As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 6, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
QUOTIENT LIMITED
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Jersey, Channel Islands | Not applicable | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
B1, Business Park Terre Bonne, Route de Crassier 13, 1262 Eysins, Switzerland 011-41-22-716-9800 |
Not applicable | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (ZIP Code) |
Inducement Share Option Award
(Full Title of the Plan)
Jeremy Stackawitz
Quotient Biodiagnostics, Inc.
301 South State Street, Suite S-204
Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940
(215) 497-8820
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Per B. Chilstrom, Esq.
Clifford Chance US LLP
31 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 878-8000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ | |||
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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||||||
Title of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be
Registered(1) |
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price Per Share(2) |
Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price(2) |
Amount of
Registration Fee |
||||
Ordinary shares of no par value |
||||||||
Inducement Share Option Award to Isabelle Buckle |
20,790 shares(2) | $4.81(3) | $99,999.90(3) | $10.91 | ||||
Inducement Share Option Award to Catherine Larue |
20,790 shares(2) | $4.81(3) | $99,999.90(3) | $10.91 | ||||
TOTAL |
41,580 shares | | $199,999.80 | $21.82 | ||||
|
||||||||
|
(1) |
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), this registration statement shall also cover any additional ordinary shares of no par value (Ordinary Shares), that become issuable in respect of the securities identified in the above table by reason of any share dividend, share split, recapitalization or similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration that increases the number of outstanding Ordinary Shares. |
(2) |
Consists of Ordinary Shares underlying options to purchase Ordinary Shares granted to Ms. Buckle and Ms. Larue on September 1, 2020 as an inducement material to each of Ms. Buckles and Ms. Larues joining the Board of Directors (the Board) of Quotient Limited (the Registrant), in accordance with the inducement grant exception under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4). |
(3) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and Rule 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act. The proposed maximum offering price per share is based on the price at which such option may be exercised, which was the closing price of a share of the Registrants Ordinary Shares on September 1, 2020 as reported on The Nasdaq Global Market. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement on Form S-8 is being filed by Quotient Limited (the Registrant) for the purpose of registering an aggregate of 41,580 Ordinary Shares that may be issued upon each of Ms. Buckles and Ms. Larues exercise of 20,790 share options (the Inducement Awards). The Inducement Awards will vest in three equal installments on each first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant. The Inducement Awards, which were issued outside of the Registrants 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, were approved by the Board and the Remuneration Committee of the Board and issued pursuant to the inducement grant exception under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4), as an inducement that is material to each of Ms. Buckles and Ms. Larues joining the Registrants Board.
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PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 is not being filed with or included in this Form S-8 (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
In this registration statement, Quotient Limited is sometimes referred to as Registrant, we, us or our.
Item 3. |
Incorporation of Documents by Reference. |
The following documents, which have been filed by the registrant with the SEC are hereby incorporated by reference herein, and shall be deemed to be a part of, this registration statement:
|
The Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on June 12, 2020 pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act; |
|
The Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2020 and September 30, 2020 filed with the SEC on August 6, 2020 and November 6, 2020, respectively; |
|
The Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 23, 2020, September 8, 2020 (but only with respect to Items 1.01 and 8.01 and Exhibits 10.1, 99.2, 99.3 and 99.4 thereto), September 14, 2020 and November 2, 2020 (SEC Accession No. 0001564590-20-049411); |
|
The Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on July 27, 2020 pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (but only with respect to information required by Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2020); and |
|
The description of our ordinary shares contained in Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A (File No. 001-36415), filed with the SEC on October 30, 2015 pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
In addition, all documents filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part of it from the respective dates of filing such documents; except as to any portion of any future annual, quarterly or current report or other document that is deemed furnished and not deemed filed under such provisions. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Item 4. |
Description of Securities. |
Not applicable.
Item 5. |
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel. |
None.
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Item 6. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
We have entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and certain of our officers which may require us to indemnify them against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers (other than with respect to claims where they are determined to have breached their fiduciary duties to us), and to advance their expenses, including legal expenses, incurred as a result of any investigation, suit or other proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. Generally, the maximum obligation under such indemnifications is not explicitly stated and, as a result, the overall amount of these obligations cannot be reasonably estimated. If we were to incur a loss in connection with these arrangements, it could affect our business, operating results and financial condition.
Item 7. |
Exemption from Registration Claimed. |
Not applicable.
Item 8. |
Exhibits. |
Reference is made under this Item 8 to the exhibit index included in this registration statement.
