any competitor corporation, so long as Executive’s direct holdings in any one such corporation do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than 1% of the voting stock of such corporation.

ARTICLE VII

NONINTERFERENCE

In addition to Executive’s obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement, Executive shall not for a period of two (2) years following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, either on Executive’s own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer, employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or stockholder or otherwise on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit away from the Company any of its officers or employees or offer employment to any person who is an officer or employee of the Company; provided, however , that a general advertisement to which an employee of the Company responds shall in no event be deemed to result in a breach of this Article 7. Executive also agrees not to harass or disparage the Company or its employees, clients, directors or agents or divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business of the Company. The provisions of this Article 7 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Article 7 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1. Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile) or the third day after mailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company’s books and records.

 

8


8.2. Tax Withholding. Executive acknowledges that all amounts and benefits payable under this Agreement are subject to deduction and withholding to the extent required by applicable law.

8.3. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

8.4. Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, they shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.

8.5. Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidential Information Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter, and will supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, any offer letter agreement or promise of change in control or severance protection. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein or therein, and cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by a duly-authorized officer of the Company and Executive.

8.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

8.7. Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.

8.8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.

8.9. Arbitration. Unless otherwise prohibited by law or specified below, all disputes, claims and causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or relating to this Agreement or its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation (each, a “ Claim ”) shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in San Mateo County, California through Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services (“ JAMS ”) in conformity with the then-existing JAMS employment arbitration rules and California law. The arbitrator shall: (a) provide adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. However, nothing in this section is intended to prevent either party from obtaining injunctive relief in court

 

9


to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. The Company shall bear the costs of any such arbitration. Executive and the Company understand that by agreement to arbitrate any Claim pursuant to this Section 8.9, they will not have the right to have any Claim decided by a jury or a court, but shall instead have any Claim decided through arbitration. Executive and the Company waive any constitutional or other right to bring claims covered by this Agreement other than in their individual capacities. Except as may be prohibited by applicable law, the foregoing waiver includes the ability to assert claims as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

8.10. Executive Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges that (a) he has consulted with or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and has been advised to do so by the Company, and (b) that he has read and understands the Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

8.11. Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of California without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

10


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Warren DeSouza

  Warren DeSouza
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Accepted and Agreed:

 

/s/ Stephen Dilly

S TEPHEN G. D ILLY , M.B.B.S., P H .D.

Exhibit 10.9

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 24, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Warren L. DeSouza (“ Executive ”) and Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

W HEREAS , Executive is currently employed by Company as its Chief Financial Officer, and Company desires to have Executive’s employment continue in such capacity, and Executive desires to continue to serve in such capacity, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:

1.1. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.2. Cause means any of the following events:

(a) Executive’s theft, dishonesty or falsification of any employment or Company records that is non-trivial in nature;

(b) Executive’s malicious or reckless disclosure of the Company’s confidential or proprietary information or any material breach by Executive of his obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement;

(c) the conviction of the Executive of a felony (excluding motor vehicle violations) or the commission of gross negligence or willful misconduct, where a majority of the non-employee members of the Board reasonably determines that such act or misconduct has (i) seriously undermined the ability of the Board or management of the Company to entrust Executive with important matters or otherwise work effectively with Executive, (ii) substantially contributed to the Company’s loss of significant revenues or business opportunities, or (iii) significantly and detrimentally affected the business or reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and/or

(d) the willful failure or refusal by Executive to follow the reasonable and lawful directives of the Board, provided such willful failure or refusal continues after Executive’s receipt of reasonable notice in writing of such failure or refusal and a reasonable opportunity of not less than 30 days to correct the problem.

For the purpose of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, shall be considered “willful” unless undertaken by Executive with an absence of good faith that this act, or failure to act, was in the best interests of the Company.


1.3. Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time; provided, that such transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

1.4. COBRA means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

1.5. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.6. Company means Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. or any successor thereto.

1.7. Confidential Information Agreement means that certain Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement by and between Executive and the Company.

1.8. Covered Termination means (a) an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or (b) a voluntary termination for Good Reason, in either case, provided that such termination also constitutes a Separation from Service.

1.9. Good Reason means any of the following are undertaken without Executive’s prior written consent: (a) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities which substantially reduces the nature or character of Executive’s position with the Company; (b) a material reduction by the Company of Executive’s Base Salary (as defined in Section 3.1 below) as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (c) a relocation of Executive’s principal office to a location that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than thirty-five (35) miles, provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, reasonable required travel by Executive on the Company’s business shall not constitute a relocation; or (d) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s resignation shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” as a result of any event described in the preceding sentence unless (A) Executive provides written notice thereof to the Company within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of such event, (B) to the extent correctable, the Company fails to remedy such circumstance or event within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of such written notice and (C) the effective date of Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” is not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period under subclause (B).

1.10. Involuntary Termination Without Cause means Executive’s dismissal or discharge by the Company other than for Cause. The termination of Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or inability to perform the essential functions of his job due to disability will not be deemed to be an Involuntary Termination Without Cause.

1.11. Separation from Service means Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

2


ARTICLE II

EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY

2.1. Position and Duties. Subject to terms set forth herein, Executive shall continue to serve in an executive capacity and shall continue to perform such duties as are customarily associated with the position of Chief Financial Officer and such other duties as are assigned to Executive by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention (except for vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company’s general employment policies or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement) to the business of the Company.

2.2. Employment at Will. Both the Company and Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. Upon certain terminations of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive may become eligible to receive the severance benefits provided in Article IV of this Agreement.

2.3. Employment Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE III

COMPENSATION

3.1. Base Salary. As of the Effective Date, Executive shall receive for services to be rendered hereunder an annual base salary of $300,000 (“ Base Salary ”), payable on the regular payroll dates of the Company (but no less often than monthly), subject to increase in the sole discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board.

3.2. Annual Bonus. For each calendar year ending during the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) targeted at thirty percent (30%) of Base Salary (the “ Target Bonus ”), on such terms and conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board. The actual amount of any Annual Bonus (if any) will be determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board and will be (a) subject to achievement of any applicable bonus objectives and/or conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board, (b) subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the end of the applicable calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates, and (c) payable to Executive during the year following the end of the applicable calendar year at the same time as bonuses for other Company executives are paid generally, but in no event later than March 15 th of the year following the year to which such Annual Bonus relates.

3.3. Standard Company Benefits . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be entitled to all rights and benefits for which Executive is eligible under the terms and

 

3


conditions of the standard Company benefits and compensation practices that may be in effect from time to time and are provided by the Company to its executive employees generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.3 shall not create or be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt or maintain any benefits or compensation practices at any time.

3.4. Equity Awards . Executive will be eligible to receive stock options and other equity incentive grants as determined by the Board or a committee of the Board in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE IV

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS

4.1. Severance Benefits. Upon Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and other accrued and unpaid compensation, including any accrued but unpaid vacation and Annual Bonus that has been earned with respect to any calendar year ending prior to Executive’s termination date, but remains unpaid as of the date of the termination. If the termination is due to a Covered Termination, provided that Executive delivers an effective general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates in a form acceptable to the Company (a “ Release of Claims ”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days following the Covered Termination, Executive shall also be entitled to receive the severance benefits described in Section 4.1(a) or (b), as applicable.

(a) Covered Termination Not Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination which occurs more than three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or more than twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) An amount equal to nine (9) months of Executive’s Base Salary payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies, less applicable withholdings, with such installments to commence on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and irrevocable (such payroll date not to be later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the nine (9) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

 

4


(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option, restricted stock unit award and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to that number of shares that would have vested and, if applicable, become exercisable in the six (6) months immediately following Executive’s Covered Termination had Executive’s employment continued during such twelve month period. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

(b) Covered Termination Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination that occurs within three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or during the twelve (12) month period commencing on a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of: (i) Executive’s Base Salary and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus, in each case, at the rate in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination of employment, payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and, in any event, no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(b)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject thereto. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s

 

5


Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

4.2. 280G Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“ Payment ”) would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this Section 4.2 will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive.

4.3. Section 409A .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed at the time of his Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code which would subject Executive to a tax obligation under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six- month period measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(b) Any reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to the Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than 30 days after Executive provides the Company with a written request for reimbursement, and to the extent that any such reimbursements are deemed to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (i) such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive promptly, but in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred, (ii) the

 

6


amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and (iii) Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(c) For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive installment payments under the Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

4.4. Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of the Covered Termination, or otherwise.

ARTICLE V

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS

5.1. Agreement. Executive agrees to continue to abide by the Confidential Information Agreement.

5.2. Remedies. Executive’s duties under the Confidential Information Agreement shall survive termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Executive acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of the Confidential Information Agreement, as well as Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.2 and Article 7 below, would be inadequate, and Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in case of any such breach or threatened breach.

ARTICLE VI

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

6.1. Other Activities.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1(b), Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise, other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor, unless he obtains the prior written consent of the Board.

(b) Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. In addition, Executive shall be allowed to serve as a member of the board of directors of up to two (2) other for-profit entities at any time during the term of this Agreement, so long as such service does not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; provided, however, that the Board, in its discretion, may require that Executive resign from one or both of such director positions if it determines that such resignation(s) would be in the best interests of the Company.

 

7


6.2. Competition/Investments. During the term of Executive’s employment by the Company, except on behalf of the Company, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which are known by Executive to compete directly with the Company, throughout the world, in any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company; provided, however, that anything above to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive may own, as a passive investor, securities of any competitor corporation, so long as Executive’s direct holdings in any one such corporation do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than 1% of the voting stock of such corporation.

ARTICLE VII

NONINTERFERENCE

In addition to Executive’s obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement, Executive shall not for a period of two (2) years following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, either on Executive’s own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer, employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or stockholder or otherwise on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit away from the Company any of its officers or employees or offer employment to any person who is an officer or employee of the Company; provided, however , that a general advertisement to which an employee of the Company responds shall in no event be deemed to result in a breach of this Article 7. Executive also agrees not to harass or disparage the Company or its employees, clients, directors or agents or divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business of the Company. The provisions of this Article 7 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Article 7 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1. Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile) or the third day after mailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company’s books and records.

8.2. Tax Withholding. Executive acknowledges that all amounts and benefits payable under this Agreement are subject to deduction and withholding to the extent required by applicable law.

 

8


8.3. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

8.4. Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, they shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.

8.5. Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidential Information Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter, and will supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, that certain offer letter agreement with the Company dated April 8, 2015 and any promise of change in control or severance protection. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein or therein, and cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Executive.

8.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

8.7. Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.

8.8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.

