UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 13, 2019 (December 10, 2019)

 

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Jersey, Channel Islands   001-36415   Not Applicable
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

B1, Business Park Terre Bonne,
Route de Crassier 13,

1262 Eysins, Switzerland

  Not Applicable
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 011-41-22-716-9800

n/a

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation to the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Ordinary Shares   QTNT   The Nasdaq Global Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging Growth Company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☒

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On December 13, 2019, Quotient Limited (the “Company” and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, “we”, “us” and “our”) entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Heino von Prondzynski, the Chairman of our Board of Directors, Franz Walt, our Chief Executive Officer and a director, and Christopher Lindop, our Chief Financial Officer, with respect to an aggregate of 105,000 ordinary shares owned by these individuals that were originally subscribed for by them in separate private placements that occurred in February 2017 and August 2018, respectively (the “registrable shares”). We refer to these individuals below, in their capacities as parties to the Registration Rights Agreement, as the “holders.”

The purpose of the Registration Rights Agreement is to permit the public offer and resale of the registrable shares by the holders. In accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we are required to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 to register the registrable shares to be sold by the holders from time to time (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), and to use our reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable and to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the registrable shares are sold or otherwise cease to be registrable shares for purposes of the Registration Rights Agreement or the agreement is otherwise terminated.

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the registrable shares pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, other than any commissions and transfer taxes of any holder and the fees, disbursements and expenses of any legal counsel to any holder.

In connection with our November 2019 underwritten public offering of ordinary shares, the holders entered into certain lock-up agreements with the representatives of the underwriters for that underwritten public offering. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the holders have acknowledged and agreed that, notwithstanding the filing or effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, dispositions of their registrable shares will be subject to the terms of such lock-up agreements.

The above summary description of certain terms contained in the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto.

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Retirement of Roland Boyd

On December 10, 2019, Roland Boyd announced his plan to retire from his position as our Group Financial Controller and Treasurer, effective as of December 31, 2019 (the “retirement date”). Mr. Boyd will continue to serve in his current capacity, including as our principal accounting officer, until the retirement date. His retirement is not the result of any disagreement between him and us regarding our accounting operations, policies or practices.

In connection with his retirement, on December 10, 2019, we and Mr. Boyd entered into a transition agreement (the “Transition Agreement”), pursuant to which, in recognition of Mr. Boyd’s service to us, and in consideration for providing the services of Group Financial Controller and Treasurer through the retirement date, Mr. Boyd will receive £213,000 (equal to twelve months base salary) plus a prorated portion of his fiscal year 2020 bonus.


In addition, the Transition Agreement provides that all unvested options to acquire our ordinary shares held by Mr. Boyd that are scheduled to vest within 12 months following the retirement date will remain outstanding and vest and become exercisable on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after Mr. Boyd’s retirement; all other unvested options will be forfeited; and all vested options will remain exercisable until December 31, 2020. Furthermore, all unvested restricted share units (“RSUs”) that are scheduled to vest within 12 months following the retirement date will remain outstanding and vest on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after the retirement date; and all other unvested RSUs will be forfeited.

Mr. Boyd has also agreed to provide consulting services to us to support any special projects that may arise during the 12 months after the retirement date, for which services Mr. Boyd will be paid £1,300 per day plus reasonable out of pocket expenses.

Appointment of Ernest Larnach

Effective as of January 1, 2020, Ernest Larnach, our current Executive Vice President of Finance, will serve as our Head of Financial Accounting and Treasury, and will assume the responsibilities of our principal accounting officer.

Mr. Larnach joined us in September 2018 as an Executive Vice President of Finance. Mr. Larnach has over 25 years of financial experience gained through various roles in industry and public accounting. From 2004 to 2017, Mr. Larnach held a number of roles with Charles River Laboratories Inc., including European Controller (Preclinical Services and Research Model Services) and Senior Director Business Finance (Safety Assessment). From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Larnach held positions at Inveresk Research Group before Charles River’s 2004 acquisition of Inveresk. Prior to that, Mr. Larnach spent over 10 years with Arthur Andersen. Mr. Larnach is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and received a B.Com (Hons) in Accounting and Business Studies from The University of Edinburgh.

With respect to the disclosure required by Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K, there are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Larnach and any other person pursuant to which he assumed the role of our principal accounting officer. With respect to the disclosure required by Item 401(d) of Regulation S-K, there are no family relationships between Mr. Larnach and any of our directors or executive officers. With respect to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, except as described in the Current Report, there are no relationships or related transactions between Mr. Larnach and our company that would be required to be reported.

In connection with Mr. Larnach’s appointment, on December 12, 2019, we entered into an amendment to Mr. Larnach’s service agreement (such agreement, as so amended, the “Employment Agreement”). The Employment Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which Mr. Larnach will serve as our Head of Financial Accounting and Treasury, effective as of January 1, 2020. The agreement has an indefinite term. Effective as of January 1, 2020, Mr. Larnach will be entitled to receive annual base salary of £165,000.

Both we and Mr. Larnach must give a minimum of 6 months’ prior notice to terminate his employment, other than for cause (as provided for in the Employment Agreement). We have the right to place Mr. Larnach on paid leave rather than allowing him to continue to provide services during this notice period. Mr. Larnach is obligated to refrain from competition with us for 12 months after his termination, unless that period is shortened by a period of leave. After notice to terminate has been given by Mr. Larnach or us, all or part of the duration of the notice period of leave would be counted as part of the non-competition period. Upon termination, we would owe Mr. Larnach the balance of his base salary and contractual benefits for the remaining term of the agreement.

In addition to his salary, Mr. Larnach is also entitled to a car allowance of £800 per month (or a company car up to a value of £35,000), contributions by his employer to a personal pension plan of 6% of salary and private healthcare benefits of £780 per annum. Mr. Larnach is eligible for an annual discretionary bonus equal to 25% of his base salary, subject to achievement of corporate performance goals and individual performance goals.


On November 8, 2019, we entered into a Change of Control Agreement (the “CIC Agreement”) with Mr. Larnach. The purpose of the CIC Agreement is to establish certain protections for Mr. Larnach upon a qualifying termination of his employment in connection with a change of control of us.

The CIC Agreement provides that, if we terminate Mr. Larnach’s employment without “Cause” (as defined in the CIC Agreement) or Mr. Larnach terminates his employment for “Good Reason” (as defined in the CIC Agreement) and, in either case, such termination occurs no more than 24 months following a “Change of Control” (as defined in the CIC Agreement), then, subject to Mr. Larnach signing and not revoking a release and waiver of claims, he will receive a lump sum payment of the following:

 

   

any accrued obligations owed to him, which include: (i) any of his annual base salary earned through the effective date of termination that remains unpaid; (ii) any bonus payable with respect to any fiscal year which ended prior to the effective date of his termination of employment, which remains unpaid; and (iii) any expense reimbursement due to him on or prior to the date of termination which remains unpaid to him; and

 

   

a cash payment equal to 150% of the sum of his base salary plus target annual bonus in effect on the date of termination, without taking into effect any reduction in his annual base salary that may constitute “Good Reason” under the CIC Agreement.

The CIC Agreement will expire on November 8, 2022 and will automatically renew for successive one year terms unless the Board of Directors provides written notice of expiration of the CIC Agreement at least 90 days prior to November 8, 2022 or the applicable anniversary thereof.

The above summary descriptions of certain terms contained in the Transition Agreement, the Employment Agreement and the CIC Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full texts of the Transition Agreement, the Employment Agreement and the CIC Agreement, copies of which are filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 respectively, hereto.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

 

Number

  

Description

  4.1    Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 13, 2019, among the Company, Heino von Prondzynski, Franz Walt and Christopher Lindop.
10.1    Transition Agreement, dated December 10, 2019, between the Company and Roland Boyd.
10.2    Employment Agreement, dated September 3, 2018, between the Company and Ernest Larnach.
10.3    Amendment No. 1 to Employment Agreement, dated December 12, 2019, between the Company and Ernest Larnach.
10.4    Change of Control Agreement, dated November 8, 2019, between the Company and Ernest Larnach


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

December 13, 2019

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED
By:   /s/ Christopher Lindop
  Name: Christopher Lindop
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 4.1

 

LOGO    CLIFFORD CHANCE LLP

Dated as of December 13, 2019

QUOTIENT LIMITED

and

THE HOLDERS OF ORDINARY SHARES

THAT ARE PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT

 

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I REGISTRATION

     2  

Section 1.1

   Shelf Registration Statement      2  

Section 1.2

   Registration Procedures      3  

Section 1.3

   Registration Expenses      5  

Section 1.4

   Miscellaneous      5  

Section 1.5

   Registration Indemnification      5  

ARTICLE II DEFINITIONS

     6  

Section 2.1

   Defined Terms      6  

Section 2.2

   Interpretation      8  

ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS

     8  

Section 3.1

   Term      8  

Section 3.2

   Notices      9  

Section 3.3

   Successors and Assigns      9  

Section 3.4

   Governing Law      9  

Section 3.5

   Counterparts      10  

Section 3.6

   Entire Agreement      10  

Section 3.7

   Amendment and Waiver      10  

Section 3.8

   Invalid Provisions      10  

Section 3.9

   No Third-Party Beneficiaries      11  

 

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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of December 13, 2019 (this “Agreement”), among QUOTIENT LIMITED, a limited liability no par value company incorporated under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands (the “Company”), CHRISTOPHER J. LINDOP (“Mr. Lindop”), HEINO VON PRONDZYNSKI (“Mr. von Prondzynski”) and FRANZ WALT (“Mr. Walt”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, Mr. Lindop, Mr. von Prondzynski and Mr. Walt previously purchased certain Ordinary Shares from the Company in transactions not involving any public offering;

WHEREAS, in order to permit the public offer and resale from time to time of such Ordinary Shares by Mr. Lindop, Mr. von Prondzynski and Mr. Walt, the Company has determined to grant registration rights to such Persons, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, in order to permit the Company to prepare and file the Shelf Registration Statement described herein, each of Mr. Lindop, Mr. von Prondzynski and Mr. Walt has duly completed and delivered to the Company on or prior to the date hereof the selling shareholder questionnaire, the form of which is set forth in Exhibit B (the “Questionnaire”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

REGISTRATION

Section 1.1 Shelf Registration Statement.

(a) On the date hereof, the Company shall file with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 providing for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act (the “Shelf Registration Statement”), registering all Registrable Shares then held by the Holders and including a plan and method of distribution, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

(b) Subject to Section 1.1(c), the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable and to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which all Registrable Shares covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold thereunder in accordance with the plan and method of distribution disclosed in the prospectus included in the Shelf Registration Statement or otherwise cease to be Registrable Shares; and (ii) the date on which this Agreement terminates pursuant to Section 3.1.


(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall be entitled, from time to time, by providing written notice to the Holders whose Registrable Shares are registered under the Shelf Registration Statement, to require such Holders to suspend the use of the prospectus for the sales of Registrable Shares under the Shelf Registration Statement during any Blackout Period. In the event of a Blackout Period, the Company shall notify in writing such Holders that, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the conditions described in the definition of Blackout Period are met. After the expiration of any Blackout Period and without any further request from a Holder of Registrable Shares, the Company to the extent necessary shall as promptly as reasonably practicable prepare a post-effective amendment or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or the prospectus, or any document incorporated therein by reference, or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Registrable Shares included therein, the prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall Registrable Shares be offered and sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and prospectus relating thereto pursuant to an underwritten offering without the prior written consent of the Company.

Section 1.2 Registration Procedures.

