Registration No. 333-227772

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada   2834   82-1553794
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039

New York, New York 10020
(646) 756-2997
(Address and telephone number of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Robb Knie
Chief Executive Officer
Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.
1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039

New York, New York 10020
(646) 756-2997
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

     
Copies to:


Richard A. Friedman, Esq.

Stephen A. Cohen. Esq.
Nazia J. Khan, Esq.
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
30 Rockefeller Plaza, 39 th Floor
New York, NY 10112-0015
(212) 653-8700

 

Steven M. Skolnick, Esq.

Michael J. Lerner, Esq.

Lowenstein Sandler LLP
1251 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10020

(212) 262-6700



 

 

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

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box:    

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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

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 to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. 

 

- 1 -

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

         
 
Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price 1
  Amount of
Registration Fee 2
 
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   $9,343,750   $1,132.46*

 

1             Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Includes shares of common stock that the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any. 

 

2             Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) based on an estimate of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of the securities registered hereunder to be sold by the registrant.

 

* Previously paid.

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

- 2 -

 

 

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

 

Subject to Completion, dated December 14, 2018

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

1,250,000 Shares

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

 

 

This is the initial public offering of shares of common stock of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. We are offering 1,250,000 shares of our common stock. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We anticipate that the initial public offering price will be between $5.50 and $6.50 per share.

 

After the pricing of this offering, we expect that our shares of common stock will trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HOTH”.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements.

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13.

 

         
    Per Share     Total  
Initial public offering price   $       $  

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)(2)

  $       $    
Proceeds to us, before expenses   $       $    

 

(1) We refer you to “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” beginning on page 90 of this prospectus for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

 

(2) Does not include $200,000 payable to The Benchmark Company, LLC (“Benchmark”) to serve as the qualified independent underwriter. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” for a description of compensation payable to the underwriters.

 

- 3 -

 

 

We have granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to 187,500 additional shares of common stock at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discount, to cover over-allotments.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

Because persons associated with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (“Laidlaw”), the representative of the underwriters in this offering, beneficially hold, collectively, 1,518,750 shares of our common stock including shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, representing an aggregate of 16.57% of the outstanding shares of common stock on a fully diluted basis prior to this offering , Laidlaw is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” under Rule 5121 of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. Accordingly, Benchmark has agreed to act as a “qualified independent underwriter,” within the meaning of Rule 5121 in connection with this offering. In its role as a qualified independent underwriter, Benchmark has participated in the preparation of the registration statement and the prospectus and has exercised the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto. For a more complete discussion of the role and compensation of the underwriters, please see the section of this prospectus titled “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest) .”

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares on or about                        , 2018.

  

Sole Book-Running Manager

 

 

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

 

Prospectus dated                        , 2018

 

- 4 -

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

  Page
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 6
RISK FACTORS 13
INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 42
INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA 43
USE OF PROCEEDS 43
DIVIDEND POLICY 44
CAPITALIZATION 44
DILUTION 45
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 48
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND PLAN OF OPERATIONS 49
BUSINESS 54
MANAGEMENT 70
EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 73
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS 78
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS 80
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 81
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE 83
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK 86
UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST) 90
LEGAL MATTERS 95
EXPERTS 95
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 95
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS F-1

 

            We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give to you. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of our common stock.

 

            You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give information that is not contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor is it seeking an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of these securities.

 

- 5 -

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY 

 

The following summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information and financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. It does not contain all the information that may be important to you and your investment decision. You should carefully read this entire prospectus, including the matters set forth under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. In this prospectus, unless context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Hoth” or “the Company” refer to Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Overview

 

We are a development stage biopharmaceutical company incorporated in May 2017 focused on targeted therapeutics for patients suffering from conditions such as atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema.

 

Our primary asset is a sublicense agreement with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc. (“Chelexa”) pursuant to which Chelexa has granted us an exclusive sublicense to use its BioLexa Platform, a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform developed at the University of Cincinnati. The license enables us to develop the platform for any indications in humans. Our initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema through the application of a topical cream. Although our initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema, we intend to develop a second topical cream which, upon application, is intended to reduce post-procedure infections, accelerate healing and improve clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aesthetic dermatology procedures. In addition, we intend to conduct a pilot study on the efficacy of BioLexa to accelerate diabetic wound healing. The BioLexa Platform combines a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved zinc chelator with one or more approved antibiotics in a topical dosage form to address unchecked eczema flare-ups by preventing the formation of infectious biofilms and the resulting clogging of sweat ducts which trigger symptoms. To our knowledge, it is the first product candidate intended to prevent the symptom triggering flare-ups rather than simply treating symptoms when they occur.

 

On May 26, 2017, we entered into a sublicense agreement with Chelexa, as amended on August 22, 2018 and August 29, 2018, pursuant to which Chelexa granted us an exclusive sublicense to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell products based upon or involving the use of (i) topical compositions comprising a zinc chelator and gentamicin and (ii) zinc chelators to inhibit biofilm formation (the “BioLexa Platform” or “BioLexa”), which rights were originally granted to Chelexa pursuant to an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati. In addition, Chelexa granted us the right to issue exclusive and nonexclusive sublicenses (with the right to further sublicense to third parties) to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell products based upon the BioLexa Platform.

 

We intend to use the BioLexa Platform to develop two different topical cream products: (i) a product to treat eczema and (ii) a product that reduces post-procedure infections, accelerates healing and improves clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aesthetic dermatology procedures. Our initial focus will be on eczema. Eczema is a disease that results in inflammation of the skin and is characterized by rash, red skin, and itchiness. Eczema is also referred to as atopic dermatitis (“AD”). According to the National Eczema Association, eczema affects approximately 32 million Americans and, at $300 per annum per patient, represents an approximate $9.5 billion market in the U.S. alone.

 

BioLexa’s formulation is a new topical dosage form “repurposing” the antibiotic, enabling it to be developed for use in patients following a special regulatory pathway codified in Section 505(b)(2) of the FDA rules. Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was enacted to enable sponsors to seek New Drug Application (“NDA”) approval for novel repurposed drugs without the need for such sponsors to undertake time consuming and expensive pre-clinical safety studies and Phase 1 safety studies. Proceeding under this regulatory pathway, we will be able to rely upon all of the publicly available safety and toxicology data with respect to gentamicin and zinc chelator in our FDA submissions. We will be required to conduct a Phase 2 study to show the safety of the combination in humans and after such Phase 2 study will be required to proceed to Phase 3 pivotal clinical trials. We believe that this path will dramatically reduce the required clinical development effort, costs and risks as compared to what would be required of us if we were required to conduct pre-clinical safety, toxicology and animal studies together with Phase 1 human safety trials required for new chemical entities which are not eligible to be reviewed pursuant to the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. We estimate that by using the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, that the clinical development process may be five to six years shorter than is required for a new chemical entity, and the FDA approval process may be six to nine months shorter than the typical eighteen month period, which we believe may result in lower development costs and shorter development time. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not submitted an NDA to the FDA. In September 2018, we attended the first of a planned series of meetings with the FDA to review the requirements for submission and activation of an investigational new drug application (“IND”) with respect to the BioLexa Platform for use in eczema. In preparation for such pre-IND meeting, we prepared and presented to the FDA our proposed Phase 2 clinical trial plan for the treatment of eczema in patients over the age of one year old. As part of our pre-IND meeting, the FDA provided us with general guidance with respect to specific animal studies, dosing schedules and suggested human safety studies before we commence clinical trials in pediatric or adult patients. We are also exploring the feasibility, cost and timings advantages of conducting an initial Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial in a small number of pediatric patients. The objective of this study would be to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of BioLexa compared to the cream base or vehicle that contains no active ingredients. This Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial feasibility study may provide us with highly useful information regarding potential safety and efficacy of the BioLexa platform and assist us in developing appropriate sample sizes for the two registration, or regulatory, trials required for FDA approval. We are currently investigating multiple potential venues for conducting such trial both in and outstand of the U.S. We have engaged Camargo Pharmaceutical Services, LLC (“Camargo”) to assist us with the FDA process required for Section 505(b)(2) applications and with the evaluation of potential clinical trial venues for the proof of concept study should we determine to undertake such study. Specifically, Camargo has provided and will continue to provide advice and guidance relative to the IND preparation phase for the BioLexa platform. Camargo will assist us with the refinement of our non-clinical, clinical, clinical pharmacology and biopharmaceutics strategy incorporating the preliminary feedback we received from the FDA during our pre-IND meeting.

  

 

- 6 -

 

 

We believe that the key elements for our market success include:

 

the proprietary formulation of two FDA-approved drugs to treat bacterial proliferation reduces development time and costs by giving us the ability to rely on safety and efficacy data from the two approved drugs;

 

our proprietary formulation is not a topical corticosteroid, and may not be subject to the same FDA black box warning issues as most commonly prescribed treatments currently in use; and

 

recent peer-reviewed publications highlight that staph -induced biofilms are the root cause of flare-ups in eczema. Our BioLexa product candidate has been demonstrated to prevent the formation of these biofilms with the promise of delaying or completely arresting flare-ups, rather than merely treating symptoms of a flare-up already underway.

 

In addition to our sublicense agreement with Chelexa, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati for a patented, novel genetic marker for food allergies. The genetic marker licensed by us from the University of Cincinnati (i) may be used to identify at risk infants in predicting food allergies, including peanut and milk allergies, (ii) may be used to identify a person’s predisposition to an allergic reaction, thereby avoiding such reaction and (iii) may also determine an individual’s propensity to develop AD, such as eczema. We intend to utilize the genetic marker for purposes of determining an individual’s propensity to develop eczema as well as to identify and treat allergies in at-risk infants.

 

Our Product Pipeline

 

The following table summarizes the BioLexa expected product development pipeline.

 

 

We intend to conduct our first Phase 2 study in pediatric eczema patients comparing BioLexa to the base cream vehicle used to deliver BioLexa. We will assess the safety and tolerability of the topical formulation of Ca-DTPA and Gentamicin 0.1% in our proprietary topical cream vehicle. We will also measure the time to flare-up of symptoms in each arm of the trial and compare them, although proof of efficacy is not intended to be the primary endpoint for this trial. We expect to enroll 50 to 100 subjects in the Phase 2 trial at one or two centers and to complete the trial, subject to receipt of funding by us, by the middle of 2019.

 

- 7 -

 

 

Following our Phase 2 trial, we intend to conduct up to two registration trials in eczema patients again comparing BioLexa to the base cream vehicle used to deliver BioLexa. We are planning to conduct the first trial as a dose ranging trial to establish the safety and efficacy of each of the active ingredients in the BioLexa Platform as well as the combination of ingredients. Subject numbers and allocation will be informed by the results of the Phase 2 study. We expect the clinical program to be completed, subject to receipt of funding by us, by the end of 2020 or early 2021 with an NDA submission targeted for mid to late 2021.

 

There is currently no active IND for our product candidate in the United States.

 

Risks Associated with Our Business

 

Our business is subject to a number of risks of which you should be aware before making a decision to invest in our common shares. These risks are discussed more fully in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus. These risks include the following:

 

  We were formed in May 2017 and have a limited operating history. Since inception, we have incurred losses and expect to continue to operate at a net loss for at least the next several years as we commence our research and development efforts, conduct clinical trials and develop manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution capabilities. Our net losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 were $1,911,199 and $2,015,481, respectively.

 

We have generated no revenue from commercial sales to date and our future profitability is uncertain.

 

If we fail to obtain the capital necessary to fund our operations, we will be unable to continue or complete our product development and you will likely lose your entire investment.

 

We may expand our business through the acquisition of rights to new drug candidates that could disrupt our business, harm our financial condition and may also dilute current shareholders’ ownership interests in our Company.

 

Our management team lacks experience in the pharmaceutical field.

 

The marketing approval process of the FDA is lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable, and if we ultimately are unable to obtain marketing approval for the product candidates we intend to develop, our business will be substantially harmed.

 

There is no guarantee that the FDA will grant NDA approval of our future products, and failure to obtain necessary clearances or approvals for our future products would adversely affect our ability to grow our business.

 

There can be no assurance that the data generated from our clinical trials will be acceptable to FDA.

 

Even if our products are approved by regulatory authorities, if we or our suppliers fail to comply with ongoing FDA regulation or if we experience unanticipated problems with our products, these products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.

 

Our products will face significant competition in the markets for such products, and if they are unable to compete successfully, our business will suffer.

 

Our business depends upon securing and protecting critical intellectual property.

 

We may undertake international operations, which will subject us to risks inherent with operations outside of the United States.

 

Market and economic conditions may negatively impact our business, financial condition and share price.

 

Future sales and issuances of our securities could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our shareholders and could cause our share price to fall.

 

- 8 -

 

 

Corporate Information

 

We were incorporated as a Nevada corporation on May 16, 2017. Our principal executive offices are located at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039, New York, New York 10020 and our telephone number is (646) 756-2997. Our website address is www.hoththerapeutics.com . The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus or in deciding whether to purchase our common shares.

 

We have proprietary rights to a number of trademarks used in this prospectus which are important to our business, and have applied for trademarks including for the Hoth logo. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus are referred to without the ® and TM symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

 

We qualify as an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “JOBS Act”) because we had less than $1.07 billion in revenues during our last fiscal year. As an emerging growth company, we expect to take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:

 

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

 

not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended;

 

reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports, proxy statements and registration statements; and

 

exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

We may use these provisions until the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the completion of this offering. However, if certain events occur prior to the end of such five-year period, including if we become a “large accelerated filer,” our annual gross revenues exceed $1.07 billion or we issue more than $1.0 billion of non-convertible debt in any three-year period, we will cease to be an emerging growth company prior to the end of such five-year period.

 

As an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards as permitted by The JOBS Act. To the extent that we continue to qualify as a “smaller reporting company,” as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, after we cease to qualify as an emerging growth company, certain of the exemptions available to us as an emerging growth company may continue to be available to us as a smaller reporting company, including: (i) not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes Oxley Act; (ii) scaled executive compensation disclosures; and (iii) the requirement to provide only two years of audited financial statements, instead of three years.

 

- 9 -

 

 

THE OFFERING 

 

Common stock offered by us 1,250,000 shares
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

9,423,880 shares (9,611,380 if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full)

Option to purchase additional shares

The underwriters have an option for a period of 45 days to purchase up to an additional 187,500 shares of our common stock at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discount.
Use of proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $6.2 million, or approximately $7.2 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, at an assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund the development of the BioLexa Platform for the treatment of eczema, including the commencement of Phase 2 clinical testing under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway and the proof of concept study, should we determine to undertake such study, and for general corporate purposes and working capital. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in complementary businesses or products; however, we have no current commitments or obligations to do so. See “Use of Proceeds” for a more complete description of the intended use of proceeds from this offering.

Risk factors

See “Risk Factors” on page 13 and other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.

Conflicts of Interest Because persons associated with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (“Laidlaw”), the representative of the underwriters in this offering, beneficially hold, collectively, 1,518,750 shares of our common stock, including shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, representing an aggregate of 16.57% of the outstanding shares of common stock on a fully diluted basis prior to this offering, Laidlaw is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” under Rule 5121 (“Rule 5121”) of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (“FINRA”). Accordingly, The Benchmark Company, LLC (“Benchmark”) has agreed to act as a “qualified independent underwriter,” within the meaning of Rule 5121 in connection with this offering. In its role as a qualified independent underwriter, Benchmark has participated in the preparation of the registration statement and the prospectus and has exercised the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto. For a more complete discussion of the role and compensation of the underwriters, please see the section of this prospectus titled “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest).”
Proposed Nasdaq Capital Market symbol HOTH

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 5,071,400 shares of our common stock outstanding as of December 13, 2018 plus 3,102,480 shares of our common stock that will be issued upon the conversion of our outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) upon the closing of this offering, and excludes:

 

- 10 -

 

 

  991,367 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $1.00;

  

  885,543 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan; and

 

  50,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to be issued to the representative of the underwriters as part of this offering at an exercise price of $7.50 (assuming an initial public offering price of $6.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)).

 

Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes:

 

  the conversion of our outstanding Series A Preferred Stock into an aggregate of 3,102,480 shares of our common stock upon the closing of this offering; 

 

  A 1-for-4.0  reverse split of our common stock effected on                 , 2018, pursuant to which (i) every 4.0 shares of outstanding common stock was decreased to one share of common stock, (ii) the number of shares of common stock for which each outstanding warrant to purchase common stock is exercisable was proportionally decreased on a 1-for-4.0 basis, (iii) the exercise price of each outstanding warrant to purchase common stock was proportionately increased on a 1-for-4.0 basis, and (iv) the conversion ratio for each share of outstanding preferred stock into common stock was proportionately reduced on a 1-for-4.0 basis (the “Reverse Stock Split”). No fractional shares will be issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. Any fractional shares resulting from the Reverse Stock Split shall be paid in cash; and 

 

  no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 187,500 shares of common stock from us in this offering.

  

- 11 -

 

 

Summary Financial Data

 

The summary statements of operations data presented below for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 are derived from our audited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in any future period, and the results for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2018, or any other period.

 

The following summary financial data should be read with “Selected Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary financial data in this section are not intended to replace the financial statements and are qualified in their entirety by the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    For the Period from        
    May 16, 2017     For the Nine Months  
    (Inception) through     Ended September 30,  
    December 31, 2017     2018  
Statement of Operations Data:                
Operating costs and expenses                
Research and development   $ 67,280     $ 557,392  
Research and development - license acquired     519,563       230,693  
Compensation and related expenses     1,015,975       415,779  
Professional fees     213,415       529,874  
Rent     11,185       20,702  
Other expenses     44,063       156,759  
Total operating expenses     1,871,481       1,911,199  
Loss from operations     (1,871,481 )     (1,911,199 )
                 
Other expenses                
Interest expense     144,000        
Total other expenses     144,000        
Net loss   $ (2,015,481 )   $ (1,911,199 )

 

    December 31, 2017     September 30, 2018  
                      (unaudited)  
    Actual     Pro Forma (1)     Pro Forma,
As Adjusted(2)
    Actual     Pro Forma (1)     Pro Forma,
As Adjusted(2)
 
                                     
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 1,230,440     $ 1,230,440     $ 7,385,440     $ 737,683     $ 737,683     $ 6,892,683  
Working capital     1,180,974       1,180,974       7,335,974       731,752       731,752       6,886,752  
Total assets     1,233,932       1,233,932       7,388,932       760,029       760,029       6,915,029  
Total liabilities     49,466       49,466       49,466       25,701       25,701       25,701  
Convertible preferred stock     173                   310              
Common stock     470       643       768       507       817       942  
Additional paid-in-capital     3,199,304       3,199,304       9,354,179       4,660,191       4,660,191       10,815,066  
Accumulated deficit     (2,015,481 )     (2,015,481 )     (2,015,481 )     (3,926,680 )     (3,926,680 )     (3,926,680 )
Total stockholders’ equity     1,184,466       1,184,466       7,339,466       734,328       734,328       6,889,328  

  

 - 12 -

 

 

(1) On a pro forma basis to reflect the conversion of 1,725,980 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 3,102,480 shares of Series A Preferred Stock into an aggregate of 1,725,980 shares of common stock (post-split) and 3,102,480 shares of common stock (post-split) as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively.

 

(2) On a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect the conversion of 1,725,980 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and 3,102,480 shares of Series A Preferred Stock into an aggregate of 1,725,980 shares of common stock (post-split) and 3,102,480 shares of common stock (post-split) as of December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018, respectively, and our issuance and sale of 1,250,000 shares of common stock (post-split) in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus), after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

RISK FACTORS 

 

An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should give careful consideration to the following risk factors, in addition to the other information included in this prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes. The occurrence of any of the adverse developments described in the following risk factors could materially and adversely harm our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. In that case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks that we currently do not know about or that we currently believe to be immaterial may also impair our business. Certain statements below are forward-looking statements. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus.

 

Risks Related to Our Financial Position and Need for Capital

 

We have generated no revenue from commercial sales to date and our future profitability is uncertain.

 

We were incorporated in May 2017 and have a limited operating history and our business is subject to all of the risks inherent in the establishment of a new business enterprise. Our likelihood of success must be considered in light of the problems, expenses, difficulties, complications and delays frequently encountered in connection with development and expansion of a new business enterprise. Since inception, we have incurred losses and expect to continue to operate at a net loss for at least the next several years as we commence our research and development efforts, conduct clinical trials and develop manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution capabilities. Our net losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 were $1,911,199 and $2,015,481, respectively, and our accumulated deficit as of September 30, 2018 was $3,926,680. There can be no assurance that the products under development by us will be approved for sale in the U.S. or elsewhere. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that if such products are approved they will be successfully commercialized, and the extent of our future losses and the timing of our profitability are highly uncertain. If we are unable to achieve profitability, we may be unable to continue our operations.

 

If we fail to obtain the capital necessary to fund our operations, we will be unable to continue or complete our product development and you will likely lose your entire investment.

 

We will need to continue to seek capital from time to time to continue development of our lead drug candidate beyond the initial Phase 2 clinical trial and to acquire and develop other product candidates. Our first product is not expected to be commercialized until at least 2022 and we cannot provide any assurances that any revenues it may generate in the future will be sufficient to fund our ongoing operations. We expect the net proceeds of this offering to be sufficient to satisfy our capital requirements for a period of twelve to eighteen months from the date of this prospectus. Accordingly, we believe that we will need to raise substantial additional capital to fund our continuing operations and the development and commercialization of our product candidate in or before eighteen months from the date of this prospectus.

 

Our business or operations may change in a manner that would consume available funds more rapidly than anticipated and substantial additional funding may be required to maintain operations, fund expansion, develop new or enhanced products, acquire complementary products, business or technologies or otherwise respond to competitive pressures and opportunities, such as a change in the regulatory environment or a change in preferred eczema treatment modalities. In addition, we may need to accelerate the growth of our sales capabilities and distribution beyond what is currently envisioned, and this would require additional capital. However, we may not be able to secure funding when we need it or on favorable terms. We may not be able to raise sufficient funds to commercialize the product candidates we intend to develop.

 

 - 13 -

 

 

If we cannot raise adequate funds to satisfy our capital requirements, we will have to delay, scale back or eliminate our research and development activities, clinical studies or future operations. We may also be required to obtain funds through arrangements with collaborators, which arrangements may require us to relinquish rights to certain technologies or products that we otherwise would not consider relinquishing, including rights to future product candidates or certain major geographic markets. This could result in sharing revenues which we might otherwise retain for ourselves. Any of these actions may harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The amount of capital we may need depends on many factors, including the progress, timing and scope of our product development programs; the progress, timing and scope of our preclinical studies and clinical trials; the time and cost necessary to obtain regulatory approvals; the time and cost necessary to further develop manufacturing processes and arrange for contract manufacturing; our ability to enter into and maintain collaborative, licensing and other commercial relationships; and our partners’ commitment of time and resources to the development and commercialization of our products.

 

Even if we can raise additional funding, we may be required to do so on terms that are dilutive to you.

 

The capital markets have been unpredictable in the recent past for unprofitable companies such as ours. In addition, it is generally difficult for development stage companies to raise capital under current market conditions. The amount of capital that a company such as ours is able to raise often depends on variables that are beyond our control. As a result, we may not be able to secure financing on terms attractive to us, or at all. If we are able to consummate a financing arrangement, the amount raised may not be sufficient to meet our future needs. If adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, or at all, our business, including our results of operations, financial condition and our continued viability will be materially adversely affected.

 

Risks Related to Product Development, Regulatory Approval, Manufacturing and Commercialization

 

We depend upon the success of the BioLexa Platform, which has not yet demonstrated efficacy in Phase 2 clinical trials and the genetic marker for food allergies which is in the pre-clinical stage, the use of which we licensed from the University of Cincinnati. If we are unable to generate revenues from the BioLexa Platform or the genetic marker, our ability to create stockholder value will be limited.

 

Our lead product candidate, the BioLexa Platform, is in the development stage. In addition, the genetic marker for food allergies which we licensed from the University of Cincinnati is in the pre-clinical stage. We do not generate revenues from any approved drug products and have no other product candidates in development. We may not be successful in obtaining acceptance from the regulatory authorities to start our clinical trials. If we do not obtain such acceptance, the time in which we expect to commence clinical programs for any product candidate will be extended and such extension will increase our expenses and increase our need for additional capital. Moreover, there is no guarantee that our clinical trials will be successful or that we will continue clinical development in support of an approval from the regulatory authorities for any indication. We note that most drug candidates never reach the clinical development stage and even those that do commence clinical development have only a small chance of successfully completing clinical development and gaining regulatory approval. Therefore, our business currently depends entirely on the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our product candidates, which may never occur.

 

Members of our management team lack experience in the pharmaceutical field.

 

Members of our management team lack experience in the pharmaceutical field. This lack of experience may impair our ability to commercialize our pharmaceutical products and attain profitability. We will need to hire or engage managerial personnel with relevant experience in the pharmaceutical field; however, there can be no assurance that such personnel will be available to us or, that once engaged, will be retained by us. Failure to establish and maintain an effective management team with experience in the pharmaceutical field and commercialization of pharmaceuticals products would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

 - 14 -

 

 

The marketing approval process of the FDA is lengthy, time consuming and inherently unpredictable, and if were ultimately are unable to obtain marketing approval for the product candidates we intend to develop, our business will be substantially harmed.

 

None of the product candidates we intend to develop have gained marketing approval in the U.S. and we cannot guarantee that we will ever have marketable products. Our business is substantially dependent on our ability to complete the development of, obtain marketing approval for, and successfully commercialize our product candidates in a timely manner. We cannot commercialize our product candidates in the United States without first obtaining approval from the FDA to market each product candidate. Our product candidates could fail to receive marketing approval for many reasons, including among others:

 

the FDA may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials;

 

the FDA could determine that we cannot rely on Section 505(b)(2) for any or all of our product candidates; and

 

the FDA may determine that we have identified the wrong reference listed drug or drugs or that approval of our Section 505(b)(2) application for any of our product candidates is blocked by patent or non-patent exclusivity of the reference listed drug or drugs.

 

In addition, the process of seeking regulatory clearance or approval to market the product candidates we intend to develop is expensive and time consuming and, notwithstanding the effort and expense incurred, clearance or approval is never guaranteed. If we are not successful in obtaining timely clearance or approval of our product candidates from the FDA, we may never be able to generate significant revenue and may be forced to cease operations. The NDA process is costly, lengthy and uncertain. Any NDA application filed by the Company will have to be supported by extensive data, including, but not limited to, technical, preclinical, clinical trial, manufacturing and labeling data, to demonstrate to the FDA’s satisfaction the safety and efficacy of the product for its intended use.

 

Obtaining clearances or approvals from the FDA and from the regulatory agencies in other countries is an expensive and time consuming process and is uncertain as to outcome. The FDA and other agencies could ask us to supplement our submissions, collect non-clinical data, conduct additional clinical trials or engage in other time-consuming actions, or it could simply deny our applications. In addition, even if we obtain an NDA approval or pre-market approvals in other countries, the approval could be revoked or other restrictions imposed if post-market data demonstrates safety issues or lack of effectiveness. We cannot predict with certainty how, or when, the FDA will act. If we are unable to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals, our financial condition and cash flow may be adversely affected, and our ability to grow domestically and internationally may be limited. Additionally, even if cleared or approved, the Company’s products may not be approved for the specific indications that are most necessary or desirable for successful commercialization or profitability.

 

We may encounter substantial delays in completing our clinical studies which in turn will require additional costs, or we may fail to demonstrate adequate safety and efficacy to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory authorities.

 

It is impossible to predict if or when any of our product candidates, will prove safe or effective in humans or will receive regulatory approval. Before obtaining marketing approval from regulatory authorities for the sale of our product candidates, we must conduct extensive clinical studies to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the product candidates in humans. Clinical testing is expensive, time-consuming and uncertain as to outcome. We cannot guarantee that any clinical studies will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. A failure of one or more clinical studies can occur at any stage of testing. Events that may prevent successful or timely completion of clinical development include:

 

  delays in reaching, or failing to reach, a consensus with regulatory agencies on study design;
     
  delays in reaching, or failing to reach, agreement on acceptable terms with a sufficient number of prospective contract research organizations (“CROs”) and clinical study sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites;
     
  delays in obtaining required Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) or Ethics Committee (“EC”) approval at each clinical study site;
     
  delays in recruiting a sufficient number of suitable patients to participate in our clinical studies;
     
  imposition of a clinical hold by regulatory agencies, after an inspection of our clinical study operations or study sites;

 

 - 15 -

 

 

  failure by our  CROs, other third parties or us to adhere to clinical study, regulatory or legal requirements;
     
  failure to perform in accordance with the FDA’s good clinical practices (“GCP”) or applicable regulatory guidelines in other countries;
     
  delays in the testing, validation, manufacturing and delivery of sufficient quantities of our product candidates to the clinical sites;
     
  delays in having patients complete participation in a study or return for post-treatment follow-up;
     
  clinical study sites or patients dropping out of a study;
     
  delay or failure to address any patient safety concerns that arise during the course of a trial;
     
  unanticipated costs or increases in costs of clinical trials of our product candidates;
     
  occurrence of serious adverse events associated with the product candidate that are viewed to outweigh its potential benefits; or
     
  changes in regulatory requirements and guidance that require amending or submitting new clinical protocols.

 

We could also encounter delays if a clinical trial is suspended or terminated by us, by the IRBs or ECs of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, by an independent Safety Review Board (“SRB”) for such trial or by the FDA, EMA, or other regulatory authorities. Such authorities may suspend or terminate a clinical trial due to a number of factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols, inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site by the FDA, EMA, or other regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using a drug, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.

 

Any inability to successfully complete preclinical and clinical development could result in additional costs to us or impair our ability to generate revenues from product sales, regulatory and commercialization milestones and royalties. In addition, if we make manufacturing or formulation changes to our product candidates, we may need to conduct additional studies to bridge our modified product candidates to earlier versions.

 

Clinical study delays could also shorten any periods during which we may have the exclusive right to commercialize our product candidates or allow our competitors to bring products to market before we do, which could impair our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical trials will increase our costs, slow down our product candidate development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenues. Any of these occurrences may significantly harm our business, financial condition and prospects. In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our product candidates.

 

The outcome of preclinical studies and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. Further, preclinical and clinical data are often susceptible to various interpretations and analyses, and many companies that have believed their product candidates performed satisfactorily in preclinical studies and clinical trials have nonetheless failed to obtain marketing approval. If the results of our clinical studies are inconclusive or if there are safety concerns or adverse events associated with our other product candidates, we may:

 

  be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates, if approved at all;

 

 - 16 -

 

 

  obtain approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired;
     
  obtain approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings;
     
  be required to change the way the product is administered;
     
  be required to perform additional clinical studies to support approval or be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements;
     
  have regulatory authorities withdraw their approval of a product or impose restrictions on its distribution in the form of a modified risk evaluation and mitigation strategy;
     
  be sued; or
     
  experience damage to our reputation.

 

Additionally, our product candidates could potentially cause other adverse events that have not yet been predicted. The inclusion of ill patients in our clinical studies may result in deaths or other adverse medical events due to other therapies or medications that such patients may be using. As described above, any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of our product candidates and impair our ability to commercialize our products.

 

If we are not able to obtain any required regulatory approvals for our product candidates, we will not be able to commercialize our product candidates and our ability to generate revenue will be limited.

 

We must successfully complete clinical trials for our product candidates before we can apply for marketing approval. Even if we complete our clinical trials, it does not assure marketing approval. Our preclinical trials may be unsuccessful, which would materially harm our business. Even if our initial preclinical trials are successful, we are required to conduct clinical trials to establish our product candidates’ safety and efficacy, before a marketing application (New Drug Application, or NDA or Biologics License Application, or BLA, or their foreign equivalents) can be filed with the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities for marketing approval of our product candidates.

 

Clinical testing is expensive, is difficult to design and implement, can take many years to complete and is uncertain as to outcome. Success in early phases of pre-clinical and clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and interim results of a clinical trial do not necessarily predict final results. A failure of one or more of our clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing. We may experience numerous unforeseen events during, or as a result of, the clinical trial process that could delay or prevent our ability to receive regulatory approval or commercialize our product candidates. The research, testing, manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, approval, sale, marketing, advertising and promotion, pricing, export, import and distribution of drug products are subject to extensive regulation by the FDA, EMA, and other regulatory authorities in the United States, European Union, and other countries, where regulations differ from country to country. We are not permitted to market our product candidates as prescription pharmaceutical products in the United States until we receive approval of an NDA from the FDA, or in any foreign countries until we receive the requisite approval from such countries. In the United States, the FDA generally requires the completion of clinical trials of each drug to establish its safety and efficacy and extensive pharmaceutical development to ensure its quality before an NDA is approved. Regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions impose similar requirements. Of the large number of drugs in development, only a small percentage result in the submission of an NDA to the FDA or other regulatory authorities and even fewer are eventually approved for commercialization. We have not submitted an NDA to the FDA or comparable applications to other regulatory authorities. If our development efforts for our product candidates, including regulatory approval, are not successful for their planned indications, or if adequate demand for our product candidates is not generated, our business will be materially adversely affected.

 

 - 17 -

 

 

Our success depends on the receipt of regulatory approval and the issuance of such regulatory approvals is uncertain and subject to a number of risks, including the following:

 

  the results of nonclinical or toxicology studies may not support the filing of an IND or foreign equivalent for our eczema product candidate;
     
  the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities or IRBs or ECs may disagree with the design or implementation of our clinical trials;
     
  we may not be able to provide acceptable evidence of our product candidates’ safety and efficacy;
     
  the results of our clinical trials may not be satisfactory or may not meet the level of statistical or clinical significance required by the FDA, EMA, or other regulatory agencies for marketing approval;
     
  the dosing of our product candidates in a particular clinical trial may not be at an optimal level;
     
  patients in our clinical trials may suffer adverse effects for reasons that may or may not be related to our product candidates;
     
  the data collected from clinical trials may not be sufficient to support the submission of an NDA, BLA or other marketing application or to obtain regulatory approval in the United States or elsewhere;
     
  the requirement for additional studies, including a second phase 3 study for the PRV-031 program in T1D;
     
  the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may fail to approve the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with which we contract for clinical and commercial supplies;
     
  the approval policies or regulations of the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may significantly change in a manner rendering our clinical data insufficient for approval;
     
  the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree on the design or implementation of our clinical trials, including the methodology used in our studies, our chosen endpoints, our statistical analysis, or our proposed product indication;
     
  our failure to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA, EMA, or comparable regulatory authorities that a product candidate is safe and effective for its proposed indication;
 
  we may fail to demonstrate that a product candidate’s clinical and other benefits outweigh its safety risks;
     
  immunogenicity might affect a product candidate efficacy and/or safety;
     
  the FDA, EMA, or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may disagree with our interpretation of data from nonclinical studies or clinical trials;
     
  data collected from clinical trials of our product candidates may be insufficient to support the submission and filing of a marketing application or to obtain marketing approval. For example, the FDA may require additional studies to show that our product candidates are safe or effective;
     
  we may fail to obtain approval of the manufacturing processes or facilities of third-party manufacturers with whom we contract for clinical and commercial supplies;
     
  there may be changes in the approval policies or regulations that render our nonclinical and clinical data insufficient for approval; or

 

 - 18 -

 

 

  the FDA, EMA or comparable foreign regulatory authority may require more information, including additional nonclinical or clinical data to support approval, which may delay or prevent approval and our commercialization plans, or we may decide to abandon the development program.

 

Failure to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates for the foregoing, or any other reasons, will prevent us from commercializing our product candidates, and our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired. We cannot guarantee that regulators will agree with our assessment of the results of the clinical trials we intend to conduct in the future or that such trials will be successful. The FDA, EMA and other regulators have substantial discretion in the approval process and may refuse to accept any application or may decide that our data is insufficient for approval and require additional clinical trials, or pre-clinical or other studies. In addition, varying interpretations of the data obtained from pre-clinical and clinical testing could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval of our product candidates.

 

We are a development stage company and we have not submitted an IND or received regulatory approval to commence clinical trials for our product candidates in any jurisdiction. We have only limited experience in filing the applications necessary to gain regulatory approvals and expect to rely on consultants and third party CROs with expertise in this area to assist us in this process. Securing regulatory approvals to market a product requires the submission of pre-clinical, clinical, and/or pharmacokinetic data, information about product manufacturing processes and inspection of facilities and supporting information to the appropriate regulatory authorities for each therapeutic indication to establish a product candidate’s safety and efficacy for each indication. Our product candidates may prove to have undesirable or unintended side effects, toxicities or other characteristics that may preclude us from obtaining regulatory approval or prevent or limit commercial use with respect to one or all intended indications.

 

The process of obtaining regulatory approvals is expensive, often takes many years, if approval is obtained at all, and can vary substantially based upon, among other things, the type, complexity and novelty of the product candidates involved, the jurisdiction in which regulatory approval is sought and the substantial discretion of the regulatory authorities. Changes in regulatory approval policies during the development period, changes in or the enactment of additional statutes or regulations, or changes in regulatory review for a submitted product application may cause delays in the approval or rejection of an application. Regulatory approval obtained in one jurisdiction does not necessarily mean that a product candidate will receive regulatory approval in all jurisdictions in which we may seek approval, but the failure to obtain approval in one jurisdiction may negatively impact our ability to seek approval in a different jurisdiction. Failure to obtain regulatory marketing approval for our product candidates in any indication will prevent us from commercializing the product candidate, and our ability to generate revenue will be materially impaired.

 

If we are unable to submit an application for approval under Section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) or if we are required to generate additional data related to safety and efficacy in order to obtain approval under Section 505(b)(2), we may be unable to meet our anticipated development and commercialization timelines.

 

Our current strategy for seeking marketing authorization in the United States for our product candidates relies primarily on Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA which permits use of a marketing application, referred to as a 505(b)(2) application, where at least some of the information required for approval comes from studies not conducted by or for the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference or use. The FDA interprets this to mean that an applicant may rely for approval on such data as that found in published literature or the FDA’s finding of safety or effectiveness, or both, of a previously approved drug product owned by a third party. There is no assurance that the FDA would find third-party data relied upon by us in a 505(b)(2) application sufficient or adequate to support approval and may require us to generate additional data to support the safety and efficacy of our intended product candidates. Consequently, we may need to conduct substantial new research and development activities beyond those we currently plan to conduct. Such additional new research and development activities would be costly and time consuming and there is no assurance that such data generated from such additional activities would be sufficient to obtain approval.

 

 - 19 -

 

 

If the data to be relied upon in a 505(b)(2) application is related to drug products previously approved by the FDA and covered by patents that are listed in the FDA’s Orange Book, we would be required to submit with our 505(b)(2) application a Paragraph IV Certification in which we must certify that we do not infringe the listed patents or that such patents are invalid or unenforceable, and provide notice to the patent owner or the holder of the approved NDA. The patent owner or NDA holder would have 45 days from receipt of the notification of our Paragraph IV Certification to initiate a patent infringement action against us. If an infringement action is initiated, the approval of our NDA would be subject to a stay of up to 30 months or more while we defend against such a suit. Approval of our product candidates under Section 505(b)(2) may therefore be delayed until patent exclusivity expires or until we successfully challenge the applicability of those patents to our product candidates. Alternatively, we may elect to generate sufficient clinical data so that we would no longer need to rely on third-party data, which would be costly and time consuming and there would be no assurance that such data generated from such additional activities would be sufficient to obtain approval.

 

We may not be able to obtain shortened review of our applications, and the FDA may not agree that our product candidates qualify for marketing approval. If we are required to generate additional data to support approval, we may be unable to meet anticipated or reasonable development and commercialization timelines, may be unable to generate the additional data at a reasonable cost, or at all, and may be unable to obtain marketing approval of our product candidates. If the FDA changes its interpretation of Section 505(b)(2) allowing reliance on data in a previously approved drug application owned by a third party, or there is a change in the law affecting Section 505(b)(2), this could delay or even prevent the FDA from approving any Section 505(b)(2) application that we submit.

 

Modifications to our products may require new NDA approvals.

 

Once a particular product receives FDA approval or clearance, expanded uses or uses in new indications of our products may require additional human clinical trials and new regulatory approvals or clearances, including additional IND and NDA submissions and premarket approvals before we can begin clinical development, and/or prior to marketing and sales. If the FDA requires new clearances or approvals for a particular use or indication, we may be required to conduct additional clinical studies, which would require additional expenditures and harm our operating results. If the products are already being used for these new indications, we may also be subject to significant enforcement actions. Conducting clinical trials and obtaining clearances and approvals can be a time consuming process, and delays in obtaining required future clearances or approvals could adversely affect our ability to introduce new or enhanced products in a timely manner, which in turn would harm our future growth.

 

Conducting successful clinical studies may require the enrollment of large numbers of patients, and suitable patients may be difficult to identify and recruit.

 

Patient enrollment in clinical trials and completion of patient participation and follow-up depends on many factors, including the size of the patient population; the nature of the trial protocol; the attractiveness of, or the discomforts and risks associated with, the treatments received by enrolled subjects; the availability of appropriate clinical trial investigators; support staff; and proximity of patients to clinical sites and ability to comply with the eligibility and exclusion criteria for participation in the clinical trial and patient compliance. For example, patients may be discouraged from enrolling in our clinical trials if the trial protocol requires them to undergo extensive post-treatment procedures or follow-up to assess the safety and effectiveness of our products or if they determine that the treatments received under the trial protocols are not attractive or involve unacceptable risks or discomforts. Patients may also not participate in our clinical trials if they choose to participate in contemporaneous clinical trials of competitive products.

 

Additional delays to the completion of clinical studies may result from modifications being made to the protocol during the clinical trial, if such modifications are warranted and/or required by the occurrences in the given trial .

 

Each modification to the protocol during a clinical trial has to be submitted to the FDA. This could result in the delay or halt of a clinical trial while the modification is evaluated. In addition, depending on the quantity and nature of the changes made, the FDA could take the position that the data generated by the clinical trial is not poolable because the same protocol was not used throughout the trial. This might require the enrollment of additional subjects, which could result in the extension of the clinical trial and the FDA delaying clearance or approval of a product. Any such delay could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

 

 - 20 -

 

 

There can be no assurance that the data generated from our clinical trials using modified protocols will be acceptable to FDA.

 

There can be no assurance that the data generated using modified protocols will be acceptable to the FDA or that if future modifications during the trial are necessary, that any such modifications will be acceptable to the FDA. If the FDA believes that its prior approval is required for a particular modification, it can delay or halt a clinical trial while it evaluates additional information regarding the change.

 

Serious injury or death resulting from a failure of one of our drug candidates during current or future clinical trials could also result in the FDA delaying our clinical trials or denying or delaying clearance or approval of a product.

 

Even though an adverse event may not be the result of the failure of our drug candidate, the FDA or an institutional review (“IRB”) could delay or halt a clinical trial for an indefinite period of time while an adverse event is reviewed, and likely would do so in the event of multiple such events.

 

Any delay or termination of our current or future clinical trials as a result of the risks summarized above, including delays in obtaining or maintaining required approvals from IRBs, delays in patient enrollment, the failure of patients to continue to participate in a clinical trial, and delays or termination of clinical trials as a result of protocol modifications or adverse events during the trials, may cause an increase in costs and delays in the filing of any product submissions with the FDA, delay the approval and commercialization of our products or result in the failure of the clinical trial, which could adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.

 

If the third parties on which we rely to conduct our clinical trials and to assist us with preclinical development do not perform as contractually required or expected, we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for or commercialize our products.

 

We do not have the ability to independently conduct our pre-clinical and clinical trials for our products and we must rely on third parties, such as contract research organizations, medical institutions, clinical investigators and contract laboratories to conduct such trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties or regulatory obligations, meet expected deadlines or need to be replaced, or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to the failure to adhere to our clinical protocols or regulatory requirements or for other reasons, our pre-clinical development activities or clinical trials may be extended, delayed, suspended or terminated, and we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval for, or successfully commercialize, our products on a timely basis, if at all. Furthermore, our third-party clinical trial investigators may be delayed in conducting our clinical trials for reasons outside of their control. The occurrence of any of the foregoing may adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.

 

The future results of our current or future clinical trials may not support our product candidate claims or may result in the discovery of unexpected adverse side effects.

 

Even if our clinical trials are completed as planned, we cannot be certain that their results will support our drug candidate claims or that the FDA or foreign authorities will agree with our conclusions regarding them. Success in preclinical studies and early clinical trials does not ensure that later clinical trials will be successful, and we cannot be sure that the later trials will replicate the results of prior trials and preclinical studies. The clinical trial process may fail to demonstrate that our drug candidates are safe and effective for the proposed indicated uses. If the FDA concludes that the clinical trials for BioLexa, or any other product for which we might seek clearance, has failed to demonstrate safety and effectiveness, we would not receive FDA clearance to market that product in the United States for the indications sought.

 

In addition, such an outcome could cause us to abandon the product candidate and might delay development of others. Any delay or termination of our clinical trials will delay the filing of any product submissions with the FDA and, ultimately, our ability to commercialize our product candidates and generate revenues. It is also possible that patients enrolled in clinical trials will experience adverse side effects that are not currently part of the product candidate’s profile. In addition, our clinical trials for BioLexa involve a relatively small patient population. Because of the small sample size, our results may not be indicative of future results.

 

 - 21 -

 

 

BioLexa and future products may never achieve market acceptance.

 

BioLexa and future products that we may develop may never gain market acceptance among physicians, patients and the medical community. The degree of market acceptance of any of our products will depend on a number of factors, including the actual and perceived effectiveness and reliability of our products; the results of any long-term clinical trials relating to use of our products; the availability, relative cost and perceived advantages and disadvantages of alternative technologies; the degree to which treatments using our products are approved for reimbursement by public and private insurers; the willingness of patients to pay out of pocket in the absence of government or third-party coverage; the strength of our marketing and distribution infrastructure; the level of education and awareness among physicians and hospitals concerning our products; and prevalence and severity of any side effects. Failure of BioLexa or any of our other products to significantly penetrate current or new markets would negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

To be commercially successful, physicians must be persuaded that using our products for treatment of eczema are effective alternatives to existing therapies and treatments.

 

We believe that physicians will not widely adopt our products unless they determine, based on experience, clinical data, and published peer-reviewed journal articles, that the use of our products provides an effective alternative to other means of treating eczema. Patient studies or clinical experience may indicate that treatment with our products does not provide patients with sufficient benefits in quality of life. We believe that recommendations and support for the use of our products from influential physicians will be essential for widespread market acceptance. Our products are still in the development stage and it is premature to attempt to gain support from physicians at this time. We can provide no assurance that such support will ever be obtained. If our products do not receive such support from these physicians and from long-term data, physicians may not use or continue to use, and hospitals may not purchase or continue to purchase, our products.

 

Even if our products are approved by regulatory authorities, if we or our suppliers fail to comply with ongoing FDA regulation or if we experience unanticipated problems with our products, these products could be subject to restrictions or withdrawal from the market.

 

Any product for which we obtain clearance or approval, and the manufacturing processes, reporting requirements, post-approval clinical data and promotional activities for such product, will be subject to continued regulatory review, oversight and periodic inspections by the FDA. In particular, we and our suppliers are required to comply with FDA’s Quality System Regulations, or QSR, and International Standards Organization, or ISO, regulations for the manufacture of our products and other regulations which cover the methods and documentation of the design, testing, production, control, quality assurance, labeling, packaging, storage and shipping of any product for which we obtain clearance or approval. Regulatory bodies, such as the FDA, enforce these regulations through periodic inspections. The failure by us or one of our suppliers to comply with applicable statutes and regulations administered by the FDA and other regulatory bodies, or the failure to timely and adequately respond to any adverse inspectional observations or product safety issues, could result in, among other things, enforcement actions by the FDA.

 

If any of these actions were to occur it would harm our reputation and cause our product sales and profitability to suffer and may prevent us from generating revenue. Furthermore, our key component suppliers may not currently be or may not continue to be in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements which could result in our failure to produce our products on a timely basis and in the required quantities, if at all.

 

Even if regulatory clearance or approval of a product is granted, such clearance or approval may be subject to limitations on the intended uses for which the product may be marketed and reduce the potential to successfully commercialize the product and generate revenue from the product. If the FDA determines that the product promotional materials, labeling, training or other marketing or educational activities constitute promotion of an unapproved use, it could request that we or our commercialization partners cease or modify our training or promotional materials or subject us to regulatory enforcement actions. It is also possible that other federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take action if they consider such training or other promotional materials to constitute promotion of an unapproved use, which could result in significant fines or penalties under other statutory authorities, such as laws prohibiting false claims for reimbursement.

 

In addition, we may be required to conduct costly post-market testing and surveillance to monitor the safety or effectiveness of our products, and we must comply with adverse event and pharmacovigilance reporting requirements, including the reporting of adverse events which occur in connection with, and whether or not directly related to, our products. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with our products, including unanticipated adverse events or adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, manufacturing problems, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in changes to labeling, restrictions on such products or manufacturing processes, withdrawal of the products from the market, voluntary or mandatory recalls, a requirement to recall, replace or refund the cost of any product we manufacture or distribute, fines, suspension of regulatory approvals, product seizures, injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties which would adversely affect our business, operating results and prospects.

 

 - 22 -

 

 

Our revenue stream will depend upon third-party reimbursement.

 

The commercial success of our products in both domestic and international markets will be substantially dependent on whether third-party coverage and reimbursement is available for patients that use our products. However, the availability of insurance coverage and reimbursement for newly approved eczema therapies is uncertain, and therefore, third-party coverage may be particularly difficult to obtain even if our products are approved by the FDA as safe and efficacious. Patients using existing approved therapies are generally reimbursed all or part of the product cost by Medicare or other third-party payors. Medicare, Medicaid, health maintenance organizations and other third-party payors are increasingly attempting to contain healthcare costs by limiting both coverage and the level of reimbursement of new drugs, and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for these products. Submission of applications for reimbursement approval generally does not occur prior to the filing of an NDA for that product and may not be granted for as long as many months after NDA approval. In order to obtain reimbursement arrangements for these products, we or our commercialization partners may have to agree to a net sales price lower than the net sales price we might charge in other sales channels. The continuing efforts of government and third-party payors to contain or reduce the costs of healthcare may limit our revenue. Initial dependence on the commercial success of our products may make our revenues particularly susceptible to any cost containment or reduction efforts.

 

We are a development-stage company and will need to make additions to senior management in order to successfully execute our business plan.

 

The Company will need to identify and recruit prospective executives  with proven experience  in the biopharmaceutical industry, specifically candidates who have managed and completed FDA-required submissions and clinical trials concerning new products. Robb Knie, the acting Chief Executive Officer, is one of the founders and has agreed to serve in that capacity in the interim. Although his primary background  involves electronic and technology, he has experience in venture-level investments and early stage capital formation for emerging growth companies. The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Knie which includes various provisions that may result in significant financial and severance obligations to the Company. Our inability to recruit and retain executives with proven experience in the biopharmaceutical industry could delay or negatively affect our ability to execute on our business plan, which would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.

 

Current and future legislation may increase the difficulty and cost for us to obtain marketing approval of and commercialize our product candidates and affect the prices we may obtain for such product candidates.

 

In the United States and some foreign jurisdictions, there have been a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes regarding the healthcare system that could prevent or delay marketing approval for our product candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to profitably sell our product candidates. Legislative and regulatory proposals have been made to expand post-approval requirements and restrict sales and promotional activities for pharmaceutical products. We do not know whether additional legislative changes will be enacted, or whether the FDA regulations, guidance or interpretations will be changed, or what the impact of such changes on the marketing approvals of our product candidates, if any, may be. In addition, increased scrutiny by the U.S. Congress of the FDA’s approval process may significantly delay or prevent marketing approval, as well as subject us to more stringent product labeling and post-marketing testing and other requirements.

 

In the United States, the Medicare Modernization Act (“MMA”) changed the way Medicare covers and pays for pharmaceutical products. The legislation expanded Medicare coverage for drug purchases by the elderly and introduced a new reimbursement methodology based on average sales prices for drugs. In addition, this legislation authorized Medicare Part D prescription drug plans to use formularies where they can limit the number of drugs that will be covered in any therapeutic class. As a result of this legislation and the expansion of federal coverage of drug products, we expect that there will be additional pressure to contain and reduce costs. These cost reduction initiatives and other provisions of this legislation could decrease the coverage and price that we receive for our product candidates and could seriously harm our business. While the MMA applies only to drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates, and any reduction in reimbursement that results from the MMA may result in a similar reduction in payments from private payors.

 

 - 23 -

 

 

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Health Care Reform Law”) is a sweeping law intended to broaden access to health insurance, reduce or constrain the growth of healthcare spending, enhance remedies against fraud and abuse, add new transparency requirements for healthcare and health insurance industries, impose new taxes and fees on the health industry and impose additional health policy reforms. The Health Care Reform Law revised the definition of “average manufacturer price” for reporting purposes, which could increase the amount of Medicaid drug rebates to states. Further, the law imposed a significant annual fee on companies that manufacture or import branded prescription drug products.

 

The Health Care Reform Law remains subject to legislative efforts to repeal, modify or delay the implementation of the law. However, if the Health Care Reform Law is repealed or modified, or if implementation of certain aspects of the Health Care Reform Law are delayed, such repeal, modification or delay may materially adversely impact our business, strategies, prospects, operating results or financial condition. We are unable to predict the full impact of any repeal, modification or delay in the implementation of the Health Care Reform Law on us at this time. Due to the substantial regulatory changes that will need to be implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and others, and the numerous processes required to implement these reforms, we cannot predict which healthcare initiatives will be implemented at the federal or state level, the timing of any such reforms, or the effect such reforms or any other future legislation or regulation will have on our business.

 

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the Health Care Reform Law was enacted. We expect that additional federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that federal and state governments will pay for healthcare products and services, and in turn could significantly reduce the projected value of certain development projects and reduce or eliminate our profitability.

 

We are dependent on third parties for manufacturing and marketing of our proposed product candidates. If we are not able to secure favorable arrangements with such third parties, our business and financial condition could be harmed.

 

We will not manufacture any of our proposed product candidates for commercial sale nor do we have the resources necessary to do so. In addition, we currently do not have the capability to market our drug products ourselves. In addition to our internal sales force efforts, we intend to contract with specialized manufacturing companies to manufacture our proposed product candidates and partner with larger pharmaceutical companies for commercialization of our products. In connection with our efforts to commercialize our proposed product candidates, we will seek to secure favorable arrangements with third parties to distribute, promote, market and sell our proposed product candidates. If our internal sales force is unable to successfully distribute, market and promote our product candidates and we are not able to secure favorable commercial terms or arrangements with third parties for the distribution, marketing, promotion and sales of our proposed product candidates, we may have to retain promotional and marketing rights and seek to develop the commercial resources necessary to promote or co-promote or co-market certain or all of our proposed drug candidates to the appropriate channels of distribution in order to reach the specific medical market that we are targeting. We may not be able to enter into any partnering arrangements on this or any other basis. If we are not able to secure favorable partnering arrangements, or are unable to develop the appropriate resources necessary for the commercialization of our proposed product candidates, our business and financial condition could be harmed. In addition, we will have to hire additional employees or consultants, since our current employees have limited experience in these areas. Sufficient employees with relevant skills may not be available to us. Any increase in the number of our employees would increase our expense level, and could have an adverse effect on our financial position.

 

 - 24 -

 

 

In addition, we, or our potential commercial partners, may not successfully introduce our proposed product candidates or such candidates may not achieve acceptance by patients, health care providers and insurance companies. Further, it is possible that we may not be able to secure arrangements to manufacture, market, distribute, promote and sell our proposed product candidates at favorable commercial terms that would permit us to make a profit. To the extent that corporate partners conduct clinical trials, we may not be able to control the design and conduct of these clinical trials.

 

We may have conflicts with our partners that could delay or prevent the development or commercialization of our product candidates.

 

We may have conflicts with our partners, such as conflicts concerning the interpretation of preclinical or clinical data, the achievement of milestones, the interpretation of contractual obligations, payments for services, development obligations or the ownership of intellectual property developed during our collaboration. If any conflicts arise with any of our partners, such partner may act in a manner that is adverse to our best interests. Any such disagreement could result in one or more of the following, each of which could delay or prevent the development or commercialization of our product candidates, and in turn prevent us from generating revenues: unwillingness on the part of a partner to pay us milestone payments or royalties we believe are due to us under a collaboration; uncertainty regarding ownership of intellectual property rights arising from our collaborative activities, which could prevent us from entering into additional collaborations; unwillingness by the partner to cooperate in the development or manufacture of the product, including providing us with product data or materials; unwillingness on the part of a partner to keep us informed regarding the progress of its development and commercialization activities or to permit public disclosure of the results of those activities; initiating of litigation or alternative dispute resolution options by either party to resolve the dispute; or attempts by either party to terminate the agreement.

 

Even if we receive regulatory approval for any of our product candidates, we may not be able to successfully commercialize the product and the revenue that we generate from its sales, if any, may be limited.

 

If approved for marketing, the commercial success of our product candidates will depend upon each product’s acceptance by the medical community, including physicians, patients and health care payors. The degree of market acceptance for any of our product candidates will depend on a number of factors, including:

 

  demonstration of clinical safety and efficacy;
     
  relative convenience, dosing burden and ease of administration;
     
  the prevalence and severity of any adverse effects;
     
  the willingness of physicians to prescribe our product candidates, and the target patient population to try new therapies;
     
  efficacy of our product candidates compared to competing products;
     
  the introduction of any new products that may in the future become available targeting indications for which our product candidates may be approved;
     
  new procedures or therapies that may reduce the incidences of any of the indications in which our product candidates may show utility;
     
  pricing and cost-effectiveness;
     
  the inclusion or omission of our product candidates in applicable therapeutic and vaccine guidelines;
     
  the effectiveness of our own or any future collaborators’ sales and marketing strategies;

 

 - 25 -

 

 

  limitations or warnings contained in approved labeling from regulatory authorities;
     
  our ability to obtain and maintain sufficient third-party coverage or reimbursement from government health care programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, private health insurers and other third-party payors or to receive the necessary pricing approvals from government bodies regulating the pricing and usage of therapeutics; and
     
  the willingness of patients to pay out-of-pocket in the absence of third-party coverage or reimbursement or government pricing approvals.

 

If any of our product candidates are approved, but do not achieve an adequate level of acceptance by physicians, health care payors, and patients, we may not generate sufficient revenue and we may not be able to achieve or sustain profitability. Our efforts to educate the medical community and third-party payors on the benefits of our product candidates may require significant resources and may never be successful.

 

In addition, even if we obtain regulatory approvals, the timing or scope of any approvals may prohibit or reduce our ability to commercialize our product candidates successfully. For example, if the approval process takes too long, we may miss market opportunities and give other companies the ability to develop competing products or establish market dominance. Any regulatory approval we ultimately obtain may be limited or subject to restrictions or post-approval commitments that render our product candidates not commercially viable. For example, regulatory authorities may approve any of our product candidates for fewer or more limited indications than we request, may grant approval contingent on the performance of costly post-marketing clinical trials, or may approve any of our product candidates with a label that does not include the labeling claims necessary or desirable for the successful commercialization for that indication. Further, the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities may place conditions on approvals or require risk management plans or a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (“REMS”) to assure the safe use of the drug. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the NDA must submit a proposed REMS; the FDA will not approve the NDA without an approved REMS, if required. A REMS could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. The FDA may also require a REMS for an approved product when new safety information emerges. Any of these limitations on approval or marketing could restrict the commercial promotion, distribution, prescription or dispensing of our product candidates. Moreover, product approvals may be withdrawn for non-compliance with regulatory standards or if problems occur following the initial marketing of the product. Any of the foregoing scenarios could materially harm the commercial success of our product candidates.

 

Upon commercialization of our products, we may be dependent on third parties to market, distribute and sell our products.

 

Our ability to receive revenues may be dependent upon the sales and marketing efforts of any future co-marketing partners and third-party distributors. At this time, we have not entered into an agreement with any commercialization partner and only plan to do so after the successful completion of Phase 2 clinical trials and prior to commercialization. If we fail to reach an agreement with any commercialization partner, or upon reaching such an agreement that partner fails to sell a large volume of our products, it may have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our products will face significant competition in the markets for such products, and if they are unable to compete successfully, our business will suffer.

 

Our product candidates face, and will continue to face, intense competition from large pharmaceutical companies, as well as academic and research institutions. We compete in an industry that is characterized by: (i) rapid technological change, (ii) evolving industry standards, (iii) emerging competition and (iv) new product introductions. Our competitors have existing products and technologies that will compete with our products and technologies and may develop and commercialize additional products and technologies that will compete with our products and technologies. Because several competing companies and institutions have greater financial resources than us, they may be able to: (i) provide broader services and product lines, (ii) make greater investments in research and development and (iii) carry on larger research and development initiatives. Our competitors also have greater development capabilities than we do and have substantially greater experience in undertaking preclinical and clinical testing of products, obtaining regulatory approvals, and manufacturing and marketing pharmaceutical products. They also have greater name recognition and better access to customers than us. Our chief competitors include companies such as Pfizer Inc. and Sanofi S.A.

 

 - 26 -

 

 

Adverse events involving our products may lead the FDA to delay or deny clearance for our products or result in product recalls that could harm our reputation, business and financial results.

 

Once a product receives FDA clearance or approval, the agency has the authority to require the recall of commercialized products in the event of adverse side effects, material deficiencies or defects in design or manufacture. The authority to require a recall must be based on an FDA finding that there is a reasonable probability that the product would cause serious injury or death. Manufacturers may, under their own initiative, recall a product if any material deficiency in a product is found. A government-mandated or voluntary recall by us or one of our distributors could occur as a result of adverse side effects, impurities or other product contamination, manufacturing errors, design or labeling defects or other deficiencies and issues. Recalls of any of our products would divert managerial and financial resources and have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. The FDA requires that certain classifications of recalls be reported to FDA within ten (10) working days after the recall is initiated. Companies are required to maintain certain records of recalls, even if they are not reportable to the FDA. We may initiate voluntary recalls involving our products in the future that we determine do not require notification of the FDA. If the FDA disagrees with our determinations, they could require us to report those actions as recalls. A future recall announcement could harm our reputation with customers and negatively affect our sales. In addition, the FDA could take enforcement action for failing to report the recalls when they were conducted.

 

If we fail to comply with healthcare regulations, we could face substantial enforcement actions, including civil and criminal penalties and our business, operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

We could be subject to healthcare fraud and abuse laws and patient privacy laws of both the federal government and the states in which we conduct our business. The laws include:

 

the federal healthcare program anti-kickback law, which prohibits, among other things, persons from soliciting, receiving or providing remuneration, directly or indirectly, to induce either the referral of an individual, for an item or service or the purchasing or ordering of a good or service, for which payment may be made under federal healthcare programs such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs;

 

federal false claims laws which prohibit, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, claims for payment from Medicare, Medicaid, or other third-party payers that are false or fraudulent, and which may apply to entities like us which provide coding and billing information to customers;

 

the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which prohibits executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program or making false statements relating to healthcare matters and which also imposes certain requirements relating to the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information;

 

the FDCA which among other things, strictly regulates drug manufacturing and product marketing, prohibits manufacturers from marketing drug products for off-label use and regulates the distribution of drug samples; and

 

state law equivalents of each of the above federal laws, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws which may apply to items or services reimbursed by any third-party payer, including commercial insurers, and state laws governing the privacy and security of health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by federal laws, thus complicating compliance efforts.

 

If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any governmental regulations that apply to us, we may be subject to penalties, including civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. Any penalties, damages, fines, curtailment or restructuring of our operations could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our financial results. Although compliance programs can mitigate the risk of investigation and prosecution for violations of these laws, the risks cannot be entirely eliminated. Any action against us for violation of these laws, even if we successfully defend against it, could cause us to incur significant legal expenses and divert management’s attention from the operation of our business. Moreover, achieving and sustaining compliance with applicable federal and state privacy, security and fraud laws may prove costly.

 

 - 27 -

 

 

If third-party contract manufacturers upon whom we rely to formulate and manufacture our product candidates do not perform, fail to manufacture according to our specifications or fail to comply with strict regulations, our preclinical studies or clinical trials could be adversely affected and the development of our product candidates could be delayed or terminated or we could incur significant additional expenses.

 

We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities. We intend to rely on third-party contractors, at least for the foreseeable future, to formulate and manufacture these preclinical and clinical materials. Our reliance on third- party contract manufacturers exposes us to a number of risks, any of which could delay or prevent the completion of our preclinical studies or clinical trials, or the regulatory approval or commercialization of our product candidates, result in higher costs, or deprive us of potential product revenues. Some of these risks include:

 

our third-party contractors failing to develop an acceptable formulation to support later-stage clinical trials for, or the commercialization of, our product candidates;

 

our contract manufacturers failing to manufacture our product candidate according to their own standards, our specifications, the FDA’s current good manufacturing practice requirements (“cGMP”) , or otherwise manufacturing material that we or the FDA may deem to be unsuitable in our clinical trials;

 

our contract manufacturers being unable to increase the scale of, increase the capacity for, or reformulate the form of our product candidates. We may experience a shortage in supply, or the cost to manufacture our products may increase to the point where it adversely affects the cost of our product candidates. We cannot assure you that our contract manufacturers will be able to manufacture our product candidates at a suitable scale, or we will be able to find alternative manufacturers acceptable to us that can do so;

 

our contract manufacturers placing a priority on the manufacture of their own products, or other customers’ products;

 

our contract manufacturers failing to perform as agreed or not remain in the contract manufacturing business; and

 

our contract manufacturers’ plants being closed as a result of regulatory sanctions or a natural disaster.

 

Manufacturers of pharmaceutical products are subject to ongoing periodic inspections by the FDA, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and corresponding state and foreign agencies to ensure strict compliance with FDA-mandated cGMPs, other government regulations and corresponding foreign standards. While we are obligated to audit their performance, we do not have control over our third-party contract manufacturers’ compliance with these regulations and standards. Failure by our third-party manufacturers, or us, to comply with applicable regulations could result in sanctions being imposed on us or the drug manufacturer from the production of other third-party products. These sanctions may include fines, injunctions, civil penalties, failure of the government to grant pre-market approval of drugs, delays, suspension or withdrawal of approvals, seizures or recalls of product, operating restrictions and criminal prosecutions, any of which could significantly and adversely affect our business.

 

In the event that we need to change our third-party contract manufacturers, our preclinical studies, clinical trials or the commercialization of our product candidate could be delayed, adversely affected or terminated, or such a change may result in significantly higher costs.

 

Various steps in the manufacture of our product candidate may need to be sole-sourced. In accordance with cGMPs, changing manufacturers may require the re-validation of manufacturing processes and procedures, and may require further preclinical studies or clinical trials to show comparability between the materials produced by different manufacturers. Changing our current or future contract manufacturers may be difficult for us and could be costly, which could result in our inability to manufacture our product candidates for an extended period of time and therefore a delay in the development of our product candidates. Further, in order to maintain our development time lines in the event of a change in our third-party contract manufacturer, we may incur significantly higher costs to manufacture our product candidates.

 

 - 28 -

 

 

Healthcare Reform in the United States

 

In the United States, there have been, and continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes to the healthcare system that could affect the future results of pharmaceutical manufactures’ operations. In particular, there have been and continue to be a number of initiatives at the federal and state levels that seek to reduce healthcare costs. Most recently, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”) was enacted in March 2010, which includes measures to significantly change the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. Among the provisions of the PPACA of greatest importance to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry are the following:

 

an annual, nondeductible fee on any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drugs and biologic agents, apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government healthcare programs;

 

implementation of the federal physician payment transparency requirements, sometimes referred to as the “Physician Payments Sunshine Act”;

 

a licensure framework for follow-on biologic products;

 

a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research;

 

establishment of a Center for Medicare Innovation at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending;

 

an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program, to 23.1% and 13% of the average manufacturer price for most branded and generic drugs, respectively and capped the total rebate amount for innovator drugs at 100% of the Average Manufacturer Price;

 

a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for certain drugs and biologics, including our product candidates, that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or injected;

 

extension of manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability to covered drugs dispensed to individuals who are enrolled in Medicaid managed care organizations;

 

expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to additional individuals and by adding new mandatory eligibility categories for individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing manufacturers’ Medicaid rebate liability;

 

a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 50% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D; and

 

expansion of the entities eligible for discounts under the Public Health program.

 

 - 29 -

 

 

Some of the provisions of the PPACA have yet to be implemented, and there have been legal and political challenges to certain aspects of the PPACA. Since January 2017, President Trump has signed two executive orders and other directives designed to delay, circumvent, or loosen certain requirements mandated by the PPACA. Concurrently, Congress has considered legislation that would repeal or repeal and replace all or part of the PPACA. While Congress has not passed repeal legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 includes a provision repealing, effective January 1, 2019, the tax-based shared responsibility payment imposed by the PPACA on certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health coverage for all or part of a year that is commonly referred to as the “individual mandate”. Congress may consider other legislation to repeal or replace elements of the PPACA.

 

Many of the details regarding the implementation of the PPACA are yet to be determined, and at this time, the full effect that the PPACA would have on a pharmaceutical manufacturer remains unclear. In particular, there is uncertainty surrounding the applicability of the biosimilars provisions under the PPACA. The FDA has issued several guidance documents, but no implementing regulations, on biosimilars. A number of biosimilar applications have been approved over the past few years. The regulations that are ultimately promulgated and their implementation are likely to have considerable impact on the way pharmaceutical manufacturers conduct their business and may require changes to current strategies. A biosimilar is a biological product that is highly similar to an approved drug notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components, and for which there are no clinically meaningful differences between the biological product and the approved drug in terms of the safety, purity, and potency of the product.

 

Individual states have become increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access, and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. Legally mandated price controls on payment amounts by third-party payors or other restrictions could harm a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. In addition, regional healthcare authorities and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other healthcare programs. This could reduce ultimate demand for certain products or put pressure product pricing, which could negatively affect a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

 

In addition, given recent federal and state government initiatives directed at lowering the total cost of healthcare, Congress and state legislatures will likely continue to focus on healthcare reform, the cost of prescription drugs and biologics and the reform of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. While no one cannot predict the full outcome of any such legislation, it may result in decreased reimbursement for drugs and biologics, which may further exacerbate industry-wide pressure to reduce prescription drug prices. This could harm a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s ability to generate revenue. Increases in importation or re-importation of pharmaceutical products from foreign countries into the United States could put competitive pressure on a pharmaceutical manufacturer’s ability to profitably price products, which, in turn, could adversely affect business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. A pharmaceutical manufacturer might elect not to seek approval for or market products in foreign jurisdictions in order to minimize the risk of re-importation, which could also reduce the revenue generated from product sales. It is also possible that other legislative proposals having similar effects will be adopted.

 

Furthermore, regulatory authorities’ assessment of the data and results required to demonstrate safety and efficacy can change over time and can be affected by many factors, such as the emergence of new information, including on other products, changing policies and agency funding, staffing and leadership. We cannot be sure whether future changes to the regulatory environment will be favorable or unfavorable to our business prospects. For example, average review times at the FDA for marketing approval applications can be affected by a variety of factors, including budget and funding levels and statutory, regulatory and policy changes.

 

Security threats to our information technology infrastructure and/or our physical buildings could expose us to liability and damage our reputation and business.

 

It is essential to our business strategy that our technology and network infrastructure and our physical buildings remain secure and are perceived by our customers and corporate partners to be secure. Despite security measures, however, any network infrastructure may be vulnerable to cyber-attacks by hackers and other security threats. We may face cyber-attacks that attempt to penetrate our network security, sabotage or otherwise disable our research, products and services, misappropriate our or our customers’ and partners’ proprietary information, which may include personally identifiable information, or cause interruptions of our internal systems and services. Despite security measures, we also cannot guarantee security of our physical buildings. Physical building penetration or any cyber-attacks could negatively affect our reputation, damage our network infrastructure and our ability to deploy our products and services, harm our relationship with customers and partners that are affected, and expose us to financial liability.

 

 - 30 -

 

 

Additionally, there are a number of state, federal and international laws protecting the privacy and security of health information and personal data. For example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) imposes limitations on the use and disclosure of an individual’s healthcare information by healthcare providers, healthcare clearinghouses, and health insurance plans, or, collectively, covered entities, and also grants individuals rights with respect to their health information. HIPAA also imposes compliance obligations and corresponding penalties for non-compliance on individuals and entities that provide services to healthcare providers and other covered entities. As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA were amended. ARRA also made significant increases in the penalties for improper use or disclosure of an individual’s health information under HIPAA and extended enforcement authority to state attorneys general. As amended by ARRA and subsequently by the final omnibus rule adopted in 2013, HIPAA also imposes notification requirements on covered entities in the event that certain health information has been inappropriately accessed or disclosed, notification requirements to individuals, federal regulators, and in some cases, notification to local and national media. Notification is not required under HIPAA if the health information that is improperly used or disclosed is deemed secured in accordance with encryption or other standards developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Most states have laws requiring notification of affected individuals and/or state regulators in the event of a breach of personal information, which is a broader class of information than the health information protected by HIPAA. Many state laws impose significant data security requirements, such as encryption or mandatory contractual terms, to ensure ongoing protection of personal information. Activities outside of the U.S. implicate local and national data protection standards, impose additional compliance requirements and generate additional risks of enforcement for non-compliance. We may be required to expend significant capital and other resources to ensure ongoing compliance with applicable privacy and data security laws, to protect against security breaches and hackers or to alleviate problems caused by such breaches.

 

Risks Relating to Our Intellectual Property Rights

 

We rely on an exclusive sublicense granted to us by Chelexa with respect to the BioLexa Platform and an exclusive license granted to us by the University of Cincinnati with respect to a genetic marker for food allergies, and if Chelexa and/or the University of Cincinnati do not adequately defend such license, our business may be harmed.

 

Our primary asset is a sublicense agreement with Chelexa pursuant to which Chelexa has granted us an exclusive sublicense to use its BioLexa Platform, a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform developed at the University of Cincinnati. The license enables us to develop the platform for any indications in humans. In addition, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati with respect to a patented, novel genetic marker for food allergies. We rely on the Chelexa and the University of Cincinnati to maintain the patents with respect to the BioLexa Platform and the genetic marker and otherwise protect the intellectual property covered by our exclusive sublicense and license. We have limited control over the activities of Chelexa and the University of Cincinnati or over any other intellectual property that may be related to the BioLexa Platform or the genetic marker. For example, we cannot be certain that activities by either Chelexa or the University of Cincinnati have been or will be conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. We may have no control or input over whether, and in what manner, the University of Cincinnati may enforce or defend the patents against a third-party. The University of Cincinnati may enforce or defend the patent less vigorously than if we had enforced or defended the patents ourselves. Further, the University of Cincinnati may not necessarily seek enforcement in scenarios in which we would feel that enforcement was in our best interests. For example, the University of Cincinnati may not enforce the patents against a competitor of ours who is not a direct competitor of the University of Cincinnati. If our in-licensed intellectual property is found to be invalid or unenforceable, then the University of Cincinnati may not be able to enforce the patents against a competitor of ours. If we fail to meet our obligations under the sublicense agreement with Chelexa or Chelexa fails to meet its obligations under its license agreement with the University of Cincinnati, then the University of Cincinnati may terminate the license agreement with Chelexa thereby terminating our sublicense agreement with Chelexa, and we will be unable to conduct our business. Similarly, if we fail to meet our obligations under the license agreement with the University of Cincinnati, then the University of Cincinnati may terminate the license agreement, and we will be unable to continue to use the genetic marker in conducing our business. Although we may choose to terminate our sublicense agreement with Chelexa or our license agreement with the University of Cincinnati, doing so would allow a third party to seek and obtain an exclusive license to the BioLexa Platform and/or genetic marker. If a third party obtains an exclusive license to intellectual property with respect to the BioLexa Platform or the genetic marker formerly licensed to us, then the third party may seek to enforce the intellectual property against us which may have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

 - 31 -

 

 

We are dependent upon our sublicense agreement with Chelexa with respect to the BioLexa Platform; however, we have no control over the license agreement between Chelexa and the University of Cincinnati.

 

Our sublicense agreement with Chelexa is subject to many risks and uncertainties. Although we are dependent upon our sublicense agreement with Chelexa with respect to the BioLexa Platform, we have no control over the license agreement between Chelexa and the University of Cincinnati pursuant to which the University of Cincinnati licensed the BioLexa Platform to Chelexa. In the event that Chelexa is unable to fulfill its obligations to the University of Cincinnati pursuant to the terms of its license agreement, the University of Cincinnati may terminate the license thereby voiding our sublicense. In the event that the license agreement between Chelexa and the University of Cincinnati is terminated, there may be a material adverse effect upon our business.

 

Our business depends upon securing and protecting critical intellectual property.

 

Although we do not own and only license intellectual property, to the extent we develop intellectual property, our commercial success will depend in part on obtaining and maintaining patent, trade secret, copyright and trademark protection of our technologies in the United States and other jurisdictions as well as successfully enforcing and defending such intellectual property rights against third-party challenges. We will only be able to protect our intellectual property from unauthorized use by third parties to the extent that valid and enforceable intellectual property protection, such as patents or trade secrets, cover them. In particular, we place considerable emphasis on obtaining patent and trade secret protection for significant new technologies, products and processes. Furthermore, the degree of future protection of our proprietary rights is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage. Moreover, the degree of future protection of our proprietary rights is uncertain for products that are currently in the early stages of development because we cannot predict which of these products will ultimately reach the commercial market or whether the commercial versions of these products will incorporate proprietary technologies.

 

Patent positions in our industry are highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions.

 

Patent positions in our industry are highly uncertain and involves complex legal and factual questions. Accordingly, we cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our patents or in third-party patents. For example, we or our licensors might not have been the first to make the inventions covered by our pending patent applications and issued patents, as applicable; we or our licensors might not have been the first to file patent applications for these inventions; others may independently develop similar or alternative technologies or duplicate any of our technologies; it is possible that none of our pending patent applications or the pending patent applications of our licensors will result in issued patents; our issued patents and issued patents of our licensors may not provide a basis for commercially viable technologies, or may not provide us with any competitive advantages, or may be challenged and invalidated by third parties; and, we may not develop additional proprietary technologies that are patentable.

 

As a result, our owned and licensed patents may not be valid and we may not be able to obtain and enforce patents and to maintain trade secret protection for the full commercial extent of our technology. The extent to which we are unable to do so could materially harm our business.

 

We or our licensors have applied for and will continue to apply for patents for certain products. Such applications may not result in the issuance of any patents, and any patents now held or that may be issued may not provide us with adequate protection from competition. Furthermore, it is possible that patents issued or licensed to us may be challenged successfully. In that event, if we have a preferred competitive position because of such patents, any preferred position held by us would be lost. If we are unable to secure or to continue to maintain a preferred position, we could become subject to competition from the sale of generic products. Failure to receive, inability to protect, or expiration of our patents for medical use, manufacture, conjugation and labeling of BioLexa, the product platform that we license from Chelexa, or subsequent related filings, would adversely affect our business and operations.

 

 - 32 -

 

 

Patents issued or licensed to us may be infringed by the products or processes of others. The cost of enforcing our patent rights against infringers, if such enforcement is required, could be significant, and the Company does not currently have the financial resources to fund such litigation. Further, such litigation can go on for years and the time demands could interfere with our normal operations. There has been substantial litigation and other proceedings regarding patent and other intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical industry. We may become a party to patent litigation and other proceedings. The cost to us of any patent litigation, even if resolved in our favor, could be substantial. Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of such litigation more effectively than we can because of their substantially greater financial resources. Litigation may also absorb significant management time.

 

Unpatented trade secrets, improvements, confidential know-how and continuing technological innovation are important to our scientific and commercial success. Although we attempt to and will continue to attempt to protect our proprietary information through reliance on trade secret laws and the use of confidentiality agreements with our corporate partners, collaborators, employees and consultants and other appropriate means, these measures may not effectively prevent disclosure of our proprietary information, and, in any event, others may develop independently, or obtain access to, the same or similar information.

 

The patent rights for our primary product are licensed to us by third parties. If we fail to comply with the terms of these license agreements, our rights to those patents may be terminated, and we will be unable to conduct our business.

 

If we are found to be infringing on patents or trade secrets owned by others, we may be forced to cease or alter our product development efforts, obtain a license to continue the development or sale of our products, and/or pay damages.

 

Our manufacturing processes and potential products may violate proprietary rights of patents that have been or may be granted to competitors, universities or others, or the trade secrets of those persons and entities. As the pharmaceutical industry expands and more patents are issued, the risk increases that our processes and potential products may give rise to claims that they infringe the patents or trade secrets of others. These other persons could bring legal actions against us claiming damages and seeking to enjoin clinical testing, manufacturing and marketing of the affected product or process. If any of these actions are successful, in addition to any potential liability for damages, we could be required to obtain a license in order to continue to conduct clinical tests, manufacture or market the affected product or use the affected process. Required licenses may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all, and the results of litigation are uncertain. If we become involved in litigation or other proceedings, it could consume a substantial portion of our financial resources and the efforts of our personnel.

 

Our ability to protect and enforce any patents we may obtain does not guaranty that we will secure the right to commercialize such patents.

 

A patent is a limited monopoly right conferred upon an inventor, and his successors in title, in return for the making and disclosing of a new and non-obvious invention. This monopoly is of limited duration but, while in force, allows the patent holder to prevent others from making and/or using his invention. While a patent gives the holder this right to exclude others, it is not a license to commercialize the invention, where other permissions may be required for permissible commercialization to occur. For example, a drug cannot be marketed without the appropriate authorization from the FDA, regardless of the existence of a patent covering the product. Further, the invention, even if patented itself, cannot be commercialized if it infringes the valid patent rights of another party.

 

We rely on confidentiality agreements to protect our trade secrets. If these agreements are breached by our employees or other parties, our trade secrets may become known to our competitors.

 

We rely on trade secrets which we seek to protect through confidentiality agreements with our employees and other parties. If these agreements are breached, our competitors may obtain and use our trade secrets to gain a competitive advantage over us. We may not have any remedies against our competitors and any remedies that may be available to us may not be adequate to protect our business or compensate us for the damaging disclosure. In addition, we may have to expend resources to protect our interests from possible infringement by others.

 

 - 33 -

 

 

Related Risks to the Company

 

We may expand our business through the acquisition of rights to new drug candidates that could disrupt our business, harm our financial condition and may also dilute current shareholders’ ownership interests in our Company.

 

Our business strategy includes expanding our products and capabilities, and we may seek acquisitions of drug candidates or technologies to do so. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including substantial cash expenditures; potentially dilutive issuance of equity securities; incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, some of which may be difficult or impossible to identify at the time of acquisition; difficulties in assimilating the acquired technologies or the operations of the acquired companies; diverting our management’s attention away from other business concerns; risks of entering markets in which we have limited or no direct experience; and the potential loss of our key employees or key employees of the acquired companies.

 

We cannot assure you that any acquisition will result in short-term or long-term benefits to us. We may misjudge the value or worth of an acquired product, company or business. In addition, our future success would depend in part on our ability to manage the rapid growth associated with acquisitions. We cannot assure you that we will be able to make the combination of our business with that of acquired products, businesses or companies work or be successful. Furthermore, the development or expansion of our business or any acquired products, business or companies may require a substantial capital investment by us. We may not have these necessary funds or they might not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. We may also seek to raise funds by selling shares of our preferred or common stock, which could dilute each current shareholder’s ownership interest in the Company.

 

We may undertake international operations, which will subject us to risks inherent with operations outside of the United States.

 

Although we do not have any foreign operations at this time, we intend to seek to obtain market clearances in foreign markets that we deem to generate significant opportunities. However, even with the cooperation of a commercialization partner, conducting drug development in foreign countries involves inherent risks, including, but not limited to: difficulties in staffing, funding and managing foreign operations; unexpected changes in regulatory requirements; export restrictions; tariffs and other trade barriers; difficulties in protecting, acquiring, enforcing and litigating intellectual property rights; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; and potentially adverse tax consequences.

 

If we were to experience any of the difficulties listed above, or any other difficulties, any international development activities and our overall financial condition may suffer and cause us to reduce or discontinue our international development and registration efforts.

 

We may not be successful in hiring and retaining key employees, including executive officers.

 

Our future operations and successes depend in large part upon the strength of our management team. Currently, we have no chief financial officer or chief medical officer, and we rely heavily on the continued service of Robb Knie, our President and Chief Executive Officer, who also serves as our principal financial officer. In addition, our only other full-time employee is Jane H. Behrmann, our current office manager, who is a nominee for appointment as Vice President of Operations, such appointment becoming effective upon completion of this offering, who also serves as office manager of Spherix Incorporated. Accordingly, if Mr. Knie terminates his employment with us, such a departure may have a material adverse effect on our business, and our future success depends on our ability to identify, attract, hire or engage, retain and motivate other well-qualified financial, managerial, technical, clinical and regulatory personnel. There can be no assurance that these professionals will be available in the market, or that we will be able to retain existing professionals or to meet or to continue to meet their compensation requirements. Furthermore, the cost base in relation to such compensation, which may include equity compensation, may increase significantly, which could have a material adverse effect on us. Failure to establish and maintain an effective management team and work force could adversely affect our ability to operate, grow and manage our business.

 

Managing our growth as we expand operations may strain our resources.

 

We expect to grow rapidly in order to support additional, larger, and potentially international, pivotal clinical trials of our drug candidates, which will place a significant strain on our financial, managerial and operational resources. In order to achieve and manage growth effectively, we must continue to improve and expand our operational and financial management capabilities. Moreover, we will need to increase staffing and to train, motivate and manage our employees. All of these activities will increase our expenses and may require us to raise additional capital sooner than expected. Failure to manage growth effectively could harm our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

 - 34 -

 

 

If a product liability claim is successfully brought against us for uninsured liabilities, or such claim exceeds our insurance coverage, we could be forced to pay substantial damage awards that could materially harm our business.

 

The use of any of our existing or future product candidates in clinical trials and the sale of any approved pharmaceutical products may expose us to significant product liability claims. We currently do not have product liability insurance coverage but we intend to obtain such insurance. Such insurance coverage may not protect us against any or all of the product liability claims that may be brought against us in the future. We may not be able to acquire or maintain adequate product liability insurance coverage at a commercially reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts or scope to protect us against potential losses. In the event a product liability claim is brought against us, we may be required to pay legal and other expenses to defend the claim, as well as uncovered damage awards resulting from a claim brought successfully against us. In the event our product candidate is approved for sale by the FDA and commercialized, we may need to substantially increase the amount of our product liability coverage. Defending any product liability claim or claims could require us to expend significant financial and managerial resources, which could have an adverse effect on our business.

 

Risks Related to the Offering and Our Common Stock

 

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

 

Prior to the consummation of this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. An active trading market for shares of our common stock may never develop or be sustained following this offering. If an active trading market does not develop, you may have difficulty selling your shares of common stock at an attractive price, or at all. The price for our common stock in this offering will be determined by negotiations between us and the underwriters, and it may not be indicative of prices that will prevail in the open market following this offering. Consequently, you may not be able to sell your common stock at or above the initial public offering price or at any other price or at the time that you would like to sell. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling our common stock, and it may impair our ability to attract and motivate our employees through equity incentive awards and our ability to acquire other companies, products or technologies by using our common stock as consideration.

 

The price of our common stock may fluctuate substantially.

 

You should consider an investment in our common stock to be risky, and you should invest in our common stock only if you can withstand a significant loss and wide fluctuations in the market value of your investment. Some factors that may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate, in addition to the other risks mentioned in this “Risk Factors” section and elsewhere in this prospectus, are:

 

sale of our common stock by our shareholders , executives, and directors; 

 

volatility and limitations in trading volumes of our shares of common stock; 

 

our ability to obtain financings to conduct and complete research and development activities including, but not limited to, our clinical trials, and other business activities; 

 

the timing and success of introductions of new products by us or our competitors or any other change in the competitive dynamics of our industry, including consolidation among competitors; 

 

our ability to attract new customers; 

 

our ability to secure resources and the necessary personnel to conduct clinical trials on our desired schedule;

 

commencement, enrollment or results of our clinical trials for our product candidates or any future clinical trials we may conduct; 

 

 - 35 -

 

 

changes in the development status of our product candidates; 

 

any delays or adverse developments or perceived adverse developments with respect to the FDA’s review of our planned preclinical and clinical trials;

 

any delay in our submission for studies or product approvals or adverse regulatory decisions, including failure to receive regulatory approval for our product candidates; 

 

unanticipated safety concerns related to the use of our product candidates; 

 

changes in our capital structure or dividend policy, future issuances of securities, sales of large blocks of common stock by our shareholders

 

our cash position;

 

announcements and events surrounding financing efforts, including debt and equity securities; 

 

our inability to enter into new markets or develop new products; 

 

reputational issues; 

 

announcements of acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, joint ventures, new products, capital commitments, or other events by us or our competitors;

 

changes in general economic, political and market conditions in or any of the regions in which we conduct our business;

 

changes in industry conditions or perceptions;

 

analyst research reports, recommendation and changes in recommendations, price targets, and withdrawals of coverage;

 

departures and additions of key personnel;

 

disputes and litigations related to intellectual properties, proprietary rights, and contractual obligations; 

 

changes in applicable laws, rules, regulations, or accounting practices and other dynamics; and 

 

other events or factors, many of which may be out of our control.

