UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 19, 2016

 


 

XENCOR, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

001-36182

 

20-1622502

(State of incorporation)

 

(Commission File No.)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

111 West Lemon Avenue

Monrovia, California 91016

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (626) 305-5900

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01.  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On September 19, 2016, Xencor, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”) with Piper Jaffray & Co. (“Piper Jaffray”) pursuant to which the Company may sell from time to time, at its option, up to an aggregate of $40.0 million of its shares of common stock through Piper Jaffray, as sales agent. The issuance and sale of these shares by the Company under the Distribution Agreement, if any, is subject to the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 2016.

 

Piper Jaffray may sell the common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including without limitation sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on The NASDAQ Global Market or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or as otherwise directed by the Company. Piper Jaffray will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell the common stock from time to time, based upon instructions from the Company (including any price, time or size limits or other customary parameters or conditions the Company may impose). Additionally, under the terms of the Distribution Agreement, the Company may also sell shares of its common stock through Piper Jaffray on terms agreed upon by both parties.

 

The Company is not obligated to make any sales of common stock under the Agreement. The offering of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Distribution Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the issuance and sale of all of the shares of common stock subject to the Distribution Agreement, (ii) three years after the Registration Statement becomes effective, (iii) the Company becoming ineligible to use the Registration Statement or (iv) the termination of the Distribution Agreement as permitted therein. The provisions of the Distribution Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the share of Company common stock may be terminated by the Company or Piper Jaffray at any time upon notice to the other party. The Company is obligated to pay Piper Jaffray an aggregate sales agent commission equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of the sales price for common stock sold under the Distribution Agreement. The Company has also provided Piper Jaffray with customary indemnification rights and expense reimbursements for up to $60,000 of expenses.

 

The foregoing description of the Distribution Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

 

This Current Report shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy the securities discussed herein, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation, or sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2016, by and between Xencor, Inc. and Piper Jaffray & Co. 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

Date: September 19, 2016

XENCOR, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lloyd A. Rowland

 

 

Lloyd A. Rowland

 

 

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

99.1

 

Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of September 19, 2016, by and between Xencor, Inc. and Piper Jaffray & Co. 

 

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Exhibit 99.1

 

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

 

$40,000,000

 

XENCOR, INC.

 

Common Stock

 

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

September 19, 2016

 

PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.

U.S. Bancorp Center

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Xencor, Inc., a company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”),  proposes to issue and sell from time to time through Piper Jaffray & Co. (the “Agent”), as sales agent and/or principal, the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $40,000,000 (the “Shares”) on terms set forth in this Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Agreement”).  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitation set forth in this Section 2 on the number of shares of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.

 

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Agent with respect to the sale of the Shares.

 

1.             Representations and Warranties of the Company.

 

(a)           The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agent as follows:

 

(i)            Registration Statement. A registration statement on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, relating to the Shares has (i) been prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Rules and Regulations”); (ii) been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the

 



 

Commission”) under the Securities Act; and (iii) has or will become effective under the Securities Act (such date and time as of which the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, the “Effective Time”). The Company has complied and will comply to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information; the Registration Statement sets forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Common Stock and other securities of the Company, and contains additional information concerning the Company and its business; no stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of any Base Prospectus (as defined below), any prospectus supplement, the Prospectus (as defined below) or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge after due inquiry, are contemplated by the Commission.  Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means the registration statement on Form S-3 filed on September 19, 2016, as amended at the time of such Registration Statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act, as such section applies to the Agent, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Securities Act, to be part of the Registration Statement at the Effective Time, and (3) any registration statement filed to register the offer and sale of Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “462(b) Registration Statement”).  Except where the context otherwise requires, “Base Prospectus,” as used herein, means a base prospectus relating to certain securities, including the Common Stock, to be issued from time to time by the Company,  filed as part of each Registration Statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto as of the date of this Agreement.    Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus,” as used herein, means the Base Prospectus together with any prospectus supplement attached to or used with the Base Prospectus. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any prospectus supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference, or deemed to be incorporated by reference, therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents.  For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).  All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “described,” “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus,

 

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the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the Rules and Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as the case may be.  Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of such Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.  “Time of Sale” means each time a Share is purchased pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement.

 

(ii)           Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement complied, complies and will comply, as of the time of it was filed with the Commission, as of the date hereof and, as amended or supplemented, as of the Effective Time, at the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act; the conditions to the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby have been satisfied; the Registration Statement meets and will meet, and the offering and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby complies and will comply in all material respects with, the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act (including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)); the Registration Statement did and will not, as of the time of it was filed with the Commission, as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Time, 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 not misleading; each Base Prospectus complied or will comply in all material respects, at the time it was or will be filed with the Commission, complies as of the date hereof (if filed with the Commission on or prior to the date hereof) and, at the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares, will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act; at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of such Base Prospectus and the date such Base Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends at the time of purchase did or will any Base Prospectus, as then

 

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amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and at no time during such period did or will any Base Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, together with any combination of one or more of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each of the Prospectus and any prospectus supplement will comply, as of the date that it is filed with the Commission, the date of any prospectus supplement, the time of purchase, each additional time of purchase, if any, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act (in the case of the Prospectus, including, without limitation, Section 10(a) of the Securities Act); at no time during the period that begins on the earlier of the date of any prospectus supplement and the date such prospectus supplement is filed with the Commission and ends at the later of the time of purchase, the latest additional time of purchase, if any, and the end of the period during which a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares did or will the Prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; at no time during the period that begins on the date of such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, and ends at the time of purchase did or will any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statement contained in the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information concerning the Agent and furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any; each Incorporated Document, at the time such document was filed with the Commission or at the time such document became effective, as applicable, complied, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Exchange Act and did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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(iii)          Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any Shares by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) or used any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Securities Act) in connection with the offer or sale of the Shares, in each case other than the Base Prospectuses and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any; the Company has not, directly or indirectly, prepared, used or referred to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus except in compliance with Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act; assuming that such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, is so sent or given after the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission (and after such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, was, if required pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, filed with the Commission), the sending or giving, by the Agent, of any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus will satisfy the provisions of Rule 164 or Rule 433 (without reliance on subsections (b), (c) and (d) of Rule 164); the conditions set forth in one or more of subclauses (i) through (iv), inclusive, of Rule 433(b)(1) under the Securities Act are satisfied, and the registration statement relating to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby, as initially filed with the Commission, includes a prospectus that, other than by reason of Rule 433 or Rule 431 under the Securities Act, satisfies the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act; neither the Company nor the Agent is disqualified, by reason of subsection (f) or (g) of Rule 164 under the Securities Act, from using, in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, “free writing prospectuses” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act; the Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated by the Registration Statement; the parties hereto agree and understand that the content of any and all “road shows” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) related to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby is solely the property of the Company.

