S-1/A
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As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 20, 2020.

Registration No. 333-239647

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Annexon, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   2834   27-5414423

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

 

180 Kimball Way, Suite 200

South San Francisco, California 94080

(650) 822-5500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Douglas Love, Esq.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Annexon, Inc.

180 Kimball Way, Suite 200

South San Francisco, California 94080

(650) 822-5500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

  Copies to:  

Kathleen M. Wells

Brian J. Cuneo

Latham & Watkins LLP

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

(650) 328-4600

   

Charles S. Kim

Kristin VanderPas

Michael Tenta

David Peinsipp

Cooley LLP

4401 Eastgate Mall

San Diego, California 92121

(858) 550-6000

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

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

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

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

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

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

 

Large accelerated filer  ☐   Accelerated filer  ☐   Non-accelerated filer  ☑   Smaller reporting company  ☐

Emerging growth company  ☑

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of securities to be registered  

Amount

to be

registered(1)

 

Proposed maximum
aggregate offering

price per share

 

Proposed maximum

aggregate offering

price(2)

  Amount of
registration fee(3)

Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share

 

11,500,000

 

$16.00

 

$184,000,000

 

$23,884

 

 

 

(1)

Includes 1,500,000 shares of common stock that the underwriters have the option to purchase.

(2)

Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(3)

The registrant previously paid a total of $12,980 in connection with the previous filing of the registration statement.

 

 

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

 

 

 


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The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 20, 2020

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

10,000,000 Shares

 

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of Annexon, Inc. We are offering 10,000,000 shares of our common stock. We currently expect the initial public offering price to be between $14.00 and $16.00 per share of common stock.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “ANNX.”

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

 

 

 

     Per
Share
     Total  

Initial public offering price

   $                    $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)

   $        $    

Proceeds to Annexon, Inc., before expenses

   $        $    

 

(1)

See the section titled “Underwriting” for a description of the compensation payable to the underwriters.

 

 

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities nor passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

We have granted the underwriters the option for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 shares from us at the initial price to the public less the underwriting discounts and commissions.

The underwriters expect to deliver the shares against payment in New York, New York on                 , 2020.

 

 

 

J.P. Morgan    BofA Securities    Cowen

Prospectus dated                     , 2020.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

Prospectus Summary

     1  

Risk Factors

     12  

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

     65  

Market and Industry Data

     67  

Use of Proceeds

     68  

Dividend Policy

     70  

Capitalization

     71  

Dilution

     74  

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

     77  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

     79  

Business

     95  

Management

     136  
     Page  

Executive and Director Compensation

     147  

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

     160  

Principal Stockholders

     165  

Description of Capital Stock

     169  

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

     175  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

     178  

Underwriting

     182  

Legal Matters

     194  

Experts

     194  

Where You Can Find Additional Information

     194  

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-1  
 

 

 

“Annexon,” “Annexon Biosciences,” the Annexon logo and other trademarks, trade names or service marks of Annexon, Inc. appearing in this prospectus are the property of Annexon, Inc. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus may be referred to without the ® and symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert their rights thereto.

Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus or in any applicable free writing prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of its time of delivery or any sale of shares of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus or any free writing prospectus we may provide to you in connection with this offering in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. You are required to inform yourselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to this offering and the distribution of this prospectus and any such free writing prospectus outside the United States.


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read this entire prospectus. You should carefully consider, among other things, the sections titled “Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Annexon,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar references in this prospectus refer to Annexon, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel therapies for patients with classical complement-mediated disorders of the body, brain and eye. Our pipeline is based on our platform technology addressing well-researched classical complement-mediated autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease processes, both of which are triggered by aberrant activation of C1q, the initiating molecule of the classical complement pathway. Evidence suggests that potent and selective inhibition of C1q can prevent tissue damage triggered in antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and preserve loss of functioning synapses associated with cognitive and functional decline in complement-mediated neurodegeneration. Our upstream complement approach targeting C1q acts as an “on/off switch” designed to block all downstream components of the classical complement pathway that lead to excess inflammation, tissue damage and patient disability in a host of complement-mediated disorders, while preserving the normal immune function of the lectin and alternative complement pathways involved in the clearance of pathogens and damaged cells.

Our pipeline of product candidates is designed to block the activity of C1q and the entire classical complement pathway in a broad set of complement-mediated diseases. Our first product candidate, ANX005, is a full-length monoclonal antibody formulated for intravenous administration in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Our second product candidate, ANX007, is an antigen-binding fragment, or Fab, formulated for intravitreal administration for the treatment of neurodegenerative ophthalmic disorders. We are also developing ANX009, an investigational, subcutaneous formulation of a Fab designed for the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases. We have completed Phase 1b safety and dose-ranging clinical trials for ANX005 and ANX007 in patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS, and glaucoma, respectively. Both ANX005 and ANX007 were well-tolerated and showed full inhibition of C1q and the classical complement pathway in the Phase 1b trials.

Based on learnings from our initial trials, we are advancing our current programs while evaluating additional orphan and large market indications. We are also developing novel product candidates designed to inhibit C1q and other components of the early classical complement cascade with the goal of further broadening our portfolio. Finally, we are leveraging our disciplined development strategy in early clinical trials utilizing established biomarkers to enhance patient selection, measure target engagement and assess our product candidates’ potential to meaningfully impact the disease process and improve the probability of technical success over shorter development timelines.

We hold worldwide development and commercialization rights, including through exclusive licenses, to all of our product candidates, which allows us to strategically maximize value from our product portfolio over time. Our patent portfolio includes patent protection for our upstream complement platform and each of our product candidates.

The complement system is an integral component of the immune system that consists of many circulating and locally-produced molecules. This system evolved to enhance, or complement, other components of the



 

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adaptive and innate immune systems. The complement system rapidly responds to pathogens, damaged cells and unwanted tissue components to facilitate their removal by the immune system.

There are three main complement pathways—the classical, lectin and alternative pathways. Each pathway is initiated by different molecules that respond to distinct triggers. The classical pathway is initiated by C1q, which recognizes antibody complexes, specific pathogens, damaged cells or unwanted cellular components. While the lectin and alternative pathways are initiated by distinct molecules, all three pathways converge downstream on common pathway components known as C3 and C5. Specific activated components of the complement cascade, triggered by any of the pathways, have important immune functions that contribute to three key outcomes involving immune cell recruitment and inflammation, directed immune cell attack and membrane damage.

The classical complement cascade has a well-established role in augmenting antibody function within the immune system. C1q recognizes antibodies bound to pathogens or cells and activates the classical pathway to trigger their removal and clearance by the immune system. C1q can also directly recognize pathogens, damaged cells or unwanted cellular components leading to similar downstream clearance. A more recent finding made by the laboratory of the late Dr. Ben Barres, our scientific founder, is that C1q also directly interacts with neuronal connections, or synapses, during early development. Recognition of weaker synapses by C1q triggers the classical complement cascade and directs immune cells to “prune” the synapses away from neurons, thereby reinforcing stronger synapses to establish appropriate neuronal connections.

Because of its central role in immune function, aberrant activation of C1q and the classical complement cascade can lead to damage of healthy tissue and destruction of functioning synapses. We are focused on two distinct disease processes involving C1q as a key mediator of tissue damage: antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and complement-mediated neurodegeneration. To our knowledge, our two clinical-stage product candidates, ANX005 and ANX007, are the first clinical-stage product candidates designed to inhibit C1q and the entire classical complement pathway. By inducing full inhibition of C1q and the classical cascade, we seek to block upstream tissue-damaging components of the classical pathway as well as the downstream membrane attack complex, while leaving the lectin and alternative pathways intact to perform their normal immune functions.

We believe our approach has broad utility for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and complement-mediated neurodegeneration, in which full inhibition of the entire classical complement cascade may be beneficial. Our initial indications represent our beachhead within both disease areas, and we will selectively pursue both orphan and larger patient population diseases with clear biological evidence of classical complement activation. We are also developing novel product candidates targeting C1q and additional components of the classical complement cascade, and will utilize different drug modalities to target these components.

We are deploying a disciplined, biomarker-driven development strategy designed to establish confidence that each of our product candidates is engaging the specific target at a well-tolerated therapeutic dose in the intended patient tissue. We design small, early-stage clinical trials to rigorously evaluate the product candidate using target engagement and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. We are utilizing sensitive, specific assays for C1q and activation of downstream classical complement components to select patients who may be more likely to respond to anti-C1q therapy and evaluate target engagement in patient tissues. We will also employ biomarkers, such as neurofilament light chain, or NfL, to provide proof-of-concept in small patient trials. We believe that this development strategy allows us to make rational decisions regarding our therapeutic pipeline, increasing the probability of technical success over shorter development timelines for product candidates we advance into later stage trials.

Annexon was co-founded by Dr. Ben Barres, former member of the National Academy of Sciences, Chair of Neurobiology at Stanford University and a pioneer in complement-mediated neurodegeneration, and Dr. Arnon



 

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Rosenthal, a world-renowned scientist and industry executive. We have assembled a seasoned and accomplished management team that has been involved in the development, approval and commercialization of numerous marketed drugs, and has been studying the complement pathway and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders for decades. Our team is further supported by an experienced scientific advisory board and leading healthcare investors that share our commitment to advancing transformative medicines for patients suffering from debilitating autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

Our Pipeline

Our pipeline is focused on antibody-mediated autoimmune and complement-mediated neurodegenerative disorders for which there is significant unmet medical need. Our product candidates are summarized below:

 

LOGO

 

 

We have activated investigational new drug applications for these indications.

*

Following the activation of an investigational new drug application, we intend to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial in this disease indication.

Our first clinical-stage product candidate is ANX005, an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to block C1q and activation of the classical complement cascade. For GBS, ANX005 is designed to act early in the disease course to prevent nerve damage and irreversible neurological disability in GBS patients. In the Phase 1b dose-ranging trial in GBS patients, treatment with ANX005 was well-tolerated and resulted in full and prolonged C1q engagement and classical cascade inhibition in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF. While our Phase 1b trial was not powered to show statistical significance, we did observe a significant reduction in NfL, a well-accepted marker of nerve damage in neurodegenerative disease that has been shown to correlate with disease severity and clinical outcomes. Patients treated with ANX005 also showed positive numerical trends across key GBS outcome measures. GBS is a rare, acute, antibody-mediated autoimmune disease impacting the peripheral nervous system. There are currently no approved therapies for GBS in the United States, but intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIg, and plasma exchange are the current standards of care in the Western world and parts of Asia.

We have initiated a Phase 1b drug-drug interaction, or DDI, trial, to assess any potential pharmacokinetic, or PK, interaction between ANX005 and co-administered IVIg and to evaluate the safety of this combination in GBS patients. This trial is being conducted in the United States, Europe and Bangladesh. We anticipate that the results from the DDI trial will provide data on the combined use of ANX005 and IVIg in GBS patients in the Western world. However, this trial will provide no evidence of the efficacy of ANX005 as a monotherapy, nor is the trial powered to show a statistically significant efficacious outcome with the combined administration of ANX005 and IVIg.

In addition, we intend to advance ANX005 into a Phase 2/3 trial in GBS patients in developing countries in early 2021. This randomized Phase 2/3 trial will be statistically powered to evaluate the efficacy of ANX005 in



 

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improving disability in GBS patients. ANX005 has received both Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for the treatment of GBS.

Beyond GBS, we intend to study ANX005 in patients with Huntington’s disease, or HD, as well as patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS—two neurodegenerative disorders where aberrant classical complement activation has been shown to be associated with synapse loss, elevated levels of NfL and disease progression. We plan to initiate Phase 2a trials in patients with HD and ALS in 2020 to assess ANX005’s safety, tolerability, target engagement and impact on disease-related biomarkers such as NfL.

We also intend to study ANX005 in patients with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, or wAIHA, an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the premature destruction of red blood cells. The classical complement pathway plays an important role in wAIHA through the removal of red blood cells labeled by activated complement components in the spleen or liver (extra-vascular hemolysis) and less common destruction of red blood cells in the blood vessels by the classical complement generated membrane attack complex (intravascular hemolysis). Following the activation of an investigational new drug application, or IND, for wAIHA in 2020, we plan to initiate a Phase 2 trial in patients with the primary diagnosis of wAIHA. We intend to conduct a non-interventional screening study in wAIHA patients to utilize complement activation markers to identify and select patients who may be more likely to respond to our anti-C1q therapy in the planned Phase 2 trial.

Our second clinical-stage product candidate is ANX007, an investigational C1q Fab designed for intravitreal administration in patients with complement-mediated neurodegenerative ophthalmic disorders. Consistent with the results we observed in preclinical studies, in the Phase 1b trial with intravitreal administration in glaucoma patients, ANX007 was well-tolerated and showed full target engagement and inhibition of C1q in the eye for at least four weeks. We believe inhibition of C1q may provide neuroprotective benefit by preventing the aberrant loss of functioning synapses in the retina in a variety of ophthalmic disorders, including glaucoma and geographic atrophy, or GA. Based on a range of considerations, including preclinical data, clinical results observed to date, proximate clinical validation and an established, objective clinical and regulatory path, we plan to advance ANX007 into a Phase 2 trial in patients with GA in 2021 with the goal of protecting against the loss of photoreceptor neurons in a well-defined patient population.

Our preclinical pipeline includes ANX009, an investigational C1q Fab designed for subcutaneous delivery. We are developing ANX009 to enable chronic dosing for patients with antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders where anti-C1q may have a disease-modifying effect and where we can utilize our targeted biomarker-driven approach. These disorders may include autoimmune hemolytic anemias and a subset of lupus nephritis patients who are selected for pathogenic anti-C1q antibodies, or PACA, and who have a high risk of renal flare. We intend to select our initial lead autoimmune disease indication and commence a first-in-human, or FIH, clinical trial in 2020. We are developing additional next generation product candidates, including ANX105, an investigational monoclonal antibody with enhanced dosing and PK properties designed for chronic neurodegenerative diseases, and small molecules designed for chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. We intend to advance both ANX105 and our small molecule candidates through IND enabling studies in 2021.

Our Strategy

Our goal is to develop disease-modifying medicines for patients suffering from classical complement-mediated diseases. Key elements of our strategy include:

 

   

Leveraging our distinct approach of inhibiting C1q and aberrant upstream classical complement activity to address a broad range of well characterized classical complement-mediated diseases. By inhibiting C1q and the early classical cascade, we believe our product candidates are uniquely designed to address a wide range of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases as well as complement-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. We believe full classical complement inhibition may result in clinical



 

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benefit by blocking aberrant upstream immune cell activation in our targeted indications and potentially provide safety advantages by leaving the lectin and alternative pathways intact to perform their normal immune functions.

 

   

Advancing ANX005 through clinical development in multiple autoimmune and neurodegenerative indications of high unmet need. Our Phase 1b trial in patients with GBS demonstrated full target engagement of C1q in serum and the CSF, as well as a significant reduction in NfL, a well-accepted biomarker shown to be elevated in patients with GBS, HD and ALS and correlated with disease severity and clinical course and outcomes. We intend to advance ANX005 into a Phase 2/3 trial in patients with GBS in early 2021, and into Phase 2a trials in patients with HD and ALS in 2020. We also intend to advance ANX005 into a Phase 2 trial in patients with wAIHA.

 

   

Evaluating ANX007 as an agent for neuroprotective benefit in ophthalmic indications. We are developing ANX007 in neurodegenerative ophthalmic indications, such as glaucoma and GA. ANX007 reduced retinal damage in animal models of glaucoma and GA. In our Phase 1b trial in glaucoma patients, intravitreal administration of ANX007 resulted in full target engagement of C1q at both low and high doses. Based on this clinical dosing data, our preclinical data in glaucoma and GA, and proximate clinical validation from downstream complement approaches, we believe that ANX007 may provide neuroprotective benefit in patients with these and other complement-mediated ophthalmic disorders. We plan to advance ANX007 into a Phase 2 trial in patients with GA in 2021.

 

   

Expanding our autoimmune and neurodegenerative portfolios informed by data from our beachhead indications. Our initial indications represent our beachhead within antibody-mediated autoimmune and complement-mediated neurodegenerative diseases. We intend to leverage learnings from our initial indications to inform selection of additional orphan and larger patient populations involving related biological mechanisms. In our autoimmune portfolio, potential indications include antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders such as wAIHA, Cold Agglutinin Disease, or CAD, and lupus nephritis, (specifically in lupus nephritis patients with endogenous PACA). In our neurodegenerative portfolio, potential indications include complement-mediated neurodegeneration disorders in the eye and brain such as glaucoma, GA, HD, ALS, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

 

   

Developing additional product candidates that are designed to inhibit activation of the classical complement cascade. We have secured broad intellectual property protection for our upstream complement platform and intend to leverage our intellectual property and know-how to protect and enhance our leading position in developing novel therapeutics that target the classical complement cascade. We are developing product candidates, such as ANX009, to modulate the classical pathway with the potential to become tailored therapeutics for a large range of indications using different molecular modalities, dosing regimens and tissue localization strategies. In addition, we are developing next generation product candidates, including ANX105, an investigational monoclonal antibody, and small molecule modulators of the classical pathway, for the treatment of chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

 

   

Maximizing the value of our product candidates. We currently hold worldwide development and commercialization rights, including through exclusive licenses, to all of our product candidates. We intend to pursue independent development and commercialization in select indications and markets that we can address with a focused sales and marketing organization. We may opportunistically explore licensing agreements, collaborations or partnerships to develop our product candidates in larger market indications where we could accelerate development utilizing the resources of larger biopharmaceutical companies.



 

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Certain Preliminary Financial Information

As of June 30, 2020, we had approximately $124.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. This estimate of our cash and cash equivalents is preliminary and subject to completion, including the completion of customary financial statement closing and review procedures for the quarter ended June 30, 2020. As a result, the unaudited preliminary cash and cash equivalents set forth above reflects our preliminary estimate with respect to such information, based on information currently available to management, and may vary from our actual financial position as of June 30, 2020. Further, this preliminary estimate is not a comprehensive statement or estimate of our financial results or financial condition as of and for quarter ended June 30, 2020. The unaudited preliminary cash and cash equivalents included herein has been prepared by, and is the responsibility of, management. KPMG LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the unaudited preliminary cash and cash equivalents. Accordingly, KPMG LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. This estimate should not be viewed as a substitute for financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and they are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved in any future period. Accordingly, you should not draw any conclusions based on the foregoing estimate and should not place undue reliance on this preliminary estimate. We assume no duty to update this preliminary estimate except as required by law.

Risks Associated with Our Business

Our business is subject to a number of risks of which you should be aware before making a decision to invest in our common stock. These risks are more fully described in the section titled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. These risks include, among others, the following:

 

   

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history and no products approved for commercial sale. We have incurred significant losses since our inception, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, which, together with our limited operating history, makes it difficult to assess our future viability.

 

   

We will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development programs, commercialization efforts or other operations.

 

   

Our business is heavily dependent on the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our two clinical-stage product candidates, ANX005 and ANX007, each of which is in early stages of clinical development.

 

   

Public health crises such as pandemics or similar outbreaks could materially and adversely affect our preclinical and clinical trials, business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

   

Research and development of biopharmaceutical products is inherently risky. We cannot give any assurance that any of our product candidates will receive regulatory approval, which is necessary before they can be commercialized.

 

   

Our product candidates may cause undesirable and unforeseen side effects or have other properties that could halt their clinical development, delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences.

 

   

We rely on third-party suppliers to manufacture our product candidates, and we intend to rely on third parties to produce commercial supplies of any approved product. The loss of these suppliers, or their failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements or to provide us with sufficient quantities at acceptable quality levels or prices, or at all, would materially and adversely affect our business.

 

   

Any collaboration arrangements that we may enter into in the future may not be successful, which could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates.



 

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Our current and any future product candidates or products could be alleged to infringe patent rights and other proprietary rights of third parties, which may require costly litigation and, if we are not successful, could cause us to pay substantial damages and/or limit our ability to commercialize our products.

Our Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on March 3, 2011. Our principal executive offices are located at 180 Kimball Way, Suite 200, South San Francisco, California 94080, and our telephone number is (650) 822-5500. Our corporate website address is www.annexonbio.com. Information contained on, or accessible through, our website shall not be deemed incorporated into and is not a part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part. We have included our website in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We are an emerging growth company as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year, or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period. An emerging growth company may take advantage of specified reduced reporting requirements and is relieved of certain other significant requirements that are otherwise generally applicable to public companies. As an emerging growth company:

 

   

We will present in this prospectus only two years of audited consolidated financial statements, plus unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for any interim period, and related management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations;

 

   

We will avail ourselves of the exemption from the requirement to obtain an attestation and report from our auditors on the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;

 

   

We will provide less extensive disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements; and

 

   

We will not require stockholder non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.

Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from our competitors that are public companies or other public companies in which you hold stock.

In addition, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This provision allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of some accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and therefore we will not be subject to the same requirements to adopt new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.



 

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The Offering

 

Common stock offered by us

  

10,000,000 shares.

Option to purchase additional shares

  

The underwriters have been granted an option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of common stock from us at any time within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.

Common stock to be outstanding after this offering

  

31,258,687 shares (or 32,758,687 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).

Use of proceeds

  

We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $135.4 million (or approximately $156.3 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of common stock), based on an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, to fund the advancement of: ANX005 for the treatment of GBS and wAIHA; ANX009 for the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases; ANX005 for the treatment of HD and ALS; ANX007 for the treatment of GA; our next generation product candidates; our other research and development activities; and the remainder for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See the section titled “Use of Proceeds” for additional information.

Directed shares

  

At our request, the underwriters have reserved for sale, at the initial public offering price, up to 1% of the shares offered hereby for directors, officers, employees, business associates and other persons related to us who have expressed an interest in purchasing common stock in the offering. Shares purchased by our directors and officers will be subject to the 180-day lock-up restriction described in the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus. See “Underwriting—Directed Share Program” for more information.

Risk factors

  

You should read the section titled “Risk Factors” for a discussion of factors to consider carefully, together with all the other information included in this prospectus, before deciding to invest in our common stock.

Proposed Nasdaq Global Market symbol

  

“ANNX”



 

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The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 13,117,963 shares of our common stock as of March 31, 2020 (after giving effect to the conversion of all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into an aggregate of 12,684,214 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering), plus 8,140,724 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to the conversion of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020, and excludes:

 

   

2,136,390 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.45 per share;

 

   

892,730 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options granted subsequent to March 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $13.32 per share;

 

   

3,125,868 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2020 Incentive Award Plan, or the 2020 Plan, from which we will grant options to purchase an aggregate of 448,821 shares of our common stock with an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price to certain officers and employees upon the pricing of this offering, which will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan; and

 

   

312,586 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, or the ESPP, which will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP.

Except as otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes or gives effect to:

 

   

the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation immediately prior to the completion of this offering and the adoption of our amended and restated bylaws immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

the conversion of (i) all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into 12,684,214 shares of our common stock and (ii) all of our shares of Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020 into 8,140,724 shares of our common stock, immediately prior to the completion of this offering;

 

   

a one-for-8.81 reverse stock split of our common stock effected on July 17, 2020;

 

   

no exercise of the outstanding options; and

 

   

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of our common stock.



 

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Summary Consolidated Financial Data

The following tables set forth our summary consolidated statements of operations and consolidated balance sheet data. The summary consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2019 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated statements of operations data for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2020 are derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared on a basis consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements and include, in management’s opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information set forth in those statements. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future and our interim results are not necessarily indicative of our expected results for the year ending December 31, 2020. You should read the following summary consolidated financial data together with the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2018     2019     2019     2020   
                 (unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

        

Operating Expenses:

        

Research and development

   $ 15,528     $ 24,524     $ 4,653     $ 10,217  

General and administrative

     3,619       7,994       1,449       2,239  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     19,147       32,518       6,102       12,456  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (19,147     (32,518     (6,102     (12,456

Gain (loss) on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     260       (5,670     (2,770      

Other income, net

     584       1,009       221       115  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss before taxes

     (18,303     (37,179     (8,651     (12,341

Provision for income taxes

     1       4       1        
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (18,304     (37,183     (8,652     (12,341

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

     176       1,095       262       279  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (18,480   $ (38,278   $ (8,914   $ (12,620
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted(1)

   $ (45.89   $ (88.30   $ (20.60   $ (29.10
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted(1)

     402,738       433,493       432,709       433,749  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted (unaudited)(1)

     $ (2.75     $ (0.94
    

 

 

     

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted (unaudited)(1)

       11,452,244         13,117,963  
    

 

 

     

 

 

 


 

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(1)

See Notes 2 and 11 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Notes 2 and 10 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for explanations of the calculations of our basic and diluted net loss per share, basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share and the weighted-average number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.

 

     As of March 31, 2020  
     Actual     Pro Forma(1)     Pro Forma As
Adjusted(2)  (3)
 
    

(unaudited)

 
     (in thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 33,348     $ 130,098     $ 267,670  

Working capital(4)

     28,179       124,929       263,225  

Total assets

     39,514       136,264       270,933  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock

     144,263              

Accumulated deficit

     (114,921     (114,921     (114,921

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (112,422     128,591       263,984  

 

(1)

The pro forma column reflects: (i) the conversion of all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into 12,684,214 shares of our common stock, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (ii) the issuance and sale of 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock in June 2020 for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million, and the conversion of such shares into 8,140,724 shares of our common stock, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iii) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in Delaware, which will be in effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

(2)

The pro forma as adjusted column reflects: (i) the pro forma adjustments set forth in footnote (1) above and (ii) the sale of 10,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(3)

The pro forma as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will depend on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of our pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets and total stockholders’ equity by approximately $9.3 million, assuming the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares of common stock offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of our pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, working capital, total assets and total stockholders’ equity by approximately $14.0 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

(4)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities. See our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus for further details regarding our current assets and current liabilities.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information in this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” before deciding whether to invest in our common stock. Many of the following risks and uncertainties are, and will be, exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, pandemic and any worsening of the global business and economic environment as a result. The occurrence of any of the events or developments described below could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In such an event, the market price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

Risks Related to Our Limited Operating History, Financial Condition and Capital Requirements

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a limited operating history and no products approved for commercial sale. We have incurred significant losses since our inception, and we anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future, which, together with our limited operating history, makes it difficult to assess our future viability.

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, and we have only a limited operating history upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects. Biopharmaceutical product development is a highly speculative undertaking and involves a substantial degree of risk. We have no products approved for commercial sale and have not generated any revenue from sales of our product candidates and have incurred losses in each year since our inception in March 2011. We have only a limited operating history upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects. In addition, we have not yet demonstrated an ability to successfully overcome many of the risks and uncertainties frequently encountered by companies in new and rapidly evolving fields, particularly in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.

We have had significant operating losses since our inception. Our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 was approximately $18.3 million and $37.2 million, respectively, and $8.7 million and $12.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. As of March 31, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of $114.9 million. Substantially all of our losses have resulted from expenses incurred in connection with our research and development programs and from general and administrative costs associated with our operations. We expect to continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future, and we anticipate these losses will increase as we continue to develop our product candidates, conduct clinical trials and pursue research and development activities. Even if we achieve profitability in the future, we may not be able to sustain profitability in subsequent periods. Our prior losses, combined with expected future losses, have had and will continue to have an adverse effect on our stockholders’ equity and working capital.

We will require substantial additional financing to achieve our goals, and a failure to obtain this necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development programs, commercialization efforts or other operations.

Since our inception, we have invested a significant portion of our efforts and financial resources in research and development activities. Our product candidates will require additional clinical development, and we intend to conduct additional research and development activities to discover and develop new product candidates, including conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, all of which will require substantial additional funds. We will continue to expend significant resources for the foreseeable future in connection with these activities. These expenditures will include costs associated with conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing and supply, as well as marketing and selling any products approved for sale. In addition, other unanticipated costs may arise. Because the outcome of any preclinical study or clinical trial is highly uncertain, we cannot reasonably estimate the actual amounts necessary to successfully complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates or any future product candidates.

 

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As of March 31, 2020, we had capital resources consisting of cash and cash equivalents of approximately $33.3 million. In June 2020, we issued and sold an aggregate of 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock for net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million. We expect our existing capital resources, which includes the net proceeds from the Series D financing, together with the proceeds from this offering, will fund our planned operating expenses through 2023. However, our operating plans may change as a result of many factors currently unknown to us, and we may need to seek additional funds sooner than planned through public or private equity offerings or debt financings or other sources, such as strategic collaborations. Such financing may result in dilution to our stockholders, imposition of burdensome debt covenants and repayment obligations, or other restrictions that may affect our business. In addition, we may seek additional capital due to favorable market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans.

Our future capital requirements depend on many factors, including:

 

   

the scope, progress, results and costs of researching and developing our current product candidates or any other future product candidates we choose to pursue, and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, including our planned clinical trials of ANX005 and ANX007 and any delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals for our product candidates or any future product candidates;

 

   

the number and characteristics of any additional product candidates we develop or acquire;

 

   

the timing and amount of any milestone, royalty and/or other payments we are required to make pursuant to our current or any future license or collaboration agreements;

 

   

the cost of manufacturing our product candidates or any future product candidates and any products we successfully commercialize;

 

   

the cost of building a sales force in anticipation of product commercialization;

 

   

the cost of commercialization activities of our product candidates, if approved for sale, including marketing, sales and distribution costs;

 

   

our ability to establish strategic collaborations, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of any such agreements, including the timing and amount of any future milestone, royalty or other payments due under any such agreement;

 

   

any product liability or other lawsuits related to our products;

 

   

the expenses needed to attract, hire and retain skilled personnel;

 

   

the costs associated with being a public company;

 

   

the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing our intellectual property portfolio;

 

   

the timing, receipt and amount of sales of any future approved products; and

 

   

the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may exacerbate the magnitude of the factors discussed above.

Additional funds may not be available when we need them, on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. Our ability to raise additional capital may be adversely impacted by potential worsening global economic conditions and the recent disruptions to and volatility in the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If adequate funds are not available to us on a timely basis, we may be required to:

 

   

delay, limit, reduce or terminate preclinical studies, clinical trials or other development activities for our product candidates or any future product candidate;

 

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delay, limit, reduce or terminate our research and development activities; or

 

   

delay, limit, reduce or terminate our efforts to establish manufacturing and sales and marketing capabilities or other activities that may be necessary to commercialize our product candidates or any future product candidate, or reduce our flexibility in developing or maintaining our sales and marketing strategy.

We also could be required to seek funds through arrangements with collaborators or others that may require us to relinquish rights to some of our technologies or product candidates that we would otherwise pursue on our own. We do not expect to realize revenue from sales of products or royalties from licensed products in the foreseeable future, if at all, and unless and until our product candidates are clinically tested, approved for commercialization and successfully marketed. To date, we have primarily financed our operations through the sale of equity securities. We will be required to seek additional funding in the future and currently intend to do so through public or private equity offerings or debt financings, credit or loan facilities, collaborations or a combination of one or more of these funding sources. Our ability to raise additional funds will depend on financial, economic and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders will suffer dilution and the terms of any financing may adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. In addition, as a condition to providing additional funds to us, future investors may demand, and may be granted, rights superior to those of existing stockholders. Debt financing, if available, is likely to involve restrictive covenants limiting our flexibility in conducting future business activities, and, in the event of insolvency, debt holders would be repaid before holders of our equity securities received any distribution of our corporate assets.

Due to the significant resources required for the development of our product candidates, we must prioritize development of certain product candidates and/or certain disease indications. We may expend our limited resources on candidates or indications that do not yield a successful product and fail to capitalize on product candidates or indications that may be more profitable or for which there is a greater likelihood of success.

We are currently focused on developing product candidates to address classical complement-mediated autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. We seek to maintain a process of prioritization and resource allocation among our programs to maintain a balance between aggressively advancing our two clinical-stage product candidates, ANX005 and ANX007, in identified indications and exploring additional indications or mechanisms as well as developing future product candidates. However, due to the significant resources required for the development of our product candidates, we must focus on specific diseases and disease pathways and decide which product candidates to pursue and the amount of resources to allocate to each such product candidate.

Our decisions concerning the allocation of research, development, collaboration, management and financial resources toward particular product candidates or therapeutic areas may not lead to the development of any viable commercial product and may divert resources away from better opportunities. Similarly, any decision to delay, terminate or collaborate with third parties in respect of certain programs may subsequently also prove to be suboptimal and could cause us to miss valuable opportunities. If we make incorrect determinations regarding the viability or market potential of any of our programs or product candidates or misread trends in the autoimmune or neurodegenerative or pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. As a result, we may fail to capitalize on viable commercial products or profitable market opportunities, be required to forego or delay pursuit of opportunities with other product candidates or other diseases and disease pathways that may later prove to have greater commercial potential than those we choose to pursue, or relinquish valuable rights to such product candidates through collaboration, licensing or other royalty arrangements in cases in which it would have been advantageous for us to invest additional resources to retain development and commercialization rights.

 

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Our operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes our future operating results difficult to predict and could cause our operating results to fall below expectations.

Our quarterly and annual operating results may fluctuate significantly, which makes it difficult for us to predict our future operating results. These fluctuations may occur due to a variety of factors, many of which are outside of our control and may be difficult to predict, including:

 

   

the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research, development and, if approved, commercialization activities relating to our product candidates, which may change from time to time;

 

   

the timing and status of enrollment for our clinical trials;

 

   

the cost of manufacturing our product candidates, as well as building out our supply chain, which may vary depending on the quantity of production and the terms of our agreements with manufacturers;

 

   

expenditures that we may incur to acquire, develop or commercialize additional product candidates and technologies;

 

   

timing and amount of any milestone, royalty or other payments due under any collaboration or license agreement;

 

   

future accounting pronouncements or changes in our accounting policies;

 

   

the timing and success or failure of preclinical studies and clinical trials for our product candidates or competing product candidates, or any other change in the competitive landscape of our industry, including consolidation among our competitors or partners;

 

   

the timing of receipt of approvals for our product candidates from regulatory authorities in the United States and internationally;

 

   

coverage and reimbursement policies with respect to our product candidates, if approved, and potential future drugs that compete with our products; and

 

   

the level of demand for our product candidates, if approved, which may vary significantly over time.

The cumulative effects of these factors could result in large fluctuations and unpredictability in our quarterly and annual operating results. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful. Investors should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance.

This variability and unpredictability could also result in our failing to meet the expectations of industry or financial analysts or investors for any period. If our revenue or operating results fall below the expectations of analysts or investors or below any forecasts we may provide to the market, or if any forecasts we provide to the market are below the expectations of analysts or investors, the price of our common stock could decline substantially. Such a stock price decline could occur even when we have met any previously publicly stated revenue or earnings guidance we may provide.

Risks Related to Our Business

Our business is heavily dependent on the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our two clinical-stage product candidates, ANX005 and ANX007, each of which is in early stages of clinical development.

We have no products approved for sale, and our two clinical-stage product candidates are in early stages of clinical development. The success of our business, including our ability to finance our company and generate revenue in the future, will primarily depend on the successful development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our product candidates and, in particular, the advancement of our current clinical-stage product candidates, ANX005 and ANX007. However, given our stage of development, it may be many years, if we succeed at all, before we have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of a product candidate sufficient to warrant approval for commercialization. We cannot be certain that our product candidates will receive regulatory approval or be successfully commercialized even if we receive regulatory approval.

 

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While inhibition of the complement pathway has been validated as a therapeutic approach, C1q inhibition is a novel therapeutic approach, which exposes us to certain risks. For example, we may discover unforeseen safety events or that our product candidates do not possess certain properties required for therapeutic effectiveness, or that even if found to be effective in one type of disease, a product candidate, or the therapeutic approach, is not effective in other diseases. In addition, given the novel nature of this therapeutic approach, designing preclinical studies and clinical trials to demonstrate the effect of the product candidates is complex and exposes us to risks, including that our biomarker-driven approach may not translate into therapeutic effectiveness.