8.9. Arbitration. Unless otherwise prohibited by law or specified below, all disputes, claims and causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or relating to this Agreement or its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation (each, a “ Claim ”) shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in San Mateo County, California through Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services (“ JAMS ”) in conformity with the then-existing JAMS employment arbitration rules and California law. The arbitrator shall: (a) provide adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. However, nothing in this section is intended to prevent either party from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. The Company shall bear the costs of any such arbitration. Executive and the Company understand that by agreement to arbitrate any Claim pursuant to this Section 8.9, they will not have the right to have any Claim

 

9


decided by a jury or a court, but shall instead have any Claim decided through arbitration. Executive and the Company waive any constitutional or other right to bring claims covered by this Agreement other than in their individual capacities. Except as may be prohibited by applicable law, the foregoing waiver includes the ability to assert claims as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

8.10. Executive Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges that (a) he has consulted with or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and has been advised to do so by the Company, and (b) that he has read and understands the Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

8.11. Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of California without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

10


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen Dilly

  S TEPHEN G. D ILLY , M.B.B.S., P H .D.
  P RESIDENT AND C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICER

Accepted and Agreed:

 

/s/ Warren L. DeSouza

W ARREN L. D E S OUZA

Exhibit 10.10

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 24, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Howard V. Raff, Ph.D. (“ Executive ”) and Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

W HEREAS , Executive is currently employed by Company as its Chief Operating Officer, and Company desires to have Executive’s employment continue in such capacity, and Executive desires to continue to serve in such capacity, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:

1.1. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.2. Cause means any of the following events:

(a) Executive’s theft, dishonesty or falsification of any employment or Company records that is non-trivial in nature;

(b) Executive’s malicious or reckless disclosure of the Company’s confidential or proprietary information or any material breach by Executive of his obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement;

(c) the conviction of the Executive of a felony (excluding motor vehicle violations) or the commission of gross negligence or willful misconduct, where a majority of the non-employee members of the Board reasonably determines that such act or misconduct has (i) seriously undermined the ability of the Board or management of the Company to entrust Executive with important matters or otherwise work effectively with Executive, (ii) substantially contributed to the Company’s loss of significant revenues or business opportunities, or (iii) significantly and detrimentally affected the business or reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and/or

(d) the willful failure or refusal by Executive to follow the reasonable and lawful directives of the Board, provided such willful failure or refusal continues after Executive’s receipt of reasonable notice in writing of such failure or refusal and a reasonable opportunity of not less than 30 days to correct the problem.

For the purpose of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, shall be considered “willful” unless undertaken by Executive with an absence of good faith that this act, or failure to act, was in the best interests of the Company.


1.3. Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time; provided, that such transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

1.4. COBRA means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

1.5. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.6. Company means Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. or any successor thereto.

1.7. Confidential Information Agreement means that certain Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement by and between Executive and the Company.

1.8. Covered Termination means (a) an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or (b) a voluntary termination for Good Reason, in either case, provided that such termination also constitutes a Separation from Service.

1.9. Good Reason means any of the following are undertaken without Executive’s prior written consent: (a) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities which substantially reduces the nature or character of Executive’s position with the Company; (b) a material reduction by the Company of Executive’s Base Salary (as defined in Section 3.1 below) as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (c) a relocation of Executive’s principal office to a location that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than thirty-five (35) miles, provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, reasonable required travel by Executive on the Company’s business shall not constitute a relocation; or (d) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s resignation shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” as a result of any event described in the preceding sentence unless (A) Executive provides written notice thereof to the Company within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of such event, (B) to the extent correctable, the Company fails to remedy such circumstance or event within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of such written notice and (C) the effective date of Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” is not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period under subclause (B).

1.10. Involuntary Termination Without Cause means Executive’s dismissal or discharge by the Company other than for Cause. The termination of Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or inability to perform the essential functions of his job due to disability will not be deemed to be an Involuntary Termination Without Cause.

1.11. Separation from Service means Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

2


ARTICLE II

EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY

2.1. Position and Duties. Subject to terms set forth herein, Executive shall continue to serve in an executive capacity and shall continue to perform such duties as are customarily associated with the position of Chief Operating Officer and such other duties as are assigned to Executive by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention (except for vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company’s general employment policies or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement) to the business of the Company.

2.2. Employment at Will. Both the Company and Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. Upon certain terminations of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive may become eligible to receive the severance benefits provided in Article IV of this Agreement.

2.3. Employment Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE III

COMPENSATION

3.1. Base Salary. As of the Effective Date, Executive shall receive for services to be rendered hereunder an annual base salary of $300,000 (“ Base Salary ”), payable on the regular payroll dates of the Company (but no less often than monthly), subject to increase in the sole discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board.

3.2. Annual Bonus. For each calendar year ending during the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) targeted at thirty percent (30%) of Base Salary (the “ Target Bonus ”), on such terms and conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board. The actual amount of any Annual Bonus (if any) will be determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board and will be (a) subject to achievement of any applicable bonus objectives and/or conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board, (b) subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the end of the applicable calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates, and (c) payable to Executive during the year following the end of the applicable calendar year at the same time as bonuses for other Company executives are paid generally, but in no event later than March 15 th of the year following the year to which such Annual Bonus relates.

3.3. Standard Company Benefits . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be entitled to all rights and benefits for which Executive is eligible under the terms and

 

3


conditions of the standard Company benefits and compensation practices that may be in effect from time to time and are provided by the Company to its executive employees generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.3 shall not create or be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt or maintain any benefits or compensation practices at any time.

3.4. Equity Awards . Executive will be eligible to receive stock options and other equity incentive grants as determined by the Board or a committee of the Board in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE IV

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS

4.1. Severance Benefits. Upon Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and other accrued and unpaid compensation, including any accrued but unpaid vacation and Annual Bonus that has been earned with respect to any calendar year ending prior to Executive’s termination date, but remains unpaid as of the date of the termination. If the termination is due to a Covered Termination, provided that Executive delivers an effective general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates in a form acceptable to the Company (a “ Release of Claims ”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days following the Covered Termination, Executive shall also be entitled to receive the severance benefits described in Section 4.1(a) or (b), as applicable.

(a) Covered Termination Not Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination which occurs more than three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or more than twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) An amount equal to nine (9) months of Executive’s Base Salary payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies, less applicable withholdings, with such installments to commence on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and irrevocable (such payroll date not to be later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the nine (9) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

 

4


(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option, restricted stock unit award and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to that number of shares that would have vested and, if applicable, become exercisable in the six (6) months immediately following Executive’s Covered Termination had Executive’s employment continued during such twelve month period. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

(b) Covered Termination Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination that occurs within three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or during the twelve (12) month period commencing on a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of: (i) Executive’s Base Salary and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus, in each case, at the rate in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination of employment, payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and, in any event, no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(b)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject thereto. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s

 

5


Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

4.2. 280G Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“ Payment ”) would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this Section 4.2 will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive.

4.3. Section 409A .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed at the time of his Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code which would subject Executive to a tax obligation under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six- month period measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(b) Any reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to the Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than 30 days after Executive provides the Company with a written request for reimbursement, and to the extent that any such reimbursements are deemed to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (i) such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive promptly, but in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred, (ii) the

 

6


amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and (iii) Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(c) For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive installment payments under the Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

4.4. Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of the Covered Termination, or otherwise.

ARTICLE V

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS

5.1. Agreement. Executive agrees to continue to abide by the Confidential Information Agreement.

5.2. Remedies. Executive’s duties under the Confidential Information Agreement shall survive termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Executive acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of the Confidential Information Agreement, as well as Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.2 and Article 7 below, would be inadequate, and Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in case of any such breach or threatened breach.

ARTICLE VI

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

6.1. Other Activities.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1(b), Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise, other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor, unless he obtains the prior written consent of the Board.

(b) Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. In addition, Executive shall be allowed to serve as a member of the board of directors of up to two (2) other for-profit entities at any time during the term of this Agreement, so long as such service does not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; provided, however, that the Board, in its discretion, may require that Executive resign from one or both of such director positions if it determines that such resignation(s) would be in the best interests of the Company.

 

7


6.2. Competition/Investments. During the term of Executive’s employment by the Company, except on behalf of the Company, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which are known by Executive to compete directly with the Company, throughout the world, in any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company; provided, however, that anything above to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive may own, as a passive investor, securities of any competitor corporation, so long as Executive’s direct holdings in any one such corporation do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than 1% of the voting stock of such corporation.

ARTICLE VII

NONINTERFERENCE

In addition to Executive’s obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement, Executive shall not for a period of two (2) years following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, either on Executive’s own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer, employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or stockholder or otherwise on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit away from the Company any of its officers or employees or offer employment to any person who is an officer or employee of the Company; provided, however , that a general advertisement to which an employee of the Company responds shall in no event be deemed to result in a breach of this Article 7. Executive also agrees not to harass or disparage the Company or its employees, clients, directors or agents or divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business of the Company. The provisions of this Article 7 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Article 7 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1. Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile) or the third day after mailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company’s books and records.

8.2. Tax Withholding. Executive acknowledges that all amounts and benefits payable under this Agreement are subject to deduction and withholding to the extent required by applicable law.

 

8


8.3. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

8.4. Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, they shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.

8.5. Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidential Information Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter, and will supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, that certain offer letter agreement with the Company dated July 2, 2012 and any promise of change in control or severance protection. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein or therein, and cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Executive.

8.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

8.7. Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.

8.8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.

8.9. Arbitration. Unless otherwise prohibited by law or specified below, all disputes, claims and causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or relating to this Agreement or its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation (each, a “ Claim ”) shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in San Mateo County, California through Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services (“ JAMS ”) in conformity with the then-existing JAMS employment arbitration rules and California law. The arbitrator shall: (a) provide adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. However, nothing in this section is intended to prevent either party from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. The Company shall bear the costs of any such arbitration. Executive and the Company understand that by agreement to arbitrate any Claim pursuant to this Section 8.9, they will not have the right to have any Claim

 

9


decided by a jury or a court, but shall instead have any Claim decided through arbitration. Executive and the Company waive any constitutional or other right to bring claims covered by this Agreement other than in their individual capacities. Except as may be prohibited by applicable law, the foregoing waiver includes the ability to assert claims as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

8.10. Executive Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges that (a) he has consulted with or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and has been advised to do so by the Company, and (b) that he has read and understands the Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

8.11. Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of California without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

10


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen Dilly

  S TEPHEN G. D ILLY , M.B.B.S., P H .D.
  P RESIDENT AND C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICER

Accepted and Agreed:

 

/s/ Howard Raff

H OWARD V. R AFF , P H .D.

Exhibit 10.11

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 24, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Robert M. Elfont, M.D., Ph.D. (“ Executive ”) and Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

W HEREAS , Executive is currently employed by Company as its Chief Medical Officer, and Company desires to have Executive’s employment continue in such capacity, and Executive desires to continue to serve in such capacity, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:

1.1. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.2. Cause means any of the following events:

(a) Executive’s theft, dishonesty or falsification of any employment or Company records that is non-trivial in nature;

(b) Executive’s malicious or reckless disclosure of the Company’s confidential or proprietary information or any material breach by Executive of his obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement;

(c) the conviction of the Executive of a felony (excluding motor vehicle violations) or the commission of gross negligence or willful misconduct, where a majority of the non-employee members of the Board reasonably determines that such act or misconduct has (i) seriously undermined the ability of the Board or management of the Company to entrust Executive with important matters or otherwise work effectively with Executive, (ii) substantially contributed to the Company’s loss of significant revenues or business opportunities, or (iii) significantly and detrimentally affected the business or reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and/or

(d) the willful failure or refusal by Executive to follow the reasonable and lawful directives of the Board, provided such willful failure or refusal continues after Executive’s receipt of reasonable notice in writing of such failure or refusal and a reasonable opportunity of not less than 30 days to correct the problem.

For the purpose of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, shall be considered “willful” unless undertaken by Executive with an absence of good faith that this act, or failure to act, was in the best interests of the Company.


1.3. Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time; provided, that such transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

1.4. COBRA means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

1.5. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.6. Company means Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. or any successor thereto.

1.7. Confidential Information Agreement means that certain Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement by and between Executive and the Company.

1.8. Covered Termination means (a) an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or (b) a voluntary termination for Good Reason, in either case, provided that such termination also constitutes a Separation from Service.

1.9. Good Reason means any of the following are undertaken without Executive’s prior written consent: (a) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities which substantially reduces the nature or character of Executive’s position with the Company; (b) a material reduction by the Company of Executive’s Base Salary (as defined in Section 3.1 below) as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (c) a relocation of Executive’s principal office to a location that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than thirty-five (35) miles, provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, reasonable required travel by Executive on the Company’s business shall not constitute a relocation; or (d) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s resignation shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” as a result of any event described in the preceding sentence unless (A) Executive provides written notice thereof to the Company within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of such event, (B) to the extent correctable, the Company fails to remedy such circumstance or event within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of such written notice and (C) the effective date of Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” is not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period under subclause (B).