 

(iv)          Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date, each Time of Sale occurring after such issue date and at all subsequent times through the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below) or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Agent as described in Section 3(c)(ii), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus or the Prospectus.  The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use therein.

 

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(v)           Emerging Growth Company Status. From the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission through the date of this Agreement, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

(vi)          Preparation of the Financial Statements. The historical financial statements (including the related notes and supporting schedules) to be included or incorporated by reference, in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (“Regulation S-X”) and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the entities purported to be shown thereby at the dates and for the periods indicated and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not so included as required. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the information called for in all material respects and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

(vii)         Independent Accountants. RSM US LLP and BDO USA, LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and whose reports appear in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Public Accounting Oversight Board.

 

(viii)        Incorporation and Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated, and is validly existing and in good standing (where such concept is applicable) as a corporation or other business entity under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and is duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation or other business entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its businesses requires such qualification, except

 

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where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, properties, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).  The Company has all power and authority necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which it is engaged.  The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2015 except for subsidiaries that in the aggregate would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).  None of the subsidiaries of the Company is a “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

 

(ix)          Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each of the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus. All of the issued shares of capital stock or other ownership interest of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(x)           Authorization of Shares. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to the Agent hereunder have been duly authorized and, upon payment and delivery in accordance with this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, will be issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws and will be free of statutory and contractual preemptive rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights.

 

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(xi)          Equity Awards. All grants and issuances of the Common Stock to its, or its subsidiaries’, employees were made pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(xii)         Underwriting Agreement. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(xiii)        Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments. The issue and sale of the Shares, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, impose any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of association, charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) result in any violation of any statute or any judgment, order, decree, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), for such conflicts, breaches, violations, liens, charges, encumbrances or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xiv)        Authorizations and Required Approvals. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets is required for the issue and sale of the Shares, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the application of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, except for (i) the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act; (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications as may be required under

 

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the Exchange Act, and applicable state or foreign securities laws and/or the bylaws and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (the “FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares by the Agent; (iii) the inclusion of the Shares on the NASDAQ Global Market; and (iv) such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, filings, registrations or qualifications, which, if not obtained, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially impair the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement.

 

(xv)         Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, 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 authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States and to maintain accountability for its assets, (iii) access to the Company’s assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (iv) the recorded accountability for the Company’s assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (v) the interactive data in XBRL included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing 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. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, as of the date of the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries audited by RSM US LLP and BDO USA, LLP, there were no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls.

 

(xvi)        Disclosure Controls and Procedures. (i) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act), (ii) such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company and its subsidiaries in the reports they file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management of the Company and its subsidiaries, including their respective principal executive officers and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure to be made, and (iii) such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.

 

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(xvii)       Material Weakness; Significant Deficiency. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Base Prospectus and Prospectus, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus (i) the Company has not been advised of or become aware of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls, and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company and each of its subsidiaries; and (ii) there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly adversely affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

(xviii)      Critical Accounting Policies. The section entitled “Critical Accounting Policies” incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus accurately describes in all material respects (i) the accounting policies that the Company believes are the most important in the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and that require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments (“Critical Accounting Policies”); (ii) the judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of Critical Accounting Policies; and (iii) the likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions and an explanation thereof.

 

(xix)        Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith that are applicable to the Company or its directors or officers in their capacities as directors or officers of the Company.

 

(xx)         No Material Adverse Effect. Except as would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any

 

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labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, (ii) issued or granted any securities (other than pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other equity compensation plans or arrangements existing on the date hereof and disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus (the “Specified Equity Plans”)), (iii) incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, other than liabilities and obligations that were incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary course of business, or (v) declared or paid any dividend on its share capital, and, since such date, there has not been any change in the share capital, long-term debt, net current assets or short-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any adverse change, or any development involving a prospective adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, shareholders’ equity, properties, management, business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

(xxi)        Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them, that are material to the business of the Company, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects, except such liens, encumbrances and defects 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 its subsidiaries.  All assets held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries, that are material to the business of the Company, are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such assets by the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(xxii)       Health Care Laws. The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, its directors, officers, employees, and agents (while acting in such capacity) are, and at all times prior hereto have been, in compliance with, all health care laws and regulations applicable to the Company or any of its product candidates or activities, including development and testing of pharmaceutical products, kickbacks, recordkeeping, documentation requirements, the hiring of employees (to the extent governed by Health Care Laws), quality, safety, privacy, security, licensure, accreditation or any other aspect of developing and testing health care or pharmaceutical products (collectively, “Health Care Laws”), except where such noncompliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company has not received any notification, correspondence or any other written or oral communication, including notification of any pending or threatened claim, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority, including, without limitation, the United States

 

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Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, of potential or actual non-compliance by, or liability of, the Company under any Health Care Laws. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability of the Company under any Health Care Laws, except that would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxiii)      Intellectual Property Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, have the right to acquire on reasonable terms, or have obtained valid and enforceable licenses in writing for, the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks, trade names, service names, copyrights, proprietary information (including trade secrets) and other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on its business as currently conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted, as described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus: (i) there are no third parties who have rights to any Intellectual Property, except for customary reversionary rights of third-party licensors with respect to Intellectual Property that is disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as licensed to the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries; and (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any Intellectual Property.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others: (A) challenging the Company’s rights in or to any Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim; (B) challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim; or (C) asserting that the Company or any of its subsidiaries infringes or otherwise violates, or would, upon the commercialization of any product or service described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as under development, infringe or violate, any patent, trademark, trade name, service name, copyright, proprietary information (including any trade secret) or other proprietary rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any facts which that would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim.

