As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2021

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

Inducement Restricted Share Unit Award

Inducement Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit 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:

Kathleen Werner, 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

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price

  Amount of
Registration Fee

Ordinary shares of no par value

               

— Inducement Share Option Award to Manuel Mendez

  831,590 shares(2)   $3.72(3)   $3,093,514(3)   $337.50

— Inducement Restricted Share Unit Award to Manuel Mendez

  1,035,088 shares(2)   $3.72(3)   $3,850,527(3)   $420.10

— Inducement Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Award to Manuel Mendez

  263,158 shares(2)   $3.72(3)   $978,948(3)   $106.80

TOTAL

  2,129,836 shares   —     $7,922,989   $864.40

 

 

(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)

The number of Ordinary Shares underlying options to purchase Ordinary Shares or issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted share unit awards (performance and non-performance) granted to Mr. Mendez has been estimated for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and has been determined based in part upon recent trading activity of the Ordinary Shares of Quotient Limited (the “Registrant”) reported on the Nasdaq Global Market. The actual number of such Ordinary Shares will be determined on the actual grant date of the awards. The Ordinary Shares referenced in this footnote (2) will be granted as an inducement material to his acceptance of employment with 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 based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of the Ordinary Shares reported on The Nasdaq Global Market on March 25, 2021.

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement on Form S-8 is being filed by Quotient Limited (the “Registrant”) for the purpose of registering ordinary shares of no par value of the Registrant (the “Ordinary Shares”) that may be issued upon the following:

 

  •  

the vesting and settlement of restricted share units (the “RSUs”) having a grant date fair value of $3,333,333 (the “Sign-On RSUs”) and the exercise of share options having a grant date fair value of $1,666,667 (the “Sign-On Share Options”); and

 

  •  

the vesting and settlement of RSUs having a grant date fair value of $600,000 (the “First Annual RSUs”) and performance-based restricted share units having a grant date fair value of $1,000,000 (the “First Annual PSUs”), and the exercise of share options having a grant date fair value of $400,000 (the “First Annual Share Options”).

The RSUs, share options and PSUs will vest as following:

 

  •  

The Sign-On RSUs will vest in three years, with 50% vesting on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and 25% vesting on each of the second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.

 

  •  

The Sign-On Share Options, the First Annual RSUs and the First Annual Share Options will vest in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date of grant.

 

  •  

The First Annual PSUs will vest on the third anniversary of the date of grant up to a maximum of 150% of the target fair market value of the First Annual PSUs, based on the level of achievement of specific performance criteria.

The Sign-On RSUs, Sign-On Share Options, First Annual RSUs, First Annual Share Options and First Annual PSUs were all issued outside of the Registrant’s 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, were approved by the board of directors of the Registrant (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 Mr. Mendez’s entering into employment with the Registrant.

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, September  30, 2020 and December 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on August 6, 2020, November 6, 2020 and February 4, 2021, 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), November  24, 2020, December  22, 2020 (but only with respect to Item 5.02), March  1, 2021, March  8, 2021 (but only with respect to Item 8.01 and Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 thereto) and March 12, 2021;

 

  •  

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 Exhibit 4.1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on June 12, 2020, which updated the description thereof contained in our 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.

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.

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.

  (2)

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s 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.

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

4.1    Form of Ordinary Shares Certificate (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 of Amendment No. 4 to our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-194390) on April 14, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.2*    Form of Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement
5.1*    Opinion of Carey Olsen Jersey LLP
23.1*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.2*    Consent of Carey Olsen Jersey LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on signature page)
99.1    Quotient Limited 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, as adopted on March 31, 2014, amended and restated on October  28, 2016, further amended and restated on October 31, 2018, and further amended and restated on October  29, 2020 (incorporated by reference to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2020).

 

*

Filed herewith.

SIGNATURES

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 March 30, 2021.

 

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 Vittoria Bonasso and each of them, as such person’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in such person’s 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   March 30, 2021
Franz Walt   (Principal Executive Officer)  

/s/ PETER BUHLER

  Chief Financial Officer   March 30, 2021
Peter Buhler   (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)  

/s/ ISABELLE BUCKLE

  Director   March 30, 2021
Isabelle Buckle    

/s/ FREDERICK HALLSWORTH

  Director   March 30, 2021
Frederick Hallsworth    

/s/ CATHERINE LARUE

  Director   March 30, 2021
Catherine Larue    

/s/ BRIAN MCDONOUGH

  Director   March 30, 2021
Brian McDonough    

/s/ ZUBEEN SHROFF

  Director   March 30, 2021
Zubeen Shroff    

/s/ HEINO VON PRONDZYNSKI

  Director   March 30, 2021
Heino von Prondzynski    

/s/ JOHN WILKERSON

  Director   March 30, 2021
John Wilkerson    

/s/ JEREMY STACKAWITZ

  Authorized Representative in the United States   March 30, 2021
Jeremy Stackawitz    

Exhibit 4.2

QUOTIENT LIMITED

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT 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 “Grantee”), dated as of the [            ] (the “Award Date”).