1.10. Involuntary Termination Without Cause means Executive’s dismissal or discharge by the Company other than for Cause. The termination of Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or inability to perform the essential functions of his job due to disability will not be deemed to be an Involuntary Termination Without Cause.

1.11. Separation from Service means Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

2


ARTICLE II

EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY

2.1. Position and Duties. Subject to terms set forth herein, Executive shall continue to serve in an executive capacity and shall continue to perform such duties as are customarily associated with the position of Chief Medical Officer and such other duties as are assigned to Executive by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention (except for vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company’s general employment policies or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement) to the business of the Company.

2.2. Employment at Will. Both the Company and Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. Upon certain terminations of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive may become eligible to receive the severance benefits provided in Article IV of this Agreement.

2.3. Employment Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE III

COMPENSATION

3.1. Base Salary. As of the Effective Date, Executive shall receive for services to be rendered hereunder an annual base salary of $331,250 (“ Base Salary ”), payable on the regular payroll dates of the Company (but no less often than monthly), subject to increase in the sole discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board.

3.2. Annual Bonus. For each calendar year ending during the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) targeted at thirty percent (30%) of Base Salary (the “ Target Bonus ”), on such terms and conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board. The actual amount of any Annual Bonus (if any) will be determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board and will be (a) subject to achievement of any applicable bonus objectives and/or conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board, (b) subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the end of the applicable calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates, and (c) payable to Executive during the year following the end of the applicable calendar year at the same time as bonuses for other Company executives are paid generally, but in no event later than March 15 th of the year following the year to which such Annual Bonus relates.

3.3. Standard Company Benefits . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be entitled to all rights and benefits for which Executive is eligible under the terms and

 

3


conditions of the standard Company benefits and compensation practices that may be in effect from time to time and are provided by the Company to its executive employees generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.3 shall not create or be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt or maintain any benefits or compensation practices at any time.

3.4. Equity Awards . Executive will be eligible to receive stock options and other equity incentive grants as determined by the Board or a committee of the Board in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE IV

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS

4.1. Severance Benefits. Upon Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and other accrued and unpaid compensation, including any accrued but unpaid vacation and Annual Bonus that has been earned with respect to any calendar year ending prior to Executive’s termination date, but remains unpaid as of the date of the termination. If the termination is due to a Covered Termination, provided that Executive delivers an effective general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates in a form acceptable to the Company (a “ Release of Claims ”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days following the Covered Termination, Executive shall also be entitled to receive the severance benefits described in Section 4.1(a) or (b), as applicable.

(a) Covered Termination Not Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination which occurs more than three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or more than twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) An amount equal to nine (9) months of Executive’s Base Salary payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies, less applicable withholdings, with such installments to commence on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and irrevocable (such payroll date not to be later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the nine (9) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

 

4


(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option, restricted stock unit award and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to that number of shares that would have vested and, if applicable, become exercisable in the six (6) months immediately following Executive’s Covered Termination had Executive’s employment continued during such twelve month period. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

(b) Covered Termination Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination that occurs within three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or during the twelve (12) month period commencing on a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of: (i) Executive’s Base Salary and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus, in each case, at the rate in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination of employment, payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and, in any event, no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(b)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the shares subject thereto. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s

 

5


Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

4.2. 280G Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“ Payment ”) would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this Section 4.2 will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive.

4.3. Section 409A .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed at the time of his Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code which would subject Executive to a tax obligation under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six- month period measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(b) Any reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to the Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than 30 days after Executive provides the Company with a written request for reimbursement, and to the extent that any such reimbursements are deemed to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (i) such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive promptly, but in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred, (ii) the

 

6


amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and (iii) Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(c) For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive installment payments under the Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

4.4. Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of the Covered Termination, or otherwise.

ARTICLE V

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS

5.1. Agreement. Executive agrees to continue to abide by the Confidential Information Agreement.

5.2. Remedies. Executive’s duties under the Confidential Information Agreement shall survive termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Executive acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of the Confidential Information Agreement, as well as Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.2 and Article 7 below, would be inadequate, and Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in case of any such breach or threatened breach.

ARTICLE VI

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

6.1. Other Activities.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1(b), Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise, other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor, unless he obtains the prior written consent of the Board.

(b) Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. In addition, Executive shall be allowed to serve as a member of the board of directors of up to two (2) other for-profit entities at any time during the term of this Agreement, so long as such service does not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; provided, however, that the Board, in its discretion, may require that Executive resign from one or both of such director positions if it determines that such resignation(s) would be in the best interests of the Company.

 

7


6.2. Competition/Investments. During the term of Executive’s employment by the Company, except on behalf of the Company, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which are known by Executive to compete directly with the Company, throughout the world, in any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company; provided, however, that anything above to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive may own, as a passive investor, securities of any competitor corporation, so long as Executive’s direct holdings in any one such corporation do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than 1% of the voting stock of such corporation.

ARTICLE VII

NONINTERFERENCE

In addition to Executive’s obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement, Executive shall not for a period of two (2) years following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, either on Executive’s own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer, employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or stockholder or otherwise on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit away from the Company any of its officers or employees or offer employment to any person who is an officer or employee of the Company; provided, however , that a general advertisement to which an employee of the Company responds shall in no event be deemed to result in a breach of this Article 7. Executive also agrees not to harass or disparage the Company or its employees, clients, directors or agents or divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business of the Company. The provisions of this Article 7 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Article 7 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1. Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile) or the third day after mailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company’s books and records.

8.2. Tax Withholding. Executive acknowledges that all amounts and benefits payable under this Agreement are subject to deduction and withholding to the extent required by applicable law.

 

8


8.3. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

8.4. Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, they shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.

8.5. Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidential Information Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter, and will supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, that certain offer letter agreement with the Company dated February 24, 2013 and any promise of change in control or severance protection. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein or therein, and cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Executive.

8.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

8.7. Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.

8.8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.

8.9. Arbitration. Unless otherwise prohibited by law or specified below, all disputes, claims and causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or relating to this Agreement or its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation (each, a “ Claim ”) shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in San Mateo County, California through Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services (“ JAMS ”) in conformity with the then-existing JAMS employment arbitration rules and California law. The arbitrator shall: (a) provide adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. However, nothing in this section is intended to prevent either party from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. The Company shall bear the costs of any such arbitration. Executive and the Company understand that by agreement to arbitrate any Claim pursuant to this Section 8.9, they will not have the right to have any Claim

 

9


decided by a jury or a court, but shall instead have any Claim decided through arbitration. Executive and the Company waive any constitutional or other right to bring claims covered by this Agreement other than in their individual capacities. Except as may be prohibited by applicable law, the foregoing waiver includes the ability to assert claims as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

8.10. Executive Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges that (a) he has consulted with or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and has been advised to do so by the Company, and (b) that he has read and understands the Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

8.11. Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of California without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

10


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen Dilly

  S TEPHEN G. D ILLY , M.B.B.S., P H .D.
  P RESIDENT AND C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICER

Accepted and Agreed:

 

/s/ Robert Elfont

R OBERT M . E LFONT , M.D., P H .D.

Exhibit 10.12

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Executive Employment Agreement (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 24, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Mary M. Rozenman, Ph.D. (“ Executive ”) and Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

W HEREAS , Executive is currently employed by Company as its Senior Vice President, Corporate and Commercial Development, and Company desires to have Executive’s employment continue in such capacity, and Executive desires to continue to serve in such capacity, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, it is hereby agreed by and between the parties hereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

For purposes of the Agreement, the following terms are defined as follows:

1.1. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.2. Cause means any of the following events:

(a) Executive’s theft, dishonesty or falsification of any employment or Company records that is non-trivial in nature;

(b) Executive’s malicious or reckless disclosure of the Company’s confidential or proprietary information or any material breach by Executive of his obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement;

(c) the conviction of the Executive of a felony (excluding motor vehicle violations) or the commission of gross negligence or willful misconduct, where a majority of the non-employee members of the Board reasonably determines that such act or misconduct has (i) seriously undermined the ability of the Board or management of the Company to entrust Executive with important matters or otherwise work effectively with Executive, (ii) substantially contributed to the Company’s loss of significant revenues or business opportunities, or (iii) significantly and detrimentally affected the business or reputation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and/or

(d) the willful failure or refusal by Executive to follow the reasonable and lawful directives of the Board, provided such willful failure or refusal continues after Executive’s receipt of reasonable notice in writing of such failure or refusal and a reasonable opportunity of not less than 30 days to correct the problem.

For the purpose of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, shall be considered “willful” unless undertaken by Executive with an absence of good faith that this act, or failure to act, was in the best interests of the Company.


1.3. Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time; provided, that such transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

1.4. COBRA means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.

1.5. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.6. Company means Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. or any successor thereto.

1.7. Confidential Information Agreement means that certain Employee Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement by and between Executive and the Company.

1.8. Covered Termination means (a) an Involuntary Termination Without Cause or (b) a voluntary termination for Good Reason, in either case, provided that such termination also constitutes a Separation from Service.

1.9. Good Reason means any of the following are undertaken without Executive’s prior written consent: (a) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities which substantially reduces the nature or character of Executive’s position with the Company; (b) a material reduction by the Company of Executive’s Base Salary (as defined in Section 3.1 below) as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (c) a relocation of Executive’s principal office to a location that increases Executive’s one-way commute by more than thirty-five (35) miles, provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, reasonable required travel by Executive on the Company’s business shall not constitute a relocation; or (d) any material breach by the Company of any provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive’s resignation shall not constitute a resignation for “Good Reason” as a result of any event described in the preceding sentence unless (A) Executive provides written notice thereof to the Company within thirty (30) days after the first occurrence of such event, (B) to the extent correctable, the Company fails to remedy such circumstance or event within thirty (30) days following the Company’s receipt of such written notice and (C) the effective date of Executive’s resignation for “Good Reason” is not later than thirty (30) days after the expiration of the Company’s cure period under subclause (B).

1.10. Involuntary Termination Without Cause means Executive’s dismissal or discharge by the Company other than for Cause. The termination of Executive’s employment as a result of Executive’s death or inability to perform the essential functions of his job due to disability will not be deemed to be an Involuntary Termination Without Cause.

1.11. Separation from Service means Executive’s termination of employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h).

 

2


ARTICLE II

EMPLOYMENT BY THE COMPANY

2.1. Position and Duties. Subject to terms set forth herein, Executive shall continue to serve in an executive capacity and shall continue to perform such duties as are customarily associated with the position of Senior Vice President, Corporate and Commercial Development and such other duties as are assigned to Executive by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. During the term of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive will devote Executive’s best efforts and substantially all of Executive’s business time and attention (except for vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacities permitted by the Company’s general employment policies or as otherwise set forth in this Agreement) to the business of the Company.

2.2. Employment at Will. Both the Company and Executive shall have the right to terminate Executive’s employment with the Company at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice. Upon certain terminations of Executive’s employment with the Company, Executive may become eligible to receive the severance benefits provided in Article IV of this Agreement.

2.3. Employment Policies. The employment relationship between the parties shall also be governed by the general employment policies and practices of the Company, including those relating to protection of confidential information and assignment of inventions, except that when the terms of this Agreement differ from or are in conflict with the Company’s general employment policies or practices, this Agreement shall control.