 

(xxiv)     Necessary Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits required by state, federal

 

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or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (“Permits”), except where the failure to so possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under, any of the Permits or has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit, except for such violations or defaults that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Permits which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  The Company has not received any notice denying, revoking or modifying any “approved enterprise” or “benefited enterprise” or “preferred enterprise” status with respect to any of the Company’s facilities or operations.

 

(xxv)      Compliance with Health Care Laws. To the Company’s knowledge, the manufacture of Company products by or on behalf of the Company is being conducted in compliance in all material respects with all Health Care Laws applicable to the Company or any of its products or activities, including, without limitation, the FDA’s current good manufacturing practice regulations at 21 C.F.R. Parts 210-211 for products sold in the United States, and the respective counterparts thereof promulgated by governmental authorities in countries outside the United States.

 

(xxvi)                   Notice of Non-Compliance. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, during the three year period ended on December 31, 2015 and through the date hereof, the Company has not had any product or Company owned manufacturing site subject to a governmental authority (including FDA) shutdown or import or export prohibition, nor received any FDA Form 483 or other governmental authority notice of inspectional observations, “warning letters,” “untitled letters,” requests to make changes to the Company products, processes or operations, or similar correspondence or notice from the FDA or other governmental authority alleging or asserting material noncompliance with any applicable Health Care Laws.  Since the time the Company entered into a relationship with any contract manufacturer or joint developer for Company products, as the case may be, to the knowledge of the Company, no other manufacturing site of the Company’s products has been subject to or received any such shutdown, prohibition, notice, letter or

 

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request.  To the Company’s knowledge, neither the FDA nor any other governmental authority has threatened such action.

 

(xxvii)    Safety Notices. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) there are no recalls, field notifications, field corrections, market withdrawals or replacements, warnings, “dear doctor” letters, investigator notices, safety alerts or other notice of action relating to an alleged lack of safety, efficacy, or regulatory compliance of the Company products (“Safety Notices”) during the three year period ended on December 31, 2015 and through the date hereof and, (ii) such Safety Notices, if any, were resolved or closed, and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no material complaints with respect to the Company products that are currently unresolved. There are no Safety Notices, or, to the Company’s knowledge, material product complaints with respect to the Company products, and to the Company’s knowledge, there are no facts that would be reasonably likely to result in (i) a material Safety Notice with respect to the Company products, (ii) a material change in labeling of any of the Company’s products, or (iii) a termination or suspension of marketing or testing of any of the Company’s products, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxviii)  Clinical Trials. The clinical and pre-clinical studies and tests conducted by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, the clinical and pre-clinical studies conducted on behalf of or sponsored by the Company, were, and if still pending, are, being conducted in all material respects in accordance with all applicable Health Care Laws and standard medical and scientific research procedures, including, but not limited to, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and its applicable implementing regulations at 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58 and 312. Any descriptions of clinical, pre-clinical and other studies and tests, including any related results and regulatory status, contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus are accurate in all material respects. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and to the Company’s knowledge, there are no studies, tests or trials the result of which reasonably call into question in any material respect the clinical trial results described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. No 510(k) submission made by or on behalf of the Company with the FDA has been terminated or suspended by the FDA, and neither the FDA nor any applicable foreign regulatory agency has commenced, or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to initiate, any action to place a clinical hold

 

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order on, or otherwise terminate, delay or suspend, any proposed or ongoing clinical investigation conducted or proposed to be conducted by or on behalf of the Company.

 

(xxix)     Settlements and Consent Decrees. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to any corporate integrity agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, or similar agreements with or imposed by any governmental authority.

 

(xxx)      Legal Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending 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 that, if determined adversely to the Company, would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and to the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or others.

 

(xxxi)     Material Contracts. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or Prospectus or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that are not described and filed as required.  The statements made in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and Prospectus, insofar as they purport to constitute summaries of the terms of the contracts and other documents described and filed, constitute accurate summaries of the terms of such contracts and documents in all material respects. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has knowledge that any other party to any such contract or other document has any intention not to render full performance as contemplated by the terms thereof.

 

(xxxii)    Insurance. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain insurance from nationally recognized, in the applicable country, insurers in such amounts and covering such risks as is commercially reasonable in accordance with customary practices for companies engaged in similar businesses and similar industries for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.  All policies of insurance of the Company and its subsidiaries are

 

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in full force and effect; the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies in all material respects; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance; there are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxxiii)  Related Party Transactions. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Registration Statement, Base Prospectus or the Prospectus which is not so described.

 

(xxxiv)   Labor Matters. No labor disturbance by or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xxxv)    No Violation. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) is in violation of its articles of association, charter or by-laws (or similar organizational documents), (ii) is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant, condition or other obligation contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties or assets is subject, or (iii) is in violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over it or its property or assets or has failed to obtain any license, permit, certificate, franchise or other governmental authorization or permit necessary to the ownership of its property or to the conduct of its business, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), to the extent any such conflict, breach, violation or default would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxxvi)   Environmental Matters. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) are, and at all times prior hereto were, in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, orders, judgments, decrees, permits or other legal requirements of any governmental authority, including without limitation any international, foreign, national, state, provincial, regional, or local authority, relating to pollution, the protection of human health or safety, the environment, or natural resources, or to use, handling, storage, manufacturing, transportation, treatment, discharge, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”) applicable to such entity, which compliance includes, without limitation, obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits and authorizations and approvals required by Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (ii) have not received notice or otherwise have knowledge of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Laws, or of any actual or potential liability for or other obligation concerning the presence, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except in the case of clause (i) or (ii) where such non-compliance, violation, liability, or other obligation would not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, (x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under Environmental Laws in which a governmental authority is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, including any pending or proposed Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (z) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to Environmental Laws.