 

In addition, if the market for stocks in our industry or industries related to our industry, or the stock market in general, experiences a loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common stock could decline for reasons unrelated to our business, financial condition and results of operations. If any of the foregoing occurs, it could cause our stock price to fall and may expose us to lawsuits that, even if unsuccessful, could be costly to defend and a distraction to management.

 

We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

 

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this initial public offering, including for any of the currently intended purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.” Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management may not apply our cash from this offering in ways that ultimately increase the value of any investment our securities or enhance shareholder value. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our shareholders. If we do not invest or apply our cash in ways that enhance shareholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which may result in a decline in the price of our shares of common stock, and, therefore, may negatively impact our ability to raise capital, invest in or expand our business, acquire additional products or licenses, commercialize our products, or continue our operations.

Persons associated with Laidlaw collectively beneficially own more than 10% of our outstanding common stock and have an interest in this offering beyond customary underwriting commissions.

Because persons associated with Laidlaw collectively beneficially own more than 10% of our outstanding common stock, Laidlaw is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” under Rule 5121 of FINRA. Accordingly, this offering will be made in compliance with the applicable provisions of Rule 5121. The rule requires that a “qualified independent underwriter” meeting certain standards participate in the preparation of the registration statement and prospectus and exercise the usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto. Benchmark has agreed to act as a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of Rule 5121 in connection with this offering. Benchmark will receive $200,000 for serving as a qualified independent underwriter in connection with this offering. In its role as qualified independent underwriter, Benchmark has participated in due diligence and the preparation of this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Although Benchmark has, in its capacity as qualified independent underwriter, participated in due diligence and the preparation of this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, we cannot assure you that this will adequately address all potential conflicts of interest. We have agreed to indemnify Benchmark against liabilities incurred in connection with acting as qualified independent underwriter, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). In accordance with Rule 5121, Laidlaw will not sell shares of our common stock to a discretionary account without the prior written approval from the account holder. See the section of this prospectus captioned “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest) ” for additional information.

 - 36 -

 

  

We may acquire other companies or technologies, which could divert our management’s attention, result in dilution to our stockholders and otherwise disrupt our operations and adversely affect our operating results.

 

We m ay in the future seek to acquire or invest in businesses, applications and services or technologies that we believe could complement or expand our services, enhance our technical capabilities or otherwise offer growth opportunities. The pursuit of potential acquisitions may divert the attention of management and cause us to incur various expenses in identifying, investigating and pursuing suitable acquisitions, whether or not they are consummated.

 

In addition, we do not have any experience in acquiring other businesses. If we acquire additional businesses, we may not be able to integrate the acquired personnel, operations and technologies successfully, or effectively manage the combined business following the acquisition. We also may not achieve the anticipated benefits from the acquired business due to a number of factors, including:

 

inability to integrate or benefit from acquired technologies or services in a profitable manner; 

 

unanticipated costs or liabilities associated with the acquisition; 

 

difficulty integrating the accounting systems, operations and personnel of the acquired business; 

 

difficulties and additional expenses associated with supporting legacy products and hosting infrastructure of the acquired business; 

 

difficulty converting the customers of the acquired business onto our platform and contract terms, including disparities in the revenue, licensing, support or professional services model of the acquired company; 

 

 - 37 -

 

 

diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns; 

 

adverse effects to our existing business relationships with business partners and customers as a result of the acquisition; 

 

the potential loss of key employees; 

 

use of resources that are needed in other parts of our business; and 

 

use of substantial portions of our available cash to consummate the acquisition.

 

In addition, a significant portion of the purchase price of companies we acquire may be allocated to acquired goodwill and other intangible assets, which must be assessed for impairment at least annually. In the future, if our acquisitions do not yield expected returns, we may be required to take charges to our operating results based on this impairment assessment process, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

 

Acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, which could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, if an acquired business fails to meet our expectations, our operating results, business and financial position may suffer.

 

Market and economic conditions may negatively impact our business, financial condition and share price.

 

Concerns over inflation, energy costs, geopolitical issues, the U.S. mortgage market and a declining real estate market, unstable global credit markets and financial conditions, and volatile oil prices have led to periods of significant economic instability, diminished liquidity and credit availability, declines in consumer confidence and discretionary spending, diminished expectations for the global economy and expectations of slower global economic growth going forward, increased unemployment rates, and increased credit defaults in recent years. Our general business strategy may be adversely affected by any such economic downturns, volatile business environments and continued unstable or unpredictable economic and market conditions. If these conditions continue to deteriorate or do not improve, it may make any necessary debt or equity financing more difficult to complete, more costly, and more dilutive. Failure to secure any necessary financing in a timely manner and on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect on our growth strategy, financial performance, and share price and could require us to delay or abandon development or commercialization plans.

 

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports, or publish unfavorable research or reports about our business, our stock price and trading volume may decline.

 

The trading market for our common stock will rely in part on the research and reports that industry or financial analysts publish about us, our business, our markets and our competitors. We do not control these analysts. If securities analysts do not cover our common stock after the closing of this offering, the lack of research coverage may adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Furthermore, if one or more of the analysts who do cover us downgrade our stock or if those analysts issue other unfavorable commentary about us or our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fails to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the market and interest in our stock could decrease, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline and may also impair our ability to expand our business with existing customers and attract new customers.

 

 - 38 -

 

 

Because certain of our shareholders control a significant number of shares of our common stock, they may have effective control over actions requiring shareholder approval.

 

Following this offering, our directors and executive officers and their respective affiliates, will beneficially own approximately 36.42% of our outstanding shares of common stock on a fully diluted basis. As a result, these shareholders acting together, would have the ability to control the outcome of matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, including the election of directors and any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, these shareholders, acting together, would have the ability to control the management and affairs of our Company. Accordingly, this concentration of ownership might harm the market price of our common stock by:

 

delaying, deferring or preventing a change in corporate control;

 

impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination involving us; or 

 

discouraging a potential acquirer from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

 

You will incur immediate dilution as a result of this offering.

 

If you purchase common stock in this offering, you will pay more for your shares than the net tangible book value of your shares. As a result, you will incur immediate dilution of $5.29 per share, representing the difference between the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range on the cover of this prospectus) and our estimated pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2018 of $0.71. Accordingly, should we be liquidated at our book value, you would not receive the full amount of your investment.

 

Future sales and issuances of our securities could result in additional dilution of the percentage ownership of our shareholders and could cause our share price to fall.

 

We expect that significant additional capital will be needed in the future to continue our planned operations, including research and development, increased marketing, hiring new personnel, commercializing our products, and continuing activities as an operating public company. To the extent we raise additional capital by issuing equity securities, our shareholders may experience substantial dilution. We may sell common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in one or more transactions at prices and in a manner we determine from time to time. If we sell common stock, convertible securities or other equity securities in more than one transaction, investors may be materially diluted by subsequent sales. Such sales may also result in material dilution to our existing shareholders, and new investors could gain rights superior to our existing shareholders.

 

We do not intend to pay cash dividends on our shares of common stock so any returns will be limited to the value of our shares.

 

We currently anticipate that we will retain future earnings for the development, operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate declaring or paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any return to shareholders will therefore be limited to the increase, if any, of our share price.

 

We are an “emerging growth company” and will be able to avail ourselves of reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, which could make our common stock less attractive to investors.

 

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the ” JOBS Act”), and we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. In addition, pursuant to Section 107 of the JOBS Act, as an “emerging growth company” we intend to take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of this offering; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

 - 39 -

 

 

We may be at risk of securities class action litigation.

 

We may be at risk of securities class action litigation. In the past, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have experienced significant stock price volatility, particularly when associated with binary events such as clinical trials and product approvals. If we face such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and a diversion of management’s attention and resources, which could harm our business and results in a decline in the market price of our common stock.

 

Nasdaq may delist our securities from trading on its exchange, which could limit investors’ ability to make transactions in our securities and subject us to additional trading restrictions .

 

We have applied to have our common stock listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market on or promptly after the date of this prospectus. Although after giving effect to this offering we expect to meet The Nasdaq Capital Market’s initial listing standards, we cannot assure you that our securities will be, or will continue to be, listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market in the future. In order to continue to have our securities listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we must maintain and comply with certain standards including, but not limited to, standards relating to corporate governance, stockholders equity and market value of listed securities. If we are unable to comply with the continued listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market our securities may be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market. If our securities are delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market, we could face significant adverse consequences including, but not limited to:

 

a limited availability of market quotations for our securities;

 

a limited amount of news and analyst coverage for our Company; and

 

a decreased ability to issue additional securities or obtain additional financing in the future.

 

Financial reporting obligations of being a public company in the United States are expensive and time-consuming, and our management will be required to devote substantial time to compliance matters.

 

As a publicly traded company we will incur significant additional legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a privately company. The obligations of being a public company in the United States require significant expenditures and will place significant demands on our management and other personnel, including costs resulting from public company reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations regarding corporate governance practices, including those under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and the listing requirements of the stock exchange on which our securities are listed. These rules require the establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and procedures, internal control over financial reporting and changes in corporate governance practices, among many other complex rules that are often difficult to implement, monitor and maintain compliance with. Moreover, despite recent reforms made possible by the JOBS Act, the reporting requirements, rules, and regulations will make some activities more time-consuming and costly, particularly after we are no longer an “emerging growth company.” In addition, we expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to ensure that we comply with all of these requirements and to keep pace with new regulations, otherwise we may fall out of compliance and risk becoming subject to litigation or being delisted, among other potential problems.

 

 - 40 -

 

 

If we fail to comply with the rules under Sarbanes-Oxley related to accounting controls and procedures in the future, or, if we discover material weaknesses and other deficiencies in our internal control and accounting procedures, our stock price could decline significantly and raising capital could be more difficult.

 

Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. If we fail to comply with the rules under Sarbanes-Oxley related to disclosure controls and procedures in the future, or, if we discover material weaknesses and other deficiencies in our internal control and accounting procedures, our stock price could decline significantly and raising capital could be more difficult. If material weaknesses or significant deficiencies are discovered or if we otherwise fail to achieve and maintain the adequacy of our internal control, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley. Moreover, effective internal controls are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to helping prevent financial fraud. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our business and operating results could be harmed, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, and the trading price of our common stock could drop significantly.

 

Comprehensive tax reform bills could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

 

The U.S. government recently enacted comprehensive federal income tax legislation that includes significant changes to the taxation of business entities. These changes include, among others, a permanent reduction to the corporate income tax rate. Notwithstanding the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, the overall impact of this tax reform is uncertain, and our business and financial condition could be adversely affected. This prospectus does not discuss any such tax legislation or the manner in which it might affect purchasers of our common stock. We urge our shareholders to consult with their legal and tax advisors with respect to any such legislation and the potential tax consequences of investing in our common stock.

 

Our Articles of Incorporation, as amended (“Articles of Incorporation”) our Bylaws, and Nevada law may have anti-takeover effects that could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control, which may cause our stock price to decline.

 

Our Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Nevada law could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if closing such a transaction would be beneficial to our stockholders. Upon consummation of this offering, we will be authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. This preferred stock may be issued in one or more series, the terms of which may be determined at the time of issuance by our board of directors without further action by shareholders. The terms of any series of preferred stock may include voting rights (including the right to vote as a series on particular matters), preferences as to dividend, liquidation, conversion and redemption rights and sinking fund provisions. As of December 13, 2018, 5,000,000 shares of our blank check preferred stock has been designated as Series A Preferred Stock of which 3,102,480 shares of Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding. The issuance of any preferred stock could materially adversely affect the rights of the holders of our common stock, and therefore, reduce the value of our common stock. In particular, specific rights granted to future holders of preferred stock could be used to restrict our ability to merge with, or sell our assets to, a third party and thereby preserve control by the present management.

 

Provisions of Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Nevada law also could have the effect of discouraging potential acquisition proposals or making a tender offer or delaying or preventing a change in control, including changes a shareholder might consider favorable. Such provisions may also prevent or frustrate attempts by our shareholders to replace or remove our management. In particular, the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Nevada law, as applicable, among other things:

 

provide the board of directors with the ability to alter the Bylaws without shareholder approval; 

 

place limitations on the removal of directors; 

 

- 41

 

 

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

 

provide that vacancies on the board of directors may be filled by a majority of directors in office, although less than a quorum.

 

INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this prospectus are only predictions. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “depends,” “estimate,” “expects,” “intend,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of those terms or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain those words. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the following:

 

our plans to initiate clinical trials for our product candidates;

 

our plans to research, develop and commercialize our product candidates;

 

our plans to seek to enter into collaborations for the development and commercialization of certain product candidates; 

 

the potential benefits of any future collaboration; 

 

the timing of and our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals for our product candidates;

 

the rate and degree of market acceptance and clinical utility of any products for which we receive marketing approval;

 

our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and strategy; 

 

our intellectual property position and strategy; 

 

our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and need for additional financing; 

 

developments relating to our competitors and our industry; and

 

the impact of government laws and regulation.

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in “Risk Factors.” Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

- 42

 

 

You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, except as required by law, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

 

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect.

 

INDUSTRY AND MARKET DATA

 

This prospectus contains estimates and other statistical data made by independent parties and by us relating to market size and growth and other data about our industry. We obtained the industry and market data in this prospectus from our own research as well as from industry and general publications, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. This data involves a number of assumptions and limitations and contains projections and estimates of the future performance of the industries in which we operate that are subject to a high degree of uncertainty, including those discussed in “Risk Factors”. We caution you not to give undue weight to such projections, assumptions and estimates. Further, industry and general publications, studies and surveys generally state that they have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. While we believe that these publications, studies and surveys are reliable, we have not independently verified the data contained in them. In addition, while we believe that the results and estimates from our internal research are reliable, such results and estimates have not been verified by any independent source.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We estimate that the net proceeds from our issuance and sale of shares of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $6.2 million, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, we estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $7.2 million, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We intend to use approximately $2.5 million to $4.5 million of the net proceeds from this offering to fund the development of the BioLexa Platform for the treatment of eczema, including the commencement of Phase 2 clinical testing under the 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway and the proof of concept study, should we determine to undertake such study. The balance of the net proceeds is expected to be used for other general working capital purposes.

 

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds from this offering by approximately $1.2 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. An increase (decrease) of 500,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds from this offering by $2.8 million, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

We believe that the net proceeds from this offering and our existing cash, cash equivalents and investments will be sufficient to fund our current operations for at least twelve to eighteen months from the date of this prospectus. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect.

 

- 43

 

 

Predicting the cost necessary to develop product candidates can be difficult and the amounts and timing of our actual expenditures may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including the progress of our development and commercialization efforts, the status of and results from clinical trials, any collaborations that we may enter into with third parties for our product candidates and any unforeseen cash needs. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering and our existing cash and cash equivalents.

 

In the ordinary course of our business, we expect to from time to time evaluate the acquisition of, investment in or in-license of complementary products, technologies or businesses, and we could use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering for such activities. We currently do not have any agreements, arrangements or commitments with respect to any potential acquisition, investment or license.

 

Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments and government securities.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have never paid or declared any cash dividends on our common stock, and we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and expansion of our business. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, future prospects, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board of directors deems relevant.

 

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of September 30, 2018:

 

on an actual basis; 

  on a pro forma basis to give effect to the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock as of September 30, 2018 into an aggregate of 3,102,480 shares of common stock (post-split) immediately prior to the closing of this offering;

  on a pro forma as adjusted basis to give further effect to our issuance and sale of 1,250,000 shares of our common stock (post-split) included in the shares of common stock being sold in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range listed on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and our estimated offering expenses.

 

- 44

 

 

    As of September 30, 2018        
          Pro Forma  
    Actual     Pro Forma 2     As Adjusted 1,2  
    (unaudited)     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  
             
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 737,683     $ 737,683     $ 6,892,683  
Accounts payable and accrued expenses     25,701       25,701       25,701  
Total liabilities     25,701       25,701       25,701  
Stockholders’ equity:                        
Convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized,3,102,480 issued and outstanding, actual; 5,000,000 shares authorized, 0 issued and outstanding, pro forma; 5,000,000 shares authorized, 0 issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted     310              
Common stock, 0.0001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized, 5,069,318 issued and outstanding, actual; 75,000,000 shares authorized, 8,171,798 issued and outstanding, pro forma; 75,000,000 shares authorized, 9,421,798 issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted     507       817       942  
Additional paid-in-capital     4,660,191       4,660,191       10,815,066  
Accumulated deficit     (3,926,680 )     (3,926,680 )     (3,926,680 )
Total stockholders’ equity     734,328       734,328       6,889,328  
                         
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 760,029     $ 760,029     $ 6,915,029  

  

 

1 A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted amount of each of cash, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $1.2 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. An increase (decrease) of 500,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the pro forma as adjusted amount of each of cash, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $2.8 million, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

2 Pro Forma and Pro Forma As Adjusted numbers reflect the Reverse Stock Split.

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 5 ,069,318 shares of our common stock (post-split) outstanding as of September 30, 2018, assumes no exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option and excludes:

 

  991,367 shares of common stock (post-split) issuable upon exercise of warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $1.00;

 

  887,625 shares of common stock (post-split) reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan; and

 

  50,000 shares of common stock (post-split) issuable upon exercise of warrants to be issued to the representative of the underwriters as part of this offering at an exercise price of $7.50 (assuming an initial public offering price of $6.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)).

 

DILUTION

 

If you invest in our common stock, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of our common stock and the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.

 

As of September 30, 2018 we had a historical net tangible book value (deficit) of $0.7 million, or $0.14 per share of common stock, based on shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2018. Our historical net tangible book value per share is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities at September 30, 2018, divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding at September 30, 2018.

 

- 45

 

 

Our pro forma net tangible book value as of September 30, 2018 was approximately $0.7 million, or $0.09 per share of common stock. Pro forma net tangible book value represents the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, after giving effect to the automatic conversion of all outstanding shares of our Series A Preferred Stock as of September 30, 2018 into an aggregate of 3,102,480 shares of common stock immediately prior to the closing of this offering.

 

After giving effect to (i) the pro forma adjustments set forth above and (ii) the sale of 1,250,000 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value at September 30, 2018 would have been $6.9 million, or $0.73 per share of common stock. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.64 per share to existing shareholders and immediate dilution of $5.27 per share to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering.

 

The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share           $ 6.00  
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2018   $ 0.09          
Increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors in this offering   $ 0.6 4          
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering           $ 0.73  
Dilution per share to new investors in this offering           $ 5.27  

 

A $1.00 increase in the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $0.12 per share and the dilution to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering by $0.88 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discount and commissions. A $1.00 decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $0.12 per share and the dilution to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering by $0.88 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discount and commissions. An increase of 500,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $0.25 per share and decrease the dilution to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering by $0.25 per share, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions. A decrease of 500,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us would decrease the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $0.27 per share and increase the dilution to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering by $0.27 per share, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to the offering would be $0.83 per share. This represents an increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.74 per share to existing shareholders and dilution in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $5.17 per share to new investors. 

 

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 5 ,069,318 shares of our common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2018, assumes no exercise by the underwriter of its over-allotment option and excludes:

 

  991,367 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $1.00;

 

  887,625 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan; and

 

- 46

 

 

  50,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants to be issued to the representative of the underwriters as part of this offering at an exercise price of $7.50 (assuming an initial public offering price of $6.00 per share (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus)).

 

The following table summarizes, on the pro forma as adjusted basis described above, the total number of shares of common stock purchased from us, the total consideration paid or to be paid, and the average price per share paid or to be paid by existing shareholders and by new investors in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us:

 

    Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Average Price  
    Number     Percentage     Amount     Percentage     Per Share  
Existing shareholders     8,171,798       86.73 %   $ 3,786,480       33.55 %   $ 0.46  
New investors     1,250,000       13.27 %     7,500,000       66.45 %   $ 6.00  
Total     9,421,798       100 %   $ 11,286,480       100     $ 1.20  

  

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $6.00 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the total consideration paid by new investors by $1.3 million and, in the case of an increase, would increase the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by 3.35 percentage points and, in the case of a decrease, would decrease the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by 4.18 percentage points, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. An increase (decrease) of 500,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the total consideration paid by new investors by $3.0 million  and, in the case of an increase, would increase the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by 7.04 percentage points and, in the case of a decrease, would decrease the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors by 12.15 percentage points, assuming no change in the assumed initial public offering price.

 

The table above assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option in this offering. If the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full, the number of common shares held by new investors purchasing common stock in this offering would be increased to 30.51% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding after this offering, and the number of shares held by existing shareholders would be reduced to 69.49% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding after this offering.

 

To the extent that stock options or warrants are exercised, new stock options are issued under our equity incentive plan, or we issue additional common stock in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our shareholders.

 

- 47

 


 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 

 

The summary statements of operations data presented below for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are derived from our audited and unaudited financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in any future period, and the results for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2018, or any other period.

  

The following summary financial data should be read with “Summary Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary financial data in this section are not intended to replace the financial statements and are qualified in their entirety by the financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    For the Period from        
    May 16, 2017     For the Nine Months  
    (Inception) through     Ended September 30,  
    December 31, 2017     2018  
Statement of Operations Data:                
Operating costs and expenses                
Research and development   $ 67,280     $ 557,392  
Research and development - license acquired     519,563       230,693  
Compensation and related expenses     1,015,975       415,779  
Professional fees     213,415       529,874  
Rent     11,185       20,702  
Other expenses     44,063       156,759  
Total operating expenses     1,871,481       1,911,199  
Loss from operations     (1,871,481 )     (1,911,199 )
                 
Other expenses                
Interest expense     144,000        
Total other expenses     144,000        
Net loss   $ (2,015,481 )   $ (1,911,199 )
Weighted average number shares, basic and diluted     4,267,025       5,017,718  
Net loss per share, basic and diluted   $ (0.47 )   $ (0.38 )
                 
Balance Sheet Data:                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 1,230,440     $ 737,683  
Working capital     1,180,974       731,752  
Total assets     1,233,932       760,029  
Total liabilities     49,466       25,701  
Total stockholders’ equity     1,184,466       734,328  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity     1,233,932       760,029  

 

- 48

 

 

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

 

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and plan of operations together with “Selected Financial Data” and our financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results may differ materially from those discussed below. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those identified below, and those discussed in the section titled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this prospectus. All amounts in this report are in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise noted.

 

Overview

 

We are a development stage biopharmaceutical company formed in May 2017 focused on targeted therapeutics for patients suffering from conditions such as atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema.

 

Our primary asset is a sublicense agreement with Chelexa pursuant to which Chelexa has granted us an exclusive sublicense to use its BioLexa Platform, a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform developed at the University of Cincinnati. The license enables us to develop the platform for any indications in humans. Our initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema through the application of a topical cream. Although our initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema, we intend to develop a second topical cream which, upon application, is intended to reduce post-procedure infections, accelerate healing and improve clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aesthetic dermatology procedures. In addition, we intend to conduct a pilot study on the efficacy of BioLexa to accelerate diabetic wound healing. The BioLexa Platform combines an FDA approved zinc chelator with one or more approved antibiotics in a topical dosage form to address unchecked eczema flare-ups by preventing the formation of infectious biofilms and the resulting clogging of sweat ducts which trigger symptoms. It is the first product candidate intended to prevent the symptom triggering flare-ups rather than simply treating symptoms when they occur.

 

On May 26, 2017, we entered into a sublicense agreement with Chelexa, as amended on August 22, 2018 and August 29, 2018, pursuant to which Chelexa granted us an exclusive sublicense to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell products based upon or involving the use of (i) topical compositions comprising a zinc chelator and gentamicin and (ii) zinc chelators to inhibit biofilm formation, which rights were originally granted to Chelexa pursuant to an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati. In addition, Chelexa granted us the right to issue exclusive and nonexclusive sublicenses (with the right to further sublicense to third parties) to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell products based upon the BioLexa Platform.

 

We intend to initially use the BioLexa Platform to develop two different topical cream products: (i) a product to treat eczema and (ii) a product that reduces post-procedure infections, accelerates healing and improves clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aesthetic dermatology procedures. Eczema is a disease that results in inflammation of the skin and is characterized by rash, red skin, and itchiness. Eczema is also referred to as atopic dermatitis. We are concentrating our effort and resources to develop the BioLexa Platform, utilizing our novel formulation and approach for these two markets.

 

The BioLexa Platform has achieved positive results in its initial clinical studies conducted at the University of Miami. BioLexa’s formulation is a new topical dosage form “repurposing” the antibiotic, enabling it to be developed for use in patients following a special regulatory pathway codified in Section 505(b)(2) of the FDA rules. Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA was enacted to enable sponsors to seek NDA approval for novel repurposed drugs without the need for such sponsors to undertake time consuming and expensive pre-clinical safety studies and Phase 1 safety studies. Proceeding under this regulatory pathway, we will be able to rely upon all of the publicly available safety and toxicology data with respect to gentamicin and zinc chelator in our FDA submissions. We will be required to conduct a Phase 2 study to show the safety of the combination in humans and after such Phase 2 study will be required to proceed to Phase 3 pivotal clinical trials. We believe that this path will dramatically reduce the required clinical development effort, costs and risks as compared to what would be required of us if we were required to conduct pre-clinical safety, toxicology and animal studies together with Phase 1 human safety trials required for new chemical entities which are not eligible to be reviewed pursuant to the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. We estimate that by using the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, that the clinical development process may be five to six years shorter than is required for a new chemical entity, and the FDA approval process may be six to nine months shorter than the typical eighteen month period, which we believe may result in lower development costs and shorter development time. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not submitted an NDA to the FDA. In September 2018, we attended the first of a planned series of meetings with the FDA to review the requirements for submission and activation of an investigational new drug application (“IND”) with respect to the BioLexa Platform for use in eczema. In preparation for such pre-IND meeting, we prepared and presented to the FDA our proposed Phase 2 clinical trial plan for the treatment of eczema in patients over the age of one year old. As part of our pre-IND meeting, the FDA provided us with general guidance with respect to specific animal studies, dosing schedules and suggested human safety studies before we commence clinical trials in pediatric or adult patients. We are also exploring the feasibility, cost and timings advantages of conducting an initial Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial in a small number of pediatric patients. The objective of this study would be to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of BioLexa compared to the cream base or vehicle that contains no active ingredients. This Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial feasibility study may provide us with highly useful information regarding potential safety and efficacy of the BioLexa platform and assist us in developing appropriate sample sizes for the two registration, or regulatory, trials required for FDA approval. We are currently investigating multiple potential venues for conducting such trial both in and outstand of the U.S. We have engaged Camargo to assist us with the FDA process required for Section 505(b)(2) applications and with the evaluation of potential clinical trial venues for the proof of concept study should we determine to undertake such study. Specifically, Camargo has provided and will continue to provide advice and guidance relative to the IND preparation phase for the BioLexa platform. Camargo will assist us with the refinement of our non-clinical, clinical, clinical pharmacology and biopharmaceutics strategy incorporating the preliminary feedback we received from the FDA during our pre-IND meeting.

  

We believe that the key elements for our market success include:

 

the proprietary formulation of two FDA-approved drugs to treat bacterial proliferation reduces development time and costs by giving us the ability to rely on safety and efficacy data from the two approved drugs;

 

- 49

 

 

our proprietary formulation is not a topical corticosteroid, and may not be subject to the same FDA black box warning issues as most commonly prescribed treatments currently in use; and

 

a recent peer-reviewed publication titled “ Staphylococcal Bacteria May Cause Eczema, Study Reveals ”, published by Dr. Herbert B. Allen, highlights that staph -induced biofilms are the root cause of flare-ups in eczema. Our BioLexa product candidate has been demonstrated to prevent the formation of these biofilms with the promise of delaying or completely arresting flare-ups, rather than merely treating symptoms of a flare-up already underway.

 

In addition to our sublicense agreement with Chelexa, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati for a patented, novel genetic marker for food allergies. The genetic marker licensed by us from the University of Cincinnati (i) may be used to identify at risk infants in predicting food allergies, including peanut and milk allergies, (ii) may be used to identify a person’s predisposition to an allergic reaction, thereby avoiding such reaction and (iii) may also determine an individual’s propensity to develop AD, such as eczema. We intend to utilize the genetic marker for purposes of determining an individual’s propensity to develop eczema as well as to identify and treat allergies in at-risk infants.

 

In order to generate revenue from our product candidates, we will need to sell our product candidates either through distribution partnerships or through our own sales efforts. Prior to selling our product candidates, we will need to receive FDA approval of our NDA for each indication that we intend to treat. The first indication we are seeking approval for is the BioLexa Platform for treating eczema. We intend to submit our NDA for such indication by the end of 2021 with approval of such NDA anticipated to be in 2022; however, no assurances can be given that we will receive approval of the NDA in a timely manner, if at all.  

  

Components of Our Results of Operations for Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

 

Research and Development Expenses  

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, research and development expenses were approximately $788,000, of which approximately $231,000 related to license acquired, including the issuance of 213,166 shares of our common stock valued at approximately $132,000 or $0.42 per share related to our sublicense agreement with Chelexa. Additionally, we incurred approximately $557,000 of expense related to other research and development expenses.

 

We expect our research and development activities to increase as we develop our existing product candidate and potentially acquire new product candidates, reflecting increasing costs associated with the following:

  employee-related expenses, which include salaries and benefits, and rent expenses;
  license fees and milestone payments related to in-licensed products and technology;
  expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, investigative sites and consultants that conduct our clinical trials and a substantial portion of our preclinical activities;
  the cost of acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials; and
  costs associated with non-clinical activities, and regulatory approvals.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, general and administrative expenses were approximately $1.1 million, which primarily consisted of approximately $309,000 related to payroll expenses, approximately $133,000 related to the issuance of 142,500 shares of our common stock to two employees and two directors and approximately $530,000 for professional fees.

 

We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in future periods, reflecting continued and increasing costs associated with:

  support of our expanded research and development activities;
  stock compensation granted to key employees and non-employees;
  support of business development activities; and
  increased professional fees and other costs associated with the regulatory requirements and increased compliance associated with being a public reporting company.

 

Components of Our Results of Operations for the Period from May 16, 2017 (Inception) through December 31, 2017

 

Operating Costs and Expenses

 

Research and Development Expenses  

 

For the period May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, research and development expenses were approximately $587,000, of which approximately $520,000 was related to the acquisition of our sublicense with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc., to use the BioLexa Platform, a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform developed at the University of Cincinnati. Such amount includes an upfront fee of $0.3 million and the issuance of 513,777 shares of our common stock valued at $0.2 million or $0.43 per share. Additionally, we incurred approximately $67,000 of expense related to other research and development expenses.

 

We expect our research and development activities to significantly increase as we develop our existing product candidate and potentially acquire new product candidates, reflecting increasing costs associated with the following:

  

employee-related expenses, which include salaries and benefits, and rent expenses;

 

license fees and milestone payments related to in-licensed products and technology;

 

expenses incurred under agreements with contract research organizations, investigative sites and consultants that conduct our clinical trials and a substantial portion of our preclinical activities;

 

the cost of acquiring and manufacturing clinical trial materials; and

 

costs associated with non-clinical activities and regulatory approvals.

 

General and Administrative Expenses

 

For the period May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, general and administrative expenses were $1.3 million, which primarily consisted of $1.0 million related to the issuance of 2,430,000 shares of restricted stock to employees and non-employees and $0.2 million for professional fees.

 

- 50

 

 

We anticipate that our general and administrative expenses will increase in future periods, reflecting continued and increasing costs associated with:

 

support of our expanded research and development activities;

 

stock compensation granted to key employees and non-employees;

 

support of business development activities; and

 

increased professional fees and other costs associated with the regulatory requirements and increased compliance associated with being a public reporting company.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We have incurred substantial operating losses since inception, and expect to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future and may never become profitable. As of September 30, 2018, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $3.9 million.

 

Between May 16, 2017 (inception) and December 31, 2017, we issued 3,950,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $684,000.

 

Between October 25, 2017 and December 31, 2017, we raised $1.3 million (net of offering cost) in cash from investors in consideration for the issuance of 17.26 units (the “Units”). Each Unit consists of 100,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and a warrant to purchase 25% of the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

Between January 19, 2018 and February 15, 2018, we raised $1.2 million (net of offering costs) in cash from investors in consideration for the issuance of 13.77 Units.

 

The Company has funded its operations from proceeds from the sale of equity and debt securities. The Company will require significant additional capital to sustain its short-term operations and make the investments it needs to execute its longer-term business plan. The Company’s ability to successfully raise sufficient funds through the sale of debt or equity securities when needed is subject to many risks and uncertainties and, even if it were successful, future equity issuances would result in dilution to its existing stockholders and any future debt or debt securities may contain covenants that limit the Company’s operations or ability to enter into certain transactions. The Company’s current cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund operations for at least the next 12 months; however, the Company will need to raise additional funding through strategic relationships, public or private equity or debt financings, grants or other arrangements to develop and seek regulatory approvals for the Company’s existing and new product candidates. If such funding is not available or not available on terms acceptable to the Company, the Company’s current development plan and plans for expansion of its general and administrative infrastructure may be curtailed.

 

We will need to raise significant additional capital to continue to fund our operations and the clinical trials for BioLexa. We may seek to sell common stock, preferred stock or convertible debt securities, enter into a credit facility or another form of third-party funding or seek other debt financing. In addition, we may seek to raise cash through collaborative agreements or from government grants. The sale of equity and convertible debt securities may result in dilution to our stockholders and certain of those securities may have rights senior to those of our common shares. If we raise additional funds through the issuance of preferred stock, convertible debt securities or other debt financing, these securities or other debt could contain covenants that would restrict our operations. Any other third-party funding arrangement could require us to relinquish valuable rights.

 

The source, timing and availability of any future financing will depend principally upon market conditions, and, more specifically, on the progress of our clinical development program. Funding may not be available when needed, at all, or on terms acceptable to us. Lack of necessary funds may require us to, among other things, delay, scale back or eliminate expenses including some or all of our planned development, including our clinical trials.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements; Commitments and Contractual Obligations

 

As of December 31, 2017, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K and did not have any commitments or contractual obligations.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Significant Judgments and Estimates

 

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates, judgments and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting period. In accordance with U.S. GAAP, we evaluate our estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis. The most significant estimates relate to the valuation of preferred and common stock, the valuation of stock options and the valuation allowance of deferred tax assets resulting from net operating losses. We base our estimates and assumptions on current facts, our limited historical experience from operating for one year and various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

- 51

 

 

We define our critical accounting policies as those accounting principles that require us to make subjective estimates and judgments about matters that are uncertain and are likely to have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as the specific manner in which we apply those principles. While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in Note 2 to our financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus, we believe the following are the critical accounting policies used in the preparation of our financial statements that require significant estimates and judgments:

 

Fair value of common stock

 

In order to determine the fair value of shares of our common stock, our board of directors considered, among other things, contemporaneous valuations of our common stock and preferred stock. Given the absence of a public trading market of our capital stock to date, our board of directors has exercised reasonable judgment and considered a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair value of our common and preferred stock, including:

 

contemporaneous valuations of our common stock;

 

the prices, rights, preferences and privileges of our preferred stock relative to our common stock;

 

our business, financial condition and results of operations, including related industry trends affecting our operations;

 

the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event, such as an initial public offering, or IPO, or sale of our company, given prevailing market conditions;

 

the lack of marketability of our common stock;

 

the market performance of comparable publicly traded companies;

 

U.S. and global economic and capital market conditions and outlook; and

 

Common stock valuation methodology.

 

In estimating the fair market value of our common stock, our board of directors first determined the equity value of our business using accepted valuation methods.

 

We conducted a valuation as of September 30, 2017, December 31, 2017 and April 30, 2018 which used our recent preferred stock financing as a starting point and determined the equity value of our company based on a “back solve” methodology that utilized the option pricing method, a value allocation methodology. The allocation methodology also allocated that equity value across the securities in our capital structure—our preferred stock and common stock. A discount for lack of marketability was then applied to conclude a fair market value for each share of common stock during the period ended December 31, 2017 and September 30, 2018.

 

Income taxes

 

Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, or ASC 740, which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in our financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between our financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, based upon the weight of available evidence, if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

- 52

 

 

We account for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, we recognize the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes FASB ASC Topic 840, Leases (Topic 840) and provides principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than twelve months regardless of classification. Leases with a term of twelve months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted upon issuance. We do not anticipate that ASU No. 2016-02 will have a material impact on our financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. It is effective prospectively for the annual period ending December 31, 2018 and interim periods within that annual period. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard on the financial statements and disclosures, but do not expect it to have a significant impact.

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07,  Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting  (“ASU 2018-07”). ASU 2018-07 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions resulting from expanding the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company is currently assessing the effect this guidance may have on its financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the SEC adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, amending certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded. In addition, the amendments expanded the disclosure requirements on the analysis of stockholders’ equity for interim financial statements. Under the amendments, an analysis of changes in each caption of stockholders’ equity presented in the balance sheet must be provided in a note or separate statement. The analysis should present a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance of each period for which a statement of comprehensive income is required to be filed. This final rule became effective on November 5, 2018. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its financial statements.

  

JOBS Act

 

On April 5, 2012, the JOBS Act was enacted. Section 107 of the JOBS Act provides that an “emerging growth company” can take advantage of the extended transition period provided in Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act, for complying with new or revised accounting standards. In other words, an “emerging growth company” can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies.

 

We have chosen to take advantage of the extended transition periods available to emerging growth companies under the JOBS Act for complying with new or revised accounting standards  until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies provided under the JOBS Act . As a result, our financial statements may not be comparable to those of companies that comply with public company effective dates for complying with new or revised accounting standards.

 

We are in the process of evaluating the benefits of relying on other exemptions and reduced reporting requirements provided by the JOBS Act. Subject to certain conditions set forth in the JOBS Act, as an “emerging growth company,” we intend to rely on certain of these exemptions, including without limitation, (i) providing an auditor’s attestation report on our system of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and (ii) complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information about the audit and the financial statements, known as the auditor discussion and analysis. We will remain an “emerging growth company” until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of this offering; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

- 53

 

 

BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

We are a development-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on targeted therapeutics for patients suffering from conditions such as atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. We were incorporated in Nevada in May 2017 and have a limited operating history.

 

Our primary asset is a sublicense agreement with Chelexa pursuant to which Chelexa has granted us an exclusive sublicense to use its BioLexa Platform, a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform developed at the University of Cincinnati. The license enables us to develop the platform for any indications in humans. Our initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema through the application of a topical cream. Although our initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema, we intend to develop a second topical cream which, upon application, is intended to reduce post-procedure infections, accelerate healing and improve clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aesthetic dermatology procedures. In addition, we intend to conduct a pilot study on the efficacy of BioLexa to accelerate diabetic wound healing. The BioLexa Platform combines an FDA-approved zinc chelator with one or more approved antibiotics in a topical dosage form to address unchecked eczema flare-ups by preventing the formation of infectious biofilms and the resulting clogging of sweat ducts which trigger symptoms. It is the first product candidate intended to prevent the symptom triggering flare-ups rather than simply treating symptoms when they occur.

 

We intend to initially use the BioLexa Platform to develop two different topical cream products: (i) a product to treat eczema and (ii) a product that reduces post-procedure infections, accelerates healing and improves clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aesthetic dermatology procedures.

 

BioLexa Biofilm Platform

 

The BioLexa Platform is a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform for the treatment of eczema. It combines an FDA-approved zinc chelator with one or more approved antibiotics in a topical dosage form to address unchecked eczema flare-ups by preventing the formation of infectious biofilms and the resulting clogging of sweat ducts.

 

- 54

 

 

 

BIOFILMS IN INFECTIONS, DR TV RAO, MD https://www.slideshare.net/doctorrao/biofilms-2172226

 

The technology is based on scientific research into the pathogenesis of bacterial biofilm formation conducted by Andrew B. Herr, PhD at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Herr’s work indicated that staph -biofilm formation requires the presence of zinc in the cellular environment. If the zinc is removed, the biofilms’ formation is inhibited, rendering the bacteria susceptible to immune defenses and antibiotic therapy.

 

Dr. Herr conducted multiple in-vitro experiments, or experiments conducted in a controlled environment outside of a living organism, in his laboratory demonstrating that chelation of zinc can prevent staph bacteria from forming colonies which in turn enables the creation of staph-biofilm. Prevention of the formation of colonies leaves the bacteria in their planktonic, or single cell state and susceptible to host immune defenses, as well as antibiotic therapy.

 

Dr. Herr’s in-vitro work demonstrating that zinc is an enabler for staph -biofilm formation led to the design and implementation of a series of in-vivo experiments, or experiments conducted using living organisms, specially, pigs, which experiments were conducted at the University of Miami and intended to demonstrate that the combination of zinc removal, or chelation, and broad spectrum antibiotic therapy was far more effective than either approach on its own.

 

The in-vivo porcine deep partial thickness wound study was undertaken to determine the effects of an antimicrobial agent on the proliferation of 10 6 Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA USA 300).

 

- 55

 

 

Swine were chosen for the in-vivo study due to the morphological and biochemical similarity between porcine and human skin. Two young female white Yorkshire/landrace specific pathogen-free pigs weighing 35-40 kg were kept in-house for at least one week prior to initiating the study, and were studied under the same protocol with approximately two weeks separating the two studies. Skin was prepared by washing with a non-antibiotic soap (Neutrogena) and sterile water. The area was blotted dry with sterile gauze. Forty-four rectangular wounds per animal (88 total wounds) measuring 10mm x 7mm x 0.5mm deep were made in the paravertebral and thoracic area with a specialized electrokeratome. The wounds were separated from one another by approximately 15mm of unwounded skin. Four wounds (four per each treatment group) were randomly assigned to each treatment group (n=11), inoculated with 10 6 Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA USA 300) and then treated once per day for two days.

 

The BioLexa Platform was formulated as a topical cream made up of Glyceryl Stearate/PEG-100 Stearate, Lanolin Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Sorbitol 70% Solution, Purified Water and the active components, Gentamicin and Ca-DTPA. Gentamicin 0.1% cream (1-gram cream contains 1 mg of Gentamicin base), a broad-spectrum antibiotic exhibiting bactericidal activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, is FDA cleared for both internal (not oral) and external application and provides a highly effective topical treatment in primary and secondary bacterial infections of the skin. Ca-DTPA, at the concentrations used, is treated as an excipient and has also received FDA clearance to be safe and effective for internal usage to increase the rates of elimination of heavy metals.

 

The concentration of Gentamicin 0.1% was kept constant in the study, since that is the FDA-cleared topical cream concentration. Ca-DTPA concentration was varied with the goal of achieving an optimal dose-response antimicrobial effect. Results revealed that the combination of both Gentamicin and Ca-DTPA is greater than the results achieved by Gentamicin alone or Ca-DTPA alone. In addition, no new chemical entities were formed within this formulation.

 

The data tables below highlight these results.

 

- 56

 

 

(BAR CHART)  

Miller School of Medicine, of the University of Miami and University of Cincinnati - Determination of the effects of a novel antimicrobial agent used in conjunction with Gentamicin on  Staphylococcus aureus  using a porcine model: preliminary evaluations Jose Valdes, Joel Gil, Andrew Herr, Andrew Harding and Stephen Davis

 

(BAR CHART)

Miller School of Medicine, of the University of Miami and University of Cincinnati - Determination of the effects of a novel antimicrobial agent used in conjunction with Gentamicin on  Staphylococcus aureus  using a porcine model: preliminary evaluations Jose Valdes, Joel Gil, Andrew Herr, Andrew Harding and Stephen Davis

 

BioLexa’s formulation is a new topical dosage form “repurposing” the antibiotic, enabling it to be developed for use in patients following a special regulatory pathway codified in Section 505(b)(2) of the FDA rules. Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA was enacted to enable sponsors to seek NDA approval for novel repurposed drugs without the need for such sponsors to undertake time consuming and expensive pre-clinical safety studies and Phase 1 safety studies. Proceeding under this regulatory pathway, we will be able to rely upon all of the publicly available safety and toxicology data with respect to gentamicin and zinc chelator in our FDA submissions. We will be required to conduct a Phase 2 study to show the safety of the combination in humans and after such Phase 2 study will be required to proceed to Phase 3 pivotal clinical trials. We believe that this path will dramatically reduce the required clinical development effort, costs and risks as compared to what would be required of us if we were required to conduct pre-clinical safety, toxicology and animal studies together with Phase 1 human safety trials required for new chemical entities which are not eligible to be reviewed pursuant to the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway. We estimate that by using the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, that the clinical development process may be five to six years shorter than is required for a new chemical entity, and the FDA approval process may be six to nine months shorter than the typical eighteen month period, which we believe may result in lower development costs and shorter development time. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not submitted an NDA to the FDA. In September 2018, we attended the first of a planned series of meetings with the FDA to review the requirements for submission and activation of an investigational new drug application (“IND”) with respect to the BioLexa Platform for use in eczema. In preparation for such pre-IND meeting, we prepared and presented to the FDA our proposed Phase 2 clinical trial plan for the treatment of eczema in patients over the age of one year old. As part of our pre-IND meeting, the FDA provided us with general guidance with respect to specific animal studies, dosing schedules and suggested human safety studies before we commence clinical trials in pediatric or adult patients. We are also exploring the feasibility, cost and timings advantages of conducting an initial Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial in a small number of pediatric patients. The objective of this study would be to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of BioLexa compared to the cream base or vehicle that contains no active ingredients. This Phase 2 proof of concept clinical trial feasibility study may provide us with highly useful information regarding potential safety and efficacy of the BioLexa platform and assist us in developing appropriate sample sizes for the two registration, or regulatory, trials required for FDA approval. We are currently investigating multiple potential venues for conducting such trial both in and outstand of the U.S. We have engaged Camargo to assist us with the FDA process required for Section 505(b)(2) applications and with the evaluation of potential clinical trial venues for the proof of concept study should we determine to undertake such study. Specifically, Camargo has provided and will continue to provide advice and guidance relative to the IND preparation phase for the BioLexa platform. Camargo will assist us with the refinement of our non-clinical, clinical, clinical pharmacology and biopharmaceutics strategy incorporating the preliminary feedback we received from the FDA during our pre-IND meeting.

 

- 57

 

 

Sublicense with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc.

 

On May 26, 2017, we entered into a sublicense agreement with Chelexa, as amended on August 22, 2018 and August 29, 2018, pursuant to which Chelexa granted us an exclusive worldwide sublicense to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell products based upon or involving the use of (i) topical compositions comprising a zinc chelator and gentamicin and (ii) zinc chelators to inhibit biofilm formation, which rights were originally granted to Chelexa pursuant to an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati. In addition, Chelexa granted us the right to issue exclusive and nonexclusive sublicenses (with the right to further sublicense to third parties) to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell the products.

 

In May 2017, we paid $300,000 to Chelexa pursuant to the sublicense agreement. In addition, we issued Chelexa 250,000 shares of our common stock, which was 10% of our fully-diluted equity at May 26, 2017, and Chelexa had the right to receive such number of additional shares of common stock required to maintain its 10% interest in our fully-diluted equity until such time we raised a minimum of $3,000,000 (the “Preemptive Right”). As of the date of this prospectus, we have issued Chelexa an aggregate of 476,943 additional shares of common stock in accordance with the Preemptive Right. However, the Company has raised more than $3,000,000 and therefore the Preemptive Right has been terminated. Furthermore, pursuant to the sublicense agreement, Chelexa has the right to participate in certain equity issuances made by us for purposes of raising capital based upon its pro-rata share to enable Chelexa to retain 10% of our fully-diluted equity until such time as we consummate an initial public offering pursuant to which we receive aggregate gross proceeds of not less than $5,000,000.

 

The Chelexa agreement requires us to use our best commercial efforts to develop, produce and commercialize the BioLexa products on a global basis. It further provides for the payment by us of all development and commercialization expenses along with sales-based royalties at percentages which range from mid to high single digits, with high sales volumes being subject to lower royalty rates, and total milestone payments of $3.5 million. Industry standard performance obligations for us are provided for in the Chelexa agreement with remedies for breach of such obligations. The sublicense agreement will continue until the later of April 16, 2034 and the last to expire patent, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the agreement. We, in our sole discretion, have the first right of refusal to renew the term. In addition, at any time after one year from the effective date of the sublicense agreement, Chelexa may, at its sole option, terminate or render the license granted to us nonexclusive if, in Chelexa’s judgment, our progress reports do not demonstrate that we have used our best commercial efforts to develop and seek regulatory approval of BioLexa and/or we are engaged in manufacturing, marketing or sublicensing activity which is reasonably expected to ensure that BioLexa is available to the public. We have the right of first refusal to renew the term of the sublicense agreement.

 

License with the University of Cincinnati

 

On May 18, 2018, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati for a patented, novel genetic marker for food allergies. The genetic marker licensed by us from the University of Cincinnati (i) is used to identify at risk infants in predicting food allergies, including peanut and milk allergies, (ii) may be used to identify a person’s predisposition to an allergic reaction, thereby avoiding such reaction and (iii) may also determine an individual’s propensity to develop AD, such as eczema. We intend to utilize the genetic marker for purposes of determining an individual’s propensity to develop eczema as well as to identify and treat allergies in at-risk infants.

 

Pursuant to the terms of the license agreement, we agreed to pay the University of Cincinnati a one-time initial fee within 30 days of the date of the agreement in addition to an annual license fee. In addition, we agreed to pay the University of Cincinnati a yearly minimum annual royalty and certain milestone payments upon successful proof of concept of determining an individual’s propensity to food allergy and within 30 days of a marketing approval in the U.S. The license agreement will continue until the latter of the date upon which a valid claim pursuant to the terms of the license agreement expires or 10 years after the first commercial sale or until earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the license agreement.

 

- 58

 

 

Product Development

 

We intend to conduct our first Phase 2 study in pediatric eczema patients comparing BioLexa to the base cream vehicle used to deliver BioLexa. We will assess the safety and tolerability of the topical formulation of Ca-DTPA and Gentamicin 0.1% in our proprietary topical cream vehicle. We will also measure the time to flare-up of symptoms in each arm of the trial and compare them, although proof of efficacy is not intended to be the primary endpoint for this trial. We expect to enroll 50 to 100 subjects in the Phase 2 trial at one or two centers and to complete the trial, subject to receipt of funding by us, by the middle of 2019.

 

Following our Phase 2 trial, we intend to conduct up to two registration trials in eczema patients again comparing BioLexa to the base cream vehicle used to deliver BioLexa. We are planning to conduct the first trial as a dose ranging trial to establish the safety and efficacy of each of the active ingredients in the BioLexa Platform as well as the combination of ingredients. Subject numbers and allocation will be informed by the results of the Phase 2 study. We expect the clinical program to be completed, subject to receipt of funding by us, by the end of 2020 or early 2021 with an NDA submission targeted for mid to late 2021. While approval timing is very difficult to estimate, we believe that using the 505(b)(2) application process will make it likely that our application will be reviewed more rapidly by the FDA given the high degree of already-reviewed and understood content.

 

Although our initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema, we intend to develop a second topical cream which, upon application, is intended to reduce post-procedure infections, accelerate healing and improve clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aesthetic dermatology procedures. In addition, we intend to conduct a pilot study on the efficacy of BioLexa to accelerate diabetic wound healing.

 

Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis

 

Eczema is also referred to as atopic dermatitis. According to the National Eczema Association, eczema affects over 32 million Americans alone. Eczema affects 10-20% of children with 60% of cases occurring within a child’s first year and 85% before the age of five.

 

There is no cure for eczema, but, in most cases, it is manageable. The word eczema comes from a Greek word that means to effervesce or bubble or boil over.

 

 

http://www.easeeczema.org/erc/symptoms_of_eczema.htm

 

- 59

 

 

Symptoms

 

The main symptom of eczema is an inflamed, itchy red rash. It can appear all over the body. Many people have it on their elbows or behind their knees. Babies often have eczema on the face, especially the cheeks and chin. They can also have it on the scalp, trunk (chest and back), and outer arms and legs. Children and adults tend to have eczema on the neck, wrists, and ankles, and in areas that bend, like the inner elbow and knee. People with eczema are usually diagnosed with it when they are babies or young children. Eczema symptoms often become less severe as children grow into adults. For some people, eczema continues into adulthood. Less often, it can start in adulthood. The rash of eczema is different for each person. It may even look different or affect different parts of the body from time to time. It can be mild, moderate or severe. Generally, people with eczema suffer from dry, sensitive skin. Eczema is also known for its intense itch. The itch may be so bad that patients scratch their skin until it bleeds, which can make the rash even worse, leading to increased inflammation and itching. This is called the itch-scratch cycle.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Eczema

 

Dry, sensitive skin

Intense itching

Red, inflamed skin

Recurring rash

Scaly areas

Rough, leathery patches

Oozing or crusting

Areas of swelling

Dark colored patches of skin

 

Current Treatments

 

According to the National Eczema Association, people utilize many treatments for eczema to relieve the itch, including over-the-counter remedies and prescription medications. In addition, some people utilize alternative eczema treatments, such as herbal remedies. However, a study referenced by the National Eczema Association found that the majority of people with eczema are likely not satisfied with the effectiveness of their medications. The most common complaints in the study included that the subjects’ medications:

 

Do not work;

Are messy to use;

Are too expensive; and

Cause side effects.

 

There can be no assurances that, if approved, the Biolexa Platform will not be subject to the similar complaints set forth above about its use. Until clinical data is available, there can be no assurances that the BioLexa Platform will not have side effects.

 

In addition to over-the-counter moisturizers, topical steroids are an important part of the treatment plan for most people with eczema. When eczema flares up, applying cream, lotion or ointment containing a steroid will reduce inflammation, ease soreness and irritation, reduce itching and relieve the need to scratch, allowing the skin to heal and recover.

 

Steroids are naturally-occurring substances that are produced in our bodies to regulate growth and immune function. There are many kinds of steroids, including “anabolic steroids” such as testosterone, “female hormones” such as estrogen (both produced in the gonads) and corticosteroids such as cortisol, which is produced by the adrenal glands. Corticosteroids are the type of steroid used for the treatment of eczema. Corticosteroids have many functions in the body, including effective control of inflammation. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation by temporarily altering the function of several types of cells and chemicals in the skin.

 

- 60

 

 

According to the National Eczema Association, there are many serious risks associated with the chronic use of topical steroids. Thinning of the skin (skin atrophy) is a well-recognized, possible side effect. This is especially true when potent topical corticosteroids are applied too frequently and for a prolonged period of time without a break. Early skin thinning can disappear if the topical corticosteroid use is discontinued, and, while uncommon, prolonged use can cause permanent stretch marks (striae), usually on the upper inner thighs, under the arms and in the elbow and knee creases.

 

Many patients with undertreated eczema have the opposite of skin thinning, and develop thickening, and sometimes darkening of the skin (changes known as lichenification). This is the skin’s response to rubbing and scratching.

 

Frequent and prolonged application of a topical corticosteroid to the eyelids can cause glaucoma and even cataracts. Topical corticosteroids can occasionally cause tiny pink bumps and acne, especially when used on the face and around the mouth. On the body, greasy corticosteroid ointments sometimes cause redness around hair follicles, sometimes with a pus bump centered in the follicle (folliculitis). When corticosteroids are applied to large body surface areas, enough may be absorbed to inhibit the body’s own production of cortisol, a condition known as “adrenal suppression.” The risk of adrenal suppression is highest with high potency (Class 1-2) corticosteroids. Infants and young children have a higher ratio of body surface area compared to their weight, so they are more susceptible to topical corticosteroid absorption. Moreover, if a child is given oral corticosteroids in large doses or over a long term, prolonged adrenal suppression can be associated with growth suppression and weakened immune responses.

 

Alternatives Today

 

The risks and side effects of prolonged steroid use are driving patients, physicians and the pharmaceutical industry to find safe and effective alternatives. Based upon data from the National Eczema Association our competitors include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

Competitor Drug Types of Therapies in the Market
Eucrisa Topical - non steroid
Vanos Cream Topical - Corticosteroid
Aristocort A Cream Topical - Corticosteroid
Topicort Cream Topical - Corticosteroid
Temorate E* Emollient Emollient
Theraplex Emollient
Mustela Emollient
Dupixant Shot

 

What is common to all of the above candidates is that they are focused on treating or suppressing symptoms rather than causally preventing or delaying flare-ups.

 

The graphic below shows the numerous causes of flare-ups in eczema.

 

- 61

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

https://infodiseases.com/the-causes-symptoms-and-treatments-of-eczema.html

 

Our product development pipeline is focused on preventing flare-ups caused by staph biofilms. The fundamental difference between the product candidate we intend to develop and those in the table above is that ours are intended to prevent eczema flare-ups rather than merely treat symptoms of a flare-up already underway.

 

Preventing Eczema Flare-Ups By Stopping Biofilms

 

It is well known that the skin of eczema patients is colonized with Staphyloccocus aureus ( S. Aureus ) and this organism has been shown to exist in both dry skin as well as areas of severe dermatitis. It is well known that S. Aureus bacteria are programmed by nature to form micro-colonies as a means of self-preservation. Once formed, these colonies secrete a polysaccharide matrix “shield” enabling the bacteria to grow unfettered by the host immune system or external antibiotic therapy. These shielded bacteria are referred to as “biofilm.” In eczema, biofilms are known to clog sweat ducts, triggering flare-ups. Eczema severity has been directly correlated to the degree of S. Aureus colonization and therapy generally fails to improve symptoms in the presence of high S. Aureus counts.

 

Biofilms are implicated in 80% of all human infections. Once formed, bacterial biofilms resist the host immune system and antibiotics. Biofilms may require 1,000 times the antibiotic dose required to kill single bacteria, rendering biofilms virtually nontreatable once formed. Despite these realities, existing technology focuses on treatment rather than prevention.

 

Competition

 

The current competition in the eczema therapeutics market consists of conventional forms of therapy such as topical corticosteroids, topical immunomodulators and emollients as the most prominent therapies. Among all the available treatment options, topical corticosteroids hold a majority share and dominate the market. Topical corticosteroids, such as Vanos Cream, Aristorcort A Cream and Topicort Cream are available in various strengths (mild, moderate, potent and very potent) and formulations (ointment, cream, lotion and others), so that they can be used according to the severity of eczema. Calceurin inhibitors (Protopic (tacrolimus) and Elidel (pimecrolimus)) showed higher efficacy in comparison to corticosteroids and these products were widely used after their respective launches. However, in 2005, the FDA issued black box warnings for the calceurin inhibitors (Protopic and Elidel), and this resulted in declining sales of these products. Emollients, such as Theraplex, Mustela and Temorate E* Emollient, have good efficacy as well as good safety. They hydrate, moisturize and repair the skin. These products do not offer first line treatment, but they are useful as maintenance therapy in eczema patients.

 

- 62

 

 

Market Opportunity

 

We believe we have a two-fold competitive advantage over our competition. First, currently available eczema treatment options focus on treating or suppressing symptoms rather than causally preventing or delaying flare-ups. Recent peer-reviewed publications highlight that staph -induced biofilms are the root cause of flare-ups in eczema. Our BioLexa product candidate has been demonstrated to prevent the formation of these biofilms with the promise of delaying or completely arresting flare-ups, rather than merely treating symptoms of a flare-up already underway. Second, long-term use of corticosteroids, can have harmful side effects. Because the BioLexa Platform does not use steroids, our treatment avoids these harmful side effects and gives us another advantage over our competition.

 

Commercialization

 

Our business success with BioLexa depends not only on the successful development and approval of the product but also on its commercialization. At present, our plan anticipates us making the investments necessary to build an in-house marketing and sales capability for the U.S. market for BioLexa. As BioLexa makes its way through clinical development in the U.S., we intend to approach pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies outside the U.S. to negotiate and enter into strategic partnerships that will enable development and commercialization of BioLexa outside the U.S., where we believe the market opportunity is larger than that of the U.S. albeit far more complex to reach. We have no operations outside the U.S., nor are we planning to have any non-U.S. operations.

 

Manufacturing and Supply

 

We do not have any manufacturing capability and therefore have engaged Particle Sciences, Inc. (“Particle Sciences”), a company with over 20 years of experience formulating and producing topical therapeutics under cGMP regulations, to formulate and manufacture the BioLexa product candidate in accordance with cGMP requirements. Although we have not entered into a master service agreement with Particle Sciences, Particle Sciences is charged with, among other things, the following pursuant to the terms of a quote provided to us by Particle Sciences:

   

Optimizing the formulation of the BioLexa product candidate for ease of production and analysis;

 

Producing and packaging the required doses of the BioLexa product candidate for all clinical testing under cGMP conditions; and

 

Evaluating the shelf life of the BioLexa product candidate employing industry standard stability testing techniques and protocol.

 

In addition to the foregoing, Particle Sciences is required to identify and source the two raw materials, Ca-DTPA and Gentamicin, used to produce the BioLexa product candidate. Both DTPA and Gentamicin are available from multiple suppliers in the U.S., Europe and Asia, and the Company anticipates that such raw materials will be readily available to the Company. Particle Sciences is required to vet and engage potential suppliers of the raw materials. Although the Company is engaged in negotiations with suppliers of the raw materials, the Company has not yet entered into any agreements for the supply of such raw materials. The additional components in the BioLexa formulation are all listed in the United States Pharmacopeia and are readily available from multiple U.S. sources who routinely supply similar materials to the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

 

Intellectual Property Portfolio

 

We believe that market exclusivity derived from our licensed intellectual property, the Hatch-Waxman provisions applicable to products approved under 505(b)(2) and possible data protection rights will present barriers to entry and are keys to our success.

 

- 63

 

 

Our goal is to obtain, maintain and enforce patent protection for our products, formulations, processes, methods and other proprietary technologies, preserve our trade secrets, and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of other parties, both in the U.S. and in other countries. Our policy is to actively seek the broadest intellectual property protection possible for our products, proprietary information and proprietary technology through a combination of contractual arrangements and patents, both in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. In addition, we intend to actively pursue product life-cycle management initiatives to extend our market exclusivity

 

We intend to cement our market exclusivity in conjunction with our formulation-development partners through additional patents based on the pharmaceutical and clinical characteristics of our drug in the proprietary formulation and through the introduction of line extensions such as combination drugs and new formulations.

 

In addition to any granted patents, our products will be eligible for market exclusivity to run concurrently with the term of the patent for three and a half years in the U.S. per the Hatch-Waxman Act and pediatric exclusivity guideline and up to ten years of market exclusivity in the E.U. which includes eight years of data exclusivity and two years of market exclusivity from the date of the NDA or the European equivalent referred to as Marketing Authorization Application, or MAA.

 

BioLexa, our biofilm-prevention technology, is covered by U.S. Patent No. 9,821,063, which was issued on November 21, 2017 and expires in 2033, and has issued patents in the E.U. and Spain expiring in 2028. Patent applications covering multiple formulations and methods of use for the BioLexa Platform are presently pending in the U.S., Europe and Canada which, if issued, will expire in 2033.

 

Government Regulation

 

Governmental authorities in the U.S. and other countries extensively regulate the research, development, testing, manufacture, labeling, promotion, advertising, distribution and marketing of pharmaceutical products such as those being developed by us. In the U.S., the FDA regulates such products under the FDCA and implements related regulations. Failure to comply with applicable FDA requirements, both before and after approval, may subject us to administrative and judicial sanctions, such as a delay in approving or refusal by the FDA to approve pending applications, warning letters, product recalls, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution, injunctions and/or criminal prosecution.

 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Regulation

 

United States Drug Development

 

In the United States, the FDA regulates drugs, medical devices and combinations of drugs and devices, or combination products, under the FDCA and its implementing regulations. Drugs are also subject to other federal, state and local statutes and regulations. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with appropriate federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations requires the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources. Failure to comply with the applicable U.S. requirements at any time during the product development process, approval process or after approval, may subject an applicant to administrative or judicial sanctions. These sanctions could include, among other actions, the FDA’s refusal to approve pending applications, withdrawal of an approval, a clinical hold, untitled or warning letters, requests for voluntary product recalls or withdrawals from the market, product seizures, total or partial suspension of production or distribution injunctions, fines, refusals of government contracts, restitution, disgorgement, or civil or criminal penalties. Any agency or judicial enforcement action could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

The process required by the FDA before a drug may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:

 

completion of extensive pre-clinical laboratory tests, animal studies and formulation studies in accordance with applicable regulations, including the FDA’s Good Laboratory Practice regulations;

 

submission to the FDA of an IND, which must become effective before human clinical trials may begin;

 

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials in accordance with an applicable IND and other clinical study related regulations, sometimes referred to as good clinical practices, or GCPs, to establish the safety and efficacy of the proposed drug for its proposed indication;

 

- 64

 

 

submission to the FDA of an NDA;

 

satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the product, or components thereof, are produced to assess compliance with the FDA’s cGMP requirements;

 

potential FDA audit of the clinical trial sites that generated the data in support of the NDA; and

 

FDA review and approval of the NDA prior to any commercial marketing or sale.

 

Once a pharmaceutical product candidate is identified for development, it enters the pre-clinical testing stage. Pre-clinical tests include laboratory evaluations of product chemistry, toxicity, formulation and stability, as well as animal studies. An IND sponsor must submit the results of the pre-clinical tests, together with manufacturing information, analytical data and any available clinical data or literature, to the FDA as part of the IND. The sponsor must also include a protocol detailing, among other things, the objectives of the initial clinical trial, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated if the initial clinical trial lends itself to an efficacy evaluation. Some pre-clinical testing may continue even after the IND is submitted. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA raises concerns or questions related to a proposed clinical trial and places the trial on a clinical hold within that 30-day period. In such a case, the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns before the clinical trial can begin. Clinical holds also may be imposed by the FDA at any time before or during clinical trials due to safety concerns or non-compliance, and may be imposed on all drug products within a certain class of drugs. The FDA also can impose partial clinical holds, for example, prohibiting the initiation of clinical trials of a certain duration or for a certain dose.

 

All clinical trials must be conducted under the supervision of one or more qualified investigators in accordance with GCP regulations. These regulations include the requirement that all research subjects provide informed consent in writing before their participation in any clinical trial. Further, IRB must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial before it commences at any institution, and the IRB must conduct continuing review and reapprove the study at least annually. An IRB considers, among other things, whether the risks to individuals participating in the clinical trial are minimized and are reasonable in relation to anticipated benefits. The IRB also approves the information regarding the clinical trial and the consent form that must be provided to each clinical trial subject or his or her legal representative and must monitor the clinical trial until completed.

 

Each new clinical protocol and any amendments to the protocol must be submitted for FDA review, and to the IRBs for approval. Protocols detail, among other things, the objectives of the clinical trial, dosing procedures, subject selection and exclusion criteria, and the parameters to be used to monitor subject safety.

 

Human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined:

 

Phase 1. The product is initially introduced into a small number of healthy human subjects or patients and tested for safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism, distribution and excretion and, if possible, to gain early evidence on effectiveness. In the case of some products for severe or life-threatening diseases, especially when the product is suspected or known to be unavoidably toxic, the initial human testing may be conducted in patients.

 

Phase 2. Involves clinical trials in a limited patient population to identify possible adverse effects and safety risks, to preliminarily evaluate the efficacy of the product for specific targeted diseases and to determine dosage tolerance and optimal dosage and schedule.

 

Phase 3. Clinical trials are undertaken to further evaluate dosage, clinical efficacy and safety in an expanded patient population at geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. These clinical trials are intended to establish the overall risk/benefit relationship of the product and provide an adequate basis for product labeling.

 

- 65

 

 

Post-approval trials, sometimes referred to as Phase 4 clinical trials, may be conducted after initial marketing approval. These studies are used to gain additional experience from the treatment of patients in the intended therapeutic indication. In certain instances, the FDA may mandate the performance of Phase 4 trials. Companies that conduct certain clinical trials also are required to register them and post the results of completed clinical trials on a government-sponsored database, such as ClinicalTrials.gov in the United States, within certain timeframes. Failure to do so can result in fines, adverse publicity and civil and criminal sanctions.

 

Progress reports detailing the results of the clinical trials, among other information, must be submitted at least annually to the FDA, and written IND safety reports must be submitted to the FDA and the investigators for serious and unexpected adverse events, findings from other studies that suggest a significant risk to humans exposed to the product, findings from animal or in vitro testing that suggest a significant risk to human subjects, and any clinically important increase in the rate of a serious suspected adverse reaction over that listed in the protocol or investigator brochure. Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials may not be completed successfully within any specified period, if at all. The FDA or the clinical trial sponsor may suspend or terminate a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the research subjects or patients are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk. Similarly, an IRB can suspend or terminate approval of a clinical trial at its institution if the clinical trial is not being conducted in accordance with the IRB’s requirements or if the product has been associated with unexpected serious harm to patients. Additionally, some clinical trials are overseen by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical trial sponsor, known as a data safety monitoring board or committee. This group provides authorization for whether a trial may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the study. The clinical trial sponsor may also suspend or terminate a clinical trial based on evolving business objectives and/or competitive climate.

 

Concurrent with clinical trials, companies usually complete additional animal studies and must also develop additional information about the chemistry and physical characteristics of the product and finalize a process for manufacturing the product in commercial quantities in accordance with cGMP requirements. The manufacturing process must be capable of consistently producing quality batches of the product candidate and, among other things, the manufacturer must develop methods for testing the identity, strength, quality and purity of the final product. Additionally, appropriate packaging must be selected and tested and stability studies must be conducted to demonstrate that the product candidate does not undergo unacceptable deterioration over its shelf life.

 

NDA and FDA Review Process

 

The results of product development, pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, along with descriptions of the manufacturing process, analytical tests conducted on the drug, proposed labeling and other relevant information, are submitted to the FDA as part of an NDA for a new drug, requesting approval to market the product. The submission of an NDA is subject to the payment of a substantial user fee, and the sponsor of an approved NDA is also subject to an annual program user fee; although a waiver of such fee may be obtained under certain limited circumstances. For example, the agency will waive the application fee for the first human drug application that a small business or its affiliate submits for review.

 

The FDA reviews all NDAs submitted before it accepts them for filing and may request additional information rather than accepting an NDA for filing. The FDA typically makes a decision on accepting an NDA for filing within 60 days of receipt. The decision to accept the NDA for filing means that the FDA has made a threshold determination that the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. Under the goals and policies agreed to by the FDA under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act( “PDUFA”), the FDA’s goal to complete its substantive review of a standard NDA and respond to the applicant is ten months from the receipt of the NDA. The FDA does not always meet its PDUFA goal dates, and the review process is often significantly extended by FDA requests for additional information or clarification and may go through multiple review cycles.

 

After the NDA submission is accepted for filing, the FDA reviews the NDA to determine, among other things, whether the proposed product is safe and effective for its intended use, and whether the product is being manufactured in accordance with cGMPs to assure and preserve the product’s identity, strength, quality and purity. The FDA may refer applications for novel drug products or drug products which present difficult questions of safety or efficacy to an advisory committee, typically a panel that includes clinicians and other experts, for review, evaluation and a recommendation as to whether the application should be approved and under what conditions. The FDA is not bound by the recommendations of an advisory committee, but it considers such recommendations carefully when making decisions. The FDA will likely re-analyze the clinical trial data, which could result in extensive discussions between the FDA and us during the review process. The review and evaluation of an NDA by the FDA is extensive and time consuming and may take longer than originally planned to complete, and we may not receive a timely approval, if at all.

 

- 66

 

 

Before approving an NDA, the FDA will conduct a pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facilities for the new product to determine whether they comply with cGMPs. The FDA will not approve the product unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with cGMP requirements and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. In addition, before approving an NDA, the FDA may also audit data from clinical trials to ensure compliance with GCP requirements. After the FDA evaluates the application, manufacturing process and manufacturing facilities, it may issue an approval letter or a Complete Response Letter. An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the drug with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A Complete Response Letter indicates that the review cycle of the application is complete and the application will not be approved in its present form. A Complete Response Letter usually describes all the specific deficiencies in the NDA identified by the FDA. The Complete Response Letter may require additional clinical data and/or an additional pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial(s), and/or other significant and time-consuming requirements related to clinical trials, nonclinical studies or manufacturing. If a Complete Response Letter is issued, the applicant may either resubmit the NDA, addressing all the deficiencies identified in the letter, or withdraw the application. Even if such data and information are submitted, the FDA may ultimately decide that the NDA does not satisfy the criteria for approval. Data obtained from clinical trials are not always conclusive, and the FDA may interpret data differently than we interpret the same data.

 

There is no assurance that the FDA will ultimately approve a product for marketing in the United States, and we may encounter significant difficulties or costs during the review process. If a product receives marketing approval, the approval may be significantly limited to specific diseases and dosages or the indications for use may otherwise be limited, which could restrict the commercial value of the product. Further, the FDA may require that certain contraindications, warnings or precautions be included in the product labeling or may condition the approval of the NDA on other changes to the proposed labeling, development of adequate controls and specifications, or a commitment to conduct post-market testing or clinical trials and surveillance to monitor the effects of approved products. For example, the FDA may require Phase 4 clinical trials to further assess drug safety and effectiveness and may require testing and surveillance programs to monitor the safety of approved products that have been commercialized. The FDA may also place other conditions on approvals, including the requirement for a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (“REMS”), to assure the safe use of the drug. If the FDA concludes a REMS is needed, the sponsor of the NDA must submit a proposed REMS; the FDA will not approve the NDA without an approved REMS, if required. A REMS could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries and other risk minimization tools. Any of these limitations on approval or marketing could restrict the commercial promotion, distribution, prescription or dispensing of products. Product approvals may be withdrawn for non-compliance with regulatory requirements or if problems occur following initial marketing.

 

Section 505(b)(2) Regulatory Approval Pathway

 

Section 505(b)(2) of the FDCA provides an alternate regulatory pathway for approval of a new drug by allowing the FDA to rely on data not developed by the applicant. Specifically, Section 505(b)(2) permits the submission of an NDA where one or more of the investigations relied upon by the applicant for approval was not conducted by or for the applicant and for which the applicant has not obtained a right of reference. The applicant may rely upon published literature and/or the FDA’s findings of safety and effectiveness for an approved drug already on the market. Approval or submission of a 505(b)(2) application, like those for abbreviated new drugs (“ANDAs”), may be delayed because of patent and/or exclusivity rights that apply to the previously approved drug.

 

A 505(b)(2) application may be submitted for a new chemical entity, or NCE, when some part of the data necessary for approval is derived from studies not conducted by or for the applicant and when the applicant has not obtained a right of reference. Such data are typically derived from published studies, rather than FDA’s previous findings of safety and effectiveness of a previously approved drug. For changes to a previously approved drug however, an applicant may rely on the FDA’s finding of safety and effectiveness of the approved drug, coupled with information needed to support the change from the approved drug, such as new studies conducted by the applicant or published data. When based on an approved drug, the 505(b)(2) drug may be approved for all of the indications permitted for the approved drug, as well as any other indication supported by additional data.

 

- 67

 

 

Section 505(b)(2) applications also may be entitled to marketing exclusivity if supported by appropriate data and information. As discussed in more detail below, three-year new data exclusivity may be granted to the 505(b)(2) application if one or more clinical investigations conducted in support of the application, other than bioavailability/bioequivalence studies, were essential to the approval and conducted or sponsored by the applicant. Five years of marketing exclusivity may be granted if the application is for an NCE, and pediatric exclusivity is likewise available.

 

Orange Book Listing and Paragraph IV Certification

 

For NDA submissions, including those under Section 505(b)(2), applicants are required to list with the FDA certain patents with claims that cover the applicant’s product. Upon approval, each of the patents listed in the application is published in Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations , commonly referred to as the Orange Book. Any applicant who subsequently files an ANDA or 505(b)(2) NDA that references a drug listed in the Orange Book must certify to the FDA that (1) no patent information on the drug product that is the subject of the application has been submitted to the FDA; (2) such patent has expired; (3) the date on which such patent expires; or (4) such patent is invalid or will not be infringed upon by the manufacture, use or sale of the drug product for which the application is submitted. This last certification is known as a Paragraph IV Certification.

 

If an applicant has provided a Paragraph IV Certification to the FDA, the applicant must also send notice of the Paragraph IV Certification to the holder of the NDA for the approved drug and the patent owner once the application has been accepted for filing by the FDA. The NDA holder or patent owner may then initiate a patent infringement lawsuit in response to notice of the Paragraph IV Certification. The filing of a patent infringement lawsuit within 45 days of the receipt of a Paragraph IV Certification prevents the FDA from approving the ANDA or 505(b)(2) application until the earlier of 30 months from the date of the lawsuit, the applicant’s successful defense of the suit, or expiration of the patent.

 

Reimbursement

 

Potential sales of any of our product candidates, if approved, will depend, at least in part, on the extent to which such products will be covered by third-party payors, such as government health care programs, commercial insurance and managed healthcare organizations. These third-party payors are increasingly limiting coverage and/or reducing reimbursements for medical products and services. A third-party payor’s decision to provide coverage for a drug product does not imply that an adequate reimbursement rate will be approved. Further, one payor’s determination to provide coverage for a drug product does not assure that other payors will also provide coverage for the drug product. In addition, the U.S. government, state legislatures and foreign governments have continued implementing cost-containment programs, including price controls, restrictions on reimbursement and requirements for substitution of generic products. Adoption of price controls and cost-containment measures, and adoption of more restrictive policies in jurisdictions with existing controls and measures, could further limit our future revenues and results of operations. Decreases in third-party reimbursement or a decision by a third-party payor to not cover a product candidate, if approved, or any future approved products could reduce physician usage of our products, and have a material adverse effect on our sales, results of operations and financial condition.

 

In the United States, the Medicare Part D program provides a voluntary outpatient drug benefit to Medicare beneficiaries for certain products. We do not know whether our product candidates, if approved, will be eligible for coverage under Medicare Part D, but individual Medicare Part D plans offer coverage subject to various factors such as those described above. Furthermore, private payors often follow Medicare coverage policies and payment limitations in setting their own coverage policies.

 

- 68

 

 

Pediatric Exclusivity and Pediatric Use

 

The Pediatric Research Equity Act, or PREA, requires a sponsor to conduct pediatric studies for most drugs and biologics, for a new active ingredient, new indication, new dosage form, new dosing regimen or new route of administration. Under PREA, original NDAs, biologics license applications and supplements thereto, must contain a pediatric assessment unless the sponsor has received a deferral or waiver. Unless otherwise required by regulation, PREA does not apply to any drug for an indication for which an orphan drug designation has been granted. The required assessment must assess the safety and effectiveness of the product for the claimed indications in all relevant pediatric subpopulations and support dosing and administration for each pediatric subpopulation for which the product is safe and effective. The sponsor or FDA may request a deferral of pediatric studies for some or all of the pediatric subpopulations. A deferral may be granted for several reasons, including a finding that the drug or biologic is ready for approval for use in adults before pediatric studies are complete or that additional safety or effectiveness data needs to be collected before the pediatric studies begin.

 

Pediatric exclusivity is another type of non-patent marketing exclusivity in the United States and, if granted, provides for the attachment of an additional six months of marketing protection to the term of any existing regulatory exclusivity, including the non-patent and orphan exclusivity. This six-month exclusivity may be granted if an NDA sponsor submits pediatric data that fairly respond to a written request from the FDA for such data. The data does not need to show the product to be effective in the pediatric population studied; rather, if the clinical trial is deemed to fairly respond to the FDA’s request, the additional protection is granted. If reports of requested pediatric studies are submitted to and accepted by the FDA within the statutory time limits, whatever statutory or regulatory periods of exclusivity or patent protection cover the product are extended by six months.

 

Healthcare Laws and Regulations

 

Sales of our product candidates, if approved, or any other future product candidate will be subject to healthcare regulation and enforcement by the federal government and the states and foreign governments in which we might conduct our business. The healthcare laws and regulations that may affect our ability to operate include the following:

 

The federal Anti-Kickback Statute makes it illegal for any person or entity to knowingly and willfully, directly or indirectly, solicit, receive, offer, or pay any remuneration that is in exchange for or to induce the referral of business, including the purchase, order, lease of any good, facility, item or service for which payment may be made under a federal healthcare program, such as Medicare or Medicaid. The term “remuneration” has been broadly interpreted to include anything of value.

 

Federal false claims and false statement laws, including the federal civil False Claims Act, prohibits, among other things, any person or entity from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, for payment to, or approval by, federal programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, claims for items or services, including drugs, that are false or fraudulent.

 

HIPAA created additional federal criminal statutes that prohibit among other actions, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, including private third-party payors or making any false, fictitious or fraudulent statement in connection with the delivery of or payment for healthcare benefits, items or services.

 

HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 and their implementing regulations, impose obligations on certain types of individuals and entities regarding the electronic exchange of information in common healthcare transactions, as well as standards relating to the privacy and security of individually identifiable health information.

 

The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with specific exceptions, to report annually to CMS information related to payments or other transfers of value made to physicians and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members.

 

Also, many states have similar laws and regulations, such as anti-kickback and false claims laws that may be broader in scope and may apply regardless of payor, in addition to items and services reimbursed under Medicaid and other state programs. Additionally, we may be subject to state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the federal government’s and/or pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines, state laws that require drug manufacturers to report information related to payments and other transfers of value to physicians and other healthcare providers or marketing expenditures, as well as state and foreign laws governing the privacy and security of health information, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA.

 

Additionally, to the extent that our product is sold in a foreign country, we may be subject to similar foreign laws.

 

Employees

 

As of December 13, 2018, we employed a total of 2 full-time employees and had no part-time employees. We are not a party to any collective bargaining agreements. We believe that we maintain good relations with our employees.

 

Facilities

 

Our executive office is located at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039, New York, NY 10020. We lease our office for $2,280 per month pursuant to a lease which terminates on July 31, 2019. We believe that our existing facilities are suitable and adequate to meet our current needs. We intend to add new facilities or expand existing facilities as we add employees, and we believe that suitable additional or substitute space will be available as needed to accommodate any such expansion of our operations.

 

- 69

 

 

Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time, we may become involved in various lawsuits and legal proceedings, which arise in the ordinary course of business. Litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and an adverse result in these or other matters may arise from time to time that may harm our business. We are currently not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or operating results.

 

MANAGEMENT 

 

Executive Officers and Directors

 

The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our executive officers, key employees and directors as of December 13, 2018.

 

Name   Age   Position
Executive Officers:          
Robb Knie     49   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Jane H. Behrmann     34   Vice President of Operations (Nominee)
Board of Directors:          
Vadim Mats     34   Director
Kenneth Rice     64   Director
Anthony Hayes     50   Director
David B. Sarnoff     50   Director

 

Robb Knie

 

Robb Knie has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a director of the Company since May 2017 and as our principal financial and accounting officer until June 2018. Mr. Knie served as the President of Lifeline Industries Inc. since its inception in 1995. From 2002 to 2010 he was a Semiconductor Analyst for PAW Partners. From 1993 until 1995, Mr. Knie served as Northeast Regional Manager of American Express Financial Advisors. Mr. Knie served as a board member of Inventergy Global, Inc. (NASDAQ: INVT) from December 2013 until October 2014. We believe that Mr. Knie is qualified to serve as a director because of his business and leadership experience and experience as a board member of public companies.

 

Jane H. Behrmann

 

Jane H. Behrmann is a nominee for appointment as Vice President of Operations of the Company, and such appointment will become effective upon completion of this offering. From December 12, 2017 until the completion of this offering, Ms. Behrmann will have served as Office Manager and Corporate Secretary of the Company. Since February 2014, Ms. Behrmann has served as Office Manager of Spherix Incorporated (NASDAQ: SPEX). From October 2009 until January 2014, Ms. Behrmann served in the accounting department of Ocean Road Advisors, and from September 2002 until February 2006, she served as Executive Assistant at The WhyTry Organization. Ms. Behrmann received a bachelor of science in psychology from Brigham Young University, a continuing education certificate in accounting from New York University and is currently enrolled in Rutgers Business School’s Mini MBA program in BioPharma Innovation. 

 

Vadim Mats

 

Vadim Mats has served as a director of the Company since May 2017. Mr. Mats currently consults with multiple companies in a range of industries on all aspects of finance, accounting, tax and operations. Since March 2017, Mr. Mats has served as Chief Financial Officer of Lust for Life Footwear and Brioclick Inc. From June 2010 to December 2016, Mr. Mats was Chief Financial Officer of Whalehaven Capital. Mr. Mats also served as the Assistant Controller at Eton Park Capital Management, LP, a multi-strategy fund, from July 2007 to December 2009. From June 2006 to July 2007, Mr. Mats was a Senior Fund Accountant at The Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE: BK), where he was responsible for over fifteen funds. From 2011 until March 2017, Mr. Mats served as Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Wizard World Inc. (OTCQB: WIZD). Mr. Mats graduated cum laude from the Zicklin School of Business at Bernard Baruch College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, specializing in finance and investments and holds a Master of Science in accounting and finance from the Zicklin School of Business at Bernard Baruch College. Further, Mr. Mats is a CAIA ©  Charterholder and a Certified Public Accountant in the State of New York. We believe that Mr. Mats is qualified to serve as a director because of his experience as a board member of a public company and his knowledge with respect to finance, accounting, tax and operations matters.

 

- 70

 

 

Kenneth Rice

 

Kenneth Rice has served as a director of the Company since May 2017. Mr. Rice has served as the President and Chief Financial Officer of LikeMinds, Inc., an affiliate of Alseres Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Alseres”) since 2016. Since 2005, Mr. Rice has served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and in-house counsel to Alseres. In addition, since 2012, Mr. Rice has served as Executive Chairman of Chelexa. From August 1999 through March 2001, Mr. Rice served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of MacroChem Corporation, a publicly-traded drug delivery company. Mr. Rice received his BSBA from Babson College, his MBA from Babson College, his Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School and his LLM from Boston University Law School. We believe that Mr. Rice is qualified to serve as a director because of his over 25 years of experience in operations, finance, marketing and sales and business development in both private and public life science companies.

 

Anthony Hayes

 

Anthony Hayes has served as a director of the Company since June 2017 and as Chief Executive Officer and director of Spherix Incorporated (NASDAQ: SPEX) since September 2013. In addition, Mr. Hayes has served as the Chief Executive Officer of North South since March 2013. Mr. Hayes was the fund manager of JaNSOME IP Management LLC and JaNSOME Patent Fund LP from August 2012 to August 2013, both of which he co-founded. Mr. Hayes was the founder and Managing Member of Atwater Partners of Texas LLC from March 2010 to August 2012 and a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP from May 1999 to March 2010. Mr. Hayes received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University School of Law and his B.A. in economics from Mary Washington College. We believe that Mr. Hayes is qualified to serve as a director because of his experience as CEO of Spherix Incorporated and North South.

 

David B. Sarnoff

 

David Sarnoff has served as a director of the Company since August 2018. Since June 2015, Mr. Sarnoff has served as the founder and Principal of Sarnoff Group, LLC. From October 2003 until June 2015, Mr. Sarnoff served as the co-founder and Principal of Morandi, Taub & Sarnoff LLC, and from July 1998 until October 2003 he served as a Legal Recruiter for Scneider Legal Search, Inc. From August 1994 until July 1998, Mr. Sarnoff served as a litigation associate attorney at Wachtel Missry LLP (formerly known as Gold & Wachtel LLP). Since July 2018, Mr. Sarnoff has served as a member of the advisory committee of the New Jersey Association of School Resource Officers. From January 2015 until January 2018, Mr. Sarnoff served as board President of Fort Lee Board of Education and since January 2013 he has been serving as a board member of Fort Lee Board of Education. Mr. Sarnoff received his juris doctor from Rutgers University School of Law and his bachelor of arts from Hofstra University. Mr. Sarnoff is admitted to the New York and New Jersey (retired status) state bars. Mr. Sarnoff is qualified to serve as a director because of his legal experience as well as his extensive experience in executive leadership and business development. 

 

Family Relationships

 

There are no family relationships among any of our executive officers or directors.

 

Involvement in Certain Legal Proceedings

 

None of our directors or executive officers has been involved in any bankruptcy or criminal proceedings, nor have there been any judgments or injunctions brought against any of our directors or executive officers during the last ten years that we consider material to the evaluation of the ability and integrity of any director or executive officer.

 

Director Independence

 

Prior to the consummation of this offering, our board of directors undertook a review of the independence of our directors and considered whether any director has a relationship with us that could compromise that director’s ability to exercise independent judgment in carrying out that director’s responsibilities. Based on information provided by each director concerning his background, employment and affiliations, our board of directors has determined that Anthony Hayes, Vadim Mats and David Sarnoff do not have a relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director and that each of these directors is “independent” as that term is defined under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Capital Market. In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our Company and all other facts and circumstances our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director.