ARTICLE III

COMPENSATION

3.1. Base Salary. As of the Effective Date, Executive shall receive for services to be rendered hereunder an annual base salary of $275,000 (“ Base Salary ”), payable on the regular payroll dates of the Company (but no less often than monthly), subject to increase in the sole discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board.

3.2. Annual Bonus. For each calendar year ending during the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual performance bonus (the “ Annual Bonus ”) targeted at thirty percent (30%) of Base Salary (the “ Target Bonus ”), on such terms and conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board. The actual amount of any Annual Bonus (if any) will be determined in the discretion of the Board or a committee of the Board and will be (a) subject to achievement of any applicable bonus objectives and/or conditions determined by the Board or a committee of the Board, (b) subject to Executive’s continued employment with the Company through the end of the applicable calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates, and (c) payable to Executive during the year following the end of the applicable calendar year at the same time as bonuses for other Company executives are paid generally, but in no event later than March 15 th of the year following the year to which such Annual Bonus relates.

 

3


3.3. Standard Company Benefits . During the term of Executive’s employment, Executive shall be entitled to all rights and benefits for which Executive is eligible under the terms and conditions of the standard Company benefits and compensation practices that may be in effect from time to time and are provided by the Company to its executive employees generally. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 3.3 shall not create or be deemed to create any obligation on the part of the Company to adopt or maintain any benefits or compensation practices at any time.

3.4. Equity Awards . Executive will be eligible to receive stock options and other equity incentive grants as determined by the Board or a committee of the Board in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE IV

SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL BENEFITS

4.1. Severance Benefits. Upon Executive’s termination of employment, Executive shall receive any accrued but unpaid Base Salary and other accrued and unpaid compensation, including any accrued but unpaid vacation and Annual Bonus that has been earned with respect to any calendar year ending prior to Executive’s termination date, but remains unpaid as of the date of the termination. If the termination is due to a Covered Termination, provided that Executive delivers an effective general release of all claims against the Company and its affiliates in a form acceptable to the Company (a “ Release of Claims ”) that becomes effective and irrevocable within sixty (60) days following the Covered Termination, Executive shall also be entitled to receive the severance benefits described in Section 4.1(a) or (b), as applicable.

(a) Covered Termination Not Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination which occurs more than three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or more than twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) An amount equal to nine (9) months of Executive’s Base Salary payable in substantially equal installments in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll policies, less applicable withholdings, with such installments to commence on the first payroll date following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and irrevocable (such payroll date not to be later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the nine (9) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in

 

4


substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(a)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option, restricted stock unit award and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to that number of shares that would have vested and, if applicable, become exercisable in the six (6) months immediately following Executive’s Covered Termination had Executive’s employment continued during such twelve month period. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

(b) Covered Termination Related to a Change in Control. If Executive’s employment terminates due to a Covered Termination that occurs within three (3) months prior to a Change in Control or during the twelve (12) month period commencing on a Change in Control, Executive shall receive the following:

(i) Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of: (i) Executive’s Base Salary and (ii) Executive’s Target Bonus, in each case, at the rate in effect immediately prior to Executive’s termination of employment, payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, as soon as administratively practicable following the date on which the Release of Claims becomes effective and, in any event, no later than the sixtieth (60 th ) day following the date of the Covered Termination.

(ii) If Executive elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the premium for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the twelve (12) month anniversary of the date of Executive’s termination of employment and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 4.1(b)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance the provisions of COBRA.

(iii) Each outstanding equity award, including, without limitation, each stock option and restricted stock award, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse, in each case, with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the shares

 

5


subject thereto. In addition, each stock option held by Executive as of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination that was granted on or after the Effective Date shall remain exercisable until the earlier of (A) the first anniversary of the date of Executive’s Covered Termination or (B) the original expiration date of the stock option.

4.2. 280G Provisions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if any payment or distribution Executive would receive pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“ Payment ”) would (a) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (b) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then such Payment shall either be (i) delivered in full, or (ii) delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such Payment being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in the receipt by Executive on an after-tax basis, of the largest payment, notwithstanding that all or some portion the Payment may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes as of the day prior to the effective date of the Change in Control shall perform the foregoing calculations. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm shall provide its calculations to the Company and Executive within fifteen (15) calendar days after the date on which Executive’s right to a Payment is triggered (if requested at that time by the Company or Executive) or such other time as requested by the Company or Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive. Any reduction in payments and/or benefits pursuant to this Section 4.2 will occur in the following order: (1) reduction of cash payments; (2) cancellation of accelerated vesting of equity awards other than stock options; (3) cancellation of accelerated vesting of stock options; and (4) reduction of other benefits payable to Executive.

4.3. Section 409A .

(a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is deemed at the time of his Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code which would subject Executive to a tax obligation under Section 409A of the Code, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six- month period measured from the date of the Executive’s Separation from Service or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the expiration of the applicable Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) period, all payments deferred pursuant to this Section 4.3(a) shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive, and any remaining payments due under the Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(b) Any reimbursements payable to Executive pursuant to the Agreement shall be paid to Executive no later than 30 days after Executive provides the Company with a written request for reimbursement, and to the extent that any such reimbursements are deemed to constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (i) such amounts shall be paid or reimbursed to Executive promptly, but in no event later

 

6


than December 31 of the year following the year in which the expense is incurred, (ii) the amount of any such payments eligible for reimbursement in one year shall not affect the payments or expenses that are eligible for payment or reimbursement in any other taxable year, and (iii) Executive’s right to such payments or reimbursement shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

(c) For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (including, without limitation, for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii)), Executive’s right to receive installment payments under the Agreement shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate payments and, accordingly, each installment payment hereunder shall at all times be considered a separate and distinct payment.

4.4. Mitigation. Executive shall not be required to mitigate damages or the amount of any payment provided under this Agreement by seeking other employment or otherwise, nor shall the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement be reduced by any compensation earned by Executive as a result of employment by another employer or by any retirement benefits received by Executive after the date of the Covered Termination, or otherwise.

ARTICLE V

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS

5.1. Agreement. Executive agrees to continue to abide by the Confidential Information Agreement.

5.2. Remedies. Executive’s duties under the Confidential Information Agreement shall survive termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms. Executive acknowledges that a remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of the Confidential Information Agreement, as well as Executive’s obligations pursuant to Section 6.2 and Article 7 below, would be inadequate, and Executive therefore agrees that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief in case of any such breach or threatened breach.

ARTICLE VI

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

6.1. Other Activities.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.1(b), Executive shall not, during the term of this Agreement undertake or engage in any other employment, occupation or business enterprise, other than ones in which Executive is a passive investor, unless he obtains the prior written consent of the Board.

(b) Executive may engage in civic and not-for-profit activities so long as such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder. In addition, Executive shall be allowed to serve as a member of the board of directors of up to two (2) other for-profit entities at any time during the term of this Agreement, so long as such service does not materially interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder; provided, however, that the Board, in its discretion, may require that Executive resign from one or both of such director positions if it determines that such resignation(s) would be in the best interests of the Company.

 

7


6.2. Competition/Investments. During the term of Executive’s employment by the Company, except on behalf of the Company, Executive shall not directly or indirectly, whether as an officer, director, stockholder, partner, proprietor, associate, representative, consultant, or in any capacity whatsoever engage in, become financially interested in, be employed by or have any business connection with any other person, corporation, firm, partnership or other entity whatsoever which are known by Executive to compete directly with the Company, throughout the world, in any line of business engaged in (or planned to be engaged in) by the Company; provided, however, that anything above to the contrary notwithstanding, Executive may own, as a passive investor, securities of any competitor corporation, so long as Executive’s direct holdings in any one such corporation do not, in the aggregate, constitute more than 1% of the voting stock of such corporation.

ARTICLE VII

NONINTERFERENCE

In addition to Executive’s obligations under the Confidential Information Agreement, Executive shall not for a period of two (2) years following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason, either on Executive’s own account or jointly with or as a manager, agent, officer, employee, consultant, partner, joint venturer, owner or stockholder or otherwise on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, directly or indirectly solicit or attempt to solicit away from the Company any of its officers or employees or offer employment to any person who is an officer or employee of the Company; provided, however , that a general advertisement to which an employee of the Company responds shall in no event be deemed to result in a breach of this Article 7. Executive also agrees not to harass or disparage the Company or its employees, clients, directors or agents or divert or attempt to divert any actual or potential business of the Company. The provisions of this Article 7 shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company and shall be fully enforceable thereafter. If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in any state that any restriction in this Article 7 is excessive in duration or scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of that state.

ARTICLE VIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

8.1. Notices. Any notices provided hereunder must be in writing and shall be deemed effective upon the earlier of personal delivery (including personal delivery by facsimile) or the third day after mailing by first class mail, to the Company at its primary office location and to Executive at Executive’s address as listed on the Company’s books and records.

8.2. Tax Withholding. Executive acknowledges that all amounts and benefits payable under this Agreement are subject to deduction and withholding to the extent required by applicable law.

 

8


8.3. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions had never been contained herein.

8.4. Waiver. If either party should waive any breach of any provisions of this Agreement, they shall not thereby be deemed to have waived any preceding or succeeding breach of the same or any other provision of this Agreement.

8.5. Complete Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Confidential Information Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and the Company and is the complete, final, and exclusive embodiment of their agreement with regard to this subject matter, and will supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, without limitation, that certain offer letter agreement with the Company dated January 21, 2015 and any promise of change in control or severance protection. This Agreement is entered into without reliance on any promise or representation other than those expressly contained herein or therein, and cannot be modified or amended except in a writing signed by Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Executive.

8.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, any one of which need not contain signatures of more than one party, but all of which taken together will constitute one and the same Agreement.

8.7. Headings. The headings of the sections hereof are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part hereof nor to affect the meaning thereof.

8.8. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Executive and the Company, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, except that Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his duties or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company.

8.9. Arbitration. Unless otherwise prohibited by law or specified below, all disputes, claims and causes of action, in law or equity, arising from or relating to this Agreement or its enforcement, performance, breach, or interpretation (each, a “ Claim ”) shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in San Mateo County, California through Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Services (“ JAMS ”) in conformity with the then-existing JAMS employment arbitration rules and California law. The arbitrator shall: (a) provide adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. However, nothing in this section is intended to prevent either party from obtaining injunctive relief in court to prevent irreparable harm pending the conclusion of any such arbitration. The Company shall bear the costs of any such arbitration. Executive and the Company understand that by agreement to arbitrate any Claim pursuant to this Section 8.9, they will not have the right to have any Claim

 

9


decided by a jury or a court, but shall instead have any Claim decided through arbitration. Executive and the Company waive any constitutional or other right to bring claims covered by this Agreement other than in their individual capacities. Except as may be prohibited by applicable law, the foregoing waiver includes the ability to assert claims as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

8.10. Executive Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges that (a) he has consulted with or has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this Agreement, and has been advised to do so by the Company, and (b) that he has read and understands the Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own judgment.

8.11. Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Agreement will be governed by the law of the State of California without regard to the conflicts of law provisions thereof.

[Signature page follows]

 

10


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Stephen Dilly

  S TEPHEN G. D ILLY , M.B.B.S., P H .D.
  P RESIDENT AND C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICER

Accepted and Agreed:

 

/s/ Mary Rozenman

M ARY M. R OZENMAN , P H .D.

Exhibit 10.13

AMENDED AND RESTATED SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

AND MUTUAL RELEASE OF CLAIMS

This Amended and Restated Settlement Agreement And Mutual Release Of Claims (the “ Agreement ”) is effective as of May 5, 2015 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (formerly known as Allergen Research Corporation), a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Bryan L. Walser (“ you ”). This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety that certain Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims between you and the Company, dated as of April 4, 2014 (the “ Prior Agreement ”).