 

(xxxvii)   Taxes. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all taxes due, and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, nor does the Company have any knowledge of any tax deficiencies that have been, or would reasonably be expected to be asserted against the Company, that would, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(xxxviii)   Employee Benefit Plans. (i) Each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance in all material respects with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations including ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (A) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that would result in a material loss to the Company, (B) no “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur, (C) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan that is required to be funded exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan), and (D) neither the Company or any member of its Controlled Group has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and (iv) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, to the Company’s knowledge, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

 

(xxxix)   Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, Base Prospectus and the Prospectus and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable in all material respects.

 

(xl)          Investment Company. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, and as of the applicable Settlement Date and, after giving effect to the offer and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, none of them will be, (i) an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment

 

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Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, or (ii) a “business development company” (as defined in Section 2(a)(48) of the Investment Company Act).

 

(xli)         Accurate Disclosure. The statements set forth or incorporated by reference, as applicable, in each of the Registration Statement, Base Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock,” and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 under the captions “Legal Proceedings” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence”,  insofar as they purport to summarize the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.

 

(xlii)        Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person.   There are no contracts, agreements or understandings to require the Company to include any such securities in the securities proposed to be offered pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(xliii)       Broker Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or the Agent for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

 

(xliv)       Integration. The Company has not sold or issued any securities that would be integrated with the offering of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to the Securities Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or the interpretations thereof by the Commission.

 

(xlv)        No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company and its affiliates have not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares.

 

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(xlvi)       Listing of Shares. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain approval of the Shares for inclusion, subject to official notice of issuance on the NASDAQ Global Market.

 

(xlvii)      Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of any Settlement Date and completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus to which the Agent has consented and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(xlviii)     Employment Matters. The Company is not in violation of nor has it received notice of any violation with respect to any federal or state law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, nor any applicable federal or state wage and hour laws, nor any state law precluding the denial of credit due to the neighborhood in which a property is situated, the violation of any of which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(xlix)       No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Convention on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, and the rules and regulations thereunder and any other similar foreign or domestic law or regulation; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment. The Company has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure continued compliance with the laws and regulations referenced in clause (iii) of this paragraph.

 

(l)            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

 

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Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any applicable related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (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 of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(li)           OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate 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, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(lii)          Passive Foreign Investment Company. Subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth in the Registration Statement, the Company is not, and upon the sale of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement does not expect to become, a “passive foreign investment company” (as defined in Section 1297 of the Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder).

 

(liii)         Taxes; Duties. No stamp, issue, registration, documentary, transfer or other similar taxes and duties, including interest and penalties, are payable on or in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company or the execution and delivery of this Agreement.

 

(liv)         Jurisdictional Immunity. Neither the Company nor any of its properties or assets has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment to prior judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of any jurisdiction in which it is organized, headquartered or doing business.

 

(lv)          Specified Equity Plans. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing

 

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Prospectus, for a period of twelve months prior to and including the date hereof, the Company has not offered or sold any of its securities except under Specified Equity Plans.

 

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or the Agent’s counsel in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to Agent as to the matters covered thereby.

 

2.             Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.

 

(a)           At the Market Sales.  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 through the Agent as sales agent, and the Agent agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell for and on behalf of the Company, the Shares on the following terms and conditions; provided, however, that any obligation of the Agent to use such commercially reasonable efforts shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 4 of this Agreement. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling Shares, and (ii) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Shares as required under this Section 2.

 

(i)            Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares hereunder (each, a Placement”), it will notify the Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (a Placement Notice”) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of shares of Shares to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Schedule 1.  The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 2 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agent set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent unless and until (i) in accordance with the

 

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notice requirements set forth in Section 2(a)(iii), the Agent declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Shares have been sold, (iii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 2(a)(iii) below, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (v) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 7.  The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agent in connection with the sale of the Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Section 2(a)(v) below. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent and the Agent does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein.  In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control. For the purposes hereof, Trading Day” means any day on which the Company’s Common Stock is purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted.

 

(ii)           The Shares are to be sold by the Agent on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Company and the Agent on any day that is a trading day for the NASDAQ Global Market (other than a day on which the NASDAQ Global Market is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time). The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 2(a) shall be the market price for the Common Stock sold by the Agent under this Section 2(a) on the NASDAQ Global Market at the time of such sale.

 

(iii)          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may instruct the Agent by telephone (confirmed promptly by fax or email) not to sell the Shares if such sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by the Company in any such instruction. Furthermore, the Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Agent shall not be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors and notified to the Agent in writing. In addition, the Company or the Agent may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by fax or email), suspend the offering of the Shares, whereupon the Agent shall so suspend the offering of Shares until further notice is provided to the other party to the contrary; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in

 

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possession of material non-public information, the Company and the Agent agree that (i) no sale of Shares will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Shares, and (iii) the Agent shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Shares.

 

(iv)          The Agent hereby covenants and agrees not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company other than (A) pursuant to this Section 2(a), by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of NASDAQ Global Market  that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus to NASDAQ Global Market in accordance with Rule 153 under the Securities Act (such transactions are hereinafter referred to as “At the Market Offerings”) or (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as shall be agreed by the Company and the Agent in accordance with Section 2(b).

 

(v)           The compensation to the Agent for sales of the Shares pursuant to any Placement, as an agent of the Company, shall be 3.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a). The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, or reimbursement of expenses that the Agent may be entitled to pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).

 

(vi)          The Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2) no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Shares sold on such day, the volume-weighted average price of the Shares sold, and the Net Proceeds payable to the Company.