 

Committees of Our Board of Directors

 

Our board of directors directs the management of our business and affairs, as provided by Nevada law, and conducts its business through meetings of the board of directors and its standing committees. We have a standing audit committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee. In addition, from time to time, special committees may be established under the direction of the board of directors when necessary to address specific issues.

 

- 71

 

 

Our board of directors has determined that all of the members of the audit committee, the compensation committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee to be appointed upon the consummation of this offering are independent as defined under the applicable rules of The Nasdaq Capital Market, including, in the case of all of the members of our audit committee, the independence requirements contemplated by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. In making such determination, the board of directors considered the relationships that each director has with our Company and all other facts and circumstances that the board of directors deemed relevant in determining director independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each director.

 

Audit Committee

 

Our audit committee will be responsible for, among other things:

 

approving and retaining the independent registered public accounting firm to conduct the annual audit of our financial statements;

reviewing the proposed scope and results of the audit; 

reviewing and pre-approval of audit and non-audit fees and services; 

reviewing accounting and financial controls with the independent registered public accounting firm and our financial and accounting staff; 

reviewing and approving transactions between us and our directors, officers and affiliates; 

establishing procedures for complaints received by us regarding accounting matters; 

overseeing internal audit functions, if any; and 

preparing the report of the audit committee that the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require to be included in our annual meeting proxy statement.

 

Upon the consummation of this offering, our audit committee will consist of Anthony Hayes, Vadim Mats and David Sarnoff, with Anthony Hayes serving as chair. Each member of our audit committee meets the financial literacy requirements of the Nasdaq rules. In addition, our board of directors has determined that Anthony Hayes qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K.

  

Our board of directors adopted a written charter for the audit committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at www.hoththerapeutics.com on or prior to the consummation of this offering. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

 

Compensation Committee

 

Our compensation committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

reviewing and recommending the compensation arrangements for management, including the compensation for our president and chief executive officer; 

 

establishing and reviewing general compensation policies with the objective to attract and retain superior talent, to reward individual performance and to achieve our financial goals; 

 

administering our stock incentive plans; and 

 

preparing the report of the compensation committee that the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission require to be included in our annual meeting proxy statement.

 

Upon the consummation of this offering, our compensation committee will consist of Anthony Hayes, Vadim Mats and David Sarnoff, with Anthony Hayes serving as chair.

 

Our board of directors adopted a written charter for the compensation committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at  www.hoththerapeutics.com on or prior to the consummation of this offering. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

 

- 72

 

 

Nominating and Governance Committee

 

Our nominating and governance committee is responsible for, among other things:

 

identifying and nominating members of the board of directors; 

 

developing and recommending to the board of directors a set of corporate governance principles applicable to our Company; and 

 

overseeing the evaluation of our board of directors.

 

Upon the consummation of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee will consist of Vadim Mats, Anthony Hayes and David Sarnoff, with Vadim Mats serving as chair.

 

Our board of directors adopted a written charter for the nominating and corporate governance committee, which will be available on our principal corporate website at  www.hoththerapeutics.com on or prior to the consummation of this offering. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

   

Technology Advisory Board

 

In July 2017, the board of directors formed a Technology Advisory Board. The members of such board are as follows: (i) Kenneth Rice as Chairman, (ii) Dr. Andrew Herr, Richard Granstein and Jonathan Zippin as Medical Doctor members and (iii) Robert Vander Zanden as a Non Medical Doctor member.

 

Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct

 

We adopted a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. A copy of the code will be posted on our website at www.hoththerapeutics.com on or prior to the consummation of this offering. In addition, we intend to post on our website all disclosures that are required by law or the Nasdaq rules concerning any amendments to, or waivers of, any provision of the code. The information on any of our websites is deemed not to be incorporated in this prospectus or to be part of this prospectus.

 

EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION 

 

The following table sets forth the compensation paid or accrued during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 to:

 

Robb Knie, Chief Executive Officer

 

Name and Principal Position Year Salary
($)
Bonus
($)
Stock awards
($)
Option awards
($)
Nonequity incentive plan compensation
($)
Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings ($) All other compensation
($)
Total
($)
Robb Knie, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director 2017 $145,833 $145,833

 

- 73

 

 

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2017

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had no equity incentive plans.

 

Non-Employee Director Compensation

 

The following table presents the total compensation for each person who served as a non-employee member of our board of directors and received compensation for such service during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017. Other than as set forth in the table and described more fully below, we did not pay any compensation, make any equity awards or non-equity awards to, or pay any other compensation to any of the non-employee members of our board of directors in 2017.

 

Name Fees earned or paid in cash ($) Stock awards ($) Option awards ($) Non-equity incentive plan compensation ($) Nonqualified deferred compensation earnings ($) All other compensation ($) Total ($)
Vadim Mats $10,000 $10,000 $20,000
Kenneth Rice $14,457 $15,000 $29,457
Anthony Hayes $10,000 $37,000 $47,000

   

Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy

 

Our directors will receive $30,000 cash compensation per year for their service on the board of directors, as well as reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses with respect to such directors’ attendance at meetings of the board of directors of the Company. Committee chairs will receive an additional $6,000 cash compensation per year for their added services in such roles. In addition, Vadim Mats and Kenneth Rice have each received an initial stock grant for 25,000 shares of common stock and a subsequent stock grant of 12,500 shares of common stock. Furthermore, Kenneth Rice received an additional stock grant for 12,500 shares of common stock for his services as a member of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board.

 

Employment Agreements

 

Robb Knie Employment Agreement

 

On June 1, 2017, we entered into an employment agreement, as amended on August 4, 2017 (the “Employment Agreement”) with Robb Knie pursuant to which Mr. Knie will serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The term of the Employment Agreement shall be for one year and shall automatically be extended for additional one-year terms unless either party gives prior written notice of non-renewal no later than six months prior to the expiration of the term. Pursuant to the terms of the Employment Agreement, we shall pay Mr. Knie $250,000 per year.

 

Upon termination of Mr. Knie’s employment for death or disability, Mr. Knie shall receive: (i) accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation through the date of termination, any other benefits accrued under any of our benefit plans and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred prior to termination, (ii) twelve (12) months’ of Mr. Knie’s then base salary, (iii) COBRA rights for a period of twelve (12) months upon election of such rights by Mr. Knie and (iv) payment on a pro-rated basis for any annual bonus or other payments earned in connection with any of our bonus plans. Upon voluntary termination, termination for Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement), termination by us without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) or termination within thirty (30) days of a Change in Control Transaction (as defined in the Employment Agreement), Mr. Knie shall receive all of the benefits Mr. Knie would receive upon termination for death or disability. In addition, Mr. Knie’s equity grants shall immediately vest in full. Upon termination by us for Cause, Mr. Knie shall receive: (i) accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation through the date of termination and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred prior to termination and (ii) COBRA rights for a period of one (1) month upon election of such rights by Mr. Knie.

 

- 74

 

 

Upon the closing of the offering contemplated by this registration statement, we will enter into an amended and restated employment agreement with Robb Knie pursuant to which Mr. Knie shall receive a base salary of $350,000 per year. The form of the amended and restated employment agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3.

 

Jane H. Behrmann Employment Agreement

 

Upon the closing of the offering contemplated by this registration statement, we will enter into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Behrmann Employment Agreement”) with Jane H. Behrmann pursuant to which Ms. Behrmann will serve as Vice President of Operations. The form of the amended and restated employment agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.17.

 

The term of the Behrmann Employment Agreement shall be for one year and shall automatically be extended for additional one-year terms unless either party gives prior written notice of non-renewal no later than 30 days prior to the expiration of the term. Pursuant to the terms of the Behrmann Employment Agreement, Ms. Behrmann shall receive a base salary of $85,000 and shall be eligible to receive a bonus in cash or equity at the discretion of the board of directors. In addition, Ms. Behrmann shall be eligible to receive grants of awards under our equity incentive plans at the discretion of our compensation committee.

 

The Behrmann Employment Agreement may be terminated by either us or Ms. Behrmann at any time and for any reason upon ten days prior written notice. Upon termination of Ms. Behrmann’s employment including for death or Disability (as defined in the Behrmann Employment Agreement), Ms. Behrmann shall be entitled to (i) any equity awards which have vested as of the termination date, (ii) reimbursement for business expenses and (iii) such employee benefits, if any, to which Ms. Behrmann may be entitled under our employee benefit plans.

  

2018 Equity Incentive Plan

 

Summary

 

Our 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) was adopted by our board of directors on May 4, 2018 and by our shareholders on May 4, 2018. Having an adequate number of shares available for future equity compensation grants is necessary to promote our long-term success and the creation of shareholders value by:

 

Enabling us to continue to attract and retain the services of key service providers who would be eligible to receive grants;

 

Aligning participants’ interests with shareholders’ interests through incentives that are based upon the performance of our common stock;

 

Motivating participants, through equity incentive awards, to achieve long-term growth in the Company’s business, in addition to short-term financial performance; and

 

Providing a long-term equity incentive program that is competitive as compared to other companies with whom we compete for talent.

 

The 2018 Plan permits the discretionary award of incentive stock options (“ISOs”), nonstatutory stock options (“NQSOs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), other equity awards and/or cash awards to selected participants. The 2018 Plan will remain in effect until the earlier of (i) May 4, 2028 and (ii) the date upon which the 2018 Plan is terminated pursuant to its terms, and in any event subject to the maximum share limit of the 2018 Plan

 

The 2018 Plan provides for the reservation of 1,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance thereunder (the “Share Limit”), and provides that the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs is 1,000,000 (the “ISO Limit”). The number of shares available for issuance under the 2018 Plan constitutes approximately 20% of our issued and outstanding shares of common stock as of the date of Board approval.

 

The 2018 Plan contains an “evergreen” provision (the “Evergreen Provision”) which allows for an annual increase in the Share Limit and the ISO Limit on the first day of each fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2019. The annual Share Limit and ISO Limit increase shall be equal to the lowest of:

 

250,000 shares of common stock;

 

5% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of such date; and

 

an amount determined by the Committee (as defined below).

 

Key Features of the 2018 Plan

 

Certain key features of the 2018 Plan are summarized as follows:

 

If not terminated earlier by our board of directors, the 2018 Plan will terminate on May 4, 2028.

 

  Subject to the Evergreen Provision, up to a maximum aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of common stock may be issued under the 2018 Plan. The maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs is also 1,000,000.

 

The 2018 Plan will generally be administered by a committee comprised solely of independent members of our board of directors. This committee will be the Compensation Committee unless otherwise designated by our board of directors (the “Committee”). The Board may designate a separate committee to make awards to employees who are not officers subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

- 75

 

 

Employees, consultants and Board members are eligible to receive awards, provided that the Committee has the discretion to determine (i) who shall receive any awards, and (ii) the terms and conditions of such awards.

 

Awards may consist of ISOs, NQSOs, restricted stock, RSUs, SARs, other equity awards and/or cash awards.

 

Stock options and SARs may not be granted at a per share exercise price below the fair market value of a share of our Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

Stock options and SARs may not be repriced or exchanged without stockholder approval.

 

The maximum exercisable term of stock options and SARs may not exceed ten years.

 

Awards are subject to recoupment of compensation policies adopted by the Company.

 

Eligibility to Receive Awards .  Employees, consultants and Board members of the Company and certain of our affiliated companies are eligible to receive awards under the 2018 Plan. The Committee determines, in its discretion, the selected participants who will be granted awards under the 2018 Plan.

 

Shares Subject to the 2018 Plan .  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that can be issued under the 2018 Plan is 1,000,000 shares. The 2018 Plan contains an “evergreen” provision (the “Evergreen Provision”) which allows for an annual increase in the Share Limit and the ISO Limit on the first day of each fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2019. The annual Share Limit and ISO Limit increase shall be equal to the lowest of:

 

250,000 shares of common stock;

 

5% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of such date; and

 

an amount determined by the Committee.

 

The shares underlying forfeited or terminated awards (without payment of consideration), or unexercised awards become available again for issuance under the 2018 Plan. No fractional shares may be issued under the 2018 Plan. No shares will be issued with respect to a participant’s award unless applicable tax withholding obligations have been satisfied by the participant.

 

Administration of the 2018 Plan .  The 2018 Plan will be administered by our Board’s Compensation Committee, acting as the Committee, which shall consist of independent Board members. With respect to certain awards issued under the 2018 Plan, the members of the Committee also must be “Non-Employee Directors” under Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act. Subject to the terms of the 2018 Plan, the Committee has the sole discretion, among other things, to:

 

Select the individuals who will receive awards;

 

Determine the terms and conditions of awards (for example, performance conditions, if any, and vesting schedule);

 

Correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in the 2018 Plan or any award agreement;

 

Accelerate the vesting, extend the post-termination exercise term or waive restrictions of any awards at any time and under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, subject to the limitations set forth in the 2018 Plan;

 

Permit a participant to defer compensation to be provided by an award; and

 

- 76

 

 

Interpret the provisions of the 2018 Plan and outstanding awards.

 

The Committee may suspend vesting, settlement, or exercise of awards pending a determination of whether a selected participant’s service should be terminated for cause (in which case outstanding awards would be forfeited). Awards may be subject to any policy that the Board may implement on the recoupment of compensation (referred to as a “clawback” policy). The members of the Board, the Committee and their delegates shall be indemnified by the Company to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law for actions taken or not taken regarding the 2018 Plan. In addition, the Committee may use the 2018 Plan to issue shares under other plans or sub-plans as may be deemed necessary or appropriate, such as to provide for participation by non-U.S. employees and those of any of our subsidiaries and affiliates.

 

Types of Awards .

 

Stock Options . A stock option is the right to acquire shares at a fixed exercise price over a fixed period of time. The Committee will determine, among other terms and conditions, the number of shares covered by each stock option and the exercise price of the shares subject to each stock option, but such per share exercise price cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant of the stock option. The exercise price of each stock option granted under the 2018 Plan must be paid in full at the time of exercise, either with cash, or through a broker-assisted “cashless” exercise and sale program, or net exercise, or through another method approved by the Committee. Stock options granted under the 2018 Plan may be either ISOs or NQSOs. In order to comply with Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-2(b), the 2018 Plan provides that no more than 1,000,000 shares may be issued pursuant to the exercise of ISOs.

 

SARs . A SAR is the right to receive, upon exercise, an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the date of the SAR’s exercise and the aggregate exercise price of the shares covered by the exercised portion of the SAR. The Committee determines the terms of SARs, including the exercise price (provided that such per share exercise price cannot be less than the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant), the vesting and the term of the SAR. Settlement of a SAR may be in shares of common stock or in cash, or any combination thereof, as the Committee may determine. SARs may not be repriced or exchanged without stockholder approval.

 

Restricted Stock . A restricted stock award is the grant of shares of our common stock to a selected participant and such shares may be subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture until specific conditions or goals are met. The restricted shares may be issued with or without cash consideration being paid by the selected participant as determined by the Committee. The Committee also will determine any other terms and conditions of an award of restricted stock.

 

RSUs . RSUs are the right to receive an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares covered by the RSU at some future date after the grant. The Committee will determine all of the terms and conditions of an award of RSUs. Payment for vested RSUs may be in shares of common stock or in cash, or any combination thereof, as the Committee may determine. RSUs represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation for us, and a holder of a stock unit has no rights other than those of a general creditor.

 

Other Awards . The 2018 Plan also provides that other equity awards, which derive their value from the value of our shares or from increases in the value of our shares, may be granted. In addition, cash awards may also be issued. Substitute awards may be issued under the 2018 Plan in assumption of or substitution for or exchange for awards previously granted by an entity which we (or an affiliate) acquire.

 

Limited Transferability of Awards . Awards granted under the 2018 Plan generally are not transferrable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. However, the Committee may in its discretion permit the transfer of awards other than ISOs.

 

Change in Control . In the event that we are a party to a merger or other reorganization or similar transaction, outstanding 2018 Plan awards will be subject to the agreement pertaining to such merger or reorganization. Such agreement may provide for (i) the continuation of the outstanding awards by us if we are a surviving corporation, (ii) the assumption or substitution of the outstanding awards by the surviving entity or its parent, (iii) full exercisability and/or full vesting of outstanding awards, or (iv) cancellation of outstanding awards either with or without consideration, in all cases with or without consent of the selected participant. The Committee will decide the effect of a change in control of the Company on outstanding awards.

 

- 77

 

 

Amendment and Termination of the 2018 Plan . The Board generally may amend or terminate the 2018 Plan at any time and for any reason, except that it must obtain stockholder approval of material amendments to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS 

 

Since our inception on May 16, 2017, except as set forth below, we have not been a participant to any transactions in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of our total assets at the end of our last completed fiscal year, and in which any of our directors, executive officers holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, promotor or certain control person or any member of their immediate family had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

 

On May 16, 2017, Matthew Eitner and James Ahern, the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Capital Markets of Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (“Laidlaw”), respectively, each purchased 750,000 shares of our Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $3,000. In addition, they each loaned us an aggregate of $102,000, which loans, together with a $48,000 original issue discount, have since been repaid. Further, on October 25, 2017, Matthew Eitner purchased 15,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase up to 3,750 shares of common stock pursuant to a private placement of the Company’s securities.

 

On May 26, 2017, we entered into a sublicense agreement with Chelexa, as amended on August 22, 2018 and August 29, 2018. Kenneth Rice, a member of our board of directors is the Executive Chairman of Chelexa. Pursuant to the terms of the sublicense agreement, Chelexa granted us an exclusive worldwide sublicense to use the BioLexa Platform, a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform developed at the University of Cincinnati. In May 2017, we paid $300,000 to Chelexa pursuant to the sublicense agreement. In addition, we issued Chelexa 250,000 shares of our common stock, which was 10% of our fully-diluted equity at May 26, 2017, and Chelexa had the right to receive such number of additional shares of common stock required to maintain its 10% interest in our fully-diluted equity until such time that we raised a minimum of $3,000,000. As of the date here, we have issued Chelexa an aggregate of 476,943 additional shares of common stock pursuant to the Preemptive Right. We have raise more than $3,000,000 and therefore the Preemptive Right has been terminated. Furthermore, pursuant to the sublicense agreement, Chelexa has the right to participate in certain equity issuances made by us for purposes of raising capital based upon its pro-rata share to enable Chelexa to retain 10% of our fully-diluted equity until such time as we consummate an initial public offering pursuant to which we receive aggregate gross proceeds of not less than $5,000,000. The sublicense agreement further provides for the payment by us of all development and commercialization expenses along with sales-based royalties at percentages which range from mid to high single digits, with high sales volumes being subject to lower royalty rates, and total milestone payments of $3.5 million.

 

On July 6, 2017, we entered into an engagement agreement with Laidlaw. We agreed to pay Laidlaw a fee in the amount of 10% of the gross proceeds of the private placement of our securities received from investors at the closing of such offering, which, in the aggregate, amounted to $310,248, as well as a non-accountable expense reimbursement equal to 2% of the gross proceeds received from investors at the closing of such offering, which, in the aggregate, amounted to $62,050. In addition, Laidlaw received seven year warrants to purchase 215,747 shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $1.00 per share. Furthermore, Laidlaw was paid an activation fee of $50,000 at the initial closing of the offering.

 

On June 30, 2017, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with Spherix pursuant to which we sold 1,700,000 shares of our common stock for gross proceeds of $675,000. In connection with the sale of the shares of common stock, on June 30, 2017, we entered into a registration rights agreement with Spherix. Anthony Hayes, a member of our board of directors is the Chief Executive Officer and member of the board of directors of Spherix. Pursuant to the terms of the Spherix RRA, we agreed, among other things, that we will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act that covers the resale of 1,700,000 shares of common stock issued to Spherix pursuant to a securities purchase agreement between us and Spherix and any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing. See “Registration and Piggyback Rights – Spherix Incorporated” for additional information. In addition, we entered into a lock-up agreement with Spherix pursuant to which Spherix and its affiliates have agreed to not take certain actions, including exercising their registration rights, until the 36 month anniversary of the Initial Public Offering. See “Lock-Up Agreements – Spherix Incorporated Lock-Up” for additional information.

 

- 78

 

 

Related Person Transaction Policy

 

Prior to this offering, we have not had a formal policy regarding approval of transactions with related parties. We expect to adopt a related person transaction policy that sets forth our procedures for the identification, review, consideration and approval or ratification of related person transactions. The policy will become effective immediately upon the execution of the underwriting agreement for this offering. For purposes of our policy only, a related person transaction is a transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which we and any related person are, were or will be participants in which the amount involved exceeds the lesser of $120,000 or one percent of our total assets at the end of our last completed fiscal year. Transactions involving compensation for services provided to us as an employee or director are not covered by this policy. A related person is any executive officer, director or beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities, including any of their immediate family members and any entity owned or controlled by such persons.

 

Under the policy, if a transaction has been identified as a related person transaction, including any transaction that was not a related person transaction when originally consummated or any transaction that was not initially identified as a related person transaction prior to consummation, our management must present information regarding the related person transaction to our audit committee, or, if audit committee approval would be inappropriate, to another independent body of our board of directors, for review, consideration and approval or ratification. The presentation must include a description of, among other things, the material facts, the interests, direct and indirect, of the related persons, the benefits to us of the transaction and whether the transaction is on terms that are comparable to the terms available to or from, as the case may be, an unrelated third party or to or from employees generally. Under the policy, we will collect information that we deem reasonably necessary from each director, executive officer and, to the extent feasible, significant shareholder to enable us to identify any existing or potential related-person transactions and to effectuate the terms of the policy. In addition, under our code of business conduct and ethics, our employees and directors will have an affirmative responsibility to disclose any transaction or relationship that reasonably could be expected to give rise to a conflict of interest. In considering related person transactions, our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of directors, will take into account the relevant available facts and circumstances including, but not limited to:

 

the risks, costs and benefits to us;

 

the impact on a director’s independence in the event that the related person is a director, immediate family member of a director or an entity with which a director is affiliated; 

 

the availability of other sources for comparable services or products; and 

 

the terms available to or from, as the case may be, unrelated third parties or to or from employees generally.

 

The policy requires that, in determining whether to approve, ratify or reject a related person transaction, our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of directors, must consider, in light of known circumstances, whether the transaction is in, or is not inconsistent with, our best interests and those of our shareholders, as our audit committee, or other independent body of our board of directors, determines in the good faith exercise of its discretion.

 

- 79

 

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS 

 

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock as of December 13, 2018 by:

 

each of our named executive officers; 

each of our directors; 

all of our current directors and executive officers as a group; and 

each shareholder known by us to own beneficially more than five percent of our common stock.

 

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and includes voting or investment power with respect to the securities. Shares of common stock that may be acquired by an individual or group within 60 days of December 13, 2018, pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants or conversion of preferred stock, are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such individual or group, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person shown in the table. Percentage of ownership is based on 5,071,400 shares of common stock and 3,102,480 shares of common stock underlying 3,102,480 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding on December 13, 2018, and 9,423,880 shares of common stock outstanding after the completion of this offering.

 

Except as indicated in footnotes to this table, we believe that the shareholders named in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown to be beneficially owned by them, based on information provided to us by such shareholders. Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each director and executive officer listed is: c/o Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039, New York, New York 10020.

 

      Percentage of Voting Securities Beneficially Owned    
    Number of
Shares
Beneficially
Owned Prior
to Offering
   
Name of Beneficial Owner   Before Offering (1)   After Offering(2)    
Directors and Executive Officers                    
Robb Knie     808,170     15.94 %   8.58 %  
Vadim Mats     37,500     *    *    
Kenneth Rice (3)     776,943  (4)   15.32 8.24 %  
Anthony Hayes (5)     1,805,000  (6)   35.59 % 19.15 %  
David Sarnoff     4,858  (9)    *   *    
All current executive officers and directors as a group (5 persons)     3,432,471     67.68 % 36.42 %  
5% or Greater Stockholders                    

Spherix Incorporated (5)

One Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10020

    1,700,000     33.52 % 18.04 %  

Chelexa Biosciences, Inc. (3)

275 Grove Street, Suite 2-400

Auburndale, MA 02466

    726,943     14.33 % 7.71  

James Ahern (7)

521 Fifth Ave, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10175

    750,000     14.79 % 7.96 %  

Matthew Eitner (7)

521 Fifth Ave, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10175

    768,750 (8)     15.10 % 8.15 %  

 

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

 

(1) Includes 5,071,400 shares of common stock.

 

(2) Includes (i) 5,071,400 shares of common stock outstanding before the offering, (ii) 3,102,480 shares of common stock assuming the conversion of 3,102,480 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and (iii) 1,250,000 shares of common stock issuable pursuant to this offering (assuming the underwriters do not exercise their option to acquire additional securities, as described in the section “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” below).

 

- 80

 

 

(3) Kenneth Rice is the Executive Chairman of Chelexa and in such capacity has voting and dispositive power over the securities held by such entity.

 

(4) Includes (i) 50,000 shares of common stock held by Kenneth Rice and (ii) 726,943 shares of common stock held by Chelexa.

 

(5) Anthony Hayes is the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors of Spherix Incorporated and in such capacity has voting and dispositive power over the securities held by such entity.

 

(6) Includes (i) 105,000 shares of common stock held by Anthony Hayes and (ii) 1,700,000 shares of common stock held by Spherix Incorporated.

 

(7) Matthew Eitner and James Ahern are the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Capital Markets, respectively, of Laidlaw.

 

(8) Includes (i) 750,000 shares of common stock, (ii) 15,000 shares of common stock underlying shares of Series A Preferred Stock exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus and (iii) 3,750 shares of common stock underlying warrants to purchase common stock exercisable within 60 days of the date of this prospectus.

 

(9) Includes 4,858 shares of common stock. Excludes 20,142 shares of common stock which vest in equal installments over a 29 month period.

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 

 

General

 

The following description summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock, as they will be in effect upon the closing of this offering. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of the matters set forth in this “Description of Capital Stock,” you should refer to our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and the registration rights agreements, each of which will be included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of Nevada law. Immediately prior to the closing of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of 75,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share of which 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock are designated as Series A Preferred Stock.

 

As of December 13, 2018, 5,071,400 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding, held by 17 holders of record, and 3,102,480 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. Upon the closing of this offering, the 3,102,480 shares of Series A Preferred Stock will be converted into an aggregate of 3,102,480 shares of common stock. As of December 13, 2018, we had no stock options outstanding. Our board of directors is authorized, without stockholder approval except as required by the Nasdaq Rules, to issue additional shares of our capital stock.

 

Common Stock

 

Each share of our common stock entitles the holder to receive notice of and to attend all meetings of our stockholders with the entitlement to one vote. Holders of common stock are entitled, subject to the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to any other class of shares ranking in priority to the common stock, to receive any dividend declared by the board of directors. If the Company is voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved or wound-up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to receive, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, all of the remaining assets available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares of common stock held by them. Holders of common stock have no redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of shares of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

 

Preferred Stock

 

Immediately prior to the closing of this offering, our board of directors will be authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Nevada law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our shareholders. Our board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our shareholders. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.

 

- 81

 

Warrants

 

From October 2017 until February 2018, we conducted a private placement of our securities pursuant to which we issued warrants to purchase shares of our common stock. As of December 13, 2018, warrants to purchase up to 991,367 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. The warrants are exercisable for seven years from the date of issuance at an exercise price of $1.00, subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits, pro rata distributions and upon the occurrence of fundamental transactions. If at any time following the issuance date of the warrants there is no registration statement registering for resale the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. The warrants contain an ownership limitation such that the holder may not exercise the warrant to the extent that such exercise would result in the holder’s beneficial ownership being in excess of 4.99% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock together with all shares owned by the holder and its affiliates, which beneficial ownership limitation may be increased by the holder up to, but not exceeding, 9.99% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock.

 

Equity Awards

 

As of December 13, 2018, we issued 114,457 shares of common stock pursuant to the 2018 Plan and had no outstanding options to purchase shares of our common stock or other equity awards. Pursuant to the 2018 Plan, 1,000,000 shares of our common stock will be reserved for issuance of equity awards under such plan; provided, however, the 2018 Plan contains an “evergreen” provision which allows for an annual increase in the Share Limit and the ISO Limit on the first day of each fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2019. The annual Share Limit and ISO Limit increase shall be equal to the lowest of: 250,000 shares of common stock; 5% of the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of such date; and an amount determined by the Committee. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “Management – Non-Employee Director Compensation” for additional information regarding the options and shares of restricted common stock to be issued to our directors and executive officers on and prior to the closing date of this offering.

 

Registration and Piggyback Rights

 

Spherix Incorporated

 

On June 30, 2017, we entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Spherix RRA”) with Spherix Incorporated (“Spherix”) pursuant to which we agreed, among other things, that we will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act that covers the resale of 1,700,000 shares of common stock issued to Spherix pursuant to a securities purchase agreement between us and Spherix and any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing (the “Spherix Registrable Securities”).

 

Pursuant to the Spherix RRA, we are obligated to use our best efforts to have the registration statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable after it is filed with the SEC, but in no event later than the applicable Effectiveness Date. “Effectiveness Date” means with respect to the initial registration statement required to be filed pursuant to the Spherix RRA, the 18 month anniversary of the closing date of the transactions contemplated by the securities purchase agreement and, with respect to any additional registration statements which may be required pursuant to the Spherix RRA, the earliest practical date on which we are permitted to go effective on such additional registration statement; provided, however, that, in the event we are notified by the SEC that one or more of the above registration statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such registration statement shall be the fifth trading day following the date on which we are so notified if such date precedes the dates otherwise required above. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Spherix RRA, without the consent of Spherix, neither we nor any of our security holders may include our securities in any registration statements other than the Spherix Registrable Securities. Furthermore, subject to certain exemptions, if at any time during the Effectiveness Period there is not an effective registration statement covering all of the Spherix Registrable Securities and we shall determine to prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement relating to an offering for our own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of our equity securities, then we shall deliver to Spherix a written notice of such determination and, if within 15 days after the date of the delivery of such notice, Spherix notifies us in writing, we must include in such registration statement all or any part of such Spherix Registrable Securities requested to be registered by Spherix.

 

Series A Preferred Stockholders

 

From October 2017 until February 2018, we conducted a private placement of our securities pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 3,102,480 shares of Series A Preferred Stock, which are convertible into 3,102,480 shares of common stock, and warrants to purchase an aggregate of 775,620 shares of common stock. Investors in the private placement received demand registration rights and piggyback registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock and exercise of the warrants, which rights commence 90 days after the date on which our common stock first becomes publicly traded (the “Start Date”). In the event such demand registration rights and/or piggyback registration rights are exercised and a registration statement is not filed with the SEC including all the registrable securities no later than 90 days following the Start Date and/or the registration statement is not declared effective by the SEC within 180 days following the Start Date (or is declared effective but can no longer be used to sell registrable securities), we must pay to each holder of registrable securities 1% percent of such holder’s purchase price of the units sold in the private placement for each 30 day period (pro rata for shorter periods) until such registration statement is filed with the SEC and/or declared effective or is able to be used by the holders of registrable securities as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any payment of liquidated damages exceed 6% of a holder’s purchase price of such holder’s unregistered registrable securities.

 

- 82

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions our Bylaws

 

Board of Directors Vacancies

 

Our Bylaws authorize only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships. In addition, the number of directors constituting our board of directors may be set only by resolution of the majority of the incumbent directors.

 

Special Meeting of Shareholders

 

Our Bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders may be called by the president of the Company, the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors that has been duly designated by the board of directors and whose powers and authority include the power to call such meetings.

 

Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations

 

Our Bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of shareholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of shareholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to the secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the date of the annual meeting is not within 25 days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the 10 th day following the day on which such notice of the date of annual meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever occurs first. These provisions may preclude our shareholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of shareholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Transfer Agent

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

Exchange Listing

 

We intend to apply to list our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “HOTH”.

 

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE 

 

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock, and a liquid trading market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained after this offering. Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the anticipation of these sales, could materially and adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time, and could impair our ability to raise capital through sales of equity or equity-related securities.

 

- 83

 

Only a limited number of shares of our common stock will be available for sale in the public market for a period of several months after completion of this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below. Nevertheless, sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market after such restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could materially and adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock. Although we have applied to list our common stock on The Nasdaq Capital Market, we cannot assure you that our common stock will be listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market and if listed, there will be an active market for our common stock.

 

Of the shares to be outstanding immediately after the completion of this offering, we expect that the shares to be sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act unless purchased by our “affiliates,” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The remaining shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering will be subject to a 180-day or one year lock-up period under the lock-up agreements as described below. These restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if registered or pursuant to an exemption from registration, such as Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act.

 

Rule 144

 

Affiliate Resales of Restricted Securities

 

Affiliates of ours must generally comply with Rule 144 if they wish to sell any shares of our common stock in the public market, whether or not those shares are “restricted securities.” “Restricted securities” are any securities acquired from us or one of our affiliates in a transaction not involving a public offering. All shares of our common stock issued prior to the closing of the offering made hereby, are considered to be restricted securities. The shares of our common stock sold in this offering are not considered to be restricted securities.

 

Non-Affiliate Resales of Restricted Securities

 

Any person or entity who is not an affiliate of ours and who has not been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding a sale is only required to comply with Rule 144 in connection with sales of restricted shares of our common stock. Subject to the lock-up agreements described below, those persons may sell shares of our common stock that they have beneficially owned for at least one year without any restrictions under Rule 144 immediately following the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

Further, beginning 90 days after the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, a person who is not an affiliate of ours at the time such person sells shares of our common stock, and has not been an affiliate of ours at any time during the three months preceding such sale, and who has beneficially owned such shares of our common stock, as applicable, for at least six months but less than a year, is entitled to sell such shares so long as there is adequate current public information, as defined in Rule 144, available about us.

 

Resales of restricted shares of our common stock by non-affiliates are not subject to the manner of sale, volume limitation or notice filing provisions of Rule 144, described above.

 

Rule 701

 

Rule 701 generally allows a shareholder who purchased shares of our common stock pursuant to a written compensatory plan or contract and who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours during the immediately preceding 90 days to sell these shares in reliance upon Rule 144, but without being required to comply with the public information, holding period, volume limitation, or notice provisions of Rule 144.

 

Rule 701 also permits affiliates of ours to sell their Rule 701 shares under Rule 144 without complying with the holding period requirements of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares, however, are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling such shares pursuant to Rule 701 and until expiration of the 180-day lock-up period described below.

 

- 84

 

Equity Incentive Awards

 

We intend to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act after the closing of this offering to register the shares of common stock that are issuable pursuant to our 2018 Plan. The registration statement is expected to be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after the completion of this offering. Accordingly, shares registered under the registration statement will be available for sale in the open market following its effective date, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations and the lock-up arrangement described above, if applicable.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

Spherix Incorporated Lock-Up

 

We entered into a lock-up agreement with Spherix pursuant to which Spherix and its affiliates have agreed to not take any of the following actions until the 36 month anniversary of the Initial Public Offering: (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the SEC in respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to, any shares of common stock or common stock equivalents beneficially owned, held or hereafter acquired by Spherix (the “Spherix Securities”); (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Spherix Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or publicly announce an intention to do either of the foregoing; or (ii) engage in any short selling of the Company’s common stock; provided, however, (i) Spherix may offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, dividend or distribute to its shareholders or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, up to an aggregate of 10% of the initially issued Spherix Securities, provided further that the recipients of the Spherix Securities shall not be permitted to resell such Spherix Securities until six months after the date of the Initial Public Offering, (ii) beginning 12 months after the date of the Initial Public Offering, Spherix may offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, dividend or distribute to its shareholders or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, up to an additional 10% of the initially issued Spherix Securities, (iii) beginning 24 months after the date of the Initial Public Offering, Spherix may offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, dividend or distribute to its shareholders or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, up to an additional 10% of the initially issued Spherix Securities and (iv) beginning 36 months after the date of the Initial Public Offering, Spherix may offer, sell, contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, dividend or distribute to its shareholders or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, the Spherix Securities without any restrictions. “Initial Public Offering” means the Company’s underwritten public offering of its securities for sale pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of not less than $5,000,000.

 

We, each of our directors and executive officers, and the holders of all of our outstanding shares of common stock prior to this offering, have agreed that, without the prior written consent of the representative of the underwriters, we and they will not, subject to limited exceptions, during the period ending 180 days after the date of this prospectus:

 

offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock; 

 

enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock, whether such transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares of our common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; 

 

make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of our common stock; or 

 

- 85

 

publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing.

 

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK 

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to non-U.S. holders (as defined below) of the ownership and disposition of our common stock but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations relating thereto. This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Internal Revenue Code”), Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may be changed, possibly retroactively, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those set forth below. No ruling on the U.S. federal, state, or local tax considerations relevant to our operations or to the purchase, ownership or disposition of our shares, has been or will be requested from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or other tax authority. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below.

 

This summary also does not address the tax considerations arising under the laws of any non-U.S., state or local jurisdiction, or under U.S. federal gift and estate tax laws, except to the limited extent set forth below. In addition, this discussion does not address tax considerations applicable to an investor’s particular circumstances or to investors that may be subject to special tax rules, including, without limitation:

 

banks, insurance companies or other financial institutions, regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts; 

 

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax or Medicare contribution tax on net investment income; 

 

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations; 

 

controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; 

 

brokers or dealers in securities or currencies; 

 

traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings; 

 

persons that own, or are deemed to own, more than five percent of our capital stock (except to the extent specifically set forth below); 

 

U.S. expatriates and certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; 

 

partnerships or entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other pass-through entities (and investors therein);

 

persons who hold our common stock as a position in a hedging transaction, “straddle,” “conversion transaction” or other risk reduction transaction or integrated investment; 

 

persons who hold or receive our common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; 

 

persons who do not hold our common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code; or 

 

- 86

 

persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation, as well as any tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock arising under the U.S. federal estate or gift tax rules or under the laws of any state, local, non-U.S., or other taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.

 

Non-U.S. Holder Defined

 

For purposes of this discussion, you are a non-U.S. holder (other than a partnership) if you are any holder other than:

 

an individual citizen or resident of the United States (for U.S. federal income tax purposes); 

 

a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, or other entity treated as such for U.S. federal income tax purposes; 

 

an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or 

 

a trust (x) whose administration is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and which has one or more “U.S. persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code) who have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (y) which has made a valid election to be treated as a U.S. person.

 

In addition, if a partnership or entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Accordingly, partnerships that hold our common stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their tax advisors.

 

Distributions

 

As described in “Dividend Policy,” we have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions on our common stock, those payments will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent those distributions exceed both our current and our accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will constitute a return of capital and will first reduce your basis in our common stock, but not below zero, and then will be treated as gain from the sale of stock as described below under “—Gain on Disposition of Common Stock.”

 

Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, backup withholding and foreign accounts, any dividend paid to you generally will be subject to U.S. withholding tax either at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividend or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. In order to receive a reduced treaty rate, you must provide us with an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other appropriate version of IRS Form W-8 certifying qualification for the reduced rate. A non-U.S. holder of shares of our common stock eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. If the non-U.S. holder holds the stock through a financial institution or other agent acting on the non-U.S. holder’s behalf, the non-U.S. holder will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the agent, which then will be required to provide certification to us or our paying agent, either directly or through other intermediaries.

 

Dividends received by you that are effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States) are generally exempt from such withholding tax i f certain certification and disclosure requirements are satisfied . In order to obtain this exemption, you must provide us with an IRS Form W-8ECI or other applicable IRS Form W-8 properly certifying such exemption. Such effectively connected dividends, although not subject to withholding tax, are taxed at the same graduated rates applicable to U.S. persons, net of certain deductions and credits. In addition, if you are a corporate non-U.S. holder, dividends you receive that are effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business may also be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. You should consult your tax advisor regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

- 87

 

Gain on Disposition of Common Stock

 

Subject to the discussion below regarding backup withholding and foreign accounts, you generally will not be required to pay U.S. federal income tax on any gain recognized upon the sale or other disposition of our common stock unless:

   

the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by you in the United States); 

 

you are a non-resident alien individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year in which the sale or disposition occurs and certain other conditions are met; or 

 

our common stock constitutes a United States real property interest by reason of our status as a “United States real property holding corporation,” or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes at any time within the shorter of (i) the five-year period preceding your disposition of our common stock, or (ii) your holding period for our common stock.

 

We believe that we are not currently and will not become a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and the remainder of this discussion so assumes. However, because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends on the fair market value of our U.S. real property relative to the fair market value of our other business assets, there can be no assurance that we will not become a USRPHC in the future. Even if we become a USRPHC, however, as long as our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, such common stock will be treated as U.S. real property interests only if you actually or constructively hold more than five percent of such regularly traded common stock at any time during the shorter of the five-year period preceding your disposition of, or your holding period for, our common stock.

 

If you are a non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet above, you will be required to pay tax on the net gain derived from the sale under regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates, and a corporate non-U.S. holder described in the first bullet above also may be subject to the branch profits tax at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. If you are an individual non-U.S. holder described in the second bullet above, you will be required to pay a flat 30% tax (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on the gain derived from the sale, which gain may be offset by U.S. source capital losses for the year (provided you have timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses). You should consult any applicable income tax or other treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

Federal Estate Tax

 

Our common stock beneficially owned by an individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States (as defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) at the time of their death will generally be includable in the decedent’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes and therefore, may be subject to U.S. federal estate tax, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise. The test for whether an individual is a resident of the United States for U.S. federal estate tax purposes differs from the test used for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Some individuals, therefore, may be non-U.S. holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but not for U.S. federal estate tax purposes, and vice versa.

 

- 88

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

Generally, we must report annually to the IRS the amount of dividends paid to you, your name and address and the amount of tax withheld, if any. A similar report will be sent to you. Pursuant to applicable income tax treaties or other agreements, the IRS may make these reports available to tax authorities in your country of residence.

 

Payments of dividends or of proceeds on the disposition of stock made to you generally would be subject to information reporting and backup withholding at a current rate of 24% unless you establish an exemption, for example, by properly certifying your non-U.S. status on an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or another appropriate version of IRS Form W-8.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax; rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may generally be obtained from the IRS, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner.

 

Foreign Account Tax Compliance

 

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) imposes a U.S. federal income withholding tax at a rate of 30% on dividends on and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock paid to “foreign financial institutions” (as specially defined under these rules), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding the U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners) or otherwise establishes an exemption. FATCA also generally imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of 30% on dividends on and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock paid to a “non-financial foreign entity” (as specially defined for purposes of these rules) unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification identifying certain substantial direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity, certifies that there are none or otherwise establishes an exemption. The withholding provisions under FATCA generally apply to dividends on our common stock, and under current transition rules, are expected to apply with respect to the gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock on or after January 1, 2019. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in this paragraph. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation and any applicable intergovernmental agreements on their investment in our common stock.

 

Each prospective investor should consult its tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our common stock, including the consequences of any proposed change in applicable laws.

 

- 89

 

UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

 

We have entered into an underwriting agreement with Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., acting as the representative (the “representative”) of the several underwriters named below, with respect to the shares of common stock subject to this offering. Subject to certain conditions, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have severally agreed to purchase, the number of shares of common stock provided below opposite their respective names.

       
       
Underwriters   Number of Shares  
Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.      
      Total      

 

The underwriters are offering the shares of common stock subject to their acceptance of the shares of common stock from us and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of the shares of common stock if any such shares are taken. However, the underwriters are not required to take or pay for the shares of common stock covered by the underwriters’ over-allotment option described below.

 

Over-Allotment Option

 

We have granted the underwriters an option, exercisable for 45 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 187,500 additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. If the underwriters exercise this option, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial purchase commitment as indicated in the table above.

 

Conflict of Interest

 

Persons associated with Laidlaw hold, collectively, 1,518,750 shares of our common stock including shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of warrants, representing an aggregate of 16.57% of the outstanding shares of common stock on a fully diluted basis immediately prior to this offering. Therefore, Laidlaw is deemed to have a “conflict of interest” under Rule 5121 of FINRA. Accordingly, this offering will be made in compliance with the applicable provisions of Rule 5121, which requires that a “qualified independent underwriter,” as defined by FINRA, participate in the preparation of the registration statement and exercise the usual standard of due diligence with respect to the registration statement that an underwriter would exercise on its own behalf. Benchmark has agreed to act as the “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of Rule 5121 in connection with this offering. Benchmark will receive $200,000 for serving as a qualified independent underwriter in connection with this offering. We have agreed to indemnify Benchmark against liabilities incurred in connection with acting as qualified independent underwriter, including liabilities under the Securities Act. In accordance with Rule 5121, Laidlaw will not sell shares of our common stock to discretionary accounts without the prior written approval from the account holder.

 

Discount, Commissions and Expenses

 

The underwriters have advised us that they propose to offer the shares of common stock to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $                per share. The underwriters may allow, and certain dealers may reallow, a discount from the concession not in excess of $             per share to certain brokers and dealers. After this offering, the initial public offering price, concession and reallowance to dealers may be changed by the representative. No such change will change the amount of proceeds to be received by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. The shares of common stock are offered by the underwriters as stated herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject any order in whole or in part. The underwriters have informed us that they do not intend to confirm sales to any accounts over which they exercise discretionary authority.

 

- 90

 

The following table shows the underwriting discount payable to the underwriters by us in connection with this offering. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional shares.

 

   

Per share 1

    Total Without Exercise of Over-Allotment Option     Total With Exercise of Over-Allotment Option  
Initial public offering price   $       $       $    
Underwriting discount   $       $       $    

 

 

1 Does not include the warrants to purchase shares of common stock equal to 4% of the number of shares sold in the offering (but not including any shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option) to be issued to the representative at the closing.

 

We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel, up to an aggregate of $150,000. We estimate that the total expenses payable by us in connection with this offering, other than the underwriting discount, will be approximately $820,000. 

 

The representative shall have a right of first refusal, for a period of twelve months after the date this offering is completed, to act as underwriter, placement agent, financial advisor or in any other similar capacity, on the customary terms and conditions of the representative, in the event we retain or otherwise use (or seek to retain or use) the services of an investment bank to pursue an offering of our securities (in addition to this offering) or engage in a merger, acquisition or equivalent transaction.

 

- 91

 

Representative’s Warrants

 

We have also agreed to issue to the representative warrants to purchase a number of our shares of common stock equal to an aggregate of 4% of the shares of common stock sold in this offering (but not including any shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option). The warrants will have an exercise price equal to 125% of the initial public offering price of the shares of common stock sold in this offering and may be exercised on a cashless basis. The warrants are not redeemable by us and will expire on the fifth anniversary of the effective date of this offering. The warrants provide for one demand registration of the shares of common stock underlying the warrants at our expense commencing 180 days after the effective date of this offering and for a period of no more than five years from the effective date of this offering or the commencement of sales of shares in this offering. In addition, the warrants provide for unlimited “piggyback” registration rights at our expense with respect to the underlying shares of common stock for a period of not more than seven years from the effective date of the of the offering or the commencement of sales of shares in this offering. The warrants will provide for adjustment in the number and price of such warrants (and the shares of common stock underlying such warrants) in the event of recapitalization, merger or other fundamental transaction. The warrants and the underlying shares of common stock have been deemed compensation by FINRA and are therefore subject to FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1). In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(1), neither the warrants nor any shares of our common stock issued upon exercise of the warrants may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, or hypothecated, or be the subject of any hedging, short sale, derivative, put, or call transaction that would result in the effective economic disposition of such securities by any person for a period of 180 days immediately following the date of effectiveness or commencement of sales of the offering pursuant to which the warrants are being issued, except the transfer of any security:

 

by operation of law or by reason of reorganization of the Company;

 

to any FINRA member firm participating in this offering and the officers or partners thereof, if all securities so transferred remain subject to the lock-up restriction described above for the remainder of the time period;

 

if the aggregate amount of securities of the Company held by either an underwriter or a related person do not exceed 1% of the securities being offered;

 

that is beneficially owned on a pro-rata basis by all equity owners of an investment fund, provided that no participating member manages or otherwise directs investments by the fund, and participating members in the aggregate do not own more than 10% of the equity in the fund; or

 

the exercise or conversion of any security, if all securities received remain subject to the lock-up restriction set forth above for the remainder of the time period.

 

In addition, in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(G), the warrants may not contain certain terms.

 

No Public Market

 

Prior to this offering, there has not been a public market for our common stock and the public offering price for our common stock will be determined through negotiations between us and the representative. Among the factors to be considered in these negotiations will be prevailing market conditions, our financial information, market valuations of other companies that we and the representative believe to be comparable to us, estimates of our business potential, the present state of our development and other factors deemed relevant.

 

No assurance can be given that the initial public offering price will correspond to the price at which our common stock will trade in the public market subsequent to this offering or that an active trading market for our common stock will develop and continue after this offering.

 

Indemnification

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and liabilities arising from breaches of representations and warranties contained in the underwriting agreement, or to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

 

Lock-up Agreements

 

We, certain of our officers, directors and certain of our stockholders have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of the underwriting agreement (the “180 Day Lock Up”), not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock either owned as of the date of the underwriting agreement or thereafter acquired without the prior written consent of the representative. Our Chief Executive Officer together with Matthew Eitner and James Ahern, the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Capital Markets of Laidlaw, respectively, have agreed, subject to limited exceptions, for a period of one year after the date of the underwriting agreement (the “One Year Lock Up” and together with the 180 Day Lock Up, the “Lock Up Period”), not to offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock either owned as of the date of the underwriting agreement or thereafter acquired without the prior written consent of the representative. The Lock Up Period may be extended if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock Up Period, we issue an earnings release or material news or a material event regarding us occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock Up Period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock Up Period, then the period of such extension will be 18 days, beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. If after any announcement described in clause (2) of the preceding sentence, we announce that we will not release earnings results during the 16-day period, the lock-up period shall expire the later of the expiration of the Lock Up Period and the end of any extension of such period made pursuant to clause (1) of the preceding sentence. The representative may, in its sole discretion and at any time or from time to time before the termination of the Lock Up Period release all or any portion of the securities subject to lock-up agreements; provided, however, that, subject to limited exceptions, at least three business days before the release or waiver or any lock-up agreement, the representative must notify us of the impending release or waiver and we will be required to announce the impending release or waiver through a major news service at least two business days before the release or waiver.

 

- 92

 

Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

 

In connection with the offering the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act:

 

Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.

 

Over-allotment involves sales by the underwriters of shares in excess of the number of shares the underwriters are obligated to purchase, which creates a syndicate short position. The short position may be either a covered short position or a naked short position. In a covered short position, the number of shares over-allotted by the underwriters is not greater than the number of shares that they may purchase in the over-allotment option. In a naked short position, the number of shares involved is greater than the number of shares in the over-allotment option. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their over-allotment option and/or purchasing shares in the open market.

 

Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of shares of the common stock in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. In determining the source of shares to close out the short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the over-allotment option. If the underwriters sell more shares than could be covered by the over-allotment option, a naked short position, the position can only be closed out by buying shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there could be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.

 

Penalty bids permit the representative to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when the common stock originally sold by the syndicate member is purchased in a stabilizing or syndicate covering transaction to cover syndicate short positions.

 

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. Neither we nor the underwriters makes any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the common stock. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representations that the underwriters will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

Listing and Transfer Agent

 

We intend to apply to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the trading symbol “HOTH”. The transfer agent of our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

 

- 93

 

Electronic Distribution

 

This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on websites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters, or by their affiliates. Other than this prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by an underwriter is not part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter in its capacity as underwriter, and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

Other

 

From time to time, certain of the underwriters and/or their affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking and other financial services for us for which services they have received and, may in the future receive, customary fees. In the course of their businesses, the underwriters and their affiliates may actively trade our securities or loans for their own account or for the accounts of customers, and, accordingly, the underwriters and their affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions in such securities or loans.

 

In particular, on July 6, 2017, we entered into an engagement agreement with Laidlaw, the representative. We agreed to pay the representative a fee in the amount of 10% of the gross proceeds of the private placement of our securities received from investors at the closing of such offering, which, in the aggregate, amounted to $310,248, as well as a non-accountable expense reimbursement equal to 2% of the gross proceeds received from investors at the closing of such offering, which, in the aggregate, amounted to $62,049.60. In addition, the representative received seven year warrants to purchase 215,747 shares of Common Stock of the Company at an exercise price of $1.00 per share. Furthermore, the representative was paid an activation fee of $50,000 at the initial closing of the offering.

 

Certain officers of the representative are founders and material stakeholders of the Company. Specifically, on May 16, 2017, Matthew Eitner and James Ahern, the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Capital Markets of the representative, respectively, each purchased 750,000 founders’ shares of Common Stock the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $3,000. In addition, they each loaned the Company an aggregate of $102,000, which loans, together with a $48,000 original issue discount, have since been repaid. Furthermore, on October 25, 2017, Matthew Eitner purchased 15,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase up to 3,750 shares of common stock pursuant to a private placement of the Company’s securities.

 

Selling Restrictions

 

Canada.  The offering of the common stock in Canada is being made on a private placement basis in reliance on exemptions from the prospectus requirements under the securities laws of each applicable Canadian province and territory where the common stock may be offered and sold, and therein may only be made with investors that are purchasing as principal and that qualify as both an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, and as a “permitted client” as such term is defined in National Instrument 31-103 - Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any offer and sale of the common stock in any province or territory of Canada may only be made through a dealer that is properly registered under the securities legislation of the applicable province or territory wherein the common stock is offered and/or sold or, alternatively, by a dealer that qualifies under and is relying upon an exemption from the registration requirements therein.

 

Any resale of the common stock by an investor resident in Canada must be made in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws, which may require resales to be made in accordance with prospectus and registration requirements, statutory exemptions from the prospectus and registration requirements or under a discretionary exemption from the prospectus and registration requirements granted by the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authority. These resale restrictions may under certain circumstances apply to resales of the common stock outside of Canada.

 

European Economic Area.  In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive each, a Relevant Member State, no offer to the public of any of our shares of common stock will be made, other than under the following exemptions:

 

to any legal entity that is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the issuer for any such offer; or

 

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of shares of our common stock will result in a requirement for the publication by us or any underwriter of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or any supplementary prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares of our common stock in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares of common stock, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State. The expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State, and the expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

 

United Kingdom.  This document is not an approved prospectus for the purposes of section 85 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, or FSMA, and a copy of it has not been, and will not be, delivered to or approved by the UK Listing Authority or approved by any other authority which could be a competent authority for the purposes of the Prospectus Directive.

 

This prospectus is only being distributed to, and is only directed at, persons in the United Kingdom that are “qualified investors” within the meaning of section 86(7) of FSMA that are also (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, or the Order, and/or (ii) high net worth companies, unincorporated associations or partnerships and the trustees of high value trusts falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated (each such person being referred to as a “relevant person”).

 

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on these documents or any of their contents. Any investment, investment activity or controlled activity to which this document relates is available in the United Kingdom only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with such persons. Accordingly, this document has not been approved by an authorized person, as would otherwise be required by Section 21 of FSMA. Any purchaser of shares of common stock resident in the United Kingdom will be deemed to have represented to us and the underwriters, and acknowledge that each of us and the underwriters are relying on such representation, that it, or the ultimate purchaser for which it is acting as agent, is a relevant person.

 

China . This prospectus does not constitute a public offer of the securities offered by this prospectus, whether by sale or subscription, in the People’s Republic of China, or the PRC. The securities are not being offered or sold directly or indirectly in the PRC to or for the benefit of, legal or natural persons of the PRC.

 

Further, no legal or natural persons of the PRC may directly or indirectly purchase any of the securities without obtaining all prior PRC’s governmental approvals that are required, whether statutorily or otherwise. Persons who come into possession of this document are required by the issuer and its representatives to observe these restrictions.

 

Hong Kong . The securities may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance, or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the depositary securities may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to depositary securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.

 

- 94


 

LEGAL MATTERS 

 

The validity of the issuance of the common stock offered by us in this offering will be passed upon for us by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, New York, New York.

 


EXPERTS 

 

The balance sheet of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2017, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, have been audited by WithumSmith+Brown, PC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein. Such financial statements have been included in this Registration Statement, of which this Prospectus forms a part, incorporated herein in reliance on the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in auditing and accounting.

 


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 

 

We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, omits certain information, exhibits, schedules and undertakings set forth in the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us and our common stock, reference is made to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents or provisions of any documents referred to in this prospectus are not necessarily complete, and in each instance where a copy of the document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved.

 

You may read and copy all or any portion of the registration statement without charge at the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of the registration statement may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission at prescribed rates from the public reference room of the Securities and Exchange Commission at such address. You may obtain information regarding the operation of the public reference room by calling 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, registration statements and certain other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission electronically are publicly available through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at  http://www.sec.gov . The registration statement, including all exhibits and amendments to the registration statement, has been filed electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Upon completion of this offering, we will become subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, accordingly, will be required to file annual reports containing financial statements audited by an independent public accounting firm, quarterly reports containing unaudited financial data, current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You will be able to inspect and copy such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s public reference room, and the website of the Securities and Exchange Commission referred to above.

 

- 95

 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.  

Financial Statements

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page No.
   

Financial Statements

   
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm F-2
   
Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and December 31, 2017 F-3
   
Statements of Operation for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 (unaudited), for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through September 30, 2017 (unaudited) and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 F-4
   
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 (unaudited) and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 F-5
   
Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 (unaudited), for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through September 30, 2017 (unaudited) and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 F-6
   
Notes to Financial Statements F-7

 

F- 1  

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2017, the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows, for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2018.

 

New York, New York 

December 14, 2018

 

F- 2  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.  

Balance Sheets

 

    September 30,     December 31,  
    2018     2017  
    (Unaudited)        
ASSETS            
Current assets                
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 737,683     $ 1,230,440  
Prepaid expenses     19,770        
Total current assets     757,453       1,230,440  
                 
Property and equipment, net     2,576       3,492  
                 
Total assets   $ 760,029     $ 1,233,932  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                
Current liabilities                
Accounts payable   $ 25,701     $ 47,924  
Accrued expenses           1,542  
Total current liabilities     25,701       49,466  
                 
Total liabilities     25,701       49,466  
                 
Commitments and contingencies                
                 
Stockholders' equity                
Convertible preferred stock, $0.0001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; 3,102,480 and 1,725,980 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively (1)     310       173  
Common stock, 0.0001 par value, 75,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017; 5,069,318 and 4,706,277 shares issued and  outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively (1)     507       470  
Additional paid-in-capital     4,660,191       3,199,304  
Accumulated deficit     (3,926,680 )     (2,015,481 )
Total stockholders' equity     734,328       1,184,466  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 760,029     $ 1,233,932  

 

(1) The shares have been retroactively restated to reflect the 1-for-4 reverse stock split effected by the Company on December 6, 2018, of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock and a proportional adjustment to the existing conversion ratios for each series of the Company's convertible preferred stock (see Note 10)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F- 3  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.  

Statements of Operation

 

                For the Period  
          For the Period     from May 16,  
    For the nine     from May 16,     2017 (Inception)  
    months ended     2017 (Inception)     through  
    September 30,     to September     December 31,  
    2018     30, 2017     2017  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)        
Operating costs and expenses                        
Research and development   $ 557,392     $ 34,825     $ 67,280  
Research and development - license acquired     230,693       476,456       519,563  
Compensation and related expenses (including stock-based compensation)     415,779       957,738       1,015,975  
Professional fees     529,874       66,494       213,415  
Rent     20,702       11,185       11,185  
Other expenses     156,759       6,665       44,063  
Total operating expenses     1,911,199       1,553,363       1,871,481  
Loss from operations     (1,911,199 )     (1,553,363 )     (1,871,481 )
                         
Other expenses                        
Interest expense           144,000       144,000  
Total other expenses           144,000       144,000  
                         
Net loss   $ (1,911,199 )   $ (1,697,363 )   $ (2,015,481 )
                         
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted (1)     5,017,718       4,010,969       4,267,025  
                         
Net loss per share, basic and diluted   $ (0.38 )   $ (0.42 )   $ (0.47 )

 

(1) The shares have been retroactively restated to reflect the 1-for-4 reverse stock split effected by the Company on December 6, 2018, of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock and a proportional adjustment to the existing conversion ratios for each series of the Company's convertible preferred stock (see Note 10)

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F- 4  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.  

Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

 

                                        Total  
    Convertible Preferred Stock     Common Stock     Additional     Accumulated     Stockholders'  
    Shares (1)     Amount     Shares (1)     Amount     Paid-in Capital     Deficit     Equity  
Balance at May 16, 2017 (Inception)         $           $     $     $     $  
Issuance of common stock for cash                 1,700,000       170       674,830             675,000  
Issuance of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants for cash in an offering (net of offering costs of $410,617)     1,725,980       173                   1,143,621             1,143,794  
Warrant value related to Issuance of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock                             171,569             171,569  
Stock-based compensation                 180,000       18       956,178             956,196  
Nominal amount paid for shares                     2,250,000       225       8,775             9,000  
Stock issued for research and development                 62,500       6       24,819             24,825  
Stock issued for acquired license                 513,777       51       219,512             219,563  
Net loss                                   (2,015,481 )     (2,015,481 )
Balance at December 31, 2017 (audited)     1,725,980       173       4,706,277       470       3,199,304       (2,015,481 )     1,184,466  
Issuance of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants for cash in an offering (net of offering costs of $190,180)     1,376,500       137                   1,021,417             1,021,554  
Warrant value related to Issuance of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock                             164,766             164,766  
Stock-based compensation (See note 7)                 143,888       15       138,075             138,090  
Stock issued for research and development (See note 7)                 37,500       4       35,996             36,000  
Stock issued for acquired license                 213,166       21       132,143             132,164  
Repurchase of restricted stock to pay for employee withholding taxes                 (31,513 )     (3 )     (31,510 )           (31,513 )
Net loss                                   (1,911,199 )     (1,911,199 )
Balance at September 30, 2018 (Unaudited)     3,102,480     $ 310       5,069,318     $ 507     $ 4,660,191     $ (3,926,680 )   $ 734,328  

 

(1) The shares have been retroactively restated to reflect the 1-for-4 reverse stock split effected by the Company on December 6, 2018, of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock and a proportional adjustment to the existing conversion ratios for each series of the Company's convertible preferred stock (see Note 10)

  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F- 5  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.  

Statements of Cash Flows

 

                For the Period  
          For the Period     from May 16,  
    For the nine     from May 16,     2017 (Inception)  
    months ended     2017 (Inception)     through  
    September 30,     to September 30,     December 31,  
    2018     2017     2017  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)        
Cash flows from operating activities                        
Net loss   $ (1,911,199 )   $ (1,697,363 )   $ (2,015,481 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:                        
Depreciation expenses     916             188  
Research and development-licenses acquired, expensed     132,164       476,456       519,563  
Stock issued for research and development     36,000       24,824       24,825  
Stock-based compensation     138,090       956,196       956,196  
Changes in assets and liabilities:                        
Prepaid expenses     (19,770 )     (5,000 )      
Accrued salaries and benefits     (1,542 )     3,001       1,542  
Accounts payable     (22,223 )     1,542       47,924  
Net cash used in operating activities     (1,647,564 )     (240,344 )     (465,243 )
                         
Cash flows from investing activities                        
Purchase of research and development licenses           (300,000 )     (300,000 )
Purchase of property and equipment                 (3,680 )
Net cash used in investing activities           (300,000 )     (303,680 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities                        
Proceeds from issuance of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and warrants for cash in an offering, net     1,186,320             1,315,363  
Proceeds from issuance of common stock           675,000       675,000  
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable           204,000       204,000  
Repayment of notes payable           (204,000 )     (204,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable - related party           102,000       102,000  
Repayment of notes payable - related party           (102,000 )     (102,000 )
Nominal amount paid for shares by employees and non-employees           9,000       9,000  
Payment of employee withholdings for vested restricted stock     (31,513 )                
Net cash provided by financing activities     1,154,807       684,000       1,999,363  
                         
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents     (492,757 )     143,656       1,230,440  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     1,230,440              
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 737,683     $ 143,656     $ 1,230,440  
                         
Cash paid for interest   $     $     $ 144,000  
                         
Non-cash investing and financing activities                        
Common stock issued for acquired license   $ 132,164     $ 99,300     $ 219,563  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

F- 6  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements  

 

Note 1—Organization and description of business operations

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (“Hoth” or the “Company”) was incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada on May 16, 2017. The Company’s primary asset is a sublicense agreement with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc. (“Chelexa”) pursuant to which Chelexa has granted the Company an exclusive sublicense to use its BioLexa Platform, a proprietary, patented, drug compound platform developed at the University of Cincinnati. The license enables the Company to develop the platform for all indications in humans. The Company’s initial focus will be on the treatment of eczema. The BioLexa Platform combines a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) approved zinc chelator with one or more approved antibiotics in a topical dosage form to address unchecked eczema flare-ups by preventing the formation of infectious biofilms and the resulting clogging of sweat ducts which trigger symptoms. To the Company’s knowledge, it is the first product candidate intended to prevent the symptom triggering flare-ups rather than simply treating symptoms when they occur.

 

On May 26, 2017, the Company entered into a sublicense agreement with Chelexa, as amended on August 22, 2018 and August 29, 2018, pursuant to which Chelexa granted the Company an exclusive sublicense to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell products based upon or involving the use of (i) topical compositions comprising a zinc chelator and gentamicin and (ii) zinc chelators to inhibit biofilm formation (the “BioLexa Platform” or “BioLexa”), which rights were originally granted to Chelexa pursuant to an exclusive license agreement with the University of Cincinnati. In addition, Chelexa granted the Company the right to issue exclusive and nonexclusive sublicenses (with the right to further sublicense to third parties) to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell products based upon the BioLexa Platform.

 

Liquidity and capital resources  

 

The Company has incurred substantial operating losses since inception and expects to continue to incur significant operating losses for the foreseeable future and may never become profitable. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had cash of approximately $0.7 million, working capital of approximately $0.7 million and an accumulated deficit of approximately $3.9 million.

  

The Company has funded its operations from proceeds from the sale of equity and debt securities. The Company will require significant additional capital to sustain its short-term operations and make the investments it needs to execute its longer-term business plan. The Company’s ability to successfully raise sufficient funds through the sale of debt or equity securities when needed is subject to many risks and uncertainties and, even if it were successful, future equity issuances would result in dilution to its existing stockholders and any future debt or debt securities may contain covenants that limit the Company’s operations or ability to enter into certain transactions.

 

The Company’s current cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund operations for at least the next 12 months; however, the Company will need to raise additional funding through strategic relationships, public or private equity or debt financings, grants or other arrangements to develop and seek regulatory approvals for the Company’s existing and new product candidates. If such funding is not available or not available on terms acceptable to the Company, the Company’s current development plan and plans for expansion of its general and administrative infrastructure may be curtailed.

 

During the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, the Company issued 3,950,000 common shares for gross proceeds of $684,000 and raised $1.3 million (net of offering costs) in cash from investors in exchange for the issuance of 17.26 units (“Unit”) of securities of the Company. Each Unit consists of (a) 100,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Shares”) at a purchase price of $1.00 per share, which Preferred Shares are convertible into an aggregate of 100,000 shares (the “Conversion Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), and (b) a warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock equal to 25% of the Conversion Shares at an exercise price per share equal to $0.25 per share.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company raised $1.2 million (net of offering costs) in cash from investors in consideration for the issuance of 13.77 Units.

 

Note 2—Significant accounting policies

 

Basis of presentation

 

The Company's financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP").

 

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements

 

F- 7  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements

 

The accompanying balance sheet as of September 30, 2018, and the statements of operations, the statements of changes in stockholders’ equity, and the statements of cash flows and all related disclosures for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through September 30, 2017 are unaudited. These unaudited interim financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited financial statements, and in management’s opinion, includes all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair statement of the Company’s financial position as of September 30, 2018 and its results of operations and cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through September 30, 2017. The financial data and the other financial information disclosed in the notes to these financial statements related to the nine-month periods are also unaudited. The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year or any other period.

 

Use of estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates in the Company’s financial statements relate to the valuation of preferred and common stock, stock-based compensation and the valuation allowance of deferred tax assets resulting from net operating losses. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from these estimates. To the extent there are material differences between the estimates and actual results, the Company’s future results of operations will be affected.

 

Reclassification

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation. Such reclassification had no impact on prior reported net loss.

 

Segments

 

Operating segments are identified as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete financial information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision-maker in making decisions regarding resource allocation and assessing performance. The Company views its operations and manages its business in one operating segment.

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with original maturities of 90 days or less at acquisition to be cash equivalents. There were no cash equivalents as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

 

Concentrations of credit risk and off-balance sheet risk

 

Cash and cash equivalents are financial instruments that are potentially subject to concentrations of credit risk. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are deposited in accounts at large financial institutions, and amounts may exceed federally insured limits. The Company believes it is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial strength of the depository institutions in which the cash and cash equivalents are held. The Company has no financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk of loss.

 

Research and development costs

 

Research and development costs, including acquired in-process research and development expenses for which there is no alternative future use, are expensed as incurred. Advance payments for goods and services that will be used in future research and development activities are expensed when the activity has been performed or when the goods have been received rather than when the payment is made.

 

Fair value measurement

 

Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820,  Fair Value Measurements , provides guidance on the development and disclosure of fair value measurements. Under this accounting guidance, fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or a liability.

 

F- 8  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements  

 

The accounting guidance classifies fair value measurements in one of the following three categories for disclosure purposes:

     
Level 1:   Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:   Inputs other than Level 1 prices for similar assets or liabilities that are directly or indirectly observable in the marketplace.
Level 3:

  Unobservable inputs which are supported by little or no market activity and values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant judgment or estimation.

 

In some circumstances, the inputs used to measure fair value might be categorized within different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In those instances, the fair value measurement is categorized in its entirety in the fair value hierarchy based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

Convertible Preferred Stock

 

The Company applies the accounting standards for distinguishing liabilities from equity when determining the classification and measurement of its preferred stock. Preferred stock subject to mandatory redemption are classified as liability instruments and are measured at fair value. Conditionally redeemable preferred shares (including preferred shares that feature redemption rights that are either within the control of the holder or subject to redemption upon the occurrence of uncertain events not solely within the Company’s control) are classified as temporary equity. At all other times, preferred shares are classified as stockholders’ equity.

 

The Company accounts for convertible preferred stock with detachable warrants in accordance with ASC 470:  Debt  and allocated proceeds received to the convertible preferred stock and detachable warrants based on relative fair values. The Company evaluated the classification of its convertible preferred stock and warrants and determined that such instruments meet the criteria for equity classification. The Company recorded the related issuance costs and value ascribed to the warrants as a reduction of the convertible preferred stock as a component of additional paid in capital.

 

The Company has also evaluated its convertible preferred stock and warrants in accordance with the provisions of ASC 815,  Derivatives and Hedging , including consideration of embedded derivatives requiring bifurcation. The issuance of the convertible preferred stock could generate a beneficial conversion feature (“BCF”), which arises when a debt or equity security is issued with an embedded conversion option that is beneficial to the investor or in the money at inception because the conversion option has an effective strike price that is less than the market price of the underlying stock at the commitment date. The Company recognized the BCF by allocating the intrinsic value of the conversion option, which is the number of shares of common stock available upon conversion multiplied by the difference between the effective conversion price per share and the fair value of common stock per share on the commitment date, to additional paid-in capital, resulting in a discount on the convertible preferred stock. As the convertible preferred stock may be converted immediately, the Company recognized the BCF as a deemed dividend in the statement of operations.

 

Accounting for Warrants

 

The Company accounts for the issuance of common stock purchase warrants issued in connection with the equity offerings in accordance with the provisions of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (“ASC 815”) .  The Company classifies as equity any contracts that (i) require physical settlement or net-share settlement or (ii) gives the Company a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in its own shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement).  The Company classifies as assets or liabilities any contracts that (i) require net-cash settlement (including a requirement to net-cash settle the contract if an event occurs and if that event is outside the control of the Company) or (ii) gives the counterparty a choice of net-cash settlement or settlement in shares (physical settlement or net-share settlement). In addition, Under ASC 815, registered common stock warrants that require the issuance of registered shares upon exercise and do not expressly preclude an implied right to cash settlement are accounted for as derivative liabilities. The Company classifies these derivative warrant instruments on the balance sheets as a component of stockholders’ equity.

 

Stock-based compensation

 

The Company expenses stock-based compensation to employees and non-employees over the requisite service period based on the estimated grant-date fair value of the awards. Stock-based awards with graded-vesting schedules are recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. The Company records the expense for stock-based compensation awards subject to performance-based milestone vesting over the remaining service period when management determines that achievement of the milestone is probable. Management evaluates when the achievement of a performance-based milestone is probable based on the expected satisfaction of the performance conditions at each reporting date. All stock-based compensation costs are recorded in general and administrative or research and development costs in the statements of operations based upon the underlying employees' or non-employees’ roles within the Company.

 

F- 9  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements  

 

Income taxes

 

Income taxes are recorded in accordance with ASC 740,  Income Taxes  ("ASC 740"), which provides for deferred taxes using an asset and liability approach. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are provided, if based upon the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

 

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740. When uncertain tax positions exist, the Company recognizes the tax benefit of tax positions to the extent that the benefit would more likely than not be realized assuming examination by the taxing authority. The determination as to whether the tax benefit will more likely than not be realized is based upon the technical merits of the tax position as well as consideration of the available facts and circumstances.

 

Net loss per share

 

Net loss per share is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common stock outstanding during the period. Since the Company had a net loss in the periods presented, basic and diluted net loss per common share are the same. The following were excluded from the computation of diluted shares outstanding due to the losses since inception, as they would have had an anti-dilutive impact on the Company’s net loss:

                   
Potentially dilutive securities   For the nine months
ended September 30,
2018
    For the Period from
May 16, 2017
(Inception) to
September 30, 2017
    For the Period from
May 16, 2017
(Inception) through
December 31, 2017
 
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (Common Stock Equivalent)     3,102,480       —         1,725,980  
Warrants     775,620       —         431,495  
Total   3,878,100       —         2,157,475  

 

Recent accounting pronouncements

 

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes FASB ASC Topic 840, Leases (Topic 840) and provides principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases for both lessees and lessors. The new standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease, respectively. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than twelve months regardless of classification. Leases with a term of twelve months or less will be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases. The standard is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted upon issuance. The Company does not anticipate that ASU No. 2016-02 will have a material impact on its financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting , which clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value, the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. It is effective prospectively for the annual period ending December 31, 2018 and interim periods within that annual period. The Company adopted ASU 2017-09 on January 1, 2018 and the adoption did not have a material impact on its financial statements and disclosures.

 

F- 10  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements  

 

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07,  Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting  ("ASU 2018-07"). ASU 2018-07 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions resulting from expanding the scope of Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation, to include share-based payment transactions for acquiring goods and services from nonemployees. ASU 2018-07 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company is currently assessing the effect this guidance may have on its financial statements.

 

In August 2018, the SEC adopted the final rule under SEC Release No. 33-10532, Disclosure Update and Simplification, amending certain disclosure requirements that were redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated or superseded. In addition, the amendments expanded the disclosure requirements on the analysis of stockholders' equity for interim financial statements. Under the amendments, an analysis of changes in each caption of stockholders' equity presented in the balance sheet must be provided in a note or separate statement. The analysis should present a reconciliation of the beginning balance to the ending balance of each period for which a statement of comprehensive income is required to be filed. This final rule became effective on November 5, 2018. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its financial statements.

 

Note 3—License agreement

 

Chelexa BioSciences, Inc.

 

Chelexa BioSciences has an exclusive license from the University of Cincinnati to make, use, have made, import for sale, sell and sublicense certain licensed products. In May 2017, the Company paid $300,000 for development and commercialization expenses and issued 250,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, with an estimated value of approximately $99,000, to Chelexa for an exclusive sublicense to Chelexa’s rights to the certain licensed products.

 

Hoth also issued to Chelexa additional common shares in Hoth as is required to ensure that Chelexa’s ownership position in Hoth remains at 10% of the fully-diluted equity of Hoth until Hoth has closed an equity or debt financing of at least $3 million (“Additional Equity Shares”). Between May 16, 2017 (inception) and December 31, 2017, the Company issued 263,777 Additional Equity Shares of the Company’s common stock, with an estimated value of approximately $120,000. Between January 1, 2018 and September 30, 2018, the Company issued 213,166 Additional Equity Shares of the Company’s common stock, with an estimated value of approximately $132,000. The Company records the Additional Equity Shares in connection with this license agreement as contingent consideration. Contingent consideration is recorded when probable and reasonably estimable. Hoth has reached its equity or debt financing threshold of $3 million as of March 31, 2018. Therefore, Hoth is no longer obligated to issue Additional Equity Shares as of September 30, 2018. Furthermore, pursuant to the sublicense agreement, Chelexa has the right to participate in certain equity issuances made by the Company for purposes of raising capital based upon its pro-rata share to enable Chelexa to retain 10% of the fully-diluted equity of the Company until such time as the Company consummates an initial public offering pursuant to which it receives aggregate gross proceeds of not less than $5,000,000. The sublicense agreement will continue until the later of April 16, 2034 and the last to expire patent, unless earlier terminated pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The Company, in its sole discretion, has the first right of refusal to renew the term.

 

The Company is subject to total milestone payments of $3.5 million, royalty payments and has agreed to fund all development and commercialization costs related to the licensed products.

 

Note 4—Notes payable

 

In May 2017, the Company had entered into notes of $450,000 with an original issue discount of $144,000. The notes were due and payable upon the Company raising additional capital in excess of $500,000. These notes were paid off on July 5, 2017. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, participated in one-third of this note payable transaction or $150,000.

 

Note 5—Related party

 

A director of the Company, is also the executive chairman of Chelexa. That director receives $30,000 cash compensation per year for the service provided as a board member of the Company. He has also received an initial stock grant for 25,000 shares of common stock and a subsequent stock grant of 12,500 shares of common stock. Furthermore, He received an additional stock grant for 12,500 shares of common stock for his services as a member of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board.

 

F- 11  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements  

 

Note 6—Convertible Preferred stock and Warrants

 

During the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, the Company raised $1.3 million (net of offering costs) in cash from investors in exchange for the issuance of 17.26 units of Preferred Shares, with each unit consisting of (a) 100,000 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company at a purchase price of $1.00 per share, which Preferred Shares are convertible into an aggregate of 100,000 shares the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and (b) a warrant to purchase shares of common stock equal to 25% of the Conversion Shares at an exercise price per share equal to $0.25 per share.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company raised $1.2 million (net of offering costs) in cash from investors in exchange for the issuance of 13.77 units of Preferred Shares.

 

As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company had 5,000,000 shares of $0.0001 par value convertible preferred stock authorized with 3,102,480 and 1,725,980 shares outstanding, respectively.

 

The Preferred Shares are not mandatorily redeemable and does not embody an unconditional obligation to settle in a variable number of equity shares. As such, Preferred Shares are classified as permanent equity on the balance sheet. The holders’ contingent redemption right in the event of certain deemed liquidation events does not preclude permanent equity classification. Further, the Preferred Shares is considered an equity-like host for purposes of assessing embedded derivative features for potential bifurcation. The embedded conversion feature is considered to be clearly and closely related to the associated preferred stock host instrument and therefore was not bifurcated from the equity host.

 

The Company has determined that the warrants should be accounted as a component of stockholders’ equity. For the warrants issued during the nine months ended September 30, 2018, on the issuance date, the Company estimated the relative fair value of the warrants at $0.1 million using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following primary assumptions: expected life of 7.0 years, volatility rate of 75.0%, risk-free interest rate of 1.83% and expected dividend rate of 0%. Based on the warrant’s relative fair value to the fair value of the Series A Convertible Preferred stock, approximately $0.2 million of the $1.2 million of aggregate fair value was allocated to the warrants, creating a corresponding preferred stock discount in the same amount. For the warrants issued during the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, the Company estimated the relative fair value of the warrants at $0.2 million using the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following primary assumptions: expected life of 7.0 years, volatility rate of 75.0%, risk-free interest rate of 1.39% and expected dividend rate of 0%. Based on the warrant’s relative fair value to the fair value of the Series A Convertible Preferred stock, approximately $0.2 million of the $1.3 million of aggregate fair value was allocated to the warrants, creating a corresponding preferred stock discount in the same amount.

 

Note 7—Stockholders’ Equity 

 

2018 Equity Incentive Plan

 

The Company’s 2018 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2018 Plan”) was adopted by its board of directors on May 4, 2018 and by its shareholders on May 4, 2018. The Company has reserved 1,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance pursuant to the 2018 Plan. As of September 30, 2018, there were 112,375 shares granted under the 2018 Plan as noted below.

 

Common Stock

 

On March 23, 2018, the Company granted 12,500 shares of common stock of the Company to a member of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board. The fair value of the stock award was $11,000.

 

On May 4, 2018, the Company granted 12,500 shares of common stock of the Company under the 2018 Plan to a member of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board. The fair value of the stock award was $12,500.

 

Restricted Stock Awards

 

On August 3, 2018, the Company issued 12,500 shares of fully vested common stock to a member of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board. The grant date fair value of restricted stock was approximately $12,500.

 

On August 3, 2018, the Company granted 25,000 restricted shares to a board member of the Company. The restricted stock awards vest in 1/36 increments in monthly installments beginning August 3, 2018. The grant date fair value of restricted stock was approximately $25,000. At September 30, 2018, 1,388 shares were vested and approximately $5,600 of expenses were recorded under stock-based compensation expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2018. The remaining 23,612 shares will vest through 2021.

 

F- 12  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements  

 

Stock-based compensation

 

Employees

 

In May 2017, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and co-founder was issued 750,000 shares of common stock for a nominal price of $3,000. The stock was valued at $0.0993 per common share based on the cash price paid for the 1,700,000 shares in May 2017. The difference between the approximately $298,000 valuation of the 750,000 shares and the $3,000 paid was recorded as stock-based compensation expense.

 

In January 2018, the Company granted an employee 25,000 shares of common stock with a $15,000 fair value.

 

On May 4, 2018, the Company granted the same employee 5,000 shares of common stock under the 2018 Plan with a $5,000 fair value. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and co-founder was issued 87,500 shares of common stock for a value of $87,500. On August 15, 2018, the Company bought back 31,513 shares from the employees who were issued common stock as part of the 2018 Plan to pay for payroll taxes. The fair value of the shares was $31,513. Immediately after the buyback of 31,513 shares such shares were immediately cancelled.

 

Directors

 

During the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, the Company issued a total of 155,000 shares of common stock to four directors. The stock was valued at $0.3972 per common share based on the cash price paid for the 1,700,000 shares in May 2017. The approximately $62,000 valuation of the 155,000 shares was recorded as stock-based compensation expense.

 

During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the Company issued a total of 25,000 shares of common stock under the 2018 Plan to two directors for a value of $25,000.

 

Other Co-Founders

 

In May 2017, two founders were each issued 750,000 common shares for a nominal price of $3,000 each (totaling 1,750,000 shares of common stock for $6,000). The Company also issued 25,000 common shares to another consultant. The stock was valued at $0.3972 per common share based on the cash price paid for the 1,700,000 shares in May 2017. The difference between the approximately $606,000 valuation of the 1,525,000 shares and the $6,000 paid was recorded as stock-based compensation expense.

 

Stock-based compensation expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through September 30, 2017 and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 was approximately $138,000, $956,000, and $956,000, respectively, and comprised of the following:

 

    For the nine months
ended September 30,
2018
    For the Period from
May 16, 2017
(inception) through
September 30, 2017
    For the Period from
May 16, 2017
(inception) through
December 31, 2017
 
Employee common stock awards   $ 107,500     $ 294,900     $ 294,900  
Directors common stock awards     25,000       61,566       61,566  
Other Co-Founders common stock awards     —         599,730       599,730  
Employee restricted stock awards     5,590       —         —    
    $ 138,090     $ 956,196     $ 956,196  

 

Note 8—Commitments and contingencies

 

Office lease

 

The Company leases office space that commenced on July 15, 2017, for $2,000 a month. Rent expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through September 30, 2017 and for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017 was approximately $21,000, $11,000, and $17,000, respectively.

 

Litigation

 

The Company is not a party to any material legal proceedings and is not aware of any pending or threatened claims. From time to time, the Company may be subject to various legal proceedings and claims that arise in the ordinary course of its business activities.

 

F- 13  

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

Notes to Financial Statements  

 

Note 9—Income taxes

 

At December 31, 2017, the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the effects of temporary differences attributable to the following:

 

Deferred tax assets:      
Net operating loss carryforward   $ 317,700  
License acquired     107,692  
         
Total deferred tax assets     425,392  
Valuation allowance     (425,392 )
Deferred tax asset, net of allowance   $ —    

 

The following is a reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory rate to the effective income tax rates for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017:

 

Statutory federal income tax rate     (34.0 )%
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit     (0.1 )%
Federal tax rate change     13.0 %
Meals and entertainment     0.1 %
Change in valuation allowance     21.1 %
Income taxes provision (benefit)     %

 

The Company has determined, based upon available evidence, that it is more likely than not that the net deferred tax assets will not be realized and, accordingly, has provided a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets.

 

As of December 31, 2017, the Company had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $1,503,000. The federal and state net operating loss carryforwards generated in the 2017 tax year will begin to expire, if not utilized, by 2037. Utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to an annual limitation according to Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, and similar provisions.

 

At December 31, 2017, the Company did not have any significant uncertain tax positions. The Company will recognize interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had no accrued interest or penalties related to uncertain tax positions and no amounts have been recognized in the Company’s statement of operations. The Company does not anticipate a material change to unrecognized tax benefits in the next twelve months. 

 

The 2017 federal and state tax year for the Company remains open for the assessment of income taxes.

 

Note 10—Subsequent Events

 

The Company evaluates events that have occurred after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued.

 

Reverse Stock Split

 

On December 6, 2018, the Company effected a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of its issued and outstanding shares of common stock and a proportional adjustment to the existing conversion ratios for each series of the Company’s convertible preferred stock (see Note 6). Accordingly, all share and per share amounts for all periods presented in the accompanying financial statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively, where applicable, to reflect this reverse stock split and adjustment of the convertible preferred stock conversion ratios.

 

F- 14  

 

   

1,250,000 Shares

 

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

 

Common Stock

 

Prospectus

 

                         , 2018

 

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

 

Until, 2018 (25 days after the commencement of this offering), all dealers that effect transactions in these securities, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as an underwriter and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

 

- 96 -

 


 

PART II—INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS 

 

Item 13.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution 

 

The following table sets forth all expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee.

 

    Amount to
be paid
 
SEC registration fee   $ 1,133  
FINRA filing fee   $ 3,088  
The Nasdaq Capital Market initial listing fee   $ 75,000  
Transfer agent and registrar fees   $ 5,000  
Accounting fees and expenses   $ 51,500  
Legal fees and expenses   $ 275,000  
Underwriter legal fees and expenses   $ 200,000  
QUI fees   $ 200,000  
Printing and engraving expenses   $ 3,000  
Miscellaneous   6,279  
Total   $ 820,000  

  

Item 14.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers 

 

Section 78.7502(1) of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (except in an action brought by or on behalf of the corporation) if that person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if that person acted in good faith and in a manner which that person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, alone, does not create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and that, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, the person had reasonable cause to believe his action was unlawful.

 

Section 78.7502(2) of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit brought by or on behalf of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor because the person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if the person acted in accordance with the standard set forth above, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

 

Section 78.7502(3) of the Nevada Revised Statutes further provides that, to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections 1 and 2 thereof, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, that person shall be indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by that person in connection therewith.

 

- 97 -

 

 

Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that unless indemnification is ordered by a court, the determination to provide indemnification must be made by the stockholders, by a majority vote of a quorum of the board of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding, or in specified circumstances by independent legal counsel in a written opinion. In addition, the articles of incorporation, bylaws or an agreement made by the corporation may provide for the payment of the expenses of a director or officer of the expenses of defending an action as incurred upon receipt of an undertaking to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the person is not entitled to indemnification. Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes further provides that the indemnification provided for therein shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled and that the scope of indemnification shall continue as to directors, officers, employees or agents who have ceased to hold such positions, and to their heirs, executors and administrators.

 

Section 78.752 of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against any liability asserted against him or incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such whether or not the corporation would have the authority to indemnify him against such liabilities and expenses.

 

Articles of Incorporation

 

Our Articles of Incorporation provide that the Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Revised Statutes, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have the power to indemnify under such section.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in such Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

 

Item 15.    Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities 

 

On May 16, 2017, Robb Knie, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Matthew Eitner and James Ahern, the Chief Executive Officer and Head of Capital Markets of Laidlaw, respectively, each purchased 750,000 founders’ shares of the Company for an aggregate purchase price of $3,000.