(a) In connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably practicable (to the extent the Company has not yet taken such action), subject to the provisions of Section 1.1:

(i) prepare and file with the Commission such registration statement to effect registration in accordance with the intended plan and method of distribution, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, and thereafter use reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective pursuant to the terms of this Article I;

(ii) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective pursuant to the terms of this Article I, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement;

(iii) furnish to the Holders such number of conformed copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement thereto, such number of copies of the prospectus contained in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and each free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) (a “Free Writing Prospectus”) utilized in connection therewith and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 under the Securities Act, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as such Holders may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Shares owned by such Holders;

(iv) use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registrable Shares to be listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or such other securities exchange on which the Ordinary Shares are then listed;

 

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(v) as promptly as reasonably practicable notify in writing the Holders of the following events: (A) the filing of such registration statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus or any prospectus supplement related thereto or post-effective amendment to such registration statement or any Free Writing Prospectus utilized in connection therewith, and, with respect to such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; (B) any request by the Commission or any other Governmental Authority for amendments or supplements to such registration statement or the prospectus or for additional information; (C) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings by any Person for that purpose; and (D) subject to the provisions of this Agreement relating to a Blackout Period, upon the happening of any event that makes any statement made in such registration statement or related prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus or documents so that, in the case of such registration statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and that in the case of the prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and, at the request of any Holder, promptly as reasonably practicable prepare and furnish to such Holder a reasonable number of copies of a supplement to or an amendment of such registration statement or prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Shares, such prospectus shall not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and

(vi) use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement.

(b) Subject to Section 1.4(a), the Company may require each Holder to furnish the Company in writing such information regarding each Holder and the distribution of Registrable Shares as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing to complete or amend the information required by the Shelf Registration Statement.

(c) Each Holder agrees that (i) upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clauses (B), (C) or (D) of Section 1.2(a)(v), such Holder shall forthwith discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and prospectus relating thereto until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 1.2(a)(v), or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such prospectus and (ii) upon receipt of any notice from the Company of termination of this Agreement pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of Section 3.1, such Holder shall, as of the effective date of such termination, discontinue such Holder’s disposition of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and prospectus relating thereto.

(d) Each Holder agrees that it will notify the Company, in writing, once all of its Registrable Shares have been sold, regardless of whether the sale was pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or otherwise.

 

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(e) Each Holder agrees that it will not make any offer relating to the Registrable Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would otherwise constitute a Free Writing Prospectus, required to be filed with the Commission.

Section 1.3 Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to pay for (i) any commissions or transfer taxes of any selling Holder, or (ii) the fees, disbursements and expenses of any counsel to any Holder.

Section 1.4 Miscellaneous.

(a) In addition to the Questionnaire, each Holder shall promptly provide the Company with such other information regarding such Holder that the Company may reasonably request in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement to be filed by the Company for the benefit of the Holders pursuant to this Agreement.

(b) Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that, notwithstanding the filing or effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement, dispositions of Registrable Shares will be subject to the terms of its lock-up agreement with Jefferies LLC and Cowen and Company, LLC, dated November 4, 2019.

Section 1.5 Registration Indemnification.

(a) Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify the Company, its directors, officers, shareholders, employees, accountants, attorneys and agents and each Person who controls (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act) the Company, from and against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, charges and amounts paid in settlement (collectively, the “Losses”), as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, preliminary prospectus, Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each case solely to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder expressly for inclusion in such registration statement, prospectus or preliminary prospectus or Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

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(b) If recovery is not available under the foregoing indemnification provisions for any reason or reasons other than as specified therein, any Person who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification by the terms thereof shall nevertheless be entitled to contribution with respect to any Losses with respect to which such Person would be entitled to such indemnification but for such reason or reasons, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party 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 indemnifying party or by the indemnified party, the Person’s relative knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any such statement or omission, and other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances. It is hereby agreed that it would not necessarily be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(c) The indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement shall survive the sale of the Registrable Shares and the termination of this Agreement.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

Section 2.1 Defined Terms. Capitalized terms when used in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:

Blackout Period” shall mean, in the event that the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the executive chairman or the chief financial officer of the Company determines in good faith that the registration or sale of Registrable Shares would reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect or materially interfere with any bona fide material financing of the Company or any material transaction under consideration by the Company or would require disclosure of information that has not been, and is not otherwise required to be, disclosed to the public, the premature disclosure of which would materially adversely affect the Company, a period of up to sixty (60) days; provided that a Blackout Period may not occur more than two (2) times in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months or last, together with any other Blackout Period, in the aggregate, for more than sixty (60) days in a 180 day period.

Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banks located in New York, New York or Jersey, Channel Islands are authorized or required by Law to remain closed for the conduct of regular banking business.

Commission” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency administering the Securities Act.

 

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Exchange Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Form S-3” shall mean a Form S-3 registration statement under the Securities Act or any successor form thereto.

Governmental Authority” shall mean any international, supranational, national, provincial, regional, federal, state, county, municipal or local government, any instrumentality, subdivision, court, tribunal, panel, department, administrative hearing department, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or other authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental, or applicable exchange, self-regulatory organization, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA), or any private body exercising any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, policy, regulatory, taxing, importing or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority or power of any nature, in each case whether U.S. or foreign.

Holder” shall mean each holder of Registrable Shares that is a Party to this Agreement.

Law” shall mean any federal, state, local, foreign or international law (including common law), code, treaty, bulletin, administrative or judicial doctrine, statute, regulation, ordinance, rule, judgment, order, decree, award, approval, concession, grant, franchise, directive, guideline, policy, requirement, permit or other governmental restriction or any similar form of decision or approval of, or determination by, or any interpretation or administration of any of the foregoing by, any Governmental Authority.

Lindop Shares” shall mean the 50,000 Ordinary Shares owned by Mr. Lindop as of the date hereof and originally subscribed for by Mr. Lindop pursuant to that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of February 9, 2017, between the Company and Mr. Lindop, at a price of $6.41 per share (which was equal to the closing sales price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on February 9, 2017), for aggregate proceeds of $320,500.

Ordinary Shares” shall mean ordinary shares of the Company of no par value per share.

Party” shall mean any party to this Agreement.

Person” shall mean any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited or unlimited liability company, proprietorship, association, trust, joint venture, joint stock company, unincorporated organization, other business entity or Governmental Authority.

Registrable Shares” shall mean (a) (i) in the case of Mr. Lindop, the Lindop Shares; (ii) in the case of Mr. von Prondzynski, the Von Prondzynski Shares; and (iii) in the case of Mr. Walt, the Walt Shares; and (b) any Ordinary Shares received in respect of the securities referred to in clause (a), in connection with any share split or subdivision, share dividend, distribution, recapitalization or similar transaction; provided that any such Ordinary Shares shall cease to be Registrable Shares upon the earliest of (A) when they are sold by a Holder, whether pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or otherwise, (B) when they shall have ceased to be outstanding, and (C) when they may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) under the Securities Act and without restriction on the basis of volume or manner of sale limitations.

 

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Securities Act” shall mean the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Von Prondzynski Shares” shall mean the 10,000 Ordinary Shares owned by Mr. von Prondzynski as of the date hereof and originally subscribed for by Mr. von Prondzynski pursuant to that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2018, between the Company and Mr. von Prondzynski, at a price of 7.54 per share (which was equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on August 2, 2018), for aggregate proceeds of $75,400.

Walt Shares” shall mean the 45,000 Ordinary Shares owned by Mr. Walt as of the date hereof and originally subscribed for by Mr. Walt pursuant to that certain Subscription Agreement, dated as of August 3, 2018, between the Company and Mr. Walt, at a price of 7.54 per share (which was equal to the closing bid price of the Company’s Ordinary Shares as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market on August 2, 2018), for aggregate proceeds of $339,300.

Section 2.2 Interpretation. Whenever used herein, the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation,” and the words “hereof” and “herein” and similar words shall be construed as references to this Agreement as a whole and not limited to the particular Article, Section or Exhibit in which the reference appears. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein: (a) to Articles, Sections and Exhibits mean the Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits attached to, this Agreement; (b) to an agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof; and (c) to a statute means such statute as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any regulations promulgated thereunder. The Exhibits attached hereto shall be construed with, and as an integral part of, this Agreement to the same extent as if they were set forth verbatim herein. The headings of the Articles and Sections are for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions hereof.

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.1 Term. This Agreement shall terminate on the earliest of (a) upon written notice at any time the Company is not eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3 by the Company to the Holders, (b) with respect to any Holder, the date on which such Holder ceases to own any Registrable Shares, or (c) with respect to any Holder, upon written notice at any time by such Holder to the Company; provided that in the event of any termination pursuant to this clause (c), any such Holder shall not use the Shelf Registration Statement and the prospectus relating thereto to sell any of the Registrable Shares during any Blackout Period pending at the time of such termination. Section 1.5 and Articles II and III shall survive any termination.

 

- 8 -


Section 3.2 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications under or by reason of this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) when personally delivered, (b) when transmitted (except, if not a Business Day, then the next Business Day) by facsimile or email, or (c) upon receipt of such notice by the intended Party if sent by any other means. Notices, requests and other communications, in each case to the respective Parties, shall be sent to the applicable address or facsimile number set forth below or on such Party’s signature page, as applicable (or at such other address or facsimile number as the Party shall furnish the other Parties in accordance with this Section 3.2):

(a) If to a Holder, then to the address for notices set forth in such Holder’s Questionnaire.

(b) If to the Company, to:

Quotient Limited

B1, Business Park, Terre Bonne

Route de Crassier 13

1262 Eysins, Switzerland

Attn: Ernie Larnach

Facsimile: +

Email:

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Clifford Chance US LLP

31 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

Attn: Per B. Chilstrom

Facsimile:

Email:

Section 3.3 Successors and Assigns. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any of the Parties without the prior written consent of the Company. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. Any attempted assignment in violation of this Section 3.3 shall be void.

Section 3.4 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND ALL CLAIMS, ACTIONS, SUITS OR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OF ANY KIND (WHETHER AT LAW, IN EQUITY, IN CONTRACT, IN TORT OR OTHERWISE) THAT MAY BE BASED UPON, ARISE OUT OF OR RELATE TO THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE EXHIBITS HERETO), OR THE NEGOTIATION, EXECUTION OR PERFORMANCE HEREOF SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD FOR THE CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

 

- 9 -


Section 3.5 Counterparts.

(a) This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which will constitute one and the same instrument.

(b) Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including .pdf) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

(c) No Party hereto shall raise the use of a facsimile machine or email to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or agreement was transmitted or communicated through the use of facsimile machine or email as a defense to the formation of a contract, and each such Party forever waives any such defense.

Section 3.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including all Exhibits hereto, supersede all prior and contemporaneous discussions and agreements, both written and oral, among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and constitute the sole and entire agreement among the Parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

Section 3.7 Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of a majority of outstanding Registrable Shares; provided, however, that, no consent is necessary from any of the Holders in the event that this Agreement is amended, modified or supplemented for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of a Holder or Holders of Registrable Shares and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders of Registrable Shares may be given by the Holder or Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable Shares affected by such waiver or consent; provided, however, that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. Each Holder of Registrable Shares outstanding at the time of any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent or thereafter shall be bound by any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent effected pursuant to this Section 3.7, whether or not any notice, writing or marking indicating such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent appears on the Registrable Shares or is delivered to such Holder.

Section 3.8 Invalid Provisions. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under any present or future Law, and if the rights or obligations of any Party hereto under this Agreement will not be materially and adversely affected thereby, (a) such provision will be fully severable, (b) this Agreement will be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never comprised a part hereof, (c) the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect and will not be affected by the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision or by its severance herefrom and (d) upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

- 10 -


Section 3.9 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. The terms and provisions of this Agreement are intended solely for the benefit of each Party hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and it is not the intention of the Parties to confer third-party beneficiary rights upon any other Person other than the Persons indemnified under Section 1.5.

[The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]

 

- 11 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement by their authorized representatives as of the date first above written.

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED
By:   /s/ Edward Farrell
  Name: Edward Farrell
  Title: President

 

CHRISTOPHER J. LINDOP
By:   /s/ Christopher J. Lindop
 

 

HEINO VON PRONDZYNSKI
By:   /s/ Heino von Prondzynski
 

 

FRANZ WALT
By:   /s/ Franz Walt
 

[Holder Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement]


EXHIBIT A

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We are registering the ordinary shares previously issued to permit the resale of these ordinary shares by the holders of the ordinary shares from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We have agreed to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part current and cause it to remain effective until such time as the ordinary shares covered by the registration statement have been sold or otherwise cease to be registrable securities under the Registration Rights Agreement, or the date on which the Registration Rights Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling shareholders of the ordinary shares. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the ordinary shares, other than any commissions and transfer taxes of any selling shareholder and the fees, disbursements and expenses of any legal counsel to any selling shareholder.