 

(vii)         All Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(a) will be delivered by the Company to the Agent for the accounts of the Agent against payment of the Net Proceeds therefor by wire transfer of same day funds payable to the order of the Company at the offices of Piper Jaffray & Co., U.S. Bancorp Center, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or such other location as may be mutually acceptable, at 9:00 a.m. Central time on the third full business day following the date on which such Shares are sold, or at such other time and date as Agent and the Company determine pursuant to Rule 15c6-1(a) under the Exchange Act, each such time and date of delivery being herein referred to as a “Settlement Date.”  If the Agent so elects, delivery of the Shares may be made by credit through full fast transfer to the accounts at The Depository Trust Company designated by the Agent. On each Settlement Date, the Agent will deliver the Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by

 

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the Company on, or prior to, such Settlement Date.  The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized Shares on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 5 hereto, it will (i) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay to the Agent any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 

(b)           Terms Agreement Sales.

 

(i)            If the Company wishes to issue and sell any Shares in a manner other than as set forth in Section 2(a) of this Agreement, it will notify the Agent of the proposed terms of such sale. If the Agent wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Agent and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement (in the form set forth on Schedule 3 (the “Terms Agreement”)) setting forth the terms of such sale.

 

(ii)           The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or the Agent unless and until the Company and the Agent have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control.

 

(iii)          Immediately following execution of any Terms Agreement, the Company will prepare a prospectus supplement containing the selling terms of the Shares, the plan of distribution thereof and such other information as may be required by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations or as the Agent and the Company may deem appropriate, and if requested by the Agent, a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus containing the selling terms of the Shares and such other information as the Company and the Agent may deem appropriate, and will file or transmit for filing with the Commission, in accordance with Rule 424(b) or Rule 433, as the case may be, copies of the Prospectus as supplemented and each such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c)           Each sale of the Shares to the Agent shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and, if applicable, a Terms Agreement, which will provide for the sale of such Shares to, and the purchase thereof by, the Agent. A Terms Agreement may

 

25



 

also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by the Agent. The commitment of the Agent to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the Agent pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Agent in the reoffering of the Shares, and the Settlement Date of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement and any other information or documents required by the Agent.

 

(d)           Under no circumstances shall the number of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement and any Placement Notice exceed the aggregate value of shares set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement or the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the currently effective Registration Statement.  Nothing herein contained shall constitute the Agent an unincorporated association or partner with the Company.  Under no circumstances shall any Shares be sold pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement after the date which is three years after the Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.

 

3.             Covenants.  The Company covenants and agrees with the Agent as follows:

 

(a)           During the period beginning on the Effective Time and ending on such date when the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered (assuming the absence of Rule 172 under the Securities Act), 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(b) Registration Statement), the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Agent for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, allow the Agent a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Agent or counsel to the Agent reasonably object.  Subject to this Section 3(a), immediately following execution of this Agreement, the Company will prepare a prospectus supplement describing the selling terms of the Shares hereunder, the plan of distribution thereof and such other information as may be required by the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations or as the Agent and the Company may deem appropriate, and if requested by the Agent, a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus containing the selling terms of the Shares hereunder and such other information as the Company and the Agent may deem appropriate, and will file or transmit for filing with the Commission,

 

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in accordance with Rule 424(b) or Rule 433, as the case may be, copies of the Prospectus as supplemented and each such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(b)           After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Agent in writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission or for any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, Base Prospectus, Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending its use or the use of any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or (v) 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, the Company will use its commercially reasonable best 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 and 430B, as applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b), Rule 433 or Rule 462 were received in a timely manner by the Commission (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)).

 

(c)           (i)  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 so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.  If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus would 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 Agent or counsel to the Agent to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Base Prospectus, Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or to file under the Exchange Act any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly notify Agent and will amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Base Prospectus, Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or file such document (at the

 

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expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance within the time period prescribed by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

(ii)           In the event that the Agent is required to deliver (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a Prospectus after the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, promptly upon request such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as the case may be.  The Company shall cause each amendment or supplement to any Base Prospectus or the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed. The Company shall promptly notify the Agent if any of the Material Contracts is terminated or if the other party thereto threatens to terminate any such Material Contract.

 

(iii)          If at any time following issuance of a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or promptly will notify the Agent and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

(d)           The Company shall take or cause to be taken all necessary action to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as Agent reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares, except that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any state.  The Company shall promptly advise the Agent of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.

 

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(e)           The Company will furnish to the Agent and counsel for the Agent copies of the Registration Statement (which will include three complete manually signed copies of the Registration Statement and all consents and exhibits filed therewith), each Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

 

(f)            The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a 12-month period that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations.

 

(g)           The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement or any Terms Agreement is terminated, will pay or cause to be paid (i) all expenses (including stock or transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties allocated to the respective transferees) incurred in connection with the registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Shares, (ii) all expenses and fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and 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 Shares, each Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, and the producing, word-processing, printing, delivery, and shipping of this Agreement and other underwriting documents or closing documents, including Blue Sky Memoranda (covering the states and other applicable jurisdictions) and including the cost to furnish copies of each thereof to the Agent, (iii) all filing fees, (iv) all fees and disbursements of the Agent’s counsel incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the Agent or by dealers under the securities or blue sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions which Agent shall designate, (v) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (vi) the filing fees and fees and disbursements of Agent’s counsel incident to any required review and approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Shares, (vii) listing fees, if any, (viii) the cost and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “roadshow” undertaken in connection with marketing of the Shares, (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein and (x) the reasonable fees and disbursements of Agent’s counsel; provided; however, the aggregate amount of reimbursement payments to Agent pursuant to clauses (iv), (vi) and (x) shall not exceed $60,000.

 

(h)           The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

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(i)            The Company will not, offer for sale, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option for the sale of, 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) by the Company or any affiliate, or otherwise issue or dispose of, directly or indirectly (or publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge, grant, issuance or other disposition), any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any options or rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock, or permit the registration under the Securities Act of any Common Stock, such securities, options or rights, unless the Company gives the Agent at least three business days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale, provided that no such notice shall be required for (i) the registration of the Shares and the sales through the Agent pursuant to this Agreement or to the Agent pursuant to any Terms Agreement, (ii) sales of shares through any dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan of the Company, (iii) shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units and options granted pursuant to employee benefit plans and the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such outstanding options or vesting of such restricted stock units and (iv) the issuance of shares pursuant to the exercise of warrants.