In the future, we may also become dependent on other product candidates that we may develop or acquire. The clinical and commercial success of our product candidates and future product candidates will depend on a number of factors, including the following:

 

   

the COVID-19 pandemic, which may result in clinical site closures, delays to patient enrollment, patients discontinuing their treatment or follow up visits or changes to trial protocols;

 

   

our ability to raise any additional required capital on acceptable terms, or at all;

 

   

our ability to complete an investigational new drug application, or IND, enabling studies and successfully submit INDs or comparable applications;

 

   

timely completion of our preclinical studies and clinical trials, which may be significantly slower or cost more than we currently anticipate and will depend substantially upon the performance of third-party contractors;

 

   

whether we are required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, or similar foreign regulatory agencies to conduct additional clinical trials or other studies beyond those planned to support the approval and commercialization of our product candidates or any future product candidates;

 

   

acceptance of our proposed indications and primary endpoint assessments relating to the proposed indications of our product candidates by the FDA and similar foreign regulatory authorities;

 

   

our ability to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the FDA and similar foreign regulatory authorities the safety, efficacy and acceptable risk to benefit profile of our product candidates or any future product candidates;

 

   

the prevalence, duration and severity of potential side effects or other safety issues experienced with our product candidates or future approved products, if any;

 

   

the timely receipt of necessary marketing approvals from the FDA and similar foreign regulatory authorities;

 

   

achieving and maintaining, and, where applicable, ensuring that our third-party contractors achieve and maintain compliance with our contractual obligations and with all regulatory requirements applicable to our product candidates or any future product candidates or approved products, if any;

 

   

the ability of third parties with whom we contract to manufacture adequate clinical trial and commercial supplies of our product candidates or any future product candidates remain in good standing with regulatory agencies and develop, validate and maintain commercially viable manufacturing processes that are compliant with current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs;

 

   

our ability to successfully develop a commercial strategy and thereafter commercialize our product candidates or any future product candidates in the United States and internationally, if approved for marketing, reimbursement, sale and distribution in such countries and territories, whether alone or in collaboration with others;

 

   

our ability to achieve sufficient market acceptance, coverage and adequate reimbursement from third-party payors and adequate market share and revenue for any approved products;

 

   

the convenience of our treatment or dosing regimen;

 

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acceptance by physicians, payors and patients of the benefits, safety and efficacy of our product candidates or any future product candidates, if approved, including relative to alternative and competing treatments;

 

   

the willingness of physicians, operators of clinics and patients to utilize or adopt any of our product candidates or any future product candidates, if approved;

 

   

patients’ willingness to enroll or continue to participate in a clinical trial during the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

patient demand for our product candidates, if approved, including patients’ willingness to pay out-of-pocket for any approved products in the absence of coverage and/or adequate reimbursement from third-party payors;

 

   

our ability to establish and enforce intellectual property rights in and to our product candidates or any future product candidates; and

 

   

our ability to avoid third-party patent interference, intellectual property challenges or intellectual property infringement claims.

These factors, many of which are beyond our control, could cause us to experience significant delays or an inability to obtain regulatory approvals or commercialize our product candidates. Even if regulatory approvals are obtained, we may never be able to successfully commercialize any of our product candidates. Accordingly, we cannot provide assurances that we will be able to generate sufficient revenue through the sale of our product candidates or any future product candidates to continue our business or achieve profitability.

Public health crises such as pandemics or similar outbreaks could materially and adversely affect our preclinical and clinical trials, business, financial condition and results of operations.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and the United States declared a national emergency with respect to COVID-19. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, “shelter in place” orders and other public health guidance measures have been implemented across much of the United States and Europe, including in the locations of our offices, clinical trial sites, key vendors and partners. We expect that our clinical development program timelines will be negatively affected by COVID-19, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, due to “shelter in place” orders and other public health guidance measures, we have implemented a work-from-home policy for all staff members excluding those necessary to maintain minimum basic operations. Our increased reliance on personnel working from home may negatively impact productivity, or disrupt, delay or otherwise adversely impact our business. For example, with our personnel working from home, some of our research activities that require our personnel to be in our laboratories will be delayed.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, or similar pandemics, and related “shelter in place” orders and other public health guidance measures, we have and may in the future experience disruptions that could materially and adversely impact our clinical trials, business, financial condition and results of operations. Potential disruptions include but are not limited to:

 

   

delays or difficulties in enrolling patients in our clinical trials;

 

   

delays or difficulties in initiating or expanding clinical trials, including delays or difficulties with clinical site initiation and recruiting clinical site investigators and clinical site staff;

 

   

increased rates of patients withdrawing from our clinical trials following enrollment as a result of contracting COVID-19 or other health conditions or being forced to quarantine;

 

   

interruption of key clinical trial activities, such as clinical trial site data monitoring and efficacy, safety and translational data collection, processing and analyses, due to limitations on travel imposed or

 

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recommended by federal, state or local governments, employers and others or interruption of clinical trial subject visits, which may impact the collection and integrity of subject data and clinical study endpoints;

 

   

diversion of healthcare resources away from the conduct of clinical trials, including the diversion of hospitals serving as our clinical trial sites and hospital staff supporting the conduct of our clinical trials;

 

   

delays or disruptions in preclinical experiments and IND-enabling studies due to restrictions of on-site staff and unforeseen circumstances at contract research organizations, or CROs, and vendors;

 

   

interruption or delays in the operations of the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory agencies;

 

   

interruption of, or delays in receiving, supplies of our product candidates from our contract manufacturing organizations due to staffing shortages, production slowdowns or stoppages and disruptions in delivery systems;

 

   

delays in receiving approval from local regulatory authorities to initiate our planned clinical trials;

 

   

limitations on employee or other resources that would otherwise be focused on the conduct of our clinical trials and pre-clinical work, including because of sickness of employees or their families, the desire of employees to avoid travel or contact with large groups of people, an increased reliance on working from home, school closures or mass transit disruptions;

 

   

changes in regulations as part of a response to the COVID-19 pandemic which may require us to change the ways in which our clinical trials are conducted, which may result in unexpected costs, or to discontinue the clinical trials altogether;

 

   

delays in necessary interactions with regulators, ethics committees and other important agencies and contractors due to limitations in employee resources or forced furlough of government or contractor personnel; and

 

   

refusal of the FDA to accept data from clinical trials in affected geographies outside the United States.

These and other factors arising from the COVID-19 global pandemic could worsen in countries that are already afflicted with COVID-19, could continue to spread to additional countries or could return to countries where the pandemic has been partially contained, each of which could further adversely impact our ability to conduct clinical trials and our business generally, and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which the outbreak may affect our clinical trials, business, financial condition and results of operations will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted at this time, such as the ultimate geographic spread of the disease, the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions and actions to contain the outbreak or treat its impact, such as social distancing and quarantines or lock-downs in the United States and other countries, business closures or business disruptions and the effectiveness of actions taken in the United States and other countries to contain and treat the disease. Future developments in these and other areas present material uncertainty and risk with respect to our clinical trials, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Research and development of biopharmaceutical products is inherently risky. We cannot give any assurance that any of our product candidates will receive regulatory approval, which is necessary before they can be commercialized.

We are at an early stage of clinical development of our product candidates. Our future success is dependent on our ability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for and then successfully commercialize our product candidates, and we may fail to do so for many reasons, including the following:

 

   

our product candidates may not successfully complete preclinical studies or clinical trials;

 

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a product candidate may on further study be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate it does not meet applicable regulatory criteria;

 

   

our competitors may develop therapeutics that render our product candidates obsolete or less attractive;

 

   

the market for a product candidate may change so that the continued development of that product candidate is no longer reasonable or commercially attractive;

 

   

a product candidate may not be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all;

 

   

if a product candidate obtains regulatory approval, we may be unable to establish sales and marketing capabilities, or successfully market such approved product candidate; and

 

   

a product candidate may not be accepted as safe and effective by patients, the medical community or third-party payors.

If any of these events occur, we may be forced to abandon our development efforts for a product candidate or candidates, which would have a material adverse effect on our business and could potentially cause us to cease operations. Failure of a product candidate may occur at any stage of preclinical or clinical development, and we may never succeed in developing marketable products or generating product revenue.

We may not be successful in our efforts to further develop our current and future product candidates. We are not permitted to market or promote any of our product candidates before we receive regulatory approval from the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities, and we may never receive such regulatory approval for any of our product candidates. Each of our product candidates will require significant additional clinical development, management of preclinical, clinical and manufacturing activities, regulatory approval, adequate manufacturing supply, a commercial organization and significant marketing efforts before we generate any revenue from product sales, if at all. Any clinical studies that we may conduct may not demonstrate the efficacy and safety necessary to obtain regulatory approval to market our product candidates. If the results of our ongoing or future clinical studies are inconclusive with respect to the efficacy of our product candidates, if we do not meet the clinical endpoints with statistical significance or if there are safety concerns or adverse events associated with our product candidates, we may be prevented or delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates.

The FDA or other regulatory agencies may not agree with our clinical development plan and require that we conduct additional clinical trials to support our regulatory submissions. We have not yet conducted an end of Phase 2 meeting with the FDA to discuss the registration pathway for ANX005, and our current clinical development plans for ANX005 in Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS, may change as a result of future interactions with the FDA. For example, the FDA may require that we conduct more than one pivotal trial in order to gain approval in GBS. Furthermore, any approval of ANX005 for GBS may be limited to ANX005 in combination with the existing standard of care. While not approved for use in GBS in the United States due to differing levels of efficacy in GBS patients, IVIg has developed as the standard of care in the Western world and parts of Asia for patients with GBS and has been shown to be a reasonably effective treatment in some GBS patients.

If any of our product candidates successfully completes clinical trials, we plan to seek regulatory approval to market our product candidates in the United States, the European Union and in additional foreign countries where we believe there is a viable commercial opportunity. We have never commenced, compiled or submitted an application seeking regulatory approval to market any product candidate. We may never receive regulatory approval to market any product candidates even if such product candidates successfully complete clinical trials, which would adversely affect our viability. To obtain regulatory approval in countries outside the United States, we must comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements of such other countries regarding safety, efficacy, chemistry, manufacturing and controls, clinical trials, commercial sales, pricing and distribution of our product candidates. We may also rely on collaborators or partners to conduct the required activities to support an application for regulatory approval and to seek approval for one or more of our product candidates. We cannot be sure that any such

 

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collaborators or partners will conduct these activities successfully or do so within the timeframe we desire. Even if we or any future collaborators or partners are successful in obtaining approval in one jurisdiction, we cannot ensure that we will obtain approval in any other jurisdictions. If we are unable to obtain approval for our product candidates in multiple jurisdictions, our revenue and results of operations could be negatively affected.

Even if we receive regulatory approval to market any of our product candidates, we cannot assure you that any such product candidate will be successfully commercialized, widely accepted in the marketplace or more effective than other commercially available alternatives. Any approval we may obtain could be for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired or may require labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings. We may also be required to perform additional or unanticipated clinical trials to obtain approval or be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements to maintain approval. In addition, regulatory authorities may withdraw their approval of a product or impose restrictions on its distribution, such as in the form of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS. The failure to obtain timely regulatory approval of product candidates, any product marketing limitations or a product withdrawal would negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may encounter substantial delays in our clinical trials or may not be able to conduct or complete our clinical trials on the timelines we expect, if at all.

Clinical testing is expensive and can take many years to complete, and its outcome is inherently uncertain. We cannot guarantee that any clinical trials will be conducted as planned or completed on schedule, if at all. We cannot be sure that submission of an IND or a clinical trial application, or CTA, will result in the FDA or other regulatory authority, as applicable, allowing clinical trials to begin in a timely manner, if at all. For example, prior to the authorization of our IND for HD, the FDA placed the Phase 2a trial on clinical hold in order to obtain additional information on our preclinical data package; we provided the required information and the clinical hold was lifted in March 2020. Moreover, even if these trials begin, issues may arise that could suspend or terminate such clinical trials. A failure of one or more clinical trials can occur at any stage of testing, and our future clinical trials may not be successful. Clinical trials can be delayed or terminated for a variety of reasons, including delays or failures related to:

 

   

the COVID-19 pandemic, which may result in clinical site closures, delays to patient enrollment, patients discontinuing their treatment or follow up visits or changes to trial protocols;

 

   

inability to generate sufficient preclinical, toxicology or other in vivo or in vitro data to support the initiation or continuation of clinical trials;

 

   

the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities disagreeing as to the design or implementation of our clinical trials;

 

   

delays in obtaining regulatory authorization to commence a trial;

 

   

reaching agreement on acceptable terms with prospective CROs and clinical trial sites, the terms of which can be subject to extensive negotiation and may vary significantly among different CROs and trial sites;

 

   

identifying, recruiting and training suitable clinical investigators;

 

   

obtaining institutional review board, or IRB, approval at each trial site;

 

   

imposition of a temporary or permanent clinical hold by regulatory agencies for a number of reasons, including after review of an IND or amendment, or equivalent foreign application or amendment;

 

   

new safety findings that present unreasonable risk to clinical trial participants;

 

   

a negative finding from an inspection of our clinical trial operations or study sites;

 

   

recruiting an adequate number of suitable patients to participate in a trial;

 

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having subjects complete a trial or return for post-treatment follow-up;

 

   

clinical sites deviating from trial protocol or dropping out of a trial;

 

   

addressing subject safety concerns that arise during the course of a trial;

 

   

adding a sufficient number of clinical trial sites; or

 

   

obtaining sufficient product supply of product candidates for use in preclinical studies or clinical trials from third-party suppliers.

We may experience numerous adverse or unforeseen events during, or as a result of, preclinical studies and clinical trials which could delay or prevent our ability to receive marketing approval or commercialize our product candidates, including:

 

   

we may receive feedback from regulatory authorities that requires us to modify the design of our clinical trials or require that we submit additional data or information before allowing a clinical trial to be initiated;

 

   

clinical studies of our product candidates may produce negative or inconclusive results, and we may decide, or regulators may require us, to conduct additional clinical trials or abandon drug development programs;

 

   

the number of patients required for clinical trials of our product candidates may be larger than we anticipate, enrollment in these clinical trials may be slower than we anticipate or participants may drop out of these clinical trials at a higher rate than we anticipate;

 

   

our third-party contractors may fail to comply with regulatory requirements, fail to maintain adequate quality controls or be unable to provide us with sufficient product supply to conduct and complete preclinical studies or clinical trials of our product candidates in a timely manner, or at all;

 

   

we or our investigators might have to suspend or terminate clinical trials of our product candidates for various reasons, including non-compliance with regulatory requirements, a finding that our product candidates have undesirable side effects or other unexpected characteristics or a finding that the participants are being exposed to unacceptable health risks;

 

   

the cost of clinical trials of our product candidates may be greater than we anticipate;

 

   

the quality of our product candidates or other materials necessary to conduct preclinical studies or clinical trials of our product candidates may be insufficient or inadequate;

 

   

regulators may revise the requirements for approving our product candidates or such requirements may not be as we anticipate; and

 

   

any future collaborators may conduct clinical trials in ways they view as advantageous to them but that are suboptimal for us.

If we are required to conduct additional clinical trials or other testing of our product candidates beyond those that we currently contemplate, if we are unable to successfully complete clinical trials of our product candidates or other testing, if the results of these trials or tests are not positive or are only moderately positive or if there are safety concerns, we may:

 

   

incur unplanned costs;

 

   

be delayed in obtaining marketing approval for our product candidates or not obtain marketing approval at all;

 

   

obtain marketing approval in some countries and not in others;

 

   

obtain marketing approval for indications or patient populations that are not as broad as intended or desired;

 

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obtain marketing approval with labeling that includes significant use or distribution restrictions or safety warnings, including boxed warnings;

 

   

be subject to additional post-marketing testing requirements; or

 

   

have the product removed from the market after obtaining marketing approval.

In addition, disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may increase the likelihood that we encounter such difficulties or delays in initiating, enrolling, conducting or completing our planned and ongoing clinical trials. We could also encounter delays if a clinical trial is suspended or terminated by us, by the IRBs of the institutions in which such trials are being conducted, by the Data Safety Monitoring Board, or DSMB, for such trial or by the FDA or other regulatory authorities. Such authorities may suspend or terminate a clinical trial due to a number of factors, including failure to conduct the clinical trial in accordance with regulatory requirements or our clinical protocols, inspection of the clinical trial operations or trial site by the FDA or other regulatory authorities resulting in the imposition of a clinical hold, unforeseen safety issues or adverse side effects, failure to demonstrate a benefit from using a drug, changes in governmental regulations or administrative actions or lack of adequate funding to continue the clinical trial.

Further, conducting clinical trials in foreign countries, as we plan to do for certain of our product candidates, presents additional risks that may delay completion of our clinical trials. These risks include the failure of enrolled patients in foreign countries to adhere to clinical protocol as a result of differences in healthcare services or cultural customs and managing additional administrative burdens associated with foreign regulatory schemes, as well as political and economic risks.

Principal investigators for our clinical trials may serve as scientific advisors or consultants to us from time to time and may receive cash or equity compensation in connection with such services. If these relationships and any related compensation result in perceived or actual conflicts of interest, or a regulatory authority concludes that the financial relationship may have affected the interpretation of the trial, the integrity of the data generated at the applicable clinical trial site may be questioned and the utility of the clinical trial itself may be jeopardized, which could result in the delay or rejection of the marketing application we submit. Any such delay or rejection could prevent or delay us from commercializing our current or future product candidates.

If we experience delays in the completion, or termination, of any preclinical study or clinical trial of our product candidates, the commercial prospects of our product candidates may be harmed, and our ability to generate revenues from any of these product candidates will be delayed or not realized at all. In addition, any delays in completing our clinical trials may increase our costs, slow down our product candidate development and approval process and jeopardize our ability to commence product sales and generate revenues. Any of these occurrences may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, many of the factors that cause, or lead to, a delay in the commencement or completion of clinical trials may also ultimately lead to the denial of regulatory approval of our product candidates. If one or more of our product candidates proves to be ineffective, unsafe or commercially unviable, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

If we encounter difficulties enrolling patients in our clinical trials, our clinical development activities could be delayed or otherwise adversely affected.

We may not be able to initiate or continue clinical trials on a timely basis or at all for any product candidates we identify or develop if we are unable to locate and enroll a sufficient number of eligible patients to participate in the trials as required by applicable regulations or as needed to provide appropriate statistical power for a given trial. The timely completion of clinical trials in accordance with their protocols depends on, among other things, our ability to enroll a sufficient number of patients who remain in the study until its conclusion. We may experience difficulties in patient enrollment in our clinical trials for a variety of reasons. The enrollment of patients depends on many factors, including:

 

   

the severity and difficulty of diagnosing the disease under investigation;

 

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the patient eligibility and exclusion criteria defined in the protocol;

 

   

the size of the patient population required for analysis of the trial’s primary endpoints;

 

   

the proximity of patients to trial sites;

 

   

the design of the trial;

 

   

our ability to recruit clinical trial investigators with the appropriate competencies and experience;

 

   

the existing body of safety and efficacy data with respect to the study drug and safety concerns;

 

   

patient referral practices of physicians;

 

   

risk that enrolled subjects will drop out before completion of the trial, including as a result of contracting COVID-19 or other health conditions or being forced to quarantine;

 

   

ability to monitor patients adequately during and after treatment;

 

   

availability and efficacy of approved medications or therapies, or other clinical trials, for the disease or condition under investigation;

 

   

clinicians’ and patients’ perceptions as to the potential advantages of the product candidate being studied in relation to other available therapies, including any new drugs that may be approved for the indications we are investigating; and

 

   

our ability to obtain and maintain patient consents.

In addition, our clinical trials may compete with other clinical trials for product candidates that are in the same therapeutic areas as our product candidates, and this competition will reduce the number and types of patients available to us, because some patients who might have opted to enroll in our trials may instead opt to enroll in a trial being conducted by one of our competitors. Because the number of qualified clinical investigators is limited, we may conduct some of our clinical trials at the same clinical trial sites that some of our competitors use, which will reduce the number of patients who are available for our clinical trials in such clinical trial site. Delays in patient enrollment may result in increased costs or may affect the timing or outcome of the planned clinical trials, which could prevent completion of these trials and adversely affect our ability to advance the development of our product candidates.

Our product candidates may cause undesirable and unforeseen side effects or have other properties that could halt their clinical development, delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences.

Adverse events or other undesirable side effects caused by our product candidates could cause us or regulatory authorities to interrupt, delay or halt clinical trials and could result in a more restrictive label or the delay or denial of regulatory approval by the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities. If unacceptable side effects arise in the development of our product candidates, we, the FDA, the IRBs at the institutions in which our studies are conducted or the DSMB could suspend or terminate our clinical trials or the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities could order us to cease clinical trials or deny approval of our product candidates for any or all targeted indications. Treatment-related side effects could also affect patient recruitment or the ability of enrolled patients to complete any of our clinical trials or result in potential product liability claims. In addition, these side effects may not be appropriately recognized or managed by the treating medical staff. We expect to have to train medical personnel using our product candidates to understand the side effect profiles for our clinical trials and upon any commercialization of any of our product candidates. Inadequate training in recognizing or managing the potential side effects of our product candidates could result in patient injury or death. Any of these occurrences may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, early clinical trials may only include a limited number of subjects and limited duration of exposure to our product candidates. In particular, we are pursuing a novel approach to inhibiting upstream

 

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molecules of the classical complement pathway, primarily C1q, and as a result, our product candidates may cause unforeseen safety events when evaluated in larger patient populations. Further, clinical trials may not be sufficient to determine the effect and safety consequences of taking our product candidates over a multi-year period.

If any of our product candidates receives marketing approval, and we or others later identify undesirable and unforeseen side effects caused by such product, a number of potentially significant negative consequences could result, including but not limited to:

 

   

regulatory authorities may suspend, limit or withdraw approvals of such product, or seek an injunction against its manufacture or distribution;

 

   

we may be required to conduct additional clinical trials or post-approval studies;

 

   

we may be required to recall a product or change the way such product is administered to patients;

 

   

additional restrictions may be imposed on the marketing of the particular product or the manufacturing processes for the product or any component thereof;

 

   

regulatory authorities may require the addition of labeling statements, such as a “black box” warning or a contraindication, or issue safety alerts, Dear Healthcare Provider letters, press releases or other communications containing warnings or other safety information about the product;

 

   

we may be required to implement a REMS or create a Medication Guide outlining the risks of such side effects for distribution to patients, a communication plan for healthcare providers and/or other elements to assure safe use;

 

   

we could be sued and held liable for harm caused to patients;

 

   

we may be subject to fines, injunctions or the imposition of criminal penalties;

 

   

the product may become less competitive; and

 

   

our reputation may suffer.

Any of these events could prevent us from achieving or maintaining market acceptance of the particular product candidate, if approved, and result in the loss of significant revenues to us, which would materially and adversely affect our results of operations and business. In addition, if one or more of our product candidates prove to be unsafe, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially and adversely affected.

Interim “top-line” and preliminary data from studies or trials that we announce or publish from time to time may change as more data become available and are subject to audit and verification procedures that could result in material changes in the final data.

From time to time, we may publish interim “top-line” or preliminary data from preclinical studies or clinical trials. Interim data are subject to the risk that one or more of the outcomes may materially change as more data become available. We also make assumptions, estimations, calculations and conclusions as part of our analyses of data, and we may not have received or had the opportunity to fully and carefully evaluate all data when we publish such data. As a result, the “top-line” results that we report may differ from future results of the same studies, or different conclusions or considerations may qualify such results once additional data have been received and fully evaluated. Preliminary or “top-line” data also remain subject to audit and verification procedures that may result in the final data being materially different from the preliminary data we previously published. As a result, interim and preliminary data should be viewed with caution until the final data are available. Additionally, interim data from clinical trials that we may complete are subject to the risk that one or more of the clinical outcomes may materially change as patient enrollment continues and more patient data become available. Adverse differences between preliminary or interim data and final data could significantly harm our business prospects.

 

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Further, others, including regulatory agencies, may not accept or agree with our assumptions, estimates, calculations, conclusions or analyses or may interpret or weigh the importance of data differently, which could impact the value of the particular program, the approvability or commercialization of the particular product candidate or product and our company in general. In addition, the information we choose to publicly disclose regarding a particular study or clinical trial is based on what is typically extensive information, and you or others may not agree with what we determine is the material or otherwise appropriate information to include in our disclosure. Any information we determine not to disclose may ultimately be deemed significant by you or others with respect to future decisions, conclusions, views, activities or otherwise regarding a particular product candidate or our business. If the top-line data that we report differ from final results, or if others, including regulatory authorities, disagree with the conclusions reached, our ability to obtain approval for, and commercialize, product candidates may be harmed, which could significantly harm our business prospects.

Clinical trials of ANX005 in combination with IVIg in patients with GBS will provide no evidence of the efficacy of ANX005.

While not approved for use in GBS in the United States due to differing levels of efficacy in GBS patients, IVIg has developed as the standard of care in the Western world and parts of Asia for patients with GBS and has been shown to be a reasonably effective treatment in some but not all GBS patients. We have initiated a Phase 1b drug-drug, or DDI, interaction trial evaluating ANX005 with IVIg. The purpose of our DDI clinical trial is to assess safety and if there are any pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic effects on ANX005’s dosing profile by administering the two drug products in combination. Any objective responses observed in this trial will be in patients receiving ANX005 together with IVIg, and attribution of objective responses to the effects of ANX005 as a monotherapy will not be possible. Moreover, the trial is not powered to show a statistically significant efficacious outcome with the combined administration of ANX005 and IVIg. As a result, this clinical trial evaluating ANX005 with IVIg will provide no evidence of the efficacy of ANX005, which may not be fully understood by investors or market participants, potentially leading to negative effects on our stock price.

Even if our current or future product candidates obtain regulatory approval, they may fail to achieve the broad degree of physician and patient adoption and use necessary for commercial success.

Even if one or more of our product candidates receive FDA or other regulatory approvals, the commercial success of any of our current or future product candidates will depend significantly on the broad adoption and use of the resulting product by physicians and patients for approved indications. Our product candidates may not be commercially successful. For a variety of reasons, including, among other things, competitive factors, pricing or physician preference, reimbursement by insurers, the degree and rate of physician and patient adoption of our current or future product candidates, if approved, will depend on a number of factors, including:

 

   

the clinical indications for which the product is approved and patient demand for approved products that treat those indications;

 

   

the safety and efficacy of our product as compared to other available therapies;

 

   

the availability of coverage and adequate reimbursement from managed care plans, insurers and other healthcare payors for any of our product candidates that may be approved;

 

   

acceptance by physicians, operators of clinics and patients of the product as a safe and effective treatment;

 

   

physician and patient willingness to adopt a new therapy over other available therapies to treat approved indications;

 

   

overcoming any biases physicians or patients may have toward particular therapies for the treatment of approved indications;

 

   

proper training and administration of our product candidates by physicians and medical staff;

 

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public misperception regarding the use of our therapies, if approved for commercial sale;

 

   

patient satisfaction with the results and administration of our product candidates and overall treatment experience, including, for example, the convenience of any dosing regimen;

 

   

the cost of treatment with our product candidates in relation to alternative treatments and reimbursement levels, if any, and willingness to pay for the product, if approved, on the part of insurance companies and other third-party payors, physicians and patients;

 

   

the revenue and profitability that our products may offer a physician as compared to alternative therapies;

 

   

the prevalence and severity of side effects;

 

   

limitations or warnings contained in the FDA-approved labeling for our products;

 

   

the willingness of physicians, operators of clinics and patients to utilize or adopt our products as a solution;

 

   

any FDA requirement to undertake a REMS;

 

   

the effectiveness of our sales, marketing and distribution efforts;

 

   

adverse publicity about our products or favorable publicity about competitive products; and

 

   

potential product liability claims.

We cannot assure you that our current or future product candidates, if approved, will achieve broad market acceptance among physicians and patients. Any failure by our product candidates that obtain regulatory approval to achieve market acceptance or commercial success would adversely affect our results of operations.

We have received Orphan Drug designation for ANX005 for the treatment of GBS, and we may seek Orphan Drug designation for certain future product candidates. We may be unable to obtain such designations or to maintain the benefits associated with Orphan Drug designation, including market exclusivity, which may cause any revenue from product sales to be reduced.

We have received Orphan Drug designation in the United States for ANX005 for the treatment of GBS. Although we may seek Orphan product designation for some or all of our other product candidates, we may never receive such designations. Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may designate a drug or biologic product as an Orphan Drug if it is intended to treat a rare disease or condition, defined as a patient population of fewer than 200,000 in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 in the United States where there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing the drug will be recovered from sales in the United States. Orphan Drug designation must be requested before submitting a biologics license application, or BLA. In the European Union, the EMA’s Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products, or COMP, grants Orphan Drug designation to promote the development of products that are intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening or chronically debilitating condition affecting not more than five in 10,000 persons in the European Union. Additionally, designation is granted for products intended for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of a life-threatening, seriously debilitating or serious and chronic condition when, without incentives, it is unlikely that sales of the drug in the European Union would be sufficient to justify the necessary investment in developing the drug or biological product or where there is no satisfactory method of diagnosis, prevention or treatment, or, if such a method exists, the medicine must be of significant benefit to those affected by the condition.

In the United States, Orphan Drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as opportunities for grant funding towards clinical trial costs, tax advantages and application fee waivers. After the FDA grants Orphan Drug designation, the generic identity of the drug and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA.

 

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In addition, if a product receives the first FDA approval for the indication for which it has orphan designation, the product is entitled to Orphan Drug exclusivity, which means the FDA may not approve any other application to market the same drug for the same indication for a period of seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority over the product with Orphan exclusivity or where the manufacturer is unable to assure sufficient product quantity the orphan patient population. Exclusive marketing rights in the United States may also be unavailable if we or our collaborators seek approval for an indication broader than the orphan designated indication and may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective. In the European Union, Orphan Drug designation entitles a party to financial incentives such as reduction of fees or fee waivers and ten years of market exclusivity following drug or biological product approval. This period may be reduced to six years if the Orphan Drug designation criteria are no longer met, including where it is shown that the product is sufficiently profitable to not justify maintenance of market exclusivity.

Even if we obtain Orphan Drug designation, we may not be the first to obtain marketing approval for any particular orphan indication due to the uncertainties associated with developing pharmaceutical products. Further, even if we obtain Orphan Drug exclusivity for a product candidate, that exclusivity may not effectively protect the product from competition because different drugs with different active moieties can be approved for the same condition. Even after an Orphan Drug is approved, the FDA can subsequently approve the same drug with the same active moiety for the same condition if the FDA concludes that the later drug is clinically superior in that it is safer, more effective or makes a major contribution to patient care. Orphan Drug designation neither shortens the development time or regulatory review time of a drug or biologic nor gives the drug or biologic any advantage in the regulatory review or approval process.

A Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA, even if granted for any of our product candidates, may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process, and it does not increase the likelihood that our product candidates will receive marketing approval.

We may seek a Breakthrough Therapy designation for our product candidates if the clinical data support such a designation for one or more product candidates. A breakthrough therapy is defined as a drug or biologic that is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs or biologics, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the drug, or biologic in our case, may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. For product candidates that have been designated as breakthrough therapies, interaction and communication between the FDA and the sponsor of the trial can help to identify the most efficient path for clinical development while minimizing the number of patients placed in ineffective control regimens. Biologics designated as breakthrough therapies by the FDA may also be eligible for priority review.

Designation as a breakthrough therapy is within the discretion of the FDA. Accordingly, even if we believe one of our product candidates meets the criteria for designation as a breakthrough therapy, the FDA may disagree and instead determine not to make such designation. In any event, the receipt of a Breakthrough Therapy designation for a product candidate may not result in a faster development process, review or approval compared to drugs considered for approval under non-expedited FDA review procedures and does not assure ultimate approval by the FDA. In addition, even if one or more of our product candidates qualify as breakthrough therapies, the FDA may later decide that the product no longer meets the conditions for qualification or decide that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened.

A Fast Track designation by the FDA, even if granted for any of our product candidates, may not lead to a faster development or regulatory review or approval process, and does not increase the likelihood that our product candidates will receive marketing approval.

The FDA has granted Fast Track designation for ANX005 in GBS, and, in the future, we may seek Fast Track designation for other of our product candidates. If a drug or biologic, in our case, is intended for the treatment of a

 

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serious or life-threatening condition and the biologic demonstrates the potential to address unmet medical needs for this condition, the biologic sponsor may apply for Fast Track designation. The FDA has broad discretion whether or not to grant this designation. Even if we believe a particular product candidate is eligible for this designation, we cannot assure you that the FDA would decide to grant it. Fast Track designation may not result in a faster development process, review or approval compared to conventional FDA procedures. The FDA may withdraw Fast Track designation if it believes that the designation is no longer supported by data from our clinical development program. Many biologics that have received Fast Track designation have failed to obtain approval.

Even if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate, our products will remain subject to regulatory scrutiny.

If one of our product candidates is approved, it will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, conduct of post-marketing studies and submission of safety, efficacy and other post-market information, including both federal and state requirements in the United States and requirements of comparable foreign regulatory authorities.

Manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authority requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMP regulations. We and our contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMPs and adherence to commitments made in any approved marketing application. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control.

We will have to comply with requirements concerning advertising and promotion for our products. Promotional communications with respect to prescription drugs and biologics are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the product’s approved label. We may not promote our products “off-label” for indications or uses for which they do not have approval. The holder of an approved application must submit new or supplemental applications and obtain approval for certain changes to the approved product, product labeling or manufacturing process. We could also be asked to conduct post-marketing clinical studies to verify the safety and efficacy of our products in general or in specific patient subsets. An unsuccessful post-marketing study or failure to complete such a study could result in the withdrawal of marketing approval.

If a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, or disagrees with the promotion, marketing or labeling of a product, the regulatory agency may impose restrictions on that product or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market. If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, a regulatory agency or enforcement authority may, among other things:

 

   

issue warning letters;

 

   

impose civil or criminal penalties;

 

   

suspend or withdraw regulatory approval;

 

   

suspend any of our clinical studies;

 

   

refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications submitted by us;

 

   

impose restrictions on our operations, including closing our contract manufacturers’ facilities; or

 

   

seize or detain products, or require a product recall.

Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response, and could generate negative publicity. Any failure to comply with ongoing regulatory

 

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requirements may significantly and adversely affect our ability to commercialize and generate revenue from our products. If regulatory sanctions are applied or if regulatory approval is withdrawn, the value of our company and our operating results will be adversely affected.

Moreover, the policies of the FDA and of other regulatory authorities may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the United States or abroad. If we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are unable to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.

Disruptions at the FDA and other government agencies caused by funding shortages or global health concerns could hinder their ability to hire, retain or deploy key leadership and other personnel, or otherwise prevent new or modified products from being developed, approved or commercialized in a timely manner or at all, which could negatively impact our business.

The ability of the FDA to review and/or approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, statutory, regulatory, and policy changes, the FDA’s ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and other events that may otherwise affect the FDA’s ability to perform routine functions. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of other government agencies that fund research and development activities is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. Disruptions at the FDA and other agencies may also slow the time necessary for new drugs and biologics to be reviewed and/or approved by necessary government agencies, which would adversely affect our business. For example, over the last several years, including for 35 days beginning on December 22, 2018, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA, have had to furlough critical FDA employees and stop critical activities.

Separately, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 10, 2020, the FDA announced its intention to postpone most foreign inspections of manufacturing facilities, and subsequently, on March 18, 2020, the FDA announced its intention to temporarily postpone routine surveillance inspections of domestic manufacturing facilities. Regulatory authorities outside the United States may adopt similar restrictions or other policy measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If a prolonged government shutdown occurs, or if global health concerns continue to prevent the FDA or other regulatory authorities from conducting their regular inspections, reviews, or other regulatory activities, it could significantly impact the ability of the FDA or other regulatory authorities to timely review and process our regulatory submissions, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We have conducted, and in the future plan to conduct, clinical trials for product candidates outside the United States, and the FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authorities may not accept data from such trials.