Item 9. |
Undertakings. |
(1) |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
(a) |
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(i) |
To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
(ii) |
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement. |
(iii) |
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(b) |
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(c) |
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
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(2) |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
(3) |
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Eysins, Switzerland on November 6, 2020.
QUOTIENT LIMITED | ||||
By: |
/s/ FRANZ WALT |
|||
Name: | Franz Walt | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Franz Walt, Peter Buhler and Ernest Larnach and each of them, as such persons true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such persons name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, and any additional related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including post-effective amendments to the registration statement and any such related registration statements), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and any other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ FRANZ WALT |
Chief Executive Officer and Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
Franz Walt | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ PETER BUHLER |
Chief Financial Officer | November 6, 2020 | ||
Peter Buhler | (Principal Financial Officer) | |||
/s/ ERNEST LARNACH |
Head of Financial Accounting & Treasury | November 6, 2020 | ||
Ernest Larnach | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ ISABELLE BUCKLE |
Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
Isabelle Buckle | ||||
/s/ FREDERICK HALLSWORTH |
Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
Frederick Hallsworth | ||||
/s/ CATHERINE LARUE |
Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
Catherine Larue | ||||
/s/ BRIAN MCDONOUGH |
Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
Brian McDonough | ||||
/s/ ZUBEEN SHROFF |
Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
Zubeen Shroff | ||||
/s/ HEINO VON PRONDZYNSKI |
Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
Heino von Prondzynski |
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Name |
Title |
Date |
||
/s/ JOHN WILKERSON |
Director | November 6, 2020 | ||
John Wilkerson | ||||
/s/ JEREMY STACKAWITZ |
Authorized Representative in the United States | November 6, 2020 | ||
Jeremy Stackawitz |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
* |
Filed herewith. |
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Exhibit 4.2
EXECUTION VERSION
QUOTIENT LIMITED
OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT by and between Quotient Limited, a public no par value limited liability company incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands (the Company) and [ ] (the Optionee), dated as of [ ], 2020.
WHEREAS, the Company maintains the Quotient Limited 2014 Stock Incentive Plan (the Plan) (capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto by the Plan);
WHEREAS, Options awarded hereunder are granted as an inducement award under NASDAQ Marketplace Rules outside of the Plan; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the Optionees becoming a director of the Company, the Administrator has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders to grant an Option to the Optionee subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
1. |
Grant of Stock Option. |
The Company hereby grants the Optionee an option (the Option) to purchase [ ] Ordinary Shares, subject to the following terms and conditions. Although the Options and Ordinary Shares issuable upon settlement of the Options are not issued pursuant to the Plan, the terms of the Options granted hereunder shall be governed in all respects as if issued under the Plan as currently in effect and as may be amended hereafter from time to time. It is understood that the Options granted hereunder are not being granted pursuant to the Plan; provided, however, that, unless inconsistent with the express terms of this Agreement, this Agreement shall be construed and administered in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Plan as if granted pursuant thereto, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference (including, without limitation, any interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to time pursuant to the Plan, which shall be deemed to apply to the Options granted hereunder without any further action of the Committee, unless expressly provided otherwise by the Committee). The Committee shall have final authority to interpret and construe the Plans terms as they are incorporated herein by reference and deemed to apply to the Options granted hereunder, and this Agreement, and to make any and all determinations under them, and its decision shall be binding and conclusive upon the Optionee and the Optionees beneficiary in respect of any questions arising under the Plan as incorporated by reference herein or this Agreement. The Optionee acknowledges that the Optionee has received a copy of the Plan and has had an opportunity to review the Plan and agrees to be bound by all the terms and provisions of the Plan as incorporated by reference herein. For the avoidance of doubt, neither the Options granted hereunder nor any Ordinary Shares issued upon settlement of such Options shall reduce the number of Ordinary Shares available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Plan.
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The Option is not intended to be and shall not be qualified as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
2. |
Exercise Price. |
The Exercise Price per Share shall be $[ ].