 

(j)            The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted, (i) the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares (ii) a violation of Regulation M.  The Company shall notify the Agent of any violation of Regulation M by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors promptly after the Company has received notice or obtained knowledge of any such violation.  The Company shall not invest in futures contracts, options on futures contracts or options on commodities, unless the Company is exempt from the registration requirements of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (the “Commodity Act”), or otherwise complies with the Commodity Act. The Company will not engage in any activities bearing on the Commodity Act, unless such activities are exempt from the Commodity Act or otherwise comply with the Commodity Act.

 

(k)           The Company will not incur any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

(l)            During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file on a timely basis with the Commission such periodic and special reports as required by the Rules and Regulations.

 

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(m)          The Company and its subsidiaries will maintain such controls and other procedures, including without limitation those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and its principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, to ensure that material information relating to Company, including its subsidiaries, is made known to them by others within those entities.

 

(n)           The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Agent, and the Agent severally 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 Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, required to be filed with the Commission.  Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Agent 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 and 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.

 

(o)           (i) on or prior to the first Settlement Date and (ii) each time the Company (A) files an amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus (other than  relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares), (B) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act or files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and (C) files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial statements (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act, (each of the dates in (A), (B) and (C) are referred to herein as a “Bringdown Date”), the Company shall cause (a) Cooley LLP, counsel for the Company, to furnish to the Agent the opinion of such counsel, dated as of such date and addressed to Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and (b) if requested by Agent in its sole discretion, each of Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP or Polsinelli LLP, each intellectual property and patent counsel for the Company, to furnish

 

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to the Agent, dated as of such date and addressed to Agent,  the opinion of such counsel in form and substance as mutually agreed upon by the parties in good faith; provided, however, the Company shall be required to furnish to Agent no more than one opinion hereunder per calendar quarter; provided, further, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act within such calendar quarter, counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that the Agent may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this section to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter). The requirement to provide opinions under this Section 3(o) shall be waived for any Bringdown Date occurring at a time at which (i) no Terms Agreement is in effect and (ii) no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of (i) the date the Company and the Agent enter into a Terms Agreement (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Bringdown Date) or (ii) the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Shares following a Bringdown Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Agent with opinions under this Section 3(o), then before the Company enters into a Terms Agreement or the Agent sells any Shares pursuant to Section 2(a), the Company shall cause the opinions (including the opinion pursuant to Section 3(o) if not delivered on the date of the prior Form 10-K), comfort letter, certificates and documents that would be delivered on a Bringdown Date to be delivered.

 

(p)           On or prior to the first Settlement Date and, during the term of this Agreement, on each Bringdown Date to which a waiver does not apply, the Company shall cause RSM US LLP and BDO USA, LLP, or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Agent (the “Accountants”), to deliver to the Agent a letter, dated as of such date and addressed to Agent, 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 stating the conclusions and findings of said firm with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent of the same tenor as the first such letter received hereunder.

 

(q)           On or prior to the first Settlement Date and, during the term of this Agreement, on each Bringdown Date to which a waiver does not apply, the Company shall furnish to the Agent a certificate, dated as of such date and addressed to Agent, signed by the chief executive officer and by the chief financial officer of the Company, to the effect that:

 

(i)            The 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 date

 

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of the certificate, and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the date of the certificate;

 

(ii)           No stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof or any amendment thereof or the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale or notice that would prevent use of the Registration Statement, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge, is contemplated by the Commission or any state or regulatory body;

 

(iii)          The Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and that all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken;

 

(iv)          The signers of said certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus),

 

(A)          each part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) contain, and contained when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, all statements and information required to be included therein, each part of the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereof, does not contain, and did not contain, when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state, and did not omit to state when such part of the Registration Statement (or such amendment) became effective, any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, does not include and did not include as of its date, or the time of first use within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations, any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state and did not omit to state as of its date, or the time of first use within the meaning of the Rules

 

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and Regulations, a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,

 

(B)          at no time during each period that begins on the earlier of the date of such Base Prospectus, Prospectus, or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the date such Base Prospectus, Prospectus, or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus was filed with the Commission and ends on the date of the certificate did such Base Prospectus, Prospectus, or Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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,

 

(C)          since the date of this Agreement, there has occurred no event required set forth in an amended or supplemented prospectus which has not been so set forth, and there has been no document required to be filed under the Exchange Act that upon such filing would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus that has not been so filed,

 

(D)         subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, not in the ordinary course of business, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, and except as disclosed in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock (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), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock, of the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, or any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company or any subsidiary, and

 

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(E) except as stated in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, there is not pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party before or by any court or governmental agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, which might result in any Material Adverse Change.

 

(r)            The Company shall disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K the number of the Shares sold through the Agent under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter.

 

(s)            The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the listing of the Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market.

 

(t)            At any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, the Company shall advise the Agent immediately after it shall have received notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Agent pursuant to Section 3 herein.

 

(u)           The Company consents to the Agent trading in the Common Stock for the Agent’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement.

 

(v)           For three years from the date of this Agreement or of any Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish to its shareholders within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, for so long as the Company shall not be required to file annual and periodic reports with the Commission under the Exchange Act, audited financial statements (including a balance sheet and statements of income, shareholders’ equity and of cash flow of the Company for such fiscal year), accompanied by a copy of the certificate or report thereon of nationally recognized independent certified public accountants.