1. Nature Of This Agreement; Effective Date Of This Agreement .

(a) Nature Of This Agreement . This Agreement is being entered into by you and the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 7(a)(v) of the your Employment Agreement with the Company dated as of December 2, 2011 (the “ Employment Agreement ”) as consideration for the payment by the Company to you of severance amounts as set forth herein.

(b) Effective Date Of This Agreement . This Agreement will become effective automatically, without any further or other signature being required hereon, on and as of the Effective Date. The Prior Agreement became effective as of April 4, 2014, following your execution and delivery of this Agreement to the Company and non-revocation of this Agreement in a writing.

2. Termination Of Employment . Your employment by the Company was terminated without cause effective as of 12:00 pm California time on April 4, 2014 (the “ Termination Date ”) by a vote of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) in its meeting of April 3, 2014, and a Notice of Termination, as defined in the Employment Agreement, to such effect was delivered to you by the Chairman of the Board in a meeting with you on April 4, 2014. If you so elect in writing to the Company, you may characterize to third parties, and in such case the Company also will so characterize to third parties, your disengagement from the Company as a resignation by you, rather than as a termination by the Company, provided that if you so elect to characterize your disengagement from the Company as a resignation by you, your benefits under your Employment Agreement will be treated as a termination of your employment by the Company without cause

3. Accrued Salary, Vacation Pay, Bonus Or Other Payments; Severance And COBRA; Stock Options; Reimbursement; Unemployment Benefits; Outside Date For Payment Of Severance Amounts .

(a) Accrued Salary, Vacation Pay, Bonus Or Other Payments . Except as provided in Section 3(b) hereof with respect to payment to you of Base Salary severance payments and of the Bonus Severance Amount, and except as to post-employment termination COBRA payments and post-employment termination payment of a portion of your 2013 bonus, if earned, as set out further below in this Section 3(a), you acknowledge that you were owed no salary, nor did the Company have, and thus you were not owed, any accrued and unused vacation or sick pay, nor were you owed any bonus payments, nor any other payments of any kind, by the Company, as of and through the Termination Date, in each case through the Termination Date,


which had not already been paid by the Terminate Date to you. The Company agrees that the remaining portion of your 2013 bonus was calculated and paid to you after enrollment was completed into the Company’s Phase II clinical trial, when and upon the same terms such remaining 2013 bonus amounts were paid to other eligible Company employees on the terms previously determined by the Board. Such remaining 2013 bonus is referred to as your “ Remaining 2013 Potential Bonus Amount ”.

(b) Amendment Of Employment Agreement As To Base Salary Severance Payments And COBRA; Bonus Severance Payment; No Other Modification Of Employment Agreement .

(i) A mendment Of Employment Agreement As To Base Salary Severance Payments . As permitted by Section 13 of the Employment Agreement, this Section 3(b)(i) amends and restates Section 7(a)(v) of the Employment Agreement in its entirety, as set forth immediately below, effective as of the Effective Date of, and as defined in, the Employment Agreement, to read as follows:

 

 

(v) Subject to Section 6(c) , Section 7(e) and the Executive’s execution and delivery of a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims, the Executive’s Base Salary, as in effect at the Date of Termination, in accordance with Section 4(a) from the Date of Termination through the twelve (12)-month anniversary thereof, payable over such term in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company, provided that the Company is not obligated to pay you any such payment from and after the date of any uncured breach by you of this Agreement or of the Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release of Claims, as such uncured breach is determined in good faith by the Board.

 

 

Such Base Salary severance payment was paid to you subject to your execution and delivery of this Agreement and your non-revocation of it by the Revocation Period End Date (As defined below).

(ii) Amendment Of Employment Agreement As To COBRA , As permitted by Section 13 of the Employment Agreement, this Section 3(b)(ii) amends and restates Section 7(f) of the Employment Agreement in its entirety, as set forth immediately below, effective as of the Effective Date of, and as defined in, the Employment Agreement, to read as follows:

 

 

(f) COBRA Benefits . If the Executive elects to continue his health insurance coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”) following the termination of his employment, then the Company shall pay the Executive’s monthly premium under COBRA

 

2


until the earlier of either (i) (A) in the event the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, at any time prior to a Change of Control, then six (6) months following the Date of Termination, provided that such payment period may be extended to an additional six (6) months after such initial six (6)-month period by written agreement of the Company and the Executive, or (B) in the event the Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason on or at any time within three (3) months prior to or twelve (12) months following a Change of Control, then six (6) months following the Date of Termination, or (ii) the date upon which the Executive commences full-time employment or provides full-time consulting services to an entity other than the Company, provided that to the extent required by law, such payments will be subject to the provisions of Section 7(h) below.

 

 

(iii) Bonus Severance Payment . Under the severance matrix approved by the Board by a Unanimous Written Consent dated as of, and effective as of, the Revocation Period End Date (as defined below), subject to your execution and delivery of the Prior Agreement and your non-revocation of it by the Revocation Period End Date, you were paid an amount equal to 100% of your maximum 2014 bonus as such maximum amount was approved previously by the Board, calculated as if all Board-approved criteria for payment of such full maximum 2014 bonus amount had been met (the “ Bonus Severance Payment ”). The Bonus Severance Payment was paid to you on the first date upon which the Company paid a 2014 bonus payment to any other employee of the Company for 2014 performance.

(iv) No Other Modification Of Employment Agreement . Except as amended by Sections 3(b)(i) and (ii), the Employment Agreement remains without modification or amendment.

(c) Stock Options . You acknowledge that you have read and are familiar with the terms of all stock options or other stock awards which were granted to you by the Company during the period of your employment by the Company. Effective as of the Termination Date, all documents for stock options granted to you were amended to provide that such options, if not exercised prior to the date of your compete cessation of service with the Company ( i.e. , you are no longer providing any employee or consulting services for the Company or any of its affiliates), were exercisable for a period of six (6) months after the date of such termination. You confirm that you sought, or waived seeking, such tax advice as you deemed necessary for your decision to effect, by this Agreement, such six-month exercise period. Except as amended hereby, all stock options and stock awards granted to you by the Company remained without modification or amendment.

(d) Reimbursement . You acknowledge that you were owed no expense reimbursement in connection with your employment by the Company through the Termination Date which had not already been paid by the Termination Date to you, subject to any then-unreimbursed expense receipts for which you promptly sought reimbursement from the Company as to amounts incurred by you on or prior to the Termination Date, and with such supporting documentation with respect thereto as is required per Company policy with respect to such reimbursement request.

 

3


(e) Unemployment Benefits . The Company will not contest any claim filed by you for unemployment compensation, nor any award for such benefits, as a result of the termination of your employment with the Company.

(f) Outside Date For Payment Of Severance Amounts . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Employment Agreement, as amended hereby, or in this Agreement, all amounts of severance payable to you under this Agreement must be paid to you not later than December 31, 2015, subject to the cessation of such payments, as provided in this Agreement, due to uncured breach by you of the Employment Agreement and/or of this Agreement.

4. Consulting Agreement . You acknowledge and agree that the Company entered into a Consulting Agreement (the “ Consulting Agreement ”) with you, dated as of April 4, 2014.

5. Observer Rights .

(a) In connection with your resignation from the Board effective as of the Effective Date, the Company agrees to invite you to attend all meetings of the Board in a nonvoting observer capacity and, in this respect, will give you copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and other materials that it provides to its directors; provided , however , that you agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information so provided; and provided further , that the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude you from any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting could adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel or result in disclosure of trade secrets or a conflict of interest.

(b) The rights set forth in Section 5(a) will terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the Company’s initial public offering, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or (iii) upon a Deemed Liquidation Event (as such term is defined in the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time) whichever event occurs first.

6. Release Of Claims . The parties acknowledge and agree that the following release of claims agreed in the Prior Agreement remains in full force and effect.

(a) Definition Of Claims . “ Claims ” means damages, costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, court costs and attorneys’ fees, of any nature whatsoever whether or not known, claimed or suspected, fixed or contingent, arising or resulting from any manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action in law or in equity, suits, debts, liens, contracts, agreements, promises, liabilities, claims, demands or losses, and including any claims not known to the releasing party when releasing such claim hereunder, which, if known to the releasing party might materially have affected such party’s decision to release such claim.

 

4


(b) Release Of Claims By You . Except with respect to the obligations expressly created by, acknowledged, or arising out of this Agreement, effective as of the Termination Date, you acknowledge that you, on behalf of yourself and your agents, attorneys, representatives, predecessors, successors, assigns, heirs, executors and administrators, and any persons acting by, through or under you or them, irrevocably jointly and severally released and forever discharged the Company and its Directors, officers, stockholders, employees, consultants, agents, attorneys, representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns, and any persons acting by, through or under it or them, of and from any and all Claims which you then had, or previously had, or ever claimed to have had, against any of such released parties, arising out of, based upon or related in any manner whatsoever to your involvement with the Company or with any such released parties through and including the Termination Date, or in connection with any activities conducted prior to the Termination Date by you in connection with the Company and its business, including without limitation any claims for any salary, bonus, consulting fees, finders’ fees, commissions, expense reimbursement, or any other fees or any other compensation of any kind, however arising, and including any claim as to any equity ownership of the Company or to ownership of any of the assets of the Company, or rights thereto, and all claims under any employment laws, including, but not limited to, claims of unlawful discharge, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, fraud, violation of public policy, defamation, physical injury, emotional distress, claims for additional compensation or benefits arising out of your employment or your separation of employment, claims under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, and any other laws and/or regulations relating to employment or employment discrimination, including, without limitation, claims based on age or under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act or Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (all such matters referred to collectively as the “ Released Matters ”). This release did not extend to any rights which as a matter of law cannot be waived and released.

(c) Release Of Claims By The Company . Except with respect to the obligations expressly created by, acknowledged, or arising out of this Agreement, effective as of the Termination Date, the Company irrevocably released and forever discharged you and your agents, attorneys, representatives, successors and assigns, and your heirs, executors, administrators, and in each case any persons acting by, through or under you or them, of and from all claims which the Company then had, previously had, or ever claimed to have had, against you and any of such other released parties arising out of, based upon or related in any manner whatsoever to your involvement with the Company or with any such released parties through and including the Termination Date, or in connection with any activities conducted prior to the Termination Date by you in connection with the Company and its business or otherwise based upon or related in any manner whatsoever to the Released Matters. This release did not extend to any rights which as a matter of law cannot be waived and released.

 

5


(d) Full Waiver . Each party hereto hereby expressly waived and relinquished any right or benefit which such party then had, thereafter had or may have under any federal or state statute or common law principle relating to the mutual releases given hereunder and any such right or benefit relating to claims not known to the releasing party when giving such release. The parties each expressly waived any benefits of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, which provides as follows:

“A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.”

(e) No Waiver As To Future Actions . No waiver was or is implied or given hereby by either party hereto as to any action taken by, or inaction by, the other party hereto which occurred or occurs after the Termination Date.

(f) Authority, No Assignment, Indemnification . Each party hereto represents and warrants to the other party that (i) such representing party had full legal right and authority to release the Claims released by such representing party, and that such representing party had taken or obtained all legal action or approval necessary for such representing party to execute and deliver and perform its obligations hereunder, and (ii) such representing party was, as of the Termination Date, the sole and lawful owner of all right, title and interest in the respective Claims released by such representing party hereby and that such representing party had not heretofore assigned or otherwise transferred any right, title or interest in any such Claims, and (iii) such representing party had not as of the Termination Date filed, nor has it or will file after the Termination Date, any charge, action or claim based upon or related to any of the Released Matters. You will indemnify and hold the Company and the Company’s Directors, officers, stockholders, employees, consultants, agents, attorneys, representatives, predecessors, successors and assigns, and any persons acting by, through or under it or them harmless with respect to any breach by you of your representations in this Section 6(f), The Company will indemnify and hold you and your agents, attorneys, representatives, successors and assigns, and your heirs, executors, administrators, and in each case any persons acting by, through or under you or them, harmless with respect to any breach by the Company of its representations in this Section 6(f)

(g) Discovery Rights . The Releases set forth in this Section 6 do not preclude the Company or you from exercising any discovery rights each has against the other in connection with any civil litigation or arbitration proceedings involving any third party.