 

From May, 2017 until February, 2018, the Company issued an aggregate of 726,943 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the terms of a license agreement.

 

On June 30, 2017, the Company issued 1,700,000 shares of common stock to one investor for gross proceeds of $675,000.

 

In July 2017, the Company issued an aggregate of 155,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to three consultants for services rendered.

 

From July 2017 until August 2017, the Company issued an aggregate of 37,500 shares of the Company’s common stock to members of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board for services rendered.

 

From October 25, 2017 until February 15, 2018, we issued an aggregate of 3,102,480 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock and warrants to purchase up to 775,620 shares of our common stock to accredited investors for gross proceeds of $3,102,480.

 

- 98 -

 

 

In December 2017, the Company issued 25,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to an employee for services rendered.

 

In March 2018, the Company issued 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock to a member of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board for services rendered.

 

In May 2018, the Company issued an aggregate of 130,000 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the 2018 Plan to employees and directors for services rendered.

 

In August 2018, the Company issued 12,500 shares of the Company’s common stock to a member of the Company’s Technology Advisory Board for services rendered.

 

From August to December 2018, the Company issued 3,471 shares of the Company’s common stock to a member of the Company’s Board for services rendered.

   

The foregoing offers, sales and issuances were exempt from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506 of Regulation D thereunder.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

       
Exhibit
No.
  Description
  1.1 * Form of Underwriting Agreement
  3.1 * Articles of Incorporation, currently in effect
  3.2 * Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, currently in effect
  3.3 *   Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
  3.4  * Bylaws, currently in effect
  4.1 * Specimen Stock Certificate evidencing the shares of common stock
  5.1 * Opinion of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
  10.1 +* Robb Knie Employment Agreement dated June 1, 2017
  10.2 +* Amendment to Robb Knie Employment Agreement dated August 4, 2017
  10.3 +* Form of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. and Robb Knie, to be effective on the closing of the offering contemplated by this registration statement
  10.4 #* Sublicense Agreement with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc. dated May 26, 2017
  10.5 #* License Agreement with the University of Cincinnati dated May 18, 2018
  10.6 * Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated October 25, 2017
  10.7 * Office Service Agreement with Regus dated June 26, 2017
  10.8 * Form of Warrant
  10.9 * Form of Unit Purchase Agreement
  10.10 * Form of Investor Rights Agreement
  10.11 +* 2018 Equity Incentive Plan
  10.12 * Renewal Agreement with Regus dated April 9, 2018
  10.13 * Form of Securities Purchase Agreement
  10.14 * Form of Registration Rights Agreement
  10.15 ** Amendment No. 1 to Sublicense Agreement with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc. dated August 22, 2018
  10.16 ** Amendment No. 2 to Sublicense Agreement with Chelexa Biosciences, Inc. dated August 29, 2018
  10.17 ** Form of Amendment and Restated Employment Agreement between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. and Jane H. Behrmann, to be effective on the closing of the offering contemplated by this registration statement
  23.1 * Consent of WithumSmith+Brown, PC
  23.2 * Consent of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
  24.1 ** Power of Attorney

 

* filed herewith. 

** previously filed. 

 

+ Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

 

# Confidential treatment is being requested for portions of this exhibit. These portions have been omitted from the registration statement and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

- 99 -

 


 

Item 17.    Undertakings 

 

        (a)    The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

 

        (b)    Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 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 Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 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, Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 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.

 

        (c)    The undersigned hereby further undertakes that:

 

        (1)   For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by Hoth, Inc. pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

        (2)   For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial  bona fide  offering thereof.

 

 

- 100 -

 

 

SIGNATURES 

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 14 th day of December, 2018.

  Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.
     
  By: /s/ Robb Knie
    Robb Knie
  Its: Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

   
/s/ Robb Knie   December 14, 2018
Robb Knie    
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Accounting and Financial Officer)
   
     
*   December 14, 2018
Vadim Mats    
Director    
     
*   December 14, 2018
Kenneth Rice    
Director    
     
*   December 14, 2018
Anthony Hayes    
Director    
     
/s/ David B. Sarnoff   December 14, 2018
David B. Sarnoff    
Director    

 

* By: /s/ Robb Knie  
  Robb Knie, Attorney-In-Fact  

 

-101-

 

Exhibit 1.1

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

[●] Shares of Common Stock

 

________, 2018

 

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

As the Representative of the

Several Underwriters Named on Schedule I hereto

 

c/o Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

521 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10175

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “ Underwriters ,” or each, an “ Underwriter ”), for whom Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. is acting as the representative (the “ Representative ”), an aggregate of [●] authorized but unissued shares (the “ Firm Shares ”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company. The Company also proposes to sell to the Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof, up to an additional [●] shares of Common Stock (the “ Option Shares ”). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Shares .” The Shares, the Underwriter Warrants (as defined below) and the Underwriter Warrant Shares (as defined below) are collectively referred to as the “ Securities .”

 

The Company and the several Underwriters hereby confirm their agreement as follows:

 

1.       Registration Statement and Prospectus; QIU .

 

The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement covering the Shares on Form S-1 (File No. 333-227772) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the rules and regulations (the “ Rules and Regulations ”) of the Commission thereunder, and such amendments to such registration statement (including post effective amendments) as may have been required to the date of this Agreement. Such registration statement, as amended (including any post effective amendments), has been declared effective by the Commission. Such registration statement, including amendments thereto (including post effective amendments thereto) at the time of effectiveness thereof (the “ Effective Time ”), the exhibits and any schedules thereto at the Effective Time or thereafter during the period of effectiveness and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by the Securities Act or otherwise pursuant to the Rules and Regulations at the Effective Time or thereafter during the period of effectiveness, is herein called the “ Registration Statement .” If the Company has filed or files an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “ Rule 462 Registration Statement ”), then any reference herein to the term Registration Statement shall include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act is hereinafter called a “ Preliminary Prospectus .” The Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Securities that was included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the pricing of the offering contemplated hereby is hereinafter called the “ Pricing Prospectus .”

 

 

 

 

The Company is filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act a final prospectus covering the Securities, which includes the information permitted to be omitted therefrom at the Effective Time by Rule 430A under the Securities Act. Such final prospectus, as so filed, is hereinafter called the “ Final Prospectus .” The Final Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus and any preliminary prospectus in the form in which they were included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act is hereinafter called a “ Prospectus .”

 

The Company hereby confirms its engagement of The Benchmark Company, LLC (“ Benchmark ”) as, and Benchmark hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as, a “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of FINRA (as defined below) Rule 5121(f)(12) with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares. Benchmark, in its capacity as qualified independent underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the “ QIU .” Benchmark hereby consents to the reference to it as set forth under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package (as defined in Section 2(a)(v)(A)(1) below) and the Final Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

2.       Representations and Warranties of the Company Regarding the Offering.

 

(a)       The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters, as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4(d) below) and as of each Option Closing Date (as defined in Section 4(b) below), as follows:

 

(i)         No Material Misstatements or Omissions . At each time of effectiveness, at the date hereof, at the Closing Date, and at each Option Closing Date, if any, the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not, does not, and will not, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Time of Sale Disclosure Package (as defined in Section 2(a)(v)(A)(1) below) as of [●] (Eastern time) (the “ Applicable Time ”) on the date hereof, at the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, if any, the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the time of filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, at the Closing Date and at each Option Closing Date, if any, and any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined in Section 2(a)(iv) below), when considered together with the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, did not, does not and will not contain any 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 the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or any Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 7(g). The Registration Statement contains all exhibits and schedules required to be filed by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations. No order preventing or suspending the effectiveness or use of the Registration Statement or any Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.

 

 - 2 -

 

 

(ii)        Marketing Materials . The Company has not distributed any prospectus or other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the roadshow or investor presentations delivered to and approved by the Representative for use in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares (the “ Marketing Materials ”).

 

(iii)       Emerging Growth Company . The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “ Emerging Growth Company ”).

 

(iv)       Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication and (ii) has not authorized anyone to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act (“ Written Testing-the-Waters Communications ”)[, other than those previously provided to the Representative and listed on Schedule IV hereto] 1 . “ Testing-the-Waters Communication ” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act. The Company has filed publicly on the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”) at least fifteen (15) calendar days prior to any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 und the Securities Act), any confidentially submitted registration statement and registration statement amendments relating to the offer and sale of Securities. Each Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, did not, as of the Applicable Time, and at all times through the completion of the public offer and sale of Securities will not, include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement , the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

 

1 NTD: To be confirmed.

 

 - 3 -

 

 

(v)        Accurate Disclosure . (A) The Company has provided a copy to the Underwriters of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) used in the sale of Shares. The Company has filed all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses required to be so filed with the Commission, and no order preventing or suspending the effectiveness or use of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. When taken together with the rest of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, no Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times though the completion of the public offer and sale of the Shares, has, does or will include (1) any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (2) information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus. The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 7(g). As used in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Agreement:

 

(1)       “ Time of Sale Disclosure Package ” means the Prospectus most recently filed with the Commission before the time of this Agreement, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the description of the transaction provided by the Underwriters included on Schedule II .

 

(2)       “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Securities that (A) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, or (B) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) or (d)(8) under the Securities Act, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act.

 

(B)       At the time of filing of the Registration Statement and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act or an “excluded issuer” as defined in Rule 164 under the Securities Act.

 

(C)       Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule III satisfied, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), all other conditions as may be applicable to its use as set forth in Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act, including any legend, record-keeping or other requirements.

 

(vi)       Financial Statements . The financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes and schedules, included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the periods therein specified in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) consistently applied throughout the periods involved. No other financial statements or schedules are required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or the Rules and Regulations to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus.

 

 - 4 -

 

 

(vii)      Independent Accountants. To the Company’s knowledge, WithumSmith+Brown, PC, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations.

 

(viii)     Accounting and Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by references in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and are prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that have been designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and any subsidiaries is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within those entities; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

 

 - 5 -

 

 

(ix)       Forward-Looking Statements . The Company had a reasonable basis for, and made in good faith, each “forward-looking statement” (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or the Marketing Materials.

 

(x)        Statistical and Marketing-Related Data . All statistical or market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, or included in the Marketing Materials, are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources, to the extent required.

 

(xi)        Trading Market . The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market (“ Nasdaq ”). There is no action pending by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, Nasdaq to delist the Common Stock from Nasdaq, nor has the Company received any notification that Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such listing. When issued, the Shares and the Underwriter Warrant Shares will be listed on Nasdaq. The Company has taken all actions it deems reasonably necessary or advisable to take on or prior to the date of this Agreement to assure that it will be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the rules of Nasdaq that are then in effect and will take all action it deems reasonably necessary or advisable to assure that it will be in compliance in all material respects with other applicable corporate governance requirements set forth in the Nasdaq rules not currently in effect upon and all times after the effectiveness of such requirements.

 

(xii)       Absence of Manipulation . The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(xiii)      Investment Company Act . The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the net proceeds thereof, including the proceeds received upon the exercise of the Underwriter Warrants will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

3.       Representations and Warranties Regarding the Company.

 

(a)       The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters, as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Date and as of each Option Closing Date, as set forth below. If the Company has no subsidiaries, all other references to the subsidiaries or any of them shall be disregarded.

 

 - 6 -

 

 

(i)         Good Standing . Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or other entity in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has the power and authority (corporate or otherwise) to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to so qualify would not have or be reasonably likely to result in a material adverse effect upon the business, prospects, properties, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or in its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement (“ Material Adverse Effect ”).

 

(ii)        Authorization . The Company has the power and authority to enter into this Agreement and issue the Underwriter Warrants and to authorize, issue and sell the Shares and the Underwriter Warrant Shares as contemplated by this Agreement and the Underwriter Warrants. This Agreement and the Underwriter Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company, and when executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute the valid, legal and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except as rights to indemnity hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity.

 

(iii)       Contracts . The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Underwriter Warrants and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not (A) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any law, order, rule or regulation to which the Company or any subsidiary is subject, or by which any property or asset of the Company or any subsidiary is bound or affected, (B) conflict with, result in any violation or breach of, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) (a “ Default Acceleration Event ”) of, any agreement, lease, credit facility, debt, note, bond, mortgage, indenture or other instrument (the “ Contracts ”) or obligation or other understanding to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any subsidiary is bound or affected, except to the extent that such conflict, default, or Default Acceleration Event is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Company’s articles of incorporation, as amended, or bylaws.

 

(iv)       No Violations of Governing Documents . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation, breach or default under its articles of incorporation, as amended, bylaws or other equivalent organizational or governing documents.

 

 - 7 -

 

 

(v)        Consents . No consents, approvals, orders, authorizations or filings are required on the part of the Company in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and the Underwriter Warrants and the issue and sale of the Securities, except (A) the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities, which has been effected, (B) the necessary filings and approvals from Nasdaq to list the Shares and the Underwriter Warrant Shares, (C) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws and the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“ FINRA ”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the several Underwriters, (D) such consents and approvals as have been obtained and are in full force and effect, and (E) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations and filings the failure of which to make or obtain is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(vi)       Capitalization . The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and have been issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. All of the issued shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims. Except for the issuances of options or restricted stock in the ordinary course of business, since the respective dates as of which information is provided in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, the Company has not entered into or granted any convertible or exchangeable securities, options, warrants, agreements, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company any shares of the capital stock of the Company. The Shares, when issued and paid for as provided herein, will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and will be free of preemptive, registration or similar rights and will conform to the description of the capital stock of the Company contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. T he shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Underwriter Warrants (the “ Underwriter Warrant Shares ”), when issued, paid for and delivered upon due exercise of the Underwriter Warrants will be duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will be issued in compliance with all applicable securities laws, and will be free of preemptive, registration or similar rights. The Underwriter Warrant Shares have been reserved for issuance. The Underwriter Warrants, when issued, will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

(vii)        Taxes . Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has (a) filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof and (b) paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due and payable on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such respective subsidiary. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. No issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its subsidiaries, and no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its subsidiaries. The term “ taxes ” means all federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “ returns ” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.

 

 - 8 -

 

 

(viii)     Material Change . Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; (c) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than a change in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, upon the conversion of outstanding shares of preferred stock or other convertible securities or the issuance of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units under the Company’s existing stock awards plan, or any new grants thereof in the ordinary course of business), (d) there has not been any material change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt, and (e) there has not been the occurrence of any Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ix)        Absence of Proceedings . There is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator or mediator, which is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(x)         Permits . The Company and each of its subsidiaries holds, and is in compliance with, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates and orders (“ Permits ”) of any governmental or self-regulatory agency, authority or body (including, without limitation, those administered by the Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the “ FDA ”) or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) required for the conduct of its business, and all such Permits are in full force and effect, in each case except where the failure to hold, or comply with, any of them is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 - 9 -

 

 

(xi)       Good Title . The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all property (whether real or personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as being owned by them that are material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests, other encumbrances or defects, except those that are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and those that are not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The property held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries is held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions with respect to any particular lease as do not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(xii)       Intellectual Property . The Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“ Intellectual Property ”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its subsidiaries involves or gives rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of others, except where such action, use, license or fee is not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee. To the Company’s knowledge, none of the technology employed by the Company or any subsidiary has been obtained or is being used by the Company or such subsidiary in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or such subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the officers, directors or employees of the Company or any subsidiary, or, to the Company’s knowledge, otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons.

 

(xiii)        Employment Matters . There is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against it or any of its subsidiaries, before the National Labor Relations Board, any state or local labor relation board or any foreign labor relations board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against it and (B) no labor disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries, principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, that could reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any subsidiary plans to terminate employment with the Company or any such subsidiary.

 

 - 10 -

 

 

(xiv)     ERISA Compliance . No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ ERISA ”), or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “ Code ”)) or “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) or any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the thirty (30)-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which would reasonably be expected to, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including ERISA and the Code. The Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred and could not reasonably be expected to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from, any pension plan (as defined in ERISA). Each pension plan for which the Company or any of its subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could, singularly or in the aggregate, cause the loss of such qualification.

 

(xv)      Environmental Matters . The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses (“ Environmental Laws ”), except where the failure to comply has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may otherwise be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or upon any other property, in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any law, statute, ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any liability, except for any violation or liability which has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and there has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has knowledge.

 

 - 11 -

 

 

(xvi)     SOX Compliance . The Company has taken all actions it deems reasonably necessary or advisable to take on or prior to the date of this Agreement to assure that, upon and at all times after the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, it will be in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof. (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) that are then in effect and will take all action it deems reasonably necessary or advisable to assure that it will be in compliance in all material respects with other applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act not currently in effect upon it and at all times after the effectiveness of such provisions.

 

(xvii)    Certain Regulatory Matters . The clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests conducted by or on behalf of or sponsored by the Company or its subsidiaries that are described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus were and, if still pending, are being conducted in accordance in all material respects with all statutes, laws, rules and regulations, as applicable (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA). The descriptions of the results of such studies and tests that are described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the published data derived from such studies and tests, and each of the Company and its subsidiaries has no knowledge of other studies or tests, the results of which are materially inconsistent with or otherwise call into question the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries has received any notices or other correspondence from the FDA or any other foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA with respect to any ongoing clinical or pre-clinical studies or tests requiring the termination or suspension of such studies or tests. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company makes no representation or warranty that the results of any studies, tests or preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of the Company will be sufficient to obtain governmental approval from the FDA or any foreign, state or local governmental body exercising comparable authority. The Company has established and administers a compliance program applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, to assist the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers and employees in complying with applicable regulatory guidelines (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA and any other foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA). Except as would not be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has failed to file with the applicable regulatory authorities (excluding the FDA or any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) any filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission that is required to be so filed. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has failed to file with the FDA or any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA, any filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission that is required to be so filed. All such filings were in material compliance with applicable laws when filed and no deficiencies have been asserted by any applicable regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the FDA or any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) with respect to any such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions.

 

 - 12 -

 

 

(xviii)   Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (as defined below) (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. “ Governmental Entity ” shall be defined as any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency (whether foreign or domestic) having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or operations.

 

(xix)      Foreign Corrupt Practices Act . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director or officer of the Company or any subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee, representative, agent, affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “ FCPA ”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

(xx)       OFAC . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director or officer of the Company or any subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee, representative, agent or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

 - 13 -

 

 

(xxi)      Insurance . The Company and each of its subsidiaries carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

 

(xxii)     Books and Records . The minute books of the Company and each of its subsidiaries have been made available to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, and such books (i) contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders of the Company (or analogous governing bodies and interest holders, as applicable), and each of its subsidiaries since the time of its respective incorporation or organization through the date of the latest meeting and action, and (ii) accurately in all material respects reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

(xxiii)    No Undisclosed Contracts . There is no Contract or document required by the Securities Act or by the Rules and Regulations to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or in the Final Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statements which is not so described or filed therein as required, and all descriptions of any such Contracts or documents contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and in the Final Prospectus are accurate and complete descriptions of such documents in all material respects. Other than as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, no such Contract has been suspended or terminated for convenience or default by the Company or any subsidiary party thereto or any of the other parties thereto, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice, and the Company has no knowledge, of any such pending or threatened suspension or termination.

 

(xxiv)   No Undisclosed Relationships . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders (or analogous interest holders), customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus and which is not so described.

 

(xxv)     Insider Transactions . There are no outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. All transactions by the Company with office holders or control persons of the Company have been duly approved by the board of directors of the Company, or duly appointed committees or officers thereof, if and to the extent required under applicable law.

 

(xxvi)    No Registration Rights . No person or entity has the right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries within 180 days of the date hereof because of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or otherwise, except for persons and entities who have expressly waived such right in writing or who have been given timely and proper written notice and have failed to exercise such right within the time or times required under the terms and conditions of such right. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no persons with registration rights or similar rights to have any securities registered by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Securities Act.

 

 - 14 -

 

 

(xxvii)  Continued Business . No supplier, customer, distributor or sales agent of the Company or any subsidiary has notified the Company or any subsidiary that it intends to discontinue or decrease the rate of business done with the Company or any subsidiary, except where such discontinuation or decrease has not resulted in and could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxviii)  No Finder’s Fee . There are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services in the nature of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee with respect to the introduction of the Company to any Underwriter or the sale of the Shares hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuances with respect to the Company that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by FINRA.

 

(xxix)    No Fees. Except as disclosed to the Representative in writing, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, investing fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who provided capital to the Company, (ii) any FINRA member, or (iii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member within the twelve (12)-month period prior to the date on which the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission (“ Filing Date ”) or thereafter.

 

(xxx)    Proceeds . None of the net proceeds of the offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or any affiliate or associate of any participating FINRA member, except as specifically authorized herein.

 

(xxxi)    No FINRA Affiliations . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, to the Company’s knowledge and except as disclosed to the Representative in writing, no (i) officer or director of the Company or its subsidiaries, (ii) owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company’s securities or (iii) owner of any amount of the Company’s unregistered securities acquired within the 180-day period prior to the Filing Date, has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member. The Company will advise the Representative and counsel to the Underwriters if it becomes aware that any officer, director of the Company or its subsidiaries or any owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company’s securities is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the offering.

 

 - 15 -

 

 

(xxxii)   No Financial Advisor . Other than the Underwriters, no person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(xxxiii)  Certain Statements . The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the captions “Intellectual Property Portfolio” and “Government Regulation,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair, and under the caption “Description of Capital Stock” insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of (i) the terms of the Company’s outstanding securities, (ii) the terms of the Shares, and (iii) the terms of the documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair.

 

(xxxiv)  Prior Sales of Securities . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company has not sold or issued any shares of Common Stock during the six (6)-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S of, the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, stock option plans or other employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding preferred stock, options, rights or warrants or other outstanding convertible securities.

 

(b)       Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.

 

4.       Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.

 

(a)       On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the several Underwriters, and the several Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase the Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule I hereto. The purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company for each Firm Share shall be $[●] per share. The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to the public (the “ Offering ”) at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. The public offering price of the Firm Shares is not in excess of the price recommended by the QIU.

 

(b)       The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the option to purchase some or all of the Option Shares and, upon the basis of the warranties and representations and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters shall have the right, severally and not jointly, to purchase at the purchase price set forth in Section 4(a) all or any portion of the Option Shares as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. This option may be exercised by the Underwriters at any time and from time to time on or before the forty-fifth (45 th ) day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company (the “ Option Notice ”). The Option Notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered (such date and time being herein referred to as the “ Option Closing Date ”); provided , however , that the Option Closing Date shall not be earlier than the Closing Date (as defined below) nor earlier than the first (1 st ) business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth (5 th ) business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised unless the Company and the Representative otherwise agree. If the Underwriters elect to purchase less than all of the Option Shares, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter the number of Option Shares obtained by multiplying the number of Option Shares specified in such notice by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Option Shares set forth opposite the name of the Underwriter in Schedule I hereto under the caption “Number of Option Shares to be Sold” and the denominator of which is the total number of Option Shares.

 

 - 16 -

 

 

(c)       Payment of the purchase price for and delivery of the Option Shares shall be made on an Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Firm Shares, as set forth in subparagraph (d) below.

 

(d)       The Firm Shares will be delivered by the Company to the Representative, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., 521 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10175, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on the date specified for regular way settlement in Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act (or if the Firm Shares are priced after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the date specified therein), or at such other time and date as the Representative and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, or, in the case of the Option Shares, at such date and time set forth in the Option Notice. The time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares is referred to herein as the “ Closing Date .” On the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver the Firm Shares, which shall be registered in the name or names and shall be in such denominations as the Representative may request on behalf of the Underwriters at least one (1) business day before the Closing Date, to the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, which delivery shall be made through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company’s DWAC system.

 

(e)       It is understood that the Representative has been authorized, for its own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. The Representative, individually and not as the Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representative by the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(f)       On the Closing Date, the Company shall issue to the Representative (and/or its designees), warrants (the “ Underwriter Warrants ”), in form and substance acceptable to the Representative, for the purchase of an aggregate of [●] 2 shares of Common Stock, which shall be registered in the name or names and shall be in such denominations as the Representative may request at least two (2) business days before the Closing Date.

 

 - 17 -

 

 

(g)       On the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, the Company shall pay the Representative a non-accountable expense allowance equal to two percent (2.0%) of the gross proceeds raised at the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date.

 

(h)       On the Closing Date, the Company shall pay to the QIU, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, a fee of $200,000.

 

5.       Covenants.

 

(a)       The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters as follows:

 

(i)        The Company shall prepare the Final Prospectus in a form approved by the Representative and file such Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second (2 nd ) business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by the Rules and Regulations.

 

(ii)       During the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as determined by the Representative the Final Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an underwriter or dealer (the “ Prospectus Delivery Period ”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, including any Rule 462 Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review and comment a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.

 

(iii)      From the date of this Agreement until the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing (A) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (B) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (C) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A or 430C as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or 164(b) of the Securities Act).

 

 

2 NTD: To be 5% of the number of Firm Shares.

 

 - 18 -

 

 

(iv)      (A) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as now and hereafter amended, and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in force, and by the Exchange Act, as now and hereafter amended, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period any event occurs the result of which would cause the Final Prospectus (or if the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package ) to include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary or appropriate in the opinion of the Company or its counsel or the Representative or counsel to the Underwriters to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus (or if the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package ) to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representative, allow the Representative the opportunity to provide reasonable comments on such amendment, prospectus supplement or document, and will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus (or if the Final Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package) or file such document (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

 

(B)       If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period there occurred or occurs an event or development the result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or any Prospectus or included or would include, when taken together with the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

(v)       The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified, to execute a general consent to service of process in any state or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject.

 

(vi)      The Company will furnish to the Underwriters and counsel to the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, each Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request.

 

 - 19 -

 

 

(vii)     The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than fifteen (15) months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a twelve (12) month period beginning after the date of this Agreement that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

(viii)    The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (A) all expenses (including transfer taxes allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the delivery to the Underwriters of the Securities (including all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Shares and the registrar and transfer agent of the Underwriter Warrants (if other than the Company), and the cost of preparing and printing stock certificates and warrant certificates), (B) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel) in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery, and shipping of the Registration Statement (including the financial statements therein and all amendments, schedules, and exhibits thereto), the Securities, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, (C) all reasonable filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriters’ counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale by the Underwriters or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions that the Representative shall designate, (D) the reasonable filing fees and reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incident to any required review and approval by FINRA, of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (F) listing fees, if any, and (G) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein. The Company will reimburse (1) the Underwriters for (I) the Underwriters’ reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (excluding amounts payable pursuant to clause (II) below), including legal fees and disbursements, in connection with the purchase and sale of the Securities contemplated hereby up to an aggregate of $150,000 (including amounts payable pursuant to clauses (C) and (D) above) and (II) the fees, expenses and disbursements of the Underwriters relating to background checks of the Company’s officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $5,000 in the aggregate and (2) the QIU for all reasonable, necessary and accountable out-of-pocket expenses relating to its role as QIU. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 6, Section 7 or Section 9, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket disbursements (including, but not limited to, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges and road show expenses) incurred by the Underwriter in connection with their investigation, preparing to market and marketing the Shares or in contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder.

 

 - 20 -

 

 

(ix)       The Company intends to apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities to be sold by it hereunder for the purposes set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.

 

(x)       The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or that has constituted, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(xi)       The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, and each Underwriter, severally, and not jointly, represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the free writing prospectuses included in Schedule III . Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied or will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record-keeping.

 

(xii)      The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not, during the period ending one hundred eighty (180) days after the date hereof (“ Lock-Up Period ”), (i) offer, pledge, issue, sell, contract to sell, purchase, contract to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; or (iii) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The restrictions contained in the preceding sentence shall not apply to (1) the Securities to be sold hereunder, (2) the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or warrants or the conversion of outstanding preferred stock or other outstanding convertible securities disclosed as outstanding in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto), the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, and the Final Prospectus, or (3) the issuance of employee stock options not exercisable during the Lock-Up Period and the grant of restricted stock awards or restricted stock units or shares of Common Stock pursuant to equity incentive plans described in the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits thereto), the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, and the Final Prospectus.

 

 - 21 -

 

 

(xiii)     The Company hereby agrees, during a period of three (3) years from the effective date of the Registration Statement, to furnish to the Representative copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to shareholders, and to deliver to the Representative as soon as reasonably practicable upon availability, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed; provided, that any information or documents available on EDGAR shall be considered furnished for purposes of this Section 5(a)(xiii).

 

(xiv)     The Company hereby agrees to engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock and a registrar and transfer agent for the Underwriter Warrants (if other than the Company).

 

(xv)     The Company hereby agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain approval to list the Shares and the Underwriter Warrant Shares on Nasdaq.

 

(xvi)    The Company hereby agrees not to take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

 

(xvii)    The Company will promptly notify the Representative if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) the end of the Prospectus Delivery Period and (b) the expiration of the lock-up period described in Section 5(a)(xii) above.

 

6.       Conditions of the Underwriter’s Obligations. The respective obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder to purchase the Shares are subject to the accuracy, as of the date hereof and at all times through the Closing Date, and on each Option Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, as applicable), of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the following additional conditions:

 

(a)       If filing of the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall have filed the Final Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or 164(b) under the Securities Act); the Registration Statement shall remain effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, any Rule 462 Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; any request of the Commission or the Representative for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Representative.

 

 - 22 -

 

 

(b)       The Shares and the Underwriter Warrant Shares shall be approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

 

(c)       FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

 

(d)       The Representative shall not have reasonably determined, and advised the Company, that the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the reasonable opinion of the Representative, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the reasonable opinion of the Representative, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(e)       On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representative, for the benefit of the Underwriters, the opinion and negative assurance letters of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, counsel to the Company, each dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

(f)       [Intentionally omitted.]

 

(g)       On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representative, for the benefit of the Underwriters, the negative assurance letter of Lowenstein Sandler LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.

 

(h)       The Representative, for the benefit of the Underwriters, shall have received a letter of WithumSmith+Brown, PC, on the date hereof and on the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters, confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualifications of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, and confirming, as of the date of each such letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, as of a date not prior to the date hereof or more than five days prior to the date of such letter), the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters required by the Underwriters.

 

 - 23 -

 

 

(i)       On the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date, there shall have been furnished to the Representative, for the benefit of the Underwriters, a certificate, dated the Closing Date and on each Option Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company, in their capacity as officers of the Company, to the effect that:

 

(i)       The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement that are qualified by materiality or by reference to any Material Adverse Effect are true and correct in all respects, and all other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct, in all material respects, as if made at and as of the Closing Date and on the Option Closing Date, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part required to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date or on the Option Closing Date, as applicable;

 

(ii)       No stop order or other order (A) suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof, (B) suspending the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale, or (C) suspending or preventing the use of the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to their knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body; and

 

(iii)       There has been no occurrence of any event resulting or reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect during the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or on the Option Closing Date, as applicable.

 

(j)       On or before the date hereof, the Representative shall have received duly executed lock-up agreements (each a “ Lock-Up Agreement ”) in one of the two forms set forth on Exhibit A hereto, by and between the Representative and each of the parties specified in Schedule V , as indicated on such schedule.

 

If the Representative, in its sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement for an officer or director of the Company and provides the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver at least three (3) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

 

(k)       The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters and their counsel such additional documents, certificates and evidence as the Representative or its counsel may have reasonably requested.

 

If any condition specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Date or on the Option Closing Date, as applicable, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except that Section 5(a)(viii), Section 7 and Section 9 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

 

- 24

 

 

7.         Indemnification and Contribution .

 

(a)       The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, including the information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of effectiveness and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, or arise out of or are based upon the omission from the Registration Statement, or alleged omission to state therein, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or the Marketing Materials or in any other materials used in connection with the offering of the Shares, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein 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, (iii) in whole or in part, any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, or (iv) in whole or in part, any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law, and will reimburse such party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with evaluating, investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however , that such indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter (or any person controlling such Underwriter) in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the related Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 7(g).

 

(b)       Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its directors and each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof, which written information is described in Section 7(g), and will reimburse such party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with evaluating, investigating, and defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action. The obligation of each Underwriter to indemnify the Company (including any controlling person, director or officer thereof) shall be limited to the amount of the underwriting discount applicable to the Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter hereunder actually received by such Underwriter.

 

- 25

 

 

(c)       Without limitation of and in addition to its obligations under the other paragraphs of this Section 7, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the QIU, its affiliates, directors and officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation) which, jointly or severally, the QIU or any such person may incur, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon the QIU’s acting as a “qualified independent underwriter” (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121) in connection with the Offering contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim.

 

(d)       Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party except to the extent such indemnifying party has been materially prejudiced by such failure. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of the indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; provided , however , that if (i) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (ii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party), or (iii) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent it in any claim in respect of which indemnity may be sought under subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7, in which event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying party or parties and reimbursed to the indemnified party as incurred.

 

- 26

 

 

The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is a party or could be named and indemnity was or would be sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability for claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (b) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(e)       If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a), (b) or (c) above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters or the QIU on the other from the offering and sale of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters or the QIU on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relevant intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (e). The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any action or claim that is the subject of this subsection (e). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (e), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the underwriting discount applicable to the Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter hereunder actually received by such Underwriter. 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 guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments and not joint. The QIU, in its capacity as “qualified independent underwriter” (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121), shall in no event be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount the compensation received by the QIU for acting in such capacity exceeds the amount of any damage which the QIU has otherwise been required to pay by reason of the QIU’s acting in such capacity in connection with the Offering contemplated by this Agreement.

 

- 27

 

 

(f)       The obligations of the Company under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have and the benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act; and the obligations of each Underwriter under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability that each Underwriter may otherwise have and the benefits of such obligations shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to the Company’s directors, the officers of the Company signing the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act.

 

(g)       For purposes of this Agreement, each Underwriter severally confirms, and the Company acknowledges, that there is no information concerning such Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by such Underwriter specifically for preparation of or inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, other than (i) the statement set forth in the last paragraph on the cover page of the Prospectus, (ii) the marketing and legal names of each Underwriter and (iii) the statements set forth in the “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” section of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, and the Final Prospectus only insofar as such statements relate to the amount of selling concession and re-allowance, if any, or to over-allotment, stabilization, electronic distribution and related activities that may be undertaken by such Underwriter.

 

8.          Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery . All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company contained herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including, but not limited to, the agreements of the several Underwriters and the Company contained in Section 5(a)(viii) and Section 7 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the several Underwriters or any controlling person thereof, or the Company, its directors, the officers of the Company signing the Registration Statement, or any of its controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by the Underwriters hereunder.

 

- 28

 

 

9.         Termination of this Agreement .

 

(a)       The Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement by giving notice to the Company as hereinafter specified at any time at or prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date (as to the Option Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date only), if in the discretion of the Representative, (i) there has occurred any material adverse change in the securities markets or any event, act or occurrence that has materially disrupted, or in the opinion of the Representative, will in the future materially disrupt, the securities markets or there shall be such a material adverse change in general financial, political or economic conditions or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, inadvisable or impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares (ii) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or Nasdaq or trading in securities generally on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the NYSE or the NYSE American shall have been suspended, (iii) minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required, on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the NYSE or NYSE American, by such exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority having jurisdiction, (iv) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by federal or state authorities, (v) there shall have occurred any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States or international political, financial or economic conditions or any other calamity or crisis, or (vi) the Company suffers any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or (vii) in the judgment of the Representative, there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus, any material adverse change in the assets, properties, condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 5(a)(viii) and Section 7 hereof shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

(b)       If the Representative elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section, the Company and the other Underwriters shall be notified promptly by the Representative by telephone, confirmed by letter.

 

10.        Substitution of Underwriters . If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase Shares hereunder on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date and the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of Shares to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date or Option Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall so default and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such default or defaults occur is more than ten percent (10%) of the total number of Shares to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date or Option Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the remaining Underwriters and the Company for the purchase of such Shares by other persons are not made within forty-eight (48) hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate.

 

- 29

 

 

If the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters are required hereby or agree to take up all or part of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters on such Closing Date or Option Closing Date as provided in this Section 10, (i) the Company shall have the right to postpone such Closing Date or Option Closing Date for a period of not more than five (5) full business days in order to permit the Company to effect whatever changes in the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, which may thereby be made necessary, and the Company agrees to promptly file any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the respective numbers of Shares to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters shall be taken as the basis of their underwriting obligation for all purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability to the Company or any other Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company, except that the representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, agreements and other statements set forth in Section 2 and 3, the obligations with respect to expenses to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to Section 5 and the provisions of Section 5(a)(viii) and Section 9 and Sections 11 through 18, inclusive, shall not terminate and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

 

11.       Notices . Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if to the Representative, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., 521 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10175, telecopy number: (212) 354-8783, Attention: Francis Ryan Smith, Vice President; if to the QIU, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to it at 150 East 58 th Street, 17 th Floor, New York, New York 10155, telecopy number: (212) 312-6790, Attention: Michael S. Jacobs, Head of Equity Capital Markets; and if to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered or telecopied to it at Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039, New York, New York 10020 telecopy number: (347) 412-4193, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 38 th Floor, New York, New York 10112, Attention: Richard Friedman, Esq.; or in each case to such other address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing. Any party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

 

12.       Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 7. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as such purchaser, of any of the Shares from any Underwriter.

 

- 30

 

 

13.       Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) each of the Underwriters and the QIU have been retained solely to act as underwriter and/or as “qualified independent underwriter” within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121, as applicable, in connection with the sale of the Shares, and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and any Underwriter or the QIU has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Underwriter or the QIU has advised or is advising the Company on other matters; (b) the price and other terms of the Shares set forth in this Agreement were established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Underwriters and the QIU, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (c) it has been advised that the Underwriters, the QIU and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions that may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that no Underwriter or the QIU has any obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and (d) it has been advised that each Underwriter and the QIU is acting, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, solely for the benefit of such Underwriter or QIU, as applicable, and not on behalf of the Company.

 

14.       Amendments and Waivers . No supplement, modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by the party to be bound thereby. The failure of a party to exercise any right or remedy shall not be deemed or constitute a waiver of such right or remedy in the future. No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provision hereof (regardless of whether similar), nor shall any such waiver be deemed or constitute a continuing waiver unless otherwise expressly provided.

 

15.       Partial Unenforceability . The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or provision.

 

16.       Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

17.       Submission to Jurisdiction . The Company irrevocably (a) submits to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Borough of Manhattan or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement, or any of the agreements or transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Disclosure Package, any Prospectus and the Final Prospectus (each a “ Proceeding ”), (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (d) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum. THE COMPANY (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ON BEHALF OF ITS RESPECTIVE EQUITY HOLDERS AND CREDITORS) HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE TIME OF SALE DISCLOSURE PACKAGE, ANY PROSPECTUS AND THE FINAL PROSPECTUS.

 

- 31

 

 

18.       Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile transmission or electronic mail) in one or more counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

- 32

 

 

Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company, the several Underwriters and the QIU in accordance with its terms. 

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.
     
  By:
  Name: Robb Knie
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

  

Confirmed as of the date first above-mentioned.  
     
Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.  
as Representative of the several Underwriters  
     
By:    
Name: [ ]  
Title: [ ]  

 

THE BENCHMARK COMPANY, LLC  
as the Qualified Independent Underwriter  
     
By:    
Name: [ ]  
Title: [ ]  

  

[Signature page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Name

Number of Firm
Shares to be
Purchased

Number of Option
Shares to be
Purchased

LAIDLAW & COMPANY (UK) LTD.    
     
Total    

 

EXHIBIT A-

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

 

[●] Shares of Common Stock

 

Final Term Sheet

 

Issuer: Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”)
Symbol: HOTH
Securities: [●] shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company
Over-allotment option: [●] shares
Public offering price: $[●] per share of Common Stock
Underwriting discount: $[●] per share of Common Stock
Expected net proceeds: Approximately $[●] million ($[●] if the overallotment option is exercised in full) (after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company).
Trade date: _________, 2018
Settlement date: _________, 2018
Underwriters:

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. 

SCHEDULE II-1

 

 

SCHEDULE III

 

Free Writing Prospectus

 

None.

 

SCHEDULE III- 1

 

 

SCHEDULE IV

 

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

None.

 

SCHEDULE IV-

 

 

SCHEDULE  V

 

List of officers, directors and stockholders executing lock-up agreements 

 

Form 1:

All current stockholders of the company and all directors and director nominees other than those listed for Form 2.

 

Form 2:

Robb Knie

James Ahern

Matthew Eitner 

 

SCHEDULE V-

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form 1 of Lock-Up Agreement

 

Dated: _______________

 

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

521 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10175

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that you, as the representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters named therein, propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), relating to a proposed offering of securities of the Company (the “Offering”) including shares of the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, and in order to induce you to participate the Offering, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), the undersigned will not, during the period (the “Lock-Up Period”) beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering (the “Final Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including without limitation, shares of Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the shares of, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, or (4) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specific in clause (1), (2) or (3) above.

 

EXHIBIT A- 1

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in clause (1) and (2) above shall not apply to (a) transfers (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, or (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (b) the acquisition or exercise of any stock option issued pursuant to the Company’s existing stock option plan, including any exercise effected by the delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the undersigned, or (c) the purchase or sale of the Company’s securities pursuant to a plan, contract or instruction that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) that was in effect prior to the date hereof. For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

 

The foregoing restrictions are expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of shares of Common Stock even if such securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include without limitation any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including without limitation any put option or put equivalent position or call option or call equivalent position) with respect to any of the shares of Common Stock or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from such shares.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

 

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar or depositary against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representative agrees that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Common Shares, the Representative will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company will agree in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the securities to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

EXHIBIT A- 2

 

 

This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. The undersigned irrevocably (i) submits to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Borough of Manhattan and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Lock-Up Agreement (each a “Proceeding”), (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (iv) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  Name:

  

EXHIBIT A- 3

 

 

Form 2 of Lock-Up Agreement

 

Dated: _______________

 

Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

521 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor

New York, NY 10175

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that you, as the representative (the “Representative”) of the several underwriters named therein, propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), relating to a proposed offering of securities of the Company (the “Offering”) including shares of the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, and in order to induce you to participate the Offering, and for other good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), the undersigned will not, during the period (the “Lock-Up Period”) beginning on the date hereof and ending on the one (1) year anniversary date after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Offering (the “Final Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file (or participate in the filing of) a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect of, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (including without limitation, shares of Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the shares of, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, or (4) publicly announce an intention to effect any transaction specified in clause (1), (2) or (3) above.

 

EXHIBIT A- 4

 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in clause (1) and (2) above shall not apply to (a) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in the open market after the completion of the Offering, (b) transfers (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, or (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (c) the acquisition or exercise of any stock option issued pursuant to the Company’s existing stock option plan or otherwise outstanding on the date hereof, including any exercise effected by the delivery of shares of Common Stock of the Company held by the undersigned, or (d) the establishment of any contract, instruction or plan that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 (a “Rule 10b5-1 Plan”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”); provided , however , that no sales of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Common Stock, shall be made pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period (as the same may be extended pursuant to the provisions hereof); provided further , that the Company is not required to report the establishment of such Rule 10b5-1 Plan in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period and does not otherwise voluntarily effect any such public filing or report regarding such Rule 10b5-1 Plan, and (e) any demands or requests for, exercise any right with respect to, or take any action in preparation of, the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock, provided that no transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to the exercise of any such right and no registration statement shall be filed under the Securities Act with respect to any of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period. For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

 

The foregoing restrictions are expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a sale or disposition of shares of Common Stock even if such securities would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put option or put equivalent position or call option or call equivalent position) with respect to any of the shares of Common Stock or with respect to any security that includes, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from such shares.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.

 

The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar or depositary against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

EXHIBIT A- 5

 

 

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representative agrees that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of Common Shares, the Representative will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company will agree in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Lock-Up Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

 

The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the securities to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Lock-Up Agreement.

 

This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. The undersigned irrevocably (i) submits to the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Borough of Manhattan and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, for the purpose of any suit, action, or other proceeding arising out of this Lock-Up Agreement (each a “Proceeding”), (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of any Proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (iii) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any immunity from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process therein, (iv) agrees not to commence any Proceeding other than in such courts, and (v) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim that such Proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  Name:

 

EXHIBIT A- 6

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Form of Press Release

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc.

[Date]

 

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd., the Representative in the Company’s recent public sale of shares of common stock is [waiving][releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver][release] will take effect on , 20 , and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

 

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

EXHIBIT B- 1

Exhibit 3.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.3

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

 

 

(GRAPHIC)

 

 

Exhibit 3.4

 

BYLAWS

OF

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(hereinafter called the “Corporation”)

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

Section 1.1 Registered Office . The registered office of the corporation shall be established and maintained at the office of National Registered Agents, Inc. of NV, at 769 Basque Way, Suite 300, in the City of Carson City, County of Carson City, in the State of Nevada; National Registered Agents, Inc. of NV shall be the registered agent of the corporation in charge thereof. The registered office and registered agent may be changed from time to time by action of the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and the appropriate filing by the corporation in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada.

 

Section 1.02. Principal Office . The principal office for the transaction of the business of the Corporation shall be at 6 Horizon Road, Suite 1903, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024. The Board of Directors is hereby granted full power and authority to change said principal office from one location to another.

 

Section 1.3 Other Offices . The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Nevada, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 2.1 Annual Meetings . The Annual Meeting of stockholders of the Corporation (“Stockholders”) for purposes of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) 78.330 shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. The election of directors and any other proper business may be transacted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

 

Section 2.2 Special Meetings . A Special meeting of the stockholders (a “Special Meeting”) for any purpose or purposes may be called by the president of the Corporation, the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors that has been duly designated by the Board of Directors and whose powers and authority, as provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors or in these bylaws (“Bylaws”), include the power to call such meetings. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Unless otherwise prescribed by law, the articles of incorporation of the Corporation, as amended and restated from time to time (the “Articles of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws, a Special Meeting may not be called by any other person or persons. No business may be transacted at any Special Meeting other than such business as may be designated in the notice (or any supplement thereto) calling such meeting.

 

 

 

 

Section 2.3 Place of Meetings . The president, the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board of Directors, as the case may be, may designate the time and place, either within or without the State of Nevada, for any Annual Meeting or for any Special Meeting of the Stockholders called by the president, the Board of Directors, or a committee of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that any meeting of the stockholders shall be held by means of electronic communications or other available technology in accordance with Section 2.17.

 

Section 2.4 Notice . Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, the means of electronic communication, if any,  and, in the case of a Special Meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by law, written notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting, and shall be delivered in accordance with NRS 78.370.

 

Section 2.5 Adjournments . Any meeting of the stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than sixty (60) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.4 hereof shall be given to each stockholder of record (including the new record date) entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 2.6 Quorum . Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the Corporation’s capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum. If, however, a quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, in the manner provided in Section 2.5 hereof, until a quorum shall be present or represented.

 

Section 2.7 Voting .

 

(a) Unless otherwise required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of the stockholders, other than the election of directors, shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast on a matter at the meeting at which a quorum is present. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the election. Broker non-votes and abstentions are considered for purposes of establishing a quorum but not considered as votes cast for or against a proposal or director nominee.

 

 

 

 

(b) Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, and subject to Section 2.11(a), each stockholder represented at a meeting of the stockholders shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy as provided in Section 2.8. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of the stockholders, in such officer’s discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

 

Section 2.8 Proxies . Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of the stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted upon after six months from its date of creation, unless such proxy provides for a longer period, which may not exceed seven years from the date of its creation. Without limiting the manner in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may grant such authority:

 

(i) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy. Execution may be accomplished by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing such person’s signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but not limited to, by facsimile signature.

 

(ii) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of an electronic record to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to receive the transmission, provided that any such electronic record must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined that the electronic record was authorized by the stockholder. If it is determined that such electronic record is valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such other persons making that determination shall specify the information on which they relied.

 

Any copy, facsimile or other electronic telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic record authorizing another person or persons to act as proxy for a stockholder may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or electronic record for any and all purposes for which the original writing or electronic record could be used; provided , however , that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or electronic record.

 

 

 

 

Section 2.9 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting .

 

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any Annual or Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation’s principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded, to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this Section 2.9 to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to the Corporation’s principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded, to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation as provided above in this Section 2.9.

 

(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be less than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within ten (10) days of the date on which such a request is received, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation’s principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded, to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

 

 

 

(c) In the event of the delivery, in the manner provided by this Section 2.9, to the Corporation of the requisite written consent or consents to take corporate action and/or any related revocation or revocations, the Corporation shall engage independent inspectors of elections for the purpose of performing promptly a ministerial review of the validity of the consents and revocations.  For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no action by written consent without a meeting shall be effective until such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the consents delivered to the Corporation in accordance with this Section 2.9 represent at least a minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take the corporate action.  Nothing contained in this Section 2.9(c) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the board of directors or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether before or after such certification by the independent inspectors, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution, or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

 

Section 2.10 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote . The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days but not more than sixty (60) days, before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders of record entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder of record and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder of record. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting (i) either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. Except as otherwise required by law, such list shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders. In the event that more than one group of shares is entitled to vote as a separate voting group at the meeting, there shall be a separate listing of the stockholders of each group.

 

Section 2.11 Record Date .

 

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day before the day on which the first notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided , however , that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

 

 

 

(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation’s principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of the stockholders are recorded, to the attention of the Secretary of the Corporation. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

Section 2.12 Stock Ledger . The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 2.10 or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders.

 

Section 2.13 Conduct of Meetings . Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the chairman of the Board of Directors (the “Chairman”), or, in the absence of the Chairman, by the vice chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or if there be no vice chairman or in the absence of the vice chairman, by the chief executive officer, if any, or if there be no chief executive officer or in the absence of the chief executive officer, by the president, or, in the absence of the president, or, in the absence of any of the foregoing persons, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or by a chairman chosen at the meeting by the stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all stockholders present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast. The individual acting as chairman of the meeting may delegate any or all of his or her authority and responsibilities as such to any director or officer of the Corporation present in person at the meeting. The secretary, or in the absence of the secretary an assistant secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the absence of the secretary and any assistant secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (i) the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, (ii)  the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (iii) limitation on participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall permit, (iv) limitation on the time allotted for consideration of each agenda item and for questions or comments by meeting participants, (v) restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the commencement thereof, and (vi) the opening and closing of the voting polls. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the chairman of the meeting, in his or her discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

 

 

 

 

Section 2.14 Inspectors of Election . In advance of any meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors, by resolution, the Chairman or the president shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath to faithfully execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The inspector or inspectors may (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; (ii) determine the number of shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies or ballots; (iii) count all votes and ballots; (iv) determine any challenges made to any determination made by the inspector(s); and (v) certify the determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and the count of all votes and ballots.

 

Section 2.15 Nature of Business at Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business (other than nominations for election to the Board of Directors and the election of directors, which must comply with the provisions of Section 2.16) may be transacted at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders as is either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the Annual Meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (c) otherwise properly brought before the Annual Meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.15 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such Annual Meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.15.

 

In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided , however , that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the Annual Meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an Annual Meeting, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

 

 

 

To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information: (a) as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the Annual Meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting, and (b) as to the stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, (i) the name and address of such person, (ii) (A) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person, (B) the name of each nominee holder of shares of all stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of such shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder, (C) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation and (D) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock of the Corporation) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation; (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between or among such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business and any material interest of such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, in such business, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, (iv) a representation that the stockholder giving notice intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting to bring such business before the meeting; and (v) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies by such person with respect to the proposed business to be brought by such person before the Annual Meeting pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an Annual Meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting.

 

 

 

 

No business shall be conducted at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders except business brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.15; provided , however , that, once business has been properly brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 2.15 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the chairman of an Annual Meeting determines that business was not properly brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such business shall not be transacted.

 

Nothing contained in this Section 2.15 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision of law).

 

Section 2.16 Nomination of Directors . Only natural persons of at least 18 years of age who are nominated in accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as directors of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation with respect to the right of holders of preferred stock, if any, of the Corporation to nominate and elect a specified number of directors in certain circumstances. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at any Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or at any Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.16 and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such Annual Meeting or Special Meeting and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.16.

 

In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination to be made by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must be delivered to or be mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (a) in the case of an Annual Meeting, not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one-hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting of Stockholders; provided , however , that in the event that the Annual Meeting is called for a date that is not within twenty-five (25) days before or after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder in order to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the Annual Meeting was mailed or such public disclosure of the date of the Annual Meeting was made, whichever first occurs; and (b) in the case of a Special Meeting of Stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the Special Meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the Special Meeting was made, whichever first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an Annual Meeting or a Special Meeting called for the purpose of electing directors, or the public announcement of such an adjournment or postponement, commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

 

 

 

To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth the following information: (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person and that such person is a natural person of at least 18 years of age, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) (A) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person, (B) the name of each nominee holder of shares of all stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of such shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder, (C) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation and (D) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock of the Corporation) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation; and (iv) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, (i) the name and record address of the stockholder giving the notice and the name and principal place of business of such beneficial owner; (ii) (A) the class or series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such person and any affiliates or associates of such person, (B) the name of each nominee holder of shares of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such person or any affiliates or associates of such person, and the number of shares of stock of the Corporation held by each such nominee holder, (C) whether and the extent to which any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit interest or other transaction has been entered into by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation and (D) whether and the extent to which any other transaction, agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock of the Corporation) has been made by or on behalf of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, the effect or intent of any of the foregoing being to mitigate loss to, or to manage risk or benefit of stock price changes for, such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, or to increase or decrease the voting power or pecuniary or economic interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, with respect to stock of the Corporation; (iii) a description of all agreements, arrangements, or understandings (whether written or oral) between such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, and any proposed nominee or any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are being made by such person, and any material interest of such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person, in such nomination, including any anticipated benefit therefrom to such person, or any affiliates or associates of such person; (iv) a representation that the stockholder giving notice intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting to nominate the persons named in its notice; and (v) any other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with the solicitation of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.

 

 

 

 

A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at an Annual Meeting or Special Meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.16 shall be true and correct as of the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting or Special Meeting, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to or be mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of such Annual Meeting or Special Meeting.

 

No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.16. If the chairman of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

Section 2.17 Meetings Through Electronic Communications . Stockholders may participate in a meeting of the stockholders by any means of electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology permitted under the NRS (including, without limitation, a telephone conference or similar method of communication by which all individuals participating in the meeting can hear each other) and utilized by the Corporation. If any such means are utilized, the Corporation shall, to the extent required under the NRS, implement reasonable measures to (a) verify the identity of each person participating through such means as a stockholder and (b) provide the stockholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to communicate, and to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting in a substantially concurrent manner with such proceedings. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 2.17 constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1 Number, Election and Term of Directors . The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one nor more than nine members, the exact number of which shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Except as provided in Section 3.2, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at each Annual Meeting of Stockholders and each director so elected shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors must be natural persons of at least 18 years of age but need not be stockholders of the Corporation or residents of the State of Nevada.

 

 

 

 

Section 3.2 Vacancies . Unless otherwise required in the Articles of Incorporation, vacancies on the Board of Directors or any committee thereof arising through death, resignation, removal, an increase in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors or such committee or otherwise may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. The directors so chosen shall, in the case of the Board of Directors, hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal and, in the case of any committee of the Board of Directors, shall hold office until their successors are duly appointed by the Board of Directors or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

Section 3.3 Duties and Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

  

 

Section 3.4 Meetings . The Board of Directors and any committee thereof may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Nevada. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be held without notice at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors or such committee, respectively. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman, if any, or the president. Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be called by the chairman of such committee, if any, the president, or any director serving on such committee. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director (or, in the case of a committee, to each member of such committee) either by mail not less than seventy-two (72) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone or electronic mail on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

 

Section 3.5 Organization . At each meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the chairman of such committee, as the case may be, or, in his or her absence or if there be none, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman. Except as provided below, the Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary at each meeting of the Board of Directors and of each committee thereof. In case the Secretary shall be absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, an Assistant Secretary shall perform the duties of secretary at such meeting; and in the absence from any such meeting of the Secretary and all the Assistant Secretaries, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the members of each committee of the Board of Directors may appoint any person to act as secretary of any meeting of such committee and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation may, but need not if such committee so elects, serve in such capacity.

 

 

 

 

Section 3.6 Resignations and Removals of Directors . Any director of the Corporation may resign from the Board of Directors or any committee thereof at any time, by giving notice in writing to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the president or the secretary of the Corporation and, in the case of a committee, to the chairman of such committee, if any. Such resignation shall take effect at the time therein specified or, if no time is specified, immediately; and, unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Except as otherwise required by applicable law and subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of shares of preferred stock then outstanding, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the combined voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. Any director serving on a committee of the Board of Directors may be removed from such committee at any time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.7 Quorum and Voting .

 

(a) Except as otherwise required or permitted by the Articles of Incorporation, the NRS or the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the Corporation’s securities are listed or quoted for trading, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or a majority of the directors constituting such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors or committee members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors or such committee, as applicable. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

(b) Each director shall have one vote for any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof or without a meeting as provided herein. In accordance with NRS 78.330, all directors and classes of directors shall have the same voting rights.

 

Section 3.8 Actions of the Board by Written Consent . Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee.

 

Section 3.9 Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone . Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 3.9 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

 

 

 

Section 3.10 Committees . The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. Each member of a committee must meet the requirements for membership, if any, imposed by applicable law and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee. Subject to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the securities of the Corporation are listed or quoted for trading, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another qualified member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent permitted by law and provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board of Directors when required. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing any committee of the Board of Directors and/or the charter of any such committee may establish requirements or procedures relating to the governance and/or operation of such committee that are different from, or in addition to, those set forth in these Bylaws and, to the extent that there is any inconsistency between these Bylaws and any such resolution or charter, the terms of such resolution or charter shall be controlling; provided that it complies with the NRS.

 

Section 3.11 Compensation . The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary for service as director, payable in cash or securities. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for service as committee members.

 

Section 3.12 Interested Directors . No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because any such director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose if: (i) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders holding a majority of the voting power (the votes of the common or interested directors may be counted); and (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction as set forth herein.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

 

Section 4.1 General . The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a chief executive officer, president, chief operating officer, chief financial officer and a secretary, each of whom shall be elected by the Board. Such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary may be elected or appointed by the Board. All officers must be natural persons and any natural person may hold two or more offices, except that in the event that the Corporation shall have more than one director, the offices of president and secretary shall be held by different persons.

 

Section 4.2 Election, Qualification and Term of Office . Each of the officers shall be elected by the Board. None of said officers need be a director. Except as hereinafter provided or subject to the express provisions of a contract authorized by the Board of Directors, each of said officers shall hold office from the date of his/her election until the next annual meeting of the Board and until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her removal or resignation.

 

Section 4.3 Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation . Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the president or any vice president or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board of Directors and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

Section 4.4 Removal . The Board of Directors shall have the right to remove, with or without cause, any officer of the Corporation.

 

Section 4.5 Resignation . Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice to the Board, the president or the secretary. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of receipt of such notice or at any later date specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

 

 

 

Section 4.6 Vacancies . The Board of Directors shall fill any office which becomes vacant with a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term and until his/her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his or her removal or resignation.

 

Section 4.7 Powers and Duties . The powers and duties of the respective corporate officers shall be determined by the Board.

 

Section 4.8 Salaries . The salaries of all executive officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or by such committee of the Board of Directors as may be designated from time to time by a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.9 Other Officers . Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

 

ARTICLE V

STOCK

 

Section 5.1 Shares of Stock . The shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by a certificate, unless and until the Board of Directors adopts a resolution permitting shares to be uncertificated. Notwithstanding the adoption of any such resolution providing for uncertificated shares, every holder of capital stock of the Corporation theretofore represented by certificates and, upon request, every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate for shares of capital stock of the Corporation signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, (a) the Chairman, the chief executive officer or the president, and (b) the chief financial officer or the secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation.

 

Section 5.2 Signatures . Any or all of the signatures on a certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 5.3 Lost Certificates . Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or uncertificated shares be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issuance of a new certificate or uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to identify the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

 

 

 

Section 5.4 Transfers . Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by applicable law and in these Bylaws. Transfers of stock shall be made only on the books of the Corporation, and in the case of certificated shares of stock, only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form; provided , however , that such surrender and endorsement, compliance or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement. With respect to certificated shares of stock, every certificate exchanged, returned or surrendered to the Corporation shall be marked “Cancelled,” with the date of cancellation, by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the transfer agent thereof. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.

 

Section 5.5 Regulations . The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares or uncertificated shares of the stock of the Corporation.

 

Section 5.6 Dividend Record Date . Subject to compliance with NRS 78.288 and 78.300, and the Articles of Incorporation, in order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

Section 5.7 Record Owners . The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

 

 

 

 

Section 5.8 Transfer and Registry Agents . The Corporation may from time to time maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies and registry offices or agencies at such place or places as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.9 Consideration for Shares . The Board of Directors may authorize shares to be issued for consideration consisting of any tangible or intangible property or benefit to the Corporation including, without limitation, cash, services performed or other securities of the Corporation. When the Corporation receives the consideration for which the Board of Directors authorized the issuance of shares, such shares shall be fully paid and non-assessable (if non-assessable stock) and the stockholders shall not be liable to the Corporation or to its creditors in respect thereof.

 

ARTICLE VI

NOTICES

 

Section 6.1 Notices . Whenever written notice is required by the NRS, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail in accordance with the NRS, and as permitted thereby, addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Written notice may also be given personally or by electronic transmission (by fax, electronic mail, or posting on electronic network).

 

Section 6.2 Waivers of Notice . Whenever any notice is required by applicable law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to notice, or by transmission of an electronic record by that person, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

 

Attendance of a person at a meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any Annual or Special Meeting of Stockholders or any regular or special meeting of the directors or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 7.1 Dividends . Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the NRS and the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors (or any action by written consent in lieu thereof in accordance with Section 3.8 hereof), and may be paid in cash or in property other than shares. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for purchasing any of the shares of capital stock, warrants, rights, options, bonds, debentures, notes, scrip or other securities or evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

 

 

 

 

Section 7.2 Disbursements . All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Section 7.3 Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7.4 Corporate Seal . The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Nevada”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 8.1 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings othe r than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation . Subject to Section 8.3 and to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

 

 

 

Section 8.2 Power to Indemnify in Actions, Suits or Proceedings by o r in the Right of the Corporation . Subject to Section 8.3 and to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court in which such action or suit was brought deem proper.

 

Section 8.3 Authorization of Indemnification . Any indemnification under this Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as permitted by the NRS and authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, as the case may be. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iv) by the stockholders. Such determination shall be made, with respect to former directors and officers, by any person or persons having the authority to act on the matter on behalf of the Corporation. To the extent, however, that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

 

Section 8.4 Good Faith Defined . For purposes of any determination under Section 8.3, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful, if such person’s action is based on the records or books of account of the Corporation or another enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or another enterprise in the course of their duties, or on the advice of legal counsel for the Corporation or another enterprise or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or another enterprise. The provisions of this Section 8.4 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, as the case may be.

 

 

 

 

Section 8.5 Indemnification by a Court . Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 8.3, and notwithstanding the absence of any determination thereunder, any director or officer may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Nevada for indemnification to the extent otherwise permissible under Section 8.1 or Section 8.2. The basis of such indemnification by a court shall be a determination by such court that indemnification of the director or officer is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2, as the case may be. Neither a contrary determination in the specific case under Section 8.3 nor the absence of any determination thereunder shall be a defense to such application or create a presumption that the director or officer seeking indemnification has not met any applicable standard of conduct. Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 8.5 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application. If successful, in whole or in part, the director or officer seeking indemnification shall also be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such application.

 

Section 8.6 Expenses Payable in Advance . Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VIII. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.

 

Section 8.7 Nonexclusivity of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses . The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of the persons specified in Section 8.1 and Section 8.2 shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law. The provisions of this Article VIII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Section 8.1 or Section 8.2 but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to indemnify under the provisions of the NRS, or otherwise.

 

Section 8.8 Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was a director or officer of the Corporation serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VIII.

 

 

 

 

Section 8.9 Certain Definitions . For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors or officers, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

The term “another enterprise” as used in this Article VIII shall mean any other corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent. For purposes of this Article VIII, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VIII.

 

Section 8.10 Survival of Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses . The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

Section 8.11 Limitation on Indemnification . Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VIII to the contrary, except for proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification (which shall be governed by Section 8.5), the Corporation shall not be obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or personal or legal representatives) or advance expenses in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person unless such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 8.12 Indemnification of Employees and Agents . The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, provide rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to employees and agents of the Corporation similar to those conferred in this Article VIII to directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1 Acquisition of Controlling Interest Statute Opt–Out . The provisions of NRS 78.378 to 78.3793, inclusive, shall not apply to the Corporation or to an acquisition of a “controlling interest” (as defined in NRS 78.3785).

 

Section 9.2 Forum for Adjudication of Disputes . To the fullest extent permitted by law, and unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Eighth Judicial District Court of Clark County, Nevada, shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for each of the following: (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought in the name or right of the Corporation or on its behalf, (b) any action asserting a claim for breach of any fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (c) any action arising or asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of NRS Chapters 78 or 92A or any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, including, without limitation, any action to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of capital stock of the corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Section 9.2.

 

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 10.1 Amendments . These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting not less than two days prior to the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, these Bylaws may be amended or repealed in any respect, and new Bylaws may be adopted, in each case by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least fifty (50%) of the outstanding voting power of the Corporation, voting together as a single class.

 

 Section 10.2 Entire Board of Directors . As used in this Article X and in these Bylaws generally, the term “entire Board of Directors” means the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies.

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

The undersigned, as the duly elected Secretary of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Corporation”), does hereby certify that the Board of Directors of the Corporation adopted the foregoing Bylaws as of May 16, 2017.

 

   
   
  [______________], Secretary

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

30 Rockefeller Plaza 

New York, New York 10112-0015

212.653.8700 main 

212.653.8701 fax

www.sheppardmullin.com 

 

December 14, 2018

 

VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL  

Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 

1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039 

New York, New York 10020

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-1

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We are acting as counsel to Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with its registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-227772), as amended (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Act ”), relating to the proposed public offering of shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Shares ”), with a proposed maximum aggregate offering price of $9,343,750, including Shares issuable upon exercise of an option granted by the Company. The Shares will be sold by the Company pursuant to an underwriting agreement to be entered into by and between the Company and Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. as the representative of the several underwriters to be named therein (the “ Agreement ”). This opinion letter is furnished to you at your request to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. §229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.

 

In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed and relied upon the following:

 

the Registration Statement and the related prospectus included therein;

 

the form of Agreement;

 

the Articles of Incorporation of the Company in effect on the date hereof;

 

the Bylaws of the Company in effect on the date hereof;

 

the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing/ratifying the execution and delivery of the Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares, the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, and other actions with regard thereto; and

 

such other documents, records, certificates, memoranda and other instruments as we deem necessary as a basis for this opinion.

   

 

 

 

 

Page 2

 

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified or photocopy, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. As to any facts relevant to the opinions stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and others and of public officials.

 

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that following (i) execution and delivery by the Company of the Agreement, (ii) effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) issuance of the Shares pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, and (iv) receipt by the Company of the consideration for the Shares specified in the resolutions, the Shares will be duly authorized for issuance and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus which forms part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder or Item 509 of Regulation S-K.

 

We express no opinion as to matters governed by any laws other than the Nevada Revised Statutes.  No opinion is expressed herein with respect to the qualification of the Shares under the securities or blue sky laws of any state or any foreign jurisdiction.

 

This opinion letter is rendered to you solely for use in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares in accordance with the Registration Statement as of the date first written above and is not to be relied on for any other purpose. We disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances, events or developments that hereafter may be brought to our attention and that may alter, affect or modify the opinion expressed herein. Our opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion, whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the Company or the Shares.

 

  Respectfully submitted,
   
  /s/ Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
   
  SHEPPARD, MULLIN, RICHTER & HAMPTON LLP

 

- 2 -

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of this 1 st day of June 2017 (the “ Effective Date ”), by and between Hoth Theraputics, a Nevada corporation with offices at One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York, 10020 (the “ Corporation ”), and Robb Knie, an individual residing at 6 Horizon Road, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024 (the “ Executive ”), under the following circumstances:

 

RECITALS:

 

A.       The Corporation desires to secure the services of the Executive upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

 

B.       The Executive desires to render services to the Corporation upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth; and

 

C.       The Corporation and the Executive desire for this Agreement to constitute and embody their full and complete understanding and agreement with respect to the Executive’s employment by the Corporation.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties mutually agree as follows:

 

1.         Employment . The Corporation hereby employs the Executive and the Executive hereby accepts employment as an executive of the Corporation, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.         Duties . The Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, with such duties, responsibilities, and authority as are commensurate and consistent with his position, and such other duties, responsibilities and authority as may be, from time to time, reasonably assigned to him by the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) or Chairman of the Board of the Corporation. The Executive shall report directly to the Board of Directors of the Corporation. During the Term (as defined in Section 3), the Executive shall devote his full business time and efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder unless otherwise authorized by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the expenditure of reasonable amounts of time by the Executive for the making of passive personal investments, the conduct of private business affairs, and charitable and professional activities shall be allowed, provided such activities do not materially interfere with the services required to be rendered to the Corporation hereunder and do not violate the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 8 below. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive may invest or be involved with other ventures and investments, including intellectual property related ventures and investments, (hereafter “ Other Investments ”), so long as all Other Investments are disclosed to the Corporation and the Corporation determines that Executive’s involvement in any Other Investment does not contravene any provisions of this Agreement or will breach any of Executive’s duties to Company or its stockholders.

 

3.         Term of Employment . The term of this Agreement shall be for one (1) year (the “ Initial Term ”) and automatically be extended for additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “ Renewal Term ”) unless either party gives prior written notice of non-renewal to the other party no later than six (6) months prior to the expiration of the Initial Term (“ Non-Renewal Notice ”), or the then current Renewal Term, as the case may be. For purposes of this Agreement, the Initial Term and any Renewal Term are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Term .”

 

- 1 -

 

 

4.        Compensation of Executive .

 

(a)          The Corporation shall pay the Executive as compensation for his services hereunder, in equal semi-monthly or hi-weekly installments during the Term, the sum of $350,000 per annum (as in effect from time to time, the “ Base Salary ”), less such deductions as shall he required to he withheld by applicable law and regulations. The Corporation shall review the Base Salary on an annual basis and has the right but not the obligation to increase it, but has no right to decrease the .Base Salary.

 

(b)          In addition to the Base Salary set forth in Section 4(a) above, the Executive shall be entitled to receive an annual cash bonus (“ Annual Bonus ”) in an amount equal to up to one hundred (100%) percent of his then-current Base Salary if the Corporation meets or exceeds criteria adopted by the Board of Directors or if established by the Board of Directors, a Compensation Committee of the Board (either the Board of Directors or an established Compensation Committee hereinafter referred to as the “ Compensation Committee ”) for earning Bonuses, which criteria shall be adopted by the Compensation Committee annually after consultation with the Executive and which criteria must be reasonably likely to be attainable. Annual Bonuses shall be paid by the Corporation to the Executive promptly after the year end, it being understood that the Compensation Committee’s determinations concerning attainment of any financial targets associated with any bonus determination shall not be determined until following the completion of the Corporation’s annual audit, if any, but in no event later than April 15th of the year following the year for which it is being paid (and if the Executive was employed as of last day of the calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates, then the Executive shall be entitled to the Annual Bonus for such year, even if he is not employed by the Corporation on the date the Annual Bonus is paid for such last year). The Compensation Committee may provide for lesser or greater percentage Annual Bonus payments for Executive upon achievement of partial or additional criteria established or determined by the Compensation Committee from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive is employed upon expiration of the won of this Agreement, he shall be entitled to the Annual Bonus for such last year on a pro-rata basis through the last date of employment, even if he is not employed by the Corporation on the date the Annual Bonus is paid for such last year. In his sole discretion, the Executive may elect to receive such annual bonus in common stock of the Corporation at the basis determined by the Compensation Committee in good faith.

 

(c)          The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred or paid by the Executive in the course of his employment, consistent with the Corporation’s policy for reimbursement of expenses from time to time.

 

(d)          The Executive shall be entitled to participate in such pension, profit sharing, group insurance, hospitalization, and group health and benefit plans and all other benefits and plans, including perquisites, if any, as the Corporation provides to its senior executives, including group family health insurance coverage, which shall be paid by the Corporation (the “ Benefit Plans ”). If at any time during the Term, the Corporation does not provide its senior executives with health insurance (including hospitalization) under a Benefit Plan, Executive shall be entitled to secure such health insurance for himself and his immediate family (i.e., spouse and natural born children) and the Corporation shall reimburse Executive for the cost of such insurance promptly after payment by the Executive for such insurance. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive shall be entitled to secure health insurance from high quality companies such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United, or Emblem, and the ability to select a no or low deductible plan. If Executive secures such health insurance, such health insurance shall be deemed to be a Benefit Plan hereunder.

 

- 2 -

 

 

(e)         The Corporation shall execute and deliver in favor of the Executive an indemnification agreement on the same terms and conditions entered into with the other officers and directors of the Corporation. Such agreement shall provide for the indemnification of the Executive for the term of his employment and for a period of at least six (6) years thereafter. The Corporation shall maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance during the Term and for a period of at least six (6) years thereafter.

 

(f)          The Corporation shall also maintain (or hire, if applicable) a New York City based executive assistant to assist the Executive with his duties.

 

5.       Termination .

 

(a)         This Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the happening of any of the following events:

 

(i)           upon the Executive’s death:

 

(ii)          upon the Executive’s “Total Disability (as herein defined);

 

(iii)         upon the expiration of the Initial Term of this Agreement or any Renewal Term thereof, if either party has provided a timely Non-Renewal Notice in accordance with Section 3, above;

 

(iv)         at the Executive’s option, upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to the Corporation (other than under the circumstances set forth in Section 5(b)(viii));

 

(v)          at the Executive’s option, in the event of an act by the Corporation, defined in Section 5(c), below, as constituting “Good Reason” for termination by the Executive;

 

(vi)         at the Corporation’s option, in the event of an act or inaction by the Executive, defined in Section 5(d), below, as constituting “Cause” for termination by the Corporation;

 

(vii)        at the Corporation’s option, upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to the Executive, without Cause. For the purposes of clarity only, this includes any decision by the Corporation to remove Executive as CEO for any reason, other than for Cause and any decision by the Corporation not to renew Executive’s Employment Agreement; and

 

- 3 -

 

 

(viii)       at the Executive’s option, upon written notice to the Corporation at any time within forty (40) days of the consummation of a Change in Control Transaction.

 

(b)          For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be deemed to be suffering from a “ Total Disability ” if the Executive has failed to perform his regular and customary duties to the Corporation for a period of 180 days out of any 360-day period and if before the Executive has become “Rehabilitated” (as herein defined) a majority of the members of the Board, exclusive of the Executive, vote to determine that the Executive is mentally or physically incapable or unable to continue to perform such regular and customary duties of employment. As used herein, the term “ Rehabilitated ” shall mean such time as the Executive is willing, able, and commences to devote his time and energies to the affairs of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner that he did so prior to his Total Disability.

 

(c)          For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Good Reason ” shall mean that the Executive has resigned due to: (i) a material diminution of duties inconsistent with Executive’s title, authority, duties, and responsibilities (including, without limitation, a change in the chain of reporting); (ii) any relocation of the principal location of Executive’s employment outside of New York City without the Executive’s prior written consent; (iii) any material violation by the Corporation of its obligations (including, without limitation, its compensation obligations) under this Agreement; provided that the Executive has given written notice to the Corporation within ninety (90) days of Executive’s knowledge of the initial occurrence of such event, and the Corporation has failed to cure such acts within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice, if curable, and the Executive must then terminate his employment within thirty (30) days following the expiration of such cure period for the termination to be on account of Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Change in Control Transaction ” means the sale of the Corporation to an un-affiliated person or entity or group of un-affiliated persons or entities pursuant to which such party or parties acquire (i) shares of capital stock of the Corporation representing at least fifty percent (50%) of outstanding capital stock or sufficient to elect a majority of the Board or of the board of directors of the Corporation (whether by merger, consolidation, sale, or transfer of shares (other than a merger where the Corporation is the surviving corporation and the shareholders and directors of the Corporation prior to the merger constitute a majority of the shareholders and directors, respectively, of the surviving corporation (or its parent)) or (ii) all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets determined on a consolidated basis. Any equity grants issued to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be immediately vested upon consummation of a Change in Control Transaction.

 

(d)          For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean any material breach of this Agreement by Executive or material, gross, and willful misconduct on the part of the Executive in connection with his employment duties hereunder, in all cases that is not cured within fourteen (14) days after receipt of notice thereof (to the extent such breach is capable of being cured), or the Executive’s conviction of or entering of a guilty plea or a plea of no contest with respect to a felony or any crime involving fraud, larceny, or embezzlement resulting in material harm to the Corporation by the Executive.

 

- 4 -

 

 

6.       Effects of Termination .

 

Upon any termination of employment for any reason, whether by the Executive or the Corporation, the Executive shall be paid accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation pay through the date of termination and any other benefits accrued to him under any Benefit Plans outstanding at the date of termination and the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred on or prior to such date, all paid as promptly as practicable and in accordance with applicable law, and the Executive shall have any conversion rights available under the Corporation’s Benefit Plans and as otherwise provided by law, including the Consolidated Orrunbus Budget Reconciliation Act and any similar state law or regulation (collectively, “COBRA Rights”).

 

The following provisions apply to specified termination events. Any Annual Bonus (including any pro-rated Annual Bonus) payable pursuant to the following provisions shall be paid at the same time that it would have been paid if the Executive’s employment had not terminated.

 

(a)          Upon termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) (Death) or (ii) (Disability), in addition to the accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation pay through the date of death or Total Disability and any other benefits accrued to him under any Benefit Plans outstanding at such time and the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to such date, the Executive or his estate or beneficiaries, as applicable, shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) twelve (12) months’ Base Salary at the then current rate, payable in the ordinary course of the Company’s payroll procedures, less withholding of applicable taxes; (ii) if the Executive elects continuation coverage for group health coverage pursuant to COBRA Rights, then for a period of twelve (12) months following the Executive’s termination he will be obligated to pay only the portion of the full COBRA Rights cost of the coverage equal to an active employee’s share of premiums (if any) for coverage for the respective plan year and, to the extent required by any applicable nondiscrimination rules, the Company’s share of such premiums (the “Employer-Provided COBRA Premium”) shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive; and (iii) payment on a pro-rated basis of any Annual Bonus or other payments earned in connection with any bonus plan to which the Executive was a participant as of the date of death or Total Disability. This Section 6(a) shall not terminate or otherwise interfere with any right to disability payments.

 

(b)         Upon termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 5(a)(iv) (Voluntary Termination by Executive), 5(a)(v) (Termination for Good Reason), 5(a)(vii) (Termination by the Company Without Cause) or 5(a)(viii) (Termination Within Thirty Days of a Change in Control), in addition to the accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation through the date of termination and any other benefits accrued to him under any Benefit Plans outstanding at such time and the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to such date, the Executive shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) twelve (12) months’ Base Salary at the then current rate, payable in the ordinary course of the Company’s payroll procedures, less withholding of applicable taxes; (ii) if the Executive elects continuation coverage for group health coverage pursuant to COBRA Rights, then for a period of twelve (12) months following the Executive’s termination he will be obligated to pay only the portion of the full COBRA Rights cost of the coverage equal to an active employee’s share of premiums (if any) for coverage for the respective plan year and, to the extent required by any applicable nondiscrimination rules, the Employer-Provided COBRA Premium shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive; and (iii) payment on a pro-rated basis of any Annual Bonus or other payments earned in connection with any bonus plan to which the Executive was a participant as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment. In addition, any equity grants to Executive shall be immediately vested upon termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 5(a)(v) or 5(a)(vii).

 

- 5 -

 

 

(c)          Upon termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section (vi) (Termination by the Company for Cause), in addition to the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to such date, the Executive shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) accrued and unpaid Base Salary and vacation pay through the date of termination, less withholding of applicable taxes; and (ii) if the Executive elects continuation coverage for group health coverage pursuant to COBRA Rights, then, for a period of one (1) month following the Executive’s termination, he will be obligated to pay only the portion of the full COBRA Rights cost of the coverage equal to an active employee’s share of premiums (if any) for coverage for one month of the respective plan year and, to the extent required by any applicable nondiscrimination rules, the Employer-Provided COBRA Premium shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive.

 

(d)         Any payments required to be made hereunder by the Corporation to the Executive shall continue to the Executive’s beneficiaries in the event of his death until paid in full.

 

7.        Vacations . The Executive shall be entitled to a vacation of three (3) weeks per year, during which period his Base Salary shall be paid in full. The Executive shall take his vacation at such time or times as the Executive and the Corporation shall determine is mutually convenient. Any vacation not taken in one ( I) year shall accrue, up to a maximum of six (6) weeks of vacation, and shall carry over to the subsequent year.

 

8.        Disclosure of Confidential Information . The Executive recognizes, acknowledges and agrees that he has had and will continue to have access to secret and confidential information regarding the Corporation, including but not limited to, its products, formulae, patents, sources of supply, customer dealings, data, know-how, and business plans, provided such information is not in or does not hereafter become part of the public domain, or become known to others through no fault of the Executive. The Executive acknowledges that such information is of great value to the Corporation, is the sole property of the Corporation, and has been and will be acquired by him in confidence. In consideration of the obligations undertaken by the Corporation herein, the Executive will not, at any time, during or after his employment hereunder, reveal, divulge, or make known to any person any information acquired by the Executive during the course of his employment, which is treated as confidential by the Corporation, and not otherwise in the public domain. The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder. All references to the Corporation in Section 8 and Section 9 hereof shall include any subsidiary of the Corporation.

 

9.        Section 409A .

 

(a)          The provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and any final regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (“ Section 409A ”) and shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A. The Corporation and Executive agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions that are necessary, appropriate, or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Executive under Section 409A.

 

- 6 -

 

 

(b)          To the extent that Executive will be reimbursed for costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, (i) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year; provided that the foregoing clause (ii) shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect; and (iii) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which Executive incurred the expense.

 

(c)          A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination constitutes a “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement references to a “termination,” “termination of employment,” or like terms shall mean Separation from Service.

 

(d)          Each installment payable hereunder shall constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b), including Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Each payment that is made within the terms of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) is intended to meet the “short-term deferral” rule. Each other payment is intended to be a payment upon an involuntary termination from service and payable pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), et seq., to the maximum extent permitted by that regulation, with any amount that is not exempt from Code Section 409A being subject to Code Section 409A.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of Executive’s termination, then only that portion of the severance and benefits payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, if any, and any other severance payments or separation benefits that may be considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits”), which (when considered together) do not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined herein) may be made within the first six (6) months following Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Any portion of the Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits in excess of the Section 409A Limit otherwise due to Executive on or within the six (6) month period following Executive’s termination will accrue during such six (6) month period and will become payable in one lump sum cash payment on the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment. All subsequent Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive dies following termination but prior to the six (6) month anniversary of Executive’s termination date, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of Executive’s death and all other Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.

 

- 7 -

 

 

(f)          For purposes of this Agreement, “Section 409A Limit” will mean a sum equal (x) to the amounts payable prior to March 15 following the year in which Executive terminations plus (y) the lesser of two (2) times: (i) Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Executive during the Corporation’s taxable year preceding the Corporation’s taxable year of Executive’s termination of employment as determined under Treasury Regulation I .409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any IRS guidance issued with respect thereto; or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated.

 

10.      Miscellaneous .

 

(a)          The Executive acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him under the provisions of this Agreement are of a special, unique, and extraordinary character and that it would be difficult or impossible to replace such services. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that any breach or threatened breach by him of Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement shall entitle the Corporation, in addition to all other legal remedies available to it. to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to seek to enjoin such breach or threatened breach. The parties understand and intend that each restriction agreed to by the Executive hereinabove shall be construed as separable and divisible from every other restriction, that the unenforceability of any restriction shall not limit the enforceability, in whole or in part, of any other restriction, and that one or more or all of such restrictions may be enforced in whole or in part as the circumstances warrant. In the event that any restriction in this Agreement is more restrictive than permitted by law in the jurisdiction in which the Corporation seeks enforcement thereof, such restriction shall he limited to the extent permitted by law. The remedy of injunctive relief herein set forth shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights or remedies that the Corporation may have at law or in equity.

 

(b)          Neither the Executive nor the Corporation may assign or delegate any of their rights or duties under this Agreement without the express written consent of the other; provided however that the Corporation shall have the right to delegate its obligation of payment of all sums due to the Executive hereunder, provided that such delegation shall not relieve the Corporation of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

(c)          This Agreement constitutes and embodies the full and complete understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the Executive’s employment by the Corporation, supersedes, as of the Effective Date, all prior understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the Executive and the Corporation with respect to such employment, including but not limited to, the Prior Agreement, and shall not be amended, modified, or changed except by an instrument in writing executed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or partial invalidity of one or more provisions of this Agreement shall not invalidate any other provision of this Agreement. No waiver by either party of any provision or condition to be performed shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior or subsequent time.

 

- 8 -

 

 

(d)          This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon and enforceable against, the parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs, beneficiaries, and permitted assigns.

 

(e)          The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(f)           All notices, requests, demands, and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by private overnight mail service (e.g. Federal Express) to the party at the address set forth above or to such other address as either party may hereafter give notice of in accordance with the provisions hereof. Notices shall be deemed given on the sooner of the date actually received or the third business day after sending.

 

(g)          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without reference to principles of conflicts of laws and each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in the State of New York.

 

(h)          This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one of the same instrument. The parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

CORPORATION:

 

Hoth Therapeutics

 

By:  

 

Title: Duly Authorized Representative of the Board & on Behalf of Hoth Therapeutics

 

EXECUTIVE  

 

Robb Knie

 

- 9 -

Exhibit 10.2

 

AMENDMENT TO

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment (the “ Amendment ”) to the Employment Agreement dated as of August 4, 2017 is entered into between by and between Hoth Therapeutics, a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”) and Robb Knie (the “ Executive ”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated as of June 1, 2017 (the “ Agreement ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to make certain amendments to the Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the above, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.           Any capitalized but undefined terms referenced herein shall bear such meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.

 

2.           Section 4 of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

(a)       The Corporation shall pay the Executive as compensation for his services hereunder, in equal semi-monthly or bi-weekly installments during the Term, the sum of $250,00 per annum (as in effect from time to time, the “Base Salary”), less such deductions as shall be required to be withheld by applicable law and regulations. The Corporation shall review the Base Salary on an annual basis and has the right but not the obligation to increase it, but has no right to decrease the Base Salary.

 

(b)       The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred or paid by the Executive in the course of his employment, consistent with the Corporation’s policy for reimbursement of expenses from time to time.

 

(c)       The Executive shall be entitled to participate in such pension, profit sharing, group insurance, hospitalization, and group health and benefit plans and all other benefits and plans, including perquisites, if any, as the Corporation provides to its senior executives, including group family health insurance coverage, which shall be paid by the Corporation (the “ Benefit Plans ”). If at any time during the Term, the Corporation does not provide its senior executives with health insurance (including hospitalization) under a Benefit Plan, Executive shall be entitled to secure such health insurance for himself and his immediate family (i.e., spouse and natural born children) and the Corporation shall reimburse Executive for the cost of such insurance promptly after payment the Executive for such insurance. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive shall be entitled to secure health insurance from high quality companies such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United, or Emblem, and the ability to select a no or low deductible plan. If Executive secures such health insurance, such health insurance shall be deemed to be a Benefit Plan hereunder.

 

(d)       The Corporation shall execute and deliver in favor of the Executive an indemnification agreement on the same terms and conditions entered into with the other officers and directors of the Corporation. Such agreement shall provide for the indemnification of the Executive for the term of his employment and for a period of at least six (6) years thereafter. The Corporation shall maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance during the Term and for a period of at least six (6) years thereafter.

 

(e)       The Corporation shall also maintain (or hire, if applicable) a New York City based executed assistant to assist the Executive with his duties.

 

- 1 -

 

 

3.           Except as set forth herein, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain unamended and in full force and effect.

 

4.           This Amendment may be executed in one or more counterparts, in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. A facsimile or pdf transmission of this signed Amendment shall be legal and binding on all parties hereto.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

- 2 -

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly caused this Amendment to be executed and delivered on the date first written above.