The selling shareholders may (subject to receipt by us and/or such selling shareholders of any applicable regulatory consents) sell all or a portion of the ordinary shares beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more broker-dealers or agents. If the ordinary shares are sold through broker-dealers, the selling shareholders will be responsible for commissions. The ordinary shares may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions:

 

   

on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the shares may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;

 

   

in the over-the-counter market;

 

   

in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market;

 

   

through the writing of options, whether such options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

   

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

   

an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

   

privately negotiated transactions;

 

Exh. B-1


   

short sales;

 

   

sales pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act;

 

   

broker-dealers may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

   

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

   

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

If the selling shareholders effect such transactions by selling ordinary shares to or through broker-dealers or agents, such broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of concessions or commissions from the selling shareholders or commissions from purchasers of the ordinary shares for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal (which concessions or commissions as to particular broker-dealers or agents may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved). In connection with sales of the ordinary shares or otherwise, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, which may in tum engage in short sales of the ordinary shares in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell ordinary shares short and deliver ordinary shares covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling shareholders may also loan or pledge ordinary shares to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.

The selling shareholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the ordinary shares owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the ordinary shares from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act, amending, if necessary, the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may transfer and donate the ordinary shares in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

The selling shareholders and any broker-dealer participating in the distribution of the ordinary shares may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any commission paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. At the time a particular offering of the ordinary shares is made, a prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of ordinary shares being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any broker-dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling shareholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers. In compliance with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (or FINRA) guidelines, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Exh. B-2


Under the securities laws of some states, the ordinary shares may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the ordinary shares may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

There can be no assurance that any selling shareholder will sell any or all of the ordinary shares registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

The selling shareholders and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the ordinary shares by the selling shareholders and any other participating person. Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the ordinary shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the ordinary shares. Further, regulatory consents may be required in Jersey, Channel Islands in connection with certain types of offers of ordinary shares by selling shareholders, including offers to more than 50 persons other than on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities are listed or quoted at the time of sale. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the ordinary shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the ordinary shares.

In connection with our November 2019 underwritten public offering of ordinary shares, the selling shareholders in this offering entered into certain lock-up agreements with the representatives of the underwriters for that underwritten public offering. Under the terms of these lock-up agreements, subject to certain exceptions, the selling shareholders will be restricted from selling ordinary shares under this prospectus for a 90-day period ending February 4, 2020, unless these restrictions are earlier waived by the representatives in their sole discretion.

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the ordinary shares pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, other than any commissions and transfer taxes of any selling shareholder and the fees, disbursements and expenses of any legal counsel to any selling shareholder. The total fees are estimated to be $44,618 in total, including, without limitation, SEC filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “Blue Sky” laws. We may be indemnified by the selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling shareholder specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the Registration Rights Agreement, or we may be entitled to contribution.

Once sold under the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, the ordinary shares will be freely tradable in the hands of persons other than our affiliates.

 

Exh. B-3


EXHIBIT B

QUOTIENT LIMITED

FORM OF SELLING SHAREHOLDER QUESTIONNAIRE

The undersigned is the beneficial owner of Quotient Limited (the “Company”) ordinary shares, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”). Pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of [    ] (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), among the Company and the Holders named therein, including the undersigned, the Company intends to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement for the registration and resale of certain Ordinary Shares held by the undersigned, as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement. This registration statement is referred to as the “Shelf Registration Statement.” The Ordinary Shares being registered for resale are referred to as the “Registrable Shares.” All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Registration Rights Agreement.

Generally, “beneficial ownership” means the sole or shared power to vote or dispose of the securities in question. This concept is very important to the SEC and the following definition explains the concept further. By virtue of the ownership or co-ownership of a security, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or any other means, to have or share: (i) voting power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or (ii) investment power, which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, such security.

You are understood to be the beneficial owner of a security if, directly or indirectly, you create or use a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling arrangement, combination or any other contract or device with the purpose or effect of transmitting or maintaining ownership of a security.

You are also understood to be the beneficial owner of a security if you have the right to acquire the beneficial ownership of such security, at any time, within a period of 60 days, including, without limitation, any right to acquire it: (i) through the exercise of any option, warrant, certificate for the purchase of shares or rights, (ii) through the conversion of a security, (iii) pursuant to the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement, or (iv) pursuant to the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement.

All shares beneficially owned by you, regardless of the manner of such ownership, should be counted together when calculating the total amount of shares you beneficially own. Please note that more than one person may beneficially own the same security.

The scope of the foregoing definition is broad, and even if you do not have voting rights or the right to invest with regards to the shares beneficially owned by members of your family or people living in your household, you should include those shares in your statement and, if applicable, state that you do not beneficially own them.

 

Exh. B-4


In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Shares pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, a beneficial owner of Registrable Shares generally will be required to be named as a selling shareholder in the related prospectus, deliver a prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Shares and be bound by those provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement (including certain indemnification provisions as described below). The undersigned beneficial owner (the “Shareholder”) desires to include the Registrable Shares beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item 3 of this Questionnaire in the Shelf Registration Statement and is properly completing, signing and delivering this Questionnaire to the Company in order to include such Registrable Shares.

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as selling shareholders in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Investors and beneficial owners of Registrable Shares are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a selling shareholder in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus or, for those choosing to sell under Rule 144 (“Rule 144”) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the requirements of Rule 144.

The undersigned, by signing and returning this Questionnaire, understands that it will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Questionnaire and the Registration Rights Agreement.

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, and subject to certain limitations described therein, the undersigned has agreed to severally and not jointly indemnify, hold harmless and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner as is set forth in Section 1.5 of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company, each of its directors, officers, shareholders, employees, accountants, attorneys and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), against certain Losses to which any of them have become subject, as incurred, arising out of, caused by, resulting from or relating to any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or any omission (or alleged omission) of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, solely to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is made in the Shelf Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information regarding such Shareholder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Shareholder expressly for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement.

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

1.

(a)   Full legal name of Shareholder (i.e., beneficial owner) of the Registrable Shares listed in Item 3 below:

 

   

 

(b)

 

 

Full legal name of the record holder, including the name of the broker dealer, if applicable, through which Registrable Shares listed in Item 3 below are held:

 

   

 

Exh. B-5


  (c)

Full legal name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) through which Registrable Shares listed in Item 3 below are held:

     

 

2.       Address for notices to Shareholder:    
Telephone:    
Fax:    
Email address:    
Contact Person:    

 

3.

Beneficial ownership of Registrable Shares

Please state the name of each person who has voting or investment power over the Registrable Shares indicated below. Voting power includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, the Registrable Shares held by the undersigned. Investment power includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, the Registrable Shares held by the undersigned directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship. Please provide the requested information for each such person:

Number of Registrable Shares beneficially owned and to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement:

 

Sole voting power:    
Shared voting power:    
Sole investment power:    
Shared investment power:    

 

4.

Beneficial ownership of Company securities, other than Registrable Shares listed in Item 3 above, owned by the Shareholder:

Type and amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Shareholder:

 

 

 

5.

Relationship with the Company:

 

 

 

Exh. B-6


  (a)

Has the Shareholder or any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% or more of the equity securities of the Shareholder) held any position or office or has the Shareholder had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) within the past three years?

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

 

  (b)

If “Yes,” please state the nature and duration of the relationship with the Company:

 

 
 

 

6. (a)

Broker-Dealer Status

Is the Shareholder a broker-dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the 1934 Act?

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

Note that we will be required to identify any registered broker-dealer as an underwriter in the Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus.

If the Shareholder is a registered broker-dealer, please indicate whether the Shareholder purchased its Registrable Shares for investment or acquired them as transaction-based compensation for investment banking or similar services.

 

 
 

If the Shareholder is a registered broker-dealer and received its Registrable Shares other than as transaction-based compensation, the Company is required to identify the Shareholder as an underwriter in the Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus.

 

  (b)

Affiliation with Broker-Dealers:

Is the Shareholder an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer? For purposes of this Item 6(b), an “affiliate” means a person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person or entity specified.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

If “Yes,” please answer the remaining questions in this section.

 

Exh. B-7


  (i)

Please describe the affiliation between the Shareholder and any registered broker-dealers:

 

 
 

 

  (ii)

If the Registrable Shares were purchased by the Shareholder other than in the ordinary course of business, please describe the circumstances:

 

 
 

 

  (iii)

If the Shareholder, at the time of its purchase of Registrable Shares, has had any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Shares, please describe such agreements or understandings:

 

 
 

Note that if the Shareholder is an affiliate of a broker-dealer and did not purchase its Registrable Shares in the ordinary course of business or at the time of the purchase had any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, to distribute the securities, we must identify the Shareholder as an underwriter in the Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus.

 

7.

Nature of Beneficial Holding. The purpose of this question is to identify the ultimate natural person(s) or publicly held entity that exercises sole or shared voting or dispositive power over the Registrable Shares.

 

  (a)

Is the Shareholder a natural person?

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

If the Shareholder answered “Yes” to Item 7(a), please proceed to Item 8 below.

 

  (b)

Is the Shareholder required to file, or is it a wholly owned subsidiary of a company that is required to file, periodic and other reports (for example, Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K) with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the 1934 Act?

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

 

Exh. B-8


  (c)

State whether the Shareholder is an investment company, or a subsidiary of an investment company, registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

If a subsidiary, please identify the publicly held parent entity:

 

 
 

 

  (d)

If the Shareholder answered “No” to questions (a), (b) and (c) above, please identify the controlling person(s) of the Shareholder (the “Controlling Entity”). If the Controlling Entity is not a natural person or a publicly held entity, please identify each controlling person(s) of such Controlling Entity. This process should be repeated until the Shareholder reaches natural persons or a publicly held entity that exercise sole or shared voting or dispositive power over the Registrable Shares:

 

 

*** PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SEC REQUIRES THAT THESE NATURAL PERSONS BE NAMED IN THE PROSPECTUS ***

If you need more space for this response, please attach additional sheets of paper. Please be sure to indicate your name and the number of the item being responded to on each such additional sheet of paper, and to sign each such additional sheet of paper before attaching it to this Questionnaire. Please note that you may be asked to answer additional questions depending on your responses to the above questions.

 

8.

Plan of Distribution:

The Shelf Registration Statement must disclose the manner in which the Shareholder’s Registrable Shares will be sold. Exhibit A of the Registration Rights Agreement sets forth the text of the Plan of Distribution substantially in the form in which it will appear in the Shelf Registration Statement. The Plan of Distribution describes the ways in which the Shareholder’s Registrable Shares may be sold. Please confirm the information set forth in Exhibit A to the Registration Rights Agreement.

State any exceptions here:

 

 
 
 

 

Exh. B-9


Note:

In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of the Registrable Shares without the prior written consent of the Company.

The Company hereby advises each Shareholder of Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 239.10 published by the Division of Corporation Finance of the SEC, as set forth below, regarding short selling:

“An issuer filed a Form S-3 registration statement for a secondary offering of common stock which is not yet effective. One of the selling shareholders wanted to do a short sale of common stock “against the box” and cover the short sale with registered shares after the effective date. The issuer was advised that the short sale could not be made before the registration statement becomes effective, because the shares underlying the short sale are deemed to be sold at the time such sale is made. There would, therefore, be a violation of Section 5 if the shares were effectively sold prior to the effective date.”

By returning this Questionnaire, the Shareholder will be deemed to be aware of the foregoing interpretation.

The undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply with the provisions of the 1934 Act and the rules thereunder relating to stock manipulation, particularly Regulation M thereunder (or any successor rules or regulations), in connection with any offering of Registrable Shares pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement. The undersigned agrees that neither it nor any person acting on its behalf will engage in any transaction in violation of such provisions.

The Shareholder hereby acknowledges its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement to indemnify and hold harmless certain persons set forth therein.

In accordance with the undersigned’s obligation under the Registration Rights Agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, the undersigned agrees to provide any additional information the Company may reasonably request and to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided that may occur at any time while the Shelf Registration Statement remains effective.