We have conducted clinical trials of our product candidates outside the United States, and plan to continue to do so in the future. For example, we conducted our Phase 1b clinical trial of ANX005 in Bangladesh. The acceptance of study data from clinical trials conducted outside the United States or another jurisdiction by the FDA, any comparable foreign regulatory authority may be subject to certain conditions or may not be accepted at all. In cases where data from foreign clinical trials are intended to serve as the basis for marketing approval in the United States, the FDA will generally not approve the application on the basis of foreign data alone unless (i) the data are applicable to the U.S. population and U.S. medical practice; (ii) the trials were performed pursuant to good clinical practice, or GCP, requirements; and (iii) if necessary, the FDA is able to validate the data through an on-site inspection. Many foreign regulatory authorities have similar requirements. In addition, foreign trials are subject to the applicable local laws of the foreign jurisdictions where the trials are conducted. There can be no

 

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assurance that the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority will accept data from trials conducted outside of the United States or the applicable jurisdiction. If the FDA or any comparable foreign regulatory authority does not accept such data, it would result in the need for additional trials, which would be costly and time-consuming and delay aspects of our business plan, and which may result in product candidates that we may develop not receiving approval or clearance for commercialization in the applicable jurisdiction.

If the product candidates that we develop receive regulatory approval in the United States or another jurisdiction, they may never receive approval in other jurisdictions, which would limit market opportunities for our product candidates and adversely affect our business.

Approval of a product candidate in the United States by the FDA or by the requisite regulatory agencies in any other jurisdiction does not ensure approval of such product candidate by regulatory authorities in other countries or jurisdictions. The approval process varies among countries and may limit our or any future collaborators’ ability to develop, manufacture, promote and sell product candidates internationally. Failure to obtain marketing approval in international jurisdictions would prevent the product candidates from being marketed outside of the jurisdictions in which regulatory approvals have been received. In order to market and sell product candidates in the European Union, or EU, and many other jurisdictions, we and any future collaborators must obtain separate marketing approvals and comply with numerous and varying regulatory requirements. The approval procedure varies among countries and may involve additional preclinical studies or clinical trials both before and after approval. In many countries, any product candidate for human use must be approved for reimbursement before it can be approved for sale in that country. In some cases, the intended price for such product is also subject to approval. Further, while regulatory approval of a product candidate in one country does not ensure approval in any other country, a failure or delay in obtaining regulatory approval in one country may have a negative effect on the regulatory approval process in others. If we or any future collaborators fail to comply with the regulatory requirements in international markets or to obtain all required marketing approvals, the target market for a particular potential product will be reduced, which would limit our ability to realize the full market potential for the product and adversely affect our business.

Any product candidates for which we intend to seek approval as biologic products may face competition sooner than anticipated.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law on March 23, 2010, includes a subtitle called the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009, or BPCIA, which created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed reference biological product. Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product may not be submitted to the FDA until four years following the date that the reference product was first licensed by the FDA. In addition, the approval of a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first licensed. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another company may still market a competing version of the reference product if the FDA approves a full Biologics License Application, or BLA, for the competing product containing the sponsor’s own pre-clinical data and data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of their product. The law is complex and is still being interpreted and implemented by the FDA. As a result, its ultimate impact, implementation, and meaning are subject to uncertainty. While it is uncertain when such processes intended to implement BPCIA may be fully adopted by the FDA, any such processes could have a material adverse effect on the future commercial prospects for our biological products.

There is a risk that any of our product candidates approved as a biological product under a BLA would not qualify for the 12-year period of exclusivity or that this exclusivity could be shortened due to congressional action or otherwise, or that the FDA will not consider our product candidates to be reference products for competing products, potentially creating the opportunity for generic competition sooner than anticipated. Other aspects of the BPCIA, some of which may impact the BPCIA exclusivity provisions, have also been the subject of litigation. Moreover, the extent to which a biosimilar, once approved, will be substituted for any one of our

 

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reference products in a way that is similar to traditional generic substitution for non-biological products is not yet clear, and will depend on a number of marketplace and regulatory factors that are still developing.

We rely on third-party suppliers to manufacture our product candidates, and we intend to rely on third parties to produce commercial supplies of any approved product. The loss of these suppliers, or their failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements or to provide us with sufficient quantities at acceptable quality levels or prices, or at all, would materially and adversely affect our business.

We do not have nor do we plan to build or acquire the infrastructure or capability internally to manufacture supplies of our product candidates or the materials necessary to produce our product candidates for use in the conduct of our preclinical studies or clinical trials, and we lack the internal resources and the capability to manufacture any of our product candidates on a preclinical, clinical or commercial scale. The facilities used by our contract manufacturers to manufacture our product candidates are subject to various regulatory requirements and may be subject to the inspection of the FDA or other regulatory authorities. We do not control the manufacturing processes of, and are completely dependent on, our contract manufacturing partners for compliance with the regulatory requirements, known as cGMPs. If our contract manufacturers cannot successfully manufacture material that conforms to our specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the FDA or comparable regulatory authorities in foreign jurisdictions, we may not be able to rely on their manufacturing facilities for the manufacture of our product candidates. In addition, we have limited control over the ability of our contract manufacturers to maintain adequate quality control, quality assurance and qualified personnel. If the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority finds these facilities inadequate for the manufacture of our product candidates or if such facilities are subject to enforcement action in the future or are otherwise inadequate, we may need to find alternative manufacturing facilities, which would significantly impact our ability to develop, obtain regulatory approval for or market our product candidates.

We currently intend to supply our product candidates in all territories for our clinical development programs. We currently rely on third parties at key stages in our supply chain. For instance, the supply chains for our two clinical-stage product candidates involve several manufacturers that specialize in specific operations of the manufacturing process, specifically, raw materials manufacturing, drug substance manufacturing and drug product manufacturing. As a result, the supply chain for the manufacturing of our product candidates is complicated, and we expect the logistical challenges associated with our supply chain to grow more complex as our product candidates are further developed.

We do not have any control over the process or timing of the acquisition or manufacture of materials by our manufacturers. We generally do not begin preclinical or clinical trials unless we believe we have access to a sufficient supply of a product candidate to complete such study. In addition, any significant delay in, or quality control problems with respect to, the supply of a product candidate, or the raw material components thereof, for an ongoing study could considerably delay completion of our preclinical or clinical trials, product testing and potential regulatory approval of our product candidates.

We have not yet engaged any manufacturers for the commercial supply of our product candidates. Although we intend to enter into such agreements prior to commercial launch of any of our product candidates, we may be unable to enter into any such agreement or do so on commercially reasonable terms, which could have a material adverse impact upon our business. Moreover, if there is a disruption to one or more of our third-party manufacturers’ or suppliers’ relevant operations, or if we are unable to enter into arrangements for the commercial supply of our product candidates, we will have no other means of producing our product candidates until they restore the affected facilities or we or they procure alternative manufacturing facilities or sources of supply. Our ability to progress our preclinical and clinical programs could be materially and adversely impacted if any of the third-party suppliers upon which we rely were to experience a significant business challenge, disruption or failure due to issues such as financial difficulties or bankruptcy, issues relating to other customers such as regulatory or quality compliance issues, or other financial, legal, regulatory or reputational issues. Additionally, any damage to or destruction of our third-party manufacturers’ or suppliers’ facilities or equipment may significantly impair our ability to manufacture our product candidates on a timely basis.

 

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In addition, to manufacture our product candidates in the quantities which we believe would be required to meet anticipated market demand, our third-party manufacturers would likely need to increase manufacturing capacity and we may need to secure alternative sources of commercial supply, which could involve significant challenges and may require additional regulatory approvals. In addition, the development of commercial-scale manufacturing capabilities may require us and our third-party manufacturers to invest substantial additional funds and hire and retain the technical personnel who have the necessary manufacturing experience. Neither we nor our third-party manufacturers may successfully complete any required increase to existing manufacturing capacity in a timely manner, or at all. If our manufacturers or we are unable to purchase the raw materials necessary for the manufacture of our product candidates on acceptable terms, at sufficient quality levels or in adequate quantities, if at all, the commercial launch of our product candidates would be delayed or there would be a shortage in supply, which would impair our ability to generate revenues from the sale of such product candidates, if approved.

We rely on third parties in the conduct of all of our preclinical studies and clinical trials. If these third parties do not successfully carry out their contractual duties, fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements or meet expected deadlines, we may be unable to obtain regulatory approval for our product candidates.

We currently do not have the ability to independently conduct preclinical studies or clinical trials that comply with the regulatory requirements known as good laboratory practice, or GLP, requirements or GCP requirements, respectively. The FDA and regulatory authorities in other jurisdictions require us to comply with GCP requirements for conducting, monitoring, recording and reporting the results of clinical trials, in order to ensure that the data and results are scientifically credible and accurate and that the trial subjects are adequately informed of the potential risks of participating in clinical trials. We rely on medical institutions, clinical investigators, contract laboratories and other third parties, such as CROs, to conduct GLP-compliant preclinical studies and GCP-compliant clinical trials on our product candidates properly and on time. While we have agreements governing their activities, we control only certain aspects of their activities and have limited influence over their actual performance. The third parties with whom we contract for execution of our GLP-compliant preclinical studies and our GCP-compliant clinical trials play a significant role in the conduct of these studies and the subsequent collection and analysis of data. These third parties are not our employees and, except for restrictions imposed by our contracts with such third parties, we have limited ability to control the amount or timing of resources that they devote to our programs. Although we rely on these third parties to conduct our GLP-compliant preclinical studies and GCP-compliant clinical trials, we remain responsible for ensuring that each of our preclinical studies and clinical trials is conducted in accordance with its investigational plan and protocol and applicable laws and regulations, and our reliance on the CROs does not relieve us of our regulatory responsibilities.

Many of the third parties with whom we contract may also have relationships with other commercial entities, including our competitors, for whom they may also be conducting clinical trials or other drug development activities that could harm our competitive position. If the third parties conducting our preclinical studies or our clinical trials do not adequately perform their contractual duties or obligations, experience significant business challenges, disruptions or failures, do not meet expected deadlines, terminate their agreements with us or need to be replaced, or if the quality or accuracy of the data they obtain is compromised due to their failure to adhere to our protocols or to GLPs or GCPs, or for any other reason, we may need to enter into new arrangements with alternative third parties. This could be difficult, costly or impossible, and our preclinical studies or clinical trials may need to be extended, delayed, terminated or repeated. As a result we may not be able to obtain regulatory approval in a timely fashion, or at all, for the applicable product candidate, our business, financial results and the commercial prospects for our product candidates would be harmed, our costs could increase, and our ability to generate revenues could be delayed.

 

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If we are not successful in identifying, developing and commercializing additional product candidates, our ability to expand our business and achieve our strategic objectives would be impaired.

Although a substantial amount of our effort will focus on the continued development and potential approval of our current product candidates, a key element of our strategy is to identify, develop and commercialize a portfolio of products that address classical complement-mediated autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. A component of our strategy is to evaluate our product candidates in multiple indications based, in part, on our evaluation of certain biomarkers in a disease area. For example, we intend to evaluate ANX005 in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and Huntington’s disease, or HD; however, we have not yet evaluated ANX005 in these patient populations and we may find that while we have seen promising results in one neurodegenerative disease, that effect is not replicated across other neurodegenerative or autoimmune diseases. Even if we successfully identify product candidates, we may still fail to yield product candidates for development and commercialization for many reasons, including the following:

 

   

competitors may develop alternatives that render our product candidates obsolete;

 

   

product candidates we develop may be covered by third parties’ patents or other exclusive rights;

 

   

a product candidate may be shown to have harmful side effects or other characteristics that indicate it is unlikely to be effective or otherwise does not meet applicable regulatory criteria;

 

   

a product candidate may not be capable of being produced in commercial quantities at an acceptable cost, or at all; and

 

   

a product candidate may not be accepted as safe and effective by physicians and patients.

We therefore cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to successfully identify or acquire additional product candidates, advance any of these additional product candidates through the development process, successfully commercialize any such additional product candidates, if approved, or assemble sufficient resources to identify, acquire, develop or, if approved, commercialize additional product candidates. If we are unable to successfully identify, acquire, develop and commercialize additional product candidates, our commercial opportunities may be limited.

We face significant competition in an environment of rapid technological and scientific change, and our product candidates, if approved, will face significant competition, which may prevent us from achieving significant market penetration. Most of our competitors have significantly greater resources than we do, and we may not be able to successfully compete.

The pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in particular are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on developing proprietary therapeutics. Numerous companies are engaged in the development, patenting, manufacturing and marketing of healthcare products competitive with those that we are developing. We face competition from a number of sources, such as pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, generic drug companies and academic and research institutions, many of which have greater financial resources, marketing capabilities, sales forces, manufacturing capabilities, research and development capabilities, clinical trial expertise, intellectual property portfolios, experience in obtaining patents and regulatory approvals for product candidates and other resources than we do. Some of the companies also have a broad range of other product offerings, large direct sales forces and long-term customer relationships with our target physicians, which could inhibit our market penetration efforts. Mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries may result in even more resources being concentrated among a smaller number of our competitors. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific and management personnel and establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs.

 

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Certain alternative treatments offered by competitors may be available at lower prices and may offer greater efficacy or better safety profiles. Furthermore, currently approved products could be discovered to have application for the intended indication of our product candidates, which could give such products significant regulatory and market timing advantages over any of our product candidates. Our competitors also may obtain FDA, European Medicines Agency, or EMA, or other regulatory approval for their products more rapidly than we may obtain approval for ours and may obtain orphan product exclusivity from the FDA for indications our product candidates are targeting, which could result in our competitors establishing a strong market position before we are able to enter the market. For additional information regarding our competition, see the section of this prospectus captioned “Business—Competition.”

The successful commercialization of our product candidates will depend in part on the extent to which governmental authorities and health insurers establish adequate coverage, reimbursement levels and pricing policies. Failure to obtain or maintain coverage and adequate reimbursement for our product candidates, if approved, could limit our ability to market those products and decrease our ability to generate revenue.

The availability and adequacy of coverage and reimbursement by governmental healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, private health insurers and other third-party payors are essential for most patients to be able to afford prescription medications such as our product candidates, if approved. Our ability to achieve acceptable levels of coverage and reimbursement for products by governmental authorities, private health insurers and other organizations will have an effect on our ability to successfully commercialize our product candidates. Obtaining coverage and adequate reimbursement for our products may be particularly difficult because of the higher prices often associated with drugs administered under the supervision of a physician. Even if we obtain coverage for our product candidates by a third-party payor, the resulting reimbursement payment rates may not be adequate or may require co-payments that patients find unacceptably high. We cannot be sure that coverage and reimbursement in the United States, the European Union or elsewhere will be available for our product candidates or any product that we may develop, and any reimbursement that may become available may be decreased or eliminated in the future.

Third-party payors increasingly are challenging prices charged for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology products and services, and many third-party payors may refuse to provide coverage and reimbursement for particular drugs or biologics when an equivalent generic drug, biosimilar or a less expensive therapy is available. It is possible that a third-party payor may consider our product candidates as substitutable and only offer to reimburse patients for the cost of the less expensive product. Even if we show improved efficacy or improved convenience of administration with our product candidates, pricing of existing third-party therapeutics may limit the amounts we will be able to charge for our product candidates. These payors may deny or revoke the reimbursement status of a given product or establish prices for new or existing marketed products at levels that are too low to enable us to realize an appropriate return on our investment in our product candidates. If reimbursement is not available or is available only at limited levels, we may not be able to successfully commercialize our product candidates and may not be able to obtain a satisfactory financial return on our investment in the development of product candidates.

There is significant uncertainty related to the insurance coverage and reimbursement of newly-approved products. In the United States, third-party payors, including private and governmental payors, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs, play an important role in determining the extent to which new drugs and biologics will be covered. The Medicare and Medicaid programs increasingly are used as models in the United States for how private payors and other governmental payors develop their coverage and reimbursement policies for drugs and biologics. Some third-party payors may require pre-approval of coverage for new or innovative devices or drug therapies before they will reimburse healthcare providers who use such therapies. We cannot predict at this time what third-party payors will decide with respect to the coverage and reimbursement for our product candidates.

No uniform policy for coverage and reimbursement for products exists among third-party payors in the United States. Therefore, coverage and reimbursement for products can differ significantly from payor to payor.

 

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As a result, the coverage determination process is often a time-consuming and costly process that will require us to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our product candidates to each payor separately, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be applied consistently or obtained in the first instance. Furthermore, rules and regulations regarding reimbursement change frequently, in some cases on short notice, and we believe that changes in these rules and regulations are likely.

Outside the United States, international operations are generally subject to extensive governmental price controls and other market regulations, and we believe the increasing emphasis on cost-containment initiatives in Europe and other foreign jurisdictions have and will continue to put pressure on the pricing and usage of our product candidates. In many countries, the prices of medical products are subject to varying price control mechanisms as part of national health systems. Other countries allow companies to fix their own prices for medical products, but monitor and control company profits. Additional foreign price controls or other changes in pricing regulation could restrict the amounts that we are able to charge for our product candidates. Accordingly, in markets outside the United States, the reimbursement for our product candidates may be reduced compared with the United States and may be insufficient to generate commercially-reasonable revenue and profits.

Moreover, increasing efforts by governmental and third-party payors in the United States and abroad to cap or reduce healthcare costs may cause such organizations to limit both coverage and the level of reimbursement for newly approved products, and, as a result, they may not cover or provide adequate payment for our product candidates. We expect to experience pricing pressures in connection with the sale of our product candidates due to the trend toward managed health care, the increasing influence of health maintenance organizations and additional legislative changes. The downward pressure on healthcare costs in general, particularly prescription drugs and biologics and surgical procedures and other treatments, has become intense. As a result, increasingly high barriers are being erected to the entry of new products.

We previously identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting and may identify additional material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, which may result in material misstatements of our financial statements or cause us to fail to meet our periodic reporting obligations.

Prior to this offering, we were a private company and had limited accounting and financial reporting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal controls and procedures. In connection with the audit of our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, we and our independent registered public accounting firm identified a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting. The material weakness that was identified related to an inadequate number of qualified personnel within our accounting function, which impacted our ability to perform effective reviews over non-routine transactions. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.

We have implemented measures designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting to address the underlying causes of this material weakness, including the hiring of accounting personnel and establishing new accounting and financial reporting policies, processes and controls to have in place an appropriate level of internal control over financial reporting. As a result of these measures, we remediated the material weakness as of December 31, 2019. However, we can give no assurance that additional material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting will not be identified in the future. Our failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could result in errors in our financial statements that could result in a restatement of our financial statements and cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations.

Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable and timely financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to reasonably detect and prevent fraud. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their

 

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implementation, could cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations. For as long as we are an “emerging growth company” under the JOBS Act, our independent registered public accounting firm will not be required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or Section 404. We could be an “emerging growth company” for up to five years. An independent assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting could detect problems that our management’s assessment might not. Undetected material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting could lead to financial statement restatements and require us to incur the expense of remediation.

We currently have no sales organization. If we are unable to establish sales capabilities on our own or through third parties, we may not be able to market and sell our product candidates, if approved, effectively in the United States and foreign jurisdictions or generate product revenue.

We currently do not have a marketing or sales organization. In order to commercialize our product candidates in the United States and foreign jurisdictions, we must build our marketing, sales, distribution, managerial and other non-technical capabilities or make arrangements with third parties to perform these services, and we may not be successful in doing so. If any of our product candidates receive regulatory approval, we expect to establish a sales organization with technical expertise and supporting distribution capabilities to commercialize each such product candidate, which will be expensive and time consuming. We have no prior experience in the marketing, sale and distribution of pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology products, and there are significant risks involved in building and managing a sales organization, including our ability to hire, retain and incentivize qualified individuals, generate sufficient sales leads, provide adequate training to sales and marketing personnel and effectively manage a geographically dispersed sales and marketing team. Any failure or delay in the development of our internal sales, marketing and distribution capabilities would adversely impact the commercialization of these products. We may choose to collaborate with third parties that have direct sales forces and established distribution systems, either to augment our own sales force and distribution systems or in lieu of our own sales force and distribution systems. If we are unable to enter into such arrangements on acceptable terms or at all, we may not be able to successfully commercialize our product candidates. If we are not successful in commercializing our product candidates or any future product candidates, either on our own or through arrangements with one or more third parties, we may not be able to generate any future product revenue and we would incur significant additional losses.

We will need to increase the size of our organization, and we may experience difficulties in managing growth.

As of June 30, 2020, we had 30 full-time employees. We will need to continue to expand our managerial, operational, finance and other resources in order to manage our operations and clinical trials, continue our development activities and commercialize our two clinical-stage product candidates or any future product candidates. Our management and personnel, systems and facilities currently in place may not be adequate to support this future growth. Our need to effectively execute our growth strategy requires that we:

 

   

manage our clinical trials effectively;

 

   

identify, recruit, retain, incentivize and integrate additional employees, including sales personnel;

 

   

manage our internal development and operational efforts effectively while carrying out our contractual obligations to third parties; and

 

   

continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls, reports systems and procedures.

If we fail to attract and retain senior management and key scientific personnel, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

Our success depends in part on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified management and clinical and scientific personnel. We are highly dependent upon members of our senior

 

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management, particularly our President and Chief Executive Officer, Douglas Love, Esq., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Sanjay Keswani, MBBS, BSc, FRCP, and Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Ted Yednock, Ph.D., as well as our senior scientists and other members of our senior management team. The loss of services of any of these individuals could delay or prevent the successful development of our product pipeline, initiation or completion of our planned clinical trials or the commercialization of our product candidates or any future product candidates.

Competition for qualified personnel in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology field is intense due to the limited number of individuals who possess the skills and experience required by our industry. We will need to hire additional personnel as we expand our clinical development and if we initiate commercial activities. We may not be able to attract and retain quality personnel on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, to the extent we hire personnel from competitors, we may be subject to allegations that they have been improperly solicited or that they have divulged proprietary or other confidential information, or that their former employers own their research output.

If product liability lawsuits are brought against us, we may incur substantial liabilities and may be required to limit commercialization of our current or future product candidates.

We face an inherent risk of product liability as a result of the clinical testing of our product candidates and will face an even greater risk if we commercialize any products. For example, we may be sued if any product we develop allegedly causes injury or is found to be otherwise unsuitable during product testing, manufacturing, marketing or sale. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product, negligence, strict liability and breach of warranty. Claims could also be asserted under state consumer protection acts. If we cannot successfully defend ourselves against product liability claims, we may incur substantial liabilities or be required to limit commercialization of our product candidates. Even a successful defense would require significant financial and management resources. Regardless of the merits or eventual outcome, liability claims may result in:

 

   

decreased demand for our current or future product candidates;

 

   

injury to our reputation;

 

   

withdrawal of clinical trial participants;

 

   

costs to defend the related litigation;

 

   

diversion of management’s time and our resources;

 

   

substantial monetary awards to trial participants or patients;

 

   

regulatory investigations, product recalls, withdrawals or labeling, marketing or promotional restrictions;

 

   

loss of revenue; and

 

   

the inability to commercialize our current or any future product candidates.

If we are unable to obtain and maintain sufficient product liability insurance at an acceptable cost and scope of coverage to protect against potential product liability claims, the commercialization of our current or any future product candidates we develop could be inhibited or prevented. We currently carry product liability insurance covering our clinical trials. Although we maintain such insurance, any claim that may be brought against us could result in a court judgment or settlement in an amount that is not covered, in whole or in part, by our insurance or that is in excess of the limits of our insurance coverage. Our insurance policies also have various exclusions and deductibles, and we may be subject to a product liability claim for which we have no coverage. We will have to pay any amounts awarded by a court or negotiated in a settlement that exceed our coverage limitations or that are not covered by our insurance, and we may not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to

 

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pay such amounts. Moreover, in the future, we may not be able to maintain insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses. If and when we obtain approval for marketing any of our product candidates, we intend to expand our insurance coverage to include the sale of such product candidate; however, we may be unable to obtain this liability insurance on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Any collaboration arrangements that we may enter into in the future may not be successful, which could adversely affect our ability to develop and commercialize our product candidates.

While we have not entered into any collaboration agreements to date, we may seek collaboration arrangements for the commercialization, or potentially for the development, of certain of our product candidates depending on the merits of retaining commercialization rights for ourselves as compared to entering into collaboration arrangements. For example, certain of the disease areas that we believe our product candidates address, including, among others, ophthalmic indications, require large, costly and later-stage clinical trials, which a collaboration partner may be better positioned to finance and/or conduct. In addition, a component of our strategy is to maximize the commercial value of our current and future product candidates, which may also strategically align with partnering commercial rights with partners that have larger and established sales organizations. To the extent that we decide to enter into collaboration agreements, we may face significant competition for appropriate collaborators. Moreover, collaboration arrangements are complex and time-consuming to negotiate, document, implement and maintain and challenging to manage. We may not be successful in our efforts to enter into collaboration agreements. The terms of collaborations or other arrangements that we may establish may not be favorable to us.

The success of our collaboration arrangements will depend heavily on the efforts and activities of our collaborators. Collaborations are subject to numerous risks, which may include risks that:

 

   

collaborators have significant discretion in determining the efforts and resources that they will apply to collaborations;

 

   

collaborators may not pursue development and commercialization of our product candidates or may elect not to continue or renew development or commercialization programs based on clinical trial results, changes in their strategic focus due to their acquisition of competitive products or their internal development of competitive products, availability of funding or other external factors, such as a business combination that diverts resources or creates competing priorities;

 

   

collaborators may delay clinical trials, provide insufficient funding for a clinical trial program, stop a clinical trial, abandon a product candidate, repeat or conduct new clinical trials or require a new formulation of a product candidate for clinical testing;

 

   

collaborators could independently develop, or develop with third parties, products that compete directly or indirectly with our products or product candidates;

 

   

collaborators with marketing, manufacturing and distribution rights to one or more products may not commit sufficient resources to or otherwise not perform satisfactorily in carrying out these activities;

 

   

we could grant exclusive rights to our collaborators that would prevent us from collaborating with others;

 

   

collaborators may not properly maintain or defend our intellectual property rights or may use our intellectual property or proprietary information in a way that gives rise to actual or threatened litigation that could jeopardize or invalidate our intellectual property or proprietary information or expose us to potential liability;

 

   

disputes may arise between us and collaborators that cause the delay or termination of the research, development or commercialization of our current or future product candidates or that result in costly litigation or arbitration that diverts management attention and resources;

 

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collaborations may be terminated, and, if terminated, this may result in a need for additional capital to pursue further development or commercialization of the applicable current or future product candidates;

 

   

collaborators may own or co-own intellectual property covering products that result from our collaborating with them, and in such cases, we would not have the exclusive right to develop or commercialize such intellectual property;

 

   

disputes may arise with respect to the ownership of any intellectual property developed pursuant to our collaborations; and

 

   

collaborators’ sales and marketing activities or other operations may not be in compliance with applicable laws resulting in civil or criminal proceedings.

Unfavorable global economic or political conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Our business is susceptible to general conditions in the global economy and in the global financial markets. A global financial crisis or a global or regional political disruption could cause extreme volatility in the capital and credit markets. A severe or prolonged economic downturn, including a recession or depression resulting from the current COVID-19 pandemic, or political disruption could result in a variety of risks to our business, including weakened demand for our product candidates or any future product candidates, if approved, and our ability to raise additional capital when needed on acceptable terms, if at all. A weak or declining economy or political disruption could also strain our manufacturers or suppliers, possibly resulting in supply disruption, or cause our customers to delay making payments for our potential products. Any of the foregoing could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and we cannot anticipate all of the ways in which the political or economic climate and financial market conditions could adversely impact our business.

We or the third parties upon whom we depend may be adversely affected by earthquakes or other natural disasters, and our business continuity and disaster recovery plans may not adequately protect us from a serious disaster.

Our corporate headquarters and other facilities are located in the San Francisco Bay Area, which has experienced both severe earthquakes and the effects of wildfires. We do not carry earthquake insurance. Earthquakes, wildfires or other natural disasters could severely disrupt our operations, and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

If a natural disaster, power outage or other event occurred that prevented us from using all or a significant portion of our headquarters, that damaged critical infrastructure or that otherwise disrupted operations, it may be difficult or, in certain cases, impossible, for us to continue our business for a substantial period of time. The disaster recovery and business continuity plans we have in place currently are limited and are unlikely to prove adequate in the event of a serious disaster or similar event. We may incur substantial expenses as a result of the limited nature of our disaster recovery and business continuity plans, which, particularly when taken together with our lack of earthquake insurance, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Furthermore, integral parties in our supply chain are similarly vulnerable to natural disasters or other sudden, unforeseen and severe adverse events. If such an event were to affect our supply chain, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Significant disruptions of information technology systems, breaches of data security and other incidents could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We collect and maintain information in digital and other forms that is necessary to conduct our business, and we are increasingly dependent on information technology systems and infrastructure to operate our business.

 

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In the ordinary course of our business, we collect, store and transmit large amounts of confidential information, including intellectual property, proprietary business information and personal information. It is critical that we do so in a secure manner to maintain the privacy, security, confidentiality and integrity of such confidential information. We have established physical, electronic and organizational measures designed to safeguard and secure our systems to prevent a data compromise, and rely on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for our information technology systems and the processing, transmission and storage of digital information. We have also outsourced elements of our information technology infrastructure, and as a result a number of third-party vendors may have access to our confidential information. Our internal information technology systems and infrastructure, and those of any future collaborators and our contractors, consultants, vendors and other third parties on which we rely, are vulnerable to damage or unauthorized access or use resulting from computer viruses, malware, natural disasters, terrorism, war, telecommunication and electrical failures, cyber-attacks or cyber-intrusions over the Internet, denial or degradation of service attacks, ransomware, hacking, phishing and other social engineering attacks, attachments to emails, persons inside our organization or persons with access to systems inside our organization.

The risk of a security breach or disruption, particularly through cyber-attacks or cyber intrusion, including by computer hackers, foreign governments and cyber terrorists, has generally increased as the number, intensity and sophistication of attempted attacks and intrusions from around the world have increased. The prevalent use of mobile devices that access confidential information also increases the risk of lost or stolen devices, security incidents and data security breaches, which could lead to the loss of confidential information or other intellectual property. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may face increased risks of a security breach or disruption due to our reliance on internet technology and the number of our employees who are working remotely, which may create additional opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities. The costs to us to investigate, mitigate and remediate security incidents, breaches, disruptions, network security problems, bugs, viruses, worms, malicious software programs and security vulnerabilities could be significant, and while we have implemented security measures to protect our data security and information technology systems, our efforts to address these problems may not be successful, and these problems could result in unexpected interruptions, delays, cessation of service, negative publicity and other harm to our business and our competitive position. If such an event were to occur and cause interruptions in our operations, it could result in a material disruption of our product development programs. For example, the loss of clinical trial data from completed or ongoing or planned clinical trials could result in delays in our regulatory approval efforts and significantly increase our costs to recover or reproduce the data. Any security compromise affecting us, our partners or our industry, whether real or perceived, could harm our reputation, erode confidence in the effectiveness of our security measures and lead to regulatory scrutiny. Moreover, if a computer security breach affects our systems or results in the unauthorized access to or unauthorized use, disclosure, release or other processing of personally identifiable information or clinical trial data, it may be necessary to notify individuals, governmental authorities, supervisory bodies, the media and other parties pursuant to privacy and security laws, and our reputation could be materially damaged. We would also be exposed to a risk of loss, governmental investigations or enforcement, or litigation and potential liability, which could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Failure to comply with health and data protection laws and regulations could lead to government enforcement actions and civil or criminal penalties, private litigation or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business.

We and any future collaborators are subject to or affected by federal, state and foreign data protection laws and regulations which address privacy and data security. In the United States, numerous federal and state laws and regulations, including the U.S. federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 and its implementing regulations, or HITECH, state data breach notification laws, state health information privacy laws and federal and state consumer protection laws, including Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, which govern the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health-related and other personal information, may

 

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apply to our operations and the operations of any future collaborators. In addition, we may obtain health information from third parties, including research institutions from which we obtain clinical trial data, that are subject to privacy and security requirements under HIPAA, as amended by HITECH, and other privacy and data security laws. Depending on the facts and circumstances, we could be subject to significant administrative, civil and criminal penalties if we obtain, use or disclose individually identifiable health information maintained by a HIPAA-covered entity in a manner that is not authorized or permitted by HIPAA. Further, various states have implemented similar privacy laws and regulations. For example, California also recently enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018, or CCPA. The CCPA gives California residents expanded rights to access and delete their personal information, opt out of certain personal information sharing and receive detailed information about how their personal information is used. The CCPA also provides for civil penalties for violations, as well as a private right of action for data breaches that is expected to increase data breach litigation. The CCPA went into effect on January 1, 2020, and the California Attorney General may bring enforcement actions for violations beginning July 1, 2020. The CCPA has been amended from time to time, and it remains unclear what, if any, further modifications will be made to this legislation or how it will be interpreted. As currently written, the CCPA may impact our business activities and as a result may increase our compliance costs and potential liability. Many similar privacy laws have been proposed at the federal level and in other states.

Foreign data protection laws, including Regulation 2016/679, known as the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, may also apply to health-related and other personal information data subjects in the EU or the United Kingdom, or UK. The GDPR went into effect on May 25, 2018. Companies that must comply with the GDPR face increased compliance obligations and risk, including robust regulatory enforcement of data protection requirements as well as potential fines for noncompliance of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenue of the noncompliance company, whichever is greater. The GDPR imposes numerous requirements for the collection, use, storage and disclosure of personal information of EU or UK data subjects, including requirements relating to providing notice to and obtaining consent from data subjects, personal data breach notification, cross-border transfers of personal information, and honoring and providing for the rights of EU or UK individuals in relation to their personal information, including the right to access, correct and delete their data.

Compliance with U.S. and foreign data protection laws and regulations could require us to take on more onerous obligations in our contracts, require us to engage in costly compliance exercises, restrict our ability to collect, use and disclose data, or in some cases, impact our or our partners’ or suppliers’ ability to operate in certain jurisdictions. Failure to comply with U.S. and foreign data protection laws and regulations could result in government investigations and/or enforcement actions, fines, civil or criminal penalties, private litigation or adverse publicity and could negatively affect our operating results and business.

Moreover, clinical trial subjects about whom we or any of our potential collaborators obtain information, as well as the providers who share this information with us, may contractually limit our ability to use and disclose the information. Claims that we have violated individuals’ privacy rights, failed to comply with data protection laws or breached our contractual obligations, even if we are not found liable, could be expensive and time consuming to defend and could result in adverse publicity that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Our employees and independent contractors, including principal investigators, consultants, any future commercial collaborators, service providers and other vendors, may engage in misconduct or other improper activities, including noncompliance with regulatory standards and requirements, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

We are exposed to the risk that our employees and independent contractors, including principal investigators, consultants, any future commercial collaborators, service providers and other vendors may engage in misconduct or other illegal activity. Misconduct by these parties could include intentional, reckless and/or negligent conduct or other unauthorized activities that violate the laws and regulations of the FDA and other

 

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similar regulatory bodies, including those laws that require the reporting of true, complete and accurate information to such regulatory bodies; manufacturing standards; U.S. federal and state healthcare fraud and abuse, data privacy laws and other similar non-U.S. laws; or laws that require the true, complete and accurate reporting of financial information or data. Activities subject to these laws also involve the improper use or misrepresentation of information obtained in the course of clinical trials, the creation of fraudulent data in our preclinical studies or clinical trials, or illegal misappropriation of product, which could result in regulatory sanctions and cause serious harm to our reputation. It is not always possible to identify and deter misconduct by employees and other third parties, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not be effective in controlling unknown or unmanaged risks or losses or in protecting us from governmental investigations or other actions or lawsuits stemming from a failure to comply with such laws or regulations. In addition, we are subject to the risk that a person or government could allege such fraud or other misconduct, even if none occurred. If any such actions are instituted against us, and we are not successful in defending ourselves or asserting our rights, those actions could have a significant impact on our business and financial results, including, without limitation, the imposition of significant civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, monetary fines, disgorgements, possible exclusion from participation in Medicare, Medicaid and other U.S. healthcare programs, other sanctions, imprisonment, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and future earnings and curtailment of our operations, any of which could adversely affect our ability to operate our business and our results of operations.

Our business involves the use of hazardous materials, and we and our third-party manufacturers and suppliers must comply with environmental laws and regulations, which can be expensive and restrict how we do business.