 

  HOTH THERAPEUTICS
       
  By:    
  Name: Anthony Hayes
  Title: Chairman of the Compensation Committee

 

  EXECUTIVE
     
  By:  
    Robb Knie

 

- 3 -

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

 

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of this [ ] day of [ ] 201[ ] (the “ Effective Date 1 ), by and between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation with offices at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039, New York, NY 10020 (the “ Corporation ”), and Robb Knie, an individual residing at 6 Horizon Road, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024 (the “ Executive ”), under the following circumstances:

 

RECITALS:

 

A.          The Corporation desires to secure the services of the Executive upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

 

B.          The Executive desires to render services to the Corporation upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth;

 

C.          The Corporation and the Executive desire for this Agreement to constitute and embody their full and complete understanding and agreement with respect to the Executive’s employment by the Corporation;

 

D.          The Corporation and the Executive entered into that certain Employment Agreement dated June 1, 2017 as amended on August 4, 2017 and August 4, 2018 (the “Original Employment Agreement”); and

 

E.          The Corporation and the Executive desire to void both the Original Employment Agreement and enter into this Agreement set forth below.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties mutually agree as follows:

 

1.           Employment . The Corporation hereby employs the Executive and the Executive hereby accepts employment as an executive of the Corporation, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

 

2.           Duties . The Executive shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, with such duties, responsibilities, and authority as are commensurate and consistent with his position, and such other duties, responsibilities and authority as may be, from time to time, reasonably assigned to him by the Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) or Chairman of the Board of the Corporation. The Executive shall report directly to the Chairman of the Board of the Corporation. During the Term (as defined in Section 3), the Executive shall devote his full business time and efforts to the performance of his duties hereunder unless otherwise authorized by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the expenditure of reasonable amounts of time by the Executive for the making of passive personal investments, the conduct of private business affairs, and charitable and professional activities shall be allowed, provided such activities do not materially interfere with the services required to be rendered to the Corporation hereunder and do not violate the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 8 below. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive may invest or be involved with other ventures and investments, including intellectual property related ventures and investments, (hereafter “ Other Investments ”), so long as all Other Investments are disclosed to the Corporation and the Corporation determines that Executive’s involvement in any Other Investment does not contravene any provisions of this Agreement or will breach any of Executive’s duties to Company or its stockholders.

 

 

1 Insert closing date of the Company’s initial public offering of its securities.

 

 - 1 -

 

 

3.            Term of Employment . The term of this Agreement shall commence upon the Effective Date and shall continue for one (1) year (the “ Initial Term ”) from such date and shall automatically be extended for additional terms of one (1) year each (each a “ Renewal Term ”) unless either party gives prior written notice of non-renewal to the other party no later than six (6) months prior to the expiration of the Initial Term (“ Non-Renewal Notice ”), or the then current Renewal Term, as the case may be. For purposes of this Agreement, the Initial Term and any Renewal Term are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Term .”

 

4.            Compensation of Executive .

 

(a)          The Corporation shall pay the Executive as compensation for his services hereunder, in equal semi-monthly or bi-weekly installments during the Term, the sum of $350,000 per annum (as in effect from time to time, the “Base Salary”), less such deductions as shall be required to be withheld by applicable law and regulations. The Corporation shall review the Base Salary on an annual basis and has the right but not the obligation to increase it, but has no right to decrease the Base Salary.

 

(b)          In addition to the Base Salary set forth in Section 4(a) above, the Executive shall be entitled to receive an annual cash bonus (“ Annual Bonus ”) in an amount up to $100,000 if the Corporation meets or exceeds criteria adopted by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “ Compensation Committee ”) for earning Bonuses, which criteria shall be adopted by the Compensation Committee annually after consultation with the Executive and which criteria must be reasonably likely to be attainable. Annual Bonuses shall be paid by the Corporation to the Executive promptly after the year end, it being understood that the Compensation Committee’s determinations concerning attainment of any financial targets associated with any bonus determination shall not be determined until following the completion of the Corporation’s annual audit, if any, but in no event later than April 15 th of the year following the year for which it is being paid (and if the Executive was employed as of last day of the calendar year to which such Annual Bonus relates, then the Executive shall be entitled to the Annual Bonus for such year, even if he is not employed by the Corporation on the date the Annual Bonus is paid for such last year). The Compensation Committee may provide for lesser or greater percentage Annual Bonus payments for Executive upon achievement of partial or additional criteria established or determined by the Compensation Committee from time to time. For the avoidance of doubt, if Executive is employed upon expiration of the term of this Agreement, he shall be entitled to the Annual Bonus for such last year on a pro-rata basis through the last date of employment, even if he is not employed by the Corporation on the date the Annual Bonus is paid for such last year. In his sole discretion, the Executive may elect to receive such annual bonus in common stock of the Corporation at the basis determined by the Compensation Committee in good faith.

 

(c)          The Corporation shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses actually incurred or paid by the Executive in the course of his employment, consistent with the Corporation’s policy for reimbursement of expenses from time to time.

 

 - 2 -

 

 

(d)          The Executive shall be entitled to participate in such pension, profit sharing, group insurance, hospitalization, and group health and benefit plans and all other benefits and plans, including perquisites, if any, as the Corporation provides to its senior executives, including group family health insurance coverage, which shall be paid by the Corporation (the “ Benefit Plans ”). If at any time during the Term, the Corporation does not provide its senior executives with health insurance (including hospitalization) under a Benefit Plan, Executive shall be entitled to secure such health insurance for himself and his immediate family (i.e., spouse and natural born children) and the Corporation shall reimburse Executive for the cost of such insurance promptly after payment by the Executive for such insurance. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive shall be entitled to secure health insurance from high quality companies such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United, or Emblem, and the ability to select a no or low deductible plan. If Executive secures such health insurance, such health insurance shall be deemed to be a Benefit Plan hereunder.

 

(e)          The Corporation shall execute and deliver in favor of the Executive an indemnification agreement on the same terms and conditions entered into with the other officers and directors of the Corporation. Such agreement shall provide for the indemnification of the Executive for the term of his employment and for a period of at least six (6) years thereafter. The Corporation shall maintain directors’ and officers’ insurance during the Term and for a period of at least six (6) years thereafter.

 

(f)          The Corporation shall also maintain (or hire, if applicable) a New York City based executive assistant to assist the Executive with his duties.

 

5.            Termination .

 

(a)          This Agreement and the Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon the happening of any of the following events:

 

(i)          upon the Executive’s death:

 

(ii)         upon the Executive’s “Total Disability (as herein defined);

 

(iii)        upon the expiration of the Initial Term of this Agreement or any Renewal Term thereof, if either party has provided a timely Non-Renewal Notice in accordance with Section 3, above;

 

(iv)        at the Executive’s option, upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to the Corporation (other than under the circumstances set forth in Section 5(b)(viii));

 

(v)         at the Executive’s option, in the event of an act by the Corporation, defined in Section 5(c), below, as constituting “Good Reason” for termination by the Executive;

 

 - 3 -

 

 

(vi)        at the Corporation’s option, in the event of an act or inaction by the Executive, defined in Section 5(d), below, as constituting “Cause” for termination by the Corporation;

 

(vii)       at the Corporation’s option, upon ninety (90) days prior written notice to the Executive, without Cause. For the purposes of clarity only, this includes any decision by the Corporation to remove Executive as CEO for any reason, other than for Cause and any decision by the Corporation not to renew Executive’s Employment Agreement; and

 

(viii)      at the Executive’s option, upon written notice to the Corporation at any time within forty (40) days of the consummation of a Change in Control Transaction.

 

(b)          For purposes of this Agreement, the Executive shall be deemed to be suffering from a “ Total Disability ” if the Executive has failed to perform his regular and customary duties to the Corporation for a period of 180 days out of any 360-day period and if before the Executive has become “Rehabilitated” (as herein defined) a majority of the members of the Board, exclusive of the Executive, vote to determine that the Executive is mentally or physically incapable or unable to continue to perform such regular and customary duties of employment. As used herein, the term “ Rehabilitated ” shall mean such time as the Executive is willing, able, and commences to devote his time and energies to the affairs of the Corporation to the extent and in the manner that he did so prior to his Total Disability.

 

(c)          For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Good Reason ” shall mean that the Executive has resigned due to: (i) a material diminution of duties inconsistent with Executive’s title, authority, duties, and responsibilities (including, without limitation, a change in the chain of reporting); (ii) any relocation of the principal location of Executive’s employment outside of New York City without the Executive’s prior written consent; (iii) any material violation by the Corporation of its obligations (including, without limitation, its compensation obligations) under this Agreement; provided that the Executive has given written notice to the Corporation within ninety (90) days of Executive’s knowledge of the initial occurrence of such event, and the Corporation has failed to cure such acts within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice, if curable, and the Executive must then terminate his employment within thirty (30) days following the expiration of such cure period for the termination to be on account of Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Change in Control Transaction ” means the sale of the Corporation to an un-affiliated person or entity or group of un-affiliated persons or entities pursuant to which such party or parties acquire (i) shares of capital stock of the Corporation representing at least fifty percent (50%) of outstanding capital stock or sufficient to elect a majority of the Board or of the board of directors of the Corporation (whether by merger, consolidation, sale, or transfer of shares (other than a merger where the Corporation is the surviving corporation and the shareholders and directors of the Corporation prior to the merger constitute a majority of the shareholders and directors, respectively, of the surviving corporation (or its parent)) or (ii) all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets determined on a consolidated basis. Any equity grants issued to the Executive pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be immediately vested upon consummation of a Change in Control Transaction.

 

 - 4 -

 

 

(d)          For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Cause” shall mean any material breach of this Agreement by Executive or material, gross, and willful misconduct on the part of the Executive in connection with his employment duties hereunder, in all cases that is not cured within fourteen (14) days after receipt of notice thereof (to the extent such breach is capable of being cured), or the Executive’s conviction of or entering of a guilty plea or a plea of no contest with respect to a felony or any crime involving fraud, larceny, or embezzlement resulting in material harm to the Corporation by the Executive.

 

6.           Effects of Termination .

 

Upon any termination of employment for any reason, whether by the Executive or the Corporation, the Executive shall be paid accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation pay through the date of termination and any other benefits accrued to him under any Benefit Plans outstanding at the date of termination and the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred on or prior to such date, all paid as promptly as practicable and in accordance with applicable law, and the Executive shall have any conversion rights available under the Corporation’s Benefit Plans and as otherwise provided by law, including the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act and any similar state law or regulation (collectively, “COBRA Rights”).

 

The following provisions apply to specified termination events. Any Annual Bonus (including any pro-rated Annual Bonus) payable pursuant to the following provisions shall be paid at the same time that it would have been paid if the Executive’s employment had not terminated.

 

(a)          Upon termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) (Death) or (ii) (Disability), in addition to the accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation pay through the date of death or Total Disability and any other benefits accrued to him under any Benefit Plans outstanding at such time and the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to such date, the Executive or his estate or beneficiaries, as applicable, shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) twelve (12) months’ Base Salary at the then current rate, payable in a lump sum, less withholding of applicable taxes, within thirty (30) days of the date of termination; (ii) if the Executive elects continuation coverage for group health coverage pursuant to COBRA Rights, then for a period of twelve (12) months following the Executive’s termination he will be obligated to pay only the portion of the full COBRA Rights cost of the coverage equal to an active employee’s share of premiums (if any) for coverage for the respective plan year and, to the extent required by any applicable nondiscrimination rules, the Company’s share of such premiums (the “Employer-Provided COBRA Premium”) shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive; and (iii) payment on a pro-rated basis of any Annual Bonus or other payments earned in connection with any bonus plan to which the Executive was a participant as of the date of death or Total Disability. This Section 6(a) shall not terminate or otherwise interfere with any right to disability payments.

 

(b)          Upon termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 5(a)(iv) (Voluntary Termination by Executive), 5(a)(v) (Termination for Good Reason), 5(a)(vii) (Termination by the Company Without Cause) or 5(a)(viii) (Termination Within Thirty Days of a Change in Control), in addition to the accrued but unpaid compensation and vacation through the date of termination and any other benefits accrued to him under any Benefit Plans outstanding at such time and the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to such date, the Executive shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) twelve (12) months’ Base Salary at the then current rate, to be paid in a single lump sum payment not later than thirty (30) days following such termination, less withholding of all applicable taxes; (ii) if the Executive elects continuation coverage for group health coverage pursuant to COBRA Rights, then for a period of twelve (12) months following the Executive’s termination he will be obligated to pay only the portion of the full COBRA Rights cost of the coverage equal to an active employee’s share of premiums (if any) for coverage for the respective plan year and, to the extent required by any applicable nondiscrimination rules, the Employer-Provided COBRA Premium shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive; and (iii) payment on a pro-rated basis of any Annual Bonus or other payments earned in connection with any bonus plan to which the Executive was a participant as of the date of the Executive’s termination of employment. In addition, any equity grants to Executive shall be immediately vested upon termination of Executive’s employment pursuant to Section 5(a)(v) or 5(a)(vii).

 

 - 5 -

 

 

(c)          Upon termination of the Executive’s employment pursuant to Section (vi) (Termination by the Company for Cause), in addition to the reimbursement of documented, unreimbursed expenses incurred prior to such date, the Executive shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) accrued and unpaid Base Salary and vacation pay through the date of termination, less withholding of applicable taxes; and (ii) if the Executive elects continuation coverage for group health coverage pursuant to COBRA Rights, then, for a period of one (1) month following the Executive’s termination, he will be obligated to pay only the portion of the full COBRA Rights cost of the coverage equal to an active employee’s share of premiums (if any) for coverage for one month of the respective plan year and, to the extent required by any applicable nondiscrimination rules, the Employer-Provided COBRA Premium shall be treated as taxable income to the Executive.

 

(d)          Any payments required to be made hereunder by the Corporation to the Executive shall continue to the Executive’s beneficiaries in the event of his death until paid in full.

 

7.           Vacations . The Executive shall be entitled to a vacation of three (3) weeks per year, during which period his Base Salary shall be paid in full. The Executive shall take his vacation at such time or times as the Executive and the Corporation shall determine is mutually convenient. Any vacation not taken in one (1) year shall accrue, up to a maximum of six (6) weeks of vacation, and shall carry over to the subsequent year.

 

8.           Disclosure of Confidential Information . The Executive recognizes, acknowledges and agrees that he has had and will continue to have access to secret and confidential information regarding the Corporation, including but not limited to, its products, formulae, patents, sources of supply, customer dealings, data, know-how, and business plans, provided such information is not in or does not hereafter become part of the public domain, or become known to others through no fault of the Executive. The Executive acknowledges that such information is of great value to the Corporation, is the sole property of the Corporation, and has been and will be acquired by him in confidence. In consideration of the obligations undertaken by the Corporation herein, the Executive will not, at any time, during or after his employment hereunder, reveal, divulge, or make known to any person any information acquired by the Executive during the course of his employment, which is treated as confidential by the Corporation, and not otherwise in the public domain. The provisions of this Section 8 shall survive the termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder. All references to the Corporation in Section 8 and Section 9 hereof shall include any subsidiary of the Corporation.

 

 - 6 -

 

 

9.           Section 409A .

 

(a)          The provisions of this Agreement are intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and any final regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder (“ Section 409A ”) and shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A. The Corporation and Executive agree to work together in good faith to consider amendments to this Agreement and to take such reasonable actions that are necessary, appropriate, or desirable to avoid imposition of any additional tax or income recognition prior to actual payment to Executive under Section 409A.

 

(b)          To the extent that Executive will be reimbursed for costs and expenses or in-kind benefits, except as otherwise permitted by Section 409A, (i) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits, provided during any taxable year shall not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, in any other taxable year; provided that the foregoing clause (ii) shall not be violated with regard to expenses reimbursed under any arrangement covered by Section 105(b) of the Code solely because such expenses are subject to a limit related to the period the arrangement is in effect; and (iii) such payments shall be made on or before the last day of the taxable year following the taxable year in which Executive incurred the expense.

 

(c)          A termination of employment shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of this Agreement providing for the payment of any amounts or benefits upon or following a termination of employment unless such termination constitutes a “Separation from Service” within the meaning of Section 409A and, for purposes of any such provision of this Agreement references to a “termination,” “termination of employment,” or like terms shall mean Separation from Service.

 

(d)          Each installment payable hereunder shall constitute a separate payment for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b), including Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b)(2)(iii). Each payment that is made within the terms of the “short-term deferral” rule set forth in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) is intended to meet the “short-term deferral” rule. Each other payment is intended to be a payment upon an involuntary termination from service and payable pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), et seq., to the maximum extent permitted by that regulation, with any amount that is not exempt from Code Section 409A being subject to Code Section 409A.

 

(e)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A at the time of Executive’s termination, then only that portion of the severance and benefits payable to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, if any, and any other severance payments or separation benefits that may be considered deferred compensation under Section 409A (together, the “Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits”), which (when considered together) do not exceed the Section 409A Limit (as defined herein) may be made within the first six (6) months following Executive’s termination of employment in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Any portion of the Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits in excess of the Section 409A Limit otherwise due to Executive on or within the six (6) month period following Executive’s termination will accrue during such six (6) month period and will become payable in one lump sum cash payment on the date six (6) months and one (1) day following the date of Executive’s termination of employment. All subsequent Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits, if any, will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive dies following termination but prior to the six (6) month anniversary of Executive’s termination date, then any payments delayed in accordance with this paragraph will be payable in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable after the date of Executive’s death and all other Deferred Compensation Separation Benefits will be payable in accordance with the payment schedule applicable to each payment or benefit.

 

 - 7 -

 

 

(f)          For purposes of this Agreement, “Section 409A Limit” will mean a sum equal (x) to the amounts payable prior to March 15 following the year in which Executive terminations plus (y) the lesser of two (2) times: (i) Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay paid to Executive during the Corporation’s taxable year preceding the Corporation’s taxable year of Executive’s termination of employment as determined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii)(A)(1) and any IRS guidance issued with respect thereto; or (ii) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the year in which Executive’s employment is terminated.

 

10.           Miscellaneous .

 

(a)          The Executive acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him under the provisions of this Agreement are of a special, unique, and extraordinary character and that it would be difficult or impossible to replace such services. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that any breach or threatened breach by him of Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement shall entitle the Corporation, in addition to all other legal remedies available to it, to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to seek to enjoin such breach or threatened breach. The parties understand and intend that each restriction agreed to by the Executive hereinabove shall be construed as separable and divisible from every other restriction, that the unenforceability of any restriction shall not limit the enforceability, in whole or in part, of any other restriction, and that one or more or all of such restrictions may be enforced in whole or in part as the circumstances warrant. In the event that any restriction in this Agreement is more restrictive than permitted by law in the jurisdiction in which the Corporation seeks enforcement thereof, such restriction shall be limited to the extent permitted by law. The remedy of injunctive relief herein set forth shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights or remedies that the Corporation may have at law or in equity.

 

(b)          Neither the Executive nor the Corporation may assign or delegate any of their rights or duties under this Agreement without the express written consent of the other; provided however that the Corporation shall have the right to delegate its obligation of payment of all sums due to the Executive hereunder, provided that such delegation shall not relieve the Corporation of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

 - 8 -

 

 

(c)          This Agreement constitutes and embodies the full and complete understanding and agreement of the parties with respect to the Executive’s employment by the Corporation, supersedes, as of the Effective Date, all prior understandings and agreements, whether oral or written, between the Executive and the Corporation with respect to such employment, including but not limited to, the Prior Agreement, and shall not be amended, modified, or changed except by an instrument in writing executed by the party to be charged. The invalidity or partial invalidity of one or more provisions of this Agreement shall not invalidate any other provision of this Agreement. No waiver by either party of any provision or condition to be performed shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any prior or subsequent time.

 

(d)          This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, be binding upon and enforceable against, the parties hereto and their respective successors, heirs, beneficiaries, and permitted assigns.

 

(e)          The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

(f)          All notices, requests, demands, and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered, sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by private overnight mail service (e.g. Federal Express) to the party at the address set forth above or to such other address as either party may hereafter give notice of in accordance with the provisions hereof. Notices shall be deemed given on the sooner of the date actually received or the third business day after sending.

 

(g)          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without reference to principles of conflicts of laws and each of the parties hereto irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal and state courts located in the State of New York.

 

(h)          This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one of the same instrument. The parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date.

 

(i)          The Corporation and the Executive agree that both the Original Employment Agreement is null and void and that this Agreement governs Executive’s employment.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 - 9 -

 

 

[Execution Page for Employment Agreement] 

   
CORPORATION:  
   
Holt Therapeutics, Inc.  
   
By:    
   
Title: Duly Authorized Chairman of the Compensation Committee
   
EXECUTIVE:  
   

 

 - 10 -

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

Sublicense Agreement

 

THIS EXCLUSIVE SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is made as of May 26, 2017 (the “Effective Date”) by and between Chelexa BioSciences, Inc., with an address at 275 Grove Street, Suite 2-400, Auburndale, MA 02466 (“Chelexa”) and Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. with an address at 6 Horizon Road, Suite 1903, Fort Lee, New Jersey 07024 (‘·Hoth” ).

 

Recitals

 

WHEREAS the University of Cincinnati, a state institution of higher education organized under Section 3361 of the Ohio Revised Code, having an address at 51 Goodman Dr., Suite 240, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0829, (·’UC”) owns all right, title, and interest in and to certain Invent.,ion Rights (as defined herein);

 

WHEREAS UC granted to Chelexa an exclusive license to make use, have made, import, offer for sale, sell, and sublicense certain Licensed Products within the Territory in the Field (as each of those terms are defined herein) (the “UC License”);

 

WHEREAS Hoth desires to sublicense, on an exclusive basis, Chelexa’s rights to the Licensed Products; and

 

WHEREAS Chelexa desires to grant to Hoth an exclusive sublicense to Chelexa’s rights to the Licensed Products.

 

In consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Chelexa and Hoth (individually referred to as a “Party” and collectively referred to as the “Parties”) hereto agree to the following terms and conditions:

 

Article 1. Definitions

 

For all purposes of this Agreement the following terms, as used herein, will have the meanings specified below:

 

1.1. “Affiliate’’ means any corporation or other business entity that is owned and/or controlled by Hoth. Unless otherwise specified, the term Hoth includes Affiliates.

 

1.2. ·’Invention” means any innovation, improvement, development, discovery, and information relating thereto, whether or not written or otherwise fixed in any form or medium, regardless of the media on which it is contained and whether or not patentable or copyrightable as described in UC Disclosure # I 08-06 7, “Use of Zinc Chelators to Inhibit Staphylococcal Biofilm Formation.”

 

1.3. Patent Rights” mean s any patents and patent applications based on the Invention, and any foreign counterparts thereof, as well as all continuations, continuations-in-part, divisions, and renewals thereof, all patents which may be granted thereon, and all reissues, reexaminations, extensions, patents of additions and patents of importation thereof, including specifically the following issued patents and pending patent applications:

 

 - 1 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

UC  

Family Number   

Jurisdiction   Serial#   Title   Notes  
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]
[***] [***] [***] [***] [***]

 

1.4. “Know-how” means any and all proprietary information, methods, processes, techniques and data, which are necessary or useful for the manufacture, use or sale of any Licensed Product (as defined below) and which comprise Confidential Information (as defined herein in Article 10, below).

 

1.5. “Invention Rights”‘ means collectively and individually Patent Rights and Know-How.

 

1.6. ·’Licensed Product” means any and all products and processes, (i) in the jurisdiction where such products and processes are being manufactured, used, offered for sale, sold or imported which could not be manufactured, used, offered for sale, sold or imported without infringing one or more claims of the Patent Rights, or (ii) are manufactured, used or sold, in whole or in part, through the use of the Invention Right s.

 

 - 2 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

1.7. “Net Sales” means the aggregate gross revenues derived by Hoth and its sublicensees from the sale of the Licensed Products to, and practice of the Licensed Product for, an unaffiliated third party in an arm’s length transaction, less credits granted on account of price adjustments, recalls, rejections or return of items previously sold, and excises, sales taxes, duties or other taxes imposed upon and paid with respect to such sales.

 

1.8. ·’Non-Royalty Sublicense Income” means sublicense issue fees, sublicense maintenance fees, sublicense milestone payments, and similar non-royalty payments made by sublicensee to Hoth on account of sublicenses pursuant to this Agreement.

 

1.9. “Field” means use of the Licensed Products for all indications in man and specifically excluding veterinary uses.

 

1.10. ‘‘Territory” means inclusive of all global commercial markets.

 

1.11. “Term” means the period beginning on the Effective Date and extending to the earlier of May 31, 2025 or the last to expire patent in the Patent Rights. Hoth has first right of refusal to renew “Term” if Hoth so decides.

 

1.12. “Fiscal Year” means the twelve (12) month period from January I to December 31.

 

1.13. “Calendar Quarter” means the three (3) months ending on the last day of March, June, September and December of each calendar year as defined in Fiscal Year.

 

1.14. “Enabling Technology” means any and all additional licenses and rights which are not licensed to Hoth under this Agreement and which are required by Hoth for the exercise of the Patent Rights or the manufacture of the Licensed Products hereunder.

 

1.15. “Equity Securities” means any and all equity interests of Hoth and any securities of Hoth convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such equity interests, and warrants or other rights to acquire such equity interests.

 

1.16. “Excluded Securities” means Equity Securities issued in connection with (a) a grant to any existing or prospective consultants, employees, officers or managers pursuant to any profits interest plan or similar equity-based plans or other compensation agreement; or (b) a split of equity interests, payment of distributions or any similar recapitalization.

 

1.17. “Progress Report” mean s a written report describing Hoth’s progress on operations, research and development, clinical requirements, regulatory approvals, manufacturing, sublicensing, marketing and sales during the most recent Fiscal Year and plans for the forthcoming year.

 

1.18. “Pro-Rata Share “ means, with respect to Chelexa’ s pre-emptive rights under this Agreement, on any issuance date for new Equity Securities, the number of new Equity Securities equal to the product of (i) the total number of new Equity Securities to be issued by Hoth on such date and (ii) the fraction determined by dividing (x) the number of common and preferred shares of Hoth owned by Chelexa immediately prior to such issuance by (y) the total number of common and preferred shares held by all the shareholders of Hoth on such date immediately prior to such issuance .

 

 - 3 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

Article 2. Grant of License

 

2.1. Grant. Chelexa hereby grants to Hoth, during the Term, a royalty-bearing exclusive sublicense to Chelexa’s rights, including the Invention Rights, to make, use, have made import, offer for sale, and sell the Licensed Product within the Territory in the Field. Such sublicense shall include the right to grant sublicenses within the Territory in the Field.

 

2.2. Reservation of Rights. The license granted herein is subject to the rights, if any, of the United States government and to a reservation of the right of Chelexa and UC to use the Invention Rights for internal, academic research and educational purposes.

 

Article 3. Sublicenses

 

3.1. Chelexa also grants to Hoth the right to issue exclusive and nonexclusive sublicenses (with the right to further sublicense) to third parties to make, use, have made, import, offer for sale, and sell the Licensed Product within the Territory and the Field in which Hoth has exclusive rights under this Agreement.

 

3.2. Each sublicense granted by Hoth or its sublicensees under this Agreement shall be embodied in a written document and all relevant terms of this Agreement shall apply to each such sublicense to the same extent as they apply to Hoth unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Chelexa. Among other things, Hoth and its sublicensees shall include reporting and audit provisions substantially similar to the reporting and audit requirements placed on Hoth under this Agreement.

 

3.3. Hoth and its sublicensees shall make commercially reasonable efforts to enforce the terms and conditions of any sub license agreements. Copies of all sublicense agreements shall be provided to Chelexa within thirty (30) days of execution of each sublicense. Hoth hereby assumes responsibility for the performance of all obligations so imposed on its sublicensees by this Agreement and will itself pay and account to Chelexa for all payments and reports due under this Agreement which may accrue by reason of the operations of each sublicense, as if it were Hoth’s own commercial activity.

 

3.4. Hoth and its sublicensees shall provide, in all sublicenses granted by it under this Agreement that Hoth’s interest in such sublicenses shall terminate upon termination of this Agreement as provided in Article 11.7.

 

Article 4. Fees and Royalties

 

4.1. License Fee. Hoth will pay to Chelexa [***] a non-refundable cash license fee of [***].

 

4.2. Research Reimbursement. Hoth will pay to Chelexa [***] a non-refundable cash Research Reimbursement fee of [***].

 

4.3. Hoth Equity: Hoth will upon execution of this Agreement, issue and transfer to Chelexa common shares of Hoth representing ten percent (10%) of the fully-diluted equity of Hoth as of the Effective Date. Hoth will issue to Chelexa additional common shares in Hoth as is required to ensure that Chelexa’s ownership position in Hoth remains at 10% of the fully-diluted equity of Hoth until Hoth has closed an equity or debt financing of at least $3 million.

 

 - 4 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

4.4. Pre-emptive Right: Chelexa will have the right to participate in any new issuances of Equity Securities (other than any Excluded Securities) in a future financing for the purposes of raising capital, based on its Pro-Rata Share of Hoth to enable Chelexa to retain 10% of the [fully-diluted] equity of Hoth.

 

4.5. Approval Milestone: Hoth will pay Chelexa [***] $3.5 million [***].

 

4.6. Development Expense: Hoth will agree to fund 100% of all development expenses for the Licensed Technology in the Territory and for the Field.

 

4.7. Commercialization Expenses: Hoth will agree to fund I 00% of all launch and on-going commercialization expenses for the Licensed Technology in the Territory and for the Field.

 

4.8. Sales-Based Royalty. Hoth shall pay to Chelexa during the Term an incremental royalty based on a percentage of annual aggregate Net Sales in the Territory according to the following schedule:

 

Calendar Year Net Sales (in US Dollars) for the
Licensed Technology in the Territory
Incremental Royalty Rates as a
Percentage(%) of Net Sales
   
Portion of Calendar Year Net Sales up to and including [***] [***]
   
Portion of Calendar Year Net Sales that exceeds [***], up to and including [***] [***]
   
Portion of Calendar Year Net Sales that exceeds [***] [***]

 

Article 5. Diligence

 

5.1. Hoth agrees to use its best commercial efforts in the development, production and marketing of Licensed Products within the global market and the respective discipline of biofilm prevention utilizing the Zinc Chelator DTPA and will for such purpose make available adequate resources and qualified personnel. All such development and commercializing expenses shall be borne by Hoth.

 

5.2. Hoth shall use its best commercial efforts to effect introduction of Hoth (or those of its sublicensees) branded products into commercial use as quickly as is reasonably possible, consistent with sound and reasonable business practices and judgment; thereafter, until the expiration of this Agreement, Hoth and its sublicensees shall endeavor to keep branded products reasonably available to the public.

 

At any time after one (1) year from the Effective Date of this Agreement, Chelexa may, at its sole option, terminate or render this license nonexclusive if, in Chelexa’s judgment the Progress Reports furnished by Hoth do not demonstrate that Hoth has used its best commercial efforts to develop and seek regulatory approval for the Licensed Products in the Territory and in the Field and /or is engaged in manufacturing, marketing or sublicensing activity which is reasonably expected to keep the Licensed Products reasonably available to the public and to achieve the goals of Article 5.24.

 

 - 5 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

Article 6. Warranty

 

6.1. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as:

 

6.1.1. A warranty or representation by Chelexa as to the validity or scope of any of the Invention Rights;

 

6.1.2. An obligation of Chelexa to bring or prosecute actions or suits against third parties;

 

6.1.3. A grant of rights to Hoth to use any trademark or the names of UC or Chelexa in advertising, publicity or otherwise; or

 

6.1.4. Granting rights to Hoth under rights of Chelexa other than the Invention Rights, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, regardless of whether such other Chelexa rights are dominant or subordinate to any of the Invention Rights.

 

6.2. Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, CHELEXA MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS, EXTENDS NO WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITIES WHATEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE USE, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION BY HOTH OR ITS VENDEES OR OTHER TRANSFEREES OF PRODUCTS INCORPORATING OR MADE BY USE OF INVENTION RIGHTS LICENSED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR INFORMATION, IF ANY, FURNISHED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. SUCH INVENTION RIGHTS AND INFORMATION ARE PROVIDED AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR WARRANTY THAT THE USE WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY PATENT, COPYRIGHT OR TRADEMARK OR OTHER RIGHTS, OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

 

Article 7. Records, Reports and Payments

 

7.1. Hoth shall report to Chelexa the date of first sale of a Licensed Product by Hoth or a sublicensee within thirty (30) days following that sale.

 

7.2. No later than sixty (60) days after the end of each Fiscal Quarter, Hoth shall provide to Chelexa a written Quarterly Progress Report. If multiple technologies are covered by the license granted hereunder, the Progress Report shall provide the information set forth above for each technology. If Chelexa believes in good faith that progress is not equal to that anticipated in the previous quarter’s plan, Hoth shall explain the reasons for the difference and prepare and present a modified business plan for Chelexa’s review and approval. Hoth shall also provide any reasonable additional data Chelexa require s to evaluate Hoth’s performance. Within 90 days of the execution of this Agreement and on or before December 15 of each year thereafter, Hoth shall provide Chelexa with a business plan for the Licensed Products for Chelexa’s review and approval. The initial plan will include a detailed development plan for the Licensed Product which plan shall be kept current by Hoth and provided to Chelexa as material changes are made.

 

 - 6 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

7.3. Hoth shall deliver to Chelexa within sixty (60) days after the end of each Calendar Quarter a written report showing its sales of the Licensed Product as well as any payments from sublicensees and its computation of remuneration to Chelexa due under this Agreement for such Calendar Quarter and at the same time make the payment of the remuneration due. If it had no sale of any Licensed Product by Hoth or a subl icensee the report shall so state. All Net Sales shall be segmented in each such report according to each Chelexa technology in the Licensed Product. For payments by sublicensees, the report shall segment the payments by any applicable Chelexa technology in the sublicensed product. The report shall include the rates of exchange used for conversion to US Dollars (USD) from the currency in which such sales were made.

 

7.3.1. In cases of sales outside the USA, royalty payments shall be made in net US Dollars. The amounts shall be calculated using currency exchange rates as set forth in The Wall Street Journal on the la s t day of the Calendar Quarter for which remuneration is due as noted in 7.3.

 

7.3.2. All payments due to Chelexa from Hoth shall be made without deduction for taxes, assessments, or other charges of any kind which may be imposed on Hoth by the government of the country where the transaction s occur or any political subdivision thereof with respect to any amounts payable to Chelexa pursuant to this Agreement, and such taxes, assessments, or other charges shall be assumed by Hoth. Late payments shall be subject to an interest charge of the lesser of one percent (1%) per month or the maximum allowed by law.

 

7.3.3. Hoth shall keep full, true and accurate books of accounts based on good accounting principles and other records containing relevant information and data which may be necessary to ascertain and verify the remuneration payable to Chelexa hereunder for a period of three (3) years following the year to which such records relate. During the Term and for a period of three (3) years following its termination, Chelexa shall have the right to audit, or have an agent, accountant or other representative, audit such books, records and supporting data upon thirty (30) days notice. Any audit shall be at Chelexa’s expense, except that Hoth shall reimburse Chelexa for the cost of the audit in the event that Chelexa discovers an underpayment often percent (10%) or more of the amount due.

 

7.4. All matters relating to this Article 7 shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of Article 10 and shall not be used for any purpose other than in connection with the examination by Chelexa contemplated by this Article, nor shall any such information or material be disclosed to any person or entity other than Chelexa’s outside or in-house counsel, accountants, officers and those personnel of each having a legitimate need to know.

 

Article 8. Patent Prosecution

 

8.1. Hoth agrees that it will be solely responsible for any and all patent prosecution and maintenance costs related to the Patent Rights licensed hereunder from the Effective Date of this Agreement. Hoth agrees to either pay such costs directly or to reimburse Chelexa for such costs to the extent that Chelexa is obligated to pay over such costs to UC.

 

8.2. Hoth shall arrange for the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of any and all patent applications and patents included in the Invention Right s by counsel of its own selection. Hoth shall consult with Chelexa as to the preparation, filing, prosecution and maintenance of such patent applications and patents and shall furnish to Chelexa copies of documents relevant to any such preparation, filing, prosecution or maintenance. To the extent Hoth arranges for the preparation, filing, prosecution or maintenance of any such patent applications or patents, Hoth will own all right, title, and interest in and to such patents, patent applications, and related continuation, continuation-in-part, reissue, divisional, international, foreign, or other related patent applications, inclusive of any and all trade secrets, know how, or other inventions, whether or not patentable, related thereto and developed pursuant to this Agreement. If Hoth elects not to file, prosecute or maintain a patent application or patent included in the Invention Rights that is owned solely by UC or Chelexa, or jointly by Hoth and either or both UC and Chelexa, Chelexa shall be given the opportunity to do so at its own expense. Said Invention Right will be free and clear of this Agreement, and in the case of jointly-owned patents, Hoth will retain its joint ownership rights and the Parties will have no duty of royalty or accounting to each other with respect to such jointly-owned patents.

 

 - 7 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

8.3. Chelexa agrees to cooperate fully with Hoth in the preparation, filing, and maintenance of the patent applications and patents included within the Invention Rights. Hoth agrees to promptly reimburse Chelexa for any out-of-pocket expenses it may incur at Hoth’s request under this Article 8.

 

8.4. If Hoth chooses to discontinue its prosecution or payment of the continued filing, prosecution or maintenance of any particular patent application or patent within the Patent Rights it will so inform Chelexa in sufficient time prior to implementation of such decision to allow Chelexa to assume such duties. Chelexa then shall have the right but not the obligation to file, prosecute, or maintain such patent or patent application at its own expense. In such a case said patent or patent application will be free and clear of this Agreement and Chelexa will be free to exploit and to assign or license or otherwise d is pose of any such patent or patent application to third parties without further obligation to Hoth.

 

8.5. In the event that any claim of any patent application within the Patent Rights is canceled, abandoned, or otherwise disallowed by a final non appealable action of a Patent Office having jurisdiction, or in the event that any claim of any patent within the Patent Rights is held invalid or unenforceable by a non-appealable decision by any court of competent jurisdiction, such claim will be excluded from this Agreement as of the date of final disallowance or final decision of invalidity or non- enforceability .

 

Article 9. Infringement

 

9.1. Each Party shall make reasonable efforts to report in writing to the other Party any infringement or suspected infringement of any right within the Invention Rights or unauthorized use or misappropriation of anything of value transferred hereunder by a third party of which it becomes aware during the Term, and, upon request shall provide the other Party with all available evidence in its possession supporting said infringement, suspected infringement or unauthorized use or misappropriation.

 

9.2. Except as provided in Article 9.3, Hoth shall have the right but not the obligation to initiate an infringement suit or other appropriate action against any third party who at any time has infringed or is suspected of infringing of any right within the Invention Rights or who has misused or misappropriated anything of value transferred hereunder. Hoth shall give Chelexa sufficient advance written notice of its intent to initiate such action and the reasons therefor, and shall provide Chelexa or UC with an opportunity to make suggestions and comments regarding such action. Hoth shall keep Chelexa promptly informed of the status of any such action. Hoth shall have the sole and exclusive right to select counsel for and shall pay all expenses of such action. Chelexa shall offer reasonable assistance to Hoth in connection therewith at no charge to Hoth except for reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Hoth may settle any such action subject to prior approval of Chelexa, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Any damages, profits or awards of whatever nature recovered from such action shall not be treated as Net Sales for purposes of determining Sales Based Royalties.

 

 - 8 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

9.3. In the event that Hoth does not (a) secure cessation of the infringement, (b) enter suit against the infr inger, or (c) provide Chelexa with evidence of bona fide negotiations for resolution of the claim, within nine (9) months of notice under Article 9.1 hereof, Chelexa or UC shall thereafter have the right but not the obligation to take action against the infringer at Chelexa’s or UC’s own expense. Hoth shall offer reasonable assistance to Chelexa or UC in connection with such action at no charge to either UC or Chelexa, except for the reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. As between the Parties, any damages, profits or awards of whatever nature recovered from such action shall belong solely to Chelexa.

 

Article 10. Confidentiality

 

10.1. In connection with this Agreement, it is acknowledged that each Party may disclose its confidential and proprietary information to the other Party. Any such information that is first disclosed in writing, or if first disclosed orally is later transmitted in written form, and is labeled as “Confidential” is referred to herein as “Confidential Information.”

 

10.2. Each Party hereto shall maintain the Confidential Information of the other Party in confidence, and shall not disclose or otherwise communicate such Confidential Information to others during the Term and for a period of three (3) years following termination, or use it for any purpose except pursuant to, and in order to carry out, the terms and objectives of this Agreement, and hereby agrees to exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of such Confidential Information by any of its directors, officers, employees, consultants or agents.

 

10.3. The provisions of Article 10.2 shall not apply to any Confidential Information disclosed hereunder which:

 

10.3.1. either was or will be lawfully disclosed to the recipient by an independent third party rightfully in possession of the Confidential Information; or

 

10.3.2. is public knowledge prior to or after its disclosure other than through acts of omission attributable to recipient; or

 

10.3.3. was independently known to the recipient prior to receipt from the disclosing party, as demonstrably documented in contemporaneous written records of the recipient; or

 

10.3.4. is required to be disclosed by any of the Parties to comply with applicable laws, to defend or prosecute litigation or to comply with governmental regulations, provided that such Party promptly notifies the other Party so as to permit such Party to take action to avoid and/or minimize the degree or such disclosure.

 

 - 9 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

Publication

 

10.4. In its license agreement with Chelexa, UC has reserved the right to publish the results of its research on the Invention. Before publishing, however, UC agrees to submit copies of any manuscript proposed for publication to Chelexa, and Chelexa agrees to submit copies of the manuscript proposed for publication to Hoth at least thirty (30) days in advance of the presentation or publication date, and if Hoth asks to defer publication within thirty (30) days after receipt of the manuscript so that patent applications may be filed, UC shall not publish or otherwise disclose to any third party any of the information contained in the manuscript until such time as a patent application has been filed or the expiration of ninety (90) days from the date of disclosure to Chelexa, whichever occurs first.

 

Article 11. Termination

 

11.1. This Agreement will become effective on the Effective Date and will continue for the Term unless terminated earlier pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be terminated by either Party except in accordance with this Article 11.

 

11.2. Hoth may terminate this Agreement at any time by providing twelve (12) months written notice to Chelexa. Upon termination, a final report shall be submitted and any royalty payments and unreimbursed expenses due to Chelexa become payable within sixty (60) days after termination.

 

11.3. In the event that Hoth is unable to raise at least $3 million in equity or debt financing by 180 days after the Effective Date, Chelexa may, at its sole option, choose to terminate this Agreement and all materials related to the Licensed Technology provided by Chelexa to Hoth will be promptly returned to Chelexa by Hoth.

 

11.4. In the event that Hoth shall be in default of any of its material obligations hereunder, Chelexa may at its sole option: (a) terminate this Agreement or (b) convert any exclusive license hereunder to a non-exclusive license. This option (a) or (b) of Chelexa shall be exercised by written notice to Hoth specifying the nature of the default including the amount of royalties then due, if any, and shall be effective ninety (90) days following receipt of said notice by Hoth unless Hoth cures said default prior to the expiration of said period of ninety (90) days.

 

11.5. This Agreement will terminate automatically upon the termination of the UC License.

 

11.6. Upon termination:

 

11.6.1. Hoth shall provide Chelexa with the right to access any regulatory information filed with any US or foreign government agency with respect to the Licensed Product.

 

11.6.2. If Hoth has filed patent applications or obtained patents to any modification or improvement to the Licensed Product within the scope of the Invention Rights, Hoth agrees upon request to enter into good faith negotiations with UC and Chelexa or their respective future licensee(s) for the purpose of granting license rights to said modifications or improvements in timely fashion and under commercially reasonable terms and at the sole discretion of Hoth.

 

 - 10 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

11.7. Termination of this Agreement or conversion to a non-exclusive license as provided under Article 11.1 or 11.4 shall terminate any sublicenses which may have been previously granted by Hoth, provided that any sublicensee may elect to obtain a license at terms no less favorable than this Agreement by advising Chelexa in writing, within sixty (60) days after the sublicensee’s receipt of written notice of such termination or conversion, of its agreement to tender to Chelexa all the performance (including obligations for payment) previously due to Hoth under its sublicensing agreement with Hoth. Any sublicense granted by Hoth shall contain a provision corresponding to this Article 11.7.)

 

11.8. Upon termination of this Agreement or conversion to a non-exclusive license as provided under Article 11.1 or 11.4, neither Party shall be relieved of any obligations incurred prior to such termination or conversion, and the obligations of the Parties under any provisions which by their nature are intended to survive any such termination or conversion shall survive and continue to be enforceable.

 

11.9. In the event that Hoth shall become insolvent, shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall have a petition in bankruptcy filed for or against it, Chelexa shall have the right to terminate this entire Agreement immediately upon giving Hoth written notice of such termination.

 

Article 12. Indemnification and Insurance

 

12.1. Hoth agrees to defend Chelexa at Hoth’ s cost and expense, and will indemnify and hold harmless Chelexa from and against any and all losses, costs, damages, fees or expenses, including attorney’s fees arising out of or in connection with the manufacture, use, commercialization, marketing or sale by Hoth and its transferee s of the Licensed Products.

 

12.2. Beginning at such time as any such product or process is being commercially distributed or sold by Hoth or by a sublicensee, or agent of Hoth, Hoth shall at its sole cost and expense procure and maintain comprehensive general liability insurance in amounts not less than $2,000,000 (USD) per incident and $2,000,000 (USD) annual aggregate. Such comprehensive general liability insurance shall provide (i) product liability coverage and (ii) broad form contractual liability coverage for Hoth’s indemnification under this Agreement. If Hoth elects to self - insure all or part of the limits described above (including deductibles or retentions which are in excess of $250,000 (USD) annual aggregate) such self-insurance program must be acceptable to Chelexa. The minimum amounts of insurance coverage required shall not be construed to create a limit of Hoth’s liability with respect to its indemnification under this Agreement.

 

12.3. Hoth shall provide Chelexa with written evidence of such insurance upon request Chelexa. Hoth shall provide Chelexa with written notice at least thirty (30) days prior to the cancellation, non-renewal or any material change in such insurance; if Hoth or its sublicensee, or agent does not provide evidence to Chelexa of replacement insurance providing comparable coverage within an additional thirty (30) day period, Chelexa shall have the right to terminate this Agreement and any license hereunder effective at the end of such additional thirty (30) day period without notice or any additional waiting periods, notwithstanding Article 12.2 of this Agreement.

 

12.4. Hoth shall maintain such comprehensive general liability insurance beyond the expiration or termination of this Agreement during (i) the period that any Licensed Product, other product, process or service relating to or developed pursuant to this Agreement is being commercially distributed or sold by Hoth or by a sublicensee, or agent of Hoth and (ii) for a reasonable period thereafter which in no event shall be less than fifteen (15) years.

 

 - 11 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

Article 13. Notices

 

13.1. Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be sufficiently made or given on the date of mailing if in writing and sent to such Party by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid or an overnight courier with sig nature required, addressed to it at its address below, or as it shall designate by written notice given to the other Party.

 

In the case of Hoth: In the case of Chelexa:
   
Hoth Therapeutics, Chelexa BioSciences Inc.
Inc. 6 Horizon Road 275 Grove Street
Suite 190 3 Suite 2-400
Fort Lee, NJ 02074 Auburndale, MA 02466
Attn: Robb Knie Attn: Kenneth L. Rice Jr.

 

Article 14. Miscellaneous

 

14.1. It is understood that Chelexa is subject to United States laws and regulations controlling the export of technical data, computer software, laboratory prototypes and other commodities and that its obligations hereunder are contingent on compliance with all applicable United States export laws and regulations. The transfer of certain technical data and/or commodities may require a license from the cognizant agency of the United States Government and/or written assurances by Hoth that Hoth shall not export data or commodities to certain foreign countries without prior approval of such agency. Chelexa neither represents nor warrants that a license shall not be required nor that if required, it shall be issued. In any event, Hoth specifically agrees not to export or re-export any information and/or technical data and/or products in violation of any applicable USA laws and/or regulations.

 

14.2. During the Term, Hoth will not independently develop or commercialize any product that directly competes with the Licensed Product.

 

14.3. This Agreement shall be construed under and interpreted under the Laws of the State of New York, USA, except that questions affecting the construction and effect of any patent shall be determined by the national law of the country in which the patent has been granted.

 

14.4. In the event that either Party is prevented from performing or is unable to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement due to any act of God, fire, casualty, flood, war, strike, lockout, failure of public utilities, government regulation or the like, such Party shall give notice to the other Party in writing promptly, and thereupon the affected Party’s performance shall be excused and the time for performance shall be extended for the period of delay or inability to perform due to such occurrence.

 

14.5. The waiver by either Party of a breach or default of any provisions of this Agreement by the other Party must be in written form and signed by both Parties, and shall not be construed as a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or any other provision.

 

 - 12 -

 

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

14.6. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, between Hoth and Chelexa relating to the Licensed Technology and shall constitute the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

14 .7. This Agreement and each of its provisions shall be binding upon the Parties and may not be modified, amended or altered except by a writing signed by Chelexa and Hoth.

 

14.8. Neither Party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other Party, except that Hoth may assign this Agreement to an Affiliate without the written consent of Chelexa.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their properly and duly authorized officers or representative s as of the Effective Date.

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS INC   CHELEXA BIOSCIENCES INC
         
     
Name: ROBB KNIE   Name: Kenneth L. Rice Jr.
Title: CEO   Title: Executive Chairman
Date: 5/25/17    Date:   5/25/2017 

 

 - 13 -

 

Exhibit 10.5

 

Portions of this Exhibit, indicated by the mark “[***],” were omitted and have been filed separately with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Registrant’s application requesting confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 406 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended

 

EXCLUSIVE LICENSE AGREEMENT

 

This Exclusive License Agreement (the “Agreement) is effective (the “Effective Date”) on the date the last of the Parties executes this Agreement, and is by and between the University of Cincinnati, a state institution of higher education organized under Section 3361 of the Ohio Revised Code, having an address at 51 Goodman Dr., Suite 240, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0829, (“UC”) and Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. (the “Licensee”), a company with offices at One Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039, New York, NY 10020 (the “Company”).

 

In consideration of the promises and mutual covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, UC and the Company (individually referred to as a “Party” and collectively referred to as the “Parties”) hereto agree to the following terms and conditions:

 

Article 1. Definitions

 

For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms, as used herein, will have the meanings specified below:

 

1.1. “Affiliate” means, with respect to a person, organization or entity, any person, organization or entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such person, organization or entity. For purposes of this definition only, “control” of another person, organization or entity will mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the activities, management or policies of such person, organization or entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. Without-limiting the foregoing, control will be presumed to exist when a person, organization or entity (a) owns or directly controls fifty percent (50%) or more of the outstanding voting stock or other ownership interest of the other organization or entity or (b) possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to elect or appoint fifty percent (50%) or more of the members of the governing body of the other organization or entity. The Parties acknowledge that in the case of certain entities organized under the laws of certain countries outside of the United States, the maximum percentage ownership permitted by law for a foreign investor may be less than fifty percent (50%) and that in such cases such lower percentage will be substituted in the preceding sentence.

 

1.2. “Calendar Quarter” means each of the periods of three (3) consecutive calendar months ending on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 during the Term.

 

1.3. “Developing Countries” means a country having a standard of living or level of industrial production well below that possible with financial or technical aid; a country that is not yet highly industrialized.

 

1.4. Reserved.

 

1.5. “Development Plan” means the plan for the development and commercialization of Licensed Products as such plan may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 3.2.

 

1.6. “Enabling Technology” means any and all additional licenses and rights which are licensed to the Company under this or any other agreement and which are not infringed by the sale of Licensed Products but were used by the Company in the discovery and development of Licensed Products.

 

1

 

 

1.7. “Field” means determining an individual’s propensity to a food allergy.

 

1.8. “Calendar Year” means the twelve (12) month period from January 1 to December 31

 

1.9. “Improvement” means all improvements, revisions and modifications to the Invention Rights or other new invention within the Field made in whole or in part by UC that is in existence at the date of this Agreement or is created or developed in Dr. Chakraborty’s lab after the Effective Date and that are directly related to the licenses granted in Section 2.1.

 

1.10. “Invention Rights” means collectively and individually the Patent Rights and Know-how.

 

1.11. “Invention” means any innovation, development, discovery, and information relating thereto, whether or not written and whether or not patentable or copyrightable as described in the following UC disclosure: (a) [***]; (b) as well as any continuations, divisionals, and renewals of the aforesaid, all related patents that may be granted thereon in the U.S. or worldwide, and all reissues, reexaminations, extensions, patents of additions, and reexaminations in the U.S. or worldwide.

 

1.12. “Licensed Method” means any method or process, the practice of which falls within the scope of a Valid Claim.

 

1.13. “Licensed Product” means on a country by country basis, any product or service, the making, using, selling, offering for sale, importing, exporting or performing in the country in question would (without the license granted hereunder) infringe directly, indirectly by inducement of infringement, or indirectly by contributory infringement, at least one Valid Claim in that country, or any product or service that was created or developed using Enabling Technology.

 

1.14. “Net Sales” means the gross amount billed or invoiced by or on behalf of Licensee, its Affiliates, Sublicensees and any of their Affiliates (in each case, the “Invoicing Entity’’) on sales, leases or other transfers of Licensed Products, less the following to the extent applicable with respect to such sales, leases or other transfers and not previously deducted from the gross invoice price: (a) customary trade, quantity or cash discounts or rebates to the extent actually allowed and taken; (b) amounts actually paid or credited by reason of rejection or return of any previously sold, leased or otherwise transferred Licensed Products; (c) customer freight charges that are paid by or on behalf of the Invoicing Entity; and (d) to the extent separately stated on purchase orders, invoices or other documents of sale, any sales, value added or similar taxes, custom duties or other similar governmental charges levied directly on the production, sale, transportation, delivery or use of a Licensed Product that are paid by or on behalf of the Invoicing Entity, but not including any tax levied with respect to income; provided that:

 

1.14.1. In any transfers of Licensed Products between an Invoicing Entity and an Affiliate of such Invoicing Entity not for the purpose of resale by such Affiliate, Net Sales will be equal to the fair market value of the Licensed Products so transferred, assuming an arm’s length transaction made in the ordinary course of business, and

 

1.14.2. In the event that an Invoicing Entity receives non-cash consideration for any Licensed Products or in the case of transactions not at arm’s length with a non- Affiliate of an Invoicing Entity, Net Sales will be calculated based on the fair market value of such Licensed Product, assuming an arm’s length transaction made in the ordinary course of business.

 

Sales of Licensed Products by an Invoicing Entity to its Affiliate or a Sublicensee for resale by such Affiliate or Sublicensee will not be deemed Net Sales. Instead Net Sales will be determined based on the gross amount billed or invoiced by such Affiliate or Sublicensee upon resale of such Licensed Products to a third party purchaser.

 

1.15. “Non-Royalty Sublicense Income” means any payments or other consideration that Licensee or any of its Affiliates receives in connection with a Sublicense, including without limitation, any upfront milestone or lump sum payments, received by Licensee or its Affiliates from Sublicensees or their Affiliates as full or partial consideration for the grant of any sublicense by Licensee, other than royalties based on Net Sales. If Licensee or any of its Affiliates receive non-cash consideration in connection with a Sublicense or in the case of transactions not at arm’s length, Non-Royalty Sublicense Income will be calculated based on the fair market value of such consideration or transaction, at the time of the transaction, assuming an arm’s length transaction made in the ordinary course of business.

 

2

 

 

1.16. “Patent Rights” means, in each case to the extent owned and controlled by UC: (a) the patents and patent applications listed in Exhibit A, including any PCT and/or U.S. or foreign patent application claiming priority or related to such patents or applications in the Field (including, without limitation, those references in Section 1.12 above); (b) any patent or patent application, in the U.S. or worldwide that claims priority to and is a divisional, continuation, continuation in part, only to the extent that the claims are entitled to the priority date, reissue, renewal, reexamination, substitution or extension of any patent application identified in (a); (c) any supplementary protection certificates, pediatric exclusivity periods, any other patent term extensions and exclusivity periods and the like of any patents and patent applications identified in (a) through (b).

 

1.17. Progress Report ” means a written report describing the Company’s progress on research and development, regulatory approvals, manufacturing, sublicensing, marketing and sales during the most recent Fiscal Year (commencing with the period from the date of this Agreement through June 30, 2018) and plans for the forthcoming year. The Progress Reports continue to be due each June 30th as long as this Agreement remains in force.

 

1.18. “Regulatory Authority’’ means any applicable government regulatory authority involved in granting approvals for the manufacturing and marketing of a Licensed Product.

 

1.19. “Sublicense” means: (a) any right granted, license given or agreement entered into by Licensee to or with any other person or entity, under or with respect to or permitting any use of exploitation of any of the Patent Rights or otherwise permitting the development, manufacture, marketing, distribution, use and/or sale of Licensed Products; (b) any option or other right granted by Licensee to any other personor entity to negotiate for or receive any of the rights described under clause (a); or (c) any standstill or similar obligation undertaken by Licensee toward any other person or entity not to grant any of the rights described in clause (a) or (b) to any Third Party; in each case regardless of whether such grant of rights, license given or agreement entered into is referred to or described as a sublicense. For purposes of clarification, agreements pursuant to which Licensee and its Affiliates appoint contractors and distributors shall not be deemed Sublicenses.

 

1.20. “Sublicensee” means any person or entity granted a Sublicense.

 

1.21. “Sublicense Income” means any payment, barter or other compensation received by the Company from the sublicensing of the Invention Rights pursuant to this Agreement, less any price adjustments for warranty claims, claims for damages, and rejections, or legal costs associated with licensing and collection of such compensation received by the Company from the sublicensing of Invention Rights pursuant to this Agreement.

 

1.22. “Term” means the term of this Agreement as set forth in Section 10.

 

1.23. “Territory” means worldwide.

 

1.24. “UC Know-how” means any and all proprietary information, methods, processes, techniques and data, which are necessary or useful for the manufacture, use or sale of any Licensed Product that is in existence in Dr. Chakraborty’s lab at the date of this Agreement or is created or developed in Dr. Chakraborty’s lab after the Effective Date, and which comprise confidential information directly related to the licensed technology.

 

1.25. “Valid Claim” means: (a) a claim of an issued and unexpired patent within the Patent Rights that has not been (i) held permanently revoked, unenforceable, unpatentable or invalid by a decision of a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, unappealable or unappealed within the time allowed for appeal, (ii) rendered unenforceable through disclaimer or otherwise, (iii) abandoned or (iv) permanently lost through an interference, opposition or derivation proceeding without any right of appeal or review; or (b) a pending claim of a pending patent application within the Patent Rights that (i) has been prosecuted and continues to be prosecuted in good faith and (ii) has not been abandoned or finally rejected without the possibility of appeal or refiling.

 

3

 

 

ARTICLE 2. GRANT OF LICENSE

 

2. License

 

2.1. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, UC hereby grants to Licensee and its Affiliates (i) an exclusive, royalty-bearing license under UC’s interest in the Patent Rights and (ii) a non-exclusive license to use the UC Know-how, solely to develop, make, have made, offer for sale, sell, have sold, import, export, distribute, rent, or lease Licensed Products in the Territory, solely for use within the Field; provided, however, that:

 

2.1.1. UC retains the right, for itself, and for other not-for-profit research organizations approved by Licensee which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, to practice the Patent Rights and to use UC Know-how within the scope of the license granted above, solely for research, educational and scholarly purposes and, for purposes of clarity, not for commercial purposes; and

 

2.1.2. The United States federal government retains rights in the Patent Rights pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§200-212 and 37 C.F.R. §401 et seq. and any right granted in the Agreement greater than that permitted under the above-identified sections will be subject to modification as may be required to conform to the provisions of those statutes and regulations.

 

2.2. Affiliates The license granted to Licensee under Section 2.1 includes the right to have some or all of Licensee’s rights or obligations under this Agreement exercised or performed by one or more of Licensee’s Affiliates, solely on Licensee’s behalf; provided, however, that:

 

2.2.1. No such Affiliate shall be entitled to grant, directly or indirectly, to any Third Party any right of whatever nature under, or with respect to, or permitting any use or exploitation of, any of the Patent Rights or the UC Know-how, including any right to develop, manufacture, market or sell Licensed Products; and

 

2.2.2. Any act or omission taken or made by an Affiliate of Licensee under this Agreement will be deemed an act or omission by Licensee under this Agreement.

 

2.3. Sublicenses

 

2.3.1. Sublicense Grant. Licensee shall not be entitled to grant Sublicenses to third parties, other than Affiliates, under the license granted pursuant to Section 2.1 without the written consent of Licensor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and subject to the terms of this Section 2.3. Any such Sublicense shall be on terms and conditions in compliance with and not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. For purposes of clarification, contractors and distributors of Licensee and its Affiliates shall not be deemed Sublicensees.

 

2.3.2. Sublicense Agreements. After obtaining written consent from the Licensor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, Licensee shall grant sublicenses pursuant to written agreements, which will be subject and subordinate to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Such Sublicense agreements will contain, among other things, the following:

 

2.3.2.1. all provisions necessary to ensure Licensee’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreements

 

2.3.2.2. a section substantially the same as Article 9 of this Agreement, which also will state that the lndemnitees (as defined in Section 9.1) are intended third party beneficiaries of such Sublicense agreement for the purpose of enforcing such indemnification;

 

2.3.2.3. a provision clarifying that, in the event of termination of the license set forth in Section 2.1 (in whole or in part (e.g., termination in a particular country)), any existing Sublicense agreement shall terminate to the extent of such terminated license;

 

4

 

 

2.3.2.4. a provision prohibiting the Sublicensee from sublicensing its rights under such Sublicense agreement;

 

2.3.2.5. a provision prohibiting the Sublicensee from assigning the Sublicense agreement without the prior written consent of UC, except that Sublicensee may assign the Sublicense agreement to a successor in connection with the merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of its assets or that portion of its business to which the Sublicense agreement relates; provided, however, that any permitted assignee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of such Sublicense agreement; and

 

2.3.2.6. the sublicense agreement shall provide that, in the event of any inconsistency between the sublicense agreement and this Agreement, this Agreement controls.

 

2.3.3. Delivery of Sublicense Agreement Licensee shall furnish UC with a fully executed copy of any Sublicense agreement, promptly after its execution, and copies of royalty reports provided to Licensee by any Sublicensees. UC shall keep all such copies in its confidential files and shall use them solely for the purpose of monitoring Licensee’s and Sublicensees’ compliance with their obligations hereunder and enforcing UC’s rights under this Agreement.

 

2.3.4. Breach by Sublicensee Licensee shall be responsible for any breach of a Sublicense agreement by any Sublicensee that results in a material breach of this Agreement. Licensee shall either (a) cure such breach in accordance with Section 10.2.2 of this Agreement or (b) enforce its rights by terminating such Sublicense agreement in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

2.4. No Other Grant of Rights. Except as expressly provided herein, nothing in this Agreement will be construed to confer any ownership interest, license or other rights upon Licensee by implication, estoppel or otherwise as to any technology, intellectual property rights, products or biological materials of UC, or any other entity, regardless of whether such technology, intellectual property rights, products or biological materials are dominant, subordinate or otherwise related to any Patent Rights. Nothing in this Agreement will be construed to confer any ownership interest, license or other rights upon UC in Improvements and Know-how solely developed by Licensee and/or its Affiliates.

 

2.5. Publication Rights. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or delay publication or presentation of research findings related to the licenses contained herein including, without limitation, presenting at conferences, publishing in abstracts, journals, theses and/or dissertations, provided that: (a) the party seeking to publish or present shall provide to the other party a copy of proposed publication or presentation at least thirty (30) days in advance of the presentation or submission of the publication; (b) the other party shall review the proposed publication or presentation within thirty (30 days from its receipt of the proposed publication or presentation; (c) if the receiving party requests, the party seeking to publish or present must remove all confidential information from the publication or defer publication up to a maximum of three (3) months to enable the receiving party to obtain appropriate intellectual property protection if such protection is reasonably available; (d) if the receiving party does not object in writing to the publication within thirty (30) days of receipt, it will be deemed to have agreed to the publication or presentation; and (e) such publication and or presentation shall not prejudice any then-pending or future patent application or disclose any confidential or proprietary information of either party.

 

ARTICLE 3. DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION

 

3. Development and Commercialization

 

3.1. Diligence

 

3.1.1. General Licensee shall provide a Development Plan to UC within 60 days of the Effective Date. Licensee shall use commercially reasonable efforts and shall cause its Sublicensee’s to use commercially reasonable efforts: (a) to develop Licensed products in accordance with the Development Plan; (b) to introduce Licensed Products into the commercial market; and (c) to market Licensed Products following such introduction into the market. In addition, Licensee, by itself or through its Affiliates or Sublicensee’s, shall achieve each of the Development Milestones within the time periods specified in this Agreement.

 

5

 

 

3.2. Adjustments of Development Plan Licensee will be entitled, from time to time, to make adjustments to the then applicable Development Plan as Licensee believes, in its good faith judgment, are needed in order to improve Licensee’s ability to meet the Development Milestones, and to adjust to market conditions at the time (such as introduction of competing products, or generic products, which could affect the sales of Licensed Products).

 

3.3. Reporting Within sixty (60) days after the end of each Calendar Year, Licensee shall furnish UC with a written report summarizing, its Affiliates and its Sublicensee’s efforts, during the prior year to develop and commercialize Licensed Products, including: (a) research and development activities completed; (b) commercialization and/or other distribution efforts, including significant corporate transactions involving Licensed Products; and (c) marketing efforts. Each report must contain a sufficient level of detail for UC to assess whether Licensee is in compliance with its obligations under Section 3.1 and a discussion of intended efforts for the then current year. Together with each report, Licensee shall provide UC with a copy of the then current Development Plan, including an updated schedule of anticipated events or milestones.

 

3.4. Failure to Meet Development Milestone; Opportunity to Cure If Licensee believes that it will not achieve a Development Milestone, it may notify UC in writing in advance of the relevant deadline. Licensee shall include with such notice (a) a reasonable explanation of the reasons for such failure (and lack of finances will not constitute reasonable basis for such failure) (“Explanation”) and (b) a reasonably detailed, written plan for promptly achieving a reasonable extended and/or amended milestone (“Plan”). If Licensee so notifies UC, but fails to provide UC with both an Explanation and Plan, the Licensee will have an additional thirty (30) days or until the original deadline of the relevant Development Milestone, whichever is later, to meet such milestone. Licensee’s failure to do so shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement and UC shall have the right to terminate this Agreement under Section 10.2.2.1. If Licensee so notifies UC and provides UC with an Explanation and Plan, either of which are acceptable to UC in its reasonable discretion (e.g. Licensee asserts lack of finances or development preference for a non-Licensed Product), the Licensee will have an additional thirty (30) days or until the original deadline of the relevant Development Milestone, whichever is later, to meet such milestone. Licensee’s failure to do so shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement and UC shall have the right to terminate this Agreement under Section 10.2.2.1. If Licensee so notifies UC and provides UC with an Explanation and Plan, but the Plan is not acceptable to UC in its reasonable discretion, then UC will explain to Licensee why the Plan is not acceptable and provide Licensee with suggestions for an acceptable Plan. Licensee will have one opportunity to provide UC with an acceptable Plan within ninety (90) days, during which time UC agrees to work with Licensee in its effort to develop an acceptable Plan. If, within such ninety (90) days, Licensee fails to provide a Plan acceptable to UC in its reasonable discretion, the Licensee will have an additional thirty (30) days or until the original deadline of the relevant Development Milestone, whichever is later, to meet such milestone. Licensee’s failure to do so shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement and UC shall have the right to terminate this Agreement under Section 10.2.2.1. For clarity, if Licensee fails to achieve a Development Milestone and does not avail itself of the procedure set forth in this Section 3.4, such failure shall be a material breach that entitles UC to proceed under Section 10.2.2.1.

 

4. Consideration for Grant of License.

 

4.1. Initial Fee. Licensee shall pay UC a non-refundable, non-recoverable and non-creditable Initial fee of [***] that shall be due and payable within thirty days (30) of signing the Agreement.

 

4.2. Annual License Fee. Licensee shall pay UC an annual license fee of [***] that shall be due a payable within thirty days (30) of the one year anniversary and every year thereafter.

 

4.3. Minimum Annual Royalty. Licensee shall pay UC a non-refundable, non-recoverable and non-creditable yearly Minimum Annual Royalty (MAR) of [***] due and payable within thirty days (30) of the anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

6

 

 

4.4. Milestone Payments.

 

4.4.1. Licensee shall pay UC the following non-refundable, non-recoverable and non-creditable milestone payments with respect to each Licensed Product (or Licensed Method) to reach each milestone, regardless of whether such milestone is achieved by Licensee or any Sublicensee, or any of their Affiliates:

 

4.4.1.1. [***] upon successful proof of concept of determining an individual’s propensity to a food allergy;

 

4.4.1.2. [***] payable within thirty days (30) of a marketing approval in the US.

 

4.4.2. Licensee shall notify UC in writing within thirty (30) days following the achievement of each milestone described in Section 4.2.1, and shall make the appropriate milestone payment within thirty (30) days after the achievement of such milestone.

 

4.4.3. The milestones set forth in Section 4.2.1 are intended to be successive. If a Licensed Product is not required to undergo the event associated with a particular milestone for a Licensed Product (“Skipped Milestone”), such Skipped Milestone will be deemed to have been achieved upon the achievement by such Licensed Product of the next successive milestone (“Achieved Milestone”). Payment for any Skipped Milestone that is owed in accordance with the provisions of this section 4.2 shall be due within thirty (30) days after the achievement of the Achieved Milestones.

 

4.5. Royalty on Net Sales.

 

4.3.1 Rate. Licensee shall pay UC an amount equal to [***] of Net Sales of Licensed Products, Licensed Methods and Enabling Technology during the Term.

 

4.5.1. Patent Challenge. If Licensee, a Sublicensee, any of their Affiliates, or any entity or person acting on behalf of any of them (“Challenging Party”) commences an action in which it challenges the validity, enforceability or scope of any of the Patent Rights (a “Challenging Proceeding”), the royalty rate specified in Section 4.3.1 will be doubled with respect to Net Sales of Licensed Products that are sold during the pendency of such Challenge Proceeding. If the outcome of such Challenge Proceeding is a determination against the Challenging Party, (a) the royalty rate specified in Section 4.3.1 with respect to Net Sales of Licensed Products that are covered by the Patent Rights that are the subject of such Challenge Proceeding shall remain at such doubled rate and (b) Licensee shall reimburse UC for all expenses incurred by UC (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) in connection with such Challenge Proceeding. UC may invoice Licensee on a quarterly basis with respect to such costs and expenses and Licensee shall make payment within thirty (30) days after receipt of such invoice. If the outcome of such Challenge Proceeding is a determination in favor of the Challenging Party, Licensee will have no right to recoup any royalties paid before or during the pendency of such Challenge Proceeding.

 

4.6. Non-Royalty Sublicense Income. Licensee will pay UC nonrefundable, non- recoverable amounts equal to [***]of all Non-Royalty Sublicense Income. In such case, no royalty shall be payable on Net Sales until such time as accumulated royalties on Net Sales shall exceed Non-Royalty Sublicense Income (which, for these purposes, shall be treated as a pre-paid royalty on Net Sales).

 

7

 

 

5. Reports; Payments; Records.

 

5.1. Reports and Payments.

 

5.1.1. Reports. Within thirty (30) days after the conclusion of each Calendar Quarter commencing with the first Calendar Quarter in which Net Sales are generated or Non-Royalty Sublicense Income is received, Licensee shall deliver to UC a report containing the information listed below (in each instance, with a Licensed Product- by-Ucensed Product and country-by-country breakdown). Each such report shall be certified on behalf of Licensee as true, correct and complete in all material respects. If no amounts are due to UC for a particular Calendar Quarter, the report shall so state.

 

5.1.1.1. The number of units of Licensed Products sold, leased or otherwise transferred by Invoicing Entities for the applicable Calendar Quarter (with a breakdown by type of Licensed Products - i.e. Type I Licensed Products and Type II Licensed Products);

 

5.1.1.2. The gross amount billed or invoiced for Licensed Products sold, leased or otherwise transferred by Invoicing Entities during the applicable Calendar Quarter;

 

5.1.1.3. With respect to each Licensed Product sold or otherwise distributed in any Developing Country on a tiered-pricing schedule, the sale prices of such Licensed Product during the applicable Calendar Quarter and number of units of Licensed Product sold at each price;

 

5.1.1.4. A calculation of Net Sales for the applicable Calendar Quarter, including an itemized listing of allowable deductions and the actual selling price;

 

5.1.1.5. A detailed accounting of all Non-Royalty Sublicense Income received during the applicable Calendar Quarter;

 

5.1.1.6. The total amount payable to UC in U.S. Dollars on Net Sales and Non- Royalty Sublicense income for the applicable Calendar Quarter, together with exchange rates used for conversion; and

 

5.1.1.7. A list of UC case numbers for all Patent Rights that have Valid Claims covering the Licensed Products, and for all UC technology transfer materials used in the discovery, development, manufacture and sale of Licensed Products.

 

5.1.2. Payment. Within thirty (30) days after the end of each Calendar Quarter, Licensee shall pay UC all amounts due with respect to Net Sales and Non-Royalty Sublicense Income for the applicable Calendar Quarter.

 

5.2. Payment Currency. All payments due under this Agreement will be paid in U.S. Dollars. Conversion of foreign currency to U.S. Dollars will be made at the conversion rate existing in the United States (as reported in the Wall Street Journa on the last business day of the applicable Calendar Quarter. Such payments will be without deduction of exchange, collection or other charges.

 

8

 

 

5.3. Records. Licensee shall maintain, and shall cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees to maintain, complete and accurate records of Licensed Products that are made, used, sold, leased or transferred under this Agreement, any amounts payable to UC in relation to such Licensed Products, and all Non-Royalty Sublicense Income received by Licensee and its Affiliates, which records shall contain sufficient information to permit UC to confirm the accuracy of any reports or notifications delivered to UC under Section 5.1. Licensee, its Affiliates and/or its Sublicensees, as applicable, shall retain such records relating to a given Calendar Quarter for at least one (1) year after the conclusion of that Calendar Quarter, during which time UC will have the right, at its expense, to cause an independent, certified public accountant (or, in the event of a non- financial audit, other appropriate auditor) to inspect such records during normal business hours for the purposes of verifying the accuracy of any reports and payments delivered under this Agreement and Licensee’s compliance with the terms hereof. Such accountant or other auditor, as applicable, shall not disclose to UC any information other than information relating to the accuracy of reports and payments delivered under this Agreement. The parties shall reconcile any underpayment or overpayment within thirty (30) days after the accountant delivers the results of the audit. If any audit performed under this Section 5.3 reveals an underpayment in excess of five percent (5%) in any calendar year, Licensee shall reimburse UC for all amounts incurred in connection with such audit. UC may exercise its rights under this Section 5.3 only once every year per audited entity and only with reasonable prior notice to the Licensee.

 

5.4. Payment Method. Each payment due to UC under this Agreement shall be paid by check or wire transfer of funds to UC’s account in accordance with written instructions provided by UC. If made by wire transfer, such payments shall be marked so as to refer to this Agreement.

 

5.5. Withholding and Similar Truces. All amounts to be paid to UC pursuant to this Agreement shall be without deduction of exchange, collection, or other charges, and, specifically, without deduction of withholding or similar taxes or other government imposed fees or taxes, except as permitted in the definition of Net Sales.

 

6. Patent Filing, Prosecution and Maintenance.

 

6.1. Control. UC will be responsible for the preparation, filing, prosecution, protection, defense and maintenance of all Patent Rights, using independent patent counsel reasonably acceptable to Licensee. UC will, whenever possible: (a) instruct such patent counsel to furnish the Licensee with copies of all correspondence relating to the Patent Rights from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and any other patent office, as well as copies of all proposed responses to such correspondence, from U.S. and foreign patent agents, in time for Licensee to review and comment on such response; {b) give Licensee an opportunity to review the text of each patent application before filing; (c) consult with Licensee with respect thereto; (d) supply Licensee with a copy of the application as filed, together with notice of its filing date and serial number; and (e) keep Licensee advised of the status of actual and prospective patent filings. UC shall give Licensee the opportunity to provide comments on and make requests of UC concerning the preparation, filing, prosecution, protection, defense and maintenance of the Patent Rights, and shall seriously consider such comments and requests; however, final decision-making authority shall vest in UC. In particular, and without intending to limit any of UC’s rights pursuant to this Agreement, UC expressly reserves the right to decline Licensee’s request to file, prosecute, maintain or defend any of the Patent Rights in any Developing Country(ies).unless (i) Licensee demonstrates to UC’s reasonable satisfaction that the filing, prosecution, maintenance or defense of such Patent Rights in such Developing Country(ies) would materially increase the locally- affordable availability of Licensed Products or equivalents thereof (e.g., generic products) in those and/or other Developing Country(ies) and (ii) the provisions of Section 7 notwithstanding, Licensee agrees that UC shall hold final decision-making authority, on a case-by-case basis, as to whether Licensee will be permitted to enforce such Patent Rights in such Developing Country(ies)

 

6.2. Expenses. Subject to Section 6.3 below, Licensee shall reimburse UC for all documented, out of pocket expenses incurred by UC pursuant to this Article 6 within thirty (30) days after the date of each invoice from UC for such expenses. In addition, within thirty (30) days after the Effective Date, Licensee shall reimburse UC for all documented, out-of-pocket expenses incurred by UC prior to the Effective Date with respect to the preparation, filing, prosecution, protection and maintenance of Patent Rights.

 

9

 

 

6.3. Abandonment. If Licensee decides that it does not wish to pay for the prosecution or maintenance of any Patent Rights in a particular country, Licensee shall provide UC with prompt written notice of such election. Upon receipt of such notice by UC, Licensee shall be released from its obligation to reimburse UC for such expenses incurred thereafter as to such Patent Rights in that country; provided, however, that expenses authorized prior to the receipt by UC of such notice shall be deemed incurred prior to the notice. In the event of Licensee’s election hereunder to no longer pay for prosecution or maintenance of any Patent Rights in a particular country, any license granted by UC to Licensee hereunder with respect to such Patent Rights in that country will terminate, and Licensee will have not rights whatsoever to exploit such Patent Rights in such country. UC will then be free, without further notice or obligation to Licensee, to grant rights in and to Patent Rights in such country to Third Parties.

 

6.4. Small Entity Designation. If Licensee, its Affiliates, any Sublicensee and/or any holder of an option to obtain a Sublicense does not qualify, or at any point during the Term ceases to qualify, as an entity entitled to pay lesser fees as provided by the USPTO (i.e., a “small entity’’) or the patent office of any other country, Licensee shall so notify UC immediately, in order to enable UC to comply with regulations regarding payment of fees with respect to Patent Rights.

 

6.5. Marking. Licensee shall, and shall cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees to, mark all Licensed Products sold or otherwise disposed of in such a manner as to conform with the patent laws and practice of the country to which such products are shipped or in which such products are sold for purposes of ensuring maximum enforceability of Patent Rights in such country.

 

7. Enforcement of Patent Rights.

 

7.1. Notice. In the event either party becomes aware of any possible or actual infringement of any Patent Rights with respect to Licensed Products in the Field and in the Territory (an “Infringement”), that party shall promptly notify the other party in writing and provide it with any available details regarding such Infringement.

 

7.2. Suit by Licensee. Licensee shall have the first right, but not the obligation, to take action in the prosecution, prevention, or termination of any Infringement. Before Licensee commences an action with respect to any Infringement, Licensee shall consider in good faith the views of UC and potential effects on the public interest in making its decision whether to sue. Should Licensee elect to bring suit against an infringer, Licensee shall keep UC reasonably informed of the progress of the action and shall give UC a reasonable opportunity in advance to consult with Licensee and offer its views about major decisions affecting the litigation. Licensee shall give careful consideration to those views, but shall have the right to control the action; provided, however, that if Licensee fails to defend in good faith the validity and/or enforceability of the Patent Rights in the action or, or if Licensee’s license to a Valid Claim in the suit terminates, UC may elect to take control of the action pursuant to Section 7.3. Should Licensee elect to bring suit against an infringer, UC agrees to cooperate with and assist Licensee as reasonably necessary for Licensee to properly assert its claims. Any and all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by UC in conjunction with its cooperation with Licensee at Licensee’s request related to the prosecution, adjudication and/or settlement of such suit, including any related appeals, shall be paid for entirely by Licensee and Licensee shall hold UC free, clear and harmless from and against any and all such expenses. The expenses of such suit or suits that Licensee elects to bring, including any expenses of UC incurred in conjunction with the prosecution of such suits or the settlement thereof, shall be paid for entirely by Licensee and Licensee shall hold UC free, clear and harmless from and against any and all costs of such litigation, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. Licensee shall not compromise or settle such litigation without the prior written consent of UC, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. In the event Licensee exercises its right to sue pursuant to this Section 7.2, it shall first reimburse itself out of any sums recovered in such suit or in settlement thereof for all costs and expenses of every kind and character, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, necessarily incurred in the prosecution of any such suit. If, after such reimbursement, any funds shall remain from said recovery, then UC shall receive an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of such funds and the remaining ninety percent (90%) of such funds shall be retained by Licensee.

 

10

 

 

7.3. Suit by UC. If Licensee does not take action in the prosecution, prevention, or termination of any Infringement pursuant to Section 7.2 above, and has not commenced negotiations with the infringer for the discontinuance of said Infringement, within ninety (90) days after receipt of notice to Licensee by UC of the existence of an Infringement, UC may elect to do so. Should UC elect to bring suit against an infringer, Licensee shall agree to be entered as a party in the suit for jurisdictional reasons. If Licensee is joined as party plaintiff in any such suit, Licensee shall have the right to approve the counsel selected by UC to represent UC and Licensee, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld. Any and all expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by Licensee with respect to the prosecution, adjudication and/or settlement of such suit, including any related appeals, shall be paid for entirely by UC and UC shall hold Licensee free, clear and harmless from and against any and all such expenses. UC shall not compromise or settle such litigation without the prior written consent of Licensee, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. In the event UC exercises its right to sue pursuant to this Section 7.3, it shall first reimburse itself out of any sums recovered in such suit or in settlement thereof for all costs and expenses of every kind and character, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, necessarily incurred in the prosecution of any such suit. If, after such reimbursement, any funds shall remain from said recovery, then Licensee shall receive an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of such funds and the remaining ninety percent (90%) of such funds shall be retained by UC.

 

7.4. Own Counsel. Each party shall always have the right to be represented by counsel of its own selection and at its own expense in any suit instituted under this Article 7 by the other party for Infringement.

 

7.5. Cooperation. Each party agrees to cooperate fully in any action under this Article 7 that is controlled by the other party, provided that the controlling party reimburses the cooperating party promptly for any costs and expenses incurred by the cooperating party, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, in connection with providing such assistance.

 

7.6. Declaratory Judgment. If a declaratory judgment action is brought naming Licensee and/or any of its Affiliates or Sublicensees as a defendant and alleging invalidity or unenforceability of any claims within the Patent Rights, Licensee shall promptly notify UC in writing and UC may elect, upon written notice to License within thirty (30) days after UC receives notice of the commencement of such action, to take over the sole defense of the invalidity and/or unenforceability aspect of the action at its own expense.

 

8. Warranties; Limitation of Liability.

 

8.1. Compliance with Law. Licensee represents and warrants that it will comply, and will ensure that its Affiliates and Sublicensees comply, with all local, state, federal and international laws and regulations relating to the development, manufacture, use, sale and importation of Licensed Products. Without limiting the foregoing, Licensee represents and warrants, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and Sublicensees, that they shall comply with all United States laws and regulations controlling the export of certain commodities and technical data, including without limitation all Export Administration Regulations of the United States Department of Commerce. Among other things, these laws and regulations prohibit or require a license for the export of certain types of commodities and technical data to specified countries. Licensee hereby gives written assurance that it will comply with, and will cause its Affiliates and Sublicensees to comply with, all United States export control laws and regulations, that it bears sole responsibility for any violation of such laws and regulations by itself or its Affiliates or Sublicensees, and that it will indemnify, defend, and hold the lndemnitees harmless (in accordance with Section 9.1) for the consequences of any such violation.

 

8.2. UC Warranties. The UC Accelerator for Commercialization warrants that at the Effective Date (i) it has no knowledge that any Affiliate is currently working on any patents, Improvement and/or Invention Rights, and (ii) other than pursuant to the Bayh- Dole Act, there is no agreement under which the U.S. Government has any rights to the Patent Rights, Improvements and/or Invention Rights.

 

11

 

 

8.3. No Warranty.

 

8.3.1. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A WARRANTY BY UC THAT IT CAN OR WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN PATENTS ON PATENT APPLICATIONS INCLUDED IN THE PATENT RIGHTS, OR THAT ANY OF THE PATENT RIGHTS WILL AFFORD ADEQUATE OR COMMERCIALLY WORTHWHILE PROTECTION.

 

8.3.2. UC MAKES NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER AS TO THE COMMERCIAL OR SCIENTIFIC VALUE OF THE PATENT RIGHTS OR UC KNOW-HOW. UC MAKES NO REPRESENTATION THAT THE PRACTICE OF THE PATENT RIGHTS OR USE OF THE UC KNOW-HOW OR THE DEVELOPMENT, MANUFACTURE, USE, SALE OR IMPORTATION OF ANY LICENSED PRODUCT OR THE PRACTICE OF ANY LICENSED METHOD, OR ANY ELEMENT THEREOF, WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY PATENT OR PROPRIETARY RIGHTS.

 

8.3.3. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY TECHNOLOGY, PATENTS, GOODS, SERVICES, RIGHTS OR OTHER SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PARTY HEREBY DISCLAIMS WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT WITH RESPECT TO ANY AND ALL OF THE FOREGOING.

 

8.4. Limitation of Liability.

 

8.4.1. Neither party will be liable to the other, its Affiliates, in the case of Licensee any Sublicensee, or any of their Affiliates with respect to any subject matter of this Agreement under any contract, negligence, strict liability or other legal or equitable theory for (a) any indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages or lost profits or (b) cost of procurement of substitute goods, technology or services.

 

8.4.2. UC’s aggregate liability for all damages of any kind arising out of or relating to this Agreement or its subject matter under any contract, negligence, strict liability or other legal or equitable theory shall not exceed the amounts paid to UC under this Agreement

 

9. Indemnification and Insurance.

 

9.1. Indemnity.

 

9.1.1. Licensee shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless UC and its current and former directors, governing board members, trustees, officers, faculty, medical and professional staff, employees, students, and agents and their respective successors, heirs and assigns (collectively, the “lndemnitees”) from and against any claim, liability, cost, expense, damage, deficiency, loss or obligation of any kind or nature (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses of litigation), based upon, arising out of, or otherwise relating to its actions or failure to act under this Agreement or any Sublicense, including any cause of action relating to product liability concerning any product, process, or service made, used, sold or performed pursuant to any right or license granted under this Agreement other than claims caused by the negligence or wrongful conduct of UC and its Affiliates (collectively, “Claims”). Neither Licensee nor UC shall settle any Claim without the prior written consent of the other, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

12

 

 

9.1.2. Licensee shall, at its own expense, provide attorneys reasonably acceptable to UC to defend against any actions brought or filed against any lndemnitee hereunder with respect to the subject of indemnity contained herein, whether or not such actions are rightfully brought.

 

9.2. Insurance.

 

9.2.1. Beginning at the time any Licensed Product is being commercially distributed or sold (other than for the purpose of obtaining regulatory approvals) by Licensee, or by an Affiliate, Sublicensee or agent of Licensee, Licensee shall, at its sole cost and expense, procure and maintain commercial general liability insurance in amounts not less than $5,000,000 per incident and $5,000,000 annual aggregate and naming the lndemnitees as additional insureds. Licensee shall, at its sole cost and expense, procure and maintain commercial general liability insurance in the aforesaid amount as UC shall require, naming the lndemnitees as additional insureds. Such commercial general liability insurance shall provide: (a) product liability coverage and (b) broad form contractual liability coverage for Licensee’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement.

 

9.2.2. If Licensee elects to self-insure all or part of the limits described above in Section 9.2.1 (including deductibles or retentions that are in excess of $250,000 annual aggregate) such self-insurance program must be acceptable to UC and UC’s insurer in their sole discretion. The minimum amounts of insurance coverage required shall not be construed to create a limit of Licensee’s liability with respect to its indemnification obligations under this Agreement.

 

9.2.3. Licensee shall provide UC with written evidence of such insurance upon request of UC. Licensee shall provide UC with written notice at least fifteen (15) days prior to the cancellation, non-renewal or material change in such insurance. If Licensee does not obtain replacement insurance providing comparable coverage within such fifteen (15) day period, UC shall have the right to terminate this Agreement effective at the end of such fifteen (15) day period without notice or any additional waiting periods.

 

9.2.4. Licensee shall maintain such commercial general liability insurance beyond the expiration or termination of this Agreement during: (a) the period that any Licensed Product is being commercially distributed or sold by Licensee, or an Affiliate, Sublicensee or agent of Licensee; and (b) a reasonable period after the period referred to in (a) above which in no event shall be less than three (3) years.