By signing this Questionnaire, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to the above questions and the inclusion of such information in the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company without independent investigation or inquiry in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

Once this Questionnaire is executed by the Shareholder and received by the Company the terms of this Questionnaire and the representations and warranties contained herein shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the Company and the Shareholder with respect to the Registrable Shares beneficially owned by such Shareholder and listed in Item 3 above. This Questionnaire shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts-of-laws provisions thereof.

 

Exh. B-10


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its authorized agent.

Dated: [    ]

 

Beneficial Owner:
By:    
  Name:
  Title:

Please return the completed and executed questionnaire to:

QUOTIENT LIMITED

B1, Business Park, Terre Bonne

Route de Crassier 13

1262 Eysins, Switzerland

Facsimile: +[    ]

Attention: Ernie Larnach

With an electronic mail copy to:

[    ]

 

Exh. B-11

Exhibit 10.1

 

LOGO   

Franz Walt

Private & Confidential

Roland Boyd

5 Trench Knowe

Edinburgh

EH10 7HL

December 10, 2019

Dear Roland,

Transition Agreement

We would like to thank you for your service to Quotient Limited (the “Company”) since joining. This letter, when fully executed, will constitute the Transition Agreement (“Agreement”) between you and the Company concerning the terms of your upcoming retirement from employment with the Company.

1. Retirement. Unless terminated sooner, your employment with the Company and its subsidiaries and other controlled affiliates will end upon your retirement on December 31, 2019 (the “Retirement Date”). You hereby resign from all directorships, officerships and other positions with the Company and its controlled affiliates as of and with effect from the Retirement Date. You agree to sign all appropriate documentation, if any, prepared by the Company in connection with those resignations. The Company and you agree that this Agreement satisfies any notice requirement that otherwise may apply to your retirement and termination of employment under your Employment Agreement, dated as of August 14, 2012, as amended, between the Company and you (your “Employment Agreement”) and any other agreement between you and the Company or any of its affiliates.

2. Pre-Retirement Services. Between now and the Retirement Date you will continue to provide such services as may be requested by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. As of the date of this Agreement, the Company anticipates that you will continue in your role as Group Chief Financial Controller & Treasurer and ensure that an appropriate transition of your responsibilities is undertaken with appropriate team members prior to the Retirement Date, ensuring continuity of your current activities post retirement.

Alba Bioscience Limited, Registered in Scotland No. SC310584

Allan-Robb Campus, 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton Bridge, Penicuik EH26 0BF

T +44 (0) 131 357 3333, quotientbd.com


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3. Compensation.

 

  a)

Until your retirement or earlier separation from the Company, you will continue to receive the same base salary as at present; you will continue to have the same bonus opportunity as at present; and you will be entitled to the same non-cash benefits as at present.

 

  b)

Provided that you remain an employee and continue to provide services to the Company through the Retirement Date in accordance with Section 2 and subject to the other requirements of this Agreement, we would like to recognise your service by providing you with (i) a single cash payment (the “Retirement Payment”) of £213,000, equal to twelve months base salary plus (ii) a pro rated portion of your FY20 bonus. The Company’s obligation to make the Retirement Payment is expressly conditioned upon you agreeing to the terms of this document and providing the services outlined in Section 2. The Company will make the Retirement Payment in the payroll period following the Retirement Date.

4. Benefits. Provided that you (i) remain an employee and continue to provide services to the Company through the Retirement Date in accordance with Section 2, and (ii) comply with the other requirements of this Agreement, the Company will provide you with the following benefits (the “Benefits”):

 

  a)

All unvested options to acquire ordinary shares of the Company (“Options”) which you hold that are scheduled to vest within twelve months following the Retirement Date will remain outstanding and vest and become exercisable on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after the Retirement Date; all other unvested Options which you hold will be forfeited on the Retirement Date; all outstanding and vested Options which you hold will remain exercisable until the twelve month anniversary of the Retirement Date at which time they will expire.

 

  b)

All unvested RSUs which you hold that are scheduled to vest within twelve months following the Retirement Date will remain outstanding and vest on their regularly scheduled vesting dates after the Retirement Date; all other unvested RSUs which you hold will be forfeited on the Retirement Date.

5. Company Property. You agree to return all Company property in your possession within 14 days following the Retirement Date. Company property includes work product, electronic devices and other physical property of the Company. This includes equipment, supplies, keys, security items, credit cards, passwords, electronic devices, laptop computers and mobile phones. You must also return all originals and any copies of Company records. This includes any disks, files, notebooks, etc. that you have personally generated or maintained with respect to the Company’s business, as well as any Company records in your possession. In addition, you and the Company agree to cooperate in good faith in identifying, providing you access to and appropriately segregating property belonging to you and maintained on Company premises on the Retirement Date.

 

Alba Bioscience Limited, Registered in Scotland No. SC310584

Allan-Robb Campus, 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton Bridge, Penicuik EH26 0BF

T +44 (0) 131 357 3333, quotientbd.com

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LOGO

 

6. Continued Assistance. After the Retirement Date we request that you will be available to provide consultancy services to the Company to support any special projects that may arise. The Company will compensate you for all time spent providing such assistance after the Retirement Date at the rate of £1300 per day plus your reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. This clause will expire 12 months after the Retirement Date.

7. Covenants. Before and after the Retirement Date, you will remain subject to and continue to comply with all the restrictive and other covenants contained in your Employment Agreement including in respect of confidentiality, noncompetition and nonsolicitation.

8. Confidentiality. You acknowledge that the Company’s Confidential Information (as defined in your Employment Agreement) is proprietary and that you may never disclose any such information to any person or entity at any time, including after the Retirement Date. You agree this paragraph is a material provision of this Agreement and that in the event of breach, you will be liable for the return of the value of all consideration received as well as any other damages sustained by the Company.

9. Forfeiture. In the event that you breach any of your obligations to the Company under this Agreement, your Employment Agreement or as otherwise imposed by law, the Company shall be entitled to stop payment of any benefit due under this Agreement and shall be entitled to recover any benefit paid after the Retirement Date under this Agreement and to obtain all other relief provided by law or equity, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief.

10. Severability. If any portion, provision or part of this Agreement is held, determined or adjudicated to be invalid, unenforceable or void for any reason whatsoever, each such portion, provision or part shall be severed from the remaining portions, provisions or parts of this Agreement and shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such remaining portions, provisions or parts.

11. Entire Agreement. This Agreement between you and the Company is in consideration of the mutual promises described above. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Company with respect to your retirement and related separation from employment. There are no other agreements, written or oral, expressed or implied, between the parties hereto, concerning the subject matter hereof, except the agreements set forth in this Agreement.

12. Withholding. All payments made to you pursuant to this Agreement are subject to all applicable Tax, National Insurance and other withholdings required by law. You acknowledge and agree that all taxes imposed on you by reason of the payments and benefits hereunder are your sole responsibility and the Company is in no way indemnifying you or holding you harmless in respect of any such taxes. The Company shall not be liable to you (or any other individual claiming a benefit through you) for any tax, interest, or penalties you may owe as a result of compensation paid under this Agreement, and the Company shall have no obligation to indemnify or otherwise protect you from the obligation to pay any taxes.

 

Alba Bioscience Limited, Registered in Scotland No. SC310584

Allan-Robb Campus, 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton Bridge, Penicuik EH26 0BF

T +44 (0) 131 357 3333, quotientbd.com

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We would appreciate if you could sign both copies of this agreement, returning one copy to Human Resources and retaining the other for your records.

We wish you every success in your retirement and thank you again for all your support over the years.

Yours sincerely,

 

By:   /s/ Franz Walt     /s/ Chris Lindop
Name:   Franz Walt     Chris Lindop
Title:   Chief Executive Officer     Chief Financial Officer

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have been given the opportunity to review this Retirement & Transition Agreement carefully; that I have read this Agreement and understand the terms of the Agreement; and that I voluntarily agree to them.

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO:
By:   /s/ Roland Boyd
Name:   Roland Boyd
Date:   10th December, 2019

 

Alba Bioscience Limited, Registered in Scotland No. SC310584

Allan-Robb Campus, 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton Bridge, Penicuik EH26 0BF

T +44 (0) 131 357 3333, quotientbd.com

   Page 4/4

Exhibit 10.2

 

LOGO

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

SERVICE AGREEMENT

Between

ALBA BIOSCIENCE LIMITED

(Trading as Quotient)

COMPANY NUMBER: SC310584

And

ERNEST LARNACH


INDEX

 

1.

  DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION      3  

2.

  APPOINTMENT      5  

3.

  TERM      6  

4.

  PROBATIONARY PERIOD      6  

5.

  DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE      6  

6.

  INTERESTS IN OTHER BUSINESSES      7  

7.

  HOURS OF WORK      7  

8.

  PRINCIPAL PLACE OF WORK      7  

9.

  SALARY      8  

10.

  EXPENSES      9  

11.

  PENSION      9  

12.

  COMPANY CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE      9  

13.

  PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE      10  

14.

  DEATH BENEFITS      11  

15.

  HOLIDAYS      11  

16.

  SICKNESS OR INJURY      12  

17.

  TERMINATION OF AND SUSPENSION FROM EMPLOYMENT      12  

18.

  OBLIGATIONS DURING EMPLOYMENT      16  

19.

  OBLIGATIONS AFTER EMPLOYMENT      18  

20.

  DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE      20  

21.

  COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS      21  

22.

  DEDUCTIONS      21  

23.

  ENTIRE AGREEMENT      21  

24.

  DATA PROTECTION      21  

25.

  RELEASES AND WAIVERS      22  

26.

  GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION      22  

 

Page 2 of 23


BETWEEN:

 

1.

ALBA BIOSCIENCE LIMITED (company number SC310584) whose registered office is at Allan-Robb Campus, 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton Bridge, Penicuik, EH26 0BF(“the Company”) and

 

2.

Ernest Larnach of 21 Bonaly Gardens, Edinburgh, EH13 0EX (“the Executive”)

IT IS AGREED as follows:

 

1.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

1.1

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the following meanings:

“Agreement” means this Agreement (including any schedule or annexure to it and any document referred to in it or in agreed form);

“Board” means the board of directors of the Company from time to time and includes any committee of the Board duly appointed by it;

“Business” means the manufacture and sale of blood-typing reagents and associated technologies and any trade or other commercial activity which is carried on by the Company, or which the Company shall have determined to carry on with a view to profit in the immediate or foreseeable future;

“Capacity” means as agent, consultant, director, employee, owner, partner, shareholder or in any other capacity;

“Confidential Information” any trade secrets or other information which is confidential, commercially sensitive and is not in the public domain relating or belonging to the Company or any Group Company including but not limited to information relating to the business methods, corporate plans, management systems, finances, new business opportunities, research and development projects, marketing or sales of any past, present or future product or service, secret formulae, processes, inventions, designs, know-how discoveries, technical specifications and other technical information relating to the creation, production or supply of any past, present or future product or service of the Company or any Group Company, lists or details of clients, potential clients or suppliers or the arrangements made with any client or supplier of the Company or any Group Company and any information in respect of which the Company owes an obligation of confidentiality to any third party;

 

Page 3 of 23


“Duties” means the duties of the Executive as set out in Clause 5;

“Employment” means the Executive’s employment under this Agreement;

“Chairman” means any person holding office as Chairman of the Company from time to time, including any person exercising substantially the functions of a Chairman of the Company;

“Group Company” means the Company, its subsidiaries or holding companies (as defined in section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006) from time to time;

“Recognised Investment Exchange” means as defined in Section 207, Financial Services Act 1986;

“Relevant Period” means the period of 12 months ending with the Termination Date;

“Restricted Business” means any part of the Business in which the Executive was involved to a material extent in the 12 months before the Termination Date;

“Restricted Customer” means any firm, company or person who, during the 12 months before Termination, was a customer or prospective customer and/or in the habit of dealing with the Company or any Group Company with whom the Executive had contact or about whom he became aware or informed in the course of his Employment.