(h) Intended Third Party Beneficiaries . The other parties not signatory hereto who are described in Sections 5(b) and (c) hereof as released or indemnified parties were and are specifically intended by you as third party beneficiaries hereof, able to enforce their rights hereunder as if they were signatories hereto.

7. No Disparagement; Certain Statements; Nonsolicitation . The parties hereto will not disparage each other, or any affiliate, agent or representative of the other, including without limitation any of the Company’s Directors, officers, stockholders, employees, consultants, agents, attorneys, representatives, predecessors, successors, assigns, and any persons acting by, through or under it or them, nor you nor any member of your family nor any of your consultants, agents, attorneys, representatives, predecessors, successors or assigns, nor any person acting by, through or under you or them. If the Company is contacted by a prospective employer regarding you, the Company will provide only dates of employment and last position held and will release no other information or make any other statements about you or the circumstances regarding your separation from employment with the Company other than such statement as may be agreed

 

6


by you and the Company in writing as to the disengagement by you from the Company. You will not solicit any employee of or consultant to, or customer of, or other contracting party with, the Company to terminate or alter their relationship with the Company. Reference is made to the provisions of Section 2(a) hereof with respect to your election to state that you have resigned from the Company.

8. Survival Of Certain Obligations; Return Of Materials .

(a) Survival Of Certain Obligations . Your obligations to the Company under any employee invention assignment and/or confidentiality agreement between you and the Company survived the termination of your employment with the Company from and after the Termination Date. Reference is made to Section 8 of your Employment Agreement as to assignment by you to the Company of certain intellectual property rights and as to the other matters set forth therein, which Section 8 is incorporated herein by reference, and which Section 8 and the obligations thereunder, pursuant to Section 16 of the Employment Agreement, survived the termination of your employment with the Company. You will treat as confidential and proprietary to the Company, and you promptly returned to the Company or confirmed to the Company in writing that you have permanently erased from your computer(s) and have destroyed all paper copies of, all materials related to the Company supplied by the Company to you prior to, on and after the Termination Date which were marked as confidential or proprietary or which were informed in writing by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company are confidential and proprietary, to the Company, except as otherwise determined by the Chief Executive Officer. You will not disclose to any party, other than to your attorneys, or except to the extent required by law, or as is lawful in the course of your discharge of your duties as a member of the Board and/or under the Consulting Agreement (and subject to the confidentiality provisions contained in the Consulting Agreement) 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 7.

(b) Return Of Materials . You previously returned to the Company, to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, all Company property, including without limitation all assets, documents, media files, and materials of any other nature pertaining to your work with the Company, and did not take with you or retain any assets, documents, media files or materials or copies thereof containing any confidential or proprietary information of the Company, except as permitted by the Chief Executive Officer. You promptly delivered to the Company all uncommitted expense receipts as of the Termination Date for which you intended to seek reimbursement from the Company as to amounts incurred by you on or prior to the Termination Date.

9. Miscellaneous .

(a) Governing Law; Severability . This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California excluding that body of law relating to conflict of laws. If any provision of this Agreement is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal or unenforceable, such provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible and the other provisions will remain effective and enforceable.

 

7


(b) Successors and Assigns . This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the respective legal successors and assigns of you and of the Company, and your heirs, executors and administrators,

(c) Attorneys’ Fees And Costs . If any action is brought by either party hereto in connection with this Agreement, the prevailing party in such litigation will be entitled to recover from the losing party all reasonable fees and costs of attorneys of the prevailing party incurred in the litigation.

(d) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in counterparts which, taken together, will constitute one and the same agreement and will be effective as of the Effective Date.

(e) Entire Agreement; Modification; Additional Documents; Covenant Not To Frustrate Purpose . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes in their entirety all prior negotiations and agreements with respect to such subject matter, whether written or oral, provided that portions of the Employment Agreement, and of any written intellectual property assignment agreement(s) by you with the Company which survive by their terms will so survive. This Agreement may not be altered or amended except by an instrument in writing executed by the parties hereto or their authorized representatives. Each party will execute and deliver any other documents or instruments that may be reasonably necessary and appropriate to effectuate the terms of this Agreement. Both parties will act in good faith cooperation to effectuate the this Agreement and each party agrees that it will not perform any act or withhold from performing any act in any manner which would frustrate the purposes of this Agreement.

(f) Review Of This Agreement; Advice Of Counsel; Federal Age Anti-Discrimination Statute Periods .

(i) Review Of This Agreement; Advice Of Counsel . Each party hereto confirms that such party has had the opportunity to read, review and consider all of the provisions of this Agreement, and to discuss this Agreement with whomever such party desired, including attorneys of such party’s own choosing, and if such party has not consulted with an attorney, such party acknowledges having had the opportunity to have done so and that such party chose voluntarily and knowingly not to consult with an attorney, with respect to this Agreement and all matters related thereto. The parties each confirm that they understand the provisions of this Agreement and its final and binding effect on them and that they are entering into this Agreement freely, voluntarily, and without duress or coercion.

(ii) Federal Age Anti-Discrimination Statute Periods . You acknowledge that you were previously advised as follows, as required by United States federal age anti-discrimination statutes: (A) you had up to twenty-one (21) days to consider the Prior Agreement prior to executing and delivering it, provided that you were able to execute and deliver the Prior Agreement, subject to the revocation provisions set forth in the next clause of this Section 9(f)(ii), at any time within such 21-day period, and (B) you were entitled to revoke this Agreement within seven (7) days after the date of your execution of the Prior Agreement, with the first day of such seven-day period being the day after your signature date shown below and the last such date of such seven-day period referred to herein as the “ Revocation Period End Date ”.

 

8


(g) Notices . Any notice required to be given under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been properly given and to be effective if delivered to the relevant party hereto to such party’s respective address below or to another address as designated by written notice given to the other party in accordance with this Section 9(g), on the date of delivery if delivered in person, including by courier, such as but not limited to FedEx or UPS, or on the date of transmission by electronic mail (email) without failure of transmission; notices hereunder may not be delivered by facsimile or by mail :

In the case of notices to the Company:

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

8000 Marina Boulevard #300

Brisbane, CA 94005

Email: sgdilly@aimmune.com

In the case of notices to you:

Bryan L. Walser

[***]

[***]

Email: bryan.walser@gmail.com

(h) Dispute Resolution .

(i) Mediation and Arbitration . Any dispute between the parties under or as to this Agreement will be finally resolved by binding arbitration pursuant to this Section 9(h), other than a dispute as to which the Company, by determination of its Board, believes will cause irreparable harm to the Company and its stockholders if not pursued by the Company for equitable relief such as but not limited to an injunction, which the Company may pursue by judicial means first, as provided in Section 9(h)(ii) hereof, Prior to the initiation of any arbitration proceeding, the parties will engage in mandatory mediation before a mediator mutually selected from Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (“JAMS”), Whenever a party hereto decides to institute arbitration proceedings, such party will give written notice to that effect to the other parties hereto at which point the parties will initiate and complete the mediation process before the commencement of the arbitration process. Discovery in any arbitration under this Section 9(h) will be permitted as set forth in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure with respect to the performance by the parties of their obligations under this Agreement and such other matters as the arbitrator may determine (it being the intent of the parties that full discovery occur with respect to the salient facts). The parties will apply the Rules of Evidence to the hearing. Any such arbitration will be conducted in San Francisco, California before a sole arbitrator selected from JAMS, or its successor, or if JAMS is no longer able to supply the arbitrator, such arbitrator will be selected from the American Arbitration Association. Final resolution of any dispute through arbitration may include any remedy or

 

9


relief which the Arbitrator deems just and equitable, including any and all remedies provided by applicable state or federal statutes. At the conclusion of the arbitration, the Arbitrator will issue a written decision that sets forth the essential findings and conclusions upon which the Arbitrator’s award or decision is based. Any award or relief granted by the Arbitrator hereunder will be final and binding on the parties hereto and may be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction.

(ii) Pursuit Of Judicial Resolution As To Certain Matters; Jurisdiction And Venue . Any dispute as to which the Board, as provided in Section 9(h)(i) hereof, determines to pursue equitable relief, will be, unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, litigated in the appropriate courts located in San Francisco, California, and the parties hereto consent to, and will not challenge, personal jurisdiction over themselves in, or subject matter jurisdiction in, such forum.

 

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.:     BRYAN L. WALSER, individually:
By:  

/s/ Stephen Dilly

   

/s/ Bryan L. Walser

Stephen Dilly     (Signature)
Chief Executive Officer    

 

10

Exhibit 10.15

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

2015 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE, SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

1.1 Purpose and Scope . The purpose of the Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), is to assist employees of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”) and its Designated Subsidiaries in acquiring a stock ownership interest in the Company pursuant to a plan which is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code and to help such employees provide for their future security and to encourage them to remain in the employment of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS

Whenever the following terms are used in the Plan, they shall have the meaning specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.

2.1 “ Administrator ” shall mean the Committee, or such individuals to which authority to administer the Plan has been delegated under Section 7.1 hereof.

2.2 “ Agent ” means the brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution, entity or person(s), if any, engaged, retained, appointed or authorized to act as the agent of the Company or an Employee with regard to the Plan.

2.3 “ Board ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.4 “ Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

2.5 “ Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee or subcommittee of the Board or the Compensation Committee described in Article 7 hereof.

2.6 “ Common Stock ” shall mean the common stock of the Company.

2.7 “ Company ” shall have such meaning as set forth in Section 1.1 hereof.

2.8 “ Compensation ” of an Employee shall mean the regular straight-time earnings or base salary, bonuses and commissions paid to the Employee from the Company on each Payday as compensation for services to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, before deduction for any salary deferral contributions made by the Employee to any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan, including overtime, shift differentials, vacation pay, salaried production schedule premiums, holiday pay, jury duty pay, funeral leave pay, paid time off, military pay, prior week adjustments and weekly bonus, but excluding education or tuition


reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group insurance or benefit program, travel expenses, business and moving reimbursements, income received in connection with any stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other compensatory equity awards and all contributions made by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary for the Employee’s benefit under any employee benefit plan now or hereafter established. Such Compensation shall be calculated before deduction of any income or employment tax withholdings, but shall be withheld from the Employee’s net income.

2.9 Designated Subsidiary shall mean each Subsidiary that have been designated by the Board or Committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan, including any Subsidiary in existence on the Effective Date and any Subsidiary formed or acquired following the Effective Date, in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof.

2.10 “ Effective Date ” shall mean immediately prior to the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering becomes effective, provided that the Board has adopted have approved the Plan prior to or on such date, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

2.11 “ Eligible Employee ” shall mean an Employee who (a) is customarily scheduled to work at least twenty (20) hours per week, (b) whose customary employment is more than five (5) months in a calendar year and (c) after the granting of the Option would not be deemed for purposes of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code to possess five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary. For purposes of clause (c), 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, and stock which an Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may exclude from participation in the Plan as an Eligible Employee (x) any Employee that is a “highly compensated employee” of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code), or that is such a “highly compensated employee” (A) with compensation above a specified level, (B) who is an officer and/or (C) is subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and/or (y) any Employee who is a citizen or resident of a foreign jurisdiction (without regard to whether they are also a citizen of the United States or a resident alien (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the Code)) if either (i) the grant of the Option is prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction governing such Employee, or (ii) compliance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan or the Option to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code; provided that any exclusion in clauses (x), and/or (y) shall be applied in an identical manner under each Offering Period to all Employees of the Company and all Designated Subsidiaries, in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(e).