 

10. Term and Termination.

 

10.1. Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and, unless earlier terminated as provided in this Article 10, shall continue in full force and effect until the expiration of the last to expire Valid Claim (the “Term”) or 10 years after the first commercial sale, whichever is later.

 

10.2. Termination.

 

10.2.1. Termination Without Cause. Licensee may terminate this Agreement upon sixty (60) days prior written notice to UC, in which case all payments due under this Agreement that were incurred for periods following notice of termination shall be waived.

 

13

 

 

10.2.2. Termination for Default.

 

10.2.2.1. In the event that either party commits a material breach of its obligations under this Agreement and fails to cure that breach within thirty (30) days after receiving written notice thereof, the other party may terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the party in breach.

 

10.2.2.2. If Licensee defaults in its obligations under Section 9.2 to procure and maintain insurance, then UC may terminate this Agreement immediately without notice or additional waiting period.

 

10.2.2.3. UC shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.4.

 

10.2.3. Effect of Termination.

 

10.2.3.1. Termination of Rights. Upon expiration or termination of this Agreement by either party pursuant to any of the provisions of Section 10.2:

(a)       the rights and licenses granted to Licensee under Article 2 shall terminate, all rights in and to and under the Patent Rights will revert to UC and neither Licensee nor its Affiliates may make any further use or exploitation of the valid and enforceable Patent Rights; and (b) any existing agreements that contain a Sublicense shall terminate to the extent of such Sublicense; provided, however, that, for each Sublicensee, upon termination of the Sublicense agreement with such Sublicensee, if the Sublicensee is not then in breach of its Sublicense agreement with Licensee such that Licensee would have the right to terminate such Sublicense, such Sublicensee shall have the right to seek a license from UC. UC agrees to negotiate such licenses in good faith under reasonable terms and conditions, that are no less favorable than the terms of this Agreement, and which shall not impose any representations, warranties, obligations or liabilities on UC that are not included in this Agreement.

 

10.2.3.2. Accruing Obligations. Termination or expiration of this Agreement shall not relieve the parties of obligations accruing prior to such termination or expiration, including obligations to pay amounts accruing hereunder up to the date of termination or expiration. After the date of termination or expiration (except in the case of termination by UC pursuant to Section 10.2), Licensee, its Affiliates and Sublicensees (a) may sell Licensed Products then in stock and (b) may complete the production of Licensed Products then in the process of production and sell the same; provided that, in the case of both (a) and (b), Licensee shall pay the applicable royalties and payments to UC in accordance with Article 4, provide reports and audit rights to UC pursuant to Article 5 and maintain insurance in accordance with the requirements of Section 9.2. The parties agree that the obligations in Section 4.1 (License Issuance Fee), Section 4.2 (Equity) and Section 6.2 (Patent Expenses) will accrue immediately upon execution of this Agreement by both parties, regardless of the events, invoice and payment timing details set forth therein.

 

10.2.3.3. Regulatory Filings. Licensee shall have the exclusive right to prepare and present all regulatory filings necessary or appropriate in any country and to obtain and maintain any regulatory approval required to market Licensed Products in any such country. UC agrees to reasonably cooperate and assist Licensee in its regulatory filling if reasonable requested by Licensee in order to perfect its regulatory filings and approvals. Licensee shall solely own all right, title and interest in and to all such regulatory approvals and filings; provided, however, that in the event Licensee terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.2.1 or UC terminates this Agreement pursuant to any of the provisions of Section 10.2, Licensee shall promptly provide UC with the right to reference, cross-reference, review, have access to, incorporate and use all documents and other materials filed by or on behalf of Licensee and its Affiliates with any Regulatory Authority in furtherance of applications for regulatory approval in the relevant country with respect to Licensed Products. UC shall be entitled to freely use and to grant others the right to use all such materials and documents delivered pursuant to this Section 10.3.3.

 

14

 

 

10.2.4. Survival. The parties’ respective rights, obligations and duties under Articles 5, 9, 10 and 11 and Sections 8.2 and 8.3, as well as any rights, obligations and duties which by their nature extend beyond the expiration or termination of this Agreement, shall survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. In addition, Licensee’s obligations under Section 4.6 with respect to Sublicenses granted prior to expiration or termination of the Agreement shall survive such expiration or termination.

 

10.2.5. Successor to Licensee. Any successor-in-interest to Licensee shall agree in writing to accept the terms of this Agreement.

 

11. Miscellaneous.

 

11.1. Preference for United State Industry. During the period of exclusivity of this license in the United States, Licensee shall comply with 37 C.F.R. § 401.14 (i) or any successor rule or regulation.

 

11.2. No Security Interest. Licensee shall not enter into any agreement under which Licensee grants to or otherwise creates in any third party a security interest in this Agreement or any of the rights granted to Licensee herein. Any grant or creation of a security interest purported or attempted to be made in violation of the terms of this Section 11.2 shall be null and void and of no legal effect.

 

11.3. Use of Name. Except as provided below , Licensee shall not , and shall ensu r e that its Affiliates and Sublicensees shall not , use or register the name UC (alone or as part of another n ame) or any logos, seals, insignia or other words , names , symbols or devices that identify UC or any UC school, unit, division or affiliate (“UC Names ) for any purpose except with the prior written approval of, and in accordance with restr i ctions requ i red by, UC . Without limiting the foregoing , Licensee shall , and shall ensure that its Affiliates and Sublicensees shall , cease all use of UC Names on the termination or expiration of this Agreement except as otherwise approved by UC . T h is restriction shall not apply to any information required by law to be d i sclosed to any governmental ent i ty .

 

11.4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement is the sole agreement with respec t to the subject matter hereof and except as expressly set forth herein , supersedes all other agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to the same .

 

11.5. Notices. Unless otherwise specifically provided, all notices required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in writing and may be delivered personally , or may be sent by facsimile , expedited delivery or certified ma i l , return receipt requested , to the following addresses , unless the parties are subsequently notified of any change of address in accordance w i th this Section 11.5 :

 

In the case of UC:

 

Director of Intellectual Property

University of Cin c innati

P . 0. Box 210829

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0829

patents@uc.edu

 

In the case of Licensee:

 

Hoth Therapeutics

1 Rockefeller Pla z a , 10th Floor Suite 1039

NY , NY 10020

(201) 446-7900

 

15

 

 

11.6. Governing Law and Jurisdiction. This Agreement will be governed by , and construed in accordance with, the substantive laws of the State of Ohio, without g i ving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision , except that quest i ons affec t ing the construction and effect of any patent shall be determined by the law of the country i n which the patent shall have been granted . Any action , suit or other proceed i ng arising under or relating to this Agreement (a “Suit”) shall be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Ohio, and the parties hereby consent to the sole jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the State of Ohio. Each party agrees not to raise any objection at any time to the laying or maintaining of the venue of any Suit in any of the specified courts, irrevocably waives any claim that Suit has been brought in any inconvenient forum and further irrevocably waives the right to object, with respect to any Suit, that such court does not have any jurisdiction over such party.

 

11.7. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

 

11.8. Headings. Section and subsection headings are inserted for convenience of reference only and so not form a part of this Agreement.

 

11.9. Counterparts. The parties may execute this Agreement in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but both of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Transmission by facsimile or electronic mail of an executed counterpart of this Agreement shall be deemed to constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart. If by electronic mail, the executed Agreement must be delivered in a .pdf format.

 

11.10. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or canceled, and any of the terms may be waived, only by a written instrument executed by each party or, in the case of waiver, by the party waiving compliance. The delay or failure of either party at any time or times to require performance of any provisions hereof shall in no manner affect the rights at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by either party of any condition or of the breach of any term contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct, or otherwise, in any one or more instances, sh.all be deemed to be, or considered as, a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or of the breach of such term or any other term of this Agreement.

 

11.11. Force Majeure. Except for monetary obligations hereunder, neither party will be responsible for delays resulting from causes beyond the reasonable control of such party, including fire, explosion, flood, war, strike, or riot, provided that the nonperforming party uses commercially reasonable efforts to avoid or remove such causes of nonperformance and continues performance under this Agreement with reasonable dispatch whenever such causes are removed.

 

11.12. No Agency or Partnership. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give either party the right to bind the other, or be deemed to constitute either party as agent for or partner of the other or any third party.

 

11.13. Assignments and Successors. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the consent of the other, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, except that each party may, without such consent, assign this Agreement and the rights, obligations and interests of such party to any purchaser of all or substantially· all of its assets or all of its equity, or to any successor corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation of such party with or into such corporation; provided, in each case, that the assignee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. Any assignment purported or attempted to be made in violation of the terms of th i s Section 11 . 13 shall be null and void and of no legal effect.

 

16

 

 

11.14. Interpretation . Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that: (a) it and/or its counsel reviewed and negotiated the terms and provisions of this Agreement and has contributed t o its revision; (b) the rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement ; (c) the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be construed fairly as to both parties hereto and not in favor of or against either party, regardless of which party was generally responsible for the preparation of this Agreement ; and (d) the use of include,” includes , ” or including herein shall not be limiting and “or” shall not be exclusive .

 

11.15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is or becomes invalid or is ruled invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction or is deemed unenforceable , it is the intention of the parties that the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected .

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized rep r esentatives as of the date first written above .

 

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI HOTH THERAPEUTICS
   
/s/ Geoffrey Pinsk   /s/ Robb Knie  
   
Title: Director, Tech Transfer Title: President, CEO
   
Date: 5/14/2018 Date: 5/14/2018

 

17

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, as co owner of the Patent Rights licensed herein, acknowledges and approves this Agreement.

 

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (Co-owner)

 

/s/ Margaret Hostetter, M.D.  

 

Title: Director, Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation

 

Date: 5/18/2018

 

18

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

[***]

 

19

Exhibit 10.6

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated August [___], 2017, among HOTH THERAPEUTICS INC., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), the current stockholders of the Company listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Existing Stockholders”) and the Series A Investors (as defined herein) of the Company listed on Schedule B hereto. The Existing Stockholders, the Series A Investors and any other stockholder of the Company who agrees in writing to become bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement are herein referred to collectively as the “Stockholders” and each individually as a “Stockholder”.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Existing Stockholders are parties to that certain Stockholders Agreement dated as of June 30, 2017;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Private Placement Memorandum, dated the date hereof (the “Memorandum”), among the Company and the investors executing the Subscription Agreement thereto (the “Series A Investors”), the Company proposes to issue and sell to such Series A Investors up to an aggregate of $5,000,000 in units (the “Units”) which Units consist of (i) 100,000 shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and (ii) warrants to purchase twenty-five (25%) percent of the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) issuable upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock;

 

WHEREAS, each Stockholder owns the respective number of Shares (as hereinafter defined) of the Company (after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Memorandum) set forth opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedules A and B hereto;

 

WHEREAS, this Agreement is being entered into contemporaneously with, and as a condition to, the Series A Investors’ consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Memorandum; and

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.              Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Affiliate” means any Person who is an “affiliate” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 

“Agreement” means this Agreement as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

 

“CEO Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b)(ii) of this Agreement.

 

“Articles” means the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as in effect on the date hereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified.

 

1

 

 

“Charter Documents” means the Articles and the Bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date hereof, as the same may be amended, supplemented or modified.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute thereto.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any similar agency then having jurisdiction to enforce the Securities Act.

 

“Common Stock” means the Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company and any other common stock of the Company or any other capital stock into which such stock is reclassified or reconstituted, whether by way of recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization or otherwise.

 

“Common Stock Equivalents” means any security or obligation which is by its terms convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock, including, without limitation the Preferred Stock, and any option, warrant or other subscription or purchase right with respect to Common Stock or any such convertible, exercisable or exchangeable security or obligation.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

“Company Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

“Company Option Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

“Designating Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Drag-Along Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(g)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Drag-Along Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(g)(ii) of this Agreement.

 

“Drag-Along Rights” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(g)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Drag-Along Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(g)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Eligible Investor” means a Stockholder that is (i) a Series A Investor who or which, at the time in question, holds any of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Excess Offered Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

2

 

 

“Excluded Securities” means the following:

a.        the issuance of shares of Common Stock (or options to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock) to employees, consultants, officers or directors of the Company or any Affiliate or subsidiary of the Company pursuant to a stock option plan or restricted stock plan or arrangement, which issuance of shares of Common Stock (or options to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock) are approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors;

 

b.       the issuance of any shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of the warrants sold concurrently with the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

c.        The issuance of shares of Common Stock in a Qualified Initial Public Offering or merger of the Company with or acquisition of the Company by an entity whose capital stock is traded on a national securities exchange;

 

d.       the issuance of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities to financial institutions or other lenders or lessors in connection with any loan, commercial credit arrangement, equipment financing, commercial property lease or similar transaction that is primarily for purposes other than raising equity capital for the Company or any of its Affiliates and are approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors;

 

e.        the issuance of any Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalent or other securities pursuant to any capital reorganization, reclassification or similar transaction that is primarily for purposes other than raising equity capital for the Company or any of its Affiliates and that are approved a majority of the entire Board of Directors;

 

f.        the issuance of any Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalent or other securities to an entity as a component of any business relationship with such entity for the purpose of (1) joint venture, technology licensing or development activities, (2) distribution, supply or manufacture of the Company’s products or services or (3) any other arrangement involving corporate partners that is primarily for purposes other than raising equity capital for the Company or any of its Affiliates and, in each of the foregoing cases, is approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors; or

 

g.        the issuance of Common Stock, Common Stock Equivalents or other securities in any transaction primarily for the purpose of raising equity capital for the Company or any of its Affiliates to investment bankers, placement agents or advisors in connection with the issuance of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Existing Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

“Fair Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b) of this Agreement.

 

“Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation, state, city, locality or other political subdivision thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, and any corporation or other entity owned or controlled, through stock or capital ownership or otherwise, by any of the foregoing.

 

“Investors” means the Existing Stockholders, the Series A Investors and any Transferees of any of such Shares, in any case to whom Shares are Transferred in accordance with Section 2.4 of this Agreement, and the term “Investor” shall mean any such Person.

 

“Involuntary Transfer” means any Transfer, proceeding or action by or in which a Stockholder shall be deprived or divested of any right, title or interest in or to any of the Shares, including, without limitation, (i) any seizure under levy of attachment or execution, (ii) any Transfer in connection with bankruptcy (whether pursuant to the filing of a voluntary or an involuntary petition under the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, or any modifications or revisions thereto) or other court proceeding to a debtor in possession, trustee in bankruptcy or receiver or other officer or agency, (iii) any Transfer to a state or to a public officer or agency pursuant to any statute pertaining to escheat or abandoned property, (iv) any Transfer pursuant to a divorce or separation agreement or a final decree of a court in a divorce action and (v) any Transfer resulting from the death of a Stockholder.

 

3

 

 

“Involuntary Transferee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Liens” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other) or preference, priority, right or other security interest or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever (excluding preferred stock and equity-related preferences).

 

“Memorandum” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Offer Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Offered Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Offering Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, limited liability company, Governmental Authority or other entity of any kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

 

“Placement Agent” means Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

 

“Preferred Stock” means any shares of preferred stock of the Company.

 

“Price Negotiation Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Prior Stockholders Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

“Pubco Transaction” means (i) a reverse merger or similar transaction between the Company and a corporation whose securities are publicly traded in the U.S. or other mutually agreed upon jurisdiction (“Pubco”) by the Company and the Placement Agent, (ii) the quotation (a “Public Quotation”) of the Company’s securities for purchase and sale on a U.S. quotation service or (iii) any filing with an applicable regulatory body which will result in the Company becoming an entity whose securities are traded on a public exchange in the U.S. or other mutually agreed upon jurisdiction ( any of the foregoing, a “Pubco Transaction”).

 

Qualified Initial Public Offering means the Company’s offering of its securities for sale or resale pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act, with aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of no less than $5,000,000.

 

“Rightholder(s)” has the respective meanings set forth in Sections 3.1(c)(i) and 3.2(a) of this Agreement.

 

4

 

 

“Rightholder Option Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Sale Majority” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(g)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Selling Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Series A Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations, Rights and Preferences for the Series A Preferred Stock filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware, as such may be amended, restated and/or supplemented on or after the date hereof.

 

“Series A Investor” means an Investor who owns any shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Series A Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Series A Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series A Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

“Shares” means, with respect to each Stockholder, all shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, owned by such Stockholder; provided, however, for the purposes of any computation of the number of “Shares” owned by any Stockholder pursuant to the definition of “Eligible Investor” and any of Sections 2, 3, 6 and 8.3, all outstanding Common Stock Equivalents owned by any Stockholder shall be deemed converted, exercised or exchanged as applicable and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion, exercise or exchange shall be deemed outstanding and owned by such Stockholder, whether or not such conversion, exercise or exchange has actually been effected.

 

“Stated Value” means with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, $1.00 per share, subject to appropriate and proportionate adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits and other subdivisions and combinations of, and recapitalizations and like occurrences.

 

“Stock Option Plan” means any stock option plan of the Company pursuant to which Common Stock or options to purchase shares of Common Stock in such amounts as are determined from time to time by the Board of Directors in its discretion are reserved and available for grant to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

“Stockholders” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Stockholders Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

 

“Stockholders Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

“Subsequent Financing” has the meaning set forth in Section 4 of this Agreement.

 

“Tag-Along Rightholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(f)(i) of this Agreement.

 

5

 

 

“Third-Party Purchaser” means any Person to whom any Stockholder wishes to Transfer all or any portion of its or his Shares other than a Person which is a Permitted Transferee of such Stockholder.

 

“Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

 

“Transferred Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a) of this Agreement.

 

“Transferring Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(f)(i) of this Agreement.

 

“Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

 

2. Restrictions on Transfer of Shares.

 

2.1               Limitation on Transfer. No Stockholder shall sell, give, assign, hypothecate, pledge, encumber, grant a security interest in or otherwise dispose of (whether by operation of law or otherwise) (each a “Transfer”) any Shares or any right, title or interest therein or thereto, except in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2.4. Any attempt to Transfer any Shares or any rights thereunder in violation of the preceding sentence shall be null and void ab initio .

 

2.2               Permitted Transfers. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, but subject to Sections 2.1, 2.3 and 2.4, at any time each Stockholder may Transfer all or a portion of his Shares to any of its Affiliates, to any other Investor or to any Affiliate of any other Investor (the Persons referred to in the preceding clause are each referred to hereinafter as a “Permitted Transferee”). A Permitted Transferee of Shares pursuant to this Section 2.2 may Transfer its Shares pursuant to this Section 2.2 only to the Transferor Stockholder or to a Person that is a Permitted Transferee of such Transferor Stockholder.

 

2.3               Permitted Transfer Procedures. If any Stockholder wishes to Transfer Shares to a Permitted Transferee under Section 2.2, such Stockholder shall give notice to the Company of its intention to make any Transfer permitted under Section 2.2 not less than ten (10) days prior to effecting such Transfer, which notice shall state the name and address of each Permitted Transferee to whom such Transfer is proposed, the relationship of such Permitted Transferee to such Stockholder, and the number of Shares proposed to be Transferred to such Permitted Transferee.

 

2.4               Transfers in Compliance with Law; Substitution of Transferee. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Transfer may be made unless (a) the Transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement pursuant to an instrument substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, (b) the Transfer complies in all respects with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and (c) the Transfer complies in all respects with applicable federal and state securities laws, including, without limitation, the Securities Act. If requested by the Company, an opinion of counsel to such Transferring Stockholder shall be supplied to the Company at such Transferring Stockholder’s expense, to the effect that such Transfer complies with the applicable federal and state securities laws; provided, that no opinion of counsel shall be required for any Transfer by any Investor to any Permitted Transferee of such Investor. Upon becoming a party to this Agreement, (i) a Permitted Transferee of an Investor shall be substituted for, and shall enjoy the same rights and be subject to the same obligations as, the Transferring Stockholder hereunder with respect to the Shares Transferred to such Transferee.

 

6

 

 

3. Right of First Refusal, Drag-Along and Tag-Along Rights.

 

3.1 Proposed Voluntary Transfers.

 

(a)              Offering Notice. Subject to Section 2, if any Stockholder, (a “Selling Stockholder”) wishes to Transfer all or any portion of its or his Shares, to any Third-Party Purchaser, such Selling Stockholder shall offer such Shares first to the Company by sending written notice (an “Offering Notice”) to the Company, which shall state: (a) the name and address of the Third-Party Purchaser; the number of Shares proposed to be Transferred (the “Offered Securities”); (c) the proposed purchase price per Share for the Offered Securities (the “Offer Price”) and the type of consideration offered (including, if the consideration consists in whole or in part of non-cash consideration, such information available to the Selling Stockholder as is necessary for the Company and the Rightholders (as hereinafter defined) under this Section 3.1 to analyze the economic value and investment risk of such non-cash consideration); and (d) the other terms and conditions of such sale. Upon delivery of the Offering Notice, such offer shall be irrevocable unless and until the rights of first offer provided for herein shall have been waived or shall have expired. The Company shall promptly deliver a copy of the Offering Notice to each of the Rightholders under this Section 3.1. The Offering Notice shall include a copy of the agreement between the Selling Stockholder and the Third-Party Purchaser pertaining to the proposed Transfer of the Offered Securities to the Third-Party Purchaser.

 

(b)          Company Option; Exercise. For a period of fifteen (15) days after the giving of the Offering Notice pursuant to Section 3.1(a) (the “Company Option Period”), the Company shall have the right (the “Company Option”) but not the obligation to purchase any or all of the Offered Securities at a purchase price per share equal to the Offer Price and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Offering Notice, except that the Company may, at its option, substitute cash consideration for non-cash consideration (other than notes) based upon the value of such non- cash consideration (as determined in good faith by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, which determination must include the Series A Preferred Director). The right of the Company to purchase any or all of the Offered Securities under this Section 3.1(b) shall be exercisable by delivering written notice of the exercise thereof, prior to the expiration of the Company Option Period, to the Selling Stockholder, with a copy to the Eligible Investors, which notice shall state the number of Offered Securities, respectively, proposed to be purchased by the Company. The failure of the Company to respond within the Company Option Period shall be deemed to be a waiver of the Company Option, provided that the Company may waive its rights under this Section 3.1(b) prior to the expiration of the Company Option Period by giving written notice to the Selling Stockholder, with a copy to the Eligible Investors.

 

(c)           Rightholder Option; Exercise.

 

(i)         If the Company does not elect to purchase all of the Offered Securities, then for a period of thirty (30) days after the earlier to occur of (a) the expiration of the Company Option Period and (b) the date upon which the Selling Stockholder shall have received written notice from the Company of its exercise of the Company Option pursuant to Section 3.1(b) or its waiver thereof (the “Rightholder Option Period”), each of the Eligible Investors who is not a Selling Stockholder (for the purpose of Section 3.1, (each, a “Rightholder” and collectively, the “Rightholders”) shall have the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the remaining Offered Securities at a per share purchase price equal to the Offer Price and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Offering Notice, except that each Rightholder may, at its option, substitute cash consideration for non-cash consideration (other than notes) based upon the value of such non-cash consideration (as determined in good faith by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, which determination must include the Series A Preferred Director). Each such Rightholder shall have the right to purchase that percentage of the Offered Securities determined by dividing (i) the total number of Shares then owned by such Rightholder by (ii) the total number of Shares then owned by all such Rightholders. If any Rightholder does not fully subscribe for the number or amount of Offered Securities it or he is entitled to purchase, then each other fully participating Rightholder shall have the right to purchase that percentage of the Offered Securities not so subscribed for (for the purposes of this Section 3.1(c), the “Excess Offered Securities”) determined by dividing (x) the total number of Shares then owned by such fully participating Rightholder by (y) the total number of Shares then owned by all fully participating Rightholders who elected to purchase Excess Offered Securities. The procedure described in the preceding sentence shall be repeated until there are no remaining Excess Offered Securities. If the Company and/or the Rightholders do not purchase all of the Offered Securities pursuant to Section 3.1(b) and/or Section 3.1(c), then the Selling Stockholder may, subject to Section 3.1(f), sell the Offered Securities to a Third-Party Purchaser in accordance with Section 3.1(e).

 

7

 

 

(ii)         The right of each Rightholder to purchase all of the remaining Offered Securities under subsection (i) above shall be exercisable by delivering written notice of the exercise thereof, prior to the expiration of the Rightholder Option Period, to the Selling Stockholder with a copy to the Company. Each such notice shall state (a) the number of Shares held by such Rightholder and (b) the number of Shares that such Rightholder is willing to purchase pursuant to this Section 3.1(c). The failure of a Rightholder to respond within the Rightholder Option Period to the Selling Stockholder shall be deemed to be a waiver of such Rightholder’s rights under subsection (i) above, provided that each Rightholder may waive its rights under subsection (ii) above prior to the expiration of the Rightholder Option Period by giving written notice to the Selling Stockholder, with a copy to the Company.

 

(d)            Closing. The closing of the purchases of Offered Securities subscribed for by the Company under Section 3.1(b) and/or the Rightholders under Section 3.1(c) shall be held at the executive offices of the Company at 11:00 a.m., local time, on the 60th day after the giving of the Offering Notice pursuant to Section 3.1(a) or at such other time and place as the parties to the transaction may agree. At such closing, the Selling Stockholder shall deliver certificates representing the Offered Securities, duly endorsed for Transfer and accompanied by all requisite Transfer taxes, if any, and such Offered Securities shall be free and clear of any Liens (other than those arising hereunder and those attributable to actions by the purchasers thereof) and the Selling Stockholder shall so represent and warrant, and shall further represent and warrant that it is the sole beneficial and record owner of such Offered Securities. The Company and/or each Rightholder, as the case may be, purchasing Offered Securities shall deliver at the closing consideration to be paid in full and the cash portion of such consideration shall be paid in immediately available funds for the Offered Securities purchased by it or him. At such closing, all of the parties to the transaction shall execute such additional documents as are otherwise necessary or appropriate.

 

(e)        Sale to the Third-Party Purchaser. Unless the Company and/or the Rightholders elect to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Offered Securities under Sections 3.1(b) and 3.1(c), the Selling Stockholder may, subject to Section 3.1(f), sell all, but not less than all, the Offered Securities to the Third-Party Purchaser and not to any assignee or designee of such Third-Party Purchaser at a purchase price per share equal to the Offer Price and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Offering Notice; provided, however, that such sale is bona fide and consummated within sixty (60) days after the earlier to occur of (i) the waiver by the Company and all of the Rightholders of their options to purchase the Offered Securities and (ii) the expiration of the Rightholder Option Period; and provided further, that such sale shall not be consummated unless and until (x) such Third-Party Purchaser shall represent in writing to the Company and each Rightholder that it is aware of the rights of the Company and the Stockholders contained in this Agreement and (y) prior to the purchase by such Third-Party Purchaser of any of such Offered Securities, such Third-Party Purchaser shall become a party to this Agreement and shall agree to be bound by the terms and conditions hereof in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof. If such sale is not consummated within such sixty (60) day period for any reason, then the restrictions provided for herein shall again become effective, and no Transfer of such Offered Securities may be made thereafter by the Selling Stockholder without again offering the same to the Company and the Rightholders in accordance with this Section 3.1.

 

(f) Tag-Along Rights.

 

(i)         If any Stockholder (a “Transferring Stockholder”) wishes to Transfer all or any portion of its or his Shares to a Third-Party Purchaser, then each of the Stockholders (other than the Transferring Stockholder) (each, a “Tag-Along Rightholder”) shall have the right to sell to such Third-Party Purchaser, upon the same terms and conditions as the Transferring Stockholder, up to that number of Shares held by such Tag-Along Rightholder equal to that percentage of the number of Shares proposed to be Transferred by the Transferring Stockholder determined by dividing (i) the total number of Shares then owned by such Tag-Along Rightholder by (ii) the sum of (x) the total number of Shares then owned by all such Tag-Along Rightholders exercising their rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(f) and (y) the total number of Shares then owned by the Transferring Stockholder. To the extent that the Tag-Along Rightholders exercise their rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(f), the number of Shares proposed to be Transferred by the Transferring Stockholder shall be reduced accordingly.

 

8

 

 

(ii)         The Transferring Stockholder shall give written notice to each Tag-Along Rightholder of each proposed sale by it of Shares which gives rise to the rights of the Tag-Along Rightholders set forth in this Section 3.1(f) at least fifteen (15) days prior to the proposed consummation of such sale, setting forth the name of such Transferring Stockholder, the number of Shares proposed to be sold, the name and address of the proposed Third-Party Purchaser, the proposed amount and form of consideration and terms and conditions of payment offered by such Third-Party Purchaser, the percentage of Shares that such Tag-Along Rightholder may sell to such Third-Party Purchaser (determined in accordance with Section 3.1(f)(i)), and a representation that such Third-Party Purchaser has been informed of the “tag-along” rights provided for in this Section 3.1(f) and has agreed to purchase Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. The tag-along rights provided by this Section 3.1(f) must be exercised by any Tag-Along Rightholder wishing to sell Shares pursuant to this Section 3.1(f) within ten (10) days following receipt of the notice required by the preceding sentence, by delivery of a written notice to the Transferring Stockholder indicating such Tag-Along Rightholder’s wish to exercise its rights and specifying the number of Shares (up to the maximum number of Shares owned by such Tag-Along Rightholder required to be purchased by such Third-Party Purchaser) it wishes to sell. The failure of a Tag-Along Rightholder to respond within such 10-day period shall be deemed to be a waiver of such Tag-Along Rightholder’s rights under this Section 3.1(f), provided that any Tag-Along Rightholder may waive its rights under this Section 3.1(f) prior to the expiration of such 10-day period by giving written notice to the Transferring Stockholder, with a copy to the Company. If a Third-Party Purchaser fails to purchase Shares from any Tag-Along Rightholder that has properly exercised its tag-along rights pursuant to this Section 3.1(f)(ii), then the Transferring Stockholder shall not be permitted to consummate the proposed sale of his or its Shares unless and until, simultaneous with such sale, the Transferring Stockholder purchases from such Tag-Along Rightholder the number of Shares such Tag-Along Rightholder is entitled to sell under this Section 3.1(f) on the same terms and conditions as the Transferring Stockholder is Transferring his or its Shares to the Third-Party Purchaser.

 

(g) Drag-Along Rights.

 

(i)       If the Stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of the Shares (the “Sale Majority”) approve a bona fide sale or exchange, whether directly or pursuant to a sale, merger, consolidation or other business combination, of all or substantially all of the Shares to a Third-Party Purchaser (a “Drag-Along Event”), then the Stockholders comprising a part of the Sale Majority shall have the right, subject to all of the provisions of this Section 3.1(g) (“Drag-Along Rights”), to require all of the other Stockholders (the “Drag-Along Stockholders” and each individually a “Drag-Along Stockholder”) to (A) if such Drag-Along Event is structured as a sale of Shares, sell, Transfer and deliver or cause to be sold, Transferred and delivered to such Third- Party Purchaser all Shares and Common Stock Equivalents owned by the Drag-Along Stockholders or (B) if such Drag-Along Event is structured as a merger, consolidation or other business combination requiring the consent or approval of the Drag-Along Stockholders, vote their Shares in accordance with the written instructions of the Stockholders comprising a part of the Sale Majority in favor thereof, and otherwise consent to and raise no objection to such transaction, and waive any dissenters’ rights, appraisal rights or similar rights which the Drag-Along Stockholders may have in connection therewith; and, in any such event, subject to the provisions of subsection (iii) of this Section 3.1(g), the Drag-Along Stockholders shall agree to and shall be bound by the same terms, provisions and conditions in respect of the Drag-Along Event. The provisions of Section 3.1(f) shall not apply to any transaction to which this Section 3.1(g) applies to the extent the Stockholders comprising a part of the Sale Majority shall have in fact exercised their Drag-Along Rights under this Section 3.1(g).

 

9

 

 

(ii)       If the Stockholders comprising a part of the Sale Majority desire to exercise their Drag-Along Rights, they shall give written notice to the Drag-Along Stockholders (“Drag-Along Notice”) of the Drag-Along Event which gives rise to the obligations of the Drag-Along Stockholders set forth in this Section 3.1(g), at least thirty (30) days prior to the proposed consummation of the transaction. The Drag-Along Notice shall set forth (A) the name and address of the Third-Party Purchaser, (B) the date on which such transaction is proposed to be consummated, (C) the proposed amount and form of consideration and terms and conditions of payment offered by the Third-Party Purchaser and (D) a representation that the Third-Party Purchaser has been informed of the Drag-Along Rights provided for in this Section 3.1(g) and has agreed to purchase Shares in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(iii)       In connection with a Drag-Along Event pursuant to this Section 3.1(g), the Drag-Along Stockholders shall make substantially the same representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities and other similar agreements as the Stockholders comprising a part of the Sale Majority agree to make in connection with the proposed Transfer by them relating to the ownership of and title to their Shares. No Drag-Along Stockholder shall be subject to the requirements of this Section 3.1(g) with respect to a Drag-Along Event if such Drag-Along Event (A) requires that the payment with respect to each share of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, held by such Drag-Along Stockholder is not in accordance with the Articles if such Drag-Along Event were deemed a “Liquidation” or “Acquisition Transaction” for purposes of Article IV, Section 3 thereof (or such equivalent Article and Section thereof), (B) provides that such Drag-Along Stockholder will not receive the same form of consideration or the same per share consideration for their shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, as all other holders of such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, or (C) requires such Drag-Along Stockholder to agree to any indemnification obligations which (1) are for breaches of representations and warranties of any Person other than the Company or such Drag-Along Stockholder, (2) provide for indemnification other than in proportion to such Drag-Along Stockholder’s ownership interest in the Company, determined on a fully-diluted basis as-converted to Common Stock basis (excluding: (a) all Shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of an option wherein such right of exercise has not yet vested as of the closing of the Drag-Along Event, (b) all Shares exercisable pursuant to either a warrant or an option for which the exercise price is greater than the fair market value of the underlying Shares as of the closing of the Drag-Along Event; and (c) all options and Shares reserved for the issuance of options under the Stock Option Plan for which options have not yet issued as of the closing of the Drag-Along Event), and (3) are not limited to the value of the consideration actually received by such Drag-Along Stockholder pursuant to such Drag-Along Event (excluding liability for such Drag-Along Stockholder’s own fraud or malfeasance). In addition and without limitation to the foregoing, no Drag-Along Stockholder shall be subject to the requirements of this Section 3.1(g) with respect to a Drag-Along Event if such Drag-Along Stockholder is required to provide indemnification in connection with such Drag-Along Event and any of the Stockholders comprising a part of the Sale Majority are not required to provide indemnification or such Drag- Along Stockholder’s indemnification obligations in connection with such Drag-Along Event are upon terms and conditions which are less favorable to such Drag-Along Stockholder than the terms and conditions upon which any of the Stockholders comprising a part of the Sale Majority are obligated to provide indemnification in connection with such Drag-Along Event.

 

3.2           Involuntary Transfers.

 

(a)      Rights of First Offer upon Involuntary Transfer. If an Involuntary Transfer of any Shares (the “Transferred Shares”) owned by any Stockholder other than an Eligible Investor shall occur, then the Company and the Stockholders other than the Stockholder who suffered or will suffer such Involuntary Transfer (for the purpose of Section 3.2, each, a “Rightholder” and collectively, the “Rightholders”) shall have the same rights as specified in Sections 3.1(b) and 3.1(c), respectively, with respect to such Transferred Shares as if the Involuntary Transfer had been a proposed voluntary Transfer by a Selling Stockholder and shall be governed by Section 3.1 except that (i) the time periods shall run from the date of receipt by the Company of actual notice of the Involuntary Transfer (and the Company shall immediately give notice to the Rightholders of the date of receipt of such notice), (ii) such rights shall be exercised by notice to the Transferee of such Transferred Shares (the “Involuntary Transferee”) rather than to the Stockholder who suffered or will suffer the Involuntary Transfer and (iii) the purchase price per Transferred Share shall be agreed upon by the Involuntary Transferee and the Company and/or the purchasing Rightholders purchasing a majority of the Transferred Shares, as the case may be; provided, however, that if such parties fail to agree as to such per share purchase price within thirty (30) days after the date on which the Company or the last of the Rightholders exercised its rights under this Section 3.2(a), whichever is later (such period, the “Price Negotiation Period”), the per share purchase price shall be the Fair Value thereof as determined in accordance with Section 3.2(b).

 

10

 

 

(b)            Fair Value. If the parties fail to agree upon the per share purchase price of the Transferred Shares in accordance with Section 3.2(a) hereof, then the Company or the Rightholders, as the case may be, shall purchase the Transferred Shares at a per share purchase price equal to the Fair Value (as hereinafter defined) thereof. The Fair Value of the Transferred Shares shall be determined by a panel of three independent appraisers, which shall be nationally recognized investment banking firms or nationally recognized experts experienced in the valuation of corporations engaged in the business conducted by the Company. Within five (5) Business Days after the last day of the Price Negotiation Period or such earlier date as the applicable parties determine that they cannot agree as to the per share purchase price, the Involuntary Transferee and the Board of Directors (in the case of a purchase by the Company), or the purchasing Rightholders purchasing a majority of the Transferred Shares being purchased by the purchasing Rightholders (if the Company is not purchasing any Transferred Shares), or the Board of Directors and such purchasing Rightholders jointly (in the case of a purchase by the Company and Rightholders), as the case may be, shall each designate one such appraiser that is willing and able to conduct such determination. If either the Involuntary Transferee or the Board of Directors or the purchasing Rightholders or both, as the case may be, fails to make such designation within such period, then the other party that has made the designation shall have the right to make the designation on its behalf. The two appraisers designated shall, within a period of five (5) Business Days after the designation of the second appraiser, designate a mutually acceptable third appraiser. The three appraisers shall conduct their determination as promptly as practicable, and the Fair Value of the Transferred Shares shall be the average of the determination of the two appraisers that are closer to each other than to the determination of the third appraiser, which third determination shall be discarded; provided, however, that if the determination of two appraisers are equally close to the determination of the third appraiser, then the Fair Value of the Transferred Shares shall be the average of the determination of all three appraisers. Such determination shall be final and binding on the Involuntary Transferee, the Company and the Rightholders. The Involuntary Transferee shall be responsible for the fees and expenses of the appraiser designated by or on behalf of it, and the Company or the purchasing Rightholders (if both the Company and the purchasing Rightholders), or the purchasing Rightholders (if the Company is not purchasing any Transferred Shares) for the fees and expenses of the appraiser designated by or on behalf of the Board of Directors or the purchasing Rightholders (if the Company is not purchasing any Transferred Shares), as the case may be. The Involuntary Transferee and the Company or the purchasing Rightholders, as the case may be, shall each share half the fees and expenses of the appraiser designated by the appraisers. For purposes of this Section 3.2(b), the “Fair Value” of the Transferred Shares means the per share fair market value of such Transferred Shares determined in accordance with this Section 3.2(b) based upon all considerations that the appraisers determine to be relevant. All expenses to be shared by the Company and the purchasing Rightholders, or among the purchasing Rightholders (if the Company is not purchasing any Transferred Shares), shall be shared in proportion to the number of Transferred Shares purchased.

 

(c)            Closing. The closing of any purchase under this Section 3.2 shall be held at the offices of the Company’s legal counsel or such other location as may be designated by the Company at 11:00 a.m., local time, on the earlier to occur of (i) the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the purchase price per Transferred Share shall have been agreed upon by the Involuntary Transferee and the Company or the purchasing Rightholders, as the case may be, in accordance with Section 3.2(a)(iii), or (ii) the fifth (5 th ) Business Day after the determination of the Fair Value of the Transferred Shares in accordance with Section 3.2(b), or at such other time and place as the parties to the transaction may agree. At such closing, the Involuntary Transferee shall deliver certificates, if applicable, or other instruments or documents representing the Transferred Shares being purchased under this Section 3.2, duly endorsed with a signature guarantee for Transfer and accompanied by all requisite Transfer taxes, if any, and such Transferred Shares shall be free and clear of any Liens (other than those arising hereunder) arising through the action or inaction of the Involuntary Transferee and the Involuntary Transferee shall so represent and warrant, and further represent and warrant that it is the beneficial owner of such Transferred Shares. The Company or each Rightholder, as the case may be, purchasing such Transferred Shares shall deliver at closing payment in full in immediately available funds for such Transferred Shares. At such closing, all parties to the transaction shall execute such additional documents as are otherwise necessary or appropriate.

 

11

 

 

(d)            General. In the event that the provisions of this Section 3.2 shall be held to be unenforceable with respect to any particular Involuntary Transfer, the Company and the Rightholders shall have the rights specified in Sections 3.1(b) and 3.1(c), respectively, with respect to any Transfer by an Involuntary Transferee of such Shares, and each Rightholder agrees that any Involuntary Transfer shall be subject to such rights, in which case the Involuntary Transferee shall be deemed to be the Selling Stockholder for purposes of Section 3.1 of this Agreement and shall be bound by the provisions of Section 3.1 and other related provisions of this Agreement.

 

4.             Most Favored Nations. From the date hereof until such time that the Series A Preferred Stock is no longer outstanding, if the Company effects a subsequent financing of its equity and/or debt securities (including any securities convertible, exercisable and/or exchangeable for capital stock of the Company) (a “Subsequent Financing”), each Series A Investor may elect, in its sole discretion, to exchange all of the Series A Preferred Stock then held by such Series A Investor for the securities issued in a Subsequent Financing on a $1.00 for $1.00 basis based on the outstanding Stated Value of such Series A Preferred Stock, along with any other amounts owing thereon, at the effective price at which such securities are to be sold in such Subsequent Financing; provided, however, that this Section shall not apply with respect to (i) any Excluded Securities (as defined in the Series A Certificate of Designations) or (ii) an underwritten public offering of Common Stock.

 

5. After-Acquired Securities; Agreement to be Bound.

 

5.1         After-Acquired Securities. All of the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to all of the Shares and Common Stock Equivalents now owned or which may be issued or Transferred hereafter to a Stockholder in consequence of any additional issuance, purchase, exchange or reclassification of any of such Shares or Common Stock Equivalents, corporate reorganization, or any other form of recapitalization, consolidation, merger, share split or share dividend, or which are acquired by a Stockholder in any other manner.

 

5.2         Agreement to be Bound. The Company shall not issue any shares of capital stock or any Common Stock Equivalents to any Person not a party to this Agreement, other than any Common Stock Equivalents issued to directors, officers, employees or consultants of the Company pursuant to the Stock Option Plan, unless such Person has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement pursuant to an instrument substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B,. Upon the exercise of any Common Stock Equivalents under the Stock Option Plan, the holder of such Common Stock Equivalents shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement pursuant to an instrument substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B. Upon becoming a party to this Agreement, such Person shall be deemed to be a party to, and bound by, the provisions of this Agreement. Any issuance of Shares or any Common Stock Equivalents by the Company in violation of this Section 5.2 shall be null and void ab initio .

 

12

 

 

6. Corporate Governance.

 

6.1             General. From and after the execution of this Agreement, each Stockholder shall vote its Shares at any regular or special meeting of stockholders of the Company (a “Stockholders Meeting”) or in any written consent executed in lieu of such a meeting of stockholders (a “Written Consent”), and shall take all other actions necessary, to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 6.2 hereof).

 

6.2 Election of Directors; Number and Composition.

 

(a)          Number. Each Stockholder shall vote its Shares at any Stockholders Meeting, or act by Written Consent with respect to such Shares, and take all other actions necessary to ensure that the number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall consist of such number of directors as is authorized in accordance with the Charter Documents.

 

(b)          Composition. Each Stockholder shall vote its Shares at any Stockholders Meeting called for the purpose of filling the positions on the Board of Directors, or in any Written Consent executed for such purpose, and take all other actions necessary to ensure: (i) the nomination and election to the Board of Directors of one individual designated by the holders of at least a majority of the issued and outstanding Series A Preferred Stock (the “Series A Preferred Director”); (ii) the nomination and election to the Board of Directors of one individual who shall be the then current chief executive officer of the Company (the “CEO Director”), who shall initially be Rob Knie, (iii) the nomination and election to the Board of Directors of one individual (the “Spherix Director”) who shall be designated by Spherix Incorporated (“Spherix”) until such time as Spherix owns at least 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, who shall initially be Anthony Hayes; and (iii) the nomination and election to the Board of Directors of two individuals who are not employees, officers or directors of any of the Investors or any of their respective Affiliates, who shall initially be Vadim Mats and Ken Rice.

 

6.3 Removal and Replacement of Directors.

 

(a)          Replacement of Directors. If at any time, a vacancy is created on the Board of Directors by reason of the incapacity, death, removal or resignation of a director designated by the Stockholders entitled to designate directors under Section 6.2(b) (each a “Designating Party”), then the Designating Party shall promptly designate a new director and, after written notice to each of the other Stockholders and the Company of such new designee, each Stockholder shall vote all of its or his Shares so as to elect such new designee to the Board of Directors.

 

(b)          Removal of Directors. Each Designating Party may remove its designated director at any time and for any reason (or no reason) in such Designating Party’s sole discretion and, after written notice to each of the other Stockholders and the Company of the new designee to replace such removed director, each Stockholder shall vote all of its Shares so as to elect such new designee to the Board of Directors.

 

6.4             Reimbursement of Expenses; D&O Insurance. The Company shall reimburse the members of the Board of Directors for all reasonable travel and accommodation expenses incurred by the directors in connection with the performance of their duties as directors of the Company upon presentation of appropriate documentation therefor. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain, a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy on the directors and officers of the Company in an aggregate amount of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000).

 

6.5             Annual Budget. Not less than thirty (30) days prior to the end of each fiscal year, the Company shall prepare and submit to the Board of Directors for its approval an annual operating budget for the next succeeding fiscal year in reasonable detail.

 

13

 

 

6.6             Books and Records. The Company shall, and shall cause its subsidiaries to, keep proper books of records and account, in which full and correct entries shall be made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the Company and each of its subsidiaries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

7.               Stock Certificate Legend. A copy of this Agreement shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company and kept with the records of the Company. Each certificate representing Shares now held or hereafter acquired by any Stockholder shall for as long as this Agreement is effective bear legends substantially in the following forms:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT AND SUCH LAWS.

 

THE SALE, ASSIGNMENT, HYPOTHECATION, PLEDGE, ENCUMBRANCE OR OTHER DISPOSITION (EACH A “TRANSFER”) AND VOTING OF ANY OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE RESTRICTED BY THE TERMS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT, DATED AS OF THE DATE HEREOF, AMONG THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDERS NAMED THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE COMPANY’S PRINCIPAL OFFICE . THE COMPANY WILL NOT REGISTER THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES ON THE BOOKS OF THE COMPANY UNLESS AND UNTIL THE TRANSFER HAS BEEN MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT.

 

8.            Miscellaneous.

 

8.1 Recapitalizations, Exchanges, etc. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to (a) the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, (b) any and all shares of capital stock of the Company into which the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, are converted, exchanged or substituted in any recapitalization or other capital reorganization by the Company and (c) any and all equity securities of the Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in conversion of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, as applicable, and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, recapitalizations and the like occurring after the date hereof. The Company shall cause any successor or assign (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) to enter into a stockholders agreement with the Stockholders on terms substantially the same as this Agreement as a condition of any such transaction.

 

8.2 Notices. All notices, demands or other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing and shall be sent by registered or certified first class mail, return receipt requested, telecopier, courier service, overnight mail or personal delivery:

 

(a) if to the Company:

 

Hoth Therapeutics Inc.

1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039

New York, NY 10020

Telefax:

Attention: Robb Knie, Chief Executive Officer

 

14

 

 

with a copy to:

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

30 Rockefeller Plaza

New York, NY 10112

Telefax: (212) 655-1729

Attention: Richard A. Friedman, Esq.

 

(b) if to any Stockholder, at its address as it appears on the record books of the Company.

 

Any party may, by notice given in accordance with this Section 8.2, designate another address or Person for receipt of notices hereunder. All such notices, demands and other communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when delivered by courier, if delivered by commercial courier service; five (5) Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; and when receipt is mechanically acknowledged, if telecopied or sent by electronic mail.

 

8.3       Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, heirs, legatees and legal representatives. This Agreement is not assignable except in connection with a Transfer of Shares in accordance with this Agreement.

 

8.4        Amendment and Waiver.

 

(a)          Except as specifically set forth in this Agreement, no failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies provided for herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies that may be available to the parties hereto at law, in equity or otherwise.

 

(b)          Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and any consent to any departure by any party from the terms of any provision of this Agreement, shall be effective only if it is made or given in writing and signed by the Company, the Stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of the Shares held by the Stockholders Any such amendment, supplement, modification, waiver or consent shall be binding upon the Company and all of the Stockholders.

 

8.5  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature(s) which shall be binding on the party delivering same, to be followed by delivery of originally executed signature pages.

 

8.6  Specific Performance. The parties hereto intend that each of the parties have the right to seek damages or specific performance in the event that any other party hereto fails to perform such party’s obligations hereunder. Therefore, if any party shall institute any action or proceeding to enforce the provisions hereof, any party against whom such action or proceeding is brought hereby waives any claim or defense therein that the plaintiff party has an adequate remedy at law.

 

8.7  Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

 

15

 

 

8.8  GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW OF ANY JURISDICTION. NO SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY COURT OR BEFORE ANY SIMILAR AUTHORITY OTHER THAN IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE PARTIES HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUCH SUIT, PROCEEDING OR JUDGMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT WHICH IT MAY HAVE HAD TO BRING SUCH AN ACTION IN ANY OTHER COURT, DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN, OR BEFORE ANY SIMILAR DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN AUTHORITY AND AGREES NOT TO CLAIM OR PLEAD THE SAME. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN RELATION TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.

 

8.9 Severability. If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired, unless the provisions held invalid, illegal or unenforceable shall substantially impair the benefits of the remaining provisions hereof.

 

8.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the exhibits hereto, is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein. This Agreement, together with the exhibits hereto, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings among the parties with respect to such subject matter, including the Prior Stockholders Agreement.

 

8.11 Term of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution hereof and shall terminate upon the first to occur of (a) the consummation of the Qualified Initial Public Offering or (b) the consummation of a Pubco Transaction.

 

8.12 Further Assurances. Each of the parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, execute such instruments and take such action as may be reasonably required or desirable to carry out the provisions hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

16

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed, or have caused to be executed, this Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement on the date first written above.

 

  HOTH THERAPEUTICS INC.  
     
  By:    
    Name: Robb Knie  
    Title: Chief Executive Officer  

 

The Purchasers of Series A Preferred Shares, to be set forth on Schedule B to this Agreement, have executed a Subscription Agreement with the Company which provides, among other things, that by executing the Subscription Agreement each Purchaser is deemed to have executed the AMENDED AND RESTATED STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT in all respects.

 

17

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Stockholder

 

Type of Shares of Capital Stock

 

Number of Shares of Capital Stock

 

 

18

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

Stockholder

 

Type of Shares of Capital Stock

 

Number of Shares of Capital Stock

 

 

19

 

 

EXHIBIT A1

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT

 

The undersigned wishes to receive from                      (“Transferor”)                      shares, par value $[insert number] per share, of [Common Stock] [Preferred Stock] or certain options, warrants or other rights to purchase                      shares of [Common Stock] [Preferred Stock] (the “Shares”) of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”);

 

The Shares are subject to the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated [ ] (the “Agreement”), among the Company and the other parties listed on the signature pages thereto;

 

The undersigned has been given a copy of the Agreement and afforded ample opportunity to read and to have counsel review it, and the undersigned is thoroughly familiar with its terms;

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Transferor is prohibited from Transferring such Shares and the Company is prohibited from registering the Transfer of the Shares unless and until a Transfer is made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the recipient of such Shares acknowledges the terms and conditions of the Agreement and agrees to be bound thereby; and

 

The undersigned wishes to receive such Shares and have the Company register the Transfer of such Shares.

 

 

1 For Transfers of previously issued stock.

 

20

 

 

In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Transferor to Transfer such Shares to the undersigned and the Company to register such Transfer, the undersigned does hereby acknowledge and agree that (i) [he/she] has been given a copy of the Agreement and afforded ample opportunity to read and to have counsel review it, and the undersigned is thoroughly familiar with its terms, (ii) the Shares are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement, and (iii) the undersigned does hereby agree fully to be bound thereby as a “Stockholder” and as [SELECT AS APPROPRIATE] [an “Investor”] [an “Eligible Investor”] (as therein defined).

 

This                      day of                      , 20__.

 

21

 

 

EXHIBIT B 1 /

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND AGREEMENT

 

The undersigned wishes to receive from Hoth Therapeutics Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”),                              shares, par value $ [insert number] per share, of [Common Stock] [Preferred Stock], or certain newly issued options, warrants or other rights to purchase                                           shares of [Common Stock] [Preferred Stock] (the “Shares”), of the Company;

 

The Shares are subject to the Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement, dated [ ] (the “Agreement”), among the Company and the other parties listed on the signature pages thereto;

 

The undersigned has been given a copy of the Agreement and afforded ample opportunity to read and to have counsel review it, and the undersigned is thoroughly familiar with its terms;

 

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company is prohibited from issuing the Shares unless and until a Transfer is made in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement and the recipient of such Shares acknowledges the terms and conditions of the Agreement and agrees to be bound thereby; and

 

The undersigned wishes to receive such Shares.

 

In consideration of the mutual promises contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and to induce the Company to issue such Shares, the undersigned does hereby acknowledge and agree that (i) [he/she] has been given a copy of the Agreement and afforded ample opportunity to read and to have counsel review it, and the undersigned is thoroughly familiar with its terms, (ii) the Shares are subject to terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement, and (iii) the undersigned does hereby agree fully to be bound thereby as a “Stockholder”.

 

This                      day of                  , 20__.

 

 

1/ For newly issued stock.

 

22

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page
1. Definitions 1
     
2. Restrictions on Transfer of Shares 6
  2.1 Limitation on Transfer 6
  2.2 Permitted Transfers 6
  2.3 Permitted Transfer Procedures 6
  2.4 Transfers in Compliance with Law; Substitution of Transferee 6
       
3. Right of First Offer, Drag-Along and Tag-Along Rights 7
  3.1 Proposed Voluntary Transfers 7
  3.2 Involuntary Transfers 10
       
4. Most Favored Nations 12
     
5. After-Acquired Securities; Agreement to be Bound 12
  5.1 After-Acquired Securities 12
  5.2 Agreement to be Bound 12
       
6. Corporate Governance 13
  6.1 General 13
  6.2 Stockholder Actions 13
  6.3 Election of Directors; Number and Composition 13
  6.4 Removal and Replacement of Director 13
  6.5 Reimbursement of Expenses; D&O Insurance 13
  6.6 Annual Budget 14
  6.7 Books and Records 14
       
7. Stock Certificate Legend 14
     
8. Miscellaneous 14
  8.1 Notices 14
  8.2 Successors and Assigns 15
  8.3 Amendment and Waiver 15
  8.4 Counterparts 15
  8.5 Specific Performance 15
  8.6 Headings 15
  8.7 Governing Law 16
  8.8 Severability 16
  8.9 Entire Agreement 16

 

23

 

 

  8.10 Term of Agreement 16
  8.11 Further Assurances 16

  

EXHIBITS

 

A Form of Transfer Agreement (Previously issued shares)

 

B Form of Transfer Agreement (Newly issued shares)

 

24

 

Exhibit 10.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

 

NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR THE SECURITIES FOR WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY. THIS SECURITY AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

 

FORM OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

Warrant No. [___] Issue Date: _______ __, 2017

 

THIS COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT (the “ Warrant ”) certifies that, for value received, _____________ (the “ Holder ”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the limitations on exercise and the conditions hereinafter set forth, at any time on or after the date hereof (the “ Initial Exercise Date ”) and on or prior to the close of business on the seven-year anniversary of the Issue Date of the Warrant (the “ Termination Date ”) but not thereafter, to subscribe for and purchase from Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), up to ____________ shares (the “ Warrant Shares ”) of Common Stock. The purchase price of one share of Common Stock under this Warrant shall be equal to the Exercise Price, as defined in Section 2(b).

 

Section 1 .               Definitions . For the purposes hereof, in addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Warrant, (a) capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below) and (b) the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Business Day ” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which shall be a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

 

Common Stock Equivalents ” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive Common Stock.

 

Fair Market Value ” of one share of Common Stock as of a particular date shall mean: (i) if traded on a national securities exchange, the VWAP (as defined below) of the Common Stock of the Company on such exchange over the five (5) Trading Days ending immediately prior to the applicable date of valuation; (ii) if quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or an over the counter market operated by OTC Markets Group, Inc or its successor, the average VWAP over the thirty (30) Trading Days ending immediately prior to the applicable date of valuation; and (iii) if neither (i) nor (ii) applies, the Fair Market Value shall be the value thereof, as agreed upon by the Company and the Holder; provided, however, that if the Company and the Holder cannot agree on such value, such value shall be determined by an independent valuation firm experienced in valuing businesses such as the Company and jointly selected in good faith by the Company and the Holder. Fees and expenses of the valuation firm shall be paid for by the Company.

 

1

 

 

National Securities Exchange ” means the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock may be listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American, LLC, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Person ” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

Purchase Agreement ” means, collectively, the Unit Purchase Agreement, dated as of [August ___], 2017 and Subscription Agreement, dated as of [August ___], 2017, between the Company and the original Holder, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Trading Day ” means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business.

 

Trading Market means the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE American LLC, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the OTC Bulletin Board.

 

Transaction Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

VWAP ” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a National Securities Exchange, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the trading market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. New York City time to 4:02 p.m. New York City time); (b) if the Common Stock is quoted on any one or more of the OTC Bulletin Board, or the other OTC markets, including the OTCQX, OTCQB and OTC Pink markets, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the OTC Bulletin Board; (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on the OTC Bulletin Board and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported on the OTC markets, including the OTCQX, OTCQB and OTC Pink markets, or in the “Pink Sheets” published by Pink Sheets, LLC (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported; or (d) in all other cases, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Subscribers of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company; provided that in each case where Bloomberg L.P. data is being relied upon, Holder shall provide to the Company a copy of such information for the Company’s records.

 

2

 

 

Section 2 . Exercise .

 

a) Exercise of Warrant .

 

i. Exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant may be made, in whole or in part, at any time or times on or after the Initial Exercise Date and on or before the Termination Date by delivery to the Company (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the registered Holder at the address of the Holder appearing on the books of the Company) of a duly executed notice of exercise (“ Notice of Exercise ”) form attached hereto as Exhibit A ; and, within three (3) Trading Days of the date said Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company, the Company shall have received payment of the aggregate Exercise Price of the shares thereby purchased by wire transfer or cashier’s check drawn on a United States bank. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Holder shall not be required to physically surrender this Warrant to the Company until the Holder has purchased all of the Warrant Shares available hereunder and the Warrant has been exercised in full, in which case, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant to the Company for cancellation within three (3) Trading Days of the date the final Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company. Partial exercises of this Warrant resulting in purchases of a portion of the total number of Warrant Shares available hereunder shall have the effect of lowering the outstanding number of Warrant Shares purchasable hereunder in an amount equal to the applicable number of Warrant Shares purchased. The Holder and the Company shall maintain records showing the number of Warrant Shares purchased and the date of such purchases. In the event of any dispute or discrepancy, the records of the Company shall be controlling and determinative in the absence of manifest error.

 

ii. If at any time from the Initial Exercise Date, provided that there is no effective registration statement registering, or no current prospectus available for the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder, then in lieu of the payment methods set forth in Section 2(a)(i) above, the Holder may elect to exchange all or some of this Warrant for shares of Common Stock equal to the value of the amount of the Warrant being exchanged on the date of exchange. If Holder elects to exchange this Warrant as provided in this Section 2(a)(ii) , Holder shall tender to the Company the Warrant for the amount being exchanged, along with written notice of Holder’s election to exchange some or all of the Warrant, and the Company shall issue to Holder the number of shares of the Common Stock computed using the following formula:

 

X =

Y (A-B)

 

  A

 

  Where:   X = the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued to Holder.
     
  Y = the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable under the amount of the Warrant being exchanged (as adjusted to the date of such calculation).
     
   A = the Fair Market Value of one share of the Common Stock on the date that the notice of exercise is received by the Company.
   B = Exercise Price (as adjusted to the date of such calculation).

 

3

 

 

b)        Exercise Price . The exercise price per share of the Common Stock under this Warrant shall be $0.25, subject to adjustment hereunder (the “ Exercise Price ”).

 

c)        [Exercise Limitations . Holder shall not have the right to exercise any portion of this Warrant, pursuant to Section 2 or otherwise, to the extent that after giving effect to such issuance after exercise, the Holder (together with the Holder’s affiliates, and any other person or entity acting as a group together with the Holder or any of the Holder’s affiliates), would beneficially own in excess of the Beneficial Ownership Limitation (as defined below). For purposes of this Section, beneficial ownership shall be calculated in accordance with Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Holder is solely responsible for any schedules required to be filed in accordance therewith. The Company shall have no obligation to verify or confirm the accuracy of such filings. In any case, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be determined after giving effect to the conversion or exercise of securities of the Company, including this Warrant, by the Holder or its affiliates since the date as of which such number of outstanding shares of Common Stock was reported. The “ Beneficial Ownership Limitation ” shall be 4.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant. The Holder, upon not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company, may increase or decrease the Beneficial Ownership Limitation provisions of this Section 2(c), provided that the Beneficial Ownership Limitation may not exceed 9.99% of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the issuance of Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant held by the Holder and the provisions of this Section 2(c) shall continue to apply, unless the Holder upon not less than 61 days’ prior notice to the Company determines to waive the Beneficial Ownerhship Limitation requirements described in this Section 2(c) in its entirety. Any such increase or decrease will not be effective until the 61 st day after such notice is delivered to the Company. The limitations contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of this Warrant.]

 

d)        Mechanics of Exercise .

 

i.          Delivery of Certificates Upon Exercise . Certificates for shares purchased hereunder shall be transmitted by the Company’s transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”) to the Holder by crediting the account of the Holder’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company through its Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission (“ DWAC ”) system if the Company is then a participant in such system and either (A) there is an effective registration statement permitting the resale of the Warrant Shares by the Holder or (B) the shares are eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale limitations pursuant to Rule 144, and otherwise by physical delivery of certificates to the address specified by the Holder in the Notice of Exercise within three (3) Trading Days from the delivery to the Company of the Notice of Exercise Form, surrender of this Warrant (if required) and payment of the aggregate Exercise Price as set forth above (the “ Warrant Share Delivery Date ”). This Warrant shall be deemed to have been exercised on the date the Exercise Price is received by the Company. The Warrant Shares shall be deemed to have been issued, and Holder or any other person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have become a holder of record of such shares for all purposes, as of the date the Warrant has been exercised by payment to the Company of the Exercise Price and all taxes required to be paid by the Holder, if any, pursuant to Section 2(e)(vi) prior to the issuance of such shares, have been paid.

 

4

 

 

ii.         Delivery of New Warrants Upon Exercise . If this Warrant shall have been exercised in part, the Company shall, at the request of a Holder and upon surrender of this Warrant certificate, at the time of delivery of the certificate or certificates representing Warrant Shares, deliver to Holder a new Warrant evidencing the rights of Holder to purchase the unpurchased Warrant Shares called for by this Warrant, which new Warrant shall in all other respects be identical with this Warrant.

 

iii.        Rescission Rights . If the Company fails to cause the Transfer Agent to transmit to the Holder a certificate or the certificates representing the Warrant Shares pursuant to Section 2(d)(i) by the Warrant Share Delivery Date, then the Holder will have the right to rescind such exercise.

 

iv.       No Fractional Shares or Scrip . No fractional shares or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant. As to any fraction of a share which Holder would otherwise be entitled to purchase upon such exercise, the Company shall, at its election, either pay a cash adjustment in respect of such final fraction in an amount equal to such fraction multiplied by the Exercise Price or round up to the next whole share.

 

v.            Charges, Taxes and Expenses . Issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificate, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company, and such certificates shall be issued in the name of the Holder or in such name or names as may be directed by the Holder; provided , however , that in the event certificates for Warrant Shares are to be issued in a name other than the name of the Holder, this Warrant when surrendered for exercise shall be accompanied by the assignment form (“ Assignment Form ”) attached hereto as Exhibit B duly executed by the Holder and the Company may require, as a condition thereto, the payment of a sum sufficient to reimburse it for any transfer tax incidental thereto.

 

vi.        Closing of Books . The Company will not close its shareholder books or records in any manner which prevents the timely exercise of this Warrant, pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

Section 3 . Intentionally Omitted.

 

Section 4 . Certain Adjustments .

 

a)        Stock Dividends and Splits . If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding: (i) pays a stock dividend or otherwise make a distribution or distributions on shares of its Common Stock or any other equity or equity equivalent securities payable in shares of Common Stock (which, for avoidance of doubt, shall not include any Warrant Shares issued by the Company upon exercise of this Warrant), (ii) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, (iii) combines (including by way of reverse stock split) outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares or (iv) issues by reclassification of shares of the Common Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company, then in each case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) outstanding immediately before such event and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the number of shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be proportionately adjusted such that the aggregate Exercise Price of this Warrant shall remain unchanged. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4(a) shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination or re-classification.

 

5

 

 

b)         Pro Rata Distributions . If the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, shall distribute to all holders of Common Stock (and not to the Holder) evidences of its indebtedness or assets (including cash and cash dividends) or rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any security other than the Common Stock, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be adjusted by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the record date fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution by a fraction of which the denominator shall be the VWAP determined as of the record date mentioned above, and of which the numerator shall be such VWAP on such record date less than the per share Fair Market Value at such record date of the portion of such assets or evidence of indebtedness or rights or warrants so distributed applicable to one outstanding share of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith. In either case the adjustments shall be described in a statement provided to the Holder of the portion of assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or such subscription rights applicable to one share of Common Stock. Such adjustment shall be made whenever any such distribution is made and shall become effective immediately after the record date mentioned above.

 

c)        Fundamental Transaction . If, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, (i) the Company effects any merger or consolidation of the Company into another Person, (ii) the Company effects any sale of all or substantially all of its assets in one or a series of related transactions, (iii) any tender offer or exchange offer (whether by the Company or another Person) is completed pursuant to which holders of Common Stock are permitted to tender or exchange their shares for other securities, cash or property or (iv) the Company effects any reclassification of the Common Stock or any compulsory share exchange pursuant to which the Common Stock is effectively converted into or exchanged for other securities, cash or property (each “ Fundamental Transaction ”), then, upon any subsequent exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the right to receive, for each Warrant Share that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, the number of shares of Common Stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company, if it is the surviving corporation, and any additional consideration (the “ Alternate Consideration ”) receivable as a result of such Fundamental Transaction by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant is exercisable immediately prior to such Fundamental Transaction. For purposes of any such exercise, the determination of the Exercise Price shall be appropriately adjusted to apply to such Alternate Consideration based on the amount of Alternate Consideration issuable in respect of one share of Common Stock in such Fundamental Transaction, and the Company shall apportion the Exercise Price among the Alternate Consideration in a reasonable manner reflecting the relative value of any different components of the Alternate Consideration. If holders of Common Stock are given any choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a Fundamental Transaction, then the Holder shall be given the same choice as to the Alternate Consideration it receives upon any exercise of this Warrant following such Fundamental Transaction. To the extent necessary to effectuate the foregoing provisions, any successor to the Company or surviving entity in such Fundamental Transaction shall issue to the Holder a new warrant consistent with the foregoing provisions and evidencing the Holder’s right to exercise such warrant into Alternate Consideration. The terms of any agreement pursuant to which a Fundamental Transaction is effected shall include terms requiring any such successor or surviving entity to comply with the provisions of this Section 4(c) and insuring that this Warrant (or any such replacement security) will be similarly adjusted upon any subsequent transaction analogous to a Fundamental Transaction.

 

6

 

 

d)       d)        Calculations . All calculations under this Section 4 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100th of a share, as the case may be. For purposes of this Section 4, the number of shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued and outstanding as of a given date shall be the sum of the number of shares of Common Stock (excluding treasury shares, if any) issued and outstanding.

 

e)        Notice to Holder .

 

i.          Adjustment to Exercise Price . Whenever the Exercise Price is adjusted pursuant to any provision of this Section 4, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holder a notice setting forth the Exercise Price after such adjustment and setting forth a brief statement of the facts requiring such adjustment.

 

ii.         Notice to Allow Exercise by Holder . If (A) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution in whatever form) on the Common Stock, (B) the Company shall declare a special nonrecurring cash dividend on or a redemption of the Common Stock, (C) the Company shall authorize the granting to all holders of the Common Stock rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any rights, (D) the approval of any shareholders of the Company shall be required in connection with any reclassification of the Common Stock, any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a party, any sale or transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, of any compulsory share exchange whereby the Common Stock is converted into other securities, cash or property, or (E) the Company shall authorize the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then, in each case, the Company shall cause to be mailed to the Holder at its last address as it shall appear upon the Warrant Register of the Company, at least 20 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (x) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, redemption, rights or warrants, or if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of the Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distributions, redemption, rights or warrants are to be determined or (y) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange is expected to become effective or close, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of the Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of the Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, transfer or share exchange; provided that the failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be specified in such notice. The Holder is entitled to exercise this Warrant during the period commencing on the date of such notice to the effective date of the event triggering such notice.

 

Section 5 . Transfer of Warrant .

 

a)        Transferability . Subject to compliance with any applicable securities laws and the conditions set forth in Section 5(d) herein and to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement, this Warrant and all rights hereunder (including, without limitation, any registration rights) are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant at the principal office of the Company or its designated agent, together with a written assignment of this Warrant substantially in the form attached hereto duly executed by the Holder or its agent or attorney and funds sufficient to pay any transfer taxes payable upon the making of such transfer. Upon such surrender and, if required, such payment, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in the name of the assignee or assignees, as applicable, and in the denomination or denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and shall issue to the assignor a new Warrant evidencing the portion of this Warrant not so assigned, and this Warrant shall promptly be cancelled. The Warrant, if properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder for the purchase of Warrant Shares without having a new Warrant issued.

 

7

 

 

b)        New Warrants . This Warrant may be divided or combined with other Warrants upon presentation hereof at the aforesaid office of the Company, together with a written notice specifying the names and denominations in which new Warrants are to be issued, signed by the Holder or its agent or attorney. Subject to compliance with Section 5(a), as to any transfer which may be involved in such division or combination, the Company shall execute and deliver a new Warrant or Warrants in exchange for the Warrant or Warrants to be divided or combined in accordance with such notice. All Warrants issued on transfers or exchanges shall be dated the Initial Exercise Date and shall be identical with this Warrant except as to the number of Warrant Shares issuable pursuant thereto.

 

c)        Warrant Register . The Company shall register this Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the “ Warrant Register ”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or any distribution to the Holder, and for all other purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

 

d)        Transfer Restrictions . If , at the time of the surrender of this Warrant in connection with any transfer of this Warrant, the transfer of this Warrant shall not be either (i) registered pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or (ii) eligible for resale without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144, the Company may require, as a condition of allowing such transfer, that the Holder or transferee of this Warrant, as the case may be, comply with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

Section 6 . Miscellaneous .

 

a)        No Rights as Shareholder Until Exercise . This Warrant does not entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the exercise hereof.

 

b)        Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant . The Company covenants that upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant or any stock certificate relating to the Warrant Shares, and in case of loss, theft or destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it (which, in the case of the Warrant, shall not include the posting of any bond), and upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant or stock certificate, if mutilated, the Company will make and deliver a new Warrant or stock certificate of like tenor and dated as of such cancellation, in lieu of such Warrant or stock certificate.

 

8

 

 

c)        Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc . If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then, such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

d)        Authorized Shares .

 

The Company covenants that, during the period the Warrant is outstanding, it will reserve from its authorized and unissued Common Stock one hundred (100%) of the number of shares to provide for the issuance of the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of any purchase rights under this Warrant. In case such amount of Common Stock is insufficient at any time, the Company shall call and hold a special meeting to increase the number of authorized shares of common stock. Management of the Company shall recommend to shareholders to vote in favor of increasing the number of authorized shares of common stock.

 

The Company further covenants that its issuance of this Warrant shall constitute full authority to its officers who are charged with the duty of executing stock certificates to execute and issue the necessary certificates for the Warrant Shares upon the exercise of the purchase rights under this Warrant. The Company will take all such reasonable action as may be necessary to assure that such Warrant Shares may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of the National Securities Exchange upon which the Common Stock may be listed. The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares which may be issued upon the exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant will, upon exercise of the purchase rights represented by this Warrant, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges created by the Company in respect of the issue thereof (other than taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously with such issue).

 

Except and to the extent as waived or consented to by the Holder, the Company shall not by any action, including, without limitation, amending its amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the rights of Holder as set forth in this Warrant against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will (i) not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefor upon such exercise immediately prior to such increase in par value, (ii) take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all such authorizations, exemptions or consents from any public regulatory body having jurisdiction thereof, as may be, necessary to enable the Company to perform its obligations under this Warrant.

 

Before taking any action which would result in an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercisable or in the Exercise Price, the Company shall obtain all such authorizations or exemptions thereof, or consents thereto, as may be necessary from any public regulatory body or bodies having jurisdiction thereof.

 

e)        Jurisdiction . All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Warrant shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

9

 

 

f)        Restrictions . The Holder acknowledges that the Warrant Shares acquired upon the exercise of this Warrant, if not registered, will have restrictions upon resale imposed by state and federal securities laws.

 

g)       Nonwaiver and Expenses . No course of dealing or any delay or failure to exercise any right hereunder on the part of Holder shall operate as a waiver of such right or otherwise prejudice Holder’s rights, powers or remedies, notwithstanding the fact that all rights hereunder terminate on the Termination Date. If the Company willfully and knowingly fails to comply with any provision of this Warrant, which results in any material damages to the Holder, the Company shall pay to Holder such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover any costs and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees, including those of appellate proceedings, incurred by Holder in collecting any amounts due pursuant hereto or in otherwise enforcing any of its rights, powers or remedies hereunder.

 

h)       Notices . Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder by the Company shall be delivered in accordance with the notice provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

i)        Limitation of Liability . No provision hereof, in the absence of any affirmative action by Holder to exercise this Warrant to purchase Warrant Shares, and no enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of Holder, shall give rise to any liability of Holder for the purchase price of any Common Stock or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

 

j)        Remedies . The Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Warrant. The Company agrees that monetary damages would not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of a breach by it of the provisions of this Warrant and hereby agrees to waive and not to assert the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

k)        Successors and Assigns . Subject to applicable securities laws, this Warrant and the rights and obligations evidenced hereby shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of Holder. The provisions of this Warrant are intended to be for the benefit of all Holders from time to time of this Warrant and shall be enforceable by the Holder or holder of Warrant Shares.

 

l)        Amendment . This Warrant may be modified or amended or the provisions hereof waived with the written consent of the Company and the Holder.

 

m)       Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Warrant shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Warrant shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provisions or the remaining provisions of this Warrant.

 

n)       Headings . The headings used in this Warrant are for the convenience of reference only and shall not, for any purpose, be deemed a part of this Warrant.

 

10

 

 

[Signature Page Follows.]

 

11

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be executed by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above indicated.

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 
   
By:    
  Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

NOTICE OF EXERCISE

 

TO:       HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

(1)  The undersigned hereby elects to purchase ________ Warrant Shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of the attached Warrant and tenders herewith payment of the exercise price in full, together with all applicable transfer taxes, if any.

 

(2)  Please issue a certificate or certificates representing said Warrant Shares in the name of the undersigned or in such other name as is specified below:

 

_______________________________       

 

The Warrant Shares shall be delivered to the following DWAC Account Number or by physical delivery of a certificate to:

 

_______________________________

 

_______________________________

 

_______________________________

 

(3)   Accredited Investor . The undersigned is an “accredited investor” as defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

[SIGNATURE OF HOLDER]

 

Name of Investing Entity:

________________________________________________________________________

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Investing Entity :

_________________________________________________

 

Name of Authorized Signatory:

___________________________________________________________________

 

Title of Authorized Signatory:

____________________________________________________________________

 

Date:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

ASSIGNMENT FORM

 

(To assign the foregoing warrant, execute
this form and supply required information.
Do not use this form to exercise the warrant.)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, [____] all of or [_______] shares of the foregoing Warrant and all rights evidenced thereby are hereby assigned to

 

_______________________________________________ whose address is

 

____________________________________________________________.

 

_______________________________________________________________

 

Dated: ______________, _______

 

Holder’s Signature:      _____________________________

 

Holder’s Address:        _____________________________

 

  _____________________________

 

Signature Guaranteed: ___________________________________________

 

NOTE: The signature to this Assignment Form must correspond with the name as it appears on the face of the Warrant, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever, and must be guaranteed by a bank or trust company. Officers of corporations and those acting in a fiduciary or other representative capacity should file proper evidence of authority to assign the foregoing Warrant.

 

 

Exhibit 10.9

 

UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

AND

THE PURCHASERS PARTY HERETO

 

 

 

 

Exhibits
TO
Unit PURCHASE AGREEMENT

  

Exhibit A Schedule of Purchasers
Exhibit B Form of Warrant
Exhibit C Form of Subscription Agreement
Exhibit D Funding Instructions
Exhibit E Form of Legal Opinion
Exhibit F Form of Investor Rights Agreement

  

 

 

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

Unit PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of the date set forth on the signature page hereto by and among Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), and the purchasers identified on Exhibit A on the date hereof (which purchasers are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Purchasers ” and each individually as, a “ Purchaser ”).

 

BACKGROUND

 

A.           Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Section 9.

 

B.           The Company is offering (the “ Offering ”) Units to a limited number of persons who qualify as “accredited investors” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act at a price per Unit of $100,000 pursuant to the terms set forth in the Company’s Confidential Private Placement Memorandum, dated as of August 10, 2017, as may be amended and/or supplemented, from time to time (collectively, the “ Memorandum ”).

 

C.           The Company is offering to a limited number of persons who qualify as “accredited investors” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act (the “ Offering ”) units of its Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “ Preferred Shares ”), which Preferred Shares are convertible into shares (the “ Conversion Shares ”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) and warrants (the “ Warrants ” and together with the Preferred Share, the “ Units ”) to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “ Warrant Shares ”) at a price per Unit of $100,000.

 

D.           Each Unit shall consist of (a) 100,000 Preferred Shares at a price of $1.00 per share, which Preferred Shares are convertible an aggregate of 400,000 Conversion Shares, and (b) a warrant to purchase Common Shares equal to 25% of the Conversion Shares at an exercise price per share equal to $0.25 per share, which warrant will be exercisable immediately and for a period of seven (7) years following the date of issuance (the “ Warrant ”).

 

E.            The Units are being offered on a “ reasonable efforts, all or none ” basis with respect to the minimum of $1,000,000 (the “ Minimum Offering Amount ”), and thereafter on a “ best efforts ” basis up to the maximum of $ 5,000,000 (the “ Maximum Offering Amount ”); provided, that, the Company and Laidlaw may mutually agree, prior to the “ Termination Date ” referred to below, to terminate the Offering if a total of $5,000,000 of Units has been sold.

 

F.           The Company desires to issue and sell the Units to each Purchaser in one or more closings (each a “ Closing ” and collectively the “ Closings ”) as set forth herein.

 

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

 

 

 

 

1.             AGREEMENT TO SELL AND PURCHASE.

 

1.1           Authorization of Units . The board of directors of the Company (the “ Board of Directors ”) has authorized (i) the sale of up to 50 Units, each Unit consisting of (a) 100,000 Preferred Shares and (b) a warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock equal to 25% of the Conversion Shares at an exercise price per share equal to $0.25 per share, which warrant will be exercisable immediately and for a period of seven (7) years following the date of issuance. From and after the applicable Closing, the Company shall issue and reserve for issuance the Conversion Shares in connection with such Closing; and (ii) the shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon full exercise of the Warrants (the “ Warrant Shares ”) issued at such Closing, plus such additional number of Warrant Shares as shall be required to be issued pursuant to the terms thereof.

 

1.2           Initial Sale and Purchase of Units . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and in reliance upon the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, at the Initial Closing (as defined below), the Company shall issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, the number of Units set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A under the “Initial Units” column, at a purchase price of $100,000 per Unit (subject to appropriate and proportionate adjustment for stock dividends payable in shares of, forward or reverse stock splits and other subdivisions and combinations of, and recapitalizations and like occurrences with respect to, the Preferred Shares, the “ Per Unit Purchase Price ”). The minimum purchase by each Purchaser is one Unit, unless the Company and the Placement Agent agree, in their mutual discretion, to allow a Purchaser to purchase a partial Unit.

 

1.3           Subsequent Sales and Purchases of Units . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and in reliance upon the representations, warranties and covenants contained herein, at each subsequent Closing, the Company shall issue and sell to each Purchaser who is identified as a “Subsequent Closing Purchaser” on Exhibit A , which shall be deemed amended at each such subsequent Closing to add each such additional Purchaser (each, a “ Subsequent Closing Purchaser ”), and each Subsequent Closing Purchaser shall purchase from the Company, the number of Units set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A at the Per Unit Purchase Price.

 

1.4           Issuance of Warrants . The Warrants shall be in form and substance substantially the same as the form of Warrant in Exhibit B .

 

2.             CLOSINGS, DELIVERY AND PAYMENT.

 

2.1           Initial Closing . Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5 herein, the initial closing of the sale and purchase of the Units (the “ Initial Closing ”), shall take place electronically on such date and at such time as is agreed between the Company and the Placement Agent (such date the “ Initial Closing Date ”); provided that such Closing occurs by October 31, 2017 (the “Initial Offering Period” ), which period may be extended by the Company and Placement Agent in their mutual discretion, without notice or vote by prospective investors, to a date no later than November 30, 2017 (this additional period and the Initial Offering Period will be collectively referred to as the “ Offering Period ”). Subject to the foregoing, at the Initial Closing, the Company must sell the minimum of 10 full Units for $100,000 (the “ Initial Units ”), and the Company may thereafter sell up to a maximum of 40 Units.

 

2.2           Subsequent Closings . If the Minimum Offering Amount has been raised within the Initial Offering Period, subject to the conditions set forth in Section 5, each Subsequent Closing shall take place electronically on such date and at such time as is agreed between the Company and the Placement Agent (such date the “ Subsequent Closing Date ”), in no event later than the November 30, 2017 . Subject to the foregoing, at Subsequent Closings, the Company may sell up to a maximum of 40 Units less the number of Units sold in all prior Closings. The Units sold at the Subsequent Closings are sometimes referred to herein as “ Subsequent Units .

 

 

 

 

2.3           Delivery; Payment . At each Closing, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Purchasers will deliver the full amount of the Purchase Price in cash by wire transfer of immediately available funds in accordance with instructions attached hereto as Exhibit D , or as the Company shall otherwise direct and the Company will deliver (1) one (1) certificate registered in such Purchaser’s name, to purchase such number of Preferred Shares included in the Units purchased by such Purchaser or Subsequent Closing Purchaser, as the case may be, at such Closing and (2) one Warrant, registered in such Purchaser’s name to purchase such number of Warrant Shares included in the Units purchased by such Purchaser or Subsequent Closing Purchaser, as the case may be, at such Closing. The Company and the Placement Agent, in their mutual discretion, may allow a Purchaser to purchase a partial Unit, in which case the Purchaser shall receive a certificate representing the appropriate number of Preferred Shares included in such partial Unit and a Warrant for the appropriate number of corresponding Warrant Shares.

 

3.             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Company represents and warrants to the Placement Agent and each of the Purchasers that the statements made in this Section 3, except as qualified in the disclosure schedules referenced herein and attached hereto (the “ Schedules ”), are true and correct on the date hereof, as of the Initial Closing and shall be true and correct as of each Subsequent Closing, except as qualified by any updated Schedules delivered at the Subsequent Closing in accordance with Section 5.1.1 herein, all of which qualifications in the Schedules attached hereto and updated Schedules delivered at the Subsequent Closing shall be deemed to be representations and warranties as if made hereunder. The Schedules shall be arranged to correspond to the numbered paragraphs contained in this Section 3, and the disclosure in any paragraph of the Schedules shall qualify other subsections in Section 3 only to the extent that it is readily apparent from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other subsections. For purposes of this Section 3, “knowledge” shall mean the personal knowledge of any of the Company’s officers or directors or what they would have known upon having made reasonable inquiry.

 

3.1           Organization, Good Standing and Qualification . The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the corporate and general laws of the State of Nevada. Each of the Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate power and authority to own and operate its properties and assets. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction set forth on Schedule 3.1 , except where failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “ Material Adverse Effect ”) and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

 

 

 

 

3.2           Subsidiaries . Schedule 3.2 includes a true and complete list of each of the Subsidiaries and their respective jurisdictions of organization. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2 , neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns or controls any ownership interest or profits interest in any other corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or other entity. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2 , neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement.

 

3.3           Authorization; Enforcement . The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

3.4           No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.5           Filings, Consents and Approvals . The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents.

 

 

 

 

3.6           Issuance of the Securities . The Units, the Preferred Shares and the Warrants are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Preferred Shares and the Warrants, as the case may be, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock a number of shares of Common Stock for issuance of the Conversion Shares and the Warrant Shares on the date hereof.

 

3.7           Capitalization . The capitalization of the Company is set forth on Schedule 3.7 . Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.7 , there are no outstanding securities of the Company or any Subsidiary which contain any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Except as a result of the purchase and sale of the Securities, and except as set forth Schedule 3.7 , there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire any shares of Common Stock, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or common stock equivalents. The issuance and sale of the Securities will not obligate the Company to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person (other than the Purchasers) and will not result in a right of any holder of Company securities to adjust the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price under any of such securities. There are no proxies, stockholder agreements, or any other agreements between the Company or any Subsidiary and any securityholder of such entity or, to the knowledge of the Company, among any securityholders of the Company or any Subsidiary, including agreements relating to the voting, transfer, redemption or repurchase of any securities of such entity. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any outstanding shareholder purchase rights or “poison pill” or any similar arrangement in effect giving any person the right to purchase any equity interest in such entity upon the occurrence of certain events. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. Except for the stockholders agreement dated even herewith, between the Company and the Company’s stockholders (the “ Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement ”), there are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders. Except as required by law, including any federal securities rules and regulations, there are no restrictions upon the voting or transfer of any of the shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to its Organizational Documents or other governing documents or any agreement or other instruments to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound.

 

3.8           Intentionally Omitted.

 

3.9           Absence of Liabilities . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9 hereto: (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock and (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans. Except for the issuance of the Securities contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, properties, operations, assets or financial condition, that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9 , neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a guarantor or indemnitor of any liability of any other Person.

 

 

 

 

3.10         Agreements; Action .

 

3.10.1.    The Company has provided or made available to the Purchasers, upon request, true and complete copies, of all of the contracts or agreements which are material to the Company (the “ Material Contracts ”). Each of the Material Contracts is (a) in full force and effect, (b) a valid and binding obligation of, and is enforceable in accordance with its terms against the Company or the applicable Subsidiary that is party thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, each of the other parties thereto, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other law affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles, (c) was made in the ordinary course of business, and (d) contains no provision or covenant prohibiting or limiting the ability of the Company or any Subsidiary to operate its business in the manner in which it is currently operated.

 

3.10.2.    To the best of the Company’s knowledge, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has in all material respects performed the obligations required to be performed by it to date under each Material Contract to which it is a party and is not in default or breach thereof, and no event or condition has occurred, whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, that would constitute such a breach or default. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or any other party to any Material Contract has provided any notice to the other party or to the Company or any Subsidiary, as applicable, of its intent to terminate, withdraw its participation in, or not renew any such Material Contract. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has, and to the knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Material Contract has, threatened to terminate, withdraw from participation in, or not renew any such Material Contract. To the knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Material Contract is in breach or default under any provision thereof, and no event or condition has occurred, whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, that would constitute such a breach or default.

 

3.10.3.    No Consent of any party to any Material Contract is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

 

3.10.4.    The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents do not and will not (a) result in or give to any Person any right of termination, non-renewal, cancellation, withdrawal, acceleration or modification in or with respect to any Material Contract, (b) result in or give to any Person any additional rights or entitlement to increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed payments under any such Material Contract or (c) result in the creation or imposition of any Liability or any Encumbrances upon the Intellectual Property or any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary under the terms of any such Material Contract.