3. |
Initial Exercisability. |
Subject to Paragraph 5 below, the Option, to the extent that there has been no Termination of Service and the Option has not otherwise expired or been forfeited, shall first become exercisable as follows:
For the Period Ending On: |
Percent of the Grant Exercisable |
|
[ ] | 33.33% | |
[ ] | 33.33% | |
[ ] | 33.34% |
4. |
Termination of Service. |
(a) |
If the Optionee has a Termination of Service, other than by reason of death or Disability, the Option as then exercisable may be exercised by the Optionee during the 45-day period following the Termination of Service, or if earlier, the expiration of the term of the Option as provided under Paragraph 5 below; provided that, (i) if the Optionee dies during such 45-day period, the successor of the Optionee may exercise the Option until the earlier of (x) 12 months from the date of the Termination of Service of the Optionee, or (y) the date on which the term of the Option expires in accordance with Paragraph 5 below, and (ii) if the Optionee has a Termination of Service for Cause, any Option not exercised in full prior to such Termination of Service shall be cancelled. |
(b) |
In the event the Optionee has a Termination of Service on account of death or Disability, the Option as then exercisable may be exercised by the Optionee or the successor of the Optionee, as applicable, until the earlier of (i) 12 months from the date of the Termination of Service of the Optionee, or (ii) the date on which the term of the Option expires in accordance with Paragraph 5 below. |
(c) |
Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator, no Option (or portion thereof) which had not become exercisable at or before the time of Termination of Service shall ever be or become exercisable. No provision of this Paragraph 4 is intended to or shall permit the exercise of the Option to the extent the Option was not exercisable upon Termination of Service. |
(d) |
Termination of Service as an employee shall not be treated as a termination of employment for purposes of this Paragraph 4 if the Optionee continues without |
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interruption to serve thereafter as an officer or director of the Company or in such other capacity as determined by the Administrator (or if no Administrator is appointed, the Board), and the termination of such successor service shall be treated as the applicable termination. |
(e) |
For purposes of this Agreement, a Termination of Service shall mean the time when the employee-employer relationship or directorship, or other service relationship, between the Optionee and the Company (or an Affiliated Company) is terminated for any reason, with or without Cause, including, but not limited to, any termination by resignation, discharge, death or retirement. The Administrator, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effects of all matters and questions relating to Termination of Service, including, but not limited to, the question of whether any Termination of Service was for Cause and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute Terminations of Service. For this purpose, the service relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the Optionee is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence (to be determined in the discretion of the Administrator). |
5. |
Term. |
Unless earlier forfeited, the Option shall, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, expire in its entirety upon the tenth anniversary of the date hereof. The Option shall also expire and be forfeited at such earlier times and in such circumstances as otherwise provided hereunder.
6. |
Miscellaneous. |
(a) |
Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of Jersey without reference to the principles of conflicts of law. |
(b) |
The Administrator may construe and interpret this Agreement and establish, amend and revoke such rules, regulations and procedures for the administration of this Agreement as it deems appropriate. In this connection, the Administrator may correct any defect or supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in this Agreement or in any related agreements, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make this Agreement fully effective. All decisions and determinations by the in the exercise of this power shall be final and binding upon the Company and the Optionee. |
(c) |
All notices hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Company or the Administrator, shall be delivered to the Committee or mailed to its principal office, addressed to the attention of the Commitee; and if to the Optionee, shall be delivered personally, sent by email or facsimile transmission or mailed to the Optionee at the address appearing in the records of the Company. Such addresses may be changed at any time by written notice to the other party given in accordance with this Paragraph 6(c). |
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(d) |
The failure of the Optionee or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement, or to assert any right the Optionee or the Company, respectively, may have under this Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such provision or right or any other provision or right of this Agreement. |
(e) |
The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any payments or deemed payments any amount of tax withholding it determines to be required by law. |
(f) |
The Optionee agrees that, at the request of the Administrator, the Optionee shall represent to the Company in writing that the Ordinary Shares being acquired are acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution and that such Ordinary Shares will be disposed of only if properly registered for sale or if there is an available exemption for such disposition. The Optionee expressly understands and agrees that, in the event of such a request, the making of such representation shall be a condition precedent to receipt of Ordinary Shares upon exercise of the Option. |
(g) |