2.12 “ Employee ” shall mean any person who renders services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. “Employee” shall not include any director of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who does not render services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. For purposes of the Plan, the

 

2


employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, 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 (3) months, or such other period specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2), 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 first day immediately following such three (3)-month period, or such other period specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2).

2.13 “ Enrollment Date ” shall mean the first date of each Offering Period.

2.14 “ Exercise Date ” shall mean the last Trading Day of each Offering Period, except as provided in Section 5.2 hereof.

2.15 “ Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.16 “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows:

(a) If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market and the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a Share on the date in question, the closing sales price for a Share on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(b) If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a Share on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a Share on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

(c) If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

2.17 “ Grant Date ” shall mean the first Trading Day of an Offering Period.

2.18 “ New Exercise Date ” shall have such meaning as set forth in Section 5.2(b) hereof.

2.19 “ Offering Period ” shall mean such period of time commencing on such date(s) as determined by the Board or Committee, in its sole discretion, and with respect to

 

3


which Options shall be granted to Participants. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be established or changed by the Board or Committee at any time, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may an Offering Period exceed twenty-seven (27) months.

2.20 “ Option ” shall mean the right to purchase Shares pursuant to the Plan during each Offering Period.

2.21 “ Option Price ” shall mean the purchase price of a Share hereunder as provided in Section 4.2 hereof.

2.22 “ Parent ” means any entity that is a parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

2.23 “ Participant ” shall mean any Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan.

2.24 “ Payday ” shall mean the regular and recurring established day for payment of Compensation to an Employee of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary.

2.25 “ Plan ” shall have such meaning as set forth in Section 1.1 hereof.

2.26 “ Plan Account ” shall mean a bookkeeping account established and maintained by the Company in the name of each Participant.

2.27 “ Section 423 Option ” shall have such meaning as set forth in Section 3.1(b) hereof.

2.28 “ Share ” shall mean a share of Common Stock.

2.29 “ Subsidiary ” shall mean any entity that is a subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. In addition, with respect to any sub-plans adopted under Section 7.1(d) hereof which are designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code, Subsidiary shall include any corporate or noncorporate entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect equity interest or significant business relationship.

2.30 “ Trading Day ” shall mean a day on which the principal securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed is open for trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed on a securities exchange, shall mean a business day, as determined by the Administrator in good faith.

2.31 “ Withdrawal Election ” shall have such meaning as set forth in Section 6.1(a) hereof.

 

4


ARTICLE III.

PARTICIPATION

3.1 Eligibility .

(a) Any Eligible Employee who shall be employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on a given Enrollment Date for an Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of Articles IV and V hereof, and the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

(b) No Eligible Employee shall be granted an Option under the Plan which permits the Participant’s rights to purchase Shares under the Plan, and to purchase stock under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary subject to the Section 423 of the Code (any such Option or other option, a “ Section 423 Option ”), to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time the Section 423 Option is granted) for each calendar year in which any Section 423 Option granted to the Participant is outstanding at any time. For purposes of the limitation imposed by this subsection,

(i) the right to purchase stock under a Section 423 Option accrues when the Section 423 Option (or any portion thereof) first becomes exercisable during the calendar year,

(ii) the right to purchase stock under a Section 423 Option accrues at the rate provided in the Section 423 Option, but in no case may such rate exceed $25,000 of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time such option is granted) for any one calendar year, and

(iii) a right to purchase stock which has accrued under a Section 423 Option may not be carried over to any other Section 423 Option; provided that Participants may carry forward amounts so accrued that represent a fractional share of stock and were withheld but not applied towards the purchase of Shares under an earlier Offering Period, and may apply such amounts towards the purchase of additional Shares under a subsequent Offering Period.

The limitation under this Section 3.1(b) shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

3.2 Election to Participate; Payroll Deductions

(a) Except as provided in Section 3.3 hereof, an Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan only by means of payroll deduction. Each individual who is an Eligible Employee as of an Offering Period’s Enrollment Date may elect to participate in such Offering Period and the Plan by delivering to the Company a payroll deduction authorization no later such period of time prior to the applicable Enrollment Date as determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

 

5


(b) Subject to Section 3.1(b) hereof, payroll deductions with respect to an Offering Period (i) shall be equal to at least one percent (1%) of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday during the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date, but not more than the lesser of fifteen percent (15%) of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday during the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date or $30,000 per Offering Period; and (ii) may be expressed as a whole number percentage. Amounts deducted from a Participant’s Compensation with respect to an Offering Period pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be deducted each Payday through payroll deduction and credited to the Participant’s Plan Account.

(c) Following at least one (1) payroll deduction, a Participant may decrease (to as low as zero) the amount deducted from such Participant’s Compensation only once during an Offering Period upon ten (10) calendar days’ prior written notice to the Company. A Participant may not increase the amount deducted from such Participant’s Compensation during an Offering Period.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the completion of an Offering Period, each Participant in such Offering Period shall automatically participate in the Offering Period that commences immediately following Offering Period at the same payroll deduction percentage as in effect at the completion of the prior Offering Period, unless such Participant delivers to the Company a different election with respect to the successive Offering Period in accordance with Section 3.1(a) hereof, or unless such Participant becomes ineligible for participation in the Plan.

3.3 Leave of Absence . During leaves of absence approved by the Company meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2) under the Code, a Participant may continue participation in the Plan by making cash payments to the Company on his or her normal payday equal to his or her authorized payroll deduction.

ARTICLE IV.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

4.1 Grant of Option . Each Participant shall be granted an Option with respect to an Offering Period on the applicable Grant Date. Subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(b) hereof, the number of Shares subject to a Participant’s Option as of any Exercise Date shall be determined by dividing (a) such Participant’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to an Exercise Date and retained in the Participant’s Plan Account on such Exercise Date by (b) the applicable Option Price; provided that in no event shall a Participant be permitted to purchase during any Offering Period more than 10,000 Shares (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof). The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of Shares that a Participant may purchase during such future Offering Periods. Each Option shall expire on the Exercise Date for the applicable Offering Period immediately after the automatic exercise of the Option in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof, unless such Option terminates earlier in accordance with Article 6 hereof.

4.2 Option Price . The “ Option Price ” per Share to be paid by a Participant upon exercise of the Participant’s Option on the applicable Exercise Date for an Offering Period

 

6


shall be equal to eighty five percent (85%) of the lesser of the Fair Market Value of a Share on (a) the applicable Grant Date and (b) the applicable Exercise Date; provided that in no event shall the Option Price per Share be less than the par value per Share.

4.3 Purchase of Shares .

(a) On the applicable Exercise Date for an Offering Period, each Participant shall automatically and without any action on such Participant’s part be deemed to have exercised his or her Option to purchase at the applicable Option Price the largest number of whole Shares which can be purchased with the amount in the Participant’s Plan Account. Any balance, if any, remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account (after exercise of such Participant’s Option) as of the Exercise Date shall be carried forward to the next Offering Period, unless the Participant has elected to withdraw from the Plan pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, such Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee. Any balance not carried forward to the next Offering Period in accordance with the prior sentence promptly shall be refunded to the applicable Participant.

(b) As soon as practicable following the applicable Exercise Date, the number of Shares Stock purchased by such Participant pursuant to Section 4.3(a) hereof shall be delivered (either in share certificate or book entry form), in the Company’s sole discretion, to either (i) the Participant or (ii) an account established in the Participant’s name at a stock brokerage or other financial services firm designated by the Company. If the Company is required to obtain from any commission or agency authority to issue any such Shares, the Company shall seek to obtain such authority. Inability of the Company to obtain from any such commission or agency authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance of any such shares shall relieve the Company from liability to any Participant except to refund to the Participant such Participant’s Plan Account balance, without interest thereon.

4.4 Transferability of Rights .

(a) An Option granted under the Plan shall not be transferable, other than by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant. No option or interest or right to the Option shall be available to pay off any debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempt at disposition of the option shall have no effect.

ARTICLE V.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO COMMON STOCK

5.1 Common Stock Reserved . Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 hereof, the maximum number of Shares that shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be the sum of (a) 390,128 Shares and (b) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2016 and ending in 2025 equal to the lesser of (i) one percent (1%) of the Shares outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year

 

7


and (ii) such number of Shares as may be determined by the Board; provided , however , no more than 8,000,000 Shares may be issued under the Plan. Shares made available for sale under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares of Common Stock, or reacquired shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.

5.2 Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale .

(a) Changes in Capitalization . Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under Option, as well as the price per share and the number of Shares covered by each Option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided , however , that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Option.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation . In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “ New Exercise Date ”), and such Offering Period shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 6.1 hereof or the Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee as provided in Section 6.2 hereof.

(c) Merger or Asset Sale . In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, 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 Option is not assumed or substituted, any Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date and any Offering Periods then in progress shall end on the New Exercise Date. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed sale or merger. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten (10) business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 6.1 hereof or the Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee as provided in Section 6.2 hereof.

 

8


5.3 Insufficient Shares . If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of Shares with respect to which Options are to be exercised may exceed the number of Shares remaining available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for issuance on such Exercise Date in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants exercising Options to purchase Shares on such Exercise Date, and unless additional shares are authorized for issuance under the Plan, no further Offering Periods shall take place and the Plan shall terminate pursuant to Section 7.5 hereof. If an Offering Period is so terminated, then the balance of the amount credited to the Participant’s Plan Account which has not been applied to the purchase of Shares shall be paid to such Participant in one (1) lump sum in cash within thirty (30) days after such Exercise Date, without any interest thereon.

5.4 Rights as Stockholders . With respect to Shares subject to an Option, a Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company and shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder. A Participant shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company when, but not until, Shares have been deposited in the designated brokerage account following exercise of his or her Option.

ARTICLE VI.

TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION

6.1 Cessation of Contributions; Voluntary Withdrawal .

(a) A Participant may cease payroll deductions during an Offering Period and elect to withdraw from the Plan by delivering written notice of such election to the Company in such form and at such time prior to the Exercise Date for such Offering Period as may be established by the Administrator (a “ Withdrawal Election ”). A Participant electing to withdraw from the Plan may elect to either (i) withdraw all of the funds then credited to the Participant’s Plan Account as of the date on which the Withdrawal Election is received by the Company, in which case amounts credited to such Plan Account shall be returned to the Participant in one (1) lump-sum payment in cash within thirty (30) days after such election is received by the Company, without any interest thereon, and the Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan and the Participant’s Option for such Offering Period shall terminate; or (ii) subject to Section 6.2 below, exercise the Option for the maximum number of whole Shares on the applicable Exercise Date with any remaining Plan Account balance returned to the Participant in one (1) lump-sum payment in cash within thirty (30) days after such Exercise Date, without any interest thereon, and after such exercise cease to participate in the Plan. As soon as practicable following the Company’s receipt of a Withdrawal Election, the Participant’s payroll deduction authorization and his or her Option to purchase Shares under the Plan shall terminate.

(b) A Participant’s withdrawal from the Plan shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

 

9


(c) A Participant who ceases contributions to the Plan during any Offering Period shall not be permitted to resume contributions to the Plan during that Offering Period.