Our research and development activities and our third-party manufacturers’ and suppliers’ activities involve the controlled storage, use and disposal of hazardous materials owned by us, including the components of our product candidates and other hazardous compounds. We and any third-party manufacturers and suppliers are subject to numerous federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws, regulations and permitting requirements, including those governing laboratory procedures; the generation, handling, use, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous and regulated materials and wastes; the emission and discharge of hazardous materials into the ground, air and water; and employee health and safety. Our operations involve the use of hazardous and flammable materials, including chemicals and biological and radioactive materials. Our operations also produce hazardous waste. In some cases, these hazardous materials and various wastes resulting from their use are stored at our and our manufacturers’ facilities pending their use and disposal. We generally contract with third parties for the disposal of these materials and wastes. We cannot eliminate the risk of contamination, which could cause an interruption of our commercialization efforts, research and development efforts and business operations, and environmental damage resulting in costly clean-up and liabilities under applicable laws and regulations governing the use, storage, handling and disposal of these materials and specified waste products.

We cannot guarantee that the safety procedures utilized by our third-party manufacturers for handling and disposing of these materials comply with the standards prescribed by these laws and regulations, nor can we eliminate the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. Under certain environmental laws, we could be held responsible for costs relating to any contamination at our current or past facilities and at third-party facilities. In such an event, we may be held liable for any resulting damages and such liability could exceed our resources, and state or federal or other applicable authorities may curtail our use of certain materials and/or interrupt our business operations. Furthermore, environmental laws and regulations are complex, change frequently and have tended to become more stringent. We cannot predict the impact of such changes and cannot be certain of our future compliance.

Compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations may be expensive, and current or future environmental laws and regulations may impair our research, product development and manufacturing efforts. In addition, we cannot entirely eliminate the risk of accidental injury or contamination from hazardous materials or wastes. Although we maintain workers’ compensation insurance to cover us for costs and expenses we may incur

 

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due to injuries to our employees resulting from the use of hazardous materials, this insurance may not provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. We do not carry specific biological or hazardous waste insurance coverage, and our property, casualty and general liability insurance policies specifically exclude coverage for damages and fines arising from biological or hazardous waste exposure or contamination. Accordingly, in the event of contamination or injury, we could be held liable for damages or be penalized with fines in an amount exceeding our resources, and our clinical trials or regulatory approvals could be suspended, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Risks Related to Intellectual Property

Our current and any future product candidates or products could be alleged to infringe patent rights and other proprietary rights of third parties, which may require costly litigation and, if we are not successful, could cause us to pay substantial damages and/or limit our ability to commercialize our products.

Our commercial success depends on our ability to develop, manufacture and market our current and any future product candidates that may be approved for sale, and to use our proprietary technology without infringing the patents and other proprietary rights of third parties. Intellectual property disputes can be costly to defend and may cause our business, operating results and financial condition to suffer. We operate in an industry with extensive intellectual property litigation. As the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries expand and more patents are issued, the risk increases that there may be patents issued to third parties that relate to our products and technology of which we are not aware or that we may need to challenge to continue our operations as currently contemplated.

Whether merited or not, we may face allegations that we have infringed the trademarks, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties, including patents held by our competitors or by non-practicing entities. We may also face allegations that our employees have misappropriated the intellectual property rights of their former employers or other third parties. Litigation may make it necessary to defend ourselves by determining the scope, enforceability and validity of third-party proprietary rights, or to establish our proprietary rights. Regardless of whether claims that we are infringing patents or other intellectual property rights have merit, the claims can be time consuming, divert management attention and financial resources and are costly to evaluate and defend. Results of any such litigation are difficult to predict and may require us to stop treating certain conditions, obtain licenses or modify our products and features while we develop non-infringing substitutes, or may result in significant settlement costs. For example, litigation can involve substantial damages for infringement, and if the court finds that the infringement was willful, we could be ordered to pay treble damages and the patent owner’s attorneys’ fees. We may also be prohibited from selling or licensing our products unless the third party licenses rights to us, which it is not required to do at a commercially reasonable price or at all. If a license is available from a third party, we may have to pay substantial royalties or upfront fees or grant cross-licenses to intellectual property rights for our products. We may also have to redesign our products so they do not infringe third-party intellectual property rights, which may not be possible or may require substantial monetary expenditures and time, during which our products may not be available for manufacture, use or sale.

Although we have reviewed certain third-party patents and patent filings that we believe may be relevant to our product candidates, we have not conducted a freedom-to-operate search or analysis for any of our product candidates, and we may not be aware of patents or pending or future patent applications that, if issued, would block us from commercializing our product candidates. Thus, we cannot guarantee that our product candidates, or our commercialization thereof, do not and will not infringe any third party’s intellectual property.

In addition, patent applications in the United States and many international jurisdictions are typically not published until 18 months after the filing of certain priority documents (or, in some cases, are not published until they issue as patents), and publications in the scientific literature often lag behind actual discoveries. Therefore, we cannot be certain that others have not filed patent applications or made public disclosures relating to our

 

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technology or our contemplated technology. A third party may have filed, and may in the future file, patent applications covering our product candidates or technology similar to ours. Any such patent application may have priority over our patent applications or patents, which could further require us to obtain rights to issued patents covering such technologies. If another party has filed a U.S. patent application on inventions similar to ours, depending on whether the timing of the filing date falls under certain patent laws, we may have to participate in a priority contest (such as an interference proceeding) declared by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, to determine priority of invention in the United States. The costs of patent litigation and other proceedings could be substantial, and it is possible that such efforts would be unsuccessful if it is determined that the other party had independently arrived at the same or similar invention prior to our own invention, resulting in a loss of our U.S. patent position with respect to such invention.

From time to time, we may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business with respect to intellectual property. We may receive claims from third parties asserting infringement of their intellectual property rights. Future litigation may be necessary to establish our intellectual property rights or to defend ourselves by determining the scope, enforceability and validity of third-party intellectual property rights. There can be no assurance with respect to the outcome of any current or future litigation brought by or against us, and the outcome of any such litigation could have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition. Litigation is inherently unpredictable, and outcomes are uncertain. Further, as the costs and outcome of these types of claims and proceedings can vary significantly, it is difficult to estimate potential losses that may occur. Accordingly, we are unable at this time to estimate the effects of these potential future lawsuits on our financial condition, operations or cash flows.

Some of our competitors may be able to sustain the costs of complex patent litigation more effectively than we can. Even if resolved in our favor, litigation or other legal proceedings relating to intellectual property claims may cause us to incur significant expenses, and could distract our technical and management personnel from their normal responsibilities. In addition, there could be public announcements of the results of hearings, motions or other interim proceedings or developments, and if securities analysts or investors perceive these results to be negative, it could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common stock. Any uncertainties resulting from the initiation and continuation of any litigation could have a material adverse effect on our ability to raise the funds necessary to continue our operations.

If we are unable to obtain, maintain and enforce intellectual property protection directed to our current and any future technologies that we develop, others may be able to make, use or sell products substantially the same as ours, which could adversely affect our ability to compete in the market.

We have not pursued or maintained, and may not pursue or maintain in the future, patent protection for our product candidates in every country or territory in which we may sell our products. In addition, we cannot be sure that any of our pending patent applications or pending trademark applications will issue or that, if issued, they will issue in a form that will provide adequate protection. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, international patent offices or judicial bodies may deny or significantly narrow claims made under our patent applications, and our issued patents may be successfully challenged, may be designed around or may otherwise be of insufficient scope to provide us with protection for our products. Further, the USPTO, international trademark offices or judicial bodies may deny our trademark applications and, even if published or registered, these trademarks may not effectively protect our brand and goodwill. Like patents, trademarks also may be successfully opposed or challenged.

We cannot be certain that the steps we have taken will prevent unauthorized use or unauthorized reverse engineering of our technology. Moreover, third parties may independently develop technologies that are competitive with ours and such competitive technologies may or may not infringe our intellectual property. The enforcement of our intellectual property rights also depends on the success of any legal actions we may take against these infringers in the respective country or forum, but these actions may not be successful. As with all granted intellectual property, such intellectual property may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, may not provide protection and/or may not prove to be enforceable in actions against specific alleged infringers.

 

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The market for pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals is highly competitive and subject to rapid technological change. Our success depends, in part, upon our ability to maintain a competitive position in the development and protection of technologies and any future products for use in these fields and upon our ability to obtain, maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights. We seek to obtain and maintain patents and other intellectual property rights to restrict the ability of others to market products that misappropriate our technology and/or infringe our intellectual property to unfairly and illegally compete with any future products. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights, our competitive position and our business could be harmed, as third parties may be able to make, use or sell products that are substantially the same as any future products we may sell without incurring the sizeable development and licensing costs that we have incurred, which would adversely affect our ability to compete in the market.

We use a combination of patents, trademarks, know-how, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect our proprietary technology. However, these protections may not be adequate and may not provide us with any competitive advantage. For example, patents may not issue from any of our currently pending or any future patent applications, and our issued patents and any future patents that may issue may not survive legal challenges to their scope, validity or enforceability, or provide significant protection for us.

If we or any future collaborators we may have were to initiate legal proceedings against a third party to enforce a patent covering one of our product candidates or future product candidates, the defendant could counterclaim that our patent is invalid and/or unenforceable. In patent litigation in the United States, defendant counterclaims alleging invalidity and/or unenforceability are commonplace. Grounds for a validity challenge could be an alleged failure to meet any of several statutory requirements, including obviousness or lack of novelty, enablement or written description. Grounds for an unenforceability assertion could be an allegation that someone connected with prosecution of the patent withheld relevant information from the USPTO, or made a misleading statement, during prosecution. Third parties may also raise similar claims before the USPTO even outside the context of litigation. The outcome following legal assertions of invalidity and unenforceability is unpredictable. With respect to validity, for example, we cannot be certain that there is no invalidating prior art of which we and the patent examiner were unaware during prosecution. If a defendant were to prevail on a legal assertion of invalidity and/or unenforceability, we would lose at least part, and perhaps all, of the patent protection on our product candidates. Such a loss of patent protection would have a material adverse impact on our business.

Even if our patents are determined by a court to be valid and enforceable, they may not be interpreted sufficiently broadly to prevent others from marketing products similar to ours or designing around our patents. For example, third parties may be able to make products that are similar to ours but that are not covered by the claims of our patents. Third parties may assert that we or our licensors were not the first to make the inventions covered by our issued patents or pending patent applications. The claims of our issued patents or patent applications when issued may not cover our product candidates or any future products that we develop. We may not have freedom to commercialize unimpeded by the patent rights of others. Third parties may have patents that dominate, block or are otherwise relevant to our technology. There may be prior public disclosures or other art that could be deemed to invalidate one or more of our patent claims. Further, we may not develop additional proprietary technologies in the future, and, if we do, they may not be patentable.

Patent law can be highly uncertain and involve complex legal and factual questions for which important principles remain unresolved. In the United States and in many international jurisdictions, policies regarding the breadth of claims allowed in patents can be inconsistent. The U.S. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit have made, and will likely continue to make, changes in how the patent laws of the United States are interpreted. Similarly, international courts have made, and will likely continue to make, changes in how the patent laws in their respective jurisdictions are interpreted. We cannot predict future changes in the interpretation of patent laws or changes to patent laws that might be enacted into law by U.S. and international legislative bodies. Those changes may materially affect the patents and patent applications of our licensors, our existing or future patents and patent applications and our ability to obtain additional patents in the future.

 

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Patent reform legislation in the United States could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents. For example, on September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, or Leahy-Smith Act, was signed into law. The Leahy-Smith Act included a number of significant changes to U.S. patent law. These include provisions that affect the way patent applications are prosecuted, redefine prior art, may affect patent litigation and switch the U.S. patent system from a “first-to-invent” system to a “first-to-file” system. Under a “first-to-file” system, assuming the other requirements for patentability are met, the first inventor to file a patent application generally will be entitled to the patent on an invention regardless of whether another inventor had made the invention earlier. The USPTO has developed regulations and procedures to govern administration of the Leahy-Smith Act, and many of the substantive changes to patent law associated with the Leahy-Smith Act, and in particular, the first-to-file provisions, only became effective on March 16, 2013. The Leahy-Smith Act and its implementation could increase the uncertainties and costs surrounding the prosecution of our patent applications and the enforcement or defense of our issued patents, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. Any future changes in the patent laws of the United States, or even the possibility of such changes, may further increase these uncertainties and costs.

In addition, we have a number of international patents and patent applications, and expect to continue to pursue patent protection in many of the significant markets in which we intend to do business. The laws of some international jurisdictions may not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as laws in the United States, and many companies have encountered significant difficulties in obtaining, protecting and defending such rights in international jurisdictions. If we encounter such difficulties or we are otherwise precluded from effectively protecting our intellectual property rights in international jurisdictions, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. Earlier patent filings in certain international countries may also permit third parties to allege priority to certain technology in those countries.

Patent terms may be shortened or lengthened by, for example, terminal disclaimers, patent term adjustments, supplemental protection certificates and patent term extensions. Patent term extensions and supplemental protection certificates, and the like, may be impacted by the regulatory process and may not significantly lengthen patent term. Non-payment or delay in payment of patent fees or annuities, delay in patent filings or delay in extension filing (including any patent term extension or adjustment filing), whether intentional or unintentional, may also result in the loss of patent rights important to our business. Certain countries have compulsory licensing laws under which a patent owner may be compelled to grant licenses to other parties. In addition, many countries limit the enforceability of patents against other parties, including government agencies or government contractors. In these countries, the patent owner may have limited remedies, which could materially diminish the value of any patents.

In addition to the protection afforded by patents, we rely on confidentiality agreements to protect confidential information and proprietary know-how that is not patentable or that we elect not to patent, processes for which patents are difficult to enforce and any other elements of our product candidate discovery and development processes that involve proprietary know-how, information or technology that is not covered by patents. We seek to protect our proprietary technology and processes, in part, by entering into confidentiality agreements with our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and contractors. We cannot guarantee that we have entered into such agreements with each party that may have or have had access to our confidential information or proprietary technology and processes. We also seek to preserve the integrity and confidentiality of our data and other confidential information by maintaining physical security of our premises and physical and electronic security of our information technology systems. Agreements or security measures may be breached, and detecting the disclosure or misappropriation of confidential information and enforcing a claim that a party illegally disclosed or misappropriated confidential information is difficult, expensive and time-consuming, and the outcome is unpredictable. Further, we may not be able to obtain adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our confidential information may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors, in which case we would have no right to prevent them, or those to whom they communicate it, from

 

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using that technology or information to compete with us. We rely on trade secret protection, which would be subject to the risks identified above with respect to confidential information.

Monitoring unauthorized use of our intellectual property is difficult and costly. From time to time, we review our competitors’ products, and may in the future seek to enforce our patents or other rights against potential infringement. However, the steps we have taken to protect our proprietary rights may not be adequate to prevent misappropriation of our intellectual property. We may not be able to detect unauthorized use of, or take appropriate steps to enforce, our intellectual property rights. Our competitors may also independently develop similar technology. Any inability to meaningfully protect our intellectual property could result in competitors offering products competitive to our products. In addition, we may need to defend our patents from third-party challenges, such as interferences, derivation proceedings, re-examination proceedings, post-grant review, inter partes review, third-party submissions, oppositions, nullity actions or other patent proceedings. We may need to initiate infringement claims or litigation.

Adverse proceedings such as litigation can be expensive, time consuming and may divert the efforts of our technical and managerial personnel, which could in turn materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, whether or not we receive a determination favorable to us. In addition, in an infringement proceeding, a court or other judicial body may decide that the patent we seek to enforce is invalid or unenforceable, or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that the patent in question does not cover the technology in question or that stopping the other party would harm the public interest. An adverse result in any litigation could put one or more of our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly. Some of our competitors may be able to devote significantly more resources to intellectual property litigation, and may have significantly broader patent portfolios to assert against us if we assert our rights against them. Further, because of the substantial discovery required in connection with intellectual property litigation, there is a risk that some of our confidential information could be disclosed or otherwise compromised during litigation.

We may not be able to correctly estimate or control our future operating expenses in relation to obtaining intellectual property, enforcing intellectual property and/or defending intellectual property, which could affect operating expenses. Our operating expenses may fluctuate significantly in the future as a result of a variety of factors, including the costs of preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing patent and trademark claims and other intellectual property-related costs, including adverse proceedings and litigation costs.

We license patent rights from third-party owners. Such licenses may be subject to early termination if we fail to comply with our obligations in our licenses with third parties, which could result in the loss of rights or technology that are material to our business.

We are a party to licenses that give us rights to third-party intellectual property that are necessary or useful for our business, and we may enter into additional licenses in the future. Under these license agreements we are obligated to pay the licensor fees, which may include annual license fees, milestone payments, royalties, a percentage of revenues associated with the licensed technology and a percentage of sublicensing revenue. In addition, under certain of such agreements, we are required to diligently pursue the development of products using the licensed technology. If we fail to comply with these obligations and fail to cure our breach within a specified period of time, the licensor may have the right to terminate the applicable license, in which event we could lose valuable rights and technology that are material to our business.

If the licensor retains control of prosecution of the patents and patent applications licensed to us, we may have limited or no control over the manner in which the licensor chooses to prosecute or maintain its patents and patent applications and have limited or no right to continue to prosecute any patents or patent applications that the licensor elects to abandon.

 

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Our intellectual property agreements with third parties may be subject to disagreements over contract interpretation, which could narrow the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology or increase our financial or other obligations to our licensors.

Certain provisions in our intellectual property agreements may be susceptible to multiple interpretations. The resolution of any contract interpretation disagreement that may arise could affect the scope of our rights to the relevant intellectual property or technology, or affect financial or other obligations under the relevant agreement, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

In addition, while it is our policy to require our employees and contractors who may be involved in the conception or development of intellectual property to execute agreements assigning such intellectual property to us, we may be unsuccessful in executing such an agreement with each party who in fact conceives or develops intellectual property that we regard as our own. Our assignment agreements may not be self-executing or may be breached, and we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property.

We jointly own certain patent rights with third parties. Our ability to out-license these patent rights, or to prevent the third party from out-licensing these patent rights, may be limited in certain countries.

We jointly own certain patents and patent applications with third parties, and may jointly own patents and patent applications with third parties in the future. Unless we enter into an agreement with the joint owner, we will be subject to certain default rules pertaining to joint ownership. Certain countries require the consent of all joint owners to license jointly owned patents, and if we are unable to obtain such consent from the joint owner, we may not be able to license our rights under these patents and patent applications. In certain other countries, including the United States, the joint owner could license its rights under these patents and patent applications to another party without our consent and without any duty of accounting to us.

We may be subject to claims challenging the inventorship or ownership of our patents and other intellectual property.

We may also be subject to claims that former employees, any future collaborators or other third parties have an ownership interest in our patents or other intellectual property. Litigation may be necessary to defend against these and other claims challenging inventorship or ownership. If we fail in defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights and could even face litigation for infringing patents that we had regarded as ours. Such an outcome could have a material adverse effect on our business. Even if we are successful in defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and distraction to management and other employees.

We may not be able to protect our intellectual property rights throughout the world.

Filing, prosecuting and defending patents on product candidates in all countries throughout the world would be prohibitively expensive, and the laws of some foreign countries do not protect intellectual property rights to the same extent as federal and state laws in the United States. Consequently, we may not be able to prevent third parties from practicing our inventions in all countries outside the United States, or from selling or importing products made using our inventions in and into the United States or other jurisdictions. Competitors may use our technologies in jurisdictions where we have not obtained patent protection to develop their own products, and may export otherwise infringing products to territories where we have patent protection but enforcement is not as strong as that in the United States. These products may compete with any future products we may sell, and our patents or other intellectual property rights may not be effective or sufficient to prevent them from competing.

Many companies have encountered significant problems in protecting and defending intellectual property rights in foreign jurisdictions. The legal systems of certain countries, particularly certain developing countries, do

 

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not favor the enforcement of patents and other intellectual property protection, particularly those relating to pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, which could make it difficult for us to stop the infringement of our patents or marketing of competing products in violation of our proprietary rights generally. Proceedings to enforce our patent rights in foreign jurisdictions could result in substantial costs and divert our efforts and attention from other aspects of our business, could put our patents at risk of being invalidated or interpreted narrowly and our patent applications at risk of not issuing and could provoke third parties to assert claims against us. We may not prevail in any lawsuits that we initiate, and the damages or other remedies awarded, if any, may not be commercially meaningful. Accordingly, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights around the world may be inadequate to obtain a significant commercial advantage from the intellectual property that we develop or license.

If our trademarks and trade names are not adequately protected, then we may not be able to build name recognition in our markets of interest and our business may be adversely affected.

Our registered or unregistered trademarks or trade names may be challenged, infringed, circumvented, declared generic or conflict with third-party rights. We may not be able to protect our rights to these trademarks and trade names, which we need to build name recognition with potential partners, physicians or patients in our markets of interest. In addition, third parties may file first for our trademarks in certain countries. If they succeeded in registering such trademarks, and if we are not successful in challenging such third-party rights, we may not be able to use these trademarks to market our future products in those countries. In such cases, over the long term, if we are unable to establish name recognition based on our trademarks and trade names, then our commercial success abilities may be impacted.

Risks Related to Government Regulation

Even if we obtain regulatory approval for a product candidate, our products will remain subject to regulatory scrutiny.

If our product candidates are approved, they will be subject to ongoing regulatory requirements for manufacturing, labeling, packaging, storage, advertising, promotion, sampling, record-keeping, conduct of post-marketing studies and submission of safety, efficacy and other post-market information, including both federal and state requirements in the United States and requirements of comparable foreign regulatory authorities.

Manufacturers and manufacturers’ facilities are required to comply with extensive FDA and comparable foreign regulatory authority requirements, including ensuring that quality control and manufacturing procedures conform to cGMP regulations. As such, we and our contract manufacturers will be subject to continual review and inspections to assess compliance with cGMPs and adherence to commitments made in any approved marketing application. Accordingly, we and others with whom we work must continue to expend time, money and effort in all areas of regulatory compliance, including manufacturing, production and quality control.

We will have to comply with requirements concerning advertising and promotion for any future products. Promotional communications with respect to prescription drugs and biologics are subject to a variety of legal and regulatory restrictions and must be consistent with the information in the product’s approved label. We may not promote products for indications or uses for which they do not have approval. The holder of an approved application must submit new or supplemental applications and obtain approval for certain changes to the approved product, product labeling or manufacturing process. We could also be asked to conduct post-marketing clinical trials to verify the safety and efficacy of our products in general or in specific patient subsets. An unsuccessful post-marketing study or failure to complete such a study could result in the withdrawal of marketing approval.

If a regulatory agency discovers previously unknown problems with a product, such as adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or problems with the facility where the product is manufactured, or disagrees with the promotion, marketing or labeling of a product, such regulatory agency may impose restrictions on that

 

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product or us, including requiring withdrawal of the product from the market. If we fail to comply with applicable regulatory requirements, a regulatory agency or enforcement authority may, among other things:

 

   

issue warning letters;

 

   

impose civil or criminal penalties;

 

   

suspend or withdraw regulatory approval;

 

   

suspend any of our clinical trials;

 

   

refuse to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications submitted by us;

 

   

impose restrictions on our operations, including closing our contract manufacturers’ facilities; or

 

   

seize or detain products, or require a product recall.

Any government investigation of alleged violations of law could require us to expend significant time and resources in response, and could generate negative publicity. Any failure to comply with ongoing regulatory requirements may significantly and adversely affect our ability to commercialize and generate revenue from any future products. If regulatory sanctions are applied or if regulatory approval is withdrawn, the value of our company and our operating results will be adversely affected.

Moreover, the policies of the FDA and of other regulatory authorities may change and additional government regulations may be enacted that could prevent, limit or delay regulatory approval of our product candidates. We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or executive action, either in the United States or abroad. For example, certain policies of the Trump administration may impact our business and industry. Namely, the Trump administration has taken several executive actions, including the issuance of a number of Executive Orders, that could impose significant burdens on, or otherwise materially delay, the FDA’s ability to engage in routine oversight activities such as implementing statutes through rulemaking, issuance of guidance and review and approval of marketing applications. It is difficult to predict how these orders will be implemented, and the extent to which they will impact the FDA’s ability to exercise its regulatory authority. If these executive actions impose restrictions on the FDA’s ability to engage in oversight and implementation activities in the normal course, our business may be negatively impacted. In addition, if we are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, we may lose any marketing approval that we may have obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.

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

In the United States, the European Union and other jurisdictions, there have been, and we expect there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes and proposed changes to the healthcare system that could affect our future results of operations. In particular, there have been and continue to be a number of initiatives at the U.S. federal and state levels that seek to reduce healthcare costs and improve the quality of healthcare. For example, in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively the Affordable Care Act, was enacted, which substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers. Among the provisions of the Affordable Care Act, those of greatest importance to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries include the following:

 

   

an annual, non-deductible fee payable by any entity that manufactures or imports certain branded prescription drugs and biologic agents (other than those designated as Orphan Drugs), which is apportioned among these entities according to their market share in certain government healthcare programs;

 

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a new Medicare Part D coverage gap discount program, in which manufacturers must agree to offer 70% point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D;

 

   

new requirements to report certain financial arrangements with physicians and teaching hospitals, including reporting “transfers of value” made or distributed to prescribers and other healthcare providers and reporting investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members;

 

   

an increase in the statutory minimum rebates a manufacturer must pay under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program to 23.1% and 13.0% of the average manufacturer price for branded and generic drugs, respectively;

 

   

a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or injected;

 

   

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

 

   

expansion of eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs by, among other things, allowing states to offer Medicaid coverage to certain individuals with income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, thereby potentially increasing a manufacturer’s Medicaid rebate liability;

 

   

a licensure framework for follow on biologic products;

 

   

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

 

   

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

Since its enactment, there have been judicial, Congressional and executive branch challenges to certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act, and we expect there will be additional challenges and amendments to the Affordable Care Act in the future. Since January 2017, President Trump has signed two Executive Orders and other directives designed to delay the implementation of certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Concurrently, Congress has considered legislation that would repeal or repeal and replace all or part of the Affordable Care Act. While Congress has not passed comprehensive repeal legislation, it has enacted laws that modify certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act such as removing penalties for not complying with the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate to carry health insurance and delaying the implementation of certain fees mandated by the Affordable Care Act. On December 14, 2018, a U.S. District Court Judge in the Northern District of Texas, or Texas District Court Judge, ruled that the individual mandate is a critical and inseverable feature of the Affordable Care Act, and therefore, because it was repealed as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the remaining provisions of the Affordable Care Act are invalid as well. On December 18, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upheld the District Court’s decision that the individual mandate was unconstitutional but remanded the case back to the District Court to determine whether the remaining provisions of the Affordable Care Act are invalid as well. On March 2, 2020, the United States Supreme Court granted the petitions for writs of certiorari to review this case, although it is unclear when a decision will be made or how the Supreme Court will rule. It is also unclear how other efforts to challenge, repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act will impact the law or our business.

In addition, other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted in the United States since the Affordable Care Act was enacted. In August 2011, the Budget Control Act of 2011, among other things, led to aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year. These reductions went into effect in April 2013 and, due to subsequent legislative amendments to the statute, will remain in effect through 2030 unless additional action is taken by Congress. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, designed to provide financial support and resources

 

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to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, suspended these reductions from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, and extended the sequester by one year, through 2030. In addition, in January 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 was signed into law, which, among other things, further reduced Medicare payments to several types of providers, including hospitals, imaging centers and cancer treatment centers, and increased the statute of limitations period for the government to recover overpayments to providers from three to five years. These new laws or any other similar laws introduced in the future may result in additional reductions in Medicare and other health care funding, which could negatively affect our customers and accordingly, our financial operations.

Moreover, payment methodologies may be subject to changes in healthcare legislation and regulatory initiatives. For example, CMS may develop new payment and delivery models, such as bundled payment models. In addition, recently there has been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which has resulted in several U.S. Congressional inquiries and proposed and enacted federal and state legislation designed to, among other things, bring more transparency to drug pricing, reduce the cost of prescription drugs under government payor programs, and review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs. At the federal level, the Trump administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 includes a $135 billion allowance to support legislative proposals seeking to reduce drug prices, increase competition, lower out-of-pocket drug costs for patients and increase patient access to lower-cost generic and biosimilar drugs. On March 10, 2020, the Trump administration sent “principles” for drug pricing to Congress, calling for legislation that would, among other things, cap Medicare Part D beneficiary out-of-pocket pharmacy expenses, provide an option to cap Medicare Part D beneficiary monthly out-of-pocket expenses and place limits on pharmaceutical price increases. The Trump administration previously released a “Blueprint,” or plan, to lower drug prices and reduce out of pocket costs of prescription drugs that contained proposals to increase drug manufacturer competition, increase the negotiating power of certain federal healthcare programs, incentivize manufacturers to lower the list price of their products, and reduce the out of pocket costs of drug products paid by consumers. The Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, has solicited feedback on some of these measures and has implemented others under its existing authority. While some measures may require additional authorization through additional legislation to become effective, Congress and the Trump administration have each indicated that it will continue to seek new legislative and/or administrative measures to control drug costs. We expect that additional U.S. federal healthcare reform measures will be adopted in the future, any of which could limit the amounts that the U.S. federal government will pay for healthcare products and services, which could result in reduced demand for our product candidates or additional pricing pressures. Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly aggressive in passing legislation and implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical and biological product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures, and, in some cases, designed to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. Legally-mandated price controls on payment amounts by third-party payors or other restrictions could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In addition, regional healthcare authorities and individual hospitals are increasingly using bidding procedures to determine what pharmaceutical products and which suppliers will be included in their prescription drug and other healthcare programs. This could reduce the ultimate demand for our product candidates or put pressure on our product pricing.

In the European Union, similar political, economic and regulatory developments may affect our ability to profitably commercialize our product candidates, if approved. In addition to continuing pressure on prices and cost containment measures, legislative developments at the European Union or member state level may result in significant additional requirements or obstacles that may increase our operating costs. The delivery of healthcare in the European Union, including the establishment and operation of health services and the pricing and reimbursement of medicines, is almost exclusively a matter for national, rather than EU, law and policy. National governments and health service providers have different priorities and approaches to the delivery of health care and the pricing and reimbursement of products in that context. In general, however, the healthcare budgetary constraints in most EU member states have resulted in restrictions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines by relevant health service providers. Coupled with ever-increasing EU and national regulatory burdens on those wishing to

 

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develop and market products, this could prevent or delay marketing approval of our product candidates, restrict or regulate post-approval activities and affect our ability to commercialize our product candidates, if approved. In markets outside of the United States and EU, reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country, and many countries have instituted price ceilings on specific products and therapies.

We cannot predict the likelihood, nature or extent of government regulation that may arise from future legislation or administrative or judicial action in the United States, the European Union or any other jurisdiction. If we or any third parties we may engage are slow or unable to adapt to changes in existing requirements or the adoption of new requirements or policies, or if we or such third parties are not able to maintain regulatory compliance, our product candidates may lose any regulatory approval that may have been obtained and we may not achieve or sustain profitability.

If we develop a small molecule product candidate that obtains regulatory approval, additional competitors could enter the market with generic versions of such drugs, which may result in a material decline in sales of affected products.

Under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, or the Hatch-Waxman Act, a pharmaceutical manufacturer may file an abbreviated new drug application, or ANDA, seeking approval of a generic version of an approved, small molecule innovator product. Under the Hatch-Waxman Act, a manufacturer may also submit a new drug application, or NDA, under section 505(b)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act that references the FDA’s prior approval of the small molecule innovator product. A 505(b)(2) NDA product may be for a new or improved version of the original innovator product. The Hatch-Waxman Act also provides for certain periods of regulatory exclusivity, which preclude FDA approval (or in some circumstances, FDA filing and review) of an ANDA or 505(b)(2) NDA. In addition to the benefits of regulatory exclusivity, an innovator NDA holder may have patents claiming the active ingredient, product formulation or an approved use of the drug, which would be listed with the product in the FDA publication, “Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations,” known as the Orange Book. If there are patents listed in the Orange Book for a product, a generic or 505(b)(2) applicant that seeks to market its product before expiration of the patents must include in their applications what is known as a “Paragraph IV” certification, challenging the validity or enforceability of, or claiming non-infringement of, the listed patent or patents. Notice of the certification must be given to the patent owner and NDA holder and if, within 45 days of receiving notice, either the patent owner or NDA holder sues for patent infringement, approval of the ANDA or 505(b)(2) NDA is stayed for up to 30 months.

Accordingly, if we choose to develop a small molecule product candidate, and the product is approved, competitors could file ANDAs for generic versions of our small molecule drug products or 505(b)(2) NDAs that reference our small molecule drug products. If there are patents listed for our small molecule drug products in the Orange Book, those ANDAs and 505(b)(2) NDAs would be required to include a certification as to each listed patent indicating whether the ANDA applicant does or does not intend to challenge the patent. We cannot predict which, if any, patents in our current portfolio or patents we may obtain in the future will be eligible for listing in the Orange Book, how any generic competitor would address such patents, whether we would sue on any such patents, or the outcome of any such suit.

We may not be successful in securing or maintaining proprietary patent protection for products and technologies we develop or license. Moreover, if any of our owned or in-licensed patents that are listed in the Orange Book are successfully challenged by way of a Paragraph IV certification and subsequent litigation, the affected product could immediately face generic competition and its sales would likely decline rapidly and materially.

 

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Our business operations and current and future relationships with investigators, healthcare professionals, consultants, third-party payors, patient organizations and customers will be subject to applicable healthcare regulatory laws, which could expose us to penalties.

Our business operations and current and future arrangements with investigators, healthcare professionals, consultants, third-party payors, patient organizations and customers may expose us to broadly applicable fraud and abuse and other healthcare laws and regulations. These laws may constrain the business or financial arrangements and relationships through which we conduct our operations, including how we research, market, sell and distribute our product candidates, if approved. Such laws include, without limitation:

 

   

the U.S. federal civil and criminal Anti-Kickback Statute, which prohibits, among other things, persons or entities from knowingly and willfully soliciting, offering, receiving or providing any remuneration (including any kickback, bribe, or certain rebate), directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, to induce or reward, or in return for, either the referral of an individual for, or the purchase, lease, order or recommendation of, any good, facility, item or service, for which payment may be made, in whole or in part, under U.S. federal and state healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation;

 

   

the U.S. federal false claims laws, including the False Claims Act, which can be enforced through whistleblower actions, and civil monetary penalties laws, which, among other things, impose criminal and civil penalties against individuals or entities for knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, to the U.S. federal government, claims for payment or approval that are false or fraudulent, knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used, a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim, or from knowingly making a false statement to avoid, decrease or conceal an obligation to pay money to the U.S. federal government. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items and services resulting from a violation of the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the False Claims Act;

 

   

HIPAA, which imposes criminal and civil liability for, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program, or knowingly and willfully falsifying, concealing or covering up a material fact or making any materially false statement, in connection with the delivery of, or payment for, healthcare benefits, items or services; similar to the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation;

 

   

HIPAA, as amended by the HITECH and its implementing regulations, which also imposes certain obligations, including mandatory contractual terms, with respect to safeguarding the privacy, security and transmission of individually identifiable health information without appropriate authorization by covered entities, such as health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers, as well as their business associates that perform certain services involving the use or disclosure of individually identifiable health information;

 

   

federal consumer protection and unfair competition laws, which broadly regulate marketplace activities and activities that potentially harm consumers;

 

   

the U.S. Physician Payments Sunshine Act and its implementing regulations, which require certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies that are reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to report annually to the government information related to certain payments and other transfers of value to physicians, as defined by such law, and teaching hospitals, as well as ownership and investment interests held by the physicians described above and their immediate family members. Effective January 1, 2022, the U.S. federal physician transparency reporting requirements will extend to include transfers of value made during the previous year to certain non-physician providers such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners;

 

   

analogous U.S. state laws and regulations, including: state anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to our business practices, including but not limited to, research, distribution, sales and

 

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marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by any third-party payor, including private insurers; state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the U.S. federal government, or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state and local laws that require the registration of pharmaceutical sales representatives; state laws and regulations that require drug manufacturers to file reports relating to pricing and marketing information, which requires tracking gifts and other remuneration and items of value provided to healthcare professionals and entities; and state laws governing the privacy, security and disposal of personal information and health information in certain circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts;

 

   

the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, which prohibits, among other things, U.S. companies and their employees and agents from authorizing, promising, offering or providing, directly or indirectly, corrupt or improper payments or anything else of value to foreign government officials, employees of public international organizations and foreign government owned or affiliated entities, candidates for foreign political office and foreign political parties or officials thereof; and

 

   

similar data protection and healthcare laws and regulations in the European Union and other jurisdictions, including reporting requirements detailing interactions with and payments to healthcare providers and laws governing the privacy and security of personal data, including the GDPR, which imposes obligations and restrictions on the collection and use of personal data relating to individuals located in the European Union and European Economic Area (including with regard to health data).