Nothing in this Agreement shall confer on the Optionee any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Company or any Affiliated Company or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliated Company and its Shareholders to terminate the Optionees employment or other service at any time. Employment or service for only a portion of the vesting period, even if a substantial portion, will not entitle the Optionee to any proportionate vesting or avoid or mitigate a termination of rights and benefits upon or following a termination of employment or service as provided in this Agreement. |
(h) |
This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto. |
(i) |
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, including via facsimile, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument. |
(j) |
Except as otherwise provided hereunder, no amendment or modification hereof shall be valid unless it shall be in writing and signed by all parties hereto. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Optionee have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
QUOTIENT LIMITED | ||
By: |
|
|
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
|
||
[Optionee] |
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Exhibit 5.1
Carey Olsen Jersey LLP 47 Esplanade St Helier Jersey JE1 0BD Channel Islands |
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T +44 (0)1534 888900 | ||||||
Our ref | JMW/LS/1053601.0002 | F +44 (0)1534 887744 | ||||
E jerseyco@careyolsen.com |
Quotient Limited
28 Esplanade
St Helier
Jersey JE2 3QA
6 November 2020
Dear Sirs and Madams
Quotient Limited (the Company): Registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) of an aggregate of 41,580 ordinary shares that may be issued upon the exercise of 41,580 share options
1. |
Background |
1.1 |
The Company has asked us to provide this Opinion in connection with the filing of a Form S-8 Registration Statement (the Registration Statement) in relation to the registration of an aggregate of 41,580 ordinary shares of no par value in the Company (those shares, the Shares) that will be issued upon the exercise of 41,580 share options (Share Options). |
1.2 |
In this Opinion non-assessable means, in relation to a share in the share capital of a Jersey company, that the purchase price for which the Company agreed to issue and sell that share has been paid in full to the Company, so that no further sum is payable to the Company or its creditors by any holder of that share solely because of being the holder of such share. |
1.3 |
The Shares form the total amount of ordinary shares that may be issued under the Share Options to Isabelle Buckle and Catherine Larue and such Share Options are to be issued pursuant to i) an option award agreement between the Company and Isabelle Buckle dated 1 September 2020, pursuant to which Isabelle Buckle shall have the option of purchasing 20,790 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company and ii) an option award agreement between the Company and Catherine Larue dated 1 September 2020, pursuant to which Catherine Larue shall have the option of purchasing 20,790 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company(together, the Share Option Agreements). |
1.4 |
We should like to make the following observations: |
Carey Olsen Jersey LLP is registered as a limited liability partnership in Jersey with registered number 80.
Quotient Limited
6 November 2020
Page 2
1.4.1 |
We have not been responsible for investigating or verifying the accuracy of the facts (including statements of foreign law), or the reasonableness of any statement of opinion or intention, contained in or relevant to any document referred to in this Opinion, or that no material facts have been omitted therefrom, save as expressly set out herein. |
1.4.2 |
We express no opinion as to whether the Documents as defined below, singular or together, contain all the information required by the Securities Act and/or any other applicable foreign laws, regulations, orders or rules nor whether the persons responsible for the Documents, the Securities Act and/or any other applicable foreign laws, regulations, orders or rules have discharged their obligations thereunder. |
2. |
Documents examined |
2.1 |
For the purposes of this Opinion we have examined and relied on the following (each a Document and together, the Documents): |
2.1.1 |
the Share Option Agreements, of which we have examined copies; |
2.1.2 |
the resolutions passed on 22 July 2020 passed by way of a meeting of i) the board of directors of the Company and ii) the remuneration committee of the Company, in each case approving, inter alia, the Share Options and related steps; |
2.1.3 |
the public records of the Company available for inspection on the web-site of the Registrar of Companies in Jersey (the Registrar of Companies) on the date of this Opinion, at the time we carried out such inspection (the Public Records and such inspections, the Public Records Searches); |
2.1.4 |
a copy of the certificate of incorporation of the Company (the Certificate of Incorporation); |
2.1.5 |
a copy of the consent issued to the Company pursuant to the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958 as amended dated 1 January 2017 (the COBO Consent); |
2.1.6 |
a copy of the memorandum and articles of association of the Company (together, the Memorandum and Articles of Association and such articles of association, the Articles of Association); and |
2.1.7 |
a certificate of a Director of the Company (the Directors Certificate). |
2.2 |
We have not examined or relied on any other documents for the purpose of this Opinion. |
Quotient Limited
6 November 2020
Page 3
3. |
Assumptions |
3.1 |
For the purposes of giving this Opinion we have relied on the following assumptions: |
3.1.1 |
that each party (other than the Company as a matter of Jersey law) has or had at the relevant time the necessary capacity, power, authority and intention and has or had at the relevant time obtained all necessary agreements, consents, licences or qualifications (whether as a matter of any law or regulation applicable to it or any contractual or other obligation binding upon it) to enter into the documents to which it is a party and that each such party has duly authorised, executed and delivered those documents and that those documents have been duly dated and (where applicable) delivered; |