“Restricted Person” means anyone employed or engaged by the Company or any Group Company and who could materially damage the interests of the Company or any Group Company if they were involved in any Capacity in any business concern which competes with any Restricted Business and with whom the Executive dealt in the 12 months before the Termination Date in the course of his Employment.

“Termination Date” means the date on which the Employment terminates.

 

1.2

In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

 

1.2.1

words in the singular include the plural and vice versa and words in one gender include any other gender;

 

Page 4 of 23


1.2.2

a reference to a statute or statutory provision includes:

 

  1.2.2.1

any subordinate legislation (as defined in Section 21(1), Interpretation Act 1978) made under it; and

 

  1.2.2.2

any statute or statutory provision which modifies, consolidates, re-enacts or supersedes it;

 

1.3

a reference to:

 

1.3.1

a “person” includes any individual, firm, body corporate, association or partnership, government or state (whether or not having a separate legal personality);

 

1.3.2

clauses and schedules are to clauses and schedules of this Agreement and references to sub-clauses and paragraphs are references to sub-clauses and paragraphs of the clause or schedule in which they appear;

 

1.4

the table of contents and headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement; and

 

1.5

except where otherwise stated, words and phrases defined in the City Code on Take-overs and Mergers or in the Companies Act 1985 have the same meaning in this Agreement.

 

2.

APPOINTMENT

 

2.1

The Company appoints the Executive and the Executive agrees to serve as EVP, Group Finance of the Company or in such other capacity as the Company may from time to time require on the terms set out in this Agreement.

 

2.2

The Executive warrants that he is free to enter into this Agreement and is not bound by, nor subject to any court order, arrangement, obligation, restriction or undertaking (contractual or otherwise) which prohibits or restricts the Executive from entering into this Agreement or performing the Duties.

 

2.3

The Executive warrants that he is entitled to work in the United Kingdom without any additional approvals and will notify the Company immediately if he ceases to be so entitled during the Employment.

 

Page 5 of 23


3.

TERM

The Employment will commence on 03 September 2018 and unless terminated in accordance with Clause 17, shall, subject to Clause 16 continue until terminated by either party giving to the other not less than 6 months’ prior written notice.

No employment with a previous employer counts towards the Executives period of continuous employment with the Company.

 

4.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD

The first six months of your employment will be probationary. During this period your employment can be terminated by either party with two weeks notice or pay in lieu of notice. Examples of instances where this may apply include poor performance or poor attendance. The Company may, at its discretion, extend the probationary period. If for any reason the probation is extended, all the terms and conditions during this period will continue until the end of the extended probation, including the shortened notice period.

 

5.

DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE

 

5.1

The Executive shall carry out such duties as EVP, Group Finance or such other role as the Company considers appropriate and exercise the powers consistent with such duties.

 

5.2

The Executive shall at all times during the Employment:

 

5.2.1

devote the whole of his time, attention, skill and ingenuity during working hours to his duties under this Agreement;

 

5.2.2

faithfully and using his best endeavours carry out all work consistent with his position which may be required of him;

 

5.2.3

comply with all the Company’s rules, regulations, policies and procedures from time to time in force;

 

5.2.4

perform the Duties faithfully and diligently;

 

5.2.5

obey all lawful and reasonable directions of the Board, observe such restrictions or limitations as may from time to time be imposed by the Board upon the Executive’s performance of the Duties and implement and abide by any relevant Company policy which may be promulgated or operated in practice from time to time;

 

Page 6 of 23


5.2.6

use best endeavours to promote the interests of the Company and shall not do or willingly permit to be done anything which is harmful to those interests;

 

5.2.7

keep the Board fully informed (in writing if so requested) of the Executive’s conduct of the business or affairs of the Company and provide such explanations as the Board may require; and

 

5.2.8

consent to the Company monitoring and recording any use that he makes to the Company’s electronic communications systems for the purpose of ensuring that the Company’s rules are being complied with and for legitimate business purposes.

 

5.3

All documents, manuals, hardware and software provided for the Executive’s use by the Company, and any data or documents (including copies) produced, maintained or stored on the Company’s computer systems or other electronic equipment (including mobile phones), remain the property of the Company.

 

6.

INTERESTS IN OTHER BUSINESSES

 

6.1

During the Employment the Executive will not, without the prior written consent of the Company’s Board, be engaged, concerned or interested in any business or undertaking whatsoever other than the business of the Company (except as the owner for investment of shares and other securities quoted on a public stock exchange and not exceeding 1% of the total issued shares of any company).

 

7.

HOURS OF WORK

 

7.1

The Executive’s hours of work shall be the Company’s normal office hours (37.5 hours per week) and such further hours as may be necessary for the proper discharge of the Duties. The Executive shall not be entitled to receive any additional remuneration for work outside the Company’s normal office hours.

 

7.2

The Executive acknowledges that he may work in excess of an average of 48 hours in any one period of 7 calendar days if so requested by the Company and consents to do so. The Executive may withdraw such consent by giving no less than 3 month’s prior notice in writing to the Company of such withdrawal.

 

8.

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF WORK

 

8.1

The Executive’s principal place of work shall be 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton bridge, Penicuik, EH26 0BF or anywhere else within the United Kingdom or abroad as shall be agreed between the parties.

 

Page 7 of 23


8.2

The Executive shall travel to and work on a temporary basis from such locations within the UK and abroad as the Board may reasonably require for the performance of his Duties.

 

8.3

During the Employment the Executive shall not be required to work outside the United Kingdom for any continuous period of more than one month without the agreement of the Executive.

 

9.

SALARY

 

9.1

During the Employment the Company shall pay to the Executive a basic salary at the rate of £140,000 per annum. This salary shall accrue from day to day, be payable by equal monthly installments in arrears on or before the last day of each month.

 

9.2

The Executive’s basic salary shall be reviewed by the Board from time to time. Any increase in the Executive’s salary consequent upon such review will be effective from the effective date specified by the Board. The Company is under no obligation to award an increase following a salary review. There will be no review of the salary after notice has been given by either party to terminate the Employment.

 

9.3

The Executive may be eligible to participate in the Company Bonus Scheme. The scheme allows for the Executive to receive up to a maximum equivalent of 25% of his basic salary depending on his performance. The details will be confirmed with the Executive prior to such scheme commencing, the amount of which, if any, is to be determined by the Board in its absolute discretion. Any bonus payment to the Executive shall be purely discretionary and shall not form part of the Executive’s contractual remuneration under this Agreement. If the Company makes a bonus payment to the Executive it shall not be obliged to make subsequent bonus payments. Notwithstanding this, the Executive shall in any event have no right to a bonus or a time-apportioned bonus if

 

9.3.1

he has not been employed throughout the whole of the relevant financial year of the Company; or

 

9.3.2

his employment terminates for any reason or he is under notice of termination (whether given by the Executive or the Company) at or prior to the date when a bonus might otherwise have been payable.

 

9.4

Any bonus payment shall not be pensionable.

 

Page 8 of 23


10.

EXPENSES

 

10.1

The Company shall reimburse to the Executive all expenses reasonably and properly incurred by the Executive in the performance of the Duties subject to the production of such receipts or other evidence of expenditure as the Company may reasonably require.

 

10.2

Any credit card or charge card supplied to the Executive by the Company shall be used solely for expenses incurred by the Executive in carrying out the Duties. Any such card must be returned by the Executive to the Company immediately upon the Company’s request.

 

10.3

The Executive will abide by the Company’s policy on expenses as communicated to him from time to time.

 

11.

PENSION

 

11.1

The Company will make a matched monthly contribution of up to 6% of the Executive’s basic gross salary into the Company’s Group Personal Pension arrangement with Aegon or other such scheme as nominated by the Executive from time to time. The Executive should note that this is actually a personal scheme and therefore open to customization by the Executive. Further details are available from Human Resources.

 

11.2

No contracting-out certificate pursuant to the Pension Schemes Act 1993 is in force in respect of the Employment.

 

12.

COMPANY CAR/CAR ALLOWANCE

 

12.1

Subject to the Company Car policy and provided that the Executive holds a current full driving license, he may be entitled to either:

 

12.1.1

A company car, up to a maximum on-the-road value of £35,000; or

 

12.1.2

A company car allowance of £800 per month.

 

12.2

No private fuel allowance is payable.

 

12.3

Further details relating to the Company Car policy will be available from Human Resources.

 

Page 9 of 23


12.4

The Executive should note that these are taxable benefits. The Executive will be informed as to the level of taxable deduction once he has elected to benefit from either a company car or car allowance and this deduction will be made from his salary.

 

12.5

The Company shall have the right to reclaim the car if the Executive is disqualified from driving.

 

12.6

The Executive shall:

 

  (a)

take good care of the car and ensure that the provisions of the Company’s Car policy as amended from time to time and any policy of insurance relating to the car are observed;

 

  (b)

pay all expenses directly connected with the Executive’s private use of the car;

 

  (c)

be responsible for payment of all fines incurred for traffic offences and parking fines;

 

  (d)

notify the Company of any accidents involving the car (whether or not these take place while the Executive is on business);

 

  (e)

immediately inform the Company if he is convicted of a driving offence or disqualified from driving; and

 

  (f)

return the car, its keys and all documents relating to it to the Company’s registered office or such other place as the Company may reasonably stipulate immediately on the termination of the Employment howsoever arising or on the Executive becoming no longer legally entitled to drive.

 

13.

PRIVATE MEDICAL INSURANCE

The Executive is entitled to private medical insurance cover for himself, his spouse and his dependents, subject to the terms of the insurer’s policy from time to time in force. Further details are available from Human Resources. The Executive should note that this is a taxable benefit. If the insurance provider refuses for any reason to provide private medical insurance benefit to the Executive or to the Executive’s spouse or his dependents the Company shall not be liable to provide any replacement benefit of the same or similar kind or to pay any compensation in lieu of such benefit. The Company in its sole and absolute discretion reserves the right to discontinue, vary or amend the scheme (including the level of the Executive’s cover) at any time on reasonable notice to the Executive.

 

Page 10 of 23


14.

DEATH BENEFITS

The Executive is entitled to death benefits equivalent to 4 x basic salary, subject to the terms and conditions of the Company’s insurance policy from time to time in force. Further details are available from Human Resources. If the insurance provider refuses for any reason to provide death benefits to the Executive the Company shall not be liable to provide any replacement benefit of the same or similar kind or to pay any compensation in lieu of such benefit. The Company in its sole and absolute discretion reserves the right to discontinue, vary or amend the scheme (including the level of the Executive’s cover) at any time on reasonable notice to the Executive.

 

15.

HOLIDAYS

 

15.1

The Company’s holiday year runs from 1 June to 31 May.

 

15.2

In addition to 6 public or statutory holidays as set out by the Company, the Executive is entitled to 32 working days’ paid holiday in each holiday year.

 

15.3

Holiday must be taken at such time or times as are agreed with the Executives Line Manager.

 

15.4

In exceptional circumstances, the Executive may carry forward up to 5 days of unused holiday entitlement to a subsequent holiday year, subject to the prior consent of the Executives Line Manager. Except on termination of employment, no payment will be made in lieu of any unused holiday entitlement.

 

15.5

For the holiday year during which the Employment terminates, the Executive’s entitlement to holiday accrues on a pro rata basis of 1/12 of annual holiday for each complete month of the Employment during that holiday year.

 

15.6

On termination of the Employment the Executive shall be entitled to pay in lieu of any outstanding holiday entitlement and shall be required to repay to the Company any salary received for holiday taken in excess of his actual entitlement. The basis for calculating the payment and repayment shall be 1/261 of the Executive’s annual basic salary for each holiday day.

 

15.7

The Company may require the Executive to take any outstanding accrued holiday during a period of notice of termination of the Employment. Other than at the request of, or with the permission of, the Company, the Executive may not take holiday during a period of notice of termination of Employment.

 

Page 11 of 23


16.

SICKNESS OR INJURY

 

16.1

If unable to perform the Duties due to sickness or injury the Executive shall report this fact as soon as possible on the first working day of incapacity to the Executives Line Manager and provide, so far as practicable, an expected date of return to work.

 

16.2

To be eligible for sick pay under clause 16.3, the Executive must supply the Company with such certification of sickness or injury as the Company may require and otherwise comply with the Company’s sickness absence rules and procedures.