Ensuring that our internal operations and future business arrangements with third parties comply with applicable healthcare laws and regulations will involve substantial costs. It is possible that governmental authorities will conclude that our business practices, such as the provision of stock options to physicians who may influence the ordering, prescribing or use of our product candidates, if approved, as compensation for consulting services, do not comply with current or future statutes, regulations, agency guidance or case law involving applicable fraud and abuse or other healthcare laws and regulations. If our operations are found to be in violation of any of the laws described above or any other governmental laws and regulations that may apply to us, we may be subject to significant penalties, including civil, criminal and administrative penalties, damages, fines, exclusion from government-funded healthcare programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid or similar programs in other countries or jurisdictions, disgorgement, imprisonment, contractual damages, reputational harm, diminished profits and the curtailment or restructuring of our operations. Further, defending against any such actions can be costly and time-consuming and may require significant personnel resources. Even if we are successful in defending against any such actions that may be brought against us, our business may be impaired.

Changes in tax laws and regulations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

New income, sales, use or other tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be enacted at any time, which could affect the tax treatment of any of our future domestic and foreign earnings. Any new taxes could adversely affect our domestic and international business operations, and our business and financial performance. Further, existing tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances could be interpreted, changed, modified or applied adversely to us. For example, the U.S. government recently enacted significant tax reform, and certain provisions of the new law may adversely affect us. Changes include, but are not limited to, a federal corporate tax rate decrease to 21% for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, a reduction to the maximum deduction allowed for net operating losses generated in tax years after December 31, 2017, eliminating carrybacks of net operating losses, and providing for indefinite carryforwards for losses generated in tax years after December 31, 2017. The legislation is unclear in many respects and could be subject to potential amendments and technical corrections, and will be subject to interpretations and implementing regulations by the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, any of which could mitigate or increase certain adverse effects of the

 

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legislation. In addition, it is unclear how these U.S. federal income tax changes will affect state and local taxation. Generally, future changes in applicable U.S. tax laws and regulations, or their interpretation and application could have an adverse effect on our business, financial conditions and results of operations.

We are subject to U.S. and certain foreign export and import controls, sanctions, embargoes, anti-corruption laws, and anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Compliance with these legal standards could impair our ability to compete in domestic and international markets. We can face criminal liability and other serious consequences for violations, which can harm our business.

We are subject to export control and import laws and regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, U.S. Customs regulations, various economic and trade sanctions regulations administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or FCPA, the U.S. domestic bribery statute contained in 18 U.S.C. § 201, the U.S. Travel Act, the USA PATRIOT Act, and other state and national anti-bribery and anti-money laundering laws in the countries in which we conduct activities. Anti-corruption laws are interpreted broadly and prohibit companies and their employees, agents, contractors and other collaborators from authorizing, promising, offering or providing, directly or indirectly, improper payments or anything else of value to recipients in the public or private sector. We may engage third parties to sell our products outside the United States, to conduct clinical trials and/or to obtain necessary permits, licenses, patent registrations and other regulatory approvals. We have direct or indirect interactions with officials and employees of government agencies or government-affiliated hospitals, universities and other organizations. We can be held liable for the corrupt or other illegal activities of our employees, agents, contractors and other collaborators, even if we do not explicitly authorize or have actual knowledge of such activities. Any violations of the laws and regulations described above may result in substantial civil and criminal fines and penalties, imprisonment, the loss of export or import privileges, debarment, tax reassessments, breach of contract and fraud litigation, reputational harm and other consequences.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock and this Offering

Our stock price may be volatile and you may not be able to resell shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid.

The trading price of our common stock following this offering could be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to various factors, some of which are beyond our control. In particular, the trading prices for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have been highly volatile as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors include those discussed in this “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and others such as:

 

   

results from, and any delays in, our clinical trials for our two clinical-stage product candidates or any other future clinical development programs, including any delays related to the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

announcements of regulatory approval or disapproval of our current or any future product candidates;

 

   

failure or discontinuation of any of our research and development programs;

 

   

the termination of any of our existing license agreements;

 

   

announcements relating to any future licensing, collaboration or development agreements;

 

   

delays in the commercialization of our current or any future product candidates;

 

   

public misperception regarding the use of our product candidates;

 

   

acquisitions and sales of new products or product candidates, technologies or businesses;

 

   

manufacturing and supply issues related to our product candidates for clinical trials or future product candidates for commercialization;

 

   

quarterly variations in our results of operations or those of our competitors;

 

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changes in earnings estimates or recommendations by securities analysts;

 

   

announcements by us or our competitors of new products or product candidates, significant contracts, commercial relationships, acquisitions or capital commitments;

 

   

developments with respect to intellectual property rights;

 

   

our commencement of, or involvement in, litigation;

 

   

changes in financial estimates or guidance;

 

   

any major changes in our board of directors or management;

 

   

new legislation or regulation in the United States relating to the sale or pricing of pharmaceuticals;

 

   

FDA or other U.S. or foreign regulatory actions affecting us or our industry;

 

   

product liability claims or other litigation or public concern about the safety of our product candidates;

 

   

market conditions in the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors; and

 

   

general economic conditions in the United States and abroad, including as a result of an economic recession or depression and market volatility related to the COVID-19 pandemic and global health concerns.

In addition, the stock markets in general, and the markets for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that may have been unrelated to the operating performance of the issuer. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price or liquidity of our common stock.

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

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for shares of our common stock, and an active public market for our shares may not develop or be sustained after this offering. We and the representatives of the underwriters will determine the initial public offering price of our common stock through negotiation. This price will not necessarily reflect the price at which investors in the market will be willing to buy and sell our shares following this offering. In addition, an active trading market may not develop following the consummation of this offering or, if it is developed, may not be sustained. The lack of an active market may impair your ability to sell your shares at the time you wish to sell them or at a price that you consider reasonable. An inactive market may also impair our ability to raise capital by selling shares and may impair our ability to acquire other product candidates, businesses or technologies using our shares as consideration.

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, or if they issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding our stock, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced by the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not currently have and may never obtain research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no or few securities or industry analysts commence coverage of us, the trading price for our stock would be negatively impacted. In the event we obtain securities or industry analyst coverage, if any of the analysts who cover us issue an adverse or misleading opinion regarding us, our business model, our intellectual property or our stock performance, or if our clinical trials and operating results fail to meet the expectations of analysts, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

 

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We are an “emerging growth company,” and as a result of the reduced disclosure and governance requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, our common stock may be less attractive to investors.

We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the JOBS Act, and we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. In addition, as an “emerging growth company,” the JOBS Act allows us to delay adoption of new or revised accounting pronouncements applicable to public companies until such pronouncements are made applicable to private companies. We have elected to use this extended transition period under the JOBS Act. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to the financial statements of issuers who are required to comply with the effective dates for new or revised accounting standards that are applicable to public companies, which may make comparison of our financials to those of other public companies more difficult.

We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we will rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier of (1) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering, (2) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (3) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year, or (4) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

We will incur significant costs as a result of operating as a public company, and our management will devote substantial time to new compliance initiatives. We may fail to comply with the rules that apply to public companies, including Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which could result in sanctions or other penalties that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

We will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses as a public company, including costs resulting from public company reporting obligations under the Exchange Act and regulations regarding corporate governance practices. The listing requirements of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, require that we satisfy certain corporate governance requirements relating to director independence, filing annual and interim reports, stockholder meetings, approvals and voting, soliciting proxies, conflicts of interest and a code of conduct. Our management and other personnel will need to devote a substantial amount of time to ensure that we comply with all of these requirements. Moreover, the reporting requirements, rules and regulations will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and will make some activities more time-consuming and costly. Any changes we make to comply with these obligations may not be sufficient to allow us to satisfy our obligations as a public company on a timely basis, or at all. These reporting requirements, rules and regulations, coupled with the increase in potential litigation exposure associated with being a public company, could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified persons to serve on our board of directors or board committees or to serve as executive officers, or to obtain certain types of insurance, including directors’ and officers’ insurance, on acceptable terms.

After this offering, we will be subject to Section 404 and the related rules of the SEC, which generally require our management and independent registered public accounting firm to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Beginning with the second annual report that we will be required to file

 

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with the SEC, Section 404 requires an annual management assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. However, for so long as we remain an emerging growth company as defined in the JOBS Act, we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to public companies that are not emerging growth companies, including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404. Once we are no longer an emerging growth company or, if prior to such date, we opt to no longer take advantage of the applicable exemption, we will be required to include an opinion from our independent registered public accounting firm on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

During the course of our review and testing, we may identify deficiencies and be unable to remediate them before we must provide the required reports. Furthermore, if we identify any material weaknesses, we may not detect errors on a timely basis and our financial statements may be materially misstated. We or our independent registered public accounting firm may not be able to conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and cause the trading price of our stock to fall. In addition, as a public company we will be required to file accurate and timely quarterly and annual reports with the SEC under the Exchange Act. In order to report our results of operations and financial statements on an accurate and timely basis, we will depend in part on CROs to provide timely and accurate notice of their costs to us. Any failure to report our financial results on an accurate and timely basis could result in sanctions, lawsuits, delisting of our shares from the Nasdaq Global Market or other adverse consequences that would materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Purchasers in this offering will experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of their investment.

The initial public offering price of our common stock is substantially higher than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock before giving effect to this offering. Accordingly, if you purchase our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate substantial dilution of approximately $6.55 per share, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, and our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020. In addition, following this offering, purchasers in this offering will have contributed approximately 38.5% of the total gross consideration paid by stockholders to us to purchase shares of our common stock through March 31, 2020, but will own only approximately 32.0% of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately after this offering. Furthermore, if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares or outstanding options are exercised, you could experience further dilution. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see the section titled “Dilution.”

If we sell shares of our common stock in future financings, stockholders may experience immediate dilution and, as a result, our stock price may decline.

We may from time to time issue additional shares of common stock at a discount from the current trading price of our common stock. As a result, our stockholders would experience immediate dilution upon the purchase of any shares of our common stock sold at such discount. In addition, as opportunities present themselves, we may enter into financing or similar arrangements in the future, including the issuance of debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. If we issue common stock or securities convertible into common stock, our common stockholders would experience additional dilution and, as a result, our stock price may decline.

Our principal stockholders and management own a significant percentage of our stock and will be able to exert significant control over matters subject to stockholder approval.

As of June 30, 2020, our executive officers, directors, holders of 5% or more of our capital stock and their respective affiliates beneficially owned approximately 74.6% of our voting stock and, upon the closing of this

 

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offering, that same group will hold approximately 51.4% of our outstanding voting stock (assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares and no exercise of outstanding options). Therefore, even after this offering these stockholders will have the ability to influence us through this ownership position. These stockholders may be able to determine all matters requiring stockholder approval. For example, these stockholders may be able to control elections of directors, amendments of our organizational documents, or approval of any merger, sale of assets or other major corporate transaction. This may prevent or discourage unsolicited acquisition proposals or offers for our common stock that you may feel are in your best interest as one of our stockholders.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market could cause our stock price to fall.

If our existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the lock-up and other legal restrictions on resale discussed in this prospectus lapse, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Based upon the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2020 (including the conversion of all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into 12,684,214 shares of our common stock), plus 8,140,724 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to the conversion of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020, immediately prior to the completion of this offering, we will have outstanding a total of 31,258,687 shares of common stock, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. Of these shares, substantially all of the shares of our common stock sold in this offering (excluding any shares sold to our director or officers in the directed share program), plus any shares sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market immediately following this offering.

The lock-up agreements pertaining to this offering will expire 180 days from the date of this prospectus. Based upon the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2020, plus 8,140,724 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to the conversion of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020, after the lock-up agreements expire, up to approximately 21,258,687 additional shares of common stock will be eligible for sale in the public market, approximately 11,732,146 of which shares are held by directors, executive officers and other affiliates and will be subject to Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC may, however, in their sole discretion, permit our officers, directors and other stockholders who are subject to these lock-up agreements to sell shares prior to the expiration of the lock-up agreements.

In addition, as of March 31, 2020, approximately 3,403,375 shares of common stock that are either subject to outstanding options or reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules, the lock-up agreements and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act. If these additional shares of common stock are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline.

After this offering, the holders of approximately 20,824,938 shares of our common stock, or approximately 98.0% of our total outstanding shares of common stock as of March 31, 2020 (including the shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to the conversion of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020), will be entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act, subject to the lock-up agreements described above. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in the shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for shares purchased by affiliates. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

 

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We have broad discretion to determine how to use the funds raised in this offering, and may use them in ways that may not enhance our operating results or the price of our common stock.

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, and we could spend the proceeds from this offering in ways our stockholders may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return, if at all. We currently expect to use the net proceeds of this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, to fund the advancement of ANX005 for the treatment of GBS and wAIHA; ANX009 for the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases; ANX005 for the treatment of HD and ALS; ANX007 for the treatment of geographic atrophy; our next generation product candidates; our other research and development activities; and the remainder for working capital and other general corporate purposes. However, our use of these proceeds may differ substantially from our current plans. If we do not invest or apply the proceeds of this offering in ways that improve our operating results, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

Our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes may be limited.

Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” generally defined as a greater than 50 percentage point change (by value) in its equity ownership by certain stockholders over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, and other pre-change tax attributes (such as research and development tax credits) to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. We may have experienced ownership changes in the past and may experience ownership changes as a result of this offering and/or subsequent shifts in our stock ownership (some of which are outside our control). As a result, our ability to use our pre-change NOLs and tax credits to offset future taxable income, if any, could be subject to limitations. Similar provisions of state tax law may also apply. As a result, even if we attain profitability, we may be unable to use a material portion of our NOLs and tax credits.

Provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could discourage a takeover that stockholders may consider favorable and may lead to entrenchment of management.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, both of which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, will contain provisions that could delay or prevent changes in control or changes in our management without the consent of our board of directors. These provisions will include the following:

 

   

a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which may delay the ability of stockholders to change the membership of a majority of our board of directors;

 

   

no cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;

 

   

the exclusive right of our board of directors to elect a director to fill a vacancy, however occurring, including by an expansion of the board of directors, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our board of directors;

 

   

the ability of our board of directors to authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including voting or other rights or preferences, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquiror;

 

   

the ability of our board of directors to alter our amended and restated bylaws without obtaining stockholder approval;

 

   

the required approval of at least 66 2/3% of the shares entitled to vote at an election of directors to adopt, amend or repeal our amended and restated bylaws or repeal the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation regarding the election and removal of directors;

 

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a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent, which forces stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;

 

   

the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by the board of directors, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors; and

 

   

advance notice procedures that stockholders must comply with in order to nominate candidates to our board of directors or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquiror’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

We are also subject to the anti-takeover provisions contained in Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Under Section 203, a corporation may not, in general, engage in a business combination with any holder of 15% or more of its capital stock unless the holder has held the stock for three years or, among other exceptions, the board of directors has approved the transaction. For a description of our capital stock, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock.”

As a California-domiciled public company, we will be required to have at least two or three women on our board of directors by the end of 2021, depending on the size of our board at the time.

Our success depends in part on our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified individuals to our board of directors. As a public company headquartered in California, we will be required to have two or three women on our board of directors by the end of 2021, depending on the size of our board of directors at the time. While we currently have two women on the board of directors, recruiting and retaining board members carries uncertainty, and failure to comply with this California requirement will result in financial penalties.

Claims for indemnification by our directors and officers may reduce our available funds to satisfy successful third-party claims against us and may reduce the amount of money available to us.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers, in each case to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law.

In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated bylaws to be effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering and our indemnification agreements that we have entered into with our directors and officers will provide that:

 

   

we will indemnify our directors and officers for serving us in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at our request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the registrant and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful;

 

   

we may, in our discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law;

 

   

we are required to advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such directors or officers shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification;

 

   

we will not be obligated pursuant to our amended and restated bylaws to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person against us or our other indemnitees, except with respect to proceedings authorized by our board of directors or brought to enforce a right to indemnification;

 

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the rights conferred in our amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive, and we are authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons; and

 

   

we may not retroactively amend our amended and restated bylaw provisions to reduce our indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

While we maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy, such insurance may not be adequate to cover all liabilities that we may incur, which may reduce our available funds to satisfy third-party claims and may adversely impact our cash position.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for certain disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) is the exclusive forum for any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty, any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws, or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents and arising under the Securities Act. Nothing in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws precludes stockholders that assert claims under the Exchange Act from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law.

This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Furthermore, the enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that a court could find these types of provisions to be inapplicable or unenforceable. While the Delaware courts have determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring a claim in a venue other than those designated in the exclusive forum provisions, and there can be no assurance that such provisions will be enforced by a court in those other jurisdictions. If a court were to find the choice of forum provision that will be contained in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

We do not currently intend to pay dividends on our common stock, and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future. We currently intend to invest our future earnings, if any, to fund our growth. Therefore, you are not likely to receive

 

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any dividends on your common stock for the foreseeable future. Since we do not intend to pay dividends, your ability to receive a return on your investment will depend on any future appreciation in the market value of our common stock. There is no guarantee that our common stock will appreciate or even maintain the price at which our holders have purchased it.

We may be subject to securities litigation, which is expensive and could divert our management’s attention.

In the past, companies that have experienced volatility in the market price of their securities have been subject to securities class action litigation. We may be the target of this type of litigation in the future. Regardless of the merits or the ultimate results of such litigation, securities litigation brought against us could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention from other business concerns.

Participation in this offering by our existing stockholders and/or their affiliated entities may reduce the public float for our common stock.

To the extent certain of our existing stockholders and their affiliated entities participate in this offering, such purchases would reduce the non-affiliate public float of our shares, meaning the number of shares of our common stock that are not held by officers, directors and controlling stockholders. A reduction in the public float could reduce the number of shares that are available to be traded at any given time, thereby adversely impacting the liquidity of our common stock and depressing the price at which you may be able to sell shares of common stock purchased in this offering.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements about us and our industry that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our strategy, future financial condition, future operations, projected costs, prospects, plans, objectives of management and expected market growth, are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “due,” “estimate,” “expect,” “goal,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “plan,” “positioned,” “potential,” “predict,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and other similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events and future trends, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

our expectations regarding the potential market size and size of the potential patient populations for our product candidates and any future product candidates, if approved for commercial use;

 

   

our clinical and regulatory development plans;

 

   

our expectations with regard to the results of our clinical studies, preclinical studies and research and development programs, including the timing and availability of data from such studies;

 

   

the timing of commencement of future nonclinical studies and clinical trials and research and development programs;

 

   

our ability to acquire, discover, develop and advance product candidates into, and successfully complete, clinical trials;

 

   

our intentions and our ability to establish collaborations and/or partnerships;

 

   

the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for our product candidates;

 

   

our commercialization, marketing and manufacturing capabilities and expectations;

 

   

our intentions with respect to the commercialization of our product candidates;

 

   

the pricing and reimbursement of our product candidates, if approved;

 

   

the potential effects of COVID-19 on our preclinical and clinical programs and business;

 

   

the implementation of our business model and strategic plans for our business and product candidates, including additional indications for which we may pursue;

 

   

the scope of protection we are able to establish and maintain for intellectual property rights covering our product candidates, including the projected terms of patent protection;

 

   

estimates of our expenses, future revenue, capital requirements, our needs for additional financing and our ability to obtain additional capital;

 

   

our anticipated use of proceeds from this offering;

 

   

our future financial performance; and

 

   

developments and projections relating to our competitors and our industry, including competing products.

We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. In light of the significant uncertainties in these forward-looking statements, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this

 

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prospectus, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur at all. You should refer to the section titled “Risk Factors” for a discussion of important factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by our forward- looking statements. Furthermore, if our forward-looking statements prove to be inaccurate, the inaccuracy may be material. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act do not protect any forward-looking statements that we make in connection with this offering.

You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed as exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part, completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of the forward-looking statements in this prospectus by these cautionary statements.

 

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MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

This prospectus contains estimates, projections and other information concerning our industry, our business, as well as data regarding market research, estimates and forecasts prepared by our management. Information that is based on estimates, forecasts, projections, market research or similar methodologies is inherently subject to uncertainties and actual events or circumstances may differ materially from events and circumstances that are assumed in this information. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Unless otherwise expressly stated, we obtained this industry, business, market and other data from reports, research surveys, studies and similar data prepared by market research firms and other third parties, industry, medical and general publications, government data and similar sources. In some cases, we do not expressly refer to the sources from which this data is derived. In that regard, when we refer to one or more sources of this type of data in any paragraph, you should assume that other data of this type appearing in the same paragraph is derived from the same sources, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $135.4 million (or approximately $156.3 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase up to 1,500,000 additional shares of common stock), based on an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $9.3 million, assuming that the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares of common stock offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, the net proceeds to us by approximately $14.0 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The principal purposes of this offering are to obtain additional capital to support our operations, to create a public market for our common stock and to facilitate our future access to the public markets. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, as follows:

 

   

approximately $60.0 million to $70.0 million to advance ANX005 for the treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS, and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, or wAIHA, and to advance ANX009 for the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases;

 

   

approximately $10.0 million to $20.0 million to advance ANX005 for the treatment of Huntington’s disease, or HD, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS;

 

   

approximately $15.0 million to $25.0 million to advance ANX007 for the treatment of geographic atrophy, or GA;

 

   

approximately $20.0 million to $30.0 million to advance our next generation product candidates, including ANX105 and small molecule modulators of the classical pathway;

 

   

approximately $65.0 million to $75.0 million to fund our other research and development activities, including research and development personnel costs; and

 

   

the remainder for working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that the anticipated net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, which includes the net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million from the Series D financing, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2023. In particular, we expect that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, will allow us to complete our Phase 1b drug-drug interaction and Phase 2/3 trials of ANX005 in GBS, our planned Phase 2 trial of ANX005 in wAIHA, our planned Phase 2a trials of ANX005 in HD and ALS, our Phase 2 trial of ANX007 in GA and our first-in-human trial of ANX009.

This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based on our current plans and business conditions, which could change in the future as our plans and business conditions evolve. Further, due to the uncertainties inherent in the drug development process, it is difficult to estimate with certainty the exact amounts of the net proceeds from this offering that may be used for the above purposes. We may also use a portion of the remaining net proceeds and our existing cash and cash equivalents to in-license, acquire or invest in complementary businesses, technologies, products or assets. However, we have no current commitments or obligations to do so.

 

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Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from this offering, and our investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the net proceeds of this offering. The amounts and timing of our expenditures will depend upon numerous factors including the results of our research and development efforts, the timing and success of our preclinical studies and ongoing clinical trials or clinical trials we may commence in the future, the timing of regulatory submissions, the amount of cash obtained through any future collaborations and other factors described in the section titled “Risk Factors.”

The expected net proceeds from this offering will not be sufficient for us to fund any of our product candidates through regulatory approval, and we will need to raise additional capital to complete the development and commercialization of our product candidates. We expect to finance our cash needs through a combination of equity offerings, debt financings and potential collaborations, and license and development agreements. We have based these estimates on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, and we could expend our available capital resources at a rate greater than we currently expect.

Pending the use of the net proceeds from this offering as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation instruments, including short-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock, and we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and expansion of our business. Any future determination related to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to applicable laws, and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions and capital requirements. In addition, our ability to pay cash dividends on our capital stock may be limited by the terms of any future debt or preferred securities we issue or any credit facilities we enter into.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our capitalization as of March 31, 2020 on:

 

   

an actual basis;

 

   

a pro forma basis, to reflect: (i) the conversion of all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into 12,684,214 shares of our common stock, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (ii) the issuance and sale of 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock in June 2020 for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million, and the conversion of such shares into 8,140,724 shares of our common stock, which will occur immediately prior to the completion of this offering, and (iii) the filing and effectiveness of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation in Delaware, which will be in effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering; and

 

   

a pro forma as adjusted basis, to reflect (i) the pro forma adjustments set forth above and (ii) the sale of 10,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

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You should read this table together with the sections titled “Selected Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The pro forma information below is illustrative only and our capitalization following the closing of this offering will be adjusted based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

 

     As of March 31, 2020  
         Actual             Pro Forma         Pro Forma As
Adjusted(1)
 
    

(unaudited)

 
     (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 33,348     $ 130,098     $ 267,670  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, per share; 119,155,472 shares authorized, 111,748,065 issued and outstanding, actual; no shares authorized, issued or outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

   $ 144,263     $     $  

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity:

      

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, no shares authorized, issued and outstanding, actual; 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted

                  

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share; 150,000,000 shares authorized, 433,749 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 300,000,000 shares authorized and 21,258,687 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma; 300,000,000 shares authorized and 31,258,687 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted

     4       21       31  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,586       243,582       378,965  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (91     (91     (91

Accumulated deficit

     (114,921     (114,921     (114,921
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (112,422     128,591       263,984  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 31,841     $ 128,591     $ 263,984  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $9.3 million, assuming that the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares of common stock offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, each of pro forma as adjusted cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by approximately $14.0 million, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted, in the table above is based on 13,117,963 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 (after giving effect to the conversion of all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into an aggregate of 12,684,214 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering), plus 8,140,724 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to the conversion of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020, and excludes:

 

   

2,136,390 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.45 per share;

 

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892,730 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options granted subsequent to March 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $13.32 per share;

 

   

3,125,868 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan, from which we will grant options to purchase an aggregate of 448,821 shares of our common stock with an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price to certain officers and employees upon the pricing of this offering, which will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the 2020 Plan; and

 

   

312,586 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP, which will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP.

 

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DILUTION

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

Our historical net tangible book value (deficit) as of March 31, 2020 was $(115.3) million, or $(265.88) per share of our common stock. Our historical net tangible book value (deficit) represents our total tangible assets less capitalized deferred offering costs, total liabilities and redeemable convertible preferred stock. Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share is our historical net tangible book value (deficit) divided by the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020.

Our pro forma net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020 was $125.7 million, or $5.91 per share of our common stock, based on the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents our total tangible assets less capitalized deferred offering costs and our total liabilities, divided by the number of outstanding shares of common stock, after giving effect to (i) the conversion of all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into an aggregate of 12,684,214 shares of common stock and (ii) the issuance of 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock in June 2020 for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million, and the conversion of such shares into 8,140,724 shares of our common stock.

After giving effect to the sale of 10,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2020 would have been $264.0 million, or $8.45 per share. This represents an immediate increase in pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value of $2.54 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $6.55 per share to new investors participating in this offering.

The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

      $ 15.00  

Historical net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of March 31, 2020

   $ (265.88)     

Pro forma increase in net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2020 attributable to the pro forma transactions described above

   $ 271.79     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2020, before giving effect to this offering

   $ 5.91     

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors participating in this offering

   $ 2.54     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

      $ 8.45  
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering

      $ 6.55  
     

 

 

 

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering by $0.29 per share and the dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering by $0.71 per share, assuming that the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, an increase of 1.0 million in the number of shares of common stock offered by us would increase the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering by $0.17 per share and decrease the dilution

 

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per share to new investors participating in this offering by $0.17 per share, and a decrease of 1.0 million shares of common stock offered by us would decrease the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value by $0.19 per share, and increase the dilution per share to new investors in this offering by $0.19 per share, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares of common stock from us, the pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering would be $8.70 per share, representing an immediate increase to existing stockholders of $2.79 per share, and dilution to new investors participating in this offering of $6.30 per share.

The following table summarizes on the pro forma as adjusted basis described above, the differences between the number of shares purchased from us, the total consideration paid and the average price per share paid to us by existing stockholders and by investors purchasing shares in this offering at the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page on this prospectus, before deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us:

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Weighted-
Average
Price Per

Share
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  

Existing stockholders

     21,258,687        68.0   $ 239,766,484        61.5   $ 11.28  

New investors

     10,000,000        32.0     150,000,000        38.5   $ 15.00  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

     31,258,687        100   $ 389,766,484        100.0   $ 12.47  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

A $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease, as applicable, the total consideration paid by new investors by $10.0 million and, in the case of an increase, would increase the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors to 40.0% and, in the case of a decrease, would decrease the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors to 36.9%, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same. Similarly, an increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, the total consideration paid by new investors by $15.0 million and, in the case of an increase, would increase the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors to 40.8% and, in the case of a decrease, would decrease the percentage of total consideration paid by new investors to 36.0%, assuming that the assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share remains the same.

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, our existing stockholders would own 64.9% and our new investors would own 35.1% of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering.

The number of shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, pro forma and pro forma as adjusted, in the table above is based on 13,117,963 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 (after giving effect to the conversion of all of our shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into an aggregate of 12,684,214 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering), plus 8,140,724 shares of our common stock issuable pursuant to the conversion of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020, and excludes:

 

   

2,136,390 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options as of March 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.45 per share;

 

   

892,730 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options granted subsequent to March 31, 2020, with a weighted-average exercise price of $13.32 per share;

 

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3,125,868 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Plan, from which we will grant options to purchase an aggregate of 448,821 shares of our common stock with an exercise price per share equal to the initial public offering price to certain officers and employees upon the pricing of this offering, which will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2020 Plan; and

 

   

312,586 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the ESPP, which will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP.

To the extent that any outstanding options are exercised, new options or other equity awards are issued under our equity incentive plans, or we issue additional shares in the future, there will be further dilution to new investors participating in this offering.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following tables set forth our selected consolidated statements of operations and consolidated balance sheet data. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2018 and 2019 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of March 31, 2020 are derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements were prepared on a basis consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements and include, in management’s opinion, all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information set forth in those statements. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any period in the future and our interim results are not necessarily indicative of our expected results for the year ending December 31, 2020. You should read the following selected consolidated financial data together with the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated financial data included in this section are not intended to replace the consolidated financial statements and are qualified in their entirety by the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

    Year Ended December 31,     Three Months Ended March 31,  
    2018     2019     2019     2020  
                (unaudited)  
    (in thousands, except share and per share data)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

       

Operating expenses:

       

Research and development

  $ 15,528     $ 24,524     $ 4,653     $ 10,217  

General and administrative

    3,619       7,994       1,449       2,239  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    19,147       32,518       6,102       12,456  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

    (19,147     (32,518     (6,102     (12,456

Gain (loss) on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

    260       (5,670     (2,770      

Other income, net

    584       1,009       221       115  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss before taxes

    (18,303     (37,179     (8,651     (12,341

Provision for income taxes

    1       4       1        
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    (18,304     (37,183     (8,652     (12,341

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

    176       1,095       262       279  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

  $ (18,480   $ (38,278   $ (8,914   $ (12,620
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted(1)

  $ (45.89   $ (88.30   $ (20.60   $ (29.10
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted(1)

    402,738       433,493       432,709       433,749  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted (unaudited)(1)

    $ (2.75     $ (0.94
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted (unaudited)(1)

      11,452,244         13,117,963  
   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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(1)

See Notes 2 and 11 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Notes 2 and 10 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for explanations of the calculations of our basic and diluted net loss per share, basic and diluted pro forma net loss per share and the weighted-average number of shares used in the computation of the per share amounts.

 

     As of December 31,     As of March 31,  
     2018     2019     2020  
                

(unaudited)

 
     (in thousands)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 44,175     $ 43,931     $ 33,348  

Working capital(1)

     42,380       40,475       28,179  

Total assets

     48,149       49,898       39,514  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     5,140              

Redeemable convertible preferred stock

     102,082       143,984       144,263  

Accumulated deficit

     (65,397     (102,580     (114,921

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (64,202     (100,454     (112,422

 

(1)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities. See our audited consolidated financial statements and our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus for further details regarding our current assets and current liabilities.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. As a result of many factors, including those factors set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus, our actual results could differ materially from the results described in or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel therapies for patients with classical complement-mediated disorders of the body, brain and eye. Our pipeline is based on our platform technology addressing well-researched classical complement-mediated autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease processes, both of which are triggered by aberrant activation of C1q, the initiating molecule of the classical complement pathway. Evidence suggests that potent and selective inhibition of C1q can prevent tissue damage triggered in antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and preserve loss of functioning synapses associated with cognitive and functional decline in complement-mediated neurodegeneration. Our upstream complement approach targeting C1q acts as an “on/off switch” designed to block all downstream components of the classical complement pathway that lead to excess inflammation, tissue damage and patient disability in a host of complement-mediated disorders, while preserving the normal immune function of the lectin and alternative complement pathways involved in the clearance of pathogens and damaged cells.

Our pipeline of product candidates is designed to block the activity of C1q and the entire classical complement pathway in a broad set of complement-mediated diseases. Our first product candidate, ANX005, is a full-length monoclonal antibody formulated for intravenous administration in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Our second product candidate, ANX007, is an antigen-binding fragment, or Fab, formulated for intravitreal administration for the treatment of neurodegenerative ophthalmic disorders. We are also developing ANX009, an investigational, subcutaneous formulation of a Fab designed for the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases. We have completed Phase 1b safety and dose-ranging clinical trials for ANX005 and ANX007 in patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS, and glaucoma, respectively. Both ANX005 and ANX007 were well-tolerated and showed full inhibition of C1q and the classical complement pathway in the Phase 1b trials.

Based on learnings from our initial trials, we are advancing our current programs while evaluating additional orphan and large market indications. In particular, we intend to advance ANX005 into multiple Phase 2 trials in 2020 and 2021 including in patients with GBS, warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, Huntington’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We plan to advance ANX007 into a Phase 2 trial in patients with GA in 2021. Additionally, we are developing novel product candidates designed to inhibit C1q and other components of the early classical complement cascade with the goal of further broadening our portfolio. Finally, we are leveraging our disciplined development strategy in early clinical trials utilizing established biomarkers to enhance patient selection, measure target engagement and assess our product candidates’ potential to meaningfully impact the disease process and improve the probability of technical success over shorter development timelines.

We hold worldwide development and commercialization rights, including through exclusive licenses, to all of our product candidates, which allows us to strategically maximize value from our product portfolio over time. Our patent portfolio includes patent protection for our upstream complement platform and each of our product candidates.

We were incorporated in March 2011 and commenced operations later that year. To date, we have focused primarily on performing research and development activities, hiring personnel and raising capital to support and

 

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expand these activities. We do not have any products approved for sale, and we have not generated any revenue from product sales. We have incurred net losses each year since our inception. Our net losses were $18.3 million and $37.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, and $8.7 million and $12.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively. As of March 31, 2020, we had an accumulated deficit of $114.9 million and cash and cash equivalents of $33.3 million. In June 2020, we issued and sold 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock for net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million.

We expect to incur significant and increasing losses in the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development activities related to developing our product candidates, particularly as they advance into later stages of development and as we conduct larger clinical trials, engage in other research and development activities, seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials, prepare for commercialization, hire additional personnel, protect our intellectual property and incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company. We also expect to increase the size of our administrative function to support the growth of our business. Our net losses may fluctuate significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year, depending on a variety of factors, including: the timing and cost of, and level of investment in, research and development; the number and timing of the clinical trials we commence; the cost of manufacturing our product candidates; the timing and cost of commercialization activities relating to our product candidates, if approved; and expenditures that we may incur to acquire, develop or commercialize additional product candidates and technologies.