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, under the Plan, the Company may from time to time issue awards of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) to individuals and persons who provide services to, among others, the Company and certain of its affiliates;

WHEREAS, RSUs awarded hereunder are granted as an “inducement” award under NASDAQ Marketplace Rules outside of the Plan; and;

WHEREAS, in connection with the Grantee’s becoming the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Administrator has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders to grant RSUs to the Grantee subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

1. Grant of RSUs.

The Company hereby grants the Grantee [    ] RSUs. The RSUs are subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Although the RSUs and Ordinary Shares issuable upon settlement of the RSUs are not issued pursuant to the Plan, the terms of the RSUs 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 RSUs 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 RSUs 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 Plan’s terms as they are incorporated herein by reference and deemed to apply to the RSUs granted hereunder, and this Agreement, and to make any and all determinations under them, and its decision shall be binding and conclusive upon the Grantee and the Grantee’s beneficiary in respect of any questions arising under the Plan as incorporated by reference herein or this Agreement. The Grantee acknowledges that the Grantee 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 RSUs granted hereunder nor any Ordinary Shares issued upon settlement of such RSUs shall reduce the number of Ordinary Shares available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the Plan. Where the context permits, references to the Company shall include any successor to the Company.

 

- 1 -

2. Restrictions.

(a) Subject to the Grantee remaining in continuous employment with the Company through the Vesting Date, the percentage of the Grantee’s RSUs granted hereunder that shall become vested upon the Vesting Date shall be determined based on the level of the Company’s revenue with respect to the Company’s 2024 fiscal year (“Fiscal Year 2024 Revenue”), as determined by the Committee, as follows:

[Revenue-based performance targets set by the remuneration committee of the board of directors.]

In the event the Fiscal Year 2024 Revenue of the Company, as determined by the Committee, falls between Threshold and Maximum achievement as set forth in the above table, the percentage of the Grantee’s RSUs granted hereunder that shall vest on the Vesting Date shall be determined by using straight line linear interpolation. In no event shall the Grantee vest in more than 150% of the RSUs granted hereunder.

(b) Subject to clause 2(c) below and except as otherwise set forth under Section 9.1 of the Optionee’s employment agreement with the Company, upon the Grantee’s Termination of Service for any reason prior to the Vesting Date, all RSUs which have not vested pursuant to Paragraph 5 hereof shall, with no further action, be forfeited by the Grantee, and neither the Grantee nor any of his or her successors, heirs, assigns, or personal representatives shall thereafter have any further rights or interests in such RSUs.

(c) 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 Grantee 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 Grantee is on military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence (to be determined in the discretion of the Administrator).

3. Voting and Other Rights.

The Grantee shall have no rights of a Shareholder (including the right to distributions or dividends), and will not be treated as an owner of Shares for tax purposes, except with respect to Ordinary Shares that have been issued.

4. Settlement.

Each vested and outstanding RSU shall be settled in one Ordinary Share on the Vesting Date (either by delivering one or more certificates for such Ordinary Share or by entering such Ordinary Share in book-entry form, as determined by the Company in its discretion). Such issuance shall constitute payment of the RSUs. References herein to issuances to the Grantee shall include issuances to any beneficial owner or other person to whom (or to which) the Ordinary Shares are issued. The Company’s obligation to issue Ordinary Shares or otherwise make any payment with respect to vested RSUs is subject to the condition precedent that the Grantee or other person entitled under the terms of the Plan as incorporated by reference herein to receive any Ordinary Shares with respect to the vested RSUs deliver to the Company any representations or other documents or assurances required pursuant to Paragraph 6(k). The Grantee shall

 

- 2 -

have no further rights with respect to any RSUs that are paid or that terminate pursuant to Paragraph 2. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent the terms of this Paragraph 4 conflict with any terms of the Plan as incorporated by reference herein relating to the settlement of RSUs, the terms of this Paragraph 4 shall govern.

5. Definitions.

(a) ”Vesting Date” means the third anniversary of the Award Date.

6. Miscellaneous.

(a) In the event of any change in the Company’s outstanding Shares by reason of any stock dividend, split, spinoff, recapitalization or other similar change, the terms (including each applicable Target Price) and the number of any outstanding RSUs (and the Shares represented by such RSUs) shall be equitably adjusted by the Administrator in its discretion to the extent the Administrator determines that such adjustment is necessary to preserve the benefit, including the economic value, of this Agreement for the Grantee and the Company.