 

16.3

If the Executive shall be absent due to sickness or injury duly certified in accordance with the Company’s requirements the Executive shall be paid full basic salary and other benefits provided for in this Agreement for up to 26 weeks’ absence and following upon that period of 26 weeks, 26 further weeks at the rate of one half of basic salary and other benefits provided for in this Agreement in any period of 12 consecutive months.

 

16.4

Any remuneration paid under sub-clause 16.3 shall be inclusive of any Statutory Sick Pay to which the Executive is entitled or other benefits recoverable by the Executive (whether or not recovered) which may be deducted from it.

 

16.5

The Executive accepts that with his consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) at any time during the Employment, the Executive shall, at the request and expense of the Company:

 

16.5.1

consent to an examination by a doctor to be selected by the Company; and

 

16.5.2

authorise this doctor to disclose to and discuss with the Company’s medical adviser, or other nominated officer of the Company, the results of or any matter arising out of this examination.

 

17.

TERMINATION OF AND SUSPENSION FROM EMPLOYMENT

 

17.1

Subject to the remainder of this Clause 17, the Company may terminate the Executive’s employment by serving notice upon him in accordance with Clause 3.

 

17.2

Immediate dismissal

 

17.2.1

The Company may by written notice terminate the Employment without notice or pay in lieu of notice if the Executive:

 

Page 12 of 23


  17.2.1.1

commits any act of gross misconduct or is guilty of any conduct which may in the reasonable opinion of the Board, bring the Company into disrepute or is calculated or likely prejudicially to affect the interests of the Company, whether or not the conduct occurs during or in the context of the Executive’s Employment;

 

  17.2.1.2

is convicted of any criminal offence punishable with imprisonment (other than an offence under road traffic legislation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for which he is not sentenced to any term of imprisonment whether immediate or suspended); or

 

  17.2.1.3

commits any act of dishonesty relating to the Company, any of its employees or otherwise;

 

  17.2.1.4

commits a material breach of the terms and conditions of this Agreement or repeats or continues (after a written warning) any other breach of such terms and conditions, including any failure to carry out the Duties efficiently, diligently or competently;

 

  17.2.1.5

becomes of unsound mind or a patient within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1983 so that in the opinion of the Board he is unable to perform the Duties; or

 

  17.2.1.6

becomes bankrupt or makes any arrangement or composition with his creditors generally.

 

17.3

Suspension

In order to investigate a complaint against the Executive of misconduct the Company may suspend the Executive on full pay for so long as may be necessary to carry out a proper investigation and hold any appropriate disciplinary hearing.

 

17.4

Dismissal due to ill-health

Subject to the Equality Act 2010, if the Executive is incapable of performing the Duties due to ill health or accident for a period or periods aggregating at least 26 weeks in any period of 12 months the Company may, by not less than 1 month’s prior written notice (or the statutory minimum notice if longer) given at any time whilst such incapacity continues, terminate the Employment.

 

Page 13 of 23


17.5

Pay in lieu

On either party serving notice for any reason to terminate the Employment or at any time during the currency of such notice, the Company may elect (but shall not be obliged) to terminate the Employment with immediate effect by notifying the Executive in writing that the Employment is being terminated pursuant to this Clause and undertaking to pay to the Executive a sum equivalent to the Executive’s basic salary and contractual benefits for the unexpired portion of the Executive’s contractual notice entitlement. The Company will pay the salary and contractual benefits due and payable under this sub-clause (subject to deduction of tax and national insurance contributions at source) at the next available pay period after the Termination Date. For the avoidance of doubt no holiday entitlement will accrue during period which would have been the notice period had the Company not paid in lieu of notice.

 

17.6

Garden leave

 

17.6.1

After notice to terminate the Employment has been given by the Executive or the Company, the Company may for all or part of the duration of the notice period in its absolute discretion:

 

  17.6.1.1

require the Executive not to perform any of the Duties;

 

  17.6.1.2

require the Executive not to have any contact with clients of the Company;

 

  17.6.1.3

require the Executive not to have any contact with such employees or suppliers of the Company as the Company shall determine;

 

  17.6.1.4

require the Executive to disclose any attempted contact with him made by any client, employee or supplier with whom the Executive has been required to have no contact pursuant to this clause.

 

  17.6.1.5

require the Executive to take any accrued holiday entitlement or prohibit the Executive from taking any accrued holiday entitlement except with the prior written approval of the Executives Line Manager;

 

  17.6.1.6

provide the Executive with alternative duties to perform or require the Executive to only perform such specific duties as are expressly assigned to the Executive, at such location (including the Executive’s home) as the Company may decide;

 

Page 14 of 23


  17.6.1.7

exclude the Executive from any premises of the Company or any Group Company;

provided always that throughout the period of any such action and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement the Executive’s salary and contractual benefits shall not cease to accrue or be paid.

 

17.6.2

The Executive acknowledges that such action taken on the part of the Company shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement of any kind whatsoever nor shall the Executive have any claim against the Company in respect of any such action.

 

17.6.3

The Executive acknowledges that during any such period of garden leave, the terms of this Agreement and the obligations owed by the Executive generally to the Company, including without limitation the Executive’s duties of good faith and fidelity to the Company shall continue.

 

17.6.4

During any such period of garden leave the Executive must not work for any other person or on his own account and shall remain readily contactable and available to work for the Company. Should the Executive fail to be available for work at any time having been requested by the Company to do so, the Executive’s right to salary and contractual benefits in respect of such period of non-availability shall be forfeit notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement.

 

17.7

Effect of termination

 

17.7.1

On the Termination Date or at any time after notice is given by the Company or the Executive to terminate the Employment, the Executive shall, at the request of the Board resign (without prejudice to any claims which he may have against the Company arising out of the Employment or its termination) from all and any offices which he may hold as a director of the Company and from all other appointments or offices which he holds as nominee of representative of the Company; and

 

17.7.2

If the Executive should fail to do so within 7 days the Company is irrevocably authorised to appoint some person in his name and on his behalf to sign any documents or do any things necessary or requisite to effect such resignation(s).

 

17.7.3

On the Termination Date (or at any other time at the request of the Board) the Executive shall immediately deliver to the Company all documents, books, materials, records, correspondence, papers and information (on whatever media and wherever located) relating to the business or affairs of the Company and/or any Group Company or its business contacts, any keys, credit card, and any other

 

Page 15 of 23


property of the Company and/or any Group Company including any car provided to the Executive, which is in his possession or under his control (unless the Executive has been placed on garden leave in which case he shall not be required to return until the end of the garden leave period any property provided to him as a contractual benefit for use during the Employment).

 

18.

OBLIGATIONS DURING EMPLOYMENT

 

18.1

Assignment of Intellectual Property Rights

 

18.1.1

It is agreed that the Executive is in a position of special responsibility and under a special obligation to further the interests of the Company. Accordingly, any discovery, invention, secret process or improvement in procedure discovered, invented, developed or devised by the Executive during his employment with the Company (and whether or not in conjunction with a third party) affecting or relating to the business of the Company or any Group Company or capable of being used or adapted for use in it, shall immediately be disclosed by the Executive to the Board of the Company and, subject to such rights as the Executive may have under the Patents Act 1977, will belong to, vest in, and be the absolute property of the Company.

 

18.1.2

The Executive acknowledges that the Company is the sole owner of any and all Intellectual Property Rights and insofar as any of the Intellectual Property Rights are not vested in the Company and in consideration of the salary payable to the Executive by the Company the Executive assigns to the Company with full title guarantee the entire copyright (including future copyright) and all other rights and interests of whatsoever nature in and to the Intellectual Property Rights and relating to the Company together with the right to take proceedings and recover damages and obtain all other remedies for past infringements in respect thereof throughout the Universe for the full period of copyright (and of any analogous rights) and all revivals, renewals, extensions and innovations thereof and thereafter (so far as possible) in perpetuity together with the right to the same in any manner and through any media as the Company shall in its absolute discretion decide.

 

18.1.3

The Executive shall transfer to the Company all relevant lending and rental rights arising out of the Intellectual Property Rights throughout the world and the Executive irrevocably and unconditionally confirm that the remuneration payable to him under the terms of this Contract of Employment includes equitable remuneration for the right to exploit all rental rights.

 

Page 16 of 23


18.1.4

The Executive unconditionally and irrevocably waives all moral rights conferred by the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 and all other moral and author’s rights of a similar nature under the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

18.1.5

For the purposes of this Clause 18 “Intellectual Property Rights” shall mean all copyrights, patents, utility models, trademarks, rights in designs, database rights, goodwill, in each case whether registered or unregistered or the subject of a pending application for registration, all legal rights protecting the confidentiality of any information or materials and all other rights of a similar nature anywhere in the world in any work created by the Executive during his employment by the Company and in respect of the Company.

 

18.1.6

The Executive shall, at the expense of the Company and upon its request (during employment by the Company) execute all such documents as may be necessary to vest such rights, title and interest in the Company.

 

18.2

Power of attorney

The Executive irrevocably appoints the Company as his attorney in his name and on his behalf to execute documents, to use his name and to do all things which may be necessary or desirable for the Company to obtain for itself or its nominee the full benefit of the provisions of Clause 17 and a certificate in writing signed by any director or the Company Secretary that any instrument or act falls within the authority conferred by this paragraph shall be conclusive evidence that such is the case so far as any third party is concerned.

 

18.3

Conflict of interest

 

18.3.1

During the Employment, the Executive shall not:

 

  18.3.1.1

other than in the proper performance of his duties directly or indirectly disclose divulge or communicate to any person or persons whatsoever or make use of any Confidential Information to which he has or may have in the course of the Employment become aware of relating to the business of the Company.

 

  18.3.1.2

at any time (whether during or outside normal working hours) take any preparatory steps to become engaged or interested in any Capacity whatsoever in any business or venture which is in or is intended to enter into competition with the Business.

 

Page 17 of 23


18.3.2

The Executive shall promptly disclose in writing to the Board all his interests (including but not limited to shareholdings and directorships) in any businesses, whether or not of a commercial or business nature.

 

18.3.3

The Executive shall not, at any time during the Employment, whether directly or indirectly be employed, engaged or concerned in any Capacity whatsoever in the conduct of any activity or business which is similar to or competes with any activity or business carried on by the Company (except as a representative of the Company or with the written consent of the Board.)

 

18.3.4

The Executive shall, at any time during the Employment or following its termination at the request of the Company return to the Company or, at the Company’s request, shall destroy:

 

  18.3.4.1

any documents, drawings, designs, computer files or software, visual or audio tapes or other materials containing information (including, without limitation, Confidential Information) relating to the Company’s or any Group Company’s business created by, in the possession of or under the control of the Executive; and

 

  18.3.4.2

any other property of the Company or any Group Company in his possession or under his control.

 

18.3.5

The Executive shall not make or keep or permit any person to make or keep on his behalf any copies or extracts of the items referred to in sub-clause 18.3.4 in any medium or form.

 

19.

OBLIGATIONS AFTER EMPLOYMENT

 

19.1

In order to protect the Confidential Information and business connections of the Company and each Group Company to which he has access as a result of the Employment, the Executive covenants with the Company (for itself and as trustee and agent for each Group Company) that he shall not:

 

19.1.1

for 12 months after the Termination Date, solicit or endeavour to entice away from the Company or any Group Company the business or custom of a Restricted Customer with a view to providing goods or services to that Restricted Customer in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

Page 18 of 23


19.1.2

for 12 months after the Termination Date in the course of any business concern which is in competition with any Restricted Business, offer to employ or engage or otherwise endeavour to entice away from the Company or any Group Company any Restricted Person;

 

19.1.3

for 12 months after the Termination Date in the course of any business concern which is in competition with any Restricted Business, employ or engage or otherwise facilitate the employment or engagement of any Restricted Person, whether or not such person would be in breach of contract as a result of such employment or engagement;

 

19.1.4

for 12 months after the Termination Date, be involved in any Capacity with any business concern which is (or intends to be) in competition with any Restricted Business;

 

19.1.5

for 12 months after the Termination Date, be involved with the provision of goods or services to (or otherwise have any business dealings with) any Restricted Customer in the course of any business concern which is in competition with any Restricted Business; or

 

19.1.6

at any time after the Termination Date, represent himself as connected with the Company or any Group Company in any Capacity, other than as a former employee, or use any registered names or trading names associated with the Company or any Group Company.