We have funded our operations to date primarily from the issuance and sale of equity securities. From our inception through June 30, 2020, we have raised aggregate net cash proceeds of approximately $233.8 million from the sale of our equity securities. We do not expect to generate revenue from any product candidates that we develop until we obtain regulatory approval for one or more of such product candidates and commercialize our products or enter into collaboration agreements with third parties. Until such time as we can generate significant revenue from sales of our product candidates, if ever, we expect to finance our operations through public or private equity offerings or debt financings, credit or loan facilities, collaborations or a combination of one or more of these funding sources. As a result, we will need to raise additional capital. Additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. Our ability to raise additional funds may be adversely impacted by potential worsening global economic conditions and the recent disruptions to, and volatility in, the credit and financial markets in the United States and worldwide resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If we fail to obtain necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, it could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development programs, commercialization efforts or other operations. Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, which includes the net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million from the Series D financing, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2023.

The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to rapidly evolve, and we will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation closely. The extent of the impact of the COVID-19 on our business, operations and clinical development timelines and plans remains uncertain, and will depend on certain developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and its impact on our clinical trial enrollment, trial sites, contract research organizations, or CROs, third-party manufacturers, and other third parties with whom we do business, as well as its impact on regulatory authorities and our key scientific and management personnel. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or a similar health epidemic is highly uncertain and subject to change. To the extent possible, we are conducting business as usual, with necessary or advisable modifications to employee travel and the majority of our employees working remotely. We will continue to actively monitor the rapidly evolving situation related to COVID-19 and may take further actions that alter our operations, including those that may be required by federal, state or local authorities, or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees and other third parties with whom we do business. At this point, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may affect our business, operations and clinical development timelines and plans, including the resulting impact on our expenditures and capital needs, remains uncertain.

 

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Components of Operating Results

Revenue

Our product candidates are not approved for commercial sale. We have not generated any revenue from sales of our product candidates and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future and until we complete clinical development, submit regulatory filings and receive approvals from applicable regulatory bodies for such product candidates, if ever.

Operating Expenses

Research and Development

Research and development expenses account for a significant portion of our operating expenses. Research and development expenses consist primarily of direct and indirect costs incurred for the development of our product candidates.

Direct expenses include:

 

   

preclinical and clinical outside service costs associated with discovery, preclinical and clinical testing of our product candidates;

 

   

professional services agreements with third party contract organizations, investigative clinical trial sites and consultants that conduct research and development activities on our behalf;

 

   

contract manufacturing costs to produce clinical trial materials; and

 

   

laboratory supplies and materials.

Indirect expenses include:

 

   

compensation and personnel-related expenses (including stock-based compensation);

 

   

allocated expenses for facilities and depreciation; and

 

   

other indirect costs.

We record research and development expenses as incurred. Payments made to other entities are under agreements that are generally cancelable by us. Advance payments for goods or services to be received in future periods for use in research and development activities are deferred as prepaid expenses. The prepaid amounts are then expensed as the related services are performed. At this time, we cannot reasonably estimate or know the nature, timing and estimated costs of the efforts that will be necessary to complete the development of, and obtain regulatory approval for, any of our product candidates.

We expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development activities related to developing our product candidates, particularly as they advance into later stages of development and as we conduct larger clinical trials, engage in other research and development activities and seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials and as we incur expenses associated with hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts. The process of conducting the necessary clinical research to obtain regulatory approval is costly and time-consuming, and the successful development of our product candidates is highly uncertain.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation and personnel-related expenses (including stock-based compensation) for our personnel in executive, finance and other administrative functions. General and administrative expenses also include professional fees paid for accounting, legal and tax services, allocated expenses for facilities and depreciation and other general and administrative costs.

 

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We expect our general and administrative expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to support our research and development activities, grow our business and, if any of our product candidates receive marketing approval, commercialization activities. We will also incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company, including expenses related to compliance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Nasdaq Stock Market, additional insurance expenses, investor relations activities and other administrative and professional services. We also expect to increase the size of our administrative function to support the growth of our business.

Gain (Loss) on Remeasurement of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Liability

Gain (loss) on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability consists of gains and losses from the remeasurement to fair value of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability related to our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock. We remeasured the liability each reporting period from the date of issuance (December 2018) until the second closing of our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock which occurred in August 2019.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net, primarily consists of non-recurring income from research grants and interest income earned on our cash equivalents.

Results of Operations

Comparison of the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

The following tables summarize our results of operations for the periods presented.

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
    Dollar
Change
    %
Change
 
     2019     2020  
     (unaudited)              
     (in thousands)              

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

   $ 4,653     $ 10,217     $ 5,564       120

General and administrative

     1,449       2,239       790       55
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     6,102       12,456       6,354       104
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss from operations

     (6,102     (12,456     (6,354     104

Loss on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     (2,770           2,770       (100 )% 

Other income, net

     221       115       (106     (48 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net loss before taxes

     (8,651     (12,341     (3,690     43

Provision for income taxes

     1             (1     (100 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net loss

   $ (8,652   $ (12,341   $ (3,689     43
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

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Research and Development Expenses

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,
     Dollar
Change
    %
Change
 
     2019      2020  
     (unaudited)               
     (in thousands)               

Direct costs:

          

Preclinical and clinical outside services

   $ 2,066      $ 4,048      $ 1,982       96

Professional services

     388        608        220       57

Contract manufacturing

     890        3,001        2,111       *  

Laboratory supplies and materials

     83        56        (27     (33 )% 

Indirect costs:

          

Compensation and personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)

     1,004        2,239        1,235       123

Facilities and depreciation

     201        216        15       7

Other

     21        49        28       133
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total research and development expenses

   $ 4,653      $  10,217      $ 5,564       120
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

*

Not meaningful

Research and development expenses increased by $5.5 million, or 120%, from $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 to $10.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $2.0 million in direct clinical outside services related to our Phase 1b drug-drug interaction trial and planning activities for our Phase 2/3 GBS and Phase 2 HD clinical trials. In addition, preclinical expenses were higher due to toxicology studies to support ANX009. Contract manufacturing expenses increased by $2.1 million primarily due to the manufacturing of ANX005 to support the initiation of multiple clinical trials and ANX105 cell line development. Direct professional services costs increased by $0.2 million related to external research and development capabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2020. Compensation and personnel-related expenses increased by $1.2 million due to an increase in headcount and related employee costs.

General and Administrative Expenses

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,
     Dollar
Change
     %
Change
 
     2019      2020  
     (unaudited)                
     (in thousands)                

Compensation and personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)

   $ 761      $ 937      $    176        23

Professional services

     573        1,071        498        87

Facilities and depreciation

     85        113        28        33

Other

     30        118        88        *  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total general and administrative expenses

   $ 1,449      $ 2,239      $    790        55
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

*

Not meaningful

General and administrative expenses increased by $0.8 million, or 55%, from $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 to $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The increase was primarily due to an increase of $0.5 million in professional services for public company readiness efforts including accounting, legal and audit fees, and an increase of $0.2 million in compensation and personnel-related expenses.

 

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Loss on Remeasurement of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Liability

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, we recorded a loss on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability related to the change in the fair value of the liability. The liability was recognized in connection with the initial closing of our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing in December 2018 and was settled upon completion of the second closing in August 2019.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net, decreased by $0.1 million from $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019 to $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The decrease was primarily driven by lower interest income as a result of lower cash balance and interest rates.

Comparison of the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2019

The following tables summarize our results of operations for the periods presented.

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Dollar
Change
    %
Change
 
     2018     2019  
     (in thousands)              

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

   $    15,528     $ 24,524     $    8,996       58

General and administrative

     3,619       7,994       4,375       121
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

     19,147       32,518       13,371       70
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Loss from operations

     (19,147     (32,518     (13,371     70

Gain (loss) on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     260       (5,670     (5,930     *  

Other income, net

     584       1,009       425       73
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net loss before taxes

     (18,303     (37,179     (18,876     103

Provision for income taxes

     1       4       3       *  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Net loss

   $ (18,304   $ (37,183   $ (18,879     103
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

*

Not meaningful

Research and Development Expenses

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Dollar
Change
    %
Change
 
     2018      2019  
     (in thousands)               

Direct costs:

          

Preclinical and clinical outside services

   $ 7,235      $ 9,893      $    2,658       37

Contract manufacturing

     1,433        5,151        3,718       *  

Professional services

     2,294        2,164        (130     (6 )% 

Laboratory supplies and materials

     259        883        624       *  

Indirect costs:

          

Compensation and personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)

     3,455        5,415        1,960       57

Facilities and depreciation

     823        865        42       5

Other

     29        153        124       *  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total research and development expenses

   $    15,528      $  24,524      $ 8,996       58
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

*

Not meaningful

 

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Research and development expenses increased by $9.0 million, or 58%, from $15.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 to $24.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to $3.7 million in additional contract manufacturing costs to support continued advancement of our product candidates through clinical trials. Preclinical and clinical outside services increased by $2.7 million primarily related to our Phase 1b clinical trials for ANX005 in GBS and ANX007 in glaucoma. Compensation and personnel-related expenses increased by $2.0 million due to growth in the number of research and development employees. In addition, laboratory supplies and materials increased by $0.6 million due to activities associated with our ongoing clinical trials and research programs.

General and Administrative Expenses

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     Dollar
Change
     %
Change
 
     2018      2019  
     (in thousands)         

Compensation and personnel-related (including stock-based compensation)

   $ 1,682      $ 3,422      $ 1,740        103

Professional services

     1,470        3,967        2,497        170

Facilities and depreciation

     392        416        24        6

Other

     75        189        114        152
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

Total general and administrative expenses

   $ 3,619      $ 7,994      $ 4,375        121
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

General and administrative expenses increased by $4.4 million, or 121%, from $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 to $8.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to $2.5 million in additional professional service fees for accounting, legal and tax services. Compensation and personnel-related expenses increased by $1.7 million primarily related to $1.0 million in additional stock-based compensation expense as well as growth in the number of general and administrative employees.

Gain (loss) on Remeasurement of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Liability

For the year ended December 31, 2019, we recorded a loss on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability of $5.7 million related to the change in fair value of the liability. The liability was recognized in connection with the initial closing of our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing in December 2018 and was settled upon completion of the second closing in August 2019.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net, increased by $0.4 million, or 73%, from $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 to $1.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The increase was primarily due to interest income from increased investments in money market funds resulting from the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity

Due to our significant research and development expenditures, we have generated operating losses since our inception. We have funded our operations primarily through the sale of equity securities. From our inception through March 31, 2020, we have raised aggregate net cash proceeds of $137.1 million from the sale of our equity securities. As of March 31, 2020, we had available cash and cash equivalents of $33.3 million and an accumulated deficit of $114.9 million.

 

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In June 2020, we issued and sold 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock for net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million.

Historical Cash Flows

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
    Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2018     2019     2019     2020  
                 (unaudited)  
     (in thousands)  

Cash used in operating activities

   $ (17,190   $ (28,358   $ (6,003   $ (10,001

Cash used in investing activities

     (17     (267            

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     58,456       28,395       3       (571
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 41,249     $ (230   $ (6,000   $ (10,572
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $10.0 million, which consisted of a net loss of $12.3 million, partially offset by $0.8 million in non-cash charges and a net change of $1.5 million in our net operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash charges consisted of stock-based compensation of $0.7 million and depreciation and amortization of $0.1 million.

Cash used in operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $6.0 million, which consisted of a net loss of $8.7 million and a net change of $0.7 million in our net operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by $3.4 million in non-cash charges. The non-cash charges consisted of depreciation and amortization of $0.1 million and stock-based compensation of $0.5 million as well as an increase of $2.8 million loss on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability related to the change in fair value of the liability.

Cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $28.4 million, which consisted primarily of a net loss of $37.2 million and a net change of $0.6 million in our net operating assets and liabilities, partially offset by $8.2 million in non-cash charges. The non-cash charges pertained to the loss on remeasurement of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability of $5.7 million, stock-based compensation of $2.0 million and depreciation and amortization of $0.5 million.

Cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $17.2 million, which consisted primarily of a net loss of $18.3 million, partially offset by $0.6 million in non-cash charges and a net change of $0.5 million in net operating assets and liabilities. The non-cash charges consisted of depreciation and amortization of $0.5 million and stock-based compensation of $0.4 million, partially offset by the gain on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability of $0.3 million.

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

There was no cash used in investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020.

Cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 was $17,000 and $0.3 million, respectively, related to purchases of property and equipment.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $0.6 million, which consisted of payments for deferred offering costs of $0.6 million.

 

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Cash provided by financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $3,000, which consisted of proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 was $28.4 million, which consisted of net proceeds received from the sale and issuance of our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock of $30.0 million, partially offset by payments for deferred offering costs of $1.6 million.

Cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2018 was $58.5 million which consisted of aggregate net proceeds received from the sale and issuance of our Series B and Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock of $58.3 million and proceeds from the exercise of stock options of $0.1 million.

Funding Requirements

We use our cash to fund operations, primarily to fund our clinical trials, research and development expenditures and related personnel costs. We expect our research and development expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to invest in research and development activities related to our product candidates, particularly as they advance into later stages of development and as we conduct larger clinical trials, engage in other research and development activities, seek regulatory approvals for any product candidates that successfully complete clinical trials and as we incur expenses associated with hiring additional personnel to support our research and development efforts. In addition, we expect our general and administrative expenses to increase substantially for the foreseeable future as we continue to support our research and development activities and to grow our business and as we expect to engage in commercialization activities, if any of our product candidates receive marketing approval. We will also incur additional expenses as a result of operating as a public company and also expect to increase the size of our administrative function to support the growth of our business. The timing and amount of our operating expenditures will depend on many factors, including:

 

   

the scope, progress, results and costs of researching and developing our current product candidates or any other future product candidates we choose to pursue, and conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials, including our planned clinical trials of ANX005 and ANX007;

 

   

the timing of, and the costs involved in, obtaining regulatory approvals for our lead product candidates or any future product candidates;

 

   

the number and characteristics of any additional product candidates we develop or acquire;

 

   

the timing and amount of any milestone, royalty and/or other payments we are required to make pursuant to our current or any future license or collaboration agreements;

 

   

the cost of manufacturing our lead product candidates or any future product candidates and any products we successfully commercialize;

 

   

the cost of building a sales force in anticipation of product commercialization;

 

   

the cost of commercialization activities of our product candidates, if approved for sale, including marketing, sales and distribution costs;

 

   

our ability to establish strategic collaborations, licensing or other arrangements and the financial terms of any such agreements, including the timing and amount of any future milestone, royalty or other payments due under any such agreement;

 

   

any product liability or other lawsuits related to our products;

 

   

the expenses needed to attract, hire and retain skilled personnel;

 

   

the costs associated with operating as a public company;

 

   

the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, maintaining, defending and enforcing our intellectual property portfolio; and

 

   

the timing, receipt and amount of sales of any future approved products.

 

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Without giving effect to the anticipated net proceeds from this offering, we believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, which includes the net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million from the Series D financing, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2021.

Based upon our current operating plan, we believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash and cash equivalents, which includes the net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million from the Series D financing, will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements through 2023. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be wrong, and we could utilize our available capital resources sooner than we expect. We expect to continue to expend significant resources for the foreseeable future. Until such time, if ever, as we can generate substantial product revenue, we will be required to seek additional funding in the future and currently intend to do so through public or private equity offerings or debt financings, credit or loan facilities, collaborations or a combination of one or more of these funding sources. Additional funds may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we fail to obtain necessary capital when needed on acceptable terms, or at all, we could be forced to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our product development programs, commercialization efforts or other operations. If we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders will suffer dilution and the terms of any financing may adversely affect the rights of our stockholders. In addition, as a condition to providing additional funds to us, future investors may demand, and may be granted, rights superior to those of existing stockholders. Debt financing, if available, is likely to involve restrictive covenants limiting our flexibility in conducting future business activities, and, in the event of insolvency, debt holders would be repaid before holders of our equity securities received any distribution of our corporate assets.

Contractual Obligations and Other Commitments

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and other commitments as of December 31, 2019:

 

     Payments Due by Period  
     Less than
1 Year
     1 to 3
Years
     3 to 5
Years
     More than
5 Years
     Total  
     (in thousands)  

Operating lease obligations

   $ 720      $ 1,512      $ 1,158      $      $ 3,390  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

   $ 720      $ 1,512      $ 1,158      $      $ 3,390  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The obligations noted above represent operating lease obligations related to our currently occupied premises in South San Francisco, California. We also enter into contracts in the normal course of business with various third parties for preclinical studies, clinical trials and other services. These contracts generally provide for termination upon notice, and therefore we believe that our noncancelable obligations under these agreements are not material. These payments are not included in the table above. This table also does not include any milestone or royalty payments to third parties as the amounts, timing and likelihood of such payments are not known at this time.

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

During the audit of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018, a material weakness was identified in our internal control over financial reporting. Under standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, a material weakness is a deficiency or combination of deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis. The material weakness that was identified related to an inadequate number of qualified personnel within our accounting function, which impacted our ability to perform effective reviews over non-routine transactions.

 

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We have implemented measures designed to improve our internal control over financial reporting to address the underlying causes of this material weakness, including the hiring of accounting personnel and establishing new accounting and financial reporting policies, processes and controls to have in place an appropriate level of internal control over financial reporting. As a result of these measures, we remediated the material weakness as of December 31, 2019.

We, and our independent registered public accounting firm, were not required to perform an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019 in accordance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we have identified all, or that we will not in the future have additional, material weaknesses. Material weaknesses may still exist when we report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as required by reporting requirements under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act after the completion of this offering.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Since our inception, we have not engaged in any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Beneficial Conversion Feature (Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock)

In June 2020, we issued and sold 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock for net proceeds of approximately $96.7 million. In connection with the issuance and sale of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock, we are assessing the related accounting impacts, which could result in the recognition of a beneficial conversion feature of up to approximately $6.3 million. A beneficial conversion feature represents the intrinsic value of the conversion feature, as determined by comparing the effective conversion price at the commitment date with the estimated fair value of our common stock. If applicable, the beneficial conversion feature would be recorded in additional paid-in capital as of June 30, 2020 resulting in a discount to the carrying value of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock. All outstanding shares of Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock will convert into shares of our common stock upon consummation of this offering.

Critical Accounting Polices and Estimates

Our management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and consolidated results of operations is based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported expenses incurred during the reporting periods. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and on various other factors that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

While our significant accounting policies are described in the notes to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus, we believe that the following critical accounting policies are most important to understanding and evaluating our reported financial results.

Accrued and Prepaid Research and Development Costs

We estimate preclinical study and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions and clinical research organizations that conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on our behalf. In recording service fees as either prepaid or accrued costs, we estimate

 

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the period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. These estimates of the expense are based on communications with and information provided by the third-party service providers at each balance sheet date. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies from the estimate, we will adjust the amounts recorded accordingly. The estimates are trued up to reflect the best information available at the time of the financial statement issuance. We have not experienced any material differences between accrued or prepaid costs and actual costs incurred since inception.

We defer and capitalize non-refundable advance payments for goods or services that will be used or rendered for future research and development activities as prepaid expenses until the related goods are delivered or services are performed. We evaluate such payments for current or long-term classification based on when such services are expected to be received.

Prepaid research and development costs were $1.1 million, $1.1 million and $0.8 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, and March 31, 2020, respectively. Accrued research and development expenses were $0.8 million, $0.5 million and $1.7 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, and March 31, 2020, respectively.

Stock-Based Compensation

We maintain a stock-based compensation plan as a long-term incentive for employees, non-employee directors and consultants. The plan allows for the issuance of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units and other forms of equity awards.

We recognize stock-based compensation expense for stock options on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period and account for forfeitures as they occur. Our stock-based compensation costs are based upon the grant date fair value of options estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. This model utilizes inputs which are highly subjective assumptions and generally require significant judgment. These assumptions include:

Fair Value of Common Stock—See the subsection titled “—Common Stock Valuations” below.

Expected Term—The expected term represents the period that the stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and is determined using the simplified method (based on the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term).

Expected Volatility—Because we have been privately held and do not have any trading history for our common stock, the expected volatility was estimated based on the average volatility for comparable publicly traded life sciences companies over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. The comparable companies were chosen based on the similar size, stage in life cycle or area of specialty. We will continue to apply this process until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of our own stock price becomes available.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of the option.

Dividend Yield—We have never paid dividends on our common stock and have no plans to pay dividends on our common stock. Therefore, we used an expected dividend yield of zero.

See Note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Note 8 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information concerning certain of the specific assumptions we used in applying the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the estimated fair value of our stock options. Certain of such assumptions involve inherent uncertainties and the application of significant judgment. As a result, if factors or expected outcomes change and we use significantly different assumptions or estimates, our stock-based compensation could be materially different.

 

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We recorded stock-based compensation expense of $0.4 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, we recorded stock-based compensation expense of $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively. As of March 31, 2020, we had $7.0 million of total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost which we expect to recognize over an estimated weighted-average period of 2.2 years. We expect to continue to grant stock options and other equity-based awards in the future, and to the extent that we do, our stock-based compensation expense recognized in future periods will likely increase.

The intrinsic value of all outstanding options as of March 31, 2020 was $20.4 million based on an assumed initial public offering price of $15.00 per share, the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, of which approximately $10.5 million is related to vested options and approximately $9.9 million is related to unvested options.

Common Stock Valuations

Historically, for all periods prior to this offering, fair values of the shares of common stock underlying our share-based awards were estimated on each grant date by our board of directors. Our board of directors considered, among other things, valuations of our common stock which were prepared by an independent third-party valuation firm in accordance with the guidance provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants 2013 Practice Aid, Valuation of Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as Compensation.

For our valuations performed prior to December 31, 2018, we used the option pricing method, or OPM, backsolve method. In an OPM framework, the backsolve method for inferring the equity value implied by a recent financing transaction involves making assumptions for the expected time to liquidity, volatility and risk-free interest rate and then solving for the value of equity such that value for the most recent financing equals the amount paid. This method was selected as we concluded that the contemporaneous financing transaction was an arms-length transaction. Furthermore, as of the valuation dates prior to December 31, 2018, we were at an early stage of development and future liquidity events were difficult to forecast.

For our valuations performed subsequent to December 31, 2018, we used a Probability Weighted Expected Return Method, or PWERM, whereby our total equity value was estimated under various exit scenarios and allocated to our different classes of equity. The PWERM included two scenarios, initial public offering, or IPO, or staying private, that considered our estimate of the timing of each scenario and were weighted based on our estimate of the probability of each event occurring. The equity value under the IPO scenario was based on our estimate and recent IPO values of comparable companies. The OPM was utilized to estimate our equity value under the staying private scenario. The equity value under all scenarios was reduced by a discount for lack of marketability.

Given the absence of a public trading market, our board of directors with input from management considered numerous objective and subjective factors to determine the fair value of common stock. The factors included, but were not limited to:

 

   

contemporaneous valuations performed by an independent third-party valuation firm;

 

   

important developments in our business;

 

   

sales of our redeemable convertible preferred stock;

 

   

the rights, preferences and privileges of our redeemable convertible preferred stock relative to those of our common stock;

 

   

lack of marketability of our common stock as a private company;

 

   

actual operating results;

 

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financial performance;

 

   

the progress of clinical development;

 

   

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

 

   

the trends, developments and conditions in the life sciences and biotechnology industry sectors;

 

   

the economy in general; and

 

   

the stock price performance and volatility of comparable public companies.

For valuations after the completion of this offering, the fair value of each share of underlying common stock will be based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the date of grant on the primary stock exchange on which our common stock is traded.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Liability

The obligation to issue additional shares of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock at a future date was determined to be a freestanding financial instrument that should be accounted for as a liability. At issuance, we recorded the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability on the balance sheet at its estimated fair value, using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, with an expected term based on the expected contractual closing date. The other inputs to the Black-Scholes option pricing model, including volatility and risk-free interest rate, were estimated using a similar methodology as described above for our stock option grants. During 2019, in light of our progress towards an IPO, the liability was remeasured using a PWERM. The PWERM included two scenarios, IPO or staying private, that were weighted based on our estimate of the probability of each event occurring.

The liability is subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date, with changes in fair value recognized in gain (loss) on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability in the statements of the operations. Upon settlement of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability, which occurred in August 2019, we remeasured the liability and reclassified the final value to the carrying value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Income Taxes

We recognize deferred income taxes for temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes. In evaluating our valuation allowance, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial performance. Due to our lack of earnings history and uncertainties surrounding our ability to generate future taxable income, the net deferred tax assets have been fully offset by a valuation allowance. The deferred tax assets were primarily comprised of federal and state tax net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards.

As of December 31, 2019, we had $89.8 million of federal and $65.8 million of state net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards available to offset future taxable income. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the Tax Act, federal net operating losses generated after December 31, 2017 will be carried forward indefinitely with the yearly net operating loss utilization limited to 80 percent of taxable income.

We have $46.8 million of such federal NOLs that do not expire. If not utilized, the federal carryforward losses generated prior to 2018 and the state carryforward losses will expire in various amounts, beginning in 2031. Under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, substantial changes in our ownership may limit the amount of NOL and research and development credit carryforwards that

 

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could be used annually in the future to offset taxable income. The tax benefits related to future utilization of federal and state NOL carryforwards, credit carryforwards, and other deferred tax assets may be limited or lost if cumulative changes in ownership exceeds fifty percent within any three-year period. We have not completed a Section 382/383 analysis under the Code regarding the limitation of NOL and credit carryforwards. If a change in ownership were to have occurred, the annual limitation may result in the expiration of NOL carryforwards and credits before utilization. If eliminated, the related asset would be removed from the deferred tax asset schedule with a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance.

We record unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities and adjust these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the unrecognized tax benefit liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information is available.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements and Note 2 to our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to market risks in the ordinary course of our business. These risks primarily include interest rate sensitivities.

Interest Rate Risk

We held cash and cash equivalents of $43.9 million and $33.3 million as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively. We generally hold our cash in interest-bearing money market accounts. We believe that historical fluctuations in interest rates have not had a material effect on our results of operations during the periods presented. Due to the low risk profile of our investments, an immediate 100 basis point change in interest rates would not have a material effect on the fair market value of our cash.

Foreign Currency

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the subsidiary located in Australia is the Australian Dollar. Balance sheets prepared in the functional currencies are translated to the reporting currency at exchange rates in effect at the end of the accounting period, except for stockholders’ equity accounts, which are translated at rates in effect when these balances were originally recorded. Revenue and expense accounts are translated using a weighted-average rate during the year. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the consolidated balance sheets. Foreign exchange translation losses for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 were not material. Gains and losses resulting from exchange-rate changes on transactions denominated in a currency other than the local currency are included in earnings as incurred.

Effects of Inflation

Inflation generally affects us by increasing our cost of labor and clinical trial costs. We believe that inflation has not had a material effect on our results of operations during the periods presented.

Emerging Growth Company Status

We expect to be an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act. Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of

 

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the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that we (i) are no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opt out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, our consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of this offering, (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenue of at least $1.07 billion, (iii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act, which would occur if the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates exceeded $700.0 million as of the last business day of the second fiscal quarter of such year, or (iv) the date on which we have issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities during the prior three-year period.

 

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BUSINESS

Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a pipeline of novel therapies for patients with classical complement-mediated disorders of the body, brain and eye. Our pipeline is based on our platform technology addressing well-researched classical complement-mediated autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease processes, both of which are triggered by aberrant activation of C1q, the initiating molecule of the classical complement pathway. Evidence suggests that potent and selective inhibition of C1q can prevent tissue damage triggered in antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and preserve loss of functioning synapses associated with cognitive and functional decline in complement-mediated neurodegeneration. Our upstream complement approach targeting C1q acts as an “on/off switch” designed to block all downstream components of the classical complement pathway that lead to excess inflammation, tissue damage and patient disability in a host of complement-mediated disorders, while preserving the normal immune function of the lectin and alternative complement pathways involved in the clearance of pathogens and damaged cells.

Our pipeline of product candidates is designed to block the activity of C1q and the entire classical complement pathway in a broad set of complement-mediated diseases. Our first product candidate, ANX005, is a full-length monoclonal antibody formulated for intravenous administration in autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Our second product candidate, ANX007, is an antigen-binding fragment, or Fab, formulated for intravitreal administration for the treatment of neurodegenerative ophthalmic disorders. We are also developing ANX009, an investigational, subcutaneous formulation of a Fab designed for the treatment of systemic autoimmune diseases. We have completed Phase 1b safety and dose-ranging clinical trials for ANX005 and ANX007 in patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, or GBS, and glaucoma, respectively. Both ANX005 and ANX007 were well-tolerated and showed full inhibition of C1q and the classical complement pathway in the Phase 1b trials.

Based on learnings from our initial trials, we are advancing our current programs while evaluating additional orphan and large market indications. We are also developing novel product candidates designed to inhibit C1q and other components of the early classical complement cascade with the goal of further broadening our portfolio. Finally, we are leveraging our disciplined development strategy in early clinical trials utilizing established biomarkers to enhance patient selection, measure target engagement and assess our product candidates’ potential to meaningfully impact the disease process and improve the probability of technical success over shorter development timelines.

Annexon was co-founded by the late Dr. Ben Barres, former member of the National Academy of Sciences, Chair of Neurobiology at Stanford University and a pioneer in complement-mediated neurodegeneration, and Dr. Arnon Rosenthal, a world-renowned scientist and industry executive. We have assembled a seasoned and accomplished management team that has been involved in the development, approval and commercialization of numerous marketed drugs, and has been studying the complement pathway and autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders for decades. Our team is further supported by an experienced scientific advisory board and leading healthcare investors that share our commitment to advancing transformative medicines for patients suffering from debilitating autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

We hold worldwide development and commercialization rights, including through exclusive licenses, to all of our product candidates, which allows us to strategically maximize value from our product portfolio over time. Our patent portfolio includes patent protection for our upstream complement platform and each of our product candidates.

 

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Our Pipeline

Our pipeline is focused on antibody-mediated autoimmune and complement-mediated neurodegenerative disorders for which there is significant unmet medical need. Our product candidates are summarized below:

 

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We have activated investigational new drug applications for these indications.

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Following the activation of an investigational new drug application, we intend to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial in this disease indication.

Our first clinical-stage product candidate is ANX005, an investigational monoclonal antibody designed to block C1q and activation of the classical complement cascade. For GBS, ANX005 is designed to act early in the disease course to prevent nerve damage and irreversible neurological disability in GBS patients. In the Phase 1b dose-ranging trial in GBS patients, treatment with ANX005 was well-tolerated and resulted in full and prolonged C1q engagement and classical cascade inhibition in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF. While our Phase 1b trial was not powered to show statistical significance, we did observe a significant reduction in neurofilament light chain, or NfL, a well-accepted marker of nerve damage in neurodegenerative disease that has been shown to correlate with disease severity and clinical outcomes. Patients treated with ANX005 also showed positive numerical trends across key GBS outcome measures. GBS is a rare, acute, antibody-mediated autoimmune disease impacting the peripheral nervous system. There are currently no approved therapies for GBS in the United States, but intravenous immunoglobulin, or IVIg, and plasma exchange are the current standards of care in the Western world and parts of Asia.

We have initiated a Phase 1b drug-drug interaction, or DDI, trial to assess any potential pharmacokinetic, or PK, interaction between ANX005 and co-administered IVIg and to evaluate the safety of this combination in GBS patients. This trial is being conducted in the United States, Europe and Bangladesh. We anticipate that the results from the DDI trial will provide data on the combined use of ANX005 and IVIg in GBS patients in the Western world. However, this trial will provide no evidence of the efficacy of ANX005 as a monotherapy, nor is the trial powered to show a statistically significant efficacious outcome with the combined administration of ANX005 and IVIg.

In addition, we intend to advance ANX005 into a Phase 2/3 trial in GBS patients in developing countries in early 2021. This randomized Phase 2/3 trial will be statistically powered to evaluate the efficacy of ANX005 in improving disability in GBS patients. ANX005 has received both Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, for the treatment of GBS.

Beyond GBS, we intend to study ANX005 in patients with Huntington’s disease, or HD, as well as patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS—two neurodegenerative disorders where aberrant classical complement activation has been shown to be associated with synapse loss, elevated levels of NfL and disease progression. We plan to initiate Phase 2a trials in patients with HD and ALS in 2020 to assess ANX005’s safety, tolerability, target engagement and impact on disease-related biomarkers such as NfL.

We also intend to study ANX005 in patients with warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia, or wAIHA, an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the premature destruction of red blood cells. The

 

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classical complement pathway plays an important role in wAIHA through the removal of red blood cells labeled by activated complement components in the spleen or liver (extra-vascular hemolysis) and less common destruction of red blood cells in the blood vessels by the classical complement generated membrane attack complex (intravascular hemolysis). Following the activation of an IND for wAIHA in 2020, we plan to initiate a Phase 2 trial in patients with the primary diagnosis of wAIHA. We intend to conduct a non-interventional screening study in wAIHA patients to utilize complement activation markers to identify and select patients who may be more likely to respond to our anti-C1q therapy in the planned Phase 2 trial.

Our second clinical-stage product candidate is ANX007, an investigational C1q Fab designed for intravitreal administration in patients with complement-mediated neurodegenerative ophthalmic disorders. Consistent with the results we observed in preclinical studies, in the Phase 1b trial with intravitreal administration in glaucoma patients, ANX007 was well-tolerated and showed full target engagement and inhibition of C1q in the eye for at least four weeks. We believe inhibition of C1q may provide neuroprotective benefit by preventing the aberrant loss of functioning synapses in the retina in a variety of ophthalmic disorders, including glaucoma and geographic atrophy, or GA. Based on a range of considerations, including preclinical data, clinical results observed to date, proximate clinical validation and an established, objective clinical and regulatory path, we plan to advance ANX007 into a Phase 2 trial in patients with GA in 2021 with the goal of protecting against the loss of photoreceptor neurons in a well-defined patient population.

Our preclinical pipeline includes ANX009, an investigational C1q Fab designed for subcutaneous delivery. We are developing ANX009 to enable chronic dosing for patients with antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders where anti-C1q may have a disease-modifying effect and where we can utilize our targeted biomarker-driven approach. These disorders may include autoimmune hemolytic anemias and a subset of lupus nephritis patients who are selected for pathogenic anti-C1q antibodies, or PACA, and who have a high risk of renal flare. We intend to select our initial lead autoimmune disease indication and commence a first-in-human, or FIH, clinical trial in 2020. We are developing additional next generation product candidates, including ANX105, an investigational monoclonal antibody with enhanced dosing and PK properties designed for chronic neurodegenerative diseases, and small molecules designed for chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. We intend to advance both ANX105 and our small molecule candidates through IND enabling studies in 2021.

Our Strategy

Our goal is to develop disease-modifying medicines for patients suffering from classical complement-mediated diseases. Key elements of our strategy include:

 

   

Leveraging our distinct approach of inhibiting C1q and aberrant upstream classical complement activity to address a broad range of well-characterized classical complement-mediated diseases. By inhibiting C1q and the early classical cascade, we believe our product candidates are uniquely designed to address a wide range of antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases and complement-mediated neurodegenerative disorders. We believe full classical complement inhibition may result in clinical benefits by blocking aberrant upstream immune cell activation in our targeted indications, as well as potentially provide safety advantages by leaving the lectin and alternative pathways intact to perform their normal immune functions. We believe our two clinical-stage product candidates, ANX005 and ANX007, are the first and leading clinical-stage product candidates designed to inhibit C1q and the entire classical complement pathway.

 

   

Advancing ANX005 through clinical development in multiple autoimmune and neurodegenerative indications of high unmet need. Our Phase 1b trial in patients with GBS demonstrated full target engagement of C1q in serum and the CSF, as well as a significant reduction in NfL, a well-accepted biomarker shown to be elevated in patients with GBS, HD and ALS and correlated with disease severity and clinical course and outcomes. We intend to advance ANX005 into a Phase 2/3 trial in patients with GBS in early 2021, and into Phase 2a trials in patients with HD and ALS in 2020. We also intend to advance ANX005 into a Phase 2 trial in patients with wAIHA.