(b) Nothing in this Agreement confers any rights or interests other than as herein provided. With respect to this Agreement, (i) the RSUs are bookkeeping entries, (ii) the obligations of the Company under this Agreement are unsecured and constitute a commitment by the Company to make benefit payments in the future, (iii) to the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under this Agreement , such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company, (iv) all payments under this Agreement (including distributions of Ordinary Shares) shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and (v) no special or separate fund shall be established or other segregation of assets made to assure such payments (except that the Company may in its discretion establish a bookkeeping reserve to meet its obligations under this Agreement ). The RSUs shall be used solely as a device for the determination of the payment to eventually be made to the Grantee with respect to vested RSUs. The award of RSUs is intended to be an arrangement that is unfunded for tax purposes and for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed b the laws of Jersey without reference to the principles of conflicts of law.

(d) 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 Administrator in the exercise of this power shall be final and binding upon the Company and the Grantee.

(e) All notices hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Company or the Administrator, shall be delivered to the Board or mailed to its principal office, addressed to the attention of the Board; and if to the Grantee, shall be delivered personally, sent by facsimile transmission or mailed to the Grantee 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(e).

(f) The failure of the Grantee or the Company to insist upon strict compliance with any provision of this Agreement, or to assert any right the Grantee 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.

(g) 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.

 

- 3 -

(h) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, to the extent that the Board determines that this Agreement or the RSU is subject to Section 409A or Section 457A of the Code and fails to comply with the requirements of Section 409A or Section 457A of the Code, the Board reserves the right (without any obligation to do so or to indemnify the Grantee for failure to do so), without the consent of the Grantee, to amend or terminate this Agreement and/or amend, restructure, terminate or replace the RSU in order to cause the RSU to either not be subject to Section 409A or Section 457A of the Code or to comply with the applicable provisions of such section.

(i) The terms of this Agreement shall be binding upon the Grantee and upon the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, transferees, assignees and successors in interest and upon the Company and its successors and assignees, subject to the terms of the Plan as incorporated by reference herein.

(j) Unless otherwise permitted in the sole discretion of the Administrator, (i) neither this Agreement nor any rights granted herein shall be assignable by the Grantee, and (ii) no purported sale, assignment, mortgage, hypothecation, transfer, pledge, encumbrance, gift, transfer in trust (voting or other) or other disposition of, or creation of a security interest in or lien on, any RSUs or Ordinary Shares by any holder thereof in violation of the provisions of this Agreement or the terms of the Plan as incorporated by reference herein will be valid, and the Company will not transfer any of said RSUs or Ordinary Shares on its books nor will any Ordinary Shares be entitled to vote, nor will any distributions be paid thereon, unless and until there has been full compliance with said provisions to the satisfaction of the Company. The foregoing restrictions are in addition to and not in lieu of any other remedies, legal or equitable, available to enforce said provisions.

(k) The Grantee hereby agrees to perform all acts, and to execute and deliver any documents, that may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this Agreement, including but not limited to all acts and documents related to compliance with securities, tax and other applicable laws and regulations.

(l) The Grantee hereby represents and agrees that the Grantee is not acquiring the RSUs or the Ordinary Shares with a view to distribution thereof.

(m) Nothing in this Agreement shall confer on the Grantee 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 Grantee’s 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 Grantee 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 or under the Plan.

(n) This Agreement and the terms of the Plan as incorporated by reference herein contain the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.

(o) 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.

(p) 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.

 

- 4 -

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Grantee have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

QUOTIENT LIMITED
By:  

 

Name:   [                    ]
Title:   [                    ]

 

[                    ]

 

- 5 -

Exhibit 5.1

LOGO

 

    

Carey Olsen Jersey LLP

47 Esplanade

St Helier

Jersey JE1 0BD

Channel Islands

Our ref         JMW/KAT/1043601/0022

    

T  +44 (0)1534 888900

F  +44 (0)1534 887755

E jerseyco@careyolsen.com

Quotient Limited

28 Esplanade

St Helier

Jersey JE2 3QA

30 March 2021

Dear Sirs and Mesdames

Quotient Limited (the “Company”): Registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) of an aggregate of 2,129,836 ordinary shares that may be issued upon the vesting and settlement of 1,035,088 restricted share units and 263,158 performance-based restricted share units and the exercise of 831,590 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 2,129,836 ordinary shares of no par value in the Company (those shares, the “Shares”) that will be issued upon the vesting and settlement of 1,035,088 restricted share units (“RSUs”), the vesting and settlement of 263,158 performance-based restricted share units (the “PSUs”) and the exercise of 831,590 share options (“Share Options”) (the RSUs, PSUs and the Share Options together, the “Inducement Awards”). For the purposes of this Opinion, the number of RSUs, PSUs and Share Options has been determined based in part upon recent trading activity of the Company’s ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Global Market. The actual number of such ordinary shares will be determined on the actual grant date of the awards.