 

19.1.7

at any time after the Termination Date:

 

  19.1.7.1

induce or seek to induce by any means involving the disclosure or use of Confidential Information any customer to cease dealing with the Company or to restrict or vary the terms upon which it deals with the Company; or

 

  19.1.7.2

disclose, divulge or communicate to any person or persons whatsoever or make use of any Confidential Information.

 

19.2

Any period of Garden Leave served by the Executive pursuant to Clause 17.6 shall reduce the 12 month period referred to in Clause 19.1.1 by an equal period of time.

 

Page 19 of 23


19.3

None of the restrictions in clause 19.1 shall prevent the Executive from:

 

19.3.1

holding an investment by way of shares or other securities of not more than 5% of the total issued share capital of any company, whether or not it is listed or dealt in on a recognised stock exchange; or

 

19.3.2

being engaged or concerned in any business concern insofar as the Executive’s duties or work shall relate solely to geographical areas where the business concern is not in competition with any Restricted Business; or

 

19.3.3

being engaged or concerned in any business concern, provided that the Executive’s duties or work shall relate solely to services or activities of a kind with which the Employee was not concerned to a material extent in the 12 months prior to the Termination Date.

 

19.4

The restrictions imposed on the Executive by this clause 19 apply to him acting:

 

19.4.1

directly or indirectly; and

 

19.4.2

on his own behalf or on behalf of, or in conjunction with, any firm, company or person.

 

19.5

If the Executive receives an offer to be involved in a business concern in any Capacity during the Employment, or before the expiry of the last of the covenants in this clause 19, the Executive shall give the person making the offer a copy of this clause 19 and shall tell the Company the identity of that person as soon as possible after accepting the offer.

 

19.6

Each of the restrictions in this clause 19 is intended to be separate and severable. If any of the restrictions shall be held to be void but would be valid if part of their wording were deleted, such restriction shall apply with such deletion as may be necessary to make it valid or effective.

 

20.

DISCIPLINARY AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

 

20.1

There are no specific disciplinary rules or procedures applicable to the Executive. Any matters concerning the Executive’s unsatisfactory conduct or performance will be dealt with by the Presidents. An appeal against any disciplinary decision should be made by the Executive in writing to the Board, whose decision will be final. The Company will however observe all statutory requirements in all disciplinary matters.

 

Page 20 of 23


20.2

If the Executive has any grievance relating to his Employment (other than one relating to a disciplinary decision) he should refer such grievance to the Presidents and if the grievance is not resolved by discussion with him it will be referred for resolution to the Board, whose decision shall be final. Again, the Company will observe all statutory requirements in all grievance matters.

 

21.

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS

There are no collective agreements which affect the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment.

 

22.

DEDUCTIONS

 

The

Executive consents to the deduction at any time from any salary or other sum due from the Company to the Executive including any payment on termination of employment, of sums owed by the Executive to the Company either by way of a loan, overpaid salary with respect to holiday where the Executive has taken more holiday than his accrued entitlement at the date of termination of employment or expenses or any other payment due to the Company or any Group Company.

 

23.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

This

Agreement together with any documents referred to in this Agreement sets out the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings or arrangements (oral or written) in respect of the employment or engagement of the Executive by the Company. No purported variation of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of each of the parties.

 

24.

DATA PROTECTION

 

24.1

For the purposes of complying with the Data Protection Act 1998 the Executive agrees to provide the Company or any Associated Company with any personal data and sensitive personal data relating to him that either may request and he further consents to the holding and processing (in manual, electronic or any other form) of such data by the Company and/or any Associated Company and/or any agent or third party nominated by the Company and bound by a duty of confidentiality, for the purpose of:

 

24.1.1

employee related administration;

 

Page 21 of 23


24.1.2

processing his file and management of its business;

 

24.1.3

compliance with applicable procedures, laws and regulations;

 

24.1.4

providing data to external suppliers for the provision and administration of his remuneration and any benefits and any benefits; and/or

 

24.1.5

to evaluate the efficiency of the Company’s and any Associated Companies’ business systems.

 

25.

RELEASES AND WAIVERS

 

25.1

The Company may, in whole or in part, release, compound, compromise, waive or postpone, in its absolute discretion, any liability owed to it or right granted to it in this Agreement by the Executive without in any way prejudicing or affecting its rights in respect of any part of that liability or any other liability or right not so released, compounded, compromised, waived or postponed.

 

25.2

No single or partial exercise, or failure or delay in exercising any right, power or remedy by the Company shall constitute a waiver by it of, or impair or preclude any further exercise of, that or any right, power or remedy arising under this Agreement or otherwise.

 

26.

GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

 

26.1

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Scottish law.

 

26.2

Each of the parties irrevocably submits for all purposes in connection with this Agreement to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Scottish courts.

 

Page 22 of 23


EXECUTED as a DEED by

ALBA BIOSCIENCE LIMITED

acting by:

 

Director:    )   

/s/ Roland Boyd

   Dated    10 October 2018   
Director/Secretary:    )   

/s/ Paul Stuart

   Dated    25 September 2018   
EXECUTED as a DEED by    )   

/s/ Ernest Larnach

   Dated    3 September 2018   
Ernest Larnach    )            
in the presence of    )            
Signature of Witness:    )   

/s/ Fiona Larnach

   Dated    3 September 2018   
Name:       Fiona Larnach         

Address:

Occupation:

 

Page 23 of 23

Exhibit 10.3

 

LOGO  

Paul Stuart

11th December 2019

Private & Confidential

Ernest Larnach

c/o Finance, Quotient

Dear Ernest,

CONTRACT AMENDMENT – CHANGE TO JOB TITLE AND SALARY

Change of Job Title

Further to recent discussions, I can confirm that from 1st January 2020 your new job title will be Head of Financial Accounting and Treasury (Principal Accounting Officer).

Job Description

Your job description is currently under review. Once updated, you and your manager must sign both copies, returning one to Human Resources and keeping one in your training file. It is the intention of the Company that any oral instructions or written description of your job duties and responsibilities should serve as a guide to the major areas for which you will be accountable. This title does not define or limit the scope of your employment with the Company which might reasonably require you to perform other duties from time to time.

Change of Salary

With effect from 1st January 2020 your new salary will be £165,000 p/annum. This will commence in your January pay.

All other terms and conditions of your contract of employment remain the same.

I would appreciate if you could sign both copies of this document, returning one copy to Human Resources and keeping the second copy for your own records.

If you have any questions relating to this matter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

 

Yours sincerely,
/s/ Paul Stuart

Paul Stuart

Vice President, Human Resources

Alba Bioscience Limited, Registered in Scotland No. SC310584

Allan-Robb Campus, 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton Bridge, Penicuik EH26 0BF

T +44 (0) 131 357 3333, quotientbd.com


LOGO

I confirm my acceptance of these revised terms and conditions of employment.

 

Signed  

/s/ Ernest Larnach

    Date   12/12/19
  Ernest Larnach      

 

Quotient Biocampus Limited, Registered in Scotland No. SC514165   
Allan-Robb Campus, 5 James Hamilton Way, Milton Bridge, Penicuik EH26 0BF   
T +44 (0) 131 357 3333, quotientbd.com    Page 2/2

Exhibit 10.4

QUOTIENT LIMITED

CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT

THIS CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT (this Agreement”), is made on this 8th day of November, 2019, by and between QUOTIENT LIMITED, a public no par value limited liability company incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands, with registered number 109886 (the “Company”) and Ernest Larnach (the Employee”).

WHEREAS, the Employee serves as an employee of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Employee desire to enter into this Agreement to establish certain protections for the Employee in the event of Employee’s termination of employment under the circumstances described herein; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual covenants and promises contained herein, and intending to be bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

Section 1. Definitions. As used herein:

1.1 Affiliate means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person, provided that, in any event, any business in which the Company has any direct ownership interest shall be treated as an Affiliate of the Company.

1.2 Base Salary means, as of any given date, the annual base rate of salary payable to the Employee by the Company; provided, however, that in the case of a resignation by the Employee for the Good Reason described in Section 1.9.1, “Base Salary” will mean the annual base rate of salary payable to the Employee by the Company as in effect immediately prior to the reduction giving rise to the Good Reason.

1.3 Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

1.4 Cause means (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Employee in the performance of his duties; (ii) conviction of or a plea of nolo contendere by the Employee of a felony or act of moral turpitude (or similar local law concepts); or (iii) the Employee’s fraud, embezzlement or misappropriation relating to material amounts of the Company’s assets. The acts or omissions of the Employee shall not be considered to be willful unless he has no reasonable belief that he is acting in the best interests of the Company.

1.5 Change of Control means:

1.5.1 The acquisition, directly or indirectly, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, by any person or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of the beneficial ownership of securities of the Company possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding securities of the Company; provided, however, that a Change in Control shall not result upon such acquisition of beneficial ownership if such acquisition occurs as a result of a public offering of the Company’s securities or any financing transaction or series of financing transactions;


1.5.2 A merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation hold as a result of holding Company securities prior to such transaction, in the aggregate and in the same proportions, securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the surviving entity (or the parent of the surviving entity) immediately after such merger or consolidation;

1.5.3 A reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such merger hold, in the aggregate securities possessing less than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company or of the acquiring entity immediately after such merger; or

1.5.4 The sale, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, except for a transaction in which the holders of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction(s) receive as a distribution with respect to securities of the Company, in the aggregate, securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the acquiring entity immediately after such transaction(s).

1.6 Code means Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

1.7 Control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms Controlled by and under common Control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the direct or indirect possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

1.8 Disability means a condition entitling the Employee to benefits under the Company’s long term disability plan, policy or arrangement; provided, however, that if no such plan, policy or arrangement is then maintained by the Company and applicable to the Employee, “Disability” will mean the Employee’s inability, by reason of any physical or mental impairment, to substantially perform Employee’s regular duties to the Company, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion (after affording the Employee the opportunity to present Employee’s case), which inability is reasonably contemplated to continue for at least one year from its commencement and at least 90 days from the date of such determination.

1.9 Good Reason means the occurrence of any of the following events, without the Employee’s written consent, unless such events are fully corrected in all material respects by the Company within thirty (30) days following written notification by the Employee to the Company of the occurrence of one of the reasons set forth below:

1.9.1 A reduction in the Employee’s rate of the Base Salary;


1.9.2 A material diminution in the Employee’s titles, authority or duties; or

1.9.3 The Company’s relocation of the Employee’s principal place of employment to a location more than fifty (50) miles from the Employees current principal place of employment.

In order to terminate for Good Reason, the Employee must provide the Company with written notice describing the event(s) alleged to constitute Good Reason within sixty (60) days after first becoming aware of the occurrence of such event(s), and the Company will have thirty (30) days to cure such event(s) following receipt of such written notice. If such event(s) are not so cured, the Employee must actually terminate his employment within thirty (30) days following the expiration of the Company’s cure period. Otherwise, any claim of such circumstances as “Good Reason” will be deemed irrevocably waived by the Employee.

1.10 Person means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, governmental entity, unincorporated entity or other entity.

1.11 Release means a release substantially identical to the one attached hereto as Exhibit A.

Section 2. Certain Terminations

2.1 Severance Events Following a Change of Control. If the Employee’s employment with the Company ceases within the twenty four (24) month period following the date of a Change of Control as a result of a termination by the Company without Cause or a resignation by the Employee for Good Reason, then the Employee will be entitled to a lump sum payment of the following:

2.1.1 (i) any Base Salary earned through the effective date of termination that remains unpaid, with any such amounts paid on the first regularly scheduled payroll date following the effective date of termination; (ii) any bonus payable with respect to any fiscal year which ended prior to the effective date of the Employee’s termination of employment, which remains unpaid, with such amount paid in the first regularly scheduled payroll date following the effective date of termination or, if later, at the same time the bonus would have otherwise been payable to the Employee; and (iii) any expense reimbursement due to the Employee on or prior to the date of such termination which remains unpaid to the Employee, with any such reimbursement being made promptly following the effective date of termination (collectively, the Accrued Obligations”); and

2.1.2 a cash payment equal to 150% of the sum of the Employee’s Base Salary plus target annual bonus in effect on the date of termination (without taking into effect any reduction described in Section 1.9.1 above).