 

 

 

 

3.10.5.    Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.10.5 , neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or any representative thereof is a party to any binding Contract or has engaged in the past twelve (12) months in any discussions regarding, and is not a party to or otherwise bound by any Contract in respect of, (a) any purchase, lease, license or other acquisition of any other Person, whether by equity purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise, or all or substantially all of the assets of any other Person, or the entering into by the Company or any Subsidiary of any share exchange with any other Person, (b) any change of control transaction with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries, or (c) liquidation with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

3.11         Changes . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 , or where the occurrence of any of the following events would not have a Material Adverse Effect, there has not been:

 

3.11.1.    any effect, event, condition or circumstance (including, without limitation, the initiation of any litigation or other legal, regulatory or investigative proceeding) against the Company that individually or in the aggregate, with or without the passage of time, the giving of notice, or both, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

3.11.2.    any resignation or termination of any director, officer or key employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notification of any impending resignation from any such Person;

 

3.11.3.    any material change in the contingent obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary by way of guaranty, endorsement, indemnity, warranty or otherwise;

 

3.11.4.    any material damage, destruction or loss adversely affecting the assets, properties, business, financial condition or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not covered by insurance;

 

3.11.5.    any waiver by the Company or any Subsidiary of a valuable right or of any debt;

 

3.11.6.    any development, event, change, condition or circumstance that constitutes, whether with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, a default under any outstanding debt obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary;

 

3.11.7.    any change in any compensation arrangement or agreement with any employee, consultant, officer, director or stockholder of the Company or any Subsidiary that would increase the cost of any such agreement or arrangement to the Company or any Subsidiary by more than $10,000 in each instance;

 

3.11.8.    any labor organization activity of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary;

 

3.11.9.    any declaration or payment of any dividend or other distribution of the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary;

 

3.11.10.  any change in the accounting methods or practices followed by the Company or any Subsidiary; or

 

 

 

 

3.11.11.  any Contract or commitment made by the Company or any Subsidiary to do any of the foregoing.

 

3.12         Title to Properties and Assets; Liens, etc . Except where a violation of this Section 3.12 could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary has good and marketable title to the properties and assets it owns, and the Company and each Subsidiary has a valid license in all properties and assets licensed by it, and has a valid leasehold interest in its leasehold estates, in each case subject to no Encumbrance, other than those resulting from Taxes which have not yet become delinquent or those of the lessors of leased property or assets. All facilities, machinery, equipment, fixtures, vehicles and other properties owned, leased or used by the Company or any Subsidiary are in good operating condition and repair, ordinary wear and tear excepted and are fit and usable for the purposes for which they are being used. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all terms of each lease to which it is a party or is otherwise bound.

 

3.13         Intellectual Property .

 

3.13.1.    The Company or the applicable Subsidiary is the owner or licensee of all Owned Intellectual Property and all Licensed Intellectual Property as described in the Memorandum (collectively, the “ Intellectual Property ”). Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13.1 and identified as such, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has licensed any Intellectual Property to any Person. All of the registrations and applications for registration of the Intellectual Property are valid, subsisting and in full force and effect, and all actions and payments necessary for the maintenance and continuation of such Intellectual Property have been taken or paid on a timely basis. The Company and its Subsidiaries owns or possesses sufficient legal rights to use all of the Intellectual Property and the exclusive right to use all Owned Intellectual Property and all Licensed Intellectual Property as being licensed to the Company and its Subsidiaries.  

 

3.13.2.    To the knowledge of the Company, the business as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries has not and will not constitute any infringement of the Intellectual Property rights of any other Person which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, the development of Product candidates and the use, manufacture or sale of the Company’s Products based on the Intellectual Property does not, and will not, infringe the Intellectual Property rights of any third Person. To the knowledge of the Company, no employee or agents of the Company or any Subsidiary have misappropriated the Intellectual Property rights of any Person.

 

3.13.3.    Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13.3 , there are no outstanding options or other rights to acquire any Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the Company, each licensor of the Licensed Intellectual Property is the sole and exclusive owner of such Licensed Intellectual Property and has the sole and exclusive right and authority to grant licenses to such Licensed Intellectual Property.

 

3.13.4.    Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13.4 , neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written communications alleging or suggesting that it has violated or, by conducting its business as currently conducted or proposed to be conducted, would infringe or misappropriate any of the Intellectual Property rights of any other Person.

 

3.13.5.    It is not necessary to the business of the Company or any Subsidiary, as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted, to utilize any inventions, trade secrets or proprietary information of any of its employees, agents, developers, consultants or contractors made prior to their employment by or service to such entity, except for inventions, trade secrets or proprietary information that have been assigned or licensed to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

 

 

 

3.13.6.    Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.13.6 , since the date of the Company’s incorporation, there has not been any sale, assignment or transfer of any material Intellectual Property or other material intangible assets of  the Company by the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

3.13.7.    To the knowledge of the Company, no Intellectual Property is subject to any interference, reissue, reexamination, opposition or cancellation proceeding or any other Legal Proceeding or subject to or otherwise bound by any outstanding Order or Contract (other than in the case of any Licensed Intellectual Property, the Contract pursuant to which the Company licenses the rights to such Licensed Intellectual Property) that restricts in any manner the use, transfer or licensing thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary or may affect the validity, use or enforceability of such Intellectual Property. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any knowledge of any fact or circumstance that would render any portion of the Intellectual Property invalid or unenforceable.

 

3.13.8.    Except where the failure to comply with this Section 3.13.8 could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each current and former officer, employee, agent, developer, consultant and contractor who (a) has had or has access to any confidentiality of the trade secrets of the Intellectual Property; and (b) contributed to or participated in the creation and/or development of the Intellectual Property either: (i) is a party to a “work made for hire” agreement under which the Company or any Subsidiary is deemed to be the original owner/author of all right, title and interest in the Intellectual Property created or developed by such Person; or (ii) has executed an assignment or an agreement to assign in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary of all such Person’s right, title and interest in the Intellectual Property.

 

3.13.9.    The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not result in the breach of, or create on behalf of any third party the right to terminate or modify, any license, sublicense, agreement or permission: (a) relating to or affecting any Intellectual Property; or (b) pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary is granted a license or otherwise authorized to use any third party Intellectual Property.

 

3.13.10.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13.10 , to the knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing, violating, misappropriating or making unauthorized use of any of the Intellectual Property. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary have enforced and taken such commercially reasonable steps as are necessary to protect and preserve all rights in the Intellectual Property against the infringement, violation, misappropriation and unauthorized use thereof by any Person. Each of the Company or the Subsidiary has the right to: (a) bring actions for past, present and future infringement, dilution, misappropriation or unauthorized use of any Intellectual Property owned or licensed by such entity, injury to goodwill associated with the use of any such Intellectual Property, unfair competition or trade practices violations of and other violation of such Intellectual Property; and (b) with respect to the Intellectual Property owned exclusively by the Company or any Subsidiary, receive all proceeds from the foregoing set forth in subsection (a) hereof, including, without limitation, licenses, royalties income, payments, claims, damages and proceeds of suit.

 

3.14         Compliance with Other Instruments . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14 , neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

 

 

3.15         Litigation . Except as set forth in the Memorandum or on Schedule 3.15 , there is no Legal Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary or any investigation of the Company or any Subsidiary, nor is the Company aware of any fact that would make any of the foregoing reasonably likely to arise. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party or subject to the provisions of any Order. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15 , there is no Legal Proceeding by the Company or any Subsidiary currently pending or that the Company or any Subsidiary intends to initiate. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Order involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.

 

3.16         Tax Returns and Payments .

 

3.16.1.    Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16.1 , the Company and each Subsidiary has filed all Tax Returns required to be filed by it, and each such entity has timely paid all Taxes owed (whether or not shown on any Tax Return). All such Tax Returns were complete and correct, and such Tax Returns correctly reflected the facts regarding the income, business, assets, operations, activities, status and other matters of such entity and any other information required to be shown thereon. The Company and each Subsidiary has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any Employee, creditor, independent contractor, shareholder, member or other third party. The Company and each Subsidiary has established adequate reserves for all Taxes accrued but not yet payable. No deficiency assessment with respect to or proposed adjustment of the Company and/or any Subsidiaries Taxes is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. There is no tax lien (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable), imposed by any taxing authority, outstanding against the assets, properties or the business of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

3.16.2.    Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has agreed to make any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign tax law) by reason of a change in accounting method or otherwise, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will be required to make any such adjustment as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been or is a party to any tax sharing or similar agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is or has ever been a party to any joint venture, partnership, limited liability company, or other arrangement or Contract which could be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Neither the Company nor any Subidiary is or has ever been a “United States real property holding corporation” as that term is defined in Section 897 of the Code.

 

 

 

 

3.17         Employees .

 

3.17.1.    (a) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, or has ever had any, collective bargaining agreements with any of its employees; (b) there is no labor union organizing activity pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary; (c) other than Robb Knie, the President and CEO of the Company, no employee has or is subject to any agreement or Contract to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party (including, without limitation, licenses, covenants or commitments of any nature) regarding his or her employment or engagement; (d) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no employee is subject to any Order that would interfere with his or her duties to the Company or any Subsidiary or that would conflict with the businesses the Company or any Subsidiary as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted; (e) no employee is in violation of any term of any employment contract, proprietary information agreement or any other agreement relating to the right of any such Person to be employed by, or to contract with, the Company or any Subsidiary; (f) to the best of the Company’s knowledge, the continued employment by the Company or any Subsidiary of its present employees, and the performance of their respective duties to such entity, will not result in any violation of any term of any employment contract, proprietary information agreement or any other agreement relating to the right of any such individual to be employed by, or to contract with, the Company or any Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any written notice alleging that such violation has occurred; (g) other than Mr. Knie, no Employee or consultant has been granted the right to continued employment by or service to the Company or any Subsidiary or to any compensation following termination of employment with or service to the Company or any Subsidiary; and (h) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any present intention to terminate the employment or engagement or service of any officer or any significant employee or consultant

 

3.17.2.    Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17.2 , there are no outstanding or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened claims against the Company or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate (whether under federal or state law, under any employment agreement, or otherwise) asserted by any present or former employee or consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of any law or Requirement of Law concerning immigration or the employment of persons other than U.S. citizens.

 

3.18         Pension and Other Employee Benefit Plans .

 

3.18.1.    There are set forth or identified in Schedule 3.18.1 all of the plans, funds, policies, programs and arrangements sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary on behalf of any employee or former employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (or any dependent or beneficiary of any such Employee or former employee) with respect to (a) deferred compensation or retirement benefits; (b) severance or separation from service benefits (other than those required by law); (c) incentive, performance, stock, share appreciation or bonus awards; (d) health care benefits; (e) disability income or wage continuation benefits; (f) supplemental unemployment benefits; (g) life insurance, death or survivor’s benefits; (h) accrued sick pay or vacation pay; or (i) any other material benefit offered under any arrangement constituting an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”) and not excepted by Section 4 of ERISA (the foregoing being collectively called “ Employee Benefit Plans ”). Schedule 3.18.1 sets forth all such Employee Benefit Plans subject to the provisions of Section 412 of the Code as well as any “multi-employer plans” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18.1 , the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in any payment or series of payments by the Purchasers, the Company or any Subsidiary of an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or any other severance, bonus or other payment on account of such transactions. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18.1 , none of the Employee Benefit Plans is under investigation or audit by the United States Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service or any other Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

 

3.18.2.    Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18.2 , (a) the Company and each Subsidiary has complied with its obligations under all applicable Requirements of Law including, without limitation, of ERISA and the Code with respect to such Employee Benefit Plans and all other arrangements that provide compensation or benefits to any Employee and the terms thereof, whether or not such person is directly employed by the Company or any Subsidiary and (b) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened actions or claims for benefits by any Employee, other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course of business. No Employee Benefit Plan provides any benefits to any former employees.

 

 

 

 

3.18.3.    All Employee Benefit Plans that are intended to meet the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code have been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to meet such requirements and have at all times operated in compliance with such requirements.

 

3.18.4.    All employment Taxes, premiums for employee benefits provided through insurance, contributions to Employee Benefit Plans, and all other compensation and benefits to which employees are entitled, have been timely paid or provided as applicable, and there is no liability for any such payments, contributions or premiums.

 

3.19         Real Property . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any interest in any real estate, except that the Company and its Subsidiaries lease the properties described on Schedule 3.19 (the “ Leased Real Property ”). The Leased Real Property is adequate for the operations of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries’ businesses as currently conducted and as contemplated to be conducted. True and complete copies of the lease agreements (the “ Real Property Leases ”) pertaining to the Leased Real Property have been delivered or made available to the Placement Agent. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.19 , the Company and each Subsidiary has paid all amounts due from it, and is not in default under any of the Real Property Leases and there exists no condition or event, which, with the passage of time, giving of notice or both, would reasonably be expected to give rise to a default under or breach of the Real Property Leases.

 

3.20         Permits; Regulatory .

 

3.20.1     No Regulatory Approval or Consent of, or any designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental or Regulatory Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the valid execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Units), except such Regulatory Approvals, Consents, designations, declarations or filings that have been duly and validly obtained or filed, or with respect to any filings that must be made after the Initial Closing or the Subsequent Closing as will be filed in a timely manner. The Company and each Subsidiary has all franchises, Permits, licenses and any similar authority necessary for the conduct of its business as now being conducted , including, without limitation, the Food and Drug Administration (“ FDA ”) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

 

3.20.2     To the best of the Company’s knowledge, all manufacturing and production operations conducted by the Company or (or by third parties on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries including, without limitation, any manufacturing or production being done by any third party in connection with any feasibility, preclinical, clinical or other study, test or trial for or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary or any such study, test or trial that is being sponsored by the Company or any Subsidiary or in which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of the Company and its Subsidiaries’ Products is participating), if any, relating to the manufacture or production of the Products are being conducted in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Law including to the extent mandated by relevant regulatory agencies, without limitation, current Good Manufacturing Practices or similar foreign requirements.

 

 

 

 

3.20.3     Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other Person has received (a) any reports of inspection observations, (b) any establishment inspection reports or (c) any warning letters or any other documents from the FDA or any other Governmental or Regulatory Authority relating to the Products and/or arising out of the conduct of any Subsidiary or any Person which has conducted or is conducting any feasibility, preclinical, clinical or other study, test or trial for or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary or any such study, test or trial that is being sponsored by the Company or any Subsidiary or in which any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s Products is participating that assert a material violation or material non-compliance with any applicable Requirements of Law (including, without limitation, those of the FDA).

 

3.21         Environmental and Safety Laws . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has caused or allowed, or contracted with any party for, the generation, use, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of any Hazardous Substances in connection with the operation of its business or otherwise, except in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, the Company and each Subsidiary and the operation of their respective businesses are in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, all of the Leased Real Property and all other real property which the Company or any Subsidiary occupy (the “ Premises ”) is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and Orders or directives of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority having jurisdiction under such Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, any Environmental Laws or Orders or directives with respect to any cleanup or remediation of any release or threat of release of Hazardous Substances. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the operation of their respective businesses are and have been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws. To the knowledge of the Company, there have occurred no and there are no events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, or actions that may give rise to any common law or statutory liability, or otherwise form the basis of any Legal Proceeding, any Order, any remedial or responsive action, or any investigation or study involving or relating to the Company or any Subsidiary, based upon or related to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling, or the emission, discharge, release or threatened release into the environment, of any pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or Hazardous Substance. To the knowledge of the Company, (a) there is no asbestos contained in or forming a part of any building, structure or improvement comprising a part of any of the Leased Real Property, (b) there are no polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) present, in use or stored on any of the Leased Real Property, and (c) no radon gas or the presence of radioactive decay products of radon are present on, or underground at any of the Leased Real Property at levels beyond the minimum safe levels for such gas or products prescribed by applicable Environmental Laws. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has obtained and is maintaining in full force and effect all necessary Permits, licenses and approvals required by all Environmental Laws applicable to the Premises and the business operations conducted thereon, and is in compliance with all such Permits, licenses and approvals. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has caused or allowed a release, or a threat of release, of any Hazardous Substance onto, at or near the Premises, and, to the knowledge of the Company, neither the Premises nor any property at or near the Premises has ever been subject to a release, or a threat of release, of any Hazardous Substance.

 

3.22         Regulatory Permits . The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“ Material Permits ”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit

 

3.23         Offering Valid . Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained in the subscription agreements entered into by each Purchaser in connection with this Agreement, the offer, sale and issuance of the Units will be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and will be exempt from registration and qualification under applicable state securities laws.

 

 

 

 

3.24         Disclosure . Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company confirms that neither it nor any other Person acting on its behalf has provided any of the Purchasers or their agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or might constitute material, non-public information. The Company understands and confirms that the Purchasers will rely on the foregoing representation in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. All of the disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchasers regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, their respective businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, is, as of each Closing Date, true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The press releases disseminated by the Company during the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement taken as a whole do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made and when made, not misleading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Purchaser makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.

 

3.25         Minute Books . A copy of all minutes of all meetings of directors and stockholders and all actions by written consent without a meeting by the directors and stockholders since May 2017, has been made available to the Placement Agent in a virtual data room and accurately reflect all actions taken by the directors (and any committee of the directors) and stockholders with respect to all transactions referred to in such minutes.

 

3.26         Insurance . Schedule 3.26 sets forth a list of all policies or binders of fire, casualty, liability, product liability, worker’s compensation, vehicular or other insurance held by the Company and its Subsidiaries concerning its assets and/or its businesses (specifying for each such insurance policy the insurer, the policy number or covering note number with respect to binders, and each pending claim thereunder of more than $5,000). Such policies and binders are valid and in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any provision contained in any such policy or binder or has failed to give any notice or present any claim of which it has notice under any such policy or binder in a timely fashion. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received or given a notice of cancellation or non-renewal with respect to any such policy or binder. None of the applications for such policies or binders contain any material inaccuracy, and all premiums for such policies and binders have been paid when due. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has knowledge of any state of facts or the occurrence of any event that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for any claim against it not fully covered by the policies referred to on Schedule 3.26 . No Subsidiary has received written notice from any of their respective insurance carriers that any insurance premiums will be materially increased after the applicable Closing Date or that any insurance coverage listed on Schedule 3.26 will not be available after such Closing Date on substantially the same terms as now in effect.

 

3.27         Investment Company Act . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is an “investment company”, or a company “controlled” by an “investment company”, within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

 

 

 

3.28         Foreign Payments; Undisclosed Contract Terms .

 

3.28.1.     To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has made any offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization for the payment of money or an offer, gift, promise to give, or authorization for the giving of anything of value to any Person in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

3.28.2.     To the knowledge of the Company, there are no understandings, arrangements, agreements, provisions, conditions or terms relating to, and there have been no payments made to any Person in connection with any agreement, Contract, commitment, lease or other contractual undertaking of the Company or any Subsidiary which are not expressly set forth in such contractual undertaking.

 

3.29         No Broker . Other than commissions (including fees, expenses and warrants) payable to the Placement Agent as described in the Memorandum, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has employed any broker or finder, or incurred any liability for any brokerage or finder’s fees in connection with the sale of the Units, or the Preferred Shares and Warrants underlying the Units pursuant to this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents.

 

3.30         Compliance with Laws . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of, or in default under, any Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary, or any Order issued or pending against such Subsidiary or by which the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s properties are bound, except for such violations or defaults that have not had, and could not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.31         No Integrated Offering . Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 4, neither the Company, nor any of its Affiliates, nor any Person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause this offering of any of the Preferred Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares (collectively, the “ Securities ”) to be integrated with prior offerings by the Company for purposes of (i) the Securities Act which would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act, or (ii) any applicable shareholder approval provisions of any Trading Market on which any of the securities of the Company are listed or designated.

 

3.32         Application of Takeover Protections . The Company and the Board of Directors have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Purchasers as a result of the Purchasers and the Company fulfilling their obligations or exercising their rights under the Transaction Documents, including without limitation as a result of the Company’s issuance of the Securities and the Purchasers’ ownership of the Securities.

 

3.33         No General Solicitation . Neither the Company nor any person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The Company has offered the Securities for sale only to the Purchasers and certain other “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act.

 

 

 

 

3.34         Foreign Corrupt Practices . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has: (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

3.35         Stock Option Plans . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.35 , each stock option or stock issuance granted by the Company under the Company’s stock incentive plan was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock incentive plan and (ii) such options had an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

3.36         Office of Foreign Assets Control . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”).

 

3.37         U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation . The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon Purchaser’s request.

 

3.38         Money Laundering . The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.

 

3.39         Bad Actor Disqualification

 

(a)            No Disqualification Events . With respect to Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506 under the Securities Act (“Regulation D Securities”), none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “Issuer Covered Person” and, together, “Issuer Covered Persons”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “Disqualification Event”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Placement Agent and the Subscriber a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.

 

 

 

 

(b)            Other Covered Persons . The Company is not aware of any person that (i) has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of the Securities and (ii) who is subject to a Disqualification Event.

 

3.40         Notice of Disqualification Events . The Company will notify the Placement Agent in writing of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person, prior to any Closing of this Offering.

 

3.41         Transactions with Affiliates and Employees . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.41 , none of the officers or directors of the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for: (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.

 

3.42         OFAC . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or person acting on behalf of any Subsidiary, is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the OFAC; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Units, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any joint venture partner or other person or entity, towards any sales or operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar or any other country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions.

 

3.43         Registration Rights . Except as set forth in the Memorandum or on Schedule 3.43 and as required pursuant to the Investor Rights Agreement, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is under any obligation, or has granted any rights that have not been terminated, to register any of such Subsidiary’s currently outstanding securities or any of its securities that may hereafter be issued.

 

3.48         Material Non-Public Information . Except with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby that will be publicly disclosed, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has provided any Purchaser with any information that such Subsidiary believes constitutes material non-public information.

 

3.49         Right to Receive Additional Shares . Except as set forth in the Memorandum or in connection with the Units issued in this Offering, no existing shareholder of the Company has any right to cause the Company to issue additional shares of Common Stock (the “ Existing Right Issuances ”) to such shareholder.

 

4.             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASERS.

 

Each of the Purchasers hereby severally, and not jointly, represents and warrants to the Company that each such Purchaser’s representations and warranties in such Purchaser’s subscription agreement (each a “ Subscription Agreement ” and collectively, the “ Subscription Agreements ”) entered into in connection with this Agreement, in form and substance substantially the same as the form of Subscription Agreement in Exhibit C are true and correct as of their respective Closing, and such representations and warranties are deemed repeated as if contained herein.

 

 

 

 

5.             CONDITIONS TO THE CLOSING.

 

5.1           Conditions to Purchasers’ Obligations at the Closings . The obligations of the Purchasers to consummate the transactions contemplated herein to be consummated at the Initial Closing and of each Subsequent Closing, as the case may be, are subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the date of such Closing, of the conditions set forth below and applicable thereto, which satisfaction shall be determined, or may be waived in writing, the Purchasers or Subsequent Closing Purchasers, as the case may be, who have subscribed for at least a majority of the Units to be purchased at such Closing.

 

5.1.1.        Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations . Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on and as of the Initial Closing Date. As of the Initial Closing, the Company shall have performed and complied with the covenants and provisions of this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Initial Closing Date. As to the Subsequent Closings, each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on and as of the Subsequent Closing Date, as qualified by any updated Schedules delivered at least five (5) days in advance of the Subsequent Closing to the Subsequent Closing Purchasers participating in the Subsequent Closing. As to the Subsequent Closings, the Company shall have performed and complied with the covenants and provisions of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents required to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Subsequent Closing Date. At each Closing, the Purchasers participating in such Closing shall have received certificates of the Company dated as of the date of such Closing, signed by the president or chief executive officer of the Company, certifying as to the fulfillment of the conditions set forth in this Section 5.1 and the truth and accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (as qualified by the most recently delivered Schedules) as of the Initial Closing Date and, as to each Subsequent Closing, the Subsequent Closing Date.

 

5.1.2.        Issuance in Compliance with Laws . The sale and issuance of the Units shall be legally permitted by all laws and regulations to which any of the Purchasers and the Company are subject.

 

5.1.3.        Filings, Consents, Permits, and Waivers . The Company and the Purchasers shall have made all filings and obtained any and all Consents, Permits, waivers, and Regulatory Approvals necessary for consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, except for such filings as are not due to be made until after the applicable Closing.

 

5.1.4.        Reservation of the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares . From and after the Initial Closing and any Subsequent Closing, the Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares, which were the subject of such Closing shall have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by the Board of Directors.

 

5.1.5.        Investor Rights Agreement . Concurrently with the issuance of the Units occurring at the Initial Closing, the Investor Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F (the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), shall have been executed and delivered by the Company and each Purchaser .

 

5.1.6.        Legal Opinion . At each Closing, the Placement Agent and the Purchasers or the Subsequent Closing Purchasers, as the case may be, shall have received a legal opinion addressed to each of them, dated as of such Closing Date, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E from Sheppard Mullin LLP.

 

 

 

 

5.1.7.        Proceedings and Documents . All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated at the Closings and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be reasonably satisfactory in substance and form to the Purchasers or the Subsequent Closing Purchasers, as the case may be, and their counsel, and the Purchasers or the Subsequent Closing Purchasers, as the case may be, and their counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as they may reasonably request.

 

5.1.8.        Proceedings and Litigation . No action, suit or proceeding shall have been commenced by any Person against any party hereto seeking to restrain or delay the purchase and sale of the Units or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents.

 

5.1.9.        No Material Adverse Effect . Since the date hereof, there shall not have occurred any effect, event, condition or circumstance (including, without limitation, the initiation of any litigation or other legal, regulatory or investigative proceeding) that individually or in the aggregate, with or without the passage of time, the giving of notice, or both, that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect or which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to perform its respective obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents.

 

5.1.10.     Updated Disclosures . As to the Subsequent Closings, the Company must have delivered to the Purchasers an updated set of schedules in accordance with Section 5.1.1 and such updated schedules do not reveal any information or the occurrence, since the Initial Closing Date, of any effect, event, condition or circumstance, which individually, or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect and do not include any state of facts that occur as a result of the breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents.

 

5.1.11.     Payment of Purchase Price . As to the Initial Closing, each Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company the total purchase price to be paid for such Purchaser’s Initial Units, in the amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Exhibit A , which shall be no less than $100,000 in aggregate gross proceeds. As to each Subsequent Closing, each Subsequent Closing Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company the total purchase price to be paid for such Subsequent Closing Purchaser’s Subsequent Units.

 

5.1.12.     Delivery of Documents at the Initial Closing . The Company shall have executed and delivered the following documents, on or prior to the Initial Closing Date:

 

(a)            Certificates . Certificates representing the Preferred Shares to be purchased and sold on the Initial Closing Date;

 

(b)            Warrants: An executed Warrant, in substantially the form of Exhibit B for the Warrants to be issued on the Initial Closing Date;

 

 

 

 

(c)            Compliance Certificate . The certificate required by Section 5.1.12(e) hereof certifying that all representations and warranties made by the Company as of the Initial Closing Date are true, complete and correct as of the Initial Closing Date, as qualified by the Schedules delivered pursuant to Section 5.1.1 and that all covenants in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents required to be performed by the Company prior to the Initial Closing Date have been so performed;

 

(d)            Legal Opinion . The legal opinion required by Section 5.1.6 hereof;

 

(e)            Secretary’s Certificate . A certificate of the Secretary of the Company (i) attaching and certifying as to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (the “ Certificate ”), (ii) attaching and certifying as to the Bylaws of the Company in effect at the Initial Closing, (iii) attaching and certifying as to copies of resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and approving this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively, the “ Minutes ”); and (iv) certifying as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company executing this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents.

 

5.1.13.     Delivery of Documents at the Subsequent Closing . At any Subsequent Closing, the Company shall deliver, or shall cause to be delivered to the Subsequent Closing Purchasers the following documents, to be held in escrow pending the completion of such Subsequent Closing :

 

(a)            Certificates . Certificates representing the Preferred Shares to be purchased and sold on the Subsequent Closing Date bearing the legends required to be placed on such certificates pursuant to the Transaction Documents;

 

(b)            Warrants: An executed Warrant, in substantially the form of Exhibit B for the Warrants to be issued on the Subsequent Closing Date;

 

(c)            Compliance Certificate . The certificate required by Section 5.1.13(e) hereof certifying that all representations and warranties made by the Company as of the Subsequent Closing Date are true, complete and correct as of the Subsequent Closing Date, as qualified by the updated Schedules delivered pursuant to Section 5.1.1 and that all covenants in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents required to be performed by the Company prior to the Subsequent Closing Date have been so performed;

 

(d)            Legal Opinion . A bringdown of the legal opinion required by Section 5.1.7 hereof; and

 

(e)            Secretary’s Certificate . A Certificate of the Secretary of the Company (i) certifying that the resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Company authorizing and approving this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents delivered at the Initial Closing have not been modified in any way or rescinded and are otherwise in effect as of the Subsequent Closing, (ii) certifying as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company executing any documents contemplated by this Agreement to be executed and delivered by the Company at the Subsequent Closing, and (iii) attaching and certifying as to the Certificate as in effect at the Subsequent Closing, and (iv) the Bylaws of the Company in effect at the Subsequent Closing.

 

 

 

 

5.2           Conditions to Obligations of the Company at the Closings . The obligation of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated herein to be consummated at the Initial Closing or the Subsequent Closing, as the case may be, is subject to the satisfaction, on or prior to the date of such Closing of the conditions set forth below and applicable thereto, any of which may be waived in writing by the Company:

 

5.2.1.        Representations and Warranties; Performance of Obligations . Each of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein shall be true and correct on and as of the Initial Closing Date. As of the Initial Closing Date, the Purchasers shall have performed and complied with the covenants and provisions of this Agreement required to be performed or complied with by them at or prior to the Initial Closing Date. As to the Subsequent Closing, each of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser(s) contained herein shall be true and correct on and as of the Subsequent Closing Date. As to the Subsequent Closing, the Subsequent Closing Purchaser(s) shall have performed and complied with the covenants and provisions of this Agreement required to be performed and complied with by them at or prior to the Subsequent Closing Date.

 

5.2.2.        Proceedings and Litigation . No action, suit or proceeding shall have been commenced by any Governmental Authority against any party hereto seeking to restrain or delay the purchase and sale of the Units or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

5.2.3.        Qualifications . All Permits, if any, that are required in connection with the lawful issuance and sale of the Units pursuant to this Agreement shall be obtained and effective as of the Initial Closing or Subsequent Closing, as applicable.

 

6.             COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES.

 

6.1           Commercially Reasonable Efforts . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the parties to this Agreement shall use their respective good faith commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, without any party being obligated to incur any material internal costs or make any payment or payments to any third party or parties which, individually or in the aggregate, are material and are not otherwise legally required to be made, all actions, and to do or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable for such party to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, each Closing and the other transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

6.2           Post-Closing Filings . In connection with each Closing, the Company and the Purchasers, if applicable, agree to file all required forms or filings under applicable securities laws.

 

6.3           T ransfer Restrictions.

 

6.3.1        The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, to the Company or to an Affiliate of a Purchaser, the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement.

 

6.3.2        The Purchaser agrees to the imprinting, so long as is required by this Section 6.3, of a legend on any of the Securities, including the Warrant Shares, substantially in the following form:

 

[NEITHER] THIS SECURITY [NOR THE SECURITIES INTO WHICH THIS SECURITY IS EXERCISABLE HAS [NOT] BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TRANSFEROR TO SUCH EFFECT, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHICH SHALL BE REASONABLY ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY.

 

 

 

 

6.3.3        Certificates evidencing the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares shall be eligible for removal of the restrictive legend set forth in Section 6.3.2 hereof, (a) following any sale of such Preferred Shares or Warrant Shares pursuant to Rule 144, or (b) if such Preferred Shares, or Warrant Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 as to such Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, (c) following any sale of such Preferred Shares, or Warrant Shares, pursuant to the plan of distribution in an effective registration statement (in compliance with any prospectus delivery requirements), or (d) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission) (the “ Removal Date ”). The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the Transfer Agent promptly after the Removal Date if required by the Transfer Agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder as permitted by applicable law then in effect. The Company agrees that following the Removal Date, it will, no later than five (5) trading days following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent of a certificate representing the Preferred Shares or Warrant Shares, as the case may be, issued with a restrictive legend, together with any reasonable certifications requested by the Company, the Company’s counsel or the Transfer Agent (such fifth (5th) trading day, the “ Legend Removal Date ”), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate representing such shares that is free from all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 6. Certificates for the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchaser by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company System as directed by such Purchaser if the Transfer Agent is then a participant in such system and the Company is eligible to use such system and as directed by such Purchaser if either (i) there is an effective registration statement permitting the resale of such Preferred Shares, or Warrant Shares by the Purchaser (and the Purchaser provides the Company or the Company’s counsel with any requested certifications with respect to future sales of such shares) or (ii) the shares are eligible for resale by the Purchaser under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144 as to such Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions.

 

6.3.4        In addition to any other rights available to a Purchaser, if the Company fails to deliver to a Purchaser unlegended Warrant Shares as required pursuant to this Agreement and after the Legend Removal Date such Purchaser, or a broker on such Purchaser’s behalf, purchases (in an open market transaction or otherwise) shares of Common Stock to deliver in satisfaction of a sale by such Purchaser of the Warrant Shares that such Purchaser was entitled to receive from the Company (a “ Buy-In ”), then the Company shall promptly pay in cash to such Purchaser (in addition to any remedies available to or elected by such Purchaser) the amount by which (a) such Purchaser’s total purchase price (including brokerage commissions, if any) for the Preferred Shares so purchased exceeds (b) the aggregate purchase price of the Warrant Shares delivered to the Company for reissuance as unlegended shares (which amount shall be paid as liquidated damages and not as a penalty). For example, if a Purchaser purchases shares of Common Stock having a total purchase price of $11,000 to cover a Buy-In with respect to Common Stock or Warrant Shares delivered to the Company for reissuance as unlegended shares having an aggregate purchase price of $10,000, the Company shall be required to pay the Purchaser $1,000, plus interest. The Purchaser shall provide the Company written notice indicating the amounts payable to the Purchaser in respect of the Buy-In. For purposes of this Agreement, the “purchase price” of a (a) Preferred Share shall be $1.00 per share, and (B) Warrant Share shall be the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrants).

 

 

 

 

6.3.5        In addition to such Purchaser’s other available remedies, the Company shall pay to such Purchaser, in cash, as partial liquidated damages and not as a penalty, for each $1,000 of Warrant Shares (based on the Exercise Price of such Warrant Shares, as the case may be) delivered for removal of the restrictive legend, $10 per trading day (increasing to $20 per trading day five (5) trading days after such damages have begun to accrue)) for each trading day after the fifth (5th) trading day following the Legend Removal Date until such certificate is delivered without a legend. Nothing herein shall limit such Purchaser’s right to pursue actual damages for the Company’s failure to deliver certificates representing any Securities as required by the Transaction Documents, and such Purchaser shall have the right to pursue all remedies available to it at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief.

  

6.4           Listing of Securities . The Company agrees, (i) if the Company applies to have the Common Stock traded on any other trading market, it will include in such application the Warrant Shares of each Purchaser, and will take such other action as is necessary or desirable to cause such Common Stock and any Warrant Shares to be listed on such other trading market as promptly as possible, and (ii) it will take all action reasonably necessary to continue the listing and trading of its Common Stock on a Trading Market (as defined in the Warrant) and will comply in all material respects with the Company’s reporting, filing and other obligations under the bylaws or rules of any such Trading Market (as defined in the Warrant).  

  

6.5           Reservation of Shares . From and after the Initial Closing and any Subsequent Closing, the Company shall at all times thereafter while the Preferred Shares and Warrants which were purchased and sold at such Closing are outstanding maintain a reserve from its duly authorized shares of Common Stock of a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to allow for the issuance of Conversion Shares and Warrant Shares, which were the subject of such Closing.

 

6.6           Replacement of Securities . If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction and customary and reasonable indemnity, if requested. The applicants for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs associated with the issuance of such replacement securities. If a replacement certificate or instrument evidencing any securities is requested due to a mutilation thereof, the Company may require delivery of such mutilated certificate or instrument as a condition precedent to any issuance of a replacement.

 

6.7           Form D; Blue Sky Filings . The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and to provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of the Purchaser. The Company shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Securities for, sale to the Purchaser at the Closing under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States, and shall provide evidence of such actions promptly upon request of any Purchaser.

 

 

 

 

6.8           Equal Treatment of Purchasers . No consideration (including any modification of any Transaction Document) shall be offered or paid to any person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents.

 

6.9           Non-Public Information . Except with respect to the material terms and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, the Company covenants and agrees that neither it, nor any other person acting on its behalf, will provide Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that the Company believes constitutes material non-public information, unless prior thereto Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such information. The Company understands and confirms that Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenant in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.

 

6.10         Use of Proceeds . The Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder for working capital purposes and shall not use the proceeds for (a) the satisfaction of any portion of the Company’s debt (other than payment of trade payables in the ordinary course of the Company’s business and prior practices), (b) the redemption of any Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or (c) the settlement of any outstanding litigation.

 

6.11         Commercially Reasonable Efforts . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the parties to this Agreement shall use their respective good faith commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, without any party being obligated to incur any material internal costs or make any payment or payments to any third party or parties which, individually or in the aggregate, are material and are not otherwise legally required to be made, all actions, and to do or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable for such party to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, each Closing and the other transactions contemplated hereunder.

 

7.             INDEMNIFICATION AND EXPENSES.

 

7.4           The Company Indemnification . The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Purchaser and any of such Purchaser’s Affiliates and any Person which controls, is controlled by, or under common control with (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Purchaser or any such Affiliate, and each of their respective directors and officers, and the successors and assigns and executors and estates of any of the foregoing (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”, and collectively, the “ Indemnified Parties ”) from and against all Indemnified Losses imposed upon, incurred by, or asserted against any of the Indemnified Parties resulting from, relating to or arising out of:

 

7.4.1.       any representation or warranty made in this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company not being true and correct in any material respect when made;

 

7.4.2.       any breach or non-fulfillment of any covenant or agreement to be performed by the Company under this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents;

 

7.4.3.       any third party action or claim against any Indemnified Party arising out of any misrepresentation or breach described in Section 7.4.1 or Section 7.4.2; or

 

 

 

 

7.4.4.       any third party action or claim relating in any way to the Indemnified Party’s status as a security holder of the Company, as a Person which controls, is controlled by or under common control with (within the meaning of the Securities Act) any such Indemnified Party or as a director or officer of any of the foregoing (including, without limitation, any and all Indemnifiable Losses arising under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or similar securities law, or any other Requirements of Law or otherwise, which relate directly or indirectly to the registration, purchase, sale or ownership of any securities of the Company or to any fiduciary obligation owed with respect thereto), including, without limitation, in connection with any action or claim relating to any action taken or omitted to be taken or alleged to have been taken or omitted to have been taken by such Indemnified Party as a security holder; provided that the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify or hold harmless any Indemnified Party under this Section 7.4.4 against any Indemnified Losses resulting from or arising out of any such action or claim if it has been adjudicated by a final and non-appealable determination of a court or other trier of fact of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Losses were the result of (a) a breach of such Indemnified Party’s fiduciary duty, (b) any action or omission made by the Indemnified Party in bad faith, (c) such Indemnified Party’s willful misconduct, or (d) any criminal action on the part of such Indemnified Party.

 

7.2           Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses . If any action at law or in equity (including arbitration) is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement or any Transaction Document, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and necessary disbursements in addition to any other relief to which such party may be entitled as determined by such court, equity or arbitration proceeding.

 

8.             MISCELLANEOUS.

 

8.4           Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Trial by Jury . This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflict of laws principles of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction. No suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents may be brought in any court or before any similar authority other than in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of such suit, proceeding or judgment. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any right which it may have had to bring such an action in any other court, domestic or foreign, or before any similar domestic or foreign authority and agrees not to claim or plead the same. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding in relation to this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents and for any counterclaim therein.

 

8.5           Survival of Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties made by the Company and the Purchasers herein at each Closing shall survive such Closing for a period of twelve (12) months. All statements contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of any party to this Agreement, pursuant to or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents shall be deemed to be representations and warranties made by such party as of the date of such certificate or other instrument.

 

8.6           Successors and Assigns . The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of each other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing (a) any Purchaser may assign or transfer, in whole or, from time to time, in part, the right to purchase all or any portion of the Units to one or more of its Affiliates (subject to Affiliate qualification as an Accredited Investor) and (b) from and after the Initial Closing Date, any Purchaser or other holder of Preferred Shares may assign, pledge or otherwise transfer, in whole or from time to time in part, its rights hereunder to any Person who acquires any interest in any Preferred Shares and (c) any Purchaser may assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement, in whole or from time to time in part, to the Company or any other Purchaser or any Affiliate of any other Purchaser. As a condition of any transfer pursuant to this Section 8.6, the transferee must agree in writing for the benefit of all parties to this Agreement (which writing shall be in form and substance reasonably acceptable to all parties to this Agreement) to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all other Transaction Documents with respect to any Preferred Shares being transferred hereunder.

 

 

 

 

8.7           Entire Agreement . This Agreement, the Exhibits and Schedules hereto, the other Transaction Documents and each of the Exhibits delivered pursuant thereto constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof and thereof and no party hereto shall be liable or bound to any other party hereto in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

 

8.8           Severability . If any provision of the Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

8.9           Amendment and Waiver . Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Company and the Purchasers (and, to the extent of any assignment under Section 8.6 hereof, their respective permitted assigns and any permitted assigns thereof) holding a majority of the voting power of the then outstanding Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares purchased under this Agreement held by such holders.

 

8.10         Delays or Omissions . No delay or omission to exercise any right, power or remedy accruing to any party, upon any breach, default or noncompliance by another party under this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, shall impair any such right, power or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of or in any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. Any waiver or approval of any kind or character on any Purchaser’s part of any breach, default or noncompliance under this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents or any waiver on such party’s part of any provisions or conditions of the Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, the other Transaction Documents, or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

8.11         Notices . All notices, requests, demands and other communications given or made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be addressed (i) if to a Purchaser, at such Purchaser’s address, fax number or email address, as furnished to the Company on the signature page below or as otherwise furnished to the Company by the Purchaser in writing, or (ii) if to the Company, to the attention of the President at such address, fax number or email address furnished to the Purchasers on the signature page below or as otherwise furnished by the Company in writing, and shall be made or sent by a personal delivery or overnight courier, by registered, certified or first class mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or electronic mail with confirmation of receipt, and shall be deemed to be given on the date of delivery when made by personal delivery or overnight courier, 48 hours after being deposited in the U.S. mail, or upon confirmation of receipt when sent by facsimile or electronic mail. Any party may, by written notice to the other, alter its address, number or respondent, and such notice shall be considered to have been given three (3) days after the overnight delivery, airmailing, faxing or sending via e-mail thereof.

 

 

 

 

8.12         Expenses . The Company shall pay all costs and expenses that it incurs with respect to the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, including, without limitation, any costs and expenses of its counsel. The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of independent counsel for the Placement Agent with respect to the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents in accordance with the terms of the Company’s agreement with the Placement Agent.

 

8.13         Titles and Subtitles . The titles of the sections and subsections of the Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

8.14         Counterparts; Execution by Facsimile Signature . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (including execution by facsimile), each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature(s) which shall be binding on the party delivering same, to be followed by delivery of originally executed signature pages.

 

8.15         Acknowledgment . Any investigation or other examination that may have been made at any time by or on behalf of a party to whom representations and warranties are made in this Agreement or in any other Transaction Documents shall not limit, diminish, supersede, act as a waiver of, or in any other way affect the representations, warranties and indemnities contained in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents, and the respective parties may rely on the representations, warranties and indemnities made to them in this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents irrespective of and notwithstanding any information obtained by them in the course of any investigation, examination or otherwise, whether before or after any Closing.

 

8.16         Publicity . Except as otherwise required by law, no announcement or other disclosure, public or otherwise, concerning the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be made, either directly or indirectly, by any party hereto which mentions another party (or parties) hereto without the prior written consent of such other party (or parties), which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned.

 

8.17         No Third Party Beneficiaries . Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or Liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

8.18         Pronouns . All pronouns contained herein, and any variations thereof, shall be deemed to refer to the masculine, feminine or neutral, singular or plural, as to the identity of the parties hereto may require.

 

9.             DEFINITIONS.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings herein specified:

 

9.4          “ Affiliate ” shall mean, with respect to any Person specified: (i) any Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or under common control with the Person specified; (ii) any director, officer, or Subsidiary of the Person specified; and (iii) the spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers-in-law, fathers-in law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law of the Person specified, whether arising by blood, marriage or adoption, and any Person who resides in the specified Person’s home. For any director, officer, or Subsidiary of the Person specified. For purposes of this definition and without limitation to the previous sentence, (x) “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) of a Person means the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of management and policies of such Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and (y) any Person beneficially owning, directly or indirectly, more than ten percent (10%) or more of any class of voting securities or similar interests of another Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of that Person.

 

 

 

 

9.5          “ Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

9.6           Intentionally Omitted .

 

9.7          “ Certificate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.12.

 

9.8          “ Closing ” shall mean the Initial Closing or the Subsequent Closing, as applicable.

 

9.9          “ Code ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.2.

 

9.10        “ Closing Date ” shall mean the Initial Closing Date or the Subsequent Closing Date, as applicable.

 

9.11        “ Common Stock ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

9.12        “ Common Stock Equivalents ” shall means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, rights, options, warrants or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive Common Stock.

 

9.13        “ Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

9.14        “ Consents ” shall mean any consents, waivers, approvals, authorizations, or certifications from any Person or under any Contract, Organizational Document or Requirement of Law, as applicable.

 

9.15        “ Contracts ” shall mean any indentures, indebtedness, contracts, leases, agreements, instruments, licenses, undertakings and other commitments, whether written or oral.

 

9.16        “ Copyrights ” shall mean all copyrights, copyrightable works, mask works and databases, including, without limitation, any computer software (object code and source code), Internet web-sites and the content thereof, and any other works of authorship, whether statutory or common law, registered or unregistered, and registrations for and pending applications to register the same including all reissues, extensions and renewals thereto, and all moral rights thereto under the laws of any jurisdiction.

 

9.17        “ Employee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.17.1.

 

9.18        “ Employee Benefit Plans ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18.1.

 

9.19        “ Encumbrances ” shall mean any security interests, liens, encumbrances, pledges, mortgages, conditional or installment sales Contracts, title retention Contracts, transferability restrictions and other claims or burdens of any nature whatsoever.

 

 

 

 

9.20        “ Environmental Laws ” shall mean any Federal, state or local law or ordinance or Requirement of Law or regulation pertaining to the protection of human health or the environment, including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 9601, et seq., the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 11001, et seq., and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 6901, et seq.

 

9.21        “ ERISA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.18.1.

 

9.22        “ FDA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.20.1.

 

9.23         Intentionally Omitted.

 

9.24        “ Governmental or Regulatory Authority ” shall mean any court, tribunal, arbitrator, authority, agency, commission, official or other instrumentality of the government of the United States or of any foreign country, any state or any political subdivision of any such government (whether state, provincial, county, city, municipal or otherwise).

 

9.25        “ Hazardous Substances ” shall mean oil and petroleum products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde and any other materials classified as hazardous or toxic under any Environmental Laws.

 

9.26        “ Indemnified Losses ” shall mean all losses, Liabilities, obligations, claims, demands, damages, penalties, settlements, causes of action, costs and expenses arising out of any third party claim or action against an Indemnified Party, including, without limitation, the actual costs paid in connection with an Indemnified Party’s investigation and evaluation of any claim or right asserted against such Indemnified Party and all reasonable attorneys’, experts’ and accountants’ fees, expenses and disbursements and court costs including, without limitation, those incurred in connection with the Indemnified Party’s enforcement of the indemnification provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement.

 

9.27        “ Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.

 

9.28        “ Initial Closing ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

9.29        “ Initial Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

9.30        “ Initial Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

 

9.31         “Investor Rights Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.5.

 

9.32        “ Leased Real Property ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.19.

 

9.33        “ Legal Proceeding ” shall mean any action, suit, arbitration, claim or investigation by or before any Governmental or Regulatory Authority, any arbitration or alternative dispute resolution panel, or any other legal, administrative or other proceeding.

 

9.34        “ Liabilities ” shall mean all obligations and liabilities including, without limitation, direct or indirect indebtedness, guaranties, endorsements, claims, losses, damages, deficiencies, costs, expenses, or responsibilities, in any of the foregoing cases, whether fixed or unfixed, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, choate or inchoate, liquidated or unliquidated, or secured or unsecured.

 

 

 

 

9.35        “ Licensed Intellectual Property ” shall mean all Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, technology rights and licenses, trade secrets, know-how, inventions, methods, techniques and other intellectual property any one or more Entities have or has the right to use in connection with its business or their respective businesses, as applicable, pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement or permission.

 

9.36        “ Material Adverse Effect ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

 

9.37        “ Material Contract ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.1.

 

9.38        “ Order ” shall mean any judgment, order, writ, decree, stipulation, injunction or other determination whatsoever of any Governmental or Regulatory Authority, arbitrator or any other Person whose finding, ruling or holding is legally binding or is enforceable as a matter of right (in any case, whether preliminary or final and whether voluntarily imposed or consented to).

 

9.39        “ Organizational Documents ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such Person’s articles or certificate of incorporation, by-laws or other governing or constitutive documents, if any.

 

9.40        “ Owned Intellectual Property ” shall mean all Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks, technology, trade secrets, know-how, inventions, methods, techniques and other intellectual property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

9.41        “ Patents ” shall mean patents and patent applications (including, without limitation, provisional applications, utility applications and design applications), including, without limitation, reissues, patents of addition, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutions, additions, divisionals, renewals, registrations, confirmations, re-examinations, certificates of inventorship, extensions and the like, any foreign or international equivalent of any of the foregoing, and any domestic or foreign patents or patent applications claiming priority to any of the above.

 

9.42        “ Permits ” shall mean all licenses, permits, certificates of authority, authorizations, approvals, registrations, franchises, rights, Orders, qualifications and similar rights or approvals granted or issued by any Governmental or Regulatory Authority relating to the Business.

 

9.43        “ Per Unit Purchase Price ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

 

9.44        “ Person ” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, joint venture, association, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or Governmental or Regulatory Authority.

 

9.45        “ Placement Agent ” shall mean Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd.

 

9.46        “ Premises ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.21.

 

9.47         Products ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13.2.

 

9.48        “ Purchase Price ” shall mean the “Total Purchase Price Amount” set forth in Exhibit A for each respective Purchaser.

 

9.49        “ Purchasers ” and “ Purchaser ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

 

 

 

9.50        “ Real Property Leases ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.19.

 

9.51        “ Regulatory Approvals ” shall mean all Consents from all Governmental or Regulatory Authorities.

 

9.52        “ Requirement of Law ” shall mean any provision of law, statute, treaty, rule, regulation, ordinance or pronouncement having the effect of law, and any Order.

 

9.53        “ Schedules ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to Section 3.

 

9.54        “ SEC ” shall mean Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

9.55         “Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.31.

 

9.56        “ Securities Act ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.23.

 

9.57        “ Subsequent Closing ” shall mean the funding which occurs on the Subsequent Closing Date.

 

9.58        “ Subsequent Closing Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

9.59        “ Subsequent Closing Purchaser ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.

 

9.60        “ Subsidiaries ” and “ Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person (including the Company), any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the issued and outstanding stock or equivalent thereof having ordinary voting power is owned or controlled by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

 

9.61        “ Tax Returns ” shall mean any declaration, return, report, estimate, information return, schedule, statements or other document filed or required to be filed in connection with the calculation, assessment or collection of any Taxes or, when none is required to be filed with a taxing authority, the statement or other document issued by, a taxing authority.

 

9.62        “ Taxes ” shall mean (i) any tax, charge, fee, levy or other assessment including, without limitation, any net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem , transfer, franchise, profits, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, estimated, stamp, occupancy, occupation, property or other similar taxes, including any interest or penalties thereon, and additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign Governmental or Regulatory Authority, domestic or foreign or (ii) any Liability for the payment of any taxes, interest, penalty, addition to tax or like additional amount resulting from the application of Treasury Regulation §1.1502-6 or comparable Requirement of Law.

 

9.63        “ Trademarks ” shall mean trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, uniform resource locators (URLs), domain names, trade dress, any other names and locators associated with the Internet, other source of business identifiers, whether registered or unregistered and whether or not currently in use, and registrations, applications to register and all of the goodwill of the business related to the foregoing.

 

 

 

 

9.64        “ Transaction Documents ” shall mean this Agreement, the Subscription Agreements, the Warrant, the Registration Rights Agreement and all other documents, certificates and instruments executed and delivered at any Closing.

 

9.65        “ Units ” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

9.66        “ Warrant Shares ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

 

[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGES]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Unit Purchase Agreement as of [_________ ___], 2017.

 

COMPANY:

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.  

 
     
By:    

Name:
Title:

Address:

 
Tel: 

Fax:
email: 

 
     
PURCHASERS:

 

The Purchasers set forth on Exhibit A to the Agreement have executed a Subscription Agreement with the Company which provides, among other things, that by executing the Subscription Agreement each Purchaser is deemed to have executed the UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT in all respects and is bound to purchase the Units set forth in such Subscription Agreement and Exhibit A to the Agreement.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

SCHEDULE OF PURCHASERS

 

Initial Closing

 

Name of
Purchaser
Initial Units

Preferred
Shares
 

Warrant
Shares
Total Purchase
Price Amount
        $
      TOTAL: $

 

Subsequent Closing

 

Name of
Subsequent
Closing
Purchaser
Subsequent
Units

Preferred
Shares

Warrant
Shares
Total Purchase
Price Amount
        TOTAL: $

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF WARRANT

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

Form of SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

FUNDING INSTRUCTIONS

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

Form of legal opinion

 

 

 

 

exhibit f

 

FORM OF INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.10

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS INC.

 

AND

 

THE INVESTORS PARTY HERETO

 

August     , 2017

 

1

 

 

INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

THIS INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the“ Agreement ”) is entered into as of August , 2017, by between Hoth Therapeutics Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”) and the persons identified on Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the “ Investors ”).

 

BACKGROUND

 

WHEREAS, the Investors are purchasing or otherwise acquiring shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share pursuant to that certain Private Placement Memorandum (the “ Memorandum ”), dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Investors and the Company.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, representations, warranties, covenants and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the Memorandum, the parties, intending to be legally bound, mutually agree as follows:

 

Section 1 GENERAL

 

1.1 Definitions . As used in this Agreement the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person who is an “affiliate” of such Person within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange.

 

Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Articles” means the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as such may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof.

 

Charter Documents ” means the Articles and the Bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date hereof, and as may be amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions thereof.

 

Common Stock ” means shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 of the Company.

 

Counterpart ” means a counterpart signature page to this Agreement in substantially the same form as Exhibit B attached to this Agreement.

 

Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same is in effect from time to time.

 

Form S-3 ” means such form under the Securities Act as in effect on the date hereof or any successor form under the Securities Act that permits significant incorporation by reference of the Company’s subsequent public filings under the Exchange Act.

 

Holder means any Investor owning of record any shares of Series A Preferred Stock and any assignee of record of such Series A Preferred Stock of the Company.

 

Indemnifiable Losses ” means shall mean all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, demands, damages, penalties, settlements, causes of action, costs and expenses, including, without limitation, the actual reasonable costs paid in connection with an Indemnitee’s investigation and evaluation of any claim or right asserted against such Indemnitee Party and all reasonable attorneys’, experts’ and accountants’ fees, expenses and disbursements and court costs including, without limitation, those incurred in connection with the Indemnitee’s enforcement of this Agreement and the indemnification provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement.

 

2

 

 

IPO ” means the Company’s offering of its securities for sale or resale pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act.

 

Major Holder ” means any Holder in the aggregate of at least 500,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock.

 

The number of shares of “ Registrable Securities then outstanding ” shall be determined by the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding which are Registrable Securities plus the number of shares of Common stock of the Company issuable pursuant to then exercisable, convertible or exchangeable securities which are Registrable Securities.

 

Person means any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, proprietorship, joint venture, trust, association, union, entity or other form of business organization or any governmental or regulatory authority whatsoever.

 

Qualified Initial Public Offering means the Company’s offering of its securities for sale or resale pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act with aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of no less than $5,000,000.

 

“Register,” “registered” and “ registration ” refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement.

 

Registrable Securities ” means the following shares of the Company’s Common Stock (referred to herein collectively as the “ Stock ”): (i) the shares of Common Stock of the Company issued or issuable upon conversion of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock of the Company issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and (ii) the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon exercise of the warrants issued pursuant to the Memorandum, but shall not include shares for which registration rights have terminated pursuant to Section 10.5 hereof, or (iii) any other shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon conversion or exercise of any warrant, right or other security which is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to or in exchange for or replacement of shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company, excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a person in a transaction in which an Investor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned; provided, however, that Registrable Securities shall not include any securities (A) sold to or through a broker or dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or a public securities transaction, (B) sold in a transaction exempt from the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act under Section 4(l) thereof so that all transfer restrictions and restrictive legends with respect thereto are removed upon the consummation of such sale, or (C) if the Investor thereof is no longer entitled to exercise any right provided in Sections 2, 3 or 4 in accordance with Section 10.5 hereof.

 

SEC or Commission means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, all as the same is in effect from time to time.

 

Series A Director ” means that certain director elected to the Board by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Series A Preferred Stock” means the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share held by the Holders and their permitted assigns.

 

3

 

 

“Subsidiaries” means any Person of which a Company, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries owns or controls at the time at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting equity or similar interests or the right to receive at least fifty percent (50%) of the profits or earnings or aggregate equity value.

 

Transaction Documents ” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Memorandum.

 

Section 2          PIGGYBACK RIGHTS

 

2.1. Notice of Registration . If at any time or from time to time, the Company shall determine to register any of its equity securities for its own account in a direct public offering or an underwritten public offering, the Company will:

 

(i)           prior to the filing of such registration give to the Holders written notice thereof; and

 

(ii)        include in such registration (and any related qualification under blue sky laws or other compliance), and underwriting, all the Registrable Securities (subject to cutback as set forth in Section 2.2) specified in a written request or requests made within thirty (30) days after the receipt of such written notice from the Company by any Holder.

 

2.2. Underwriting. The right of any Holder to registration pursuant to this Section 2 shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such offering and the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the offering to the extent provided herein. If any Holder proposes to distribute its securities through an underwritten offering, such Holder shall (together with the Company and any other stockholders distributing their securities through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2, if the Company or the managing underwriter determines that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be underwritten, the managing underwriter may limit the Registrable Securities to be included in such registration. The Company shall so advise the Holders and the other stockholders distributing their securities through such offering pursuant to piggyback registration rights, and the number of shares of Registrable Securities and other securities that may be included in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated among the Holders of Series A Preferred Stock in proportion, in each case as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities held by such Holders and other securities held by other stockholders at the time of filing the registration statement, provided that the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities held by selling Holders included in the offering shall not be reduced below thirty percent (30%) of the total amount of securities included in that offering unless the offering is the IPO of the Company’s securities, in which case all Registrable Securities held by Holders may be excluded. To facilitate the allocation of shares in accordance with the above provisions, the Company or the underwriters may round the number of shares allocated to each Holder or other stockholder to the nearest 100 shares. If any Holder or other stockholder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, he or she may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter. Any securities excluded or withdrawn from such offering shall be withdrawn from such registration, and shall not be transferred in a public distribution prior to one-hundred eighty (180) days after the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto.

 

2.3. Right to Terminate Registration . The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2 prior to the effectiveness of such registration, whether or not any Holder has elected to include securities in such registration.

 

4

 

 

Section 3          DEMAND REGISTRATION

 

3.1. Demand Registration . If at any time after the three (3) month anniversary after the Company’s Common Stock becomes subject to reporting requirements under the Exchange Act (whether through a Qualified Initial Public Offering, a Pubco Transaction (as defined below) or otherwise, (the “Start Date”)), whichever is earlier, Holders of at least thirty-five percent (35%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding request in writing that the Company file a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the registration of at least 20% of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, or a lesser percentage if the anticipated aggregate offering price, net of underwriting discounts and commissions, would exceed $10,000,000, then the Company will (i) give written notice of the proposed registration to all other Holders within ten (10) days of receipt of such request, and (ii) use its best efforts to cause such shares to be registered (together with any Registrable Securities of any Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request received by the Company) within twenty (20) days of the mailing of such written notice by the Company; provided, however, that (a) the Company shall not be required to effect any such registration (i) within one-hundred eighty (180) days prior to the filing of, and one-hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of, a registration statement pertaining to a direct or underwritten public offering of the Company’s securities in which Registrable Securities were or will be registered; provided, that, the Company is actively employing in good faith all reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, (ii) if, within thirty (30) days of receipt of the written request from the Holders pursuant to this Section 3.1, the Company gives notice to the Holders of the Company’s intention to make a public offering within sixty (60) days or (iii) if the Holders making the request propose to dispose of shares of Registrable Securities that may be immediately registered on Form S-3 pursuant to a request made pursuant to Section 4 below,(b) if the Company furnishes the requesting Holders with a certificate of the President of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors it would be materially detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for a registration statement to be filed in the near future, such registration obligation shall be deferred for not more than ninety (90) days, but the Company shall not be entitled to such deferral more than once in any 12-month period and (c) the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than a total of two (2) demand registrations pursuant to this Section 3, and (d) the Company shall not be required to effect a registration in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to execute a general consent to service of process in effecting such registration, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction and except as may be required under the Act. Any such registration shall be firmly underwritten by an underwriter of nationally recognized standing which shall be mutually agreeable to the Company and a majority in interest of the Holders requesting the registration. If any Holder disapproves of the terms of the underwriting, such person may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company, the managing underwriter and the Holders making the request. The Registrable Securities so withdrawn shall also be withdrawn from registration, and such Registrable Securities shall not be transferred in a public distribution prior to ninety (90) days after the effective date of such registration; provided, however, that, if by the withdrawal of such Registrable Securities, a greater number of Registrable Securities held by other Holders may be included in such registration (up to the maximum of any limitation imposed by the underwriters), then the Company shall offer to all Holders who have included Registrable Securities in the registration the right to include additional Registrable Securities. Holders shall be so entitled to include additional Registrable Securities in the registration upon written notice within ten (10) days of such offer being made.

 

3.2. Underwritten Public Offering . In the event the Company offers its equity securities in an underwritten offering, the Company shall enter into an underwriting agreement with an investment banking firm or firms containing representations, warranties, indemnities and agreements then customarily included by an issuer in underwriting agreements with respect to secondary distributions. The Company shall not cause the registration under the Securities Act of any other shares of its Common Stock to become effective (other than registration of an employee stock plan, or registration in connection with any Rule 145 or similar transaction) during the effectiveness of a registration requested hereunder for an underwritten public offering if, in the judgment of the underwriter or underwriters, marketing factors would materially adversely affect the price of the Registrable Securities subject to such underwritten registration.

 

5

 

 

Section 4          FORM S-3 REGISTRATION

 

If at any time that the Company is eligible to use a Form S-3, holders of at least thirty percent (30%) of the Registrable Securities shall be entitled to request in writing (each, an “S-3 Registration Request”) registrations of Registrable Securities then owned by such requesting Holders on a Form S-3 registration statement or any successor form under the Securities Act (an “S-3 Registration”). The Company shall pay for the expenses of such request as provided in Section 6. The S-3 Registration Request must be made in writing, and the S-3 Registration Request shall: (i) specify the number of shares intended to be offered and sold; (ii) express the present intention of the requesting Holders to offer or cause the offering of such shares for distribution; and (iii) contain the undertaking of the requesting Holders to provide all such information and materials and take all such action as may be required in order to permit the Company to comply with all applicable requirements of the SEC and to obtain any desired acceleration of the effective date of such registration statement. The Company shall, as soon as practicable, (a) promptly give written notice of the proposed registration to all other Holders, and (b) file an S-3 Registration and obtain all such qualifications and compliance as may be so requested and as would permit or facilitate the sale and distribution of all or such portion of the requesting Holders’ Registrable Securities as are specified in the S-3 Registration Request (together with any Registrable Securities of any Holder or Holders joining in such request as are specified in a written request received by the Company within twenty (20) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company), within 15 days after receipt of such written notice by the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to effect any such registration, qualification or compliance, pursuant to this Section 4: (i) if Form S-3 is not available for such offering by the requesting Holders; (ii) the requesting Holders, together with the holders of any other securities of the Company entitled to inclusion in such registration, propose to sell Registrable Securities and such other securities (if any) at an aggregate gross price to the public of less than $1,000,000; (iii) if within thirty (30) days of receipt of a written request from the requesting Holders, the Company gives notice to the Holders of the Company’s intention to make its IPO or a public offering within sixty (60) days; (iv) if the Company furnishes the requesting Holders with a certificate of the President, Chief Executive Officer or Chairman of the Board of the Company stating that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors it would be seriously detrimental to the Company and its stockholders for a registration statement to be filed in the near future, such registration obligation shall be deferred for not more than ninety (90) days, but the Company shall not be entitled to such deferral more than once in any 12-month period, (iv) if in any particular jurisdiction in which the Company would be required to qualify to do business or to execute a general consent to service or process in effecting such registration, qualification or compliance; or (v) the Company has, within the twelve (12) month period preceding the date of such request, already effected two registrations on Form S-3 for any Holder pursuant to this Section 4.

 

6

 

 

Section 5         OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY

 

Whenever the Company is required by the provisions of this Agreement to effect the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Company shall: (i) prepare and, as soon as possible, file with the SEC a registration statement with respect to the Registrable Securities, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and, upon the request of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities registered thereunder, to remain effective until the earlier of the completion of the distribution of the Registrable Securities so registered or one hundred twenty (120) days subsequent to the effective date of such registration; (ii) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to make and to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the sale or other disposition of all securities proposed to be registered in such registration statement for the period covered under clause (i) above; (iii) furnish to any Holder such number of copies of any prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus and any amended or supplemented prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, as such Holder may reasonably request in order to effect the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities to be offered and sold; (iv) use its best efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such states as the Holders shall reasonably request, maintain any such registration or qualification current for the period covered under clause (i) above, and take any and all other actions either necessary or reasonably advisable to enable Holders to consummate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities in jurisdictions where such Holders desire to effect such sales or other disposition; (v) take all such other actions either necessary or reasonably desirable to permit the Registrable Securities held by a Holder to be registered and disposed of in accordance with the method of disposition described herein; (vi) in the event of any underwritten public offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, with the managing underwriter of such offering; (vii) notify each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, such obligation to continue for one hundred twenty (120) days from the date of effectiveness of the registration statement; (viii) cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereunder to be listed on each securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed; (ix) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered pursuant hereunder and a CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities, in each case not later than the effective date of such registration; and (x) use its best efforts to furnish, at the request of any Holder requesting registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 3, if such securities are being sold through underwriters, or if such securities are not being sold through underwriters, on the date that the registration statement with respect to such securities becomes effective,(A) an opinion, dated such date as registration statement becomes effective, of the counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, in form and substance as is customarily given to underwriters in an underwritten public offering, addressed to the underwriters and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities and (B) a letter dated such date as the registration statement becomes effective, from the independent certified public accountants of the Company, in form and substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in an underwritten public offering and reasonably satisfactory to the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being registered, addressed to the underwriters, if any, and to the Holders requesting registration of Registrable Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to register or to qualify an offering of the Registrable Securities under the laws of a state if as a condition to so doing the Company is required to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such state or jurisdiction, unless the Company is already subject to service in such jurisdiction.

 

Subject to the volume limitations and other underwriting conditions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 3.1, above, in the event a registration statement is not filed with the SEC including all the Registrable Securities no later than ninety (90) days after the Start Date or if such registration statement is not declared effective by the SEC within one hundred eighty (180) days following the Start Date (or is declared effective but can no longer be used to sell Registrable Securities), the Company shall pay to each Holder of Registrable Securities one (1%) percent of such Holder’s purchase price of that holder’s unregistered Registrable Securities for each thirty (30) days (pro rata for shorter periods) until such registration statement is filed with the SEC and/or declared effective or is able to be reused by the holders of Registrable Securities, or such Holder is able to sell its shares pursuant to Rule 144 or otherwise, as the case may be. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any payment of liquidated damages under this Agreement exceed 6% of a Holder’s purchase price of such holders unregistered Registrable Securities.

 

7

 

 

SECTION 6         EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION

 

The Company shall pay all of the fees and expenses (exclusive of underwriting discounts and commission and stock transfer taxes) incurred by the Company in complying with Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 hereof in connection with any registration statement that is initiated pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, all SEC and blue sky registration and filing fees, printing expenses, transfer agent and registrar fees, the fees and disbursements of the Company’s outside counsel, the reasonable fees and disbursements of one special counsel to the Holders (not to exceed $10,000), and the expense of any special audits not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) incident to or required by any such registration (the “ Registration Expenses ”). If a registration proceeding is begun upon the request of Holders pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 but such request is subsequently withdrawn, then the Holders of Registrable Securities to have been registered shall bear all Registration pro rata on the basis of the number of shares to have been registered,. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, if at the time of the withdrawal, the Holders have learned of a material adverse change in the condition, business or prospects of the Company from that known to the Holders at the time of their request, then the Holders shall not be required to pay any of said Registration Expenses. In such case, the Company shall be deemed not to have effected a registration pursuant to Sections 3 or 4, as applicable, of this Agreement. Any underwriting discounts, fees and disbursements of any additional counsel to the Holders, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the Registrable Securities registered on behalf of Holders shall be borne by the Holders of the Registrable Securities included in such registration. The expenses of any legal services or special audit required in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance pursuant to Section 3 or 4 in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) shall be borne pro rata by the Holders of Registrable Securities proposing to distribute such shares of Registrable Securities in such registration.

 

SECTION 7         INDEMNIFICATION

 

7.1. The Company . To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify Holders and each person controlling Holders within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and each underwriter if any, of the Company’s securities, with respect to any registration, qualification or compliance which has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, against all expenses, claims, losses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), including any of the foregoing incurred in settlement of any litigation, commenced or threatened, arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, or any violation by the Company of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act or Exchange Act or state securities law applicable to the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, and the Company will reimburse Holders and each person controlling Holders, and each underwriter, if any, for any legal and any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, provided that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission, made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information expressly furnished to the Company by such Holder or controlling person or underwriter seeking indemnification for use in connection with such registration by any such Holder, underwriter or controlling person.

 

8

 

 

7.2. Holders . To the extent permitted by law, each Holder shall, if Registrable Securities held by such Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration, qualification or compliance is being effected (the “ Indemnifying Holder ”), indemnify the Company, each of its directors and officers and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act, and each underwriter, if any, of the Company’s securities with respect to any registration, qualification or compliance which has been effected pursuant to this Agreement, against all expenses, claims, losses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) of a material fact contained in any such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, or based on any omission (or alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any violation by such Indemnifying Holder of any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act applicable to such Indemnifying Holder in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, and the Indemnifying Holder will reimburse the Company, such directors and officers and each person controlling Company and each underwriter, if any, for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, incident to any such registration, qualification or compliance, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Indemnifying Holder, provided that in no event shall any indemnity under this Section 7.2 exceed the net proceeds of the offering received by such Indemnifying Holder; provided, further, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7.2 shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action if such settlement is effected without the consent of the Indemnifying Holder (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); provided further, however, that the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7.2 with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or underwriter, or any person controlling such Holder or underwriter, from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased shares in the offering, if a copy of the prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Holder or underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the shares to such person, and if the prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability.

 

7.3. Defense of Claims . Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 7 (the “ Indemnified Party ”) shall give notice to the party required to provide indemnification (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) promptly after such Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of any claim as to which indemnity may be sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval shall not unreasonably be withheld), and the Indemnified Party may participate in such defense at such party’s expense; provided, however, that the Indemnifying Party shall pay such expense if representation of the Indemnified Party by counsel retained by the Indemnifying Party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between the Indemnified Party and any other party represented by such counsel in such proceeding, and provided further that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Section 7 unless the failure to give such notice is materially prejudicial to an Indemnifying Party’s ability to defend such action. No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation shall, except with the written consent of each Indemnified Party which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. No Indemnifying Party shall be required to indemnify any Indemnified Party with respect to any settlement entered into without the Indemnifying Party’s prior written consent.

 

9

 

 

7.4. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an Indemnified Party with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to herein, the Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party thereunder, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the one hand and of the Indemnified Party on the other, in connection with the violations that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and of the Indemnified Party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Indemnifying Party or by the Indemnified Party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a Holder exceed the net proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.

 

7.5.      Conflict; Survival . Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions on indemnification and contribution contained in the underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall control. The obligations of the Company and Holders under Section 7 shall survive the completion of any offering of Registrable Securities in a registration statement.

 

SECTION 8         RULE 144 REPORTING

 

With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may at any time permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to:

 

(a)     Make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times from and after ninety (90) days following the effective date of the IPO;

 

(b)    File with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements;

 

(c)     So long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to such Holder forthwith upon request a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of said Rule 144 of the Securities Act (at any time from and after ninety (90) days following the effective date of the IPO) and of the Exchange Act (at any time after it has become subject to such reporting requirements), a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company, and such other reports and documents of the Company, and such other reports and documents so filed as a Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration; and

 

(d)    Take such action, including the voluntary registration of its Common Stock under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as is necessary to enable the Holders to utilize Form S-3 for the sale of their Registrable Securities, such action to be taken as soon as practicable after the end of the fiscal year in which the first registration statement filed by the Company for the offering of its securities to the general public is declared effective.

 

(e)     The Company agrees to pay the cost for its counsel or other counsel reasonably acceptable to Company to issue an opinion under Rule 144 in connection with any request by a Holder to clear any restrictive legends from their shares.

 

10

 

 

SECTION 9         STANDOFF AGREEMENT

 

Upon the effectiveness of any registration statement for the offering of equity securities of the Company, if requested by the Company and the managing underwriter, each Holder agrees not to offer to sell or sell, make any short sale of, loan, grant any option for the purchase of, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company held by the Holder at any time during such period (other than (i) those included in the offering or (ii) those unregistered shares of Series A Preferred Stock which are sold under Rule 144, if any), directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Company or the underwriters for such period of time following the effective date of the registration statement (not to exceed one-hundred eighty (180) days) as may be requested by the Company and the managing underwriter, provided that the foregoing obligations shall apply only if all directors and executive officers of the Company and all other stockholders holding greater than one percent (1%) of the outstanding Registrable Securities of the Company, and all other persons with registration rights (whether or not pursuant to this Agreement), enter into similar agreements. This Section 9 shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, or to a registration relating solely to a transaction pursuant to Rule 145 under the Securities Act. In order to enforce the foregoing, the Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the Registrable Securities of each Holder (and the share or securities of every other person subject to the foregoing restrictions) until the end of such period.

 

From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of at least a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities (the “ Required Vote ”), grant to future investors any registration rights on parity with or more favorable than the registration rights granted to the Holders hereunder. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least the Required Vote, allow future investors to make a demand registration which could result in such registration statement being declared effective prior to the earlier of either of the dates set forth in subsection 3.1 or within one hundred twenty (120) days of the effective date of any registration effected pursuant to Section 3.

 

SECTION 10   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

10.1 Financial Information and Reporting .

 

(a)     The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain accurate books and records of account in which complete entries shall be made pursuant to a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and shall set aside on their books all such proper accruals and reserves as shall be required under generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

 

(b)    As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, and in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days thereafter, the Company shall furnish each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company) a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as at the end of such fiscal year, and a consolidated statement of income and a consolidated statement of cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries, for such year, all prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail (the “ Audited Financial Statements ”). The Audited Financial Statements shall be accompanied by a report and opinion thereon by a firm of independent public accountants of national standing or such other independent public accounting firm approved by the Board (the “ Audit Report ”) and a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer (or principal operating officer) of the Company certifying that no information inconsistent with that set forth in the information in the Audited Financial Statements and the Audit Report has been filed with any governmental agency or given to the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ lenders.

 

11

 

 

(c)     The Company shall furnish to each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company), as soon as practicable after the end of each quarterly accounting periods in each fiscal year of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and in any event within forty-five (45) days thereafter, an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and an unaudited consolidated statement of income and an unaudited consolidated statement of cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such quarterly period, and for the current fiscal year to date, including a comparison of the current fiscal year to date to the Company’s annual budget with any variances between such figures so listed and setting forth, in each case, comparable figures for the prior year, all prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and in reasonable detail, with the exception that no notes need be attached to such statements.

 

(d)    The Company shall furnish to each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company), concurrently with the Company’s furnishing to the Board, but in no event later than thirty (30) days before the end of each fiscal year, an annual budget, including projected income, cash flow and balance sheet statements on at least a monthly basis for the ensuing fiscal year, and operating plans, including a brief qualitative description of the Company’s plan by its Chief Executive Officer in support of the annual budget of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such fiscal year (the “ Budget ”). In addition, the Company shall furnish concurrently with its furnishing to the Board, any proposed material revision to the Budget. The Budget and each proposed material revision to the Budget shall be deemed accepted as the Company’s Budget for such fiscal year only when it has been approved by a majority of the entire Board.

 

(e)     The Company shall furnish to each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company), no later than five (5) days after an executive officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, first has knowledge of any of the following: (i) the occurrence of a default hereunder, or under any material agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including without limitation any loan or financing agreement, (ii) the commencement of any legal proceeding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) the occurrence of any effect, event, condition, or circumstance, in any case, that individually or in the aggregate with any one or more other effects, events, conditions or circumstances, with or without the passage of time, the giving of notice or both, has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material and adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, financial condition, results of operations, prospects or liabilities of the Company or its Subsidiaries, a statement from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer describing such occurrence and management’s anticipated response.

 

(f)     The Company shall furnish to each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company), such other financial and other information of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such Major Holder may reasonably request pursuant to this Section 10.1(f) in writing; provided, that the Company generates such information in the ordinary course of its business and the Company shall not be required to provide any information if and to the extent that such information would lose its privilege under the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel as a result of such information being furnished to the Major Holders.

 

(g)     The Company shall furnish to each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company), concurrently with the Company’s furnishing to the Board, but in no event later than five (5) business days after the date of filing or delivery, copies of all materials of whatsoever nature filed or delivered by the Company or its Subsidiaries thereof (i) with the Commission; (ii) with any national or foreign securities exchange or quotation bureau; and (iii) to holders of any class of its capital stock or other securities.

 

(h)    The Company shall furnish to each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company), concurrently with the Company’s furnishing to the Board, but in no event later than five (5) business days after the date of delivery, any and all management letters provided by the Company’s accountants to the Company.

 

12

 

 

(i)      In the event the Company or any of its Subsidiaries fails to timely provide each Major Holder (other than a Major Holder reasonably deemed by the Board to be a competitor of the Company) with the reports and information required by this Section 10.1, a Major Holder may, after thirty (30) days after providing written notice of such failure to the Company, during which period the Company shall have the opportunity to cure such deficiency, request that an independent accounting firm of such Holder’s choice and as to which the Company has no reasonable objection audit the Company and its Subsidiaries, at the Company’s expense, which audit shall be limited to the production of such reports in a manner satisfactory to the Major Holder in their reasonable discretion. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall cooperate in good faith in any such audit.

 

10.2 Reservation of Common Stock .

 

The Company shall (and shall use its best efforts to cause its stockholders to) take any and all action necessary to reserve for issuance the number of shares of Common Stock into which all of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding are convertible, and shall (and shall use its best efforts to cause its stockholders to) increase the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance as required by any increase in the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Series A Preferred Stock may then be converted.

 

10.3 Board of Directors .

 

The Company shall call, and shall use its best efforts to have, regular meetings of the Board not less often than once each quarter. The Board may conduct meetings by any means of communication by which all directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. In the event a director’s presence in person at a meeting is desirable or necessary, the Company shall pay all reasonable and appropriately documented travel expenses and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred by directors of the Company in connection with attendance at such meeting of the Board or any committee thereof.

 

10.4 Real Property Holding Corporation .

 

The Company covenants that it will operate in a manner such that it will not become a “United States real property holding corporation” as that term is defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder (a “ USRPHC ”). The Company agrees to make determinations as to its status as a USRPHC, and will file statements concerning those determinations with the Internal Revenue Service, in the manner and at the times required under Reg. § 1.897-2(h), or any supplementary or successor provision thereto. Within thirty (30) days of a request from the Investors or any of their respective partners, the Company will inform the requesting party, in the manner set forth in Reg. § 1.897- 2(h)(1)(iv) or any supplementary or successor provision thereto, whether that party’s interest in the Company constitutes a United States real property interest (within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 897(c)(1) and the regulations thereunder) and whether the Company has provided to the Internal Revenue Service all required notices as to its USRPHC status.

 

10.5 Termination of Covenants .

 

Except for the covenants set forth in Section 10.2, 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8, all covenants of the Company and its Subsidiaries contained in this Section 10 of this Agreement shall expire and terminate as to the Holders upon the first to occur of (a) the consummation of the Qualified Initial Public Offering or (b) the time at which the Company first becomes subject to the reporting provisions of the Exchange Act. Unless otherwise specified herein, the rights and provisions of this Agreement shall terminate as to all Holders on the fifth (5 th ) anniversary of the closing date of the Qualified Initial Public Offering.

 

13

 

 

10.6 Restrictive Agreements .

 

Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, without the prior written approval of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, enter into or become obligated under any agreement or contract (excluding sales agreements executed in the ordinary course of business) including, without limitation, any loan agreement, promissory note (or other evidence of indebtedness), mortgage, security agreement or lease, which by its terms prevents or restricts the Company or its Subsidiaries from performing its obligations under this Agreement.

 

10.7 D&O Insurance .

 

The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain and maintain, a Directors’ and Officers’ insurance policy on the Directors and Officers of the Company in an aggregate amount of at least two million dollars ($2,000,000). The Company will provide a copy of the insurance certificate regarding the insurance described in this Section 10.7 to any Holder upon its request.

 

10.8 Indemnification.

 

The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, each Holder, each of their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries and Affiliates, and each of the respective partners, members, stockholders, equity holders, officers, directors, trustees and other fiduciaries, employees, agents, and representatives of any of the foregoing (collectively, referred to as the “ Indemnitees ” and individually as a “ Indemnitee ”) from and against any and all Indemnifiable Losses resulting from, relating to or arising out of any claim or claims made against such Indemnitee in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, investigation or other proceeding arising out of, or relating to the any Indemnitee’s performance of its obligations or the exercise of any Indemnitee’s rights in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, including actions taken in their capacity as directors or stockholders of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to indemnify or hold harmless any Indemnitee under this Section 10.8 against any Indemnifiable Losses resulting from or arising out of any such action or claim if it has been adjudicated by a final and non-appealable determination of a court or other trier of fact of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnifiable Losses were the result of (a) a breach of such Indemnitee’s fiduciary duty to the Company, (b) any action or omission made by the Indemnitee in bad faith, (c) any criminal action on the part of such Indemnitee or (d) such Indemnitee’s willful misconduct.

 

The Company shall reimburse, promptly following request therefor, all reasonable expenses incurred by an Indemnitee in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, investigation or other proceeding arising out of, or relating to, the Indemnitees’ actions in connection with any transaction undertaken in connection with this Agreement.

 

10.9       Pubco Transaction.

 

The Company will utilize its reasonable commercial efforts to undertake either (i) a reverse merger or similar transaction between the Company and a corporation whose shares of common stock are publicly traded in the United States or other mutually agreed jurisdiction (“ Pubco ”), or (ii) any filing with an applicable regulatory body which will result in the Company becoming an entity traded on a public exchange (the “ Pubco Transaction ”). The Pubco Transaction (unless mutually agreed upon by the Company and Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. (“ Laidlaw ”), shall (a) be on a U.S. stock exchange, (b) have no less than the OTCQB, (c) be with an entity which must, among other criteria, (i) have filed all reports required to be filed by such entity under the Exchange Act, (ii) have no material liabilities or contingent liabilities, (iii) be Depository Trust Company eligible, (iv) have no mature or unmatured rescission rights, (v) have not been late in any SEC filing for the last one (1) year, and (vi) be in good standing in its place of incorporation and on such other terms and conditions (including normal and customary due diligence) reasonably satisfactory to Laidlaw and Company no later than one year (twelve (12) months) after the final closing of the no less than $5,000,000 of gross proceeds from the sale of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock.

 

14

 

 

SECTION 11   COVENANTS OF THE HOLDERS

 

11.1       Confidentiality of Records .

 

Each Holder agrees that it will keep confidential and not disclose, divulge or use for any purpose other than to evaluate and monitor its investment in the Company any confidential or proprietary information (“ Confidential Information ”) which such party obtains from the Company pursuant to financial statements, reports and other information submitted by the Company to such party pursuant to this Agreement or the Memorandum; provided, however, that the Investors may disclose Confidential Information (a) to their respective general partners, limited partners, members, stockholders, equity holders, Affiliates and any of the directors, officers and other representatives of any of the foregoing in accordance with their respective normal reporting practices, and to their respective attorneys, accountants, consultants and other professionals under an obligation of confidentiality and (b) to any prospective purchaser of any securities of the Company so long as such prospective purchaser is obligated not to disclose, divulge or use such Confidential Information to the same extent as the disclosing Investor. Each Holder shall use the same level of care with the Confidential Information that it uses with its own confidential information. “Confidential Information” shall not include the following: (i) information that is now in, or hereafter enters, the public domain through no fault of the Holder; (ii) information that previously was known by the Holder independently of the Company; (iii) information that is independently developed by the Holder without reference to Confidential Information; (iv) information that is disclosed with the written approval of the Company; or (v) information that is received from a third party without a duty of confidentiality. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Holder shall be prohibited from disclosing Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed pursuant to any legal process or subpoena from any court, arbitrator, governmental body, official or authority or by applicable law; provided that the disclosing Holder takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of such disclosure and provides the Company with reasonably prompt notice after becoming required to disclose such Confidential Information to afford the Company an opportunity to intervene and oppose such disclosure. This provision shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 12   MISCELLANEOUS

 

12.1 Governing Law .

 

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the State of New York, notwithstanding the conflicts of laws principles of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction. No suit, action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement may be brought in any court or before any similar authority other than in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York and the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of such suit, proceeding or judgment. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives any right which it may have had to bring such an action in any other court, domestic or foreign, or before any similar domestic or foreign authority and agrees not to claim or plead the same. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives trial by jury in any legal action or proceeding in relation to this Agreement and for any counterclaim therein.

 

15

 

 

12.2 Survival .

 

The representations, warranties, covenants, and agreements made herein shall survive any investigation made by any Holder and the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby. All statements as to factual matters contained in any certificate or other instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Investors pursuant hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be representations and warranties by the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Investors, as applicable, hereunder solely as of the date of such certificate or instrument.

 

12.3 Successors and Assigns .

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the provisions hereof shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each person who shall be a Holder of Series A Preferred Stock from time to time; provided, however, that each such successor and permitted assign the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as if such successor and permitted assign were an original Holder by executing the Counterpart.

 

12.4 Entire Agreement .

 

This Agreement and each of the Exhibits hereto, the Memorandum and each of the Exhibits and Schedules thereto, the other Transaction Documents and each of the exhibits, schedules, and appendices thereto, constitute the full and entire understanding and agreement between the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof and thereof and no party hereto shall be liable or bound to any other party hereto in any manner by any representations, warranties, covenants and agreements except as specifically set forth herein and therein.

 

12.5 Severability .

 

If any provision of the Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

12.6 Amendment and Waiver .

 

Any provision of this Agreement may be amended and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively), only with the written consent of the Company and the Holders of a majority of each of the then outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and any amendment or waiver so made shall be binding upon each Holder and the Company. In addition, any provision of this Agreement and the observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) by any party so waiving in writing, such waiver to be enforceable solely against such party.

 

12.7 Delays or Omissions .

 

No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party hereto, upon any breach, default or noncompliance of any party under this Agreement shall impair any such right, power, or remedy, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of any such breach, default or noncompliance, or any acquiescence therein, or of any similar breach, default or noncompliance thereafter occurring. Any waiver, permit, consent, or approval of any kind or character on part of any party hereto of any breach, default or noncompliance under the Agreement or any waiver on such party’s part of any provisions or conditions of this Agreement must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such writing. All remedies, either under this Agreement, by law, or otherwise afforded to the parties hereto, shall be cumulative and not alternative.

 

16

 

 

12.8 Notices .

 

All notices, requests, demands and other communications given or made in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement shall be addressed (i) if to a Holder, at such Holder’s address, fax number or email address furnished on the signature pages hereof or such Holder’s Counterpart hereto or as otherwise furnished to the Company by the Holder in writing, or (ii) if to the Company, to the attention of the President at such address, fax number or email address furnished on the signature page below or as otherwise furnished by the Company in writing, and shall be made or sent by a personal delivery or overnight courier, by registered, certified or first class mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile or electronic mail with confirmation of receipt, and shall be deemed to be given on the date of delivery when made by personal delivery or overnight courier, 48 hours after being deposited in the U.S. mail, or upon confirmation of receipt when sent by facsimile or electronic mail. Any party may, by written notice to the other, alter its address, number or respondent, and such notice shall be considered to have been given three (3) days after the overnight delivery, airmailing, faxing or sending via e-mail thereof.

 

12.9 Titles and Subtitles .

 

The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement.