3.1.2 |
that the COBO Consent examined by us is a true, complete and accurate copy of the consent relating to the Company and is in full force and effect at the date of this Opinion; |
3.1.3 |
that the copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum and Articles of Association examined by us are true, complete and accurate copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and Memorandum and Articles of Association that are in full force and effect at the date of this Opinion and that there are no: |
(a) |
special resolutions; or |
(b) |
resolutions or agreements which have been agreed to by, or which effectively bind, members of the Company, |
that affect, override or amend the Memorandum and Articles of Association, other than as appear in the Public Records;
3.1.4 |
the genuineness and authenticity of all signatures, initials, stamps and seals on all documents and the completeness and conformity to original documents of all copies examined by us; |
3.1.5 |
that there is no provision of the law or regulation of any jurisdiction other than Jersey that would have any adverse implication in relation to the opinions expressed in this Opinion; |
3.1.6 |
that the choice of the laws of Jersey to govern the Share Option Agreements was bona fide (for example not made with any intention of avoiding provisions of the law with which the transaction(s) documented or contemplated by the Documents has/have the closest and most real connection) and legal and there is no reason for avoiding that choice of law on grounds of public policy; |
Quotient Limited
6 November 2020
Page 4
3.1.7 |
that all documents or information required to be filed or registered by or in relation to the Company with the Registrar of Companies have been so filed or registered and appear on the Public Records and are accurate and complete; |
3.1.8 |
that we have been provided with copies or originals of all documents that are relevant to the Documents and/or that might affect the opinions expressed in this Opinion; |
3.1.9 |
that in resolving that the Company approve the Share Options and the transactions documented or contemplated by the Share Options, the directors of the Company (or the duly authorised committee thereof) were acting with a view to the best interests of the Company and were otherwise exercising their powers in accordance with their duties under all applicable laws and the Company remains solvent (meaning that the Company will be able to discharge its liabilities as they fall due) after entering into the Share Options and the transactions documented or contemplated by the Share Options; |
3.1.10 |
the absence of bad faith, fraud, coercion, duress, misrepresentation, mistake or undue influence by, on the part of or on behalf of, or suffered by, any of the parties to the Share Option Agreements or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, partners, shareholders and advisers or any other relevant person; |
3.1.11 |
the accuracy and completeness of the Directors Certificate, and of all statements as to matters of fact contained in the other documents referred to in this paragraph, as at the date of this Opinion; |
3.1.12 |
the Company is not carrying on a business that is regulated by Jersey law so that it is (or ought to be) subject to the terms of one or more other consents, licences, permits or equivalent under such regulatory legislation; and |
3.1.13 |
that each of the above assumptions is accurate at the date of this Opinion, and has been and will be accurate at all other relevant times. |
3.2 |
We have not independently verified the above assumptions. |
4. |
Opinion |
As a matter of Jersey law, and on the basis of and subject to the above and the qualification below, we are of the opinion that upon the exercise of the Share Options pursuant to the Share Option Agreements, the updating of the Register of Members of the Company to reflect Isabelle Buckle and Catherine Larue (respectively) as the registered holder of such Shares and the receipt by the Company of payment for those Shares pursuant to the terms of the Share Option Agreements by Isabelle Buckle and Catherine Larue (respectively), the Shares will have been duly authorised and validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable.
Quotient Limited
6 November 2020
Page 5
5. |
Qualification |
The register of members of a Jersey company is prima facie evidence of any matters which are by the CJL directed or authorised to be inserted in it. The CJL requires that the register of members of a Jersey company includes, amongst other things, the name and address of every member and, where he or she is a member because he or she holds shares in the company, the number of shares held by the member and, in the case of shares which are not fully paid, the amount remaining unpaid on each share.
6. |
Governing Law, Limitations, Benefit and Disclosure |
6.1 |
This Opinion shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Jersey and is limited to the matters expressly stated herein. |
6.2 |
This Opinion is limited to matters of Jersey law and practice as at the date hereof and we have made no investigation and express no opinion with respect to the law or practice of any other jurisdiction. |
6.3 |
We assume no obligation to advise you (or any other person who may rely on this Opinion in accordance with this paragraph), or undertake any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising after the date of this Opinion that might affect the opinions expressed herein. |
6.4 |
This Opinion is addressed to the Company in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Registration Statement. |
6.5 |
We consent to the filing of a copy of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act. |
Yours faithfully |
/s/ Carey Olsen Jersey LLP |
Carey Olsen Jersey LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the Inducement Share Option Award of Quotient Limited of our report dated June 12, 2020, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Quotient Limited included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March 31, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Belfast, United Kingdom
November 6, 2020