Except as otherwise provided in this Section 2, the Company will have no further liability or obligation by reason of such cessation of employment. The payment described in this Section 2 is in lieu of (and not in addition to) any other severance plan, fund, agreement or other similar arrangement maintained by the Company, including, pursuant to any employment or services


agreement between the Company or an Affiliate thereof and the Employee. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement, the payment described in Section 2.1.2 is conditioned on the Employee’s execution and delivery to the Company of the Release and the expiration of its revocation period, if any, no later than the 30th day following the date of termination of employment. Subject to Section 2.3, below, the payment described in Section 2.1.2 will be made no later than five (5) business days after the Release becomes irrevocable, provided that if the 30 day period described above begins in one taxable year and ends in a second taxable year such payment shall not be made until the second taxable year. Notwithstanding the notice provisions of any employment or services agreement between the Company or an Affiliate thereof and the Employee, on and after a Change in Control, the Company may terminate the Employee without Cause or the Employee may resign for Good Reason in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.9 above upon providing 14 days prior written notice of termination.

2.2 Other Terminations. If the Employee’s employment with the Company ceases for any reason other than as described in Section 2.1 (including but not limited to (a) termination by the Company for Cause, (b) resignation by the Employee without Good Reason, (c) termination as a result of the Employee’s Disability, or (d) the Employee’s death), then the Company’s obligation to the Employee will be limited solely to the payment of The Accrued Obligations. All compensation and benefits will cease at the time of such cessation of employment and, except as otherwise provided by applicable law, the Company will have no further liability or obligation by reason of such termination.

2.3 Compliance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the payment to be made under Section 2.1.2 hereof will not be made unless and until the Employee has a “separation from service” from the Company within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.

In addition, to the extent compliance with the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.409A-3(i)(2) (or any successor provision) is necessary to avoid the application of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code to the payment due to the Employee following his “separation from service,” then notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (or any otherwise applicable plan, policy, agreement or arrangement), such payment will be deferred without interest and paid to the Employee in a lump sum on the first day following the six month anniversary of the Employee’s “separation from service.”

Section 3. Parachute Payments.

3.1 The payment provided under Section 2 shall be made without regard to whether such payment, either alone or in conjunction with any other payments or benefits made available to the Employee by the Company and its Affiliates, will result in the Employee being subject to an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code (the Excise Tax”) or whether the deductibility of such payment would be limited or precluded by Section 280G of the Code; provided, however, that if the Total After-Tax Payments (as defined below) would be increased by limitation or elimination of the payment provided under Section 2, then the amount payable under Section 2 will be reduced to the minimum extent necessary to maximize the Total After-Tax Payments. For purposes of this Section 3, Total After-Tax Payments means the total of all “parachute payments” (as that term is defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code) made to or for the benefit of the Employee (whether made under this Agreement or otherwise), after reduction for all applicable taxes (including, without limitation, the Excise Tax).


3.2 All determinations to be made under this Section 3 shall be made by the Company in good faith.

Section 4. Miscellaneous.

4.1 Section 409A.

4.1.1 This Agreement shall be interpreted to avoid any penalty sanctions under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code”). If the payment cannot be provided or made at the time specified herein without incurring sanctions under Section 409A, then such payment shall be provided in full at the earliest time thereafter when such sanctions will not be imposed. In no event may the Employee, directly or indirectly, designate the calendar year of payment.

4.1.2 Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary or otherwise, except to the extent any expense, reimbursement or in-kind benefit provided to the Employee does not constitute a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and its implementing regulations and guidance, (i) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided to the Employee during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement or in-kind benefits provided to the Employee in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursements for expenses for which the Employee is entitled to be reimbursed shall be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the applicable expense is incurred and (iii) the right to payment or reimbursement or in-kind benefits hereunder may not be liquidated or exchanged for any other benefit.

4.2 Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and Employee and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and/or permitted assigns; provided, however, that neither Employee nor the Company may make any assignments of this Agreement or any interest herein, by operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other party, except that, without such consent, the Company may assign this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of its assets and business by means of liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, transfer of assets, or otherwise.

4.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the application of the principles of conflicts of laws.

4.4 Waivers; Separability. The waiver by either party hereto of any right hereunder or any failure to perform or breach by the other party hereto shall not be deemed a waiver of any other right hereunder or any other failure or breach by the other party hereto, whether of the same or a similar nature or otherwise. No waiver shall be deemed to have occurred unless set forth in a writing executed by or on behalf of the waiving party. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as to the specific term or condition waived. 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 the effectiveness or validity of any provision in any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement will be reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

4.5 Notices. All notices and communications that are required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally or upon mailing by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, as follows:

If to the Company, to:

Quotient Limited

28 Esplanade

St Helier

Jersey JE2 3QA

Channel Islands

Attn: Franz Walt

E-mail: franz.walt@quotientbd.com

If to Employee, to the address on file with the Company,

or to such other address as may be specified in a notice given by one party to the other party hereunder.

4.6 Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding of the parties relating to the provision of severance benefits upon termination in connection with a Change of Control, and merges and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous discussions, agreements and understandings of every nature relating to that subject.

4.7 Withholding. The Company will withhold from any payments due to Employee hereunder, all taxes or other amounts required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law.

4.8 Headings Descriptive. The headings of sections and paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

4.9 Counterparts and Facsimiles. This Agreement may be executed, including execution by electronic or facsimile signature, in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.

4.10. Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall expire, and the Employee will have no rights hereunder, on November 8, 2022 or on each anniversary thereof if and only if the Board provides written notice to the Employee of such expiration at least 90 days prior to November 8, 2022 or the applicable anniversary thereof; provided, however, that,


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the date and year first above written.

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED
By:  

Franz Walt

  Name:   Franz Walt
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
By:  

/s/ Ernest Larnach

  Name: Ernest Larnach
  EVP Group Finance


notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall not be authorized to cause this Agreement to expire, and this Agreement shall not expire, on or after the date of a Change in Control.

[signature page follows]


EXHIBIT A

RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS

This Release and Waiver of Claims (“Release”) is entered into as of this              day of                     , 20         , between QUOTIENT LIMITED and any successor thereto (collectively, the “Company”) and                                          (the “Executive”).

The Executive and the Company agree as follows:

1. The employment relationship between the Executive and the Company, or an Affiliate of the Company, was terminated on                      (the “Termination Date”).

2. In accordance with the change of control agreement, dated                     , between the Executive and the Company, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Change of Control Agreement”), the Executive is entitled to receive certain payments and benefits after the Termination Date.

3. In consideration of the above, the sufficiency of which the Executive hereby acknowledges, the Executive, on behalf of the Executive and the Executive’s heirs, executors and assigns, hereby releases and forever discharges the Company and its shareholders, parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, any and all of its or their current and former directors, officers, employees, agents, and contractors and their heirs and assigns, and any and all employee pension benefit or welfare benefit plans of the Company, including current and former trustees and administrators of such employee pension benefit and welfare benefit plans (the “Released Parties”), from all claims, charges, or demands, in law or in equity, whether known or unknown, which may have existed or which may now exist from the beginning of time to the date of this Release, including, without limitation, any claims the Executive may have arising from or relating to the Executive’s employment or termination from employment with the Company, including a release of any rights or claims the Executive may have under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, and the Civil Rights Act of 1991; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993; Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866; Section 1985(3) of the Civil Rights Act of 1871; the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended; the Fair Labor Standards Act, as amended, 29 U.S.C. Section 201 et. seq.; any other federal, state or local laws against discrimination; or any other federal, state, or local statute, or common law relating to employment, wages, hours, or any other terms and conditions of employment. This includes a release by the Executive of any and all claims or rights arising under contract, covenant, public policy, tort or otherwise.

4. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive is waiving and releasing any rights that the Executive may have under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended (“ADEA”) and that this Release is knowing and voluntary. The Executive and the Company agree that this Release does not apply to any rights or claims that may arise after the effective date of this Release. The Executive acknowledges that the consideration given for this Release is in addition to anything of value to which the Executive is already entitled. The Executive further acknowledges that the Executive has been advised by this writing that: (i) the Executive should consult with an attorney prior to executing this Release; (ii) the Executive has at


least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Release, although the Executive may, at the Executive’s discretion, sign and return this Release at an earlier time in which case the Executive waives all rights to the balance of the 21 day review period; (iii) for a period of 7 days following the execution of this Release in duplicate originals, the Executive may revoke this Release in a writing delivered by hand or by mail to an individual designated by the Company to receive such writing (signature of receipt required), and this Release shall not become effective or enforceable until the revocation period has expired; and (iv) nothing in this Release prevents or precludes the Executive from challenging or seeking a determination in good faith of the validity of this Release under the ADEA, nor does it impose any condition precedent, penalties or costs for doing so, unless specifically authorized by federal law. If the Executive has not returned the signed Release within the time permitted, then the offer of payment set forth in the Change of Control Agreement will expire by its own terms at such time.

5. This Release does not prevent Executive from filing a charge with, or participating in an investigation or proceeding conducted by, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other federal, state, or local governmental agency. However, Executive understands that this Release waives any right Executive may have to recover monetary damages, as well as any other individual relief, as a result of such a charge or a related lawsuit, whether filed by Executive or anyone else. Executive agrees to pay any reasonable legal fees or costs incurred by the Company as a result of any breach of Executive’s promises in this Release, including Executive’s promise to fully release the Released Parties from all claims, charges, or demands, in law or in equity, or rights, as set forth in Sections 3, 4 and 5 of this Release, and to compensate each Released Party for its legal costs, including attorneys’ fees incurred by such Released Party as a result of any breach of this Release, except to the extent that Executive challenges the validity of this Release under the ADEA, in which case the Released Parties may only recover such fees and expenses as may be permitted by state and federal law. Except to the extent that Executive is permitted to not disclose information provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) pursuant to Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, 15 U.S.C. §78u-6 and SEC Regulation 21F promulgated thereunder, or to other regulatory government agencies pursuant to similar whistleblower protection laws, Executive agrees that as of the date set forth below, Executive has not reported information to the SEC concerning, and is not aware of, any securities law compliance failure by the Company by any person that has not been reported in writing to Company’s Board of Directors.

6. This Release does not release the Released Parties from (i) any obligations due to the Executive under the Change of Control Agreement, or under this Release, (ii) any vested rights the Executive has under the Company’s employee benefit plans in which the Executive participated, (iii) any rights or claims that arise from actions or omissions after the date of execution by the Executive of this Release, (iv) any rights that cannot be waived as a matter of applicable law, or (v) any rights to indemnification the Executive may have under any indemnity agreement, applicable law, the by-laws, certificate of incorporation, or other constituent document of the Company or any of its affiliates or as an insured under any director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy now or previously in force.

7. This Release is not an admission by the Released Parties of any wrongdoing, liability or violation of law.


8. The Executive waives any right to reinstatement or future employment with the Company following the Executive’s separation from the Company.

9. This Release shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflicts or laws principles thereof.

10. This Release and the Change of Control Agreement represent the complete agreement between the Executive and the Company concerning the subject matter in this Release and supersedes all prior agreements or understandings, written or oral. This Release may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal representatives.

11. Each of the sections contained in this Release shall be enforceable independently of every other section in this Release, and the invalidity or unenforceability of any section shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other section contained in this Release.

12. The Executive acknowledges that the Executive has carefully read and understands this Release, that the Executive has the right to consult an attorney with respect to its provisions and that this Release has been entered into voluntarily. The Executive acknowledges that no representation, statement, promise, inducement, threat or suggestion has been made by any of the Released Parties to influence the Executive to sign this Release except such statements as are expressly set forth herein or in the Change of Control Agreement.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]


The parties to this Release have executed this Release as of the day and year first written above.

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

                     

[Executive]