 

12.10 Counterparts; Execution by Facsimile Signature .

 

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature(s) which shall be binding on the party delivering same, to be followed by delivery of originally executed signature pages.

 

[ SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGES ]

 

17

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Investor Rights Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

 

COMPANY:  
HOTH PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
     
By:    
   
Name: Robb Knie  
Title: President and CEO  
     
Address: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1039, New York, NY 10020
 
Tel: (     )
Fax: (     )
email: robb@hoththerapeutics.com

 

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]

 

18

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Investor Rights Agreement as of the date set forth in the first paragraph hereof.

 

By:    
     
Name:  
Title:  
   
Address:  
   
Tel:  
Fax:  
Email:  

 

[Signature Page to Investor Rights Agreement]

 

19

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Investors

 

- 20 -

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Counterpart Signature Page

 

to

 

Investor Rights Agreement dated August , 2017 for

 

Hoth Pharmaceuticals Inc.

 

The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of a copy of that certain Investor Rights Agreement, dated August , 2017, as amended to date, among Hoth Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Nevada corporation and the Investors referred to therein and the undersigned (as hereafter amended from time to time, the “ Investor Rights Agreement ”), and hereby certifies to the other parties thereto that it has read and fully understands the Investor Rights Agreement, that it has had an opportunity to review and discuss the terms and conditions of the Investor Rights Agreement with its legal counsel and other advisors, and that it agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Investor Agreement as if it were an original signatory thereto.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed on this ________ day of __________, 20__.

 

- 21 -

 

Exhibit 10.11

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.

 

2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

EFFECTIVE AS OF MAY 4, 2018

 

 

 

 

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.
2018 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

EFFECTIVE AS OF MAY 4, 2018

 

SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan effective as of the Adoption Date subject to obtaining Company shareholder approval as provided in Section 15 below.

 

The purpose of the Plan is to promote the long-term success of the Company and the creation of shareholder value by offering Key Employees an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the success of the Company, or to increase such interest, and to encourage such Key Employees to continue to provide services to the Company and to attract new individuals with outstanding qualifications.

 

The Plan seeks to achieve this purpose by providing for Awards in the form of Options (which may constitute Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options), Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Grants, Stock Units, Other Equity Awards and/or Cash Awards.

 

Capitalized terms shall have the meaning provided in Section 2 unless otherwise provided in this Plan or any related Award Agreement.

 

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. If a Participant’s employment agreement or Award Agreement (or other written agreement executed by and between Participant and the Company) expressly includes defined terms that expressly are different from and/or conflict with the defined terms contained in this Plan then the defined terms contained in the employment agreement or Award Agreement (or other written agreement executed by and between Participant and the Company) shall govern and shall supersede the definitions provided in this Plan.

 

(a)           “ Adoption Date ” means May 4, 2018.

 

(b)           “ Affiliate ” means any entity other than a Subsidiary, if the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries own not less than 50% of such entity.

 

(c)            “Award” means any award of an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Grant, Stock Unit, Other Equity Award or Cash Award under the Plan.

 

(d)            “Award Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the award of an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Grant, Stock Unit, Other Equity Award or Cash Award as applicable.

 

1  

 

 

(e)           “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time.

 

(f)            “ Cash Award” means, a cash incentive opportunity awarded under this Plan and which is (i) payable only in cash and is (ii) not an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Grant, Stock Unit or Other Equity Award.

 

(g)           “ Cashless Exercise” means, to the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides and as permitted by applicable law and in accordance with any procedures established by the Committee, an arrangement whereby payment of some or all of the aggregate Exercise Price may be made all or in part by delivery of an irrevocable direction to a securities broker to sell Shares and to deliver all or part of the sale proceeds to the Company. Cashless Exercise may also be utilized to satisfy an Option’s tax withholding obligations as provided in Section 14(b).

 

(h)            “Cause ” means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following: (i) a conviction of a Participant for a felony crime or the failure of a Participant to contest prosecution for a felony crime, or (ii) a Participant’s misconduct, fraud, disloyalty or dishonesty (as such terms may be defined by the Committee in its sole discretion), or (iii) any unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets by a Participant, or (iv) a Participant’s negligence, malfeasance, breach of fiduciary duties, neglect of duties, or (v) any material violation by a Participant of a written Company or Subsidiary or Affiliate policy or any material breach by a Participant of a written agreement with the Company or Subsidiary or Affiliate, or (vi) any other act or omission by a Participant that, in the opinion of the Committee, could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s or an Affiliate’s business, financial condition, prospects and/or reputation. In each of the foregoing subclauses (i) through (vi), whether or not a “Cause” event has occurred will be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or, in the case of Participants who are directors or Officers or Section 16 Persons, the Board, each of whose determination shall be final, conclusive and binding. A Participant’s Service shall be deemed to have terminated for Cause if, after the Participant’s Service has terminated, facts and circumstances are discovered that would have justified a termination for Cause, including, without limitation, violation of material Company policies or breach of noncompetition, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant.

 

(i)             “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following:

 

(i)            The consummation of an acquisition, a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if more than 50% of the combined voting power of the continuing or surviving entity’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition, merger, consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who in the aggregate owned less than 20% of the Company’s combined voting power represented by the Company’s outstanding securities immediately prior to such acquisition, merger, consolidation or other reorganization;

 

2  

 

 

(ii)           A sale of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding shares of each class of capital stock of the Company to a person, entity or group other than a person, entity or group affiliated with the Company; or

 

(iii)          The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to a person, entity or group other than a person, entity or group affiliated with the Company.

 

A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its principal purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transactions; or (ii) it is an equity financing primarily for capital raising purposes. In addition, an IPO shall not constitute a Change in Control. If the timing of payments provided under an Award Agreement is based on or triggered by a Change in Control then, to extent necessary to avoid violating Code Section 409A, a Change in Control must also constitute a Change in Control Event.

 

(j)            “ Change in Control Event ” has the meaning provided to such term under Code Section 409A and the applicable regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

 

(k)           “ Charter ” means the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended as may be amended from time to time.

 

(l)            “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and interpretations promulgated thereunder.

 

(m)          “ Committee ” means a committee consisting of members of the Board that is appointed by the Board (as described in Section 3) to administer the Plan. If no Committee has been appointed, the full Board shall constitute the Committee.

 

(n)           “ Common Stock ” means the Company’s common stock (as defined in the Charter and with the rights and obligations provided under the Charter) and any other securities into which such shares are changed, for which such shares are exchanged or which may be issued in respect thereof.

 

(o)           “ Company ” means Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation.

 

(p)           “ Consultant ” means an individual (or entity) which performs bona fide services to the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate other than as an Employee or Non-Employee Director.

 

(q)           “ Disability ” means the following with respect to a Participant:

 

i.             For all ISOs, the permanent and total disability of the Participant within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code;

 

ii.            For all Awards which are considered nonqualified deferred compensation under Code Section 409A and for which payment can be made on account of the Participant’s disability, the disability of the Participant within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code; or

 

3  

 

 

iii.           For all other Awards, the Participant’s medically determinable physical or mental incapacitation such that for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity or which can be expected to result in death.

 

Any question as to the existence of the Participant’s physical or mental incapacitation as to which the Participant or Participant’s representative and the Company cannot agree shall be determined in writing by a qualified independent physician selected by the Company. The physician’s determination of Disability shall be made in writing to the Company and the determination shall be final and conclusive for all purposes of the Participant’s Awards.

 

(r)           “ Employee ” means any individual who is a common-law employee of the Company, or of a Parent, or of a Subsidiary or of an Affiliate.

 

(s)           “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

(t)           “ Exercise Price ” means, in the case of an Option, the amount for which a Share may be purchased upon exercise of such Option, as specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement. “Exercise Price,” in the case of a SAR, means an amount, as specified in the applicable SAR Agreement, which is subtracted from the Fair Market Value in determining the amount payable to a Participant upon exercise of such SAR.

 

(u)           “ Fair Market Value ” means the market price of a Share, determined by the Committee as follows:

 

(i)            If the Shares were traded on a stock exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Amex, the NASDAQ Global Market or NASDAQ Capital Market) at the time of determination, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the regular session closing price for such stock as reported by such exchange (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Shares) on the date of determination, or if there were no sales on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which a closing price was reported;

 

(ii)           If the Shares were traded on the OTC Markets at the time of determination, then the Fair Market Value shall be equal to the last-sale price reported by the OTC Markets for such date, or if there were no sales on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which a sale was reported; and

 

(iii)          If neither of the foregoing provisions is applicable, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith using a reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method as the Committee deems appropriate.

 

4  

 

 

Whenever possible, the determination of Fair Market Value by the Committee shall be based on the prices reported by the applicable exchange or the OTC Markets, as applicable, or a nationally recognized publisher of stock prices or quotations (including an electronic on-line publication). Such determination shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

(v)           “ Incentive Stock Option ” or “ ISO ” means an incentive stock option described in Code section 422.

 

(w)          “ IPO ” means an initial public offering by the Company of its equity securities pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC.

 

(x)           “ Key Employee ” means an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant who has been selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.

 

(y)           “ Net Exercise ” means, to the extent that a Stock Option Agreement so provides and as permitted by applicable law, an arrangement pursuant to which the number of Shares issued to the Optionee in connection with the Optionee’s exercise of the Option will be reduced by the Company’s retention of a portion of such Shares. Upon such a net exercise of an Option, the Optionee will receive a net number of Shares that is equal to (i) the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised minus (ii) the quotient (rounded down to the nearest whole number) of the aggregate Exercise Price of the Shares being exercised divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Option exercise date. The number of Shares covered by clause (ii) will be retained by the Company and not delivered to the Optionee. No fractional Shares will be created as a result of a Net Exercise and the Optionee must contemporaneously pay for any portion of the aggregate Exercise Price that is not covered by the Shares retained by the Company under clause (ii). The number of Shares delivered to the Optionee may be further reduced if Net Exercise is utilized under Section 14(b) to satisfy applicable tax withholding obligations.

 

(z)           “ Non-Employee Director ” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee.

 

(aa)         “ Nonstatutory Stock Option ” or “ NSO ” means a stock option that is not an ISO.

 

(bb)        “ Officer ” means an individual who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act.

 

(cc)         “ Option ” means an ISO or NSO granted under the Plan entitling the Optionee to purchase Shares under the Plan as provided in Section 6.

 

(dd)        “ Optionee ” means an individual, estate or other entity that holds an Option.

 

(ee)         “ Other Equity Award ” means an award (other than an Option, SAR, Stock Unit, Restricted Stock Grant or Cash Award) which derives its value from the value of Shares and/or from increases in the value of Shares. Settlement of Other Equity Awards may be in the form of Shares and/or cash as determined by the Committee.

 

5  

 

 

(ff)          “ Parent ” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Parent on a date after the Adoption Date shall be considered a Parent commencing as of such date.

 

(gg)         “Participant” means an individual or estate or other entity that holds an Award.

 

(hh)        “ Plan ” means this 2018 Equity Incentive Plan as it may be amended from time to time.

 

(ii)           “ Re-Load Option ” means a new Option or SAR that is automatically granted to a Participant as result of such Participant’s exercise of an Option or SAR.

 

(jj)           “ Re-Price ” means that the Company has lowered or reduced the Exercise Price of outstanding Options and/or outstanding SARs and/or outstanding Other Equity Awards for any Participant(s) in a manner described by SEC Regulation S-K Item 402(d)(2)(viii) (or as described in any successor provision(s) or definition(s)). For avoidance of doubt, Re-Price also includes any exchange of Options or SARs for other Awards or cash.

 

(kk)         “ Restricted Stock Grant ” means Shares awarded under the Plan as provided in Section 9.

 

(ll)            “Restricted Stock Grant Agreement” means the agreement described in Section 9 evidencing each Award of a Restricted Stock Grant.

 

(mm)        “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.

 

(nn)        “ SAR Agreement” means the agreement described in Section 8 evidencing each Award of a Stock Appreciation Right.

 

(oo)        “ SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(pp)        “ Section 16 Persons” means those Officers or directors or Non-Employee Directors or other persons who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(qq)        “ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(rr)           “Separation From Service” means a Participant’s separation from service with the Company within the meaning of Code Section 409A.

 

(ss)         “ Service ” means service as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant. Service will be deemed terminated as soon as the entity to which Service is being provided is no longer either (i) the Company, (ii) a Parent, (iii) a Subsidiary or (iv) an Affiliate. The Committee determines when Service commences and when Service terminates. The Committee may determine whether any Company transaction, such as a sale or spin-off of a division or subsidiary that employs a Participant, shall be deemed to result in termination of Service for purposes of any affected Awards, and the Committee’s decision shall be final, conclusive and binding.

 

6  

 

 

(tt)          “ Share ” means one share of Common Stock.

 

(uu)         “Stock Appreciation Right or SAR” means a stock appreciation right awarded under the Plan as provided in Section 8.

 

(vv)        “ Stock Option Agreement ” means the agreement described in Section 6 evidencing each Award of an Option.

 

(ww)       “ Stock Unit ” means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one Share awarded under the Plan as provided in Section 10.

 

(xx)          “ Stock Unit Agreement ” means the agreement described in Section 10 evidencing each Award of Stock Units.

 

(yy)        “ Shareholder Approval Date ” means the date that the Company’s shareholder approve this Plan.

 

(zz)          “ Shareholders Agreement ” means any applicable agreement between the Company’s shareholders and/or investors that provides certain rights and obligations for shareholders.

 

(aaa)       “ Subsidiary ” means any corporation (other than the Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain. A corporation that attains the status of a Subsidiary on a date after the Adoption Date shall be considered a Subsidiary commencing as of such date.

 

(bbb)      “ Termination Date ” means the date on which a Participant’s Service terminates as determined by the Committee.

 

(ccc)       “ 10-Percent Shareholder ” means an individual who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding stock of the Company, its Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of section 424(d) of the Code shall be applied.

 

SECTION 3. ADMINISTRATION.

 

(a)            Committee Composition . A Committee appointed by the Board shall administer the Plan. The Board shall designate one of the members of the Committee as chairperson. Members of the Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and shall be subject to removal by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of the Committee and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to the Committee.

 

7  

 

 

Effective with the Shares being publicly traded or the Company being subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, with respect to Awards to Section 16 Persons, the Committee shall consist either (i) solely of two or more individuals who satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 (or its successor) under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the full Board. The Board may also appoint one or more separate committees of the Board, each composed of directors of the Company who need not qualify under Rule 16b-3, who may administer the Plan with respect to Key Employees who are not Section 16 Persons, may grant Awards under the Plan to such Key Employees and may determine all terms of such Awards. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may also appoint a committee, composed of one or more Officers of the Company, that may authorize Awards to Employees (who are not Section 16 Persons) within parameters specified by the Board and consistent with any limitations imposed by applicable law.

 

(b)            Authority of the Committee . Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full authority and discretion to take any actions it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Such actions shall include without limitation:

 

(i)            selecting Key Employees who are to receive Awards under the Plan;

 

(ii)           determining the type, number, vesting requirements, performance conditions (if any) and their degree of satisfaction, and other features and conditions of such Awards and amending such Awards;

 

(iii)          correcting any defect, supplying any omission, or reconciling or clarifying any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award Agreement;

 

(iv)         accelerating the vesting, or extending the post-termination exercise term, or waiving restrictions, of Awards at any time and under such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate;

 

(v)           interpreting the Plan and any Award Agreements;

 

(vi)          making all other decisions relating to the operation of the Plan; and

 

(vii)        granting Awards to Key Employees who are foreign nationals on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan, which may be necessary or desirable to foster and promote achievement of the purposes of the Plan, and adopting such modifications, procedures, and/or subplans (with any such subplans attached as appendices to the Plan) and the like as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws or regulations of other countries or jurisdictions to ensure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants employed in such countries or jurisdictions, or to meet the requirements that permit the Plan to operate in a qualified or tax efficient manner, and/or comply with applicable foreign laws or regulations.

 

8  

 

 

The Committee may adopt such rules or guidelines, as it deems appropriate to implement the Plan. The Committee’s determinations under the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons. The Committee’s decisions and determinations need not be uniform and may be made selectively among Participants in the Committee’s sole discretion. The Committee’s decisions and determinations will be afforded the maximum deference provided by applicable law.

 

(c)            Indemnification . To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, each member of the Committee, or of the Board, or any persons (including without limitation Employees and Officers) who are delegated by the Board or Committee to perform administrative functions in connection with the Plan, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan or any Award Agreement, and (ii) from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such claim, action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Bylaws or Charter, by contract, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or under any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

SECTION 4. GENERAL.

 

(a)            Eligibility . Only Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall be eligible for designation as Key Employees by the Committee.

 

(b)            Incentive Stock Options . Only Key Employees who are common-law employees of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary shall be eligible for the grant of ISOs. In addition, a Key Employee who is a 10-Percent Shareholder shall not be eligible for the grant of an ISO unless the requirements set forth in section 422(c)(5) of the Code are satisfied. If and to the extent that any Shares are issued under a portion of any Option that exceeds the $100,000 limitation of Section 422 of the Code, such Shares shall not be treated as issued under an ISO notwithstanding any designation otherwise. Certain decisions, amendments, interpretations and actions by the Committee and certain actions by a Participant may cause an Option to cease to qualify as an ISO pursuant to the Code and by accepting an Option the Participant agrees in advance to such disqualifying action taken by either the Participant, the Committee or the Company.

 

9  

 

 

(c)            Restrictions on Shares. Any Shares issued pursuant to an Award shall be subject to such Company policies, rights of repurchase, rights of first refusal and other transfer restrictions as the Committee may determine. Such restrictions shall apply in addition to any restrictions that may apply to holders of Shares generally and shall also comply to the extent necessary with applicable law. In no event shall the Company be required to issue fractional Shares under this Plan.

 

(d)            Beneficiaries. A Participant may designate one or more beneficiaries with respect to an Award by timely filing the prescribed form with the Company. A beneficiary designation may be changed by filing the prescribed form with the Company at any time before the Participant’s death. If no beneficiary was designated or if no designated beneficiary survives the Participant, then after a Participant’s death any vested Award(s) shall be transferred or distributed to the Participant’s estate.

 

(e)            Performance Conditions. The Committee may, in its discretion, include performance conditions in any Award.

 

(f)             Shareholder Rights. A Participant, or a transferee of a Participant, shall have no rights as a shareholder (including without limitation voting rights or dividend or distribution rights) with respect to any Common Stock covered by an Award until such person becomes entitled to receive such Common Stock, has satisfied any applicable withholding or tax obligations relating to the Award and the Common Stock has been issued to the Participant. No adjustment shall be made for cash or stock dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date when such Common Stock is issued, except as expressly provided in Section 11. The issuance of an Award may be subject to and conditioned upon the Participant’s agreement to become a party to a Shareholders Agreement and be bound by its terms.

 

(g)            Buyout of Awards. The Committee may at any time offer to buy out, for a payment in cash or cash equivalents (including without limitation Shares issued at Fair Market Value that may or may not be issued under this Plan), an Award previously granted based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish.

 

(h)            Termination of Service. Unless the applicable Award Agreement or employment agreement provides otherwise (and in such case, the Award Agreement or employment agreement shall govern as to the consequences of a termination of Service for such Awards), the following rules shall govern the vesting, exercisability and term of outstanding Awards held by a Participant in the event of termination of such Participant’s Service (in all cases subject to the term of the Option or SAR or Other Equity Award as applicable):

 

(i)    if the Service of a Participant is terminated for Cause, then all Options, Cash Awards, Other Equity Awards, SARs, unvested portions of Stock Units and unvested portions of Restricted Stock Grants shall terminate and be forfeited immediately without consideration as of the Termination Date (except for repayment of any amounts the Participant had paid to the Company to acquire unvested Shares underlying the forfeited Awards);

 

10  

 

 

(ii)   if the Service of Participant is terminated due to the Participant’s death or Disability, then the vested portion of his/her then-outstanding Options/SARs/Other Equity Awards may be exercised by such Participant or his or her personal representative within six months after the Termination Date and all unvested portions of any outstanding Awards shall be forfeited without consideration as of the Termination Date (except for repayment of any amounts the Participant had paid to the Company to acquire unvested Shares underlying the forfeited Awards); and

 

(iii)   if the Service of Participant is terminated for any reason other than for Cause or other than due to death or Disability, then the vested portion of his/her then-outstanding Options/SARs/Other Equity Awards may be exercised by such Participant within three months after the Termination Date and all unvested portions of any outstanding Awards shall be forfeited without consideration as of the Termination Date (except for repayment of any amounts the Participant had paid to the Company to acquire unvested Shares underlying the forfeited Awards).

 

(i)             Intentionally Omitted.

 

(j)             Suspension or Termination of Awards. To the extent provided in an Award Agreement, if at any time (including after a notice of exercise has been delivered) the Committee (or the Board), reasonably believes that a Participant has committed an act of Cause (which includes a failure to act), the Committee (or Board) may suspend the Participant’s right to exercise any Option or SAR (or vesting of Restricted Stock Grants or Stock Units) pending a determination of whether there was in fact an act of Cause. To the extent provided in an Award Agreement, if the Committee (or the Board) determines a Participant has committed an act of Cause, neither the Participant nor his or her estate shall be entitled to exercise the outstanding Option or SAR whatsoever and the Participant’s outstanding Awards shall then terminate without consideration. Any determination by the Committee (or the Board) with respect to the foregoing shall be final, conclusive and binding on all interested parties.

 

11  

 

 

(k)            Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Plan and Awards granted hereunder are intended to comply with the requirements of Code Section 409A and shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such intention. In the event that any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement is determined by the Committee to not comply with the applicable requirements of Code Section 409A or the Treasury Regulations or other guidance issued thereunder, the Committee shall have the authority to take such actions and to make such changes to the Plan or an Award Agreement as the Committee deems necessary to comply with such requirements (including without limitation, after the grant date of an Award, increasing the Exercise Price to equal what was the Fair Market Value on the grant date of the Award). Each payment to a Participant made pursuant to this Plan shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything elsewhere in the Plan or an Award Agreement to the contrary, if upon a Participant’s Separation From Service he/she is then a “specified employee” (as defined in Code Section 409A), then solely to the extent necessary to comply with Code Section 409A and avoid the imposition of taxes under Code Section 409A, the Company shall defer payment of “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to Code Section 409A payable as a result of and within six (6) months following such Separation From Service under this Plan until the earlier of (i) the first (1 st ) business day of the seventh (7 th ) month following the Participant’s Separation From Service, or (ii) ten (10) days after the Company receives written confirmation of the Participant’s death. Any such delayed payments shall be made without interest. While it is intended that all payments and benefits provided under this Plan will be exempt from or comply with Code Section 409A, the Company makes no representation or covenant to ensure that the Awards and payments under this Plan are exempt from or compliant with Code Section 409A. The Company will have no liability to any Participant or any other party if a payment or benefit under this Plan or any Award is challenged by any taxing authority or is ultimately determined not to be exempt or compliant. Each Participant further understands and agrees that each Participant will be entirely responsible for any and all taxes on any benefits payable to the Participant as a result of this Plan or any Award. In no event whatsoever shall the Company be liable for any additional tax, interest or penalties that may be imposed on a Participant by Code Section 409A or for any damages for failing to comply with Code Section 409A.

 

(l)             Electronic Communications. Subject to compliance with applicable law and/or regulations, an Award Agreement or other documentation or notices relating to the Plan and/or Awards may be communicated to Participants by electronic media.

 

(m)           Unfunded Plan. Insofar as it provides for Awards, the Plan shall be unfunded. Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to Participants who are granted Awards under this Plan, any such accounts will be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience. The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets which may at any time be represented by Awards, nor shall this Plan be construed as providing for such segregation, nor shall the Company or the Committee be deemed to be a trustee of stock or cash to be awarded under the Plan.

 

(n)            Liability of Company Plan. The Company (or members of the Board or Committee) shall not be liable to a Participant or other persons as to: (i) the non-issuance or sale of Shares as to which the Company has been unable to obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder; and (ii) any unexpected or adverse tax consequence or any tax consequence expected, but not realized, by any Participant or other person due to the grant, receipt, exercise or settlement of any Award granted under this Plan.

 

(o)            Reformation. In the event any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, such provisions will be reformed by the Board if possible and to the extent needed in order to be held legal and valid. If it is not possible to reform the illegal or invalid provisions then the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of this Plan, and this Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.

 

12  

 

 

(p)            Successor Provision. Any reference to a statute, rule or regulation, or to a section of a statute, rule or regulation, is a reference to that statute, rule, regulation, or section as amended from time to time, both before and after the Adoption Date and including any successor provisions.

 

(q)            Governing Law. This Plan, and (unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement) all Awards, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, but without regard to its conflict of law provisions. The Committee may provide that any dispute as to any Award shall be presented and determined in such forum as the Committee may specify, including through binding arbitration. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, recipients of an Award under the Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of Delaware to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to the Plan or any related Award Agreement.

 

(r)             No Re-Pricing of Options or SARs or Other Equity Awards or Award of Re-Load Options.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (i) outstanding Options or SARs or Other Equity Awards may not be Re-Priced and (ii) Re-Load Options may not be awarded, in each case without the approval of Company shareholders. Moreover, any amendment to the Plan or any Award Agreement that results in the Re-Pricing of an Option or SAR or Other Equity Award issued under the Plan shall not be effective without prior approval of the shareholders of the Company. For this purpose, repricing includes a reduction in the Exercise Price of an Option or a SAR or the cancellation of an Option or SAR in exchange for cash, Options or SARs or Other Equity Award with an Exercise Price less than the Exercise Price of the cancelled Option or SAR, other Awards under the Plan or any other consideration provided by the Company.

 

(s)            Other Awards. The Committee may in its discretion issue Other Equity Awards and/or Cash Awards to Key Employees. The terms and conditions of any such Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement between the Participant and the Company.

 

(t)             Intentionally Omitted.

 

(u)            Deferral Elections. The Committee may permit a Participant to elect to defer his or her receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise, earn out or vesting of an Award made under the Plan. If any such election is permitted, the Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals, including the possible (a) payment or crediting of reasonable interest on such deferred amounts credited in cash, and (b) the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents in respect of deferrals credited in units of Common Stock. The Company and the Committee shall not be responsible to any person in the event that the payment deferral does not result in deferral of income for tax purposes.

 

13  

 

 

(v)            Payment of Non-Employee Director Cash Fees with Equity Awards. If the Board affirmatively decides to authorize such a process, each Non-Employee Director may elect to receive a Restricted Stock Grant (or Stock Units or Other Equity Awards) issued under the Plan in lieu of payment of all or a portion of his or her annual cash retainer and/or any other cash fees including without limitation meeting fees, committee service fees and participation fees. Any such elections made by a Non-Employee Director shall be effected no later than the time permitted by applicable law and in accordance with the Company’s insider trading policies and/or other policies. The aggregate grant date fair market value of any Restricted Stock Grants or Stock Units or Other Equity Awards issued pursuant to this Section 4(v) is intended to be equivalent to the value of the foregone cash fees. Any cash fees not elected to be received as a Restricted Stock Grant or Stock Units or Other Equity Awards shall be payable in cash in accordance with the Company’s standard payment procedures. The Board in its discretion shall determine the terms, conditions and procedures for implementing this Section 4(v) and may also modify or terminate its operation at any time.

 

SECTION 5. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN AND SHARE LIMITS.

 

(a)            Basic Limitations and Evergreen Share Reserve Increase .

 

(i) The Common Stock issuable under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued Shares or treasury Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued:

 

(A) under the Plan shall not exceed 4,000,000 Shares (the “Share Limit”); and

 

(B) pursuant to the exercise of ISOs granted under this Plan shall not exceed 4,000,000 Shares (the “ISO Limit”).

 

(ii) Notwithstanding Section 5(a)(i) hereof, on the first day of each fiscal year commencing on January 1, 2019, the Share Limit and the ISO Limit shall automatically be increased by that number of shares equal to the lowest of:

 

(A) 1,000,000 shares of our Common Stock;

 

(B) 5% of the number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of such date; and

 

(C) an amount determined by the Committee.

 

(b)            Share Accounting . This Section 5(b) describes the Share accounting process for Awards issued under the Plan with respect to the Share Limit and ISO Limit.

 

(i) There shall be counted against the numerical limitations in Section 5(a) the gross number of Shares subject to issuance upon exercise or used for determining payment or settlement of Awards. The below clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section 5(b) seek to clarify the intent of the foregoing sentence. The Shares issued (or settled) under an Award will be counted against the Share Limit (and ISO Limit if the Award is an ISO) at the time(s) of exercise or settlement of the Award. For avoidance of doubt, Shares that are withheld as payment for the Award’s Exercise Price or applicable withholding taxes shall be counted against the Share Limit (and ISO Limit if the Award is an ISO).

 

14  

 

 

(ii) For avoidance of doubt, each Share issued (or settled or exercised) under any Award shall be counted against the Share Limit as one Share.

 

(iii) For avoidance of doubt, whether or not a SAR is settled with any Shares, the gross number of Shares subject to the exercise and which are used for determining the benefit payable under such SAR shall be counted against the Share Limit, regardless of the number of Shares actually used to settle the SAR upon such exercise.

 

(iv) For avoidance of doubt, to the extent an Option is exercised via a Cashless Exercise or Net Exercise or is not otherwise fully settled with Shares, then the gross number of Shares subject to the exercise and which are used for determining the benefit payable under such Option shall be counted against the Share Limit (and shall also count against the ISO Limit if the Option being exercised is an ISO), regardless of the number of Shares actually issued to the Participant upon such exercise.

 

(v) If any portion of an Award is forfeited, terminated without consideration, or expires unexercised, (collectively, “Forfeited Shares”), the gross number of such Forfeited Shares shall again be available for Awards under the Plan and shall not be counted against the Share Limit or ISO Limit.

 

(v) For avoidance of doubt, if any Awards are settled or paid in cash in lieu of stock and/or are exchanged for other Awards (collectively, “Settled Shares”), the gross number of such Settled Shares shall be counted against the Share Limit (and ISO Limit if the Award is an ISO).

 

(c)            Substitute Awards . Any Substitute Awards including without limitation any Shares that are delivered and any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company, as a result of the assumption by the Company of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by another entity (as provided below) shall not be counted toward the Share Limit or ISO Limit. Substitute Awards shall not count toward the Share Limit, nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award again be available for Awards under the Plan as provided in Section 5(b) above. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate or with which the Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary or any Affiliate combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not count toward the Share Limit; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Board members prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

15  

 

 

(d)            Dividend Equivalents . Any dividend equivalents distributed under the Plan in the form of Shares shall be counted against the Share Limit (with each Share that is distributed counting as one Share against the Share Limit). Dividend equivalents will not be paid (or accrue) on unexercised Options or unexercised SARs.

 

SECTION 6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.

 

(a)            Stock Option Agreement. Each Award of an Option under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement between the Optionee and the Company. Such Option shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan (including without limitation any performance conditions). The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify whether the Option is an ISO and if not specified then the Option shall be an NSO.

 

(b)            Number of Shares . Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of Shares that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 11.

 

(c)            Exercise Price . An Option’s Exercise Price shall be established by the Committee and set forth in a Stock Option Agreement. Except with respect to (i) outstanding stock options being assumed or (ii) Options being granted in exchange for cancellation of options granted by another issuer as provided under Section 6(e) or (iii) an NSO granted with a per share Exercise Price that is less than the per Share Fair Market Value on the date of Award and further provided that the Committee expressly acknowledges in its granting resolutions its awareness that such Option may be subject to the requirements of Code Section 409A, the Exercise Price of an Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (110% for 10-Percent Shareholders in the case of ISOs) of a Share on the date of Award.

 

16  

 

 

(d)            Exercisability and Term . Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the Option is to become vested and/or exercisable. The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify the term of the Option; provided, however that the term of an Option shall in no event exceed ten (10) years from the date of Award. An ISO that is granted to a 10-Percent Shareholder shall have a maximum term of five (5) years. No Option can be exercised after the expiration date specified in the applicable Stock Option Agreement. A Stock Option Agreement may provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the Optionee’s death, Disability or retirement or other events. A Stock Option Agreement may permit an Optionee to exercise an Option before it is vested (an “early exercise”), subject to the Company’s right of repurchase at the original Exercise Price of any Shares acquired under the unvested portion of the Option which right of repurchase shall lapse at the same rate the Option would have vested had there been no early exercise. In no event shall the Company be required to issue fractional Shares upon the exercise of an Option and the Committee may specify a minimum number of Shares that must be purchased in any one Option exercise.

 

(e)            Modifications or Assumption of Options . Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or assume outstanding Options or may accept the cancellation of outstanding stock options (whether granted by the Company or by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Options for the same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a different Exercise Price. No modification of an Option shall, without the consent of the Optionee, impair his or her rights or increase his or her obligations under such Option.

 

(f)            Assignment or Transfer of Options . Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement and then only to the extent permitted by applicable law, no Option shall be transferable by the Optionee other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement, an Option may be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by Optionee or by the guardian or legal representative of the Optionee. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement, no Option or interest therein may be subject to a short position nor may any Option or interest therein be gifted, transferred, assigned, alienated, pledged, hypothecated, attached, sold, or encumbered by the Optionee during his/her lifetime, whether by operation of law or otherwise, or be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

 

SECTION 7. PAYMENT FOR OPTION SHARES.

 

(a)            General Rule . The entire Exercise Price of Shares issued upon exercise of Options shall be payable in cash (or check) at the time when such Shares are purchased by the Optionee, except as follows and if so provided for in an applicable Stock Option Agreement:

 

(i)            In the case of an ISO granted under the Plan, payment shall be made only pursuant to the express provisions of the applicable Stock Option Agreement. The Stock Option Agreement may specify that payment may be made in any form(s) described in this Section 7.

 

(ii)           In the case of an NSO granted under the Plan, the Committee may in its discretion, at any time accept payment in any form(s) described in this Section 7.

 

17  

 

 

(b)            Surrender of Stock . To the extent that the Committee makes this Section 7(b) applicable to an Option in a Stock Option Agreement, payment for all or any part of the Exercise Price may be made with Shares which have already been owned by the Optionee for such duration as shall be specified by the Committee. Such Shares shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date when the new Shares are purchased under the Plan.

 

(c)            Cashless Exercise . To the extent that the Committee makes this Section 7(c) applicable to an Option in a Stock Option Agreement, payment for all or a part of the Exercise Price may be made through Cashless Exercise.

 

(d)            Net Exercise . To the extent that the Committee makes this Section 7(d) applicable to an Option in a Stock Option Agreement, payment for all or a part of the Exercise Price may be made through Net Exercise.

 

(e)            Other Forms of Payment . To the extent that the Committee makes this Section 7(e) applicable to an Option in a Stock Option Agreement, payment may be made in any other form that is consistent with applicable laws, regulations and rules and approved by the Committee.

 

SECTION 8. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

 

(a)            SAR Agreement . Each Award of a SAR under the Plan shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Such SAR shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan (including without limitation any performance conditions). A SAR Agreement may provide for a maximum limit on the amount of any payout notwithstanding the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR. The provisions of the various SAR Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical. SARs may be granted in consideration of a reduction in the Participant’s other compensation.

 

(b)            Number of Shares . Each SAR Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which the SAR pertains and is subject to adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 11.

 

(c)            Exercise Price . Each SAR Agreement shall specify the Exercise Price. A SAR Agreement may specify an Exercise Price that varies in accordance with a predetermined formula while the SAR is outstanding. Except with respect to outstanding stock appreciation rights being assumed or SARs being granted in exchange for cancellation of stock appreciation rights granted by another issuer as provided under Section 8(f), the Exercise Price of a SAR shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of Award.

 

18  

 

 

(d)            Exercisability and Term . Each SAR Agreement shall specify the date when all or any installment of the SAR is to become exercisable. The SAR Agreement shall also specify the term of the SAR which shall not exceed ten (10) years from the date of Award. No SAR can be exercised after the expiration date specified in the applicable SAR Agreement. A SAR Agreement may provide for accelerated exercisability in the event of the Participant’s death, or Disability or other events. SARs may be awarded in combination with Options or other Awards, and such an Award may provide that the SARs will not be exercisable unless the related Options or other Awards are forfeited. A SAR may be included in an ISO only at the time of Award but may be included in an NSO at the time of Award or at any subsequent time, but not later than six (6) months before the expiration of such NSO. A SAR granted under the Plan may provide that it will be exercisable only in the event of a Change in Control.

 

(e)            Exercise of SARs . If, on the date when a SAR expires, the Exercise Price under such SAR is less than the Fair Market Value on such date but any portion of such SAR has not been exercised or surrendered, then such SAR may automatically be deemed to be exercised as of such date with respect to such portion to the extent so provided in the applicable SAR agreement. Upon exercise of a SAR, the Participant (or any person having the right to exercise the SAR after Participant’s death) shall receive from the Company (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) any combination of Shares and cash, as the Committee shall determine. The amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of Shares received upon exercise of SARs shall, in the aggregate, be equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value (on the date of surrender) of the Shares subject to the SARs exceeds the Exercise Price of the Shares.

 

(f)            Modification or Assumption of SARs . Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or assume outstanding SARs or may accept the cancellation of outstanding SARs (including stock appreciation rights granted by another issuer) in return for the grant of new SARs for the same or a different number of Shares and at the same or a different Exercise Price. No modification of a SAR shall, without the consent of the Participant, impair his or her rights or increase his or her obligations under such SAR.

 

(g)            Assignment or Transfer of SARs . Except as otherwise provided in the applicable SAR Agreement and then only to the extent permitted by applicable law, no SAR shall be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable SAR Agreement, a SAR may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or by the guardian or legal representative of the Participant. No SAR or interest therein may be transferred, assigned, alienated, pledged, hypothecated, attached, sold, or encumbered by the Participant during his or her lifetime, whether by operation of law or otherwise, or be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

 

SECTION 9. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS.

 

(a)            Restricted Stock Grant Agreement . Each Restricted Stock Grant awarded under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Each Restricted Stock Grant shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions that are not inconsistent with the Plan (including without limitation any performance conditions). The provisions of the Restricted Stock Grant Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

19  

 

 

(b)            Number of Shares and Payment . Each Restricted Stock Grant Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which the Restricted Stock Grant pertains and is subject to adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 11. Restricted Stock Grants may be issued with or without cash consideration under the Plan.

 

(c)            Vesting Conditions. Each Restricted Stock Grant may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Restricted Stock Grant Agreement. A Restricted Stock Grant Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death, or Disability or other events.

 

(d)            Voting and Dividend Rights. The holder of a Restricted Stock Grant (irrespective of whether the Shares subject to the Restricted Stock Grant are vested or unvested) awarded under the Plan shall have the same voting, dividend and other rights as other holders of Common Stock. However, any dividends received on Shares that are unvested (whether such dividends are in the form of cash or Shares) may be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions as the Restricted Stock Grant with respect to which the dividends were paid. Such additional Shares issued as dividends that are subject to the Restricted Stock Grant shall not reduce the number of Shares available for issuance under Section 5.

 

(e)            Modification or Assumption of Restricted Stock Grants. Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify or assume outstanding Restricted Stock Grants or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Restricted Stock Grants (including stock granted by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Restricted Stock Grants for the same or a different number of Shares. No modification of a Restricted Stock Grant shall, without the consent of the Participant, impair his or her rights or increase his or her obligations under such Restricted Stock Grant.

 

(f)            Assignment or Transfer of Restricted Stock Grants. Except as provided in Section 14, or in a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement, or as required by applicable law, a Restricted Stock Grant awarded under the Plan shall not be anticipated, assigned, attached, garnished, optioned, transferred or made subject to any creditor’s process, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law. Any act in violation of this Section 9(f) shall be void. However, this Section 9(f) shall not preclude a Participant from designating a beneficiary pursuant to Section 4(d) nor shall it preclude a transfer of Restricted Stock Grant Awards by will or pursuant to Section 4(d).

 

SECTION 10. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR STOCK UNITS.

 

(a)            Stock Unit Agreement . Each grant of Stock Units under the Plan shall be evidenced by a Stock Unit Agreement between the Participant and the Company. Such Stock Units shall be subject to all applicable terms of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms that are not inconsistent with the Plan (including without limitation any performance conditions). The provisions of the various Stock Unit Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical. Stock Units may be granted in consideration of a reduction in the Participant’s other compensation.

 

20  

 

 

(b)            Number of Shares and Payment . Each Stock Unit Agreement shall specify the number of Shares to which the Stock Unit Award pertains and is subject to adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 11. To the extent that an Award is granted in the form of Stock Units, no cash consideration shall be required of the Award recipients.

 

(c)            Vesting Conditions . Each Award of Stock Units may or may not be subject to vesting. Vesting shall occur, in full or in installments, upon satisfaction of the conditions specified in the Stock Unit Agreement. A Stock Unit Agreement may provide for accelerated vesting in the event of the Participant’s death, or Disability or other events.

 

(d)            Voting and Dividend Rights . The holders of Stock Units shall have no voting rights. Prior to settlement or forfeiture, any Stock Unit awarded under the Plan may, at the Committee’s discretion, carry with it a right to dividend equivalents. Such right entitles the holder to be credited with an amount equal to all cash or Common Stock dividends paid on one Share while the Stock Unit is outstanding. Dividend equivalents may be converted into additional Stock Units. Settlement of dividend equivalents may be made in the form of cash, in the form of Shares, or in a combination of both. Prior to vesting of the Stock Units, any dividend equivalents accrued on such unvested Stock Units may be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions as the Stock Units to which they attach.

 

(e)            Modification or Assumption of Stock Units . Within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify or assume outstanding Stock Units or may accept the cancellation of outstanding Stock Units (including stock units granted by another issuer) in return for the grant of new Stock Units for the same or a different number of Shares. No modification of a Stock Unit shall, without the consent of the Participant, impair his or her rights or increase his or her obligations under such Stock Unit.

 

(f)             Assignment or Transfer of Stock Units . Except as provided in Section 14, or in a Stock Unit Agreement, or as required by applicable law, Stock Units shall not be anticipated, assigned, attached, garnished, optioned, transferred or made subject to any creditor’s process, whether voluntarily, involuntarily or by operation of law. Any act in violation of this Section 10(f) shall be void. However, this Section 10(f) shall not preclude a Participant from designating a beneficiary pursuant to Section 4(d) nor shall it preclude a transfer of Stock Units pursuant to Section 4(d).

 

(g)            Form and Time of Settlement of Stock Units . Settlement of vested Stock Units may be made in the form of (a) cash, (b) Shares or (c) any combination of both, as determined by the Committee. The actual number of Stock Units eligible for settlement may be larger or smaller than the number included in the original Award. Methods of converting Stock Units into cash may include (without limitation) a method based on the average Fair Market Value of Shares over a series of trading days. Except as otherwise provided in a Stock Unit Agreement or a timely completed deferral election, vested Stock Units shall be settled within thirty (30) days after vesting. The distribution may occur or commence when all vesting conditions applicable to the Stock Units have been satisfied or have lapsed, or it may be deferred, in accordance with applicable law, to a later specified date. The amount of a deferred distribution may be increased by an interest factor or by dividend equivalents. Until an Award of Stock Units is settled, the number of such Stock Units shall be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 11.

 

21  

 

 

(h)            Creditors’ Rights . A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Stock Unit Agreement.

 

SECTION 11. ADJUSTMENTS.

 

(a)            Adjustments . In the event of a subdivision of the outstanding Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in Shares, a declaration of a dividend payable in a form other than Shares in an amount that has a material effect on the price of Shares, a combination or consolidation of the outstanding Shares (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of Shares, a stock split, a reverse stock split, a reclassification or other distribution of the Shares without the receipt of consideration by the Company, of or on the Common Stock, a recapitalization, a combination, a spin-off or a similar occurrence, the Committee shall make equitable and proportionate adjustments to:

 

(i)            the Share Limit and ISO Limit specified in Section 5(a);

 

(ii)           the number and kind of securities available for Awards (and which can be issued as ISOs) under Section 5;

 

(iii)          the number and kind of securities covered by each outstanding Award;

 

(iv)          the Exercise Price under each outstanding Option and SAR and Other Equity Award; and

 

(v)           the number and kind of outstanding securities issued under the Plan.

 

(b)            Participant Rights. Except as provided in this Section 11, a Participant shall have no rights by reason of any issue by the Company of stock of any class or securities convertible into stock of any class, any subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class. If by reason of an adjustment pursuant to this Section 11, a Participant’s Award covers additional or different shares of stock or securities, then such additional or different shares and the Award in respect thereof shall be subject to all of the terms, conditions and restrictions which were applicable to the Award and the Shares subject to the Award prior to such adjustment.

 

(c)            Fractional Shares. Any adjustment of Shares pursuant to this Section 11 shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Shares. Under no circumstances shall the Company be required to authorize or issue fractional shares. To the extent permitted by applicable law, no consideration shall be provided as a result of any fractional shares not being issued or authorized.

 

22  

 

 

SECTION 12. EFFECT OF A CHANGE IN CONTROL.

 

(a)            Merger or Reorganization. In the event that there is a Change in Control and/or the Company is a party to a merger or acquisition or reorganization or Change in Control Event or similar transaction, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the merger agreement or other applicable transaction agreement. Such agreement may provide, without limitation, that subject to the consummation of the applicable transaction, for the assumption (or substitution) of outstanding Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent, for their continuation by the Company (if the Company is a surviving corporation), for accelerated vesting or for their cancellation with or without consideration, or for the mandatory exercise or conversion of Awards into Shares and/or cash whether by Net Exercise or otherwise, in all cases without the consent of the Participant.

 

(b)            Acceleration of Vesting. In the event that a Change in Control occurs and there is no assumption, substitution or continuation of Awards pursuant to Section 12(a), the Committee in its discretion may provide that some or all Awards shall vest and become exercisable in connection with such Change in Control. For avoidance of doubt, “substitution” includes, without limitation, an Award being replaced by a cash award that provides an equivalent intrinsic value (wherein intrinsic value equals the difference between the market value of a share and any exercise price). The Committee may also in its discretion include in an Award Agreement a requirement that, under certain circumstances, acceleration of vesting (or compensation payable) with respect to such Award shall be reduced (or eliminated) to the extent that such reduction (or elimination) would, after taking into account any other payments in the nature of compensation to which the Participant would have a right to receive from the Company and any other person contingent upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, prevent the occurrence of a “parachute payment” as defined under Code Section 280G.

 

SECTION 13. LIMITATIONS ON RIGHTS.

 

(a)            Retention Rights . Neither the Plan nor any Award granted under the Plan shall be deemed to give any individual a right to remain in Service as an Employee, Consultant, or Non-Employee Director of the Company, a Parent, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate or to receive any future Awards under the Plan. he Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries and Affiliates reserve the right to terminate the Service of any person at any time, and for any reason, subject to applicable laws, the Company’s Bylaws and Charter and a written employment agreement (if any).

 

(b)            Regulatory Requirements . Any other provision of the Plan notwithstanding, the obligation of the Company to issue Shares or other securities under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approval by any regulatory body as may be required. The Company reserves the right to restrict, in whole or in part, the delivery of Shares or other securities pursuant to any Award prior to the satisfaction of all legal requirements relating to the issuance of such Shares or other securities, to their registration, qualification or listing or to an exemption from registration, qualification or listing.

 

23  

 

 

(c)            Dissolution . To the extent not previously exercised or settled, all Options, SARs, Stock Units, Cash Awards, Other Equity Awards and unvested Restricted Stock Grants shall terminate immediately prior to the dissolution or liquidation of the Company and shall be forfeited to the Company without consideration (except for repayment of any amounts a Participant had paid to the Company to acquire unvested Shares underlying the forfeited Awards).

 

(d)            Clawback Policy . The Company may (i) cause the cancellation of any Award, (ii) require reimbursement of any Award by a Participant and (iii) effect any other right of recoupment of equity or other compensation provided under this Plan or otherwise in accordance with Company policies and/or applicable law (each, a “Clawback Policy”). In addition, a Participant may be required to repay to the Company certain previously paid compensation, whether provided under this Plan or an Award Agreement or otherwise, in accordance with the Clawback Policy. By accepting an Award, a Participant is also agreeing to be bound by the Company’s Clawback Policy which may be amended from time to time by the Company in its discretion (including without limitation to comply with applicable laws or stock exchange requirements) and is further agreeing that all of the Participant’s Awards may be unilaterally amended by the Company to the extent needed to comply with the Clawback Policy.

 

SECTION 14. WITHHOLDING TAXES.

 

(a)            General . A Participant shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the satisfaction of any withholding tax obligations that arise in connection with his or her Award. The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares or make any cash payment under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied and the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant.

 

(b)            Share Withholding . The Committee in its discretion may permit or require a Participant to satisfy all or part of his or her withholding tax obligations by having the Company withhold all or a portion of any Shares that otherwise would be issued to him or her or by surrendering all or a portion of any Shares that he or she previously acquired (or by stock attestation). Such Shares shall be valued based on the value of the actual trade or, if there is none, the Fair Market Value as of the previous day. Any payment of taxes by assigning Shares to the Company may be subject to restrictions, including, but not limited to, any restrictions required by rules of the SEC. The Committee may also, in its discretion, permit or require a Participant to satisfy withholding tax obligations related to an Award through a sale of Shares underlying the Award or, in the case of Options, through Net Exercise or Cashless Exercise. The number of Shares that are withheld from an Award pursuant to this section may also be limited by the Committee, to the extent necessary, to avoid liability-classification of the Award (or other adverse accounting treatment) under applicable financial accounting rules including without limitation by requiring that no amount may be withheld which is in excess of the applicable maximum statutory withholding rates. The Committee, in its discretion, may permit other forms of payment of applicable tax withholding.

 

24  

 

 

SECTION 15. DURATION AND AMENDMENTS.

 

(a)            Term of the Plan . The Plan, as set forth herein, is effective on the Adoption Date. The Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10 th ) anniversary of the Adoption Date and may be terminated on any earlier date pursuant to this Section 15. This Plan will not in any way affect outstanding awards that were issued under any other Company equity compensation plans.

 

(b)            Right to Amend or Terminate the Plan . The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time and for any reason. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the Plan’s termination. An amendment of the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders only to the extent required by applicable laws, regulations or rules. In addition, no such amendment or termination (or amendment of an executed Award Agreement) shall be made which would materially impair the rights of any Participant, without such Participant’s written consent, under any then-outstanding Award. In the event of any conflict in terms between the Plan and any Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall prevail and govern.

 

SECTION 16. EXECUTION.

 

To record the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the Company has caused its duly authorized Officer to execute this Plan on behalf of the Company.

 

  HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.
     
  By:  
     
  Name: Robb Knie
     
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

25  

 

 

Exhibit 10.12

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.13

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of June 30, 2017, between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “ Purchaser ” and collectively, the “ Purchasers ”).

WHEREAS, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, the Company desires to issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, desires to purchase from the Company, securities of the Company as more fully described in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each Purchaser agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

1.1             Definitions . In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1:

Action ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(i).

Affiliate ” means any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” means any day except any Saturday, any Sunday, any day which is a federal legal holiday in the United States or any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.

Closing ” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to Section 2.1.

Closing Date ” means the Business Day on which all of the Transaction Documents have been executed and delivered by the applicable parties thereto, and all conditions precedent to (i) the Purchasers’ obligations to pay the Subscription Amount and (ii) the Company’s obligations to deliver the Securities, in each case, have been satisfied or waived.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

- 1

 

Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share, and any other class of securities into which such securities may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

Common Stock Equivalents ” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

Company Counsel ” means Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP, with offices located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10112-0015.

Disclosure Schedules ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1.

EGS ” means Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, with offices located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105-0302.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Going Public Event ” means the earlier to occur of (i) Company’s offering of securities pursuant to an effective registration statement (including, without limitation, a Registration Statement) pursuant to the Securities Act or (ii) the Company’s merger, consolidation, transfer, or share exchange transaction pursuant to which the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

Going Public Event Date ” means the date of the effectiveness of the Going Public Event.

Indebtedness ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(r).

Intellectual Property Rights ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(m).

Legend Removal Date ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.1(c).

Liens ” means a lien, charge pledge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction.

Material Adverse Effect ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.1(b).

Per Share Purchase Price ” equals $$0.09926471, subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

- 2

 

Person ” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

Proceeding ” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

Purchaser Party ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.7.

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, among the Company and the Purchasers, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

Registration Statement ” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale by the Purchasers of the Shares.

Required Approvals ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.1(e).

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

Securities ” means the Shares.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Shareholders Agreement ” means the Shareholders Agreement, dated on or about the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Purchasers and the current stockholders of the Company, in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto

Shares ” means the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to each Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement.

Subscription Amount ” means, as to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for Shares purchased hereunder as specified below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement and next to the heading “Subscription Amount,” in United States dollars and in immediately available funds.

- 3

 

Subsidiary ” means, if applicable, any subsidiary of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3.1(a) and shall, where applicable, also include any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired after the date hereof.

Trading Day ” means a day on which the principal Trading Market is open for trading.

Trading Market ” means any of the following markets or exchanges on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question: the NYSE MKT, the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the New York Stock Exchange, OTCQB or OTCQX (or any successors to any of the foregoing).

Transaction Documents ” means this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, all exhibits and schedules thereto and hereto and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

Transfer Agent ” means, as to any date in question following the Going Public Event Date, the then transfer agent of the Company and any successor thereto.

VWAP ” means, for any date, the price determined by the first of the following clauses that applies: (a) if the Common Stock is then listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the daily volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed or quoted as reported by Bloomberg L.P. (based on a Trading Day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)), (b) if OTCQB or OTCQX is not a Trading Market, the volume weighted average price of the Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) on OTCQB or OTCQX as applicable, (c) if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted for trading on OTCQB or OTCQX and if prices for the Common Stock are then reported in the “Pink Sheets” published by OTC Markets Group, Inc. (or a similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices), the most recent bid price per share of the Common Stock so reported, or (d) in all other cases, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by an independent appraiser selected in good faith by the Purchasers of a majority in interest of the Securities then outstanding and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the fees and expenses of which shall be paid by the Company.

ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE

2.1        Closing . On the Closing Date, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, substantially concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto, the Company agrees to sell, and the Purchasers, severally and not jointly, agree to purchase, up to an aggregate of $675,000 of Shares. Each Purchaser shall deliver to the Company, via wire transfer or a certified check, immediately available funds equal to such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount as set forth on the signature page hereto executed by such Purchaser, and the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser its respective Shares as determined pursuant to Section 2.2(a), and the Company and each Purchaser shall deliver the other items set forth in Section 2.2 deliverable at the Closing. Upon satisfaction of the covenants and conditions set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.3, the Closing shall occur at the offices of EGS or such other location as the parties shall mutually agree.

- 4

 

2.2            Deliveries .

(a)       On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser the following:

(i)       this Agreement duly executed by the Company;

(ii)       a legal opinion of Company Counsel, substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto;

(iii)       (iii) a certificate evidencing a number of Shares equal to such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount divided by the Per Share Purchase Price, registered in the name of such Purchaser;

(iv)       the Shareholders Agreement duly executed by the Company and each of the stockholders of the Company; and

(v)       the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by the Company.

(b)       On or prior to the Closing Date, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following:

(i)       this Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser;

(ii)       such Purchaser’s Subscription Amount by wire transfer to the account specified in writing by the Company;

(iii)       the Shareholders Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser; and

(iv)       the Registration Rights Agreement duly executed by such Purchaser.

2.3        Closing Conditions .

(a)       The obligations of the Company hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

(i)       the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

- 5

 

(ii)       all obligations, covenants and agreements of each Purchaser required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed; and

(iii)       the delivery by each Purchaser of the items set forth in Section 2.2(b) of this Agreement.

(b)       The respective obligations of the Purchasers hereunder in connection with the Closing are subject to the following conditions being met:

(i)       the accuracy in all material respects (or, to the extent representations or warranties are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) when made and on the Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein (unless as of a specific date therein in which case they shall be accurate as of such date);

(ii)       all obligations, covenants and agreements of the Company required to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall have been performed;

(iii)       the delivery by the Company of the items set forth in Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement;

(iv)       there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company since the date hereof; and

(v)       from the date hereof to the Closing Date, trading in securities generally as reported by Bloomberg L.P. shall not have been suspended or limited, or minimum prices shall not have been established on securities whose trades are reported by such service, nor shall a banking moratorium have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities nor shall there have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity of such magnitude in its effect on, or any material adverse change in, any financial market which, in each case, in the reasonable judgment of such Purchaser, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to purchase the Securities at the Closing.

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1          Representations and Warranties of the Company . Except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules, which Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed a part hereof and shall qualify any representation or otherwise made herein to the extent of the disclosure contained in the corresponding section of the Disclosure Schedules, the Company hereby makes the following representations and warranties to each Purchaser:

(a)        Subsidiaries . All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company are set forth on Schedule 3.1(a) . The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. If the Company has no subsidiaries, all other references to the Subsidiaries or any of them in the Transaction Documents shall be disregarded.

- 6

 

(b)        Organization and Qualification . The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under any Transaction Document (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “ Material Adverse Effect ”) and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

(c)        Authorization; Enforcement . The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each of the other Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of each of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Board of Directors or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith or therewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement and each other Transaction Document to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

- 7

 

(d)        No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents to which it is a party, the issuance and sale of the Securities and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not: (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected, except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)        Filings, Consents and Approvals . The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents, other than (i) the filing with the Commission pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) the filing of Form D with the Commission and such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “ Required Approvals ”).

(f)        Issuance of the Securities . The Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the applicable Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company other than restrictions on transfer provided for in the Transaction Documents. The Company has reserved from its duly authorized capital stock the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement.

(g)        Capitalization . The capitalization of the Company is as set forth on Schedule 3.1(g) . Other than pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, no Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Securities. Other than the Shareholders Agreement, there are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.

- 8

 

(h)       [Intentionally Omitted]

(i)        Litigation . There is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “ Action ”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents or the Securities or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty.

(j)        Labor Relations . To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters.

(k)        Compliance . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree, or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(l)        Title to Assets . The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

- 9

 

(m)        Intellectual Property . The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights as necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “ Intellectual Property Rights ”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person, except as could not have or reasonably be expected to not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all such Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n)        Certain Fees . No brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company or any Subsidiary to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. The Purchasers shall have no obligation with respect to any fees or with respect to any claims made by or on behalf of other Persons for fees of a type contemplated in this Section that may be due in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

(o)        Private Placement . Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Purchasers as contemplated hereby.

(p)        Investment Company . The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Securities, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

- 10

 

(q)        Disclosure . All of the disclosure furnished by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchasers regarding the Company and its Subsidiaries, their respective businesses and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Disclosure Schedules to this Agreement, is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that no Purchaser makes or has made any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in Section 3.2 hereof.

(r)        Solvency . The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt). The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the Closing Date. Schedule 3.1(r) sets forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Indebtedness ” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed, (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business, and (z) the present value of any lease payments. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

(s)        No General Solicitation . Neither the Company nor any Person acting on behalf of the Company has offered or sold any of the Securities by any form of general solicitation or general advertising. The Company has offered the Securities for sale only to the Purchasers and certain other “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act.

(t)        Office of Foreign Assets Control . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“ OFAC ”).

(u)        No Disqualification Events . With respect to the Securities to be offered and sold hereunder in reliance on Rule 506 under the Securities Act, none of the Company, any of its predecessors, any affiliated issuer, any director, executive officer, other officer of the Company participating in the offering hereunder, any beneficial owner of 20% or more of the Company’s outstanding voting equity securities, calculated on the basis of voting power, nor any promoter (as that term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) connected with the Company in any capacity at the time of sale (each, an “ Issuer Covered Person ” and, together, “ Issuer Covered Persons ”) is subject to any of the “Bad Actor” disqualifications described in Rule 506(d)(1)(i) to (viii) under the Securities Act (a “ Disqualification Event ”), except for a Disqualification Event covered by Rule 506(d)(2) or (d)(3). The Company has exercised reasonable care to determine whether any Issuer Covered Person is subject to a Disqualification Event. The Company has complied, to the extent applicable, with its disclosure obligations under Rule 506(e), and has furnished to the Purchasers a copy of any disclosures provided thereunder.

- 11

 

(v)        Other Covered Persons . The Company is not aware of any person (other than any Issuer Covered Person) that has been or will be paid (directly or indirectly) remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with the sale of any Securities.

(w)        Notice of Disqualification Events . The Company will notify the Purchasers in writing, prior to the Closing Date of (i) any Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person and (ii) any event that would, with the passage of time, become a Disqualification Event relating to any Issuer Covered Person.

3.2        Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers . Each Purchaser, for itself and for no other Purchaser, hereby represents and warrants as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows (unless as of a specific date therein, in which case they shall be accurate as of such date):

(a)        Organization; Authority . Such Purchaser is either an individual or an entity duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation with full right, corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership, limited liability company or similar action, as applicable, on the part of such Purchaser. Each Transaction Document to which it is a party has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

(b)        Own Account . Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law, has no present intention of distributing any of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and has no direct or indirect arrangement or understandings with any other persons to distribute or regarding the distribution of such Securities in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law (this representation and warranty not limiting such Purchaser’s right to sell the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws). Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business.

- 12

 

(c)        Purchaser Status . At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and as of the date hereof it is, an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act.

(d)        Experience of Such Purchaser . Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

(e)        General Solicitation . Such Purchaser is not, to such Purchaser’s knowledge, purchasing the Securities as a result of any advertisement, article, notice or other communication regarding the Securities published in any newspaper, magazine or similar media or broadcast over television or radio or presented at any seminar or, to the knowledge of such Purchaser, any other general solicitation or general advertisement.

The Company acknowledges and agrees that the representations contained in this Section 3.2 shall not modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the Company’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or any representations and warranties contained in any other Transaction Document or any other document or instrument executed and/or delivered in connection with this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE IV
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

4.1           Transfer Restrictions .

(a)       The Securities may only be disposed of in compliance with state and federal securities laws. In connection with any transfer of Securities other than pursuant to an effective registration statement or Rule 144, to the Company or to an Affiliate of a Purchaser or in connection with a pledge as contemplated in Section 4.1(b), the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such transferred Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer, any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and shall have the rights and obligations of a Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.

(b)       The Purchasers agree to the imprinting, so long as is required by this Section 4.1, of a legend on any of the Securities in the following form:

- 13

 

THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR THE SECURITIES COMMISSION OF ANY STATE IN RELIANCE UPON AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND, ACCORDINGLY, MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THIS SECURITY MAY BE PLEDGED IN CONNECTION WITH A BONA FIDE MARGIN ACCOUNT WITH A REGISTERED BROKER-DEALER OR OTHER LOAN WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION THAT IS AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” AS DEFINED IN RULE 501(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR OTHER LOAN SECURED BY SUCH SECURITIES.

The Company acknowledges and agrees that a Purchaser may from time to time pledge pursuant to a bona fide margin agreement with a registered broker-dealer or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities to a financial institution that is an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act and, if required under the terms of such arrangement, such Purchaser may transfer pledged or secured Securities to the pledgees or secured parties. Such a pledge or transfer would not be subject to approval of the Company and no legal opinion of legal counsel of the pledgee, secured party or pledgor shall be required in connection therewith. Further, no notice shall be required of such pledge. At the appropriate Purchaser’s expense, the Company will execute and deliver such reasonable documentation as a pledgee or secured party of Securities may reasonably request in connection with a pledge or transfer of the Securities, including, if the Securities are subject to registration pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the preparation and filing of any required prospectus supplement under Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act or other applicable provision of the Securities Act to appropriately amend the list of Selling Stockholders (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) thereunder.

(c)       Certificates evidencing the Shares shall not contain any legend (including the legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) hereof), (i) while a registration statement (including the Registration Statement) covering the resale of such security is effective under the Securities Act, (ii) following any sale of such Shares pursuant to Rule 144, (iii) if such Shares are eligible for sale under Rule 144, or (iv) if such legend is not required under applicable requirements of the Securities Act (including judicial interpretations and pronouncements issued by the staff of the Commission). The Company shall cause its counsel to issue a legal opinion to the Transfer Agent and/or the Purchaser if required by the Transfer Agent to effect the removal of the legend hereunder, or if requested by a Purchaser, respectively. The Company agrees that, at such time as such legend is no longer required under this Section 4.1(c), it will, not later than the earlier of (i) three (3) Trading Days and (ii) the number of Trading Days comprising the Standard Settlement Period (as defined below) following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Company or the Transfer Agent of a certificate representing Shares issued with a restrictive legend (such third Trading Day, the “ Legend Removal Date ”), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate representing such shares that is free from all restrictive and other legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 4. Certificates for Shares subject to legend removal hereunder shall be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchaser by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with the Depository Trust Company System as directed by such Purchaser. As used herein, “ Standard Settlement Period ” means, following the Going Public Event Date, the standard settlement period, expressed in a number of Trading Days, on the Company’s primary Trading Market with respect to the Common Stock as in effect on the date of delivery of a certificate representing Shares issued with a restrictive legend.

- 14

 

(d)       Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, agrees with the Company that such Purchaser will sell any Securities pursuant to either the registration requirements of the Securities Act, including any applicable prospectus delivery requirements, or an exemption therefrom, and that if Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement, they will be sold in compliance with the plan of distribution set forth therein, and acknowledges that the removal of the restrictive legend from certificates representing Securities as set forth in this Section 4.1 is predicated upon the Company’s reliance upon this understanding.

4.2        Exchange Act Reporting . On or before the earlier of (x) the 60th calendar day following the Going Public Event Date or (y) the date on which the Company’s securities (or any successor’s securities) are listed or quoted on a Trading Market, the Company shall cause its Common Stock to be registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act. Following the date on which the Company becomes subject to the Exchange Act, and until the time that the Purchasers hold no Shares, the Company covenants to timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act, provided that, if after becoming subject to the Exchange Act, the Company is thereafter no longer required to file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company will, for as long as any Purchaser owns Shares, prepare and furnish to the Purchasers and make publicly available in accordance with Rule 144(c) such information as is required for the Purchasers to sell the Securities, including without limitation, under Rule 144. The Company further covenants that Company will take such further action as any holder of Securities may reasonably request, to the extent required from time to time to enable such Person to sell such Securities without registration under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, within the requirements of the exemption provided by Rule 144.

4.3        Integration . The Company shall not sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that would be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities.

- 15

 

4.4        Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity . On or before the Going Public Event Date, the Company agrees to publicly disclose all material, non-public information delivered to any of the Purchasers by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. In addition, effective upon the Going Public Event Date, the Company acknowledges and agrees that any and all confidentiality or similar obligations under any agreement, whether written or oral, between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates on the one hand, and any of the Purchasers or any of their Affiliates on the other hand, shall terminate. The Company shall consult with each Purchaser in issuing any press releases with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby and the Company shall not issue any such press release or otherwise make any such public statement with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior consent of each Purchaser, except if such disclosure is required by law, in which case the Company shall promptly provide each Purchaser with prior notice of such public statement or communication, or if such disclosure is in connection with a registration statement (including a Registration Statement). The Company acknowledges that a Purchaser that is a publicly reporting company may publicly disclose the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, in a press release or on a Current Report on Form 8-K.

4.5        Non-Public Information . From and after the Going Public Event Date, the Company covenants and agrees that neither the Company nor any other Person acting on its behalf will provide any Purchaser or its agents or counsel with any information that constitutes, or the Company reasonably believes constitutes, material non-public information, unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have consented to the receipt of such information and agreed with the Company to keep such information confidential. From and after the Going Public Event Date, to the extent that the Company delivers any material, non-public information to a Purchaser without such Purchaser’s consent, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that such Purchaser shall not have any duty of confidentiality to Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates, or a duty to the Company, and of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, agents, employees or Affiliates not to trade on the basis of, such material, non-public information, provided that the Purchaser shall remain subject to applicable law. From and after the Going Public Event Date, to the extent that any notice provided pursuant to any Transaction Document constitutes, or contains, material, non-public information regarding the Company or any Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company understands and confirms that each Purchaser shall be relying on the foregoing covenants in effecting transactions in securities of the Company.

4.6        Use of Proceeds . Except as set forth on Schedule 4.6 attached hereto, the Company shall use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder for working capital purposes.

- 16

 

4.7        Indemnification of Purchasers . Subject to the provisions of this Section 4.7, the Company will indemnify and hold each Purchaser and its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees and agents (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls such Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners or employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling persons (each, a “ Purchaser Party ”) harmless from any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation that any such Purchaser Party may suffer or incur as a result of or relating to (a) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents or (b) any action instituted against the Purchaser Party in any capacity, or any of them or their respective Affiliates, by any stockholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of such Purchaser Party, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (unless such action is based upon a breach of such Purchaser Party’s representations, warranties or covenants under the Transaction Documents or any agreements or understandings such Purchaser Party may have with any such stockholder or any violations by such Purchaser Party of state or federal securities laws or any conduct by such Purchaser Parties which constitutes fraud, gross negligence, willful misconduct or malfeasance). If any action shall be brought against any Purchaser Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to this Agreement, such Purchaser Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing, and the Company shall have the right to assume the defense thereof with counsel of its own choosing reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser Party. Any Purchaser Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Purchaser Party except to the extent that (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized by the Company in writing, (ii) the Company has failed after a reasonable period of time to assume such defense and to employ counsel or (iii) in such action there is, in the reasonable opinion of counsel, a material conflict on any material issue between the position of the Company and the position of such Purchaser Party, in which case the Company shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one such separate counsel. The Company will not be liable to any Purchaser Party under this Agreement (y) for any settlement by a Purchaser Party effected without the Company’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; or (z) to the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is attributable to any Purchaser Party’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Purchaser Party in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents. The indemnification required by this Section 4.7 shall be made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or are incurred. The indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any cause of action or similar right of any Purchaser Party against the Company or others and any liabilities the Company may be subject to pursuant to law.

4.8        Reservation of Common Stock . As of the date hereof, the Company has reserved and the Company shall continue to reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for the purpose of enabling the Company to issue Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

4.9        Listing of Common Stock . From and after the Going Public Event Date, the Company shall, if applicable: (i) in the time and manner required by the principal Trading Market, prepare and file with such Trading Market an additional shares listing application covering the Shares, (ii) take all necessary steps to cause such Shares to be approved for listing or quotation on such Trading Market as soon as possible thereafter, (iii) provide to the Purchasers evidence of such listing or quotation; and (iv) maintain the listing or quotation of the Shares on such Trading Market or another Trading Market. From and after the Going Public Event Date, the Company agrees to establish and maintain the eligibility of the Common Stock for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation, including, without limitation, by timely payment of fees to the Depository Trust Company or such other established clearing corporation in connection with such electronic transfer.

- 17

 

4.10        Equal Treatment of Purchasers . No consideration (including any modification of any Transaction Document) shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of the Transaction Documents unless the same consideration is also offered to all of the parties to the Transaction Documents. For clarification purposes, this provision constitutes a separate right granted to each Purchaser by the Company and negotiated separately by each Purchaser, and is intended for the Company to treat the Purchasers as a class and shall not in any way be construed as the Purchasers acting in concert or as a group with respect to the purchase, disposition or voting of Securities or otherwise.

4.11        Form D; Blue Sky Filings . The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D and to provide a copy thereof, promptly upon request of any Purchaser. The Company shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for, or to qualify the Securities for, sale to the Purchasers at the Closing under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States, and shall provide evidence of such actions promptly upon request of any Purchaser.

4.12       [Intentionally Omitted]

4.13        Distribution of Shares . In the event that Spherix determines to distribute the Shares or any securities of the Company held by Spherix to its shareholders, the Company covenants to use best efforts to do and perform and cause to be done and performed all such further acts and things and shall execute and deliver all such further agreements, certificates, instruments and documents as Spherix may reasonably request to effect such distribution of Shares or securities to the shareholders of Spherix.

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

5.1        Termination . This Agreement may be terminated by any Purchaser, as to such Purchaser’s obligations hereunder only and without any effect whatsoever on the obligations between the Company and the other Purchasers, by written notice to the other parties, if the Closing has not been consummated on or before July 7, 2017; provided, however, that such termination will not affect the right of any party to sue for any breach by any other party (or parties).

5.2        Fees and Expenses . Except as expressly set forth in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, each party shall pay the fees and expenses of its advisers, counsel, accountants and other experts, if any, and all other expenses incurred by such party incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement. The Company shall pay all fees, stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the delivery of any Shares to the Purchasers.

- 18

 

5.3        Entire Agreement . The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules.

5.4        Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of: (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or email attachment at the e-mail address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto at or prior to 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number or email attachment at the e-mail address as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any Trading Day, (c) the second (2nd) Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages attached hereto. From and after the Going Public Event Date, to the extent that any notice provided pursuant to any Transaction Document constitutes, or contains material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, the Company shall simultaneously file such notice with the Commission pursuant to a Current Report on Form 8-K.

5.5        Amendments; Waivers . No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and Purchasers holding at least 67% in interest of the Shares then outstanding or, in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom enforcement of any such waived provision is sought, provided that if any amendment, modification or waiver disproportionately and adversely impacts a Purchaser (or group of Purchasers), the consent of such disproportionately impacted Purchaser (or group of Purchasers) shall also be required. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right. Any proposed amendment or waiver that disproportionately, materially and adversely affects the rights and obligations of any Purchaser relative to the comparable rights and obligations of the other Purchasers shall require the prior written consent of such adversely affected Purchaser, Any amendment effected in accordance with accordance with this Section 5.5 shall be binding upon each Purchaser and holder of Securities and the Company.

5.6        Headings . The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

5.7        Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. The Company may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Purchaser (other than by merger). Any Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities, provided that such transferee agrees in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the provisions of the Transaction Documents that apply to the “Purchasers.”

- 19

 

5.8        No Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.7.

5.9        Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of the Transaction Documents shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each party agrees that all legal Proceedings concerning the interpretations, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective affiliates, directors, officers, shareholders, partners, members, employees or agents) shall be commenced exclusively in the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Action or Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such Action or Proceeding is improper or is an inconvenient venue for such Proceeding. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Action or Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law. If any party hereto shall commence an Action or Proceeding to enforce any provisions of the Transaction Documents, then, in addition to the obligations of the Company under Section 4.7, the prevailing party in such Action or Proceeding shall be reimbursed by the non-prevailing party for its reasonable attorneys’ fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such Action or Proceeding.

5.10        Survival . The representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Securities.

5.11        Execution . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to each other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

- 20

 

5.12        Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

5.13        Rescission and Withdrawal Right . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) any of the other Transaction Documents, whenever any Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.

5.14        Replacement of Securities . If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Securities is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof (in the case of mutilation), or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of such loss, theft or destruction. The applicant for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs (including customary indemnity) associated with the issuance of such replacement Securities.

5.15        Remedies . In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers and the Company will be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations contained in the Transaction Documents and hereby agree to waive and not to assert in any Action for specific performance of any such obligation the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

5.16        Payment Set Aside . To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

- 21

 

5.17        Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights . The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance or non-performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereof or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. Each Purchaser has been represented by its own separate legal counsel in its review and negotiation of the Transaction Documents. For reasons of administrative convenience only, each Purchaser and its respective counsel have chosen to communicate with the Company through EGS. EGS does not represent all of the Purchasers and only represents Spherix. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any of the Purchasers.

5.18        Liquidated Damages . The Company’s obligations to pay any partial liquidated damages or other amounts owing under the Transaction Documents is a continuing obligation of the Company and shall not terminate until all unpaid partial liquidated damages and other amounts have been paid notwithstanding the fact that the instrument or security pursuant to which such partial liquidated damages or other amounts are due and payable shall have been canceled.

5.19        Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc . If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a Business Day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding Business Day.

5.20        Construction . The parties agree that each of them and/or their respective counsel have reviewed and had an opportunity to revise the Transaction Documents and, therefore, the normal rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of the Transaction Documents or any amendments thereto. In addition, each and every reference to share prices and shares of Common Stock in any Transaction Document shall be subject to adjustment for reverse and forward stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations and other similar transactions of the Common Stock that occur after the date of this Agreement.

5.21        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING IN ANY JURISDICTION BROUGHT BY ANY PARTY AGAINST ANY OTHER PARTY, THE PARTIES EACH KNOWINGLY AND INTENTIONALLY, TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, HEREBY ABSOLUTELY, UNCONDITIONALLY, IRREVOCABLY AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES FOREVER TRIAL BY JURY.

- 22

 

(Signature Pages Follow)

- 23

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.   Address for Notice :
         
By:        
  Name: Robb Knie      
Title:   Chief Executive Officer   Fax:  
         
      E-Mail: rknie@mac.com

With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice)  

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

30 Rockefeller Plaza, 39th Floor

New York, New York 10112

Attn: Richard A. Friedman, Esq.

Tel: (212) 653-8700

Fax: (212) 653-8701

E-Mail: rafriedman@sheppardmullin.com

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
SIGNATURE PAGE FOR PURCHASER FOLLOWS]

- 24

 

[PURCHASER SIGNATURE PAGES TO HOTH THERAPEUTICS
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

Name of Purchaser: _______________________________________________________________

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Purchaser: _______________________________________________________________

Name of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________________________

Title of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________________________

Email Address of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________________________

Facsimile Number of Authorized Signatory: _______________________________________________________________

Address for Notice to Purchaser: _______________________________________________________________

Address for Delivery of Securities to Purchaser (if not same as address for notice):

Subscription Amount: $ ______________

Shares: ______________

EIN Number: ______________

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]

 

 

Exhibit 10.14

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of June 30, 2017, between Hoth Therapeutics, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “ Company ”), and each of the several purchasers signatory hereto (each such purchaser, a “ Purchaser ” and, collectively, the “ Purchasers ”).

 

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the Company and each Purchaser (the “ Purchase Agreement ”).

 

The Company and each Purchaser hereby agrees as follows:

 

1.                     Definitions .

 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Advice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(c).

 

Effectiveness Date ” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed hereunder, the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Closing Date and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 2(c), the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted to go effective on such additional Registration Statement; provided , however , that, in the event the Company is notified by the Commission that one or more of the above Registration Statements will not be reviewed or is no longer subject to further review and comments, the Effectiveness Date as to such Registration Statement shall be the fifth Trading Day following the date on which the Company is so notified if such date precedes the dates otherwise required above.

 

Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Filing Date ” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required hereunder, the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Closing Date and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required pursuant to Section 2(c), the earliest practical date on which the Company is permitted by SEC Guidance to file such additional Registration Statement related to the Registrable Securities.

 

Holder ” or “ Holders ” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

 

 

 

Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

 

Initial Registration Statement ” means the initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

 

Plan of Distribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

 

Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

Registrable Securities ” means, as of any date of determination, (a) all Shares and (b) any securities issued or then issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the foregoing.

 

Registration Statement ” means any registration statement required to be filed hereunder pursuant to Section 2(a) and any additional registration statements contemplated by Section 2(c), including, in each case, the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to any such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in any such registration statement.

 

Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended or interpreted from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same purpose and effect as such Rule.

 

2

 

 

SEC Guidance ” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance of the Commission staff, or any comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

 

2.                     Registration .

 

(a)       On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities that are not then registered on an effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415. Each Registration Statement filed hereunder shall be on Form S-1 and shall contain substantially the “ Plan of Distribution ” attached hereto as Annex A ; provided , however , that no Holder shall be required to be named as an “underwriter” without such Holder’s express prior written consent. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause a Registration Statement filed under this Agreement to be declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any event no later than the applicable Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the date that all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement (i) have been sold, thereunder or pursuant to Rule 144, or (ii) may be sold without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144, as determined by the counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and acceptable to the Transfer Agent and the affected Holders (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). The Company shall telephonically request effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a Trading Day. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) on the Trading Day after the effective date of such Registration Statement, file a final Prospectus with the Commission as required by Rule 424.

 

(b)       Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in Section 2(a), if the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly inform each of the Holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement as required by the Commission, covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided , however , that, prior to filing such amendment, the Company shall be obligated to use diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09.

 

3

 

 

(c)       Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if the Commission or any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation on the number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used diligent efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater portion of Registrable Securities), unless otherwise directed in writing by a Holder as to its Registrable Securities, the number of Registrable Securities to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced as follows:

 

a. First, the Company shall reduce or eliminate any securities to be included other than Registrable Securities; and

 

b. Second, the Company shall reduce Registrable Securities applied, in the case that some Shares may be registered, to the Holders on a pro rata basis based on the total number of unregistered Shares held by such Holders).

 

In the event the Company amends the Initial Registration Statement in accordance with the foregoing, the Company will use its best efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-1 or such other form available to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the Company be permitted to name any Holder or affiliate of a Holder as any Underwriter without the prior written consent of such Holder.

 

4

 

 

3.             Registration Procedures .

 

In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder, the Company shall:

 

(a)       Not less than five (5) Trading Days prior to the filing of each Registration Statement and not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall (i) furnish to each Holder copies of all such documents proposed to be filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and independent registered public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to each Holder, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company shall not file a Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities shall reasonably object in good faith, provided that the Company is notified of such objection in writing no later than five (5) Trading Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of a Registration Statement or one (1) Trading Day after the Holders have been so furnished copies of any related Prospectus or amendments or supplements thereto. Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed selling stockholder questionnaire in customary form on a date that is not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to the Filing Date or by the end of the fourth (4 th ) Trading Day following the date on which such Holder receives draft materials in accordance with this Section.

 

(b)       (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, to a Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep a Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities, (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424, (iii) respond as promptly as reasonably possible to any comments received from the Commission with respect to a Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and provide as promptly as reasonably possible to the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to a Registration Statement (provided that the Company shall excise any information contained therein which would constitute material non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), and (iv) comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance (subject to the terms of this Agreement) with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented.

 

5

 

 

(c)       Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (vi) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made) as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than one (1) Trading Day prior to such filing) and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed, (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement, and (C) with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose, (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in a Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to a Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) of the occurrence or existence of any pending corporate development with respect to the Company that the Company believes may be material and that, in the determination of the Company, makes it not in the best interest of the Company to allow continued availability of a Registration Statement or Prospectus, provided , however , that in no event shall any such notice contain any information which would constitute material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(d)       Use its best efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order stopping or suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practicable moment.

 

(e)       Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, except after the giving of any notice pursuant to Section 3(c).

 

(f)        Prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the Registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement, provided that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

 

6

 

 

(g)       If requested by a Holder, cooperate with such Holder to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holder may request.

 

(h)       Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c), as promptly as reasonably possible under the circumstances taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its stockholders of the premature disclosure of such event, prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to a Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, neither a Registration Statement nor such Prospectus will contain 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. If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with clauses (iii) through (vi) of Section 3(c) above to suspend the use of any Prospectus until the requisite changes to such Prospectus have been made, then the Holders shall suspend use of such Prospectus. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable. The Company shall be entitled to exercise its right under this Section 3(h) to suspend the availability of a Registration Statement and Prospectus for a period not to exceed 60 calendar days (which need not be consecutive days) in any 12-month period.

 

7

 

 

(i)        The Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such Holder and, if required by the Commission, the natural persons thereof that have voting and dispositive control over the shares. During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of the Registrable Securities solely because any Holder fails to furnish such information within three Trading Days of the Company’s request, any liquidated damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the Company.

 

4.                     Registration Expenses . All fees and expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent registered public accountants) (A) with respect to filings made with the Commission, (B) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (C) in compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws reasonably agreed to by the Company in writing (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities), (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the expense of any annual audit, and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any broker or similar commissions of any Holder.

 

8

 

 

5.                     Indemnification .

 

(a)        Indemnification by the Company . The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, members, partners, agents, brokers (including brokers who offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, members, stockholders, partners, agents and employees (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles, notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to (1) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to 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 any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading or (2) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any state securities law, or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (i) such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement, such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose) or (ii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated, defective or otherwise unavailable Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated, defective or otherwise unavailable for use by such Holder and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d). The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such indemnified person and shall survive the transfer of any Registrable Securities by any of the Holders in accordance with Section 6(f).

 

(b)        Indemnification by Holders . Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, to the extent arising out of or based solely upon: any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to 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 any Prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder to the Company expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such Prospectus or (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such information relates to such Holder’s information provided in the Holder’s selling stockholder questionnaire or the proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved in writing by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto. In no event shall the liability of a selling Holder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 5 and the amount of any damages such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue statement or omission) received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

 

9

 

 

(c)        Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “ Indemnified Party ”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) in writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof, provided that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have materially and adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

 

An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding, or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and counsel to the Indemnified Party shall reasonably believe that a material conflict of interest is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the right to assume the defense thereof and the reasonable fees and expenses of no more than one separate counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

 

10

 

 

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all reasonable fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party, provided that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) not to be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

 

(d)        Contribution . If the indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party 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 such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys’ or other fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

 

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. In no event shall the contribution obligation of a Holder of Registrable Securities be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of all expenses paid by such Holder in connection with any claim relating to this Section 5 and the amount of any damages such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission) received by it upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation.

 

11

 

 

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties.

 

6.                     Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           Remedies . In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their respective obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, shall be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each Holder agrees that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall not assert or shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

(b)           No Piggyback on Registrations . Neither the Company nor any of its security holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include securities of the Company in any Registration Statements other than the Registrable Securities, except with the prior consent of the Holders.

 

(c)           Discontinued Disposition . By its acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(iii) through (vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “ Advice ”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company will use its best efforts to ensure that the use of the Prospectus may be resumed as promptly as is practicable.

 

(d)           Piggy-Back Registrations . If, at any time during the Effectiveness Period, there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the Securities Act) or their then equivalents relating to equity securities to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business or equity securities issuable in connection with the Company’s stock option or other employee benefit plans, then the Company shall deliver to each Holder a written notice of such determination and, if within fifteen days after the date of the delivery of such notice, any such Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such Holder requests to be registered.

 

12

 

 

(e)           Amendments and Waivers . 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 same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. If a Registration Statement does not register all of the Registrable Securities pursuant to a waiver or amendment done in compliance with the previous sentence, then the number of Registrable Securities to be registered for each Holder shall be reduced pro rata among all Holders and each Holder shall have the right to designate which of its Registrable Securities shall be omitted from such Registration Statement. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Person to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of this Agreement unless the same consideration also is offered to all of the parties to this Agreement.

 

(f)            Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

(g)           Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not assign (except by merger) its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all of the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under Section 5.7 of the Purchase Agreement.

 

(h)           No Inconsistent Agreements . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

 

(i)            Execution and Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature page were an original thereof.

 

(j)            Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

 

(k)           Cumulative Remedies . The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.

 

13

 

 

(l)            Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(m)           Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

 

********************

 

(Signature Pages Follow)

 

14

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

     
  HOTH THERAPEUTICS, INC.
     
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS FOLLOWS]

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE OF HOLDERS TO hoth therapeutics RRA]

 

Name of Holder: __________________________

 

Signature of Authorized Signatory of Holder : __________________________

 

Name of Authorized Signatory: _________________________

 

Title of Authorized Signatory: __________________________

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES CONTINUE]

 

 

 

Annex A

 

Plan of Distribution

 

Each Selling Stockholder (the “ Selling Stockholders ”) of the securities and any of their pledgees, assignees and successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their securities covered hereby on the principal Trading Market or any other stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or negotiated prices. A Selling Stockholder may use any one or more of the following methods when selling securities:

 

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

 

block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities 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;

 

settlement of short sales;

 

in transactions through broker-dealers that agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security;

 

through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

a combination of any such methods of sale; or

 

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities under Rule 144 or any other exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), if available, rather than under this prospectus.

 

Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of securities, from the purchaser) in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this Prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction not in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with FINRA Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with FINRA IM-2440.

 

2

 

 

In connection with the sale of the securities or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The Selling Stockholders may also sell securities short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or create one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are involved in selling the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the resale of the securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. Each Selling Stockholder has informed the Company that it does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the securities.

 

The Company is required to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by the Company incident to the registration of the securities. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

We agreed to keep this prospectus effective until the earlier of (i) the date on which the securities may be resold by the Selling Stockholders without registration and without regard to any volume or manner-of-sale limitations by reason of Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information under Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect or (ii) all of the securities have been sold pursuant to this prospectus or Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any other rule of similar effect. The resale securities will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in certain states, the resale securities covered hereby may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

3

 

 

Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in the distribution of the resale securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the common stock for the applicable restricted period, as defined in Regulation M, prior to the commencement of the distribution. In addition, the Selling Stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the common stock by the Selling Stockholders or any other person. We will make copies of this prospectus available to the Selling Stockholders and have informed them of the need to deliver a copy of this prospectus to each purchaser at or prior to the time of the sale (including by compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act).

 

4

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1, Amendment No. 1, of our report dated December 13, 2018, relating to the balance sheet of Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. as of December 31, 2017, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the period from May 16, 2017 (inception) through December 31, 2017, and to the reference to our Firm under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

 

/s/ WithumSmith+Brown, PC  
   

New York, New York 

 
December 14, 2018