 

(w)          If to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 4(a), 4(b) or 4(h) of this Agreement shall not have been satisfied on the applicable Settlement Date, to offer to any person who has agreed to purchase the Shares from the Company as the

 

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result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Agent the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares

 

(x)           During the pendency of any Placement Notice given hereunder, and for three trading days following the termination of any Placement Notice given hereunder, the Company shall provide the Agent notice as promptly as reasonably possible before it offers to sell, contracts to sell, sells, grants any option to sell or otherwise disposes of any shares of Common Stock (other than Shares offered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock; provided, that such notice shall not be required in connection with the (i) the issuance, grant or sale of Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Common Stock or Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or other equity awards pursuant to the any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus, (ii) the issuance of securities in connection with an acquisition, merger or sale or purchase of assets, (iii) the issuance or sale of Common Stock pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan that the Company may adopt from time to time provided the implementation of such is disclosed to Agent in advance or (iv) the issuance of any shares of common stock issuable upon the exchange, conversion or redemption of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding.

 

(y)           The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Common Stock to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares other than the Agent.

 

4.             Conditions of Agent’s Obligations.  The obligations of the Agent hereunder and under any Terms Agreement are subject to (i) the accuracy, as of the Effective Time, each Bringdown Date, each Time of Sale, each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, and each Filing Date (in each case, as if made at such date) of and compliance with all representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein, (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:

 

(a)           If filing of the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, is required under the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations, the Company shall have filed the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement) or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission in the manner and within the time period so required (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or Rule 164(b)); the Registration Statement shall remain effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any amendment

 

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thereof, nor suspending or preventing the use of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued; no proceedings for the issuance of such an order shall have been initiated or threatened; and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the Agent’s satisfaction.

 

(b)           The Agent shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the Agent’s opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact which, in the Agent’s opinion, is material and is required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(c)           Except as contemplated in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Base Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; and there shall not have been any change in the capital stock (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), or any material change in the short-term or long-term debt of the Company, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any Material Adverse Change or any development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change (whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business), or any loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, incurred by the Company or any subsidiary, the effect of which, in any such case described above, in the Agent’s judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to offer or deliver the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(d)           On or after the Time of Sale (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any of the Company’s securities by any “nationally recognized statistical organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of any of the Company’s securities.

 

37



 

(e)           The Company shall have performed each of its obligations under Section 3(o) — 3(q).

 

(f)            On each Bringdown Date to which a waiver does not apply, there shall have been furnished to the Agent such counsel opinion as required by Section 3(o), and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

(g)           The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

 

(h)           All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed by the Settlement Date, as the case may be, shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

 

(i)            The Company shall have furnished to Agent and the Agent’s counsel such additional documents, certificates and evidence as they may have reasonably requested.

 

All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory in form and substance to Agent and the Agent’s counsel.  The Company will furnish Agent with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as Agent shall reasonably request.

 

5.             Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)           The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Agent, each of its affiliates, directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, a “Company Indemnified Party”) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Agent 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 430B Information and at any subsequent time pursuant to Rules 430A and 430B of the Rules and Regulations, if applicable, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus), or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus

 

38



 

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, and will periodically reimburse a Company Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Company Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (whether or not such Company Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced; or (ii) in whole or in part, any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; or (iii) in whole or in part, any failure of the Company to perform its respective obligations hereunder or under law; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable 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 or omitted from any such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof. “Rule 430B Information,” as used herein, means information with respect to the Shares and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430B.

 

(b)           The Agent will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs a 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 (each, an “Agent Indemnified Party) from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Agent Indemnified 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 Agent), 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, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Permitted 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, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof, and will reimburse such Agent Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Agent Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action (whether or not such Agent Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by Agent consists of the information referenced in Section 5(e) herein.

 

39



 

(c)           Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) 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 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 (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) 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 reasonably 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 other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that if, in the sole judgment of the Agent, it is advisable for the Agent to be represented by separate counsel, the Agent shall have the right to employ a single counsel to represent the Agent, 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 Agent as incurred (in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph in subsection (a) above).

 

The indemnifying party under this Section 5 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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 5, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into, and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.  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 or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding

 

40



 

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.

 

(d)           If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) 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) or (b) above, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other from the offering 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 Agent 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 Agent 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 discounts and commissions received by the Agent, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the 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 Agent and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission.  The Company and the Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d).  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 (d) 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 which is the subject of this subsection (d).  Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Shares purchased by the Agent hereunder exceeds the amount of any damages that the Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  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.

 

(e)           The Agent confirms and the Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to the public offering of the Shares by the Agent set forth in the first sentence of the sixth paragraph and the seventh paragraph in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in the

 

41



 

Base Prospectus, and to be set out in the Prospectus, and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus are correct and constitute the only information concerning such Agent furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Agent specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any Base Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

 

6.             Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  All representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, including but not limited to the agreements of the Agent and the Company contained in Section 5 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent or any controlling person thereof, or the Company or any of its officers, directors, or controlling persons, and shall survive delivery of, and payment for, the Shares to and by the Agent hereunder.

 

7.             Termination of this Agreement.

 

(a)           The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) if the Shares have been sold through the Agent for the Company, then Sections 3(g) shall remain in full force and effect, (ii) with respect to any pending sale, through the Agent for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the Agent, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (iii) the provisions of Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(b)           The Agent shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(c)           Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 7, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earlier to occur of (i) the issuance and sale of all of the Shares through the Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Terms Agreement, (ii) three years having elapsed since the Registration Statement

 

42



 

became effective pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act or (iii) the Company becoming ineligible to use the Registration Statement.

 

(d)           This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 7(a), (b) or (c) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 3(g), Section 5 and Section 6 shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(e)           Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agent or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(a)(vii) of this Agreement.

 

(f)            In the case of any purchase by the Agent pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Agent pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of the Agent, if, since the time of execution of the Terms Agreement or the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectuses, the Prospectus and the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, there shall have occurred any downgrading, or any notice or announcement shall have been given or made of (i) any intended or potential downgrading or (ii) any review or possible change that does not indicate an improvement, in the rating accorded any securities of or guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as that term is defined in Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act or, if, at any time prior to the Settlement Date, trading in securities on the NASDAQ Global Market shall have been suspended or limitations or minimum prices shall have been established, trading in the securities of the Company on the NASDAQ Global Market shall have been suspended, or if a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by the United States or New York State authorities, or if the United States shall have declared war in accordance with its constitutional processes or there shall have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis of such magnitude in its effect on the financial markets of the United States as, in the Agent’s judgment, to make it impracticable to market the Shares. If the Agent elects to terminate its obligations pursuant to this Section 7(f), the Company shall be notified promptly in writing.