 

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Evaluating ANX007 as an agent for neuroprotective benefit in ophthalmic indications. We are developing ANX007 in neurodegenerative ophthalmic indications, such as glaucoma and GA. ANX007 reduced retinal damage in animal models of glaucoma and GA. In our Phase 1b trial in glaucoma patients, intravitreal administration of ANX007 resulted in full target engagement of C1q at both low and high doses. Based on this clinical dosing data, our preclinical data in glaucoma and GA, and proximate clinical validation from downstream complement approaches, we believe that ANX007 may provide neuroprotective benefit in patients with these and other complement-mediated ophthalmic disorders. We plan to advance ANX007 into a Phase 2 trial in patients with GA in 2021.

 

   

Expanding our autoimmune and neurodegenerative portfolios informed by data from our beachhead indications. Our initial indications represent our beachhead within antibody-mediated autoimmune and complement-mediated neurodegenerative diseases. We intend to leverage learnings from our initial indications to inform selection of additional orphan and larger patient populations involving related biological mechanisms. In our autoimmune portfolio, potential indications include antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders such as wAIHA, Cold Agglutinin Disease, or CAD, and lupus nephritis, (specifically in lupus nephritis patients with endogenous PACA). In our neurodegenerative portfolio, potential indications include complement-mediated neurodegeneration disorders in the eye and brain such as glaucoma, GA, HD, ALS, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. We plan to efficiently prosecute these broad opportunities utilizing our disciplined, biomarker-driven development strategy.

 

   

Developing additional product candidates that are designed to inhibit activation of the classical complement cascade. We have secured broad intellectual property protection for our upstream complement platform and intend to leverage our intellectual property and know-how to protect and enhance our leading position in developing novel therapeutics that target the classical complement cascade. We are developing product candidates, such as ANX009, to modulate the classical pathway with the potential to become tailored therapeutics for a large range of indications using different molecular modalities, dosing regimens and tissue localization strategies. In addition, we are developing next generation product candidates, including ANX105, an investigational monoclonal antibody, and small molecule modulators of the classical pathway, for the treatment of chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

 

   

Maximizing the value of our product candidates. We currently hold worldwide development and commercialization rights, including through exclusive licenses, to all of our product candidates. We intend to pursue independent development and commercialization in select indications and markets that we can address with a focused sales and marketing organization. We may opportunistically explore licensing agreements, collaborations or partnerships to develop our product candidates in larger market indications where we could accelerate development utilizing the resources of larger biopharmaceutical companies.

Overview of the Complement System and C1q Biology

The Complement System—three main complement pathways

The complement system is an integral component of the immune system that consists of many circulating and locally-produced molecules. This system evolved to enhance, or complement, other components of the adaptive and innate immune systems. The complement system, also known as the complement cascade, rapidly responds to pathogens, damaged cells and unwanted tissue components to facilitate their removal by the immune system.

There are three main complement pathways (also called cascades)—the classical, lectin and alternative pathways. Each pathway is initiated by different molecules that respond to distinct triggers. When activated, the initiating molecules set in motion a cascade of enzymatic reactions that greatly amplify, or complement, an inflammatory response. The classical pathway is initiated by C1q, which recognizes antibody complexes, specific pathogens, damaged cells or unwanted cellular components. The lectin pathway is triggered by carbohydrates on the surface of pathogens or cells. The alternative pathway amplifies the action of the other two pathways and also

 

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self-activates to eliminate pathogens or cells that are not specifically shielded by the body’s built-in self-protective systems. While these three pathways are initiated by distinct molecules, they converge downstream on common pathway components known as C3 and C5.

The three main pathways of the complement cascade are activated by independent molecules but converge at C3

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Aberrant activation of the complement system can result in a range of diseases characterized by an attack on healthy tissue, such as red blood cells, nerve cells or kidney components. A broad range of diseases are known to be associated with pathological activation of the complement cascade, including antibody-mediated autoimmune disorders such as GBS, wAIHA, CAD and lupus nephritis, and complement-mediated neurodegeneration disorders in the eye and brain such as glaucoma, GA, HD, ALS, frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. We believe intervening in the activation of the complement cascade offers a potent and selective mechanism for specifically slowing or reversing these disease processes.

Specific activated components of the complement cascade have important immune functions that contribute to three key outcomes:

 

   

Immune cell recruitment and inflammation. Specific activated molecules from the cascade serve as soluble signals to make blood vessels leaky and attract immune cells into tissues.

 

   

Directed immune cell attack. Several complement components, including C1q, bind directly to the pathogen and serve as receptors that direct immune cell attack and pathogen engulfment.

 

   

Membrane damage. Downstream components of the cascade directly puncture the pathogen or cell surface, causing membrane damage and lysis.

Aberrant activation of the initiating molecule, C1q, can lead to three main outcomes

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Broad potential for Classical Complement pathway targeted therapeutics in Autoimmune and Neurodegenerative Diseases

The classical complement cascade has a well-established role in augmenting antibody function within the immune system. C1q recognizes antibodies bound to pathogens or cells and activates the classical pathway to trigger their removal and clearance by the immune system. C1q can also directly recognize pathogens, damaged cells or unwanted cellular components leading to similar downstream clearance. A more recent finding made by the laboratory of Dr. Ben Barres, our scientific founder, is that C1q also directly interacts with neuronal connections, or synapses, during early development. Recognition of weaker synapses by C1q triggers the classical complement cascade and directs immune cells to “prune” the synapses away from neurons, thereby reinforcing stronger synapses to establish appropriate neuronal connections.

Because of its central role in immune function, aberrant activation of C1q can lead to damage of healthy tissue and destruction of functioning synapses. We are focused on two distinct disease processes involving C1q as a key mediator of tissue damage: antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and complement-mediated neurodegeneration.

Our platform targets two disease processes

 

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In antibody-mediated autoimmune disease, self-reactive antibodies bind to cells or tissues, activating C1q and leading to damaging inflammatory responses. We have observed that inhibition of C1q was protective in several animal models of antibody-mediated autoimmune disease, including neuromyelitis optica, or NMO, and two variants of GBS. In NMO, auto-antibodies recognize cells within the central nervous system, or CNS, and can lead to rapid localized destruction of the optic nerve and regions of the spinal cord, while in GBS pathogenic antibodies react with components of the peripheral nerve system, or PNS, to cause widespread peripheral nerve damage and paralysis. This disease process is also evident in antibody-mediated autoimmune disease involving blood components, such as wAIHA and CAD, characterized by auto-reactive antibodies that trigger destruction of red blood cells, and systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, where endogenous pathogenic antibodies against C1q itself drive aberrant C1q activation and are highly associated with kidney damage, or lupus nephritis.

In complement-mediated neurodegeneration, aberrant activation of C1q at synapses in aging and disease can lead to excessive synapse loss and neuronal damage, driving disease progression in multiple neurodegenerative disorders regardless of the initiating factor. In animal models, C1q accumulated on synapses with age, building up to 300-fold higher levels than in younger animals. It did not activate with normal aging, but other inflammatory stimuli, including misfolded proteins, metabolic dysfunction or increases in intraocular pressure, appeared to aberrantly reactivate C1q’s developmental role in synapse elimination. Complement activation and aberrant synapse pruning in disease may lead to neuroinflammation, loss of synaptic neuronal connections and neurodegeneration. In support of this hypothesis, we and other investigators have observed that C1q inhibition was protective in numerous models of neurodegenerative disease, including diseases of the eye, such as

 

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glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, chronic diseases of the CNS, such as frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer’s, HD and Spinal Muscular Atrophy, or SMA, and acute injury, such as traumatic brain injury and stroke.

Synaptic loss is a pathogenic driver of disability in many neurodegenerative diseases, protected with C1q inhibition

 

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Our differentiated approach to treating complement-mediated autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease through inhibition of C1q

We believe that in order to selectively inhibit aberrant activation of the classical complement pathway implicated in driving certain complement-mediated autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases, it is important to target the early components of the classical cascade, particularly C1q, C4 and C3. Activated fragments of C4 and C3 induce vascular leakiness and immune cell recruitment into the tissue, while other fragments of C4 and C3, as well as C1q, work together to direct immune cell attack to the cell or synapse surface. Furthermore, C1q inhibition blocks downstream classical pathway activation of C5 and its membrane damaging effects. We believe that inhibition of C1q does not block the activity of these components in the lectin or alternative complement pathways, and both of these pathways will continue to perform their normal immune functions.

Our Platform

Our novel upstream complement platform is designed to completely inhibit classical complement activity for the treatment of antibody-mediated autoimmune disease and complement-mediated neurodegeneration. We believe there are potential advantages to our approach of upstream inhibition of the classical complement cascade, which include:

 

   

Full inhibition of the classical cascade while preserving healthy immune function of the other complement pathways. Inhibition of C1q fully inhibits the classical cascade, including components downstream of C1q such as C4, C3, C5 and the downstream membrane attack complex. As a result, we believe our approach is designed to block all classical complement activity that can contribute to disease pathology, including immune cell recruitment, directed immune cell attack and membrane damage. By targeting upstream tissue-damaging components of the classical complement pathway, our approach leaves the lectin and alternative pathways to perform their normal immune function, which may aide both clinical improvement and safety. Our approach is also distinct from inhibiting C3 or C5. Inhibition of C5 will not affect the upstream components of the classical pathway involved in

 

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pathology (C1q, C4 and C3), while inhibition of C3 will block downstream components in all three complement pathways.

 

   

Broad applicability across many indications. We believe our approach has broad utility for the treatment of diseases in which full inhibition of the entire classical complement cascade may be beneficial. We believe our approach is distinguishable from those that target only downstream complement components. Our initial indications represent our beachhead within antibody-mediated autoimmune and complement-mediated neurodegenerative diseases, and we will selectively pursue both orphan and larger patient population diseases with clear biological evidence of classical complement activation. We are also developing novel product candidates targeting C1q and early components of the classical complement cascade, and will utilize different modalities to target these components of the classical complement pathway.

 

   

Disciplined, biomarker-driven development strategy for our product candidates. We are deploying a disciplined, biomarker-driven development strategy designed to establish confidence that our product candidates are engaging the specific target at a well-tolerated therapeutic dose in the intended patient tissue. We design small, early-stage clinical trials to rigorously evaluate our product candidates using target engagement and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. We are utilizing sensitive, specific assays for C1q and activation of downstream classical complement components to evaluate target engagement in patient tissues that are most relevant for the diseases that we are treating, such as CSF for neurological diseases and aqueous humor for ocular diseases. In neurodegenerative diseases, we are measuring our product candidate’s impact on NfL, a sensitive marker of neurodegeneration, to provide proof-of-concept in small patient trials. We believe that this development strategy allows us to make rational decisions regarding our therapeutic pipeline, increasing the probability of technical success over shorter development timelines for product candidates we advance into later stage trials.

Our Pipeline

Our pipeline is focused on antibody-mediated autoimmune and complement-mediated neurodegenerative disorders for which there is significant unmet medical need. Our product candidates are summarized in the table below.

 

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We have activated investigational new drug applications for these indications.

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Following the activation of an investigational new drug application, we intend to initiate a Phase 2 clinical trial in this disease indication.

Our First Product Candidate, ANX005

ANX005 is an investigational humanized recombinant monoclonal antibody that is designed to potently bind and inhibit C1q. Our investigational new drug, or IND, application for ANX005 in GBS was authorized to proceed in February 2019. We have completed a Phase 1b clinical trial for ANX005 in patients with GBS in which ANX005 was well-tolerated and achieved full target engagement and C1q suppression in the PNS and

 

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CNS. A Phase 1b drug-drug interaction, or DDI, trial is ongoing to assess the concomitant use of ANX005 and IVIg in GBS patients, and we anticipate reporting data from this DDI trial in 2020. Further, we plan to advance ANX005 into a Phase 2/3 trial in GBS patients in early 2021. ANX005 has been granted Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the FDA for the treatment of GBS.

Separately, our IND applications for ANX005 in HD and in ALS were authorized to proceed in March and May 2020, respectively, and we expect to initiate Phase 2a trials in patients with HD and ALS in 2020. We anticipate reporting data from both the HD and ALS trials in 2021.

ANX005 for the Treatment of GBS

Overview of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

GBS is a severe acute inflammatory disease typically triggered by a preceding infection, in which aberrant auto-antibodies that recognize neurons or associated cells cause neuronal injury and acute paralytic neuropathy. In 2011, the estimated annual incidence of GBS was approximately 12,000 in North America and Europe. In 2004, the annual economic cost of GBS in the United States was $1.7 billion, largely due to the permanent disability and mortality it can cause.

There are currently no FDA-approved therapies for the treatment of GBS. Treatment guidelines published by the American Academy of Neurology recommend early initiation of IVIg or plasma exchange in patients diagnosed with GBS. IVIg and plasma exchange are the established standards of care in the Western world and parts of Asia. Although IVIg and plasma exchange have been shown to provide some benefit, significant unmet need still exists, and many patients, despite receiving the standard of care, are left with residual neurological disability, accompanied by chronic pain and fatigue.

The clinical course of GBS usually involves rapidly progressive weakness in the limbs culminating in neuromuscular paralysis within two to four weeks of onset. According to 2011 estimates, 20 to 30 percent of patients require mechanical ventilation, over 20 percent have permanent motor or sensory disability and 2 to 17 percent of cases result in death globally. Many patients with GBS require extensive monitoring and supportive care and will seek treatment in a hospital within a few days of onset of the disease. Because approximately a quarter of patients need artificial ventilation due to respiratory muscle weakness, and many develop autonomic disturbances, admission in an intensive care unit is frequently necessary. Symptoms peak within four weeks as the auto-antibody response declines, followed by a recovery period that can last months or years, as the nervous system repairs itself.

 

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C1q is a key driver of pathogenesis in GBS

GBS is an acute, autoimmune disease driven by antibodies that lead to activation of the classical complement cascade. Pathological nerve-targeting auto-antibodies, which may be triggered by an infection, lead to the activation of C1q and the classical complement cascade. Studies have shown that pathogenic auto-antibodies are present in the serum and CSF and that activated components of the complement cascade are deposited on peripheral nerve tissue from GBS patients. Peripheral nerve roots are immersed in CSF as they emerge from the spinal cord and are prominent sites of damage in GBS. The figure below illustrates the activation of the classical complement pathway within peripheral nerves in a GBS patient. The left image shows a low magnification view of a peripheral nerve from a GBS patient with numerous individual nerve fibers coated with membrane-damaging complement activation products (C5b-9; dark staining). The middle image shows a high magnification view of an individual nerve fiber with deposition of C3d (dark staining), a complement activation product that directs immune cell attack. The right image shows a high power image of an individual nerve fiber being probed by an infiltrating immune cell (macrophage).

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We believe that by blocking the activity of C1q early in the onset of the disease, we can minimize the neuronal damage caused by these pathogenic auto-antibodies, in turn reducing the patients’ symptoms and accelerating their neurological recovery.

Neurofilament light chain (NfL), a marker of neurodegeneration, is highly elevated in GBS

NfL, an intracellular neuron-specific protein, has emerged as a well-accepted biomarker of nerve damage in disorders characterized by damaged or degenerating nerves. NfL is a subunit of neurofilaments, which are cylindrical proteins exclusively located in the cytoplasm of nerve cells and are released into the CSF and blood when nerves are damaged (illustration below). Recent ultrasensitive techniques (e.g., single-molecule array technology) have made it possible to accurately and quantitatively detect longitudinal changes of NfL in both blood and CSF, with very low analytical variation. These assay properties, in addition to neuron-specificity, position NfL as an important decision-enabling tool in proof-of-concept studies of neuroprotective agents across a wide variety of diseases.

 

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Neurofilament Light Chain (NfL) is released from damaged nerve cells

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Elevated NfL levels correlate with current patient disability and predict patient outcomes in autoimmune neurological diseases such as GBS, multiple sclerosis, or MS, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and multifocal motor neuropathy as well as in chronic neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, effective treatments for MS (e.g., ocrelizumab, natalizumab and fingolimod) and SMA (e.g., nusinersen) that prevent neurological disability in patients have been shown to significantly reduce NfL levels in these same patients. In patients with GBS, NfL is very highly elevated (in some instances, greater than 100 fold above normal). Retrospective and prospective studies in GBS patients have shown that NfL levels in CSF and serum may correlate with disease course, severity and prognosis in GBS.

Preclinical Development in GBS

As illustrated below, in a mouse model of severe GBS, ANX005 treatment blocked complement deposition on nerve terminals (left panel) and protected respiratory and motor function (right panel) when compared to an irrelevant immunoglobulin G, or IgG, isotype control antibody. A p-value is a measure of the statistical significance of the observed result. By convention, a p-value lower than 0.05 is considered statistically significant.

Respiratory and motor function

 

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  ** p < 0.01

*** p < 0.001

Phase 1a Trial in Healthy Volunteers

ANX005 was initially evaluated in a Phase 1a dose-escalation single-dose trial designed to assess safety, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. This trial was conducted in 27 healthy volunteers in Australia. The dosing levels of ANX005 delivered in this trial ranged from 1 mg/kg to 8.2 mg/kg. We terminated the trial in healthy volunteers and transitioned our clinical development to evaluate ANX005 directly in patients with GBS based on guidance from the FDA in order to expediently advance this program in the United States.

 

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Phase 1b Trial in GBS Patients

We have closely coordinated our clinical efforts with leading researchers of the International GBS Outcome Study, or IGOS, in pursuing a novel therapy for GBS. With the goal of aiding the development of effective treatments for GBS, practitioners established IGOS in May 2012, and have collected natural history data from over 1,750 newly-diagnosed GBS patients worldwide. IGOS is a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study that aims to identify the clinical and biological determinants and predictors of disease onset as well as the subtype, course and outcome of GBS. IGOS was established to help develop a better understanding of the mechanism of disease progression and recovery and to conduct selective therapeutic trials to improve patient outcomes. This natural history database is an invaluable resource to clinical development, facilitating the design of clinical trials, optimal selection of endpoints, and patient follow-up for one to three years. We initiated our GBS clinical development in Bangladesh, a country where the incidence of GBS is several times higher than in North America and Europe and where 17% of patients die from the disease and 20% suffer permanent disability and are unable to walk. Additionally, our site in Bangladesh is well situated to conduct clinical research in GBS in a manner compliant with good clinical practice, or GCP, requirements. As of March 2017, Bangladesh had enrolled more patients in IGOS than any other country, representing approximately 15% of all enrolled patients worldwide.

We conducted a Phase 1b placebo-controlled, dose escalation trial (n=31) of ANX005 in GBS patients at a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh, in compliance with GCP as described above. The trial objectives included safety and tolerability, dosing levels and target engagement, and included a follow up of eight weeks. The dosing levels of ANX005 delivered in this trial ranged from 3 mg/kg to 75 mg/kg. ANX005 was well tolerated, and no drug-related serious adverse events or drug-related discontinuations occurred. The most common adverse events were acute infusion-related reactions, or IRRs, which occurred in the majority of patients and presented as low grade, non-serious, transient skin rash. These acute IRRs were mitigated by standard anti-inflammatory pre-medications and slowly administering ANX005 until saturation of endogenous C1q was reached.

Results from the Phase 1b trial showed increasing serum levels of ANX005 and its duration in the circulation at increasing dose levels, and that the drug was present in the serum for up to three weeks at a dose of 75 mg/kg (left panel). When ANX005 was present in the circulation C1q function was fully inhibited, and rapidly returned to normal levels as ANX005 serum levels declined (right panel showing data from a patient receiving 75 mg/kg).

 

 

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Much of the proximal weakness in GBS patients is due to involvement of peripheral nerve roots that are immersed in CSF as they exit the spinal cord. Hence, we believe product candidate levels and target inhibition in CSF may be an important contributor to efficacy. We observed that ANX005 entered the CSF of GBS patients treated with doses of 18-75 mg/kg of ANX005, resulting in full engagement of C1q inhibition in the CSF (as shown below).

Inhibition of C1q Observed in CSF at 18-75 mg/kg

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In the Phase 1b trial in GBS patients, ANX005 treatment at doses that engaged C1q in both serum and CSF (i.e., 18-75 mg/kg dose) resulted in a statistically significant early decline in serum NfL levels compared to placebo (2-4 week post treatment p-value <0.05, left panel below). In this Phase 1b trial, we also explored the administration of ANX005 on multiple validated clinical disability measures including GBS-Disability Score, or GBS-DS, Medical Research Council Muscle Strength Scale, or MRC, and Inflammatory Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale, or I-RODS, over an eight-week period. We observed that early decline in NfL correlated with improvement in the GBS-DS at the end of the study (2-8 week post treatment p-value <0.05; right panel below). We believe these results suggest that ANX005 had a rapid impact on the disease process by ameliorating antibody-induced nerve damage, likely within the first two weeks of dosing.

 

 

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*   r is a statistical measure for the correlation of two variables that ranges from -1 to 1. The closer r is to 1 or -1, the more closely the variables are related. A correlation of 0.431 is considered moderate correlation.

 

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Though the trial was not powered for statistical significance, treatment with ANX005 resulted in consistent, positive numerical trends, including an improvement in MRC score and the number of days of ventilation. We observed a dose-dependent trend for improvement in MRC within the first week of treatment (as shown below).

 

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Early improvement in MRC is known to have strong prognostic implications on long-term functional recovery (modified Erasmus GBS Outcome Score). In line with this published data, we found that early improvement in MRC correlated with patients’ disability scores at the end of the Phase 1b trial (GBS-DS at week eight). This result is important because GBS-DS is typically used as the primary endpoint in GBS registrational studies. In addition, using a responder analysis, 28% of patients treated with high dose ANX005 (18-75 mg/kg) improved by at least three points on GBS-DS by week 8 compared to 0% of placebo-treated patients (as shown below). Patients treated with ANX005 showed a trend of improvement on GBS-DS when using a mean analysis. Both results are promising but not statistically significant.

 

 

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Based on the results of the Phase 1b trial, we selected the 75 mg/kg dose of ANX005 for ongoing development in GBS. Following the completion of the Phase 1b treatment cohorts (through 75 mg/kg), two unblinded exploratory cohorts were enrolled to establish higher dose and multiple dose safety and PK/PD to inform subsequent chronic dosing trials. These two exploratory cohorts were a single dose of 100 mg/kg, and two doses of 75 mg/kg separated by one week (150 mg/kg total). At these higher dose levels, ANX005 was well-tolerated, and no drug-related serious adverse events or drug-related discontinuations occurred; moreover, we did not reach a maximum tolerated dose. Similarly, we observed full inhibition of C1q in serum and CSF, a reduction in NfL and trends of improvement in clinical measures when compared to placebo; however, there was no additional impact on these clinical measures beyond that seen at 75 mg/kg.

The results of the Phase 1b dose ranging trial in GBS showed that ANX005 was well-tolerated, fully inhibited C1q in the blood and CSF at target doses, and demonstrated an early reduction in NfL levels. Drug treatment was associated with a trend for early improvement in MRC, and early changes in MRC significantly

 

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correlated with improved clinical measures in GBS patients. An additional key learning from the study is the importance of using baseline MRC for patient stratification at the time of hospitalization and study entry. Accounting for baseline MRC strengthened the impact of ANX005 treatment in the biomarker and clinical measures, demonstrating that MRC will be an important stratification tool in future GBS trials.

Ongoing Development of ANX005 for GBS

Based on results from our Phase 1b trial and initial feedback from the FDA, we intend to initiate a Phase 2/3 trial of ANX005 in GBS in early 2021 and anticipate reporting data from this trial in 2023. A Phase 1b DDI trial evaluating ANX005 in combination with IVIg is ongoing. ANX005 has received both Orphan Drug and Fast Track designations from the FDA for the treatment of GBS.

ANX005 for Future Autoimmune Indications

Beyond GBS, we also intend to study ANX005 in specific subsets of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemias, or AIHA, characterized by the presence of auto-antibodies that bind red blood cells and activate the classical complement pathway. The temperature at which these auto-antibodies bind to red blood cells determines whether the hemolytic anemia is labelled “cold” or “warm.” In both cases, the antibodies trigger classical complement activation, which tags red blood cells with complement components (e.g., C3d, C4d) for removal in the spleen or liver (via extra-vascular hemolysis) or, less commonly, leads to their direct lysis within blood vessels by the C5b-9 membrane attack complex (intravascular hemolysis). The “cold” forms of AIHA are known to be complement-mediated disorders, whereas complement is hypothesized to play a dominant role in a subset of patients with the “warm” form of AIHA. It is estimated that less than 5,000 people have the cold form while approximately 30,000 people have the warm form of AIHA in the United States. There are no approved treatments for AIHA in the United States; however, blood transfusions, steroids, rituximab, chemotherapies and splenectomies are currently used to treat patients with AIHA. It is estimated that up to 30% of patients require second-line treatment when treated with the standard of care treatment and approximately 11% of cases after symptom onset result in death.

We have found that ANX005 inhibited complement deposition on human red blood cells (left panel) and prevented direct red blood cell lysis (right panel) induced by sera from CAD patients as ex vivo models of extravascular and intravascular lysis, respectively.

 

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We have observed in both preclinical studies and in our Phase 1b trial in patients with GBS that treatment with ANX005 resulted in near complete inhibition of C1q, as measured in serum by the same ex vivo hemolysis assay used for hemolytic anemia conditions. Thus, we believe that ANX005 may be able to achieve near complete suppression of complement-mediated hemolysis in patients with wAIHA.

We plan to initiate a Phase 2 trial in wAIHA patients who are enriched for complement-mediated pathology in 2020. This open label trial will evaluate safety, tolerability, PK, pharmacodynamic impact and efficacy, as

 

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measured by biomarkers of hemolysis and changes in hemoglobin. We anticipate reporting data from this trial in 2021.

ANX005 for the Treatment of Huntington’s Disease

Overview of Huntington’s Disease

HD is an orphan hereditary neurodegenerative disease that is fatal and for which there are no approved treatments that can reverse or slow its course of progression. HD symptoms typically begin to manifest between the ages of 30 to 50 and progress as a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormal involuntary movements, known as chorea, spreading to all muscles, progressive dementia and psychiatric manifestations such as depression and psychosis. Ultimately, affected individuals succumb to cardio-respiratory complications. Life expectancy after symptom onset is approximately 10 to 20 years. Some of the symptoms of HD such as chorea and depression can be managed with medications.

Approximately 25,000 to 35,000 people in the United States have HD. Estimates project that approximately 75,000 people in the United States and other major market countries will have HD by 2025. Because HD is a genetic disease in which an individual with a single copy of the dysfunctional gene will develop the disease, every child of a parent with HD has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the faulty gene and developing the disease. There are an estimated 200,000 individuals in the United States who have a 50 percent risk of developing HD because of their family relationship to HD patients. It is estimated that only five to seven percent of these at-risk individuals have voluntarily undergone genetic testing due to the devastating nature of the disease and the lack of any effective treatments. The development of a disease-modifying therapy could encourage at-risk patients to seek out testing and thereby both provide hope to gene carriers and expand the number of patients who may benefit from treatment.

C1q is a key driver of pathogenesis in HD

HD is caused by a genetic mutation, specifically, by expansion of the number of cytosine-adenine-guanine, or CAG, nucleotide sequences within the DNA of the huntingtin gene, which leads to production of a mutant huntingtin protein that is thought to be neurotoxic and promote the degeneration of neurons. Above a threshold of 35 CAG repeats, the age of disease onset is inversely correlated with the number of CAG repeats. The classical complement cascade is activated in HD patients and is associated with progressive synapse loss. We hypothesize that C1q plays an important role in the degenerative process by tagging weakened synapses and triggering a neuroinflammatory response that leads to aberrant synapse loss and progressive neuronal destruction. As shown below, we observed that increased complement activation in HD patients (as measured by the complement activation marker C4a in CSF) was associated with disease progression.

 

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Increased Complement Activation Marker C4a in the CSF of HD Patients

 

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NfL is elevated in HD patients

Both CSF (shown below) and plasma levels were found to be elevated in HD patients compared to healthy controls, consistent with observations in other neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, plasma NfL is increased with advancing disease severity and increases at an earlier age with a greater number of the CAG repeats. NfL levels in both plasma and CSF correlate better than levels of the mutant huntingtin, or mHTT, protein itself, with clinical functional/cognitive measures such as total Unified Huntington’s Disease Rating Scale and with brain volume measures as determined by MRI. In addition, while CSF mHTT levels accurately differentiate controls and HD mutation carriers, only NfL in CSF and plasma is able to distinguish presymptomatic from symptomatic (manifest) HD patients, suggesting that NfL might be one of the earliest detectable abnormalities in the progression to manifest HD. Of note, NfL levels were shown to reflect future patient outcomes as well as current disability.

Increased Nfl in the CSF with Disease Progression

 

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Progressive synapse loss in HD patients

As shown below, researchers observed in post-mortem tissue from HD patients that the number of synapses on neurons connecting specific regions of the brain (the cortex and striatum) were reduced compared to healthy

 

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controls, with patients more advanced in the disease process (Huntington’s disease stage 4) showing greater loss of synapses than earlier stage patients (Huntington’s disease stage 2). These results are consistent with our hypothesis that complement activation leads to synapse elimination and neuronal damage.

Progressive Synapse Loss in Huntington’s Disease

Synapse number (% Control)

 

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ANX005 protected against synapse loss and reduced NfL in a preclinical model of HD

In transgenic mouse models of HD, we assessed the potential of peripherally administered ANX005 to inhibit activation of the classical complement cascade and protect against synapse loss. As shown below, ANX005 treatment reduced the amount of activated complement factor C3d that was deposited on synapses in the striatum (the same region of the brain as affected in HD patients; left panel), reduced CSF levels of NfL (middle panel), and reduced the loss of synapses (right panel). We believe these three lines of evidence support the hypothesis that ANX005 blocks complement-mediated neurodegeneration in HD and can lead to preservation of neuronal synapses.

 

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Development of ANX005 in HD

Our IND application for ANX005 in HD was activated in March 2020. We intend to initiate a three-month Phase 2a trial in HD patients in 2020. This open-label trial will evaluate ANX005’s ability to inhibit C1q in the CSF and to reduce levels of serum and CSF NfL, a marker of neurodegeneration with prognostic significance. We anticipate reporting data from this trial in 2021.

 

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ANX005 for the Treatment of ALS

Overview of ALS

ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with no curative treatment that affects about 30,000 patients worldwide. There are rare familial forms of ALS (e.g., due to DNA mutations in the SOD1 and C9ORF72 genes), but the majority of ALS cases are considered sporadic. The disease is a motor neuron disease impacting both the central and peripheral nervous systems. ALS causes progressive weakness of limb, respiratory, swallowing and speaking muscles, and death typically occurs within two to five years after symptom onset. There is evidence that neurodegeneration begins peripherally, at the neuromuscular junction, or NMJ, and then proceeds proximally to involve the peripheral motor nerves, ventral nerve roots, spinal cord and brain motor cortex (“dying back” neurodegeneration). The NMJ is a specialized synapse between peripheral motor nerve and muscle fiber. As illustrated below, “dying back” of the peripheral nerve in ALS is associated with C1q / classical complement deposition on the NMJ.

 

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C1q involvement in ALS

C1q and classical pathway activation is elevated in ALS patients. Specifically, C1q deposition has been noted in NMJs and C4d levels are increased in the CSF of ALS patients.

 

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As shown below in a preclinical model of ALS, muscle levels of C1q (at NMJs) increased with age (left panel) and were observed to correlate with decline in muscle strength (right panel).

 

 

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* p < 0.05

 

 

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Our goal with our C1q inhibitor is to prevent loss of NMJs and hence prevent “dying back” neurodegeneration of motor nerves in patients with ALS. Of note, there is significant overlap in the peripheral nerve structures that are involved in both GBS and ALS; therefore, we believe our ANX005 pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics data in GBS patients can be extrapolated to ALS patients.

Likewise, in an experimental model of SMA, another peripheral nerve degenerative disease that is pathologically similar to ALS, we found that treatment with anti-C1q antibody (mouse precursor of ANX005) protected against synapse loss and improved motor function. The same peripheral nerve pathway is involved in GBS and ALS, as illustrated below.

The same peripheral nerve pathway is involved in GBS and ALS

 

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NfL is elevated in ALS patients

ALS patients have substantial elevations of NfL in both CSF and serum compared with controls and pre-symptomatic mutation carriers. In ALS patients, serum levels of NfL increase in the year prior to onset of disease

 

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symptoms (see below). In addition, it has been observed that NfL levels in ALS patients correlate both with current disability and future patient outcomes.

Serum NfL Elevated in ALS Patients a Year Prior to Symptom Onset

 

 

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Development of ANX005 in ALS

Our IND application for ANX005 in ALS was activated in May 2020. We intend to initiate a three-month, open-label Phase 2a trial in ALS patients in 2020 to evaluate ANX005’s ability to inhibit C1q in the CSF and to reduce NfL levels in serum and CSF in ALS patients. We anticipate reporting data from this trial in 2021. Based on the results of this trial, we will evaluate whether to initiate a potential registrational program for ALS.

If either of the HD or ALS Phase 2a trials are successful, we will consider proof-of-concept studies in other CNS neurodegenerative indications, such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia and progressive multiple sclerosis.

Our Second Product Candidate, ANX007

ANX007 is an investigational monoclonal antibody antigen-binding fragment, or Fab, that is designed to potently bind to C1q and inhibit activation of the classical complement cascade. We activated an IND for ANX007 in 2018 and are developing ANX007 as an intravitreal injection for ophthalmic indications such as glaucoma and geographic atrophy. We have conducted a Phase 1b trial of ANX007 in patients with glaucoma, and based on these and preclinical study results, we believe ANX007 may have potential to treat patients with GA.

ANX007 for the Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases, including Glaucoma and Geographic Atrophy

Overview of Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness and results from progressive loss of neurons in the retina called Retinal Ganglion Cells, and optic nerve degeneration. A frequent risk factor for glaucoma is elevated intraocular pressure, or IOP, but there are patients with “normotensive” glaucoma who have normal IOP. Patients with glaucoma have progressive loss of peripheral vision, which can eventually result in functional blindness.

It is estimated that over three million people in the United States have glaucoma but only half of these people have been diagnosed. More than 120,000 people in the United States are blind due to glaucoma, accounting for 9 to 12% of all cases of blindness. The worldwide prevalence of glaucoma has been estimated to be over 60 million people. Glaucoma is a disease that is more frequently found in older adults with rates increasing several fold between ages 50 and 70. Similar to other neurodegenerative diseases, the overall prevalence of glaucoma is projected to increase as populations age worldwide.

 

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Glaucoma is one of the largest segments of the global ophthalmic market and has a significant impact on the quality of life. Patients’ ability to perform daily activities becomes increasingly limited as the disease progresses. Individuals with glaucoma are more likely to experience falls, to be involved in motor vehicle collisions, to suffer depression and to require admission to a nursing home.

The goal of existing therapies for glaucoma is reduction of IOP. IOP-lowering treatments are typically administered in the form of eye drops, and patients may require surgery to facilitate drainage of fluid in the eye. However, approximately ten percent of people who receive appropriate treatment nevertheless continue to experience progressive vision loss. The optic nerve damage observed in glaucoma is believed to be irreversible, highlighting the need for neuroprotective therapies that can slow or stop the damage to optic nerves.

Role of C1q in Glaucoma

C1q, the initiating molecule of the classical complement cascade, has been implicated in the progression of neurodegenerative disease, including glaucoma. The lab of our scientific founder, Dr. Ben Barres, reported that C1q accumulated on retinal neurons and their synapses early in the disease process in a chronic mouse model of glaucoma, before the onset of other observable changes. C1q accumulation continued as synapses were lost, followed by loss of the optic nerve. Subsequent studies showed that genetic deletion of C1q protected against optic nerve damage in a chronic mouse model of glaucoma at 12 months of age (left panel, figure below).

Using pharmacological inhibition of C1q with ANX007, we observed these findings in a different mouse model of glaucoma involving acute elevation of IOP. In this model, animals received an intravitreal injection of the M1-Fab murine precursor of ANX007 at the time of IOP elevation, followed by a second dose one week later, and their retinas were examined at week 2. As shown in the right panel of the figure below, intravitreal administration of ANX007 protected against optic nerve damage.

C1q Inhibition was Protective in Both Acute and Chronic Models of Glaucoma

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* p < 0.05

** p < 0.001

 

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Independent investigators observed elevated levels of C1q and other components of the classical complement cascade in the inner retinal synapse layer of 34 out of 34 human donor eyes from patients with glaucoma, as illustrated below. C1q was not found in donor eyes from individuals who did not have glaucoma.