 

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 Inducement Awards to Manuel Mendez and such Inducement Awards are to be issued pursuant to i) option award

 

Carey Olsen Jersey LLP is registered as a limited liability partnership in Jersey with registered number 80.

Quotient Limited

30 March 2021

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  agreements to be entered into between the Company and Mr. Mendez, pursuant to which Mr. Mendez shall have the option of purchasing 831,590 ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (the “Share Option Agreements”) and ii) RSU agreements to be entered into between the Company and Mr. Mendez, pursuant to which such RSUs shall vest over time (subject to the conditions therein) and shall be settled by way of issue of 1 ordinary share in the capital of the Company per RSU held (up to 1,035,088) (the “RSU Agreements”) and iii) a performance-based restricted share unit award agreement to be entered into between the Company and Mr. Mendez, pursuant to which PSUs shall vest (subject to the conditions therein) and shall be settled by way of issue of 1 ordinary share in the capital of the Company per PSU held (up to 263,158) (the “PSU Agreement”) (the Share Option Agreements, the RSU Agreements and the PSU Agreement, together the “Share Agreements”) and (iv) an employment agreement between Mr. Mendez and the Company dated 23 February 2021 (the “Employment Agreement”).

 

1.4

We should like to make the following observations:

 

  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 Employment Agreement and forms of the Share Agreements, of which we have examined copies;

 

  2.1.2

the following resolutions;

 

  (a)

the resolutions passed on 14 February 2021 by way of written resolutions of the directors of the Company approving, inter alia, the underlying Inducement Awards pursuant to the Employment Agreement and ancillary steps; and

 

  (b)

the resolutions passed on 12 February 2021 by way of a meeting of the remuneration committee of the Company approving, inter alia, the underlying Inducement Awards pursuant to the Employment Agreement and ancillary steps.

Quotient Limited

30 March 2021

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  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, and the public records of the Company which were provided to us in copy by a representative of the Registrar of Companies by email dated 30 March 2021 (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 “Director’s Certificate”).

 

2.2

We have not examined or relied on any other documents for the purpose of this Opinion.

 

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;

Quotient Limited

30 March 2021

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  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

due compliance with all matters of the laws of the Switzerland by which law the Employment Agreement is expressed to be governed and construed;

 

  3.1.6

that the Employment Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company and the other parties to the Employment Agreement, enforceable in accordance with their terms, under the laws of Switzerland;

 

  3.1.7

that the definitive Share Agreements entered into are substantially consistent with the forms of the Share Agreements reviewed by us;

 

  3.1.8

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;

 

  3.1.9

that the choice of the laws of Jersey and Switzerland to govern the Share Agreements and Employment Agreement, respectively, 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;

 

  3.1.10

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;

 

  3.1.11

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;

 

  3.1.12

that in resolving that the Company approve and enter into the Share Agreements and Employment Agreement and the transactions documented or contemplated by the Share Agreements and Employment Agreement and the issue of the Inducement Awards as appropriate, the directors of the Company (or the duly authorised committee thereof) were

Quotient Limited

30 March 2021

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  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 Agreements and Employment Agreement and the transactions documented or contemplated by the Share Agreements and Employment Agreement;

 

  3.1.13

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 Agreements or their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, partners, shareholders and advisers or any other relevant person;

 

  3.1.14

the accuracy and completeness of the Director’s 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;

 

  3.1.15

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

 

  3.1.16

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:

 

  (i)

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 Manuel Mendez 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 Manuel Mendez, the Shares will have been duly authorised and validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable;

 

  (ii)

upon the vesting of the RSUs pursuant to the RSU Agreements and the updating of the Register of Members of the Company to reflect Manuel Mendez as the registered holder of such Shares, the Shares issued pursuant to that RSU Agreements will have been duly authorised and validly issued and credited as fully paid and non-assessable; and

Quotient Limited

30 March 2021

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  (iii)

upon the vesting of the PSUs pursuant to the PSU Agreement and the updating of the Register of Members of the Company to reflect Manuel Mendez as the registered holder of such Shares, the Shares issued pursuant to that PSU Agreement will have been duly authorised and validly issued and credited as fully paid and non-assessable.

 

5.

Qualification

 

5.1

Upon the vesting of the RSUs under the RSU Agreements and the PSUs under the PSU Agreement, subject to the conditions therein, and the issuance of the equivalent Shares under the RSU Agreements and the PSU Agreement, the directors of the Company will transfer the determined cause (value) of those Shares to the stated capital account of the Company pursuant to Article 39A of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 (the “CJL”).

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.

Quotient Limited

30 March 2021

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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, Inducement Restricted Share Unit Award and Inducement Performance-Based Restricted Share Unit 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

March 30, 2021