 

8.             Default by the Company.  If the Company shall fail at any Settlement Date to sell and deliver the number of Shares which it is obligated to sell hereunder, then this

 

43



 

Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of the Agent or, except as provided in Section 3(g) hereof, any non-defaulting party.  No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default, and the Company shall (A) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay the Agent any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default.

 

9.             Notices.  Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications under this Agreement or any Terms Agreement shall be in writing and, if to the Agent, shall be mailed, delivered or faxed to Piper Jaffray & Co., U.S. Bancorp Center, 800 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402, Attention: General Counsel (Fax no. (612) 303-8199); if to the Company, shall be mailed or delivered to it at Xencor, Inc., 111 West Lemon Avenue, Monrovia, California 91016, Attention: General Counsel; 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.

 

10.          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 5.  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 the Agent.

 

11.          Absence of Fiduciary Relationship.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Agent has been retained solely to act as an sales agent and/or principal in connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Agent has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, irrespective of whether the Agent has advised or are advising the Company on other matters; (b) the price and other terms of the Shares set forth in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement were established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Agent 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 and any Terms Agreement; (c) it has been advised that the Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Agent has no obligation to disclose such interest and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; (d) it has been advised that the Agent is acting, in respect of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any

 

44



 

Terms Agreement, solely for the benefit of the Agent, and not on behalf of the Company; and (e) it waives to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agent for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any Terms Agreement and agrees that the Agent shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including shareholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

12.          Governing Law.  This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

13.          Submission to Jurisdiction, Etc.  The Company hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.  The parties hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any lawsuit, action or other proceeding in such courts, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such lawsuit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) 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 manner permitted by law.

 

14.          Counterparts.  This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed 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]

 

45



 

Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this letter whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent in accordance with its terms.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

 

 

XENCOR, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Lloyd Rowland

 

 

Name: Lloyd Rowland

 

 

Title: General Counsel

 

 

Confirmed as of the date first

 

above mentioned.

 

 

PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.

 

 

By:

/s/ Neil Riley

 

 

Name: Neil Riley

 

 

Title: Managing Director, ECM

 

 

[Signature Page to the Equity Distribution Agreement]

 



 

Schedule 1

 

 

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE

 

From:

Xencor, Inc.

 

 

To:

[                                      ]

 

 

Subject:

Piper Jaffray & Co. at the Market Offering—Placement Notice

 

 

Gentlemen:

 

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement between Xencor, Inc. (the “Company”), and Piper Jaffray & Co. (the “Agent”) dated September 19, 2016 [(the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that the Agent sell up to [·] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a minimum market price of $[·] per share.  Sales should begin on the date of this Notice and shall continue until [·] /[all shares are sold].

 



 

Schedule 2

 

Company Representatives

 

Bassil Dahiyat (baz@xencor.com)

 

John Kuch (jkuch@xencor.com)

 

Lloyd Rowland (lrowland@xencor.com)

 

Agent Representatives

 

Neil riley (neil.a.riley@pjc.com)

 



 

Schedule 3

 

Form of Terms Agreement

 

XENCOR, INC.

 

Common Stock

 

TERMS AGREEMENT

 

               , 20·

 

PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.

 

U.S. Bancorp Center

 

800 Nicollet Mall

 

Minneapolis, Minnesota  55402

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Xencor, Inc. (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated        , 2016 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), between the Company and Piper Jaffray & Co. (“Piper Jaffray”), to issue and sell to Piper Jaffray the securities specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Purchased Securities”)[, and solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, to grant to Piper Jaffray the option to purchase the additional securities specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Additional Securities”)].

 

[Piper Jaffray shall have the right to purchase from the Company all or a portion of the Additional Securities as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Purchased Securities, at the same purchase price per share to be paid by Piper Jaffray to the Company for the Purchased Securities. This option may be exercised by Piper Jaffray at any time (but not more than once) on or before the thirtieth day following the date hereof, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of shares of Additional Securities as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Securities 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 Settlement Date (as set forth in the Schedule hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised.  Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Securities shall be made at the Option Closing Date in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Purchased Securities.]

 

Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by Piper Jaffray, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement [and] [,] the Settlement Date [and any Option Closing Date], except that each representation and warranty in Section 1 of the Equity Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the Equity Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement [and] [,] the Settlement Date [and any Option Closing Date] in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities.

 

An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the Equity Distribution Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Securities [and the Additional Securities], in the form heretofore delivered to the Agent is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Equity Distribution Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to Piper Jaffray and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Securities at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule hereto.

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the Agent and the Company.

 



 

XENCOR, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

ACCEPTED as of the date

 

first above written

 

 

PIPER JAFFRAY & CO.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Schedule to Schedule 3

 

Title of Purchased Securities [and Additional Securities]*:

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

 

 

Number of Shares of Purchased Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

[Number of Shares of Additional Securities:]*

 

 

 

 

 

[Price to Public:]

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase Price by Piper Jaffray:

 

 

 

 

 

Method of and Specified Funds for

 

By wire transfer to a bank account specified by

 



 

Payment of Purchase Price:

 

the Company in same day funds.

 

 

 

Method of Delivery:

 

Free delivery of the Shares to the Agent’s account at the Depository Trust Company in return for payment of the purchase price.

 

 

 

Settlement Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Closing Location:

 

 

 

 

 

Documents to be Delivered:

 

 

 

 

 

The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the Closing:

 

(1) The opinions referred to in Section 3(o).

 

(2) The opinions referred to in Section 4(e).

 

(3) The accountants’ letters referred to in Section 3(p).

 

(4) The officers’ certificates referred to in Section 3(q).

 

(5) Such other documents as the Agent shall reasonably request.

 


*Include only if Piper Jaffray has an over-allotment option