 

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Overview of Geographic Atrophy

GA is an advanced, vision-threatening form of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, and is a chronic, progressive disease of the macula that results in loss of central vision. The disease typically affects one eye first, with a high likelihood of it occurring in the second eye over time.

There are two forms of AMD, “dry” AMD and “wet” AMD. Dry AMD is the most common form, representing approximately 85% to 90% of all AMD cases. Geographic atrophy represents the advanced form of dry AMD and is characterized by progressive atrophy of retinal pigment epithelial cells, overlying photoreceptors and underlying choriocapillaries. An early feature of the disease is the presence of drusen, which is comprised of extracellular yellow deposits at the back of the retina.

GA accounts for about ten percent of legal blindness related to AMD. Approximately one million individuals in the United States and five million individuals worldwide suffer from geographic atrophy. As with AMD, the prevalence of geographic atrophy increases with age. There are no approved therapies to prevent either the onset or progression of geographic atrophy.

 

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Role of C1q and Complement in Geographic Atrophy

Genome-wide association studies have strongly implicated multiple components of the complement cascade in AMD and geographic atrophy. For example, specific alleles of the gene for C3 can increase the likelihood of developing AMD by 50 percent. Histopathological investigations have also observed the presence of complement components in geographic atrophy. These studies largely point to a role of excessive C3 activity in disease, but do not indicate how C3 is being activated (classical, lectin or alternative pathways). We have identified a potential dual role of C1q and the classical cascade as an important complement-activating system in geographic atrophy. First, we found that C1q strongly accumulated on photoreceptor cell synapses with normal age or disease, as shown below (left panels), implicating C1q’s role in excessive synapse pruning and complement-mediated neurodegeneration. Second, C1q and C1q ligands, such as C-reactive protein, also accumulated in the retina below photoreceptor cells in association with drusen (extracellular membrane and protein debris associated with geographic atrophy; right panel). These results suggest that the photoreceptor neurons and pigmented retinal epithelial cells – cell types that are both lost in GA – are sandwiched between deposits of C1q and that the classical complement cascade may have an ongoing and pathogenic role in GA by activating C3.

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In support of this hypothesis, we found that either deletion or pharmacologic inhibition of C1q was protective in an animal model of photoreceptor neuron loss induced by photo-oxidation, as shown below. Further, components of the classical complement cascade have been associated with photoreceptor cells in human GA tissue (C4 and C3) and implicated in photoreceptor cell targeting with an in vitro assay. Finally, C1q is locally produced within the retina during disease by infiltrating immune cells, indicating that its pathogenic role may be amenable to local inhibition of C1q. As described above, we believe inhibition of C1q would block all key components of the classical cascade, including C1q, C4, C3 involved in immune cell attack and synapse pruning, as well as C5 involved in direct membrane damage.

As shown below, C1q inhibition was protective of photoreceptor cells and retinal function in a model of GA.

C1q Inhibition Protective of Photoreceptor Cells and Retinal Function in Model of GA-like damage

 

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* p < 0.05

 

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Development of ANX007 for Ophthalmic Diseases

We have completed a Phase 1b trial of ANX007 in patients with glaucoma. Based on our Phase 1b clinical results in glaucoma, our preclinical data showing protection in three retinal neurodegeneration animal models (glaucoma, optic neuritis and GA), and our knowledge of C1q biology in this setting, we plan to advance ANX007 in GA and are planning a Phase 2 trial. Our rationale to pursue ANX007 for GA includes:

 

   

The classical complement pathway is implicated in GA by human genetics, and C1q and C4 are associated with pathology in human GA tissue. C1q is produced locally in the eye by infiltrating immune cells and may be more amenable to local inhibition by intravitreal administration of ANX007.

 

   

The potential role of C1q in GA may be dual-purpose, resulting in both complement-mediated neurodegeneration and localized tissue damage unique to the eye. Local administration of ANX007 has been shown to be protective in animal photoreceptor neuron loss and achieved complete C1q inhibition in patients for 1-2 months.

 

   

There is a well-established clinical and regulatory path for development.

Phase 1b Trial in Glaucoma

We completed single ascending dose (n=9) and sham-controlled multiple dose (n=17) studies of intravitreal ANX007 in patients with glaucoma to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and target engagement. These patients had aqueous humor taps so that ocular fluid could be analyzed for levels of ANX007 and free C1q immediately prior to first dose (day 1) and prior to second dose (day 29). The studies showed that ANX007 was well-tolerated at all doses (1 mg, 2.5 mg, 5 mg) and achieved complete suppression of C1q at 2.5 mg and 5 mg, as illustrated below. We believe these results suggest that ANX007 can be dosed monthly or potentially less frequently in future Phase 2 efficacy trials. We are exploring further development of ANX007 that could enable patients to be dosed as infrequently as every six months.

Free C1q Levels in Aqueous Humor

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Planned Phase 2 Trial in Geographic Atrophy

We plan to initiate a randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial in GA patients who are at a high risk of progression in 2021 and anticipate reporting data from this trial in 2023. Prior natural history data similar to that found in other recent large Phase 3 trials may provide a wealth of natural history data from nearly 2,000 patients on how to successfully enrich fast progressors of GA to enable an efficacy read-out within a one-year time period. Our Phase 2 GA trial would be designed to show clinical effect on slowing of GA lesion growth, leveraging the natural history data and patient selection criteria of prior GA trials.

 

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Our Third Product Candidate, ANX009

ANX009 is designed to potently bind to C1q and inhibit activation of the classical complement cascade. ANX009 is a Fab designed for subcutaneous delivery, and was well tolerated in preclinical toxicology studies. We intend to select our initial lead autoimmune disease indication and commence a Phase 1 FIH clinical trial in 2020. We anticipate reporting data from the FIH trial in 2021.

Future ANX009 Indications

We are developing ANX009 to potentially enable chronic dosing in autoimmune hemolytic anemias, such as wAIHA and CAD. In addition, we are evaluating ANX009 as a treatment option for a subset of lupus nephritis patients who are at a high risk of renal flare due to pathogenic anti-C1q antibodies in the circulation, and who may likely respond to treatment with our anti-C1q approach. For this purpose, we have identified a plasma biomarker that identifies lupus nephritis patients with ongoing early classical complement cascade activation.

 

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We have observed that daily subcutaneous administration of ANX009 fully inhibited C1q functional activity in the serum of non-human primates. Its activity occurred rapidly after the first dose and this activity rapidly reversed after dosing was stopped.

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We believe that ANX009’s inhibitory activity and its on/off function may benefit patients with hematological autoimmune disorders. Importantly, the use of plasma biomarkers that define an active

 

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complement signature will allow us to take a precision medicine approach to identify patients appropriate for anti-C1q therapy.

Our Next Generation Product Candidates

We are developing additional next generation product candidates, including ANX105, an investigational monoclonal antibody, and small molecule modulators of the classical pathway. ANX105 has been designed with enhanced dosing and PK properties facilitating use in chronic neurodegenerative diseases. Our small molecule program is targeting compounds suitable for oral dosing for the treatment of chronic autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. We intend to advance both ANX105 and our small molecule candidates through IND enabling studies in 2021.

Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property is critical to our business and we strive to protect it, including by obtaining and maintaining patent protection in the United States and internationally for our product candidates, new therapeutic approaches and potential indications, and other inventions that are important to our business. Our policy is to seek to protect our proprietary and intellectual property position by, among other methods, filing U.S. and foreign patent applications related to our proprietary technology, inventions and improvements that are important for the development and implementation of our business. We also rely on the skills, knowledge and experience of our scientific and technical personnel, as well as that of our advisors, consultants and other contractors. To help protect our proprietary know-how that is not patentable, we rely on confidentiality agreements to protect our interests. We generally require our employees, consultants, scientific advisors and contractors to enter into confidentiality agreements prohibiting the disclosure of confidential information and requiring disclosure and assignment to us of the ideas, developments, discoveries and inventions important to our business.

Our patent portfolio includes patents and patent applications that are licensed to us in whole or in part from a number of partners, including Stanford University and the University of California, and patents and patent applications that are owned by us. Our proprietary technology has been primarily developed by in-house research and development programs, and to a lesser extent through acquisitions, relationships with academic research centers and contract research organizations.

For our product candidates, we will, in general, initially pursue patent protection covering compositions of matter and methods of use. Throughout the development of our product candidates, we seek to identify additional means of obtaining patent protection that would potentially enhance commercial success, including by protecting inventions related to additional methods of use, processes of making, formulation and dosing regimens.

We hold worldwide development and commercialization rights, including through exclusive licenses, to all of our product candidates, which allows us to strategically maximize value from our product portfolio over time. Our patent portfolio includes patent protection for our upstream complement platform and each of our product candidates. In total, our patent portfolio, including patents licensed from our partners, comprises 11 different patent families as of May 31, 2020, filed in various jurisdictions worldwide. Our patent portfolio includes issued patents and patent applications in the United States and in many international countries.

One patent family, which we exclusively license from Stanford University, includes nine granted U.S. patents covering various methods of treating neurodegeneration and related medical conditions by inhibiting the C1 complex or its components, such as by using an anti-C1q antibody. The U.S. patents in this family, which include claims broadly covering uses of ANX005, ANX007, ANX009 and ANX105 will expire between 2026 and 2030, absent any disclaimers, extensions or adjustments of patent term. There are no pending applications or foreign patents in this family.

Two other patent families, which we own, are directed to anti-C1q antibodies and methods of using them. These families include four granted U.S. patents, two pending U.S. patent applications, four granted foreign

 

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patents and 27 pending foreign patent applications. The granted patents in these families cover ANX005, ANX007, ANX009 and ANX105 and will expire between 2034 and 2037, absent any disclaimers, extensions or adjustments of patent term. Another patent family that we own, which includes one pending U.S. patent application and 13 pending foreign patent applications, includes claims directed to antibody fragments of anti-C1q antibodies, including ANX007 and ANX009 and methods of using them. Patents that may be issued from these applications would expire in 2036, absent any disclaimers, extensions or adjustments of patent term.

Our patent portfolio also includes six patent families, owned by us solely or jointly with the University of California or The J. David Gladstone Institutes, directed to the treatment of certain medical conditions using anti-C1q antibodies, including ANX005, ANX007, ANX009 and ANX105. These families include six pending U.S. patent applications, one granted foreign patent, and 15 pending foreign patent applications. Patents that may be issued from these applications would expire between 2034 and 2039, absent any disclaimers, extensions or adjustments of patent term.

Exclusive (Equity) Agreement with The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University

In November 2011, we and The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, or Stanford, entered into an exclusive licensing agreement, or the Stanford Agreement. Under the Stanford Agreement, Stanford granted to us an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license, under certain patent rights, or the Licensed Patents, to make, use, offer for sale, sell, import and otherwise commercialize products covered by the Licensed Patents for human or animal diseases, disorders or conditions. We are required to meet certain development and funding diligence milestones for the licensed products.

Under the Stanford Agreement, we are obligated to pay Stanford an upfront payment, license maintenance fees ranging from the single digit to tens of thousands of dollars per year, and milestone payments totaling up to $675,000. We also agreed to make royalty payments at a rate equal to a low single-digit percentage of worldwide net sales of licensed products and a portion of certain sublicensing income we receive from sublicensees at a rate in the low double digit percentages, subject to a specified maximum total payment. Additionally, in accordance with the terms of the Stanford Agreement, upon closing our first financing event that raised at least $2.0 million, we granted Stanford $150,000 in shares of our redeemable convertible preferred stock. We may also have to pay a fee to Stanford if we assign our rights under the Stanford Agreement to a third party.

We may terminate the Stanford Agreement in its entirety, or as to a particular Licensed Patent or licensed product, for convenience on thirty days’ prior written notice. Stanford may terminate the Stanford Agreement for our breach that remains uncured for forty-five days or if we provide any false report, are delinquent on any report or payment, fail to achieve a milestone or fail to diligently develop and commercialize a licensed product.

Patent Term and Term Extensions

The terms of individual patents are determined based primarily on the date of filing of the patent application or the date of patent issuance and the legal term of patents in the countries in which they are obtained. Generally, utility patents issued for applications filed in the United States are granted a term of 20 years from the earliest effective filing date of a non-provisional patent application. In addition, in certain instances, the term of a U.S. patent can be extended to recapture a portion of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, delay in issuing the patent as well as a portion of the term effectively lost as a result of the FDA regulatory review period. However, as to the FDA component, the restoration period cannot be longer than five years and the restoration period cannot extend the patent term beyond 14 years from FDA approval for the product covered by that patent. In addition, only one patent applicable to an approved drug may receive the extension, and the extension applies only to coverage for the approved drug, methods for using it and methods of manufacturing it, even if the claims cover other products or product candidates. Where one patent covers multiple products or product candidates, it may only receive an extension for one of the covered products; any extension related to a second product or product candidate must be applied to a different patent. The duration of foreign patents varies

 

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in accordance with provisions of applicable local law, but typically is also 20 years from the earliest effective filing date of a non-provisional patent application, such as a Patent Cooperation Treaty, or PCT, application. All taxes, annuities or maintenance fees for a patent, as required by the USPTO and various foreign jurisdictions, must be timely paid in order for the patent to remain in force during this period of time.

The actual protection afforded by a patent may vary on a product by product basis, from country to country, and can depend upon many factors, including the type of patent, the scope of its coverage, the availability of regulatory-related extensions and the availability of legal remedies in a particular country and the validity and enforceability of the patent.

Our patents and patent applications may be subject to procedural or legal challenges by others. We may be unable to obtain, maintain and protect the intellectual property rights necessary to conduct our business, and we may be subject to claims that we infringe or otherwise violate the intellectual property rights of others, which could materially harm our business. For more information, see the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property.”

Trademarks and Know-How

In connection with the ongoing development and advancement of our products and services in the United States and various international jurisdictions, we seek to create protection for our marks and enhance their value by pursuing trademarks and service marks where available and when appropriate. In addition to patent and trademark protection, we rely upon know-how and continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position. We seek to protect our proprietary information, in part, by using confidentiality agreements with our commercial partners, collaborators, employees and consultants, and invention assignment agreements with our employees and consultants. These agreements are designed to protect our proprietary information and, in the case of the invention assignment agreements, to grant us ownership of technologies that are developed by our employees and through relationships with third parties. These agreements may be breached, and we may not have adequate remedies for any breach. In addition, our trade secrets may otherwise become known or be independently discovered by competitors. To the extent that our contractors, commercial partners, collaborators, employees and consultants use intellectual property owned by others in their work for us, disputes may arise as to the rights in related or resulting know-how and inventions. For more information, see the section titled “Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property.”

Sales and Marketing

We hold worldwide commercialization rights, including through exclusive licenses, to our product candidates. Given our stage of development, we have not yet established a commercial organization or distribution capabilities. Should any of our product candidates be approved for commercialization, we intend to develop a plan to commercialize them in the United States and other key markets, through internal infrastructure and/or external partnerships in a manner that will enable us to realize the full commercial value of our programs.

Manufacturing

Our success as a company will depend on our ability to deliver reliable, high-quality preclinical and clinical drug supply. We do not currently own or operate facilities for product manufacturing, storage and distribution, or testing. We contract with third parties for the manufacture of our product candidates. Because we rely on contract manufacturers, we employ personnel with extensive technical, manufacturing, analytical and quality experience. Our staff has strong project management discipline to oversee contract manufacturing and testing activities, and to compile manufacturing and quality information for our regulatory submissions.

Manufacturing is subject to extensive regulation that imposes various procedural and documentation requirements and that governs record keeping, manufacturing processes and controls, personnel, quality control

 

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and quality assurance, and more. Our systems and our contractors are required to be in compliance with these regulations, and compliance is assessed regularly through monitoring of performance and a formal audit program.

Our current supply chains for our lead drug candidates involve several manufacturers that specialize in specific operations of the manufacturing process, specifically, raw materials manufacturing, drug substance manufacturing and drug product manufacturing. We currently operate under work order programs for our drug candidates with master services agreements in place that include specific supply timelines, volume and quality specifications. We intend to establish long-term supply agreements in the future. We believe our current manufacturers have the scale, the system, and the experience to supply our currently planned clinical trials.

We do not currently require commercial manufacturing capabilities. Should our needs change, we will need to scale up our manufacturing processes to enable commercial launch. To ensure continuity in our supply chain, we plan to establish supply arrangements with alternative larger scale suppliers for certain portions of our supply chain, as appropriate.

Competition

The pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are characterized by rapidly advancing technologies, intense competition and a strong emphasis on proprietary products. While we believe that our technology, the expertise of our executive and scientific team, research, clinical capabilities, development experience and scientific knowledge provide us with competitive advantages, we face potential competition from many different sources, including pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions, governmental agencies and public and private research institutions. Product candidates that we successfully develop and commercialize may compete with existing therapies and new therapies that may become available in the future.

Our competitors may have significantly greater financial resources, established presence in the market, expertise in research and development, manufacturing, preclinical and clinical testing, obtaining regulatory approvals and reimbursement and marketing approved products than we do. These competitors also compete with us in recruiting and retaining qualified scientific, sales, marketing and management personnel, establishing clinical trial sites and patient registration for clinical trials, as well as in acquiring technologies complementary to, or necessary for, our programs. Smaller or early-stage companies may also prove to be significant competitors, particularly through collaborative arrangements with large and established companies.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

There are currently no approved therapies for GBS in the United States. IVIg and plasma exchange are the current standards of care in the Western world and parts of Asia. Hansa Biopharma AB began an open label Phase 2 trial in GBS patients in the second quarter of 2019.

Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia

There are currently no approved therapies for wAIHA in the United States. Rigel is running a Phase 3 clinical trial of Tavalisse in wAIHA. Apellis is running a Phase 2 clinical trial using APL-2 in cold agglutinin disease, or CAD, and wAIHA. Other companies who have trials ongoing or planned in these rare anemias include Alexion in Phase 2 with SYNT001, Momenta in Phase 2 with Nipocalimab and Immunovant with IMVT-1401.

Huntington’s Disease

There are no known cures for HD. Companies such as Ionis, Takeda, Wave Life Sciences, Voyager Therapeutics, uniQure and Hoffman La Roche are conducting clinical trials with products that are gene silencing in order to attempt to lower the level of the mutant huntingtin protein in patients to investigate whether this will translate to benefits for people with HD.

 

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

There are no known cures for ALS. The drug riluzole is currently approved for treatment and has shown modest affect in slowing the progression of the disease. Alexion has initiated a Phase 3 trial of Ultomiris, a long acting C5 inhibitor for ALS. We are aware that Zilucoplan, a C5a inhibitor from Ra Pharma, a subsidiary of UCB, will be included in the HEALY ALS platform trial. There are many companies conducting clinical trials in ALS patients including MediciNova, Astellas, Biogen, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Ono Pharmaceuticals and others.

Glaucoma

There are many approved treatments to relieve increased intraocular pressure in glaucoma. There are no FDA-approved treatments currently available for the retinal degeneration that is observed in glaucoma patients.

Geographic Atrophy

No FDA-approved treatment is currently available for GA. We are aware of a number of companies developing products for the treatment of GA. Those products in clinical development include: APL-2, a C3 inhibitor in Phase 3 trials being developed by Apellis; and Zimura, a C5 inhibitor in Phase 2/3 clinical trials, is being developed by IVERIC bio, previously Ophthotech Corporation. Other products that do not target the complement cascade that are in Phase 2 clinical trials are being developed by Allergan PLC and Regenerative Patch Technologies.

Government Regulation

The FDA and other regulatory authorities at federal, state and local levels, as well as in foreign countries, extensively regulate, among other things, the research, development, testing, manufacture, quality control, import, export, safety, effectiveness, labeling, packaging, storage, distribution, record keeping, approval, advertising, promotion, marketing, post-approval monitoring and post-approval reporting of biological product candidates such as those we are developing. We, along with third-party contractors, will be required to navigate the various preclinical, clinical and commercial approval requirements of the governing regulatory agencies of the countries in which we wish to conduct studies or seek approval or licensure of our product candidates. The process of obtaining regulatory approvals and the subsequent compliance with applicable federal, state, local and foreign statutes and regulations require the expenditure of substantial time and financial resources.

U.S. Biologics Regulation

In the United States, our product candidates are regulated as biologic pharmaceuticals, or biologics. The process required by the FDA before biologic product candidates may be marketed in the United States generally involves the following:

 

   

completion of preclinical laboratory tests and animal studies performed in accordance with the FDA’s Good Laboratory Practice requirements, or GLP;

 

   

submission to the FDA of an Investigational New Drug application, or IND, which must become effective before clinical trials may begin;

 

   

approval by an institutional review board, or IRB, or ethics committee at each clinical site before the trial is commenced;

 

   

performance of adequate and well-controlled human clinical trials to establish the safety, purity and potency of the proposed biologic product candidate for its intended purpose;

 

   

preparation of and submission to the FDA of a biologics license application, or BLA, after completion of all required clinical trials;

 

   

satisfactory completion of an FDA Advisory Committee review, if applicable;

 

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a determination by the FDA within 60 days of its receipt of a BLA to file the application for review;

 

   

satisfactory completion of an FDA pre-approval inspection of the manufacturing facility or facilities at which the proposed products is produced to assess compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices, or cGMPs, and to assure that the facilities, methods and controls are adequate to preserve the biological product’s continued safety, purity and potency, and of selected clinical investigation sites to assess compliance with GCP; and

 

   

FDA review and approval of the BLA to permit commercial marketing of the product for specific indication(s) for use in the United States.

Prior to beginning the first clinical trial with a product candidate in the United States, we must submit an IND to the FDA. An IND is a request for authorization from the FDA to administer an investigational new drug product to humans. The central focus of an IND submission is on the general investigational plan and the protocol(s) for clinical trials. The IND also includes results of animal and in vitro studies assessing the toxicology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology and pharmacodynamic characteristics of the product; chemistry, manufacturing and controls information; and any available human data or literature to support the use of the investigational product. An IND must become effective before human clinical trials may begin. The IND automatically becomes effective 30 days after receipt by the FDA, unless the FDA, within the 30-day time period, raises safety concerns or questions about the proposed clinical trial. In such a case, the IND may be placed on clinical hold and the IND sponsor and the FDA must resolve any outstanding concerns or questions before the clinical trial can begin. Submission of an IND therefore may or may not result in FDA authorization to begin a clinical trial.

Clinical trials involve the administration of the investigational product to human subjects under the supervision of qualified investigators in accordance with GCP, which include the requirement that all research subjects provide their informed consent for their participation in any clinical trial. Clinical trials are conducted under protocols detailing, among other things, the objectives of the study, the parameters to be used in monitoring safety and the effectiveness criteria to be evaluated. A separate submission to the existing IND must be made for each successive clinical trial conducted during product development and for any subsequent protocol amendments. Furthermore, an independent IRB for each site proposing to conduct the clinical trial must review and approve the plan for any clinical trial and its informed consent form before the clinical trial begins at that site, and must monitor the trial until completed. Regulatory authorities, the IRB or the sponsor may suspend a clinical trial at any time on various grounds, including a finding that the subjects are being exposed to an unacceptable health risk or that the trial is unlikely to meet its stated objective(s). Some studies also include oversight by an independent group of qualified experts organized by the clinical trial sponsor, known as a Data Safety Monitoring Board, which provides authorization for whether or not a trial may move forward at designated check points based on access to certain data from the study and may halt the clinical trial if it determines that there is an unacceptable safety risk for subjects or other grounds, such as no demonstration of efficacy. There are also requirements governing the reporting of ongoing clinical trials and clinical trial results to public registries.

For purposes of BLA approval, human clinical trials are typically conducted in three sequential phases that may overlap or be combined:

 

   

Phase 1—The investigational product is initially introduced into healthy human subjects or patients with the target disease or condition. These trials are designed to test the safety, dosage tolerance, absorption, metabolism and distribution of the investigational product in humans, the side effects associated with increasing doses, and, if possible, to gain early evidence on effectiveness.

 

   

Phase 2—The investigational product is administered to a limited patient population with a specified disease or condition to evaluate the preliminary efficacy, optimal dosages and dosing schedule and to identify possible adverse side effects and safety risks. Multiple Phase 2 clinical trials may be conducted to obtain information prior to beginning larger and more expensive Phase 3 clinical trials.

 

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Phase 3—The investigational product is administered to an expanded patient population to further evaluate dosage, to provide statistically significant evidence of clinical efficacy and to further test for safety, generally at multiple geographically dispersed clinical trial sites. These clinical trials are intended to establish the overall risk/benefit ratio of the investigational product and to provide an adequate basis for product approval.

In some cases, the FDA may require, or companies may voluntarily pursue, additional clinical trials after a product is approved to gain more information about the product. These so-called Phase 4 trials may also be made a condition to approval of the BLA.

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

BLA Submission and Review by the FDA

Assuming successful completion of all required testing in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements, the results of product development, nonclinical studies and clinical trials are submitted to the FDA as part of a BLA requesting approval to market the product for one or more indications. The BLA must include all relevant data available from preclinical studies and clinical trials, including negative or ambiguous results as well as positive findings, together with detailed information relating to the product’s chemistry, manufacturing, controls and proposed labeling, among other things. Data can come from company-sponsored clinical trials intended to test the safety and effectiveness of a use of the product or from a number of alternative sources, including studies and trials initiated by investigators. The submission of a BLA requires payment of a substantial user fee to the FDA, and the sponsor of an approved BLA is also subject to an annual program fee. A waiver of user fees may be obtained under certain limited circumstances. Additionally, no user fees are assessed on BLAs for products designated as Orphan Drugs, unless the product also includes a non-orphan indication.

Once a BLA has been submitted, the FDA’s goal is to review standard applications within ten months after it accepts the application for filing, or, if the application qualifies for priority review, six months after the FDA accepts the application for filing. Priority review designation will direct overall attention and resources to the evaluation of applications for products that, if approved, would be significant improvements in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of serious conditions. In both standard and priority reviews, the review process is often significantly extended by FDA requests for additional information or clarification. The FDA reviews a BLA to determine, among other things, whether a product is safe, pure and potent and the facilities in which it is manufactured, processed, packed or held meet standards designed to assure the product’s continued safety, purity and potency. The FDA may also convene an Advisory Committee to provide clinical insight on application review questions. The FDA is not bound by recommendations of an Advisory Committee, but it considers such recommendations when making decisions regarding approval.

Before approving a BLA, the FDA will typically inspect the facility or facilities where the product is manufactured. The FDA will not approve an application unless it determines that the manufacturing processes and facilities are in compliance with and adequate to assure consistent production of the product within required specifications. Additionally, before approving a BLA, the FDA will typically inspect one or more clinical sites and/or the sponsor’s headquarters to assure compliance with GCP. If the FDA determines that the application, manufacturing process or manufacturing facilities are not acceptable, it will outline the deficiencies in the submission and often will request additional testing or information. Notwithstanding the submission of any requested additional information, the FDA ultimately may decide that the application does not satisfy the regulatory criteria for approval.

 

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After the FDA evaluates a BLA and conducts inspections of clinical trial sites and manufacturing facilities where the investigational product and/or its drug substance will be produced, the FDA may issue an approval letter or a Complete Response Letter. An approval letter authorizes commercial marketing of the product with specific prescribing information for specific indications. A Complete Response Letter indicates that the BLA is not ready for approval in its present form and ends the current review cycle, and will describe all of the deficiencies that the FDA has identified in the BLA, the FDA may issue the Complete Response Letter without first conducting required inspections, testing submitted product lots, and/or reviewing proposed labeling. In issuing the Complete Response Letter, the FDA may recommend actions that the applicant might take to place the BLA in condition for approval, including requests for additional information or clarification. The FDA may delay or refuse approval of a BLA if applicable regulatory criteria are not satisfied, require additional testing or information and/or require post-marketing testing and surveillance to monitor safety or efficacy of a product.

If regulatory approval of a product is granted, such approval will be granted for particular indications and may entail limitations on the indicated uses for which such product may be marketed. Additionally, the FDA may approve the BLA with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy, or REMS, to ensure the benefits of the product outweigh its risks. A REMS is a safety strategy to manage a known or potential serious risk associated with a medicine and to enable patients to have continued access to such medicines by managing their safe use, and could include medication guides, physician communication plans, or elements to assure safe use, such as restricted distribution methods, patient registries, and other risk minimization tools. The FDA also may condition approval on, among other things, changes to proposed labeling or the development of adequate controls and specifications. Once approved, the FDA may withdraw the product approval if compliance with pre- and post-marketing requirements is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the marketplace. The FDA may also require one or more Phase 4 post-marketing studies and surveillance to further assess and monitor the product’s safety and effectiveness after commercialization, and may limit further marketing of the product based on the results of these post-marketing studies. In addition, new government requirements, including those resulting from new legislation, may be established, or the FDA’s policies may change, which could impact the timeline for regulatory approval or otherwise impact ongoing development programs.

Expedited Development and Review Programs

A sponsor may seek approval of its product candidate under programs designed to accelerate FDA’s review and approval of new drugs and biological products that meet certain criteria. Specifically, new drugs and biological products are eligible for Fast Track designation if they are intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and demonstrate the potential to address unmet medical needs for the disease or condition. For a Fast Track product, the FDA may consider sections of the BLA for review on a rolling basis before the complete application is submitted, if the sponsor provides a schedule for the submission of the sections of the application, the FDA agrees to accept sections of the application and determines that the schedule is acceptable and the sponsor pays any required user fees upon submission of the first section of the application. A Fast Track designated product candidate may also qualify for priority review, under which the FDA sets the target date for FDA action on the BLA at six months after the FDA accepts the application for filing. Priority review is granted when there is evidence that the proposed product would be a significant improvement in the safety or effectiveness of the treatment, diagnosis, or prevention of a serious disease or condition. If criteria are not met for priority review, the application is subject to the standard FDA review period of 10 months after FDA accepts the application for filing. Priority review does not change the scientific/medical standard for approval or the quality of evidence necessary to support approval.

Under the accelerated approval program, the FDA may approve a BLA on the basis of either a surrogate endpoint that is reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit or a clinical endpoint that can be measured earlier than irreversible morbidity or mortality that is reasonably likely to predict an effect on irreversible morbidity or mortality or other clinical benefit, taking into account the severity, rarity or prevalence of the condition and the availability or lack of alternative treatments. Post-marketing studies or completion of ongoing studies after marketing approval are generally required to verify the biologic’s clinical benefit in relationship to the surrogate

 

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endpoint or ultimate outcome in relationship to the clinical benefit. In addition, the FDA currently requires as a condition for accelerated approval pre-approval of promotional materials, which could adversely impact the timing of the commercial launch of the product. The FDA may withdraw approval of a drug or indication approved under accelerated approval if, for example, the confirmatory trial fails to verify the predicted clinical benefit of the product.

In addition, a sponsor may seek FDA designation of its product candidate as a breakthrough therapy if the product candidate is intended, alone or in combination with one or more other drugs or biologics, to treat a serious or life-threatening disease or condition and preliminary clinical evidence indicates that the therapy may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints, such as substantial treatment effects observed early in clinical development. If the FDA designates a product candidate as a breakthrough therapy, it may take actions appropriate to expedite the development and review of the application, which may include holding meetings with the sponsor and the review team throughout the development of the therapy; providing timely advice to, and interactive communication with, the sponsor regarding the development of the drug to ensure that the development program to gather the nonclinical and clinical data necessary for approval is as efficient as practicable; involving senior managers and experienced review staff, as appropriate, in a collaborative, cross-disciplinary review; assigning a cross-disciplinary project lead for the FDA review team to facilitate an efficient review of the development program and to serve as a scientific liaison between the review team and the sponsor; and considering alternative clinical trial designs when scientifically appropriate, which may result in smaller trials or more efficient trials that require less time to complete and may minimize the number of patients exposed to a potentially less efficacious treatment. Breakthrough Therapy designation also comes with all of the benefits of Fast Track designation.

Fast Track designation, priority review, accelerated approval and Breakthrough Therapy designation do not change the standards for approval but may expedite the development or approval process. Even if a product qualifies for one or more of these programs, the FDA may later decide that the product no longer meets the conditions for qualification or decide that the time period for FDA review or approval will not be shortened.

Orphan Drug Designation and Exclusivity

Under the Orphan Drug Act, the FDA may grant Orphan designation to a drug or biologic intended to treat a rare disease or condition, defined as a disease or condition with a patient population of fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States, or a patient population greater than 200,000 individuals in the United States and when there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available the drug or biologic in the United States will be recovered from sales in the United States for that drug or biologic. Orphan Drug designation must be requested before submitting a BLA. After the FDA grants Orphan Drug designation, the generic identity of the therapeutic agent and its potential orphan use are disclosed publicly by the FDA.

If a product that has Orphan Drug designation subsequently receives the first FDA approval for a particular active ingredient for the disease for which it has such designation, the product is entitled to orphan product exclusivity, which means that the FDA may not approve any other applications, including a full BLA, to market the same biologic for the same indication for seven years, except in limited circumstances, such as a showing of clinical superiority to the product with Orphan Drug exclusivity or if the FDA finds that the holder of the Orphan Drug exclusivity has not shown that it can assure the availability of sufficient quantities of the Orphan Drug to meet the needs of patients with the disease or condition for which the drug was designated. Orphan Drug exclusivity does not prevent the FDA from approving a different drug or biologic for the same disease or condition, or the same drug or biologic for a different disease or condition. Among the other benefits of Orphan Drug designation are tax credits for certain research and development activities and a waiver of the BLA application user fee.

A designated Orphan Drug may not receive Orphan Drug exclusivity if it is approved for a use that is broader than the indication for which it received Orphan designation. In addition, Orphan Drug exclusive

 

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marketing rights in the United States may be lost if the FDA later determines that the request for designation was materially defective or, as noted above, if the second applicant demonstrates that its product is clinically superior to the approved product with Orphan exclusivity or the manufacturer of the approved product is unable to assure sufficient quantities of the product to meet the needs of patients with the rare disease or condition.

Post-Approval Requirements

Any products manufactured or distributed by us pursuant to FDA approvals are subject to pervasive and continuing regulation by the FDA, including, among other things, requirements relating to record-keeping, reporting of adverse experiences, periodic reporting, product sampling and distribution, and advertising and promotion of the product. After approval, most changes to the approved product, such as adding new indications or other labeling claims, are subject to prior FDA review and approval. There also are continuing, annual program fees for any marketed products. Biologic manufacturers and their subcontractors are required to register their establishments with the FDA and certain state agencies, and are subject to periodic unannounced inspections by the FDA and certain state agencies for compliance with cGMPs, which impose certain procedural and documentation requirements upon us and our third-party manufacturers. Changes to the manufacturing process are strictly regulated, and, depending on the significance of the change, may require prior FDA approval before being implemented. FDA regulations also require investigation and correction of any deviations from cGMPs and impose reporting requirements upon us and any third-party manufacturers that we may decide to use. Accordingly, manufacturers must continue to expend time, money and effort in the area of production and quality control to maintain compliance with cGMPs and other aspects of regulatory compliance.

The FDA may withdraw approval if compliance with regulatory requirements and standards is not maintained or if problems occur after the product reaches the market. Later discovery of previously unknown problems with a product, including adverse events of unanticipated severity or frequency, or with manufacturing processes, or failure to comply with regulatory requirements, may result in revisions to the approved labeling to add new safety information; imposition of post-market studies or clinical studies to assess new safety risks; or imposition of distribution restrictions or other restrictions under a REMS program. Other potential consequences include, among other things:

 

   

restrictions on the marketing or manufacturing of the product, complete withdrawal of the product from the market or product recalls;

 

   

fines, warning letters, or untitled letters;

 

   

clinical holds on clinical studies;

 

   

refusal of the FDA to approve pending applications or supplements to approved applications, or suspension or revocation of product license approvals;

 

   

product seizure or detention, or refusal to permit the import or export of products;

 

   

consent decrees, corporate integrity agreements, debarment or exclusion from federal healthcare programs;

 

   

mandated modification of promotional materials and labeling and the issuance of corrective information;

 

   

the issuance of safety alerts, Dear