6.2 Termination of Eligibility . Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, such Participant’s Option for the applicable Offering Period shall automatically terminate, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan, and such Participant’s Plan Account shall be paid to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto pursuant to applicable law, within thirty (30) days after such cessation of being an Eligible Employee, without any interest thereon.

ARTICLE VII.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 Administration .

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which (unless otherwise determined by the Board) shall consist solely of two or more members of the Board, each of whom is intended to qualify as a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and an “independent director” under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded, in each case, to the extent required under such provision. The Committee may delegate administrative tasks under the Plan to the services of an Agent and/or Employees to assist in the administration of the Plan, including establishing and maintaining an individual securities account under the Plan for each Participant.

(b) It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Administrator shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

(i) To establish and terminate Offering Periods;

(ii) To determine when and how Options shall be granted and the provisions and terms of each Offering Period (which need not be identical);

(iii) To select Designated Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof; and

(iv) To construe and interpret the Plan, the terms of any Offering Period and the terms of the Options and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The Administrator, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, any Offering Period or any Option, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effect, subject to Section 423 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

 

10


(c) The Administrator 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, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of participation elections, payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements. In its absolute discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Administrator under the Plan.

(d) The Administrator may adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code. The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 5.1 hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan.

(e) All expenses and liabilities incurred by the Administrator in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Administrator may, with the approval of the Committee, employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Administrator, the Company and its officers and directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Board or Administrator shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the options, and all members of the Board or Administrator shall be fully protected by the Company in respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation.

7.2 Designation of Subsidiary Corporations . The Board or Committee shall designate from among the Subsidiaries, as determined from time to time, the Subsidiary or Subsidiaries that shall constitute Designated Subsidiaries. The Board or Committee may designate a Subsidiary, or terminate the designation of a Subsidiary, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

7.3 Reports . Individual accounts shall be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of Plan Accounts shall be given to Participants at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Option Price, the number of Shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

7.4 No Right to Employment . Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any Participant) the right to remain in the employ of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary or to affect the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any person (including any Participant) at any time, with or without cause, which right is expressly reserved.

 

11


7.5 Amendment and Termination of the Plan .

(a) The Board may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time; provided , however , that without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after action by the Board, the Plan may not be amended to increase the maximum number of Shares subject to the Plan, to change the designation or class of Eligible Employees or in any other manner that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders; and provided , further that without approval of the Company’s stockholders, the Plan may not be amended in any manner that would cause the Plan to no longer be an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Code.

(b) In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, to the extent permitted under Section 423 of the Code, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

(i) altering the Option Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Option Price;

(ii) shortening any Offering Period so that the Offering Period ends on a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator action; and

(iii) allocating Shares.

Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Participant.

(c) Upon termination of the Plan, the balance in each Participant’s Plan Account shall be refunded as soon as practicable after such termination, without any interest thereon.

7.6 Use of Funds; No Interest Paid . All funds received by the Company by reason of purchase of Shares under the Plan shall be included in the general funds of the Company free of any trust or other restriction and may be used for any corporate purpose. No interest shall be paid to any Participant or credited under the Plan.

7.7 Term; Approval by Stockholders . Subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with this Section 7.7, the Plan shall terminate on the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of its initial approval by the stockholders of the Company, unless earlier terminated in accordance with Sections 5.3 or 7.5 hereof. No Option may be granted during any period of suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Options may be granted prior to such stockholder approval; provided , however , that such Options shall not be exercisable prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the stockholders; provided , further that if such approval has not been obtained by the end of said twelve (12)-month period, all Options previously granted under the Plan shall thereupon terminate and be canceled and become null and void without being exercised.

 

12


7.8 Effect Upon Other Plans . The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees of the Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume Options otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or association.

7.9 Conformity to Securities Laws . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and the participation in the Plan by any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemption rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

7.10 Notice of Disposition of Shares . Each Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition or other transfer of any Shares, acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option, if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two (2) years after the applicable Grant Date or (b) within one (1) year after the transfer of such Shares to such Participant upon exercise of such Option. The Company may direct that any certificates evidencing shares acquired pursuant to the Plan refer to such requirement.

7.11 Tax Withholding . The Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary shall be entitled to require payment in cash or deduction from other compensation payable to each Participant of any sums required by federal, state or local tax law to be withheld with respect to any purchase of Shares under the Plan or any sale of such shares.

7.12 Governing Law . The Plan and all rights and obligations thereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

7.13 Notices . All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

7.14 Conditions To Issuance of Shares .

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option by a Participant, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such Shares is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable,

 

13


the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed or traded, and the Shares are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.

(b) All certificates for Shares delivered pursuant to the Plan and all Shares issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state, or foreign securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any certificate or book entry evidencing Shares to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares.

(c) The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Option, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Committee.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company may, in lieu of delivering to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Option, record the issuance of Shares in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

7.15 Equal Rights and Privileges . Except with respect to sub-plans designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code, all Eligible Employees of the Company (or of any Designated Subsidiary) shall have equal rights and privileges under this Plan to the extent required under Section 423 of the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder so that this Plan qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code or the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code or the Treasury Regulations thereunder shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Board, be reformed to comply with the equal rights and privileges requirement of Section 423 of the Code or the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

* * * * * *

 

14


I hereby certify that the foregoing Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan was duly approved by the Board of Directors of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. on July 24, 2015.

I hereby certify that the foregoing Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan was duly approved by the stockholders of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. on            , 2015.

Executed on this    day of            , 2015.

 

                                                                                          

 

15

Exhibit 10.16

AIMMUNE THERAPEUTICS, INC.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION PROGRAM

Non-employee members of the board of directors (the “ Board ”) of Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc. (the “ Company ”) shall be eligible to receive cash and equity compensation as set forth in this Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (this “ Program ”), which is being adopted pursuant to the Board’s resolutions on July 24, 2015. The cash and equity compensation described in this Program shall be paid or be made, as applicable, automatically and without further action of the Board, to each member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company (each, a “ Non-Employee Director ”) who may be eligible to receive such cash or equity compensation, unless such Non-Employee Director declines the receipt of such cash or equity compensation by written notice to the Company. This Program shall remain in effect until it is revised or rescinded by further action of the Board. This Program may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board at any time, without advance notice, in its sole discretion. The terms and conditions of this Program shall supersede any prior cash and/or equity compensation arrangements for service as a member of the Board between the Company and any of its Non-Employee Directors. This Program shall become effective on the date of the pricing of the initial public offering of Company common stock (the “ Effective Date ”).

1. Cash Compensation .

(a) Annual Retainers . Each Non-Employee Director shall be eligible to receive an annual retainer of $35,000 for service on the Board.

(b) Additional Annual Retainers . In addition, a Non-Employee Director shall receive the following annual retainers:

(i) Chairman of the Board . A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairman of the Board shall receive an additional annual retainer of $30,000 for such service.

(ii) Audit Committee . A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Audit Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $20,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Audit Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $10,000 for such service.

(iii) Compensation Committee . A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Compensation Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $12,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Compensation Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $6,000 for such service.

(iv) Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee . A Non-Employee Director serving as Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall receive an additional annual retainer of $8,000 for such service. A Non-Employee Director serving as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (other than the Chairperson) shall receive an additional annual retainer of $4,000 for such service.

(c) Payment of Retainers . The annual retainers described in Sections 1(a) and 1(b) shall be earned on a quarterly basis based on a calendar quarter and shall be paid by the Company in arrears not later than the fifteenth (15 th ) day following the end of each calendar quarter. In the event a Non-Employee Director does not serve as a Non-Employee Director, or in the applicable positions described in Section 1(b), for an entire calendar quarter, the retainer paid to such Non-Employee Director shall be prorated for the portion of such calendar quarter actually served as a Non-Employee Director, or in such position, as applicable.


2. Equity Compensation . Non-Employee Directors shall be granted the equity awards described below. The awards described below shall be granted under and shall be subject to the terms and provisions of the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Award Plan, as amended from time to time, or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company (in any case, the “ Equity Plan ”) and shall be evidenced by the execution and delivery of award agreements in substantially the forms approved by the Board from time to time. All applicable terms of the Equity Plan apply to this Program as if fully set forth herein, and all grants of stock options hereby are subject in all respects to the terms of the Equity Plan.

(a) Initial Awards . Each Non-Employee Director who is initially elected or appointed to the Board after the Effective Date shall automatically be granted, on the date of such initial election or appointment, an option (an “ Initial Award ”) to purchase 39,510 shares of the Company’s common stock (“ Shares ”). No Non-Employee Director shall be granted more than one Initial Award.

(b) Subsequent Awards . A Non-Employee Director who (i) has been serving on the Board immediately prior to any annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders after the Effective Date and (ii) will continue to serve as a Non-Employee Director immediately following such meeting, shall be automatically granted, on the date of such annual meeting, an option (a “ Subsequent Award ”) to purchase 19,755 Shares.

(c) Termination of Service of Employee Directors . Members of the Board who are employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company who subsequently terminate their service with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company and remain on the Board will not receive an Initial Award pursuant to Section 2(a) above, but to the extent that they are otherwise eligible, will be eligible to receive, after termination from service with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company, Subsequent Awards as described in Section 2(b) above.

(d) Terms of Awards Granted to Non-Employee Directors

(i) Purchase Price . The per Share exercise price of each option granted to a Non-Employee Director shall equal the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Equity Plan) of a Share on the date the option is granted. Without limiting the foregoing, Fair Market Value as of the Effective Date shall be equal to the price per Share to the public in the Company’s initial public offering, as set forth on the cover of the final prospectus of the initial public offering of Company common stock.

(ii) Vesting . Subject to Section 2(d)(iii) below, each Initial Award shall vest and become exercisable in thirty-six (36) substantially equal installments on each monthly anniversary of the date of grant, subject to the Non-Employee Director continuing to provide services to the Company through each such vesting date. Subject to Section 2(d)(iii) below, each Subsequent Award shall vest and become exercisable in full on the earlier of the one year anniversary of the date of grant and the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders after the grant date, subject to the Non-Employee Director continuing to provide services to the Company through each such vesting date.

(iii) Accelerated Vesting .

(A) Termination Due to Death or Disability . In the event that any Non-Employee Director incurs a Termination of Service (as defined in the Equity Plan) due to such Non-Employee Director’s death or Disability (as defined below), each of such Non-

 

2


Employee Director’s Initial Award and Subsequent Award(s), along with any other stock options or other equity-based awards held by such Non-Employee Director, shall vest and, if applicable, become exercisable with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares subject thereto upon such Termination of Service. For purposes of this Program, “ Disability ” shall mean a permanent and total disability within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(B) Change in Control . In the event that a Change in Control (as defined in the Equity Plan) occurs, each Initial Award and Subsequent Award, along with any other stock options or other equity-based awards held by any Non-Employee Director, shall vest and, if applicable, become exercisable with respect to one hundred percent (100%) of the Shares subject thereto as of immediately prior to such Change in Control.

(iv) Term . The term of each stock option granted to a Non-Employee Director shall be ten (10) years from the date the option is granted.

3. Reimbursements . The Company shall reimburse each Non-Employee Director for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by such Non-Employee Director in the performance of his or her duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

* * * * *

 

3

Exhibit 21.1

List of Subsidiaries of

Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Subsidiary

  

Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization

Aimmune Therapeutics (Bermuda), Ltd.    Bermuda
Aimmune Therapeutics UK Limited    United Kingdom

Exhibit 23.1

When the transaction referred to in Note 11 of the notes to the financial statements has been consummated, we will be in a position to render the following consent.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Aimmune Therapeutics,

Inc.:

We consent to the use of our report included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

San Francisco, California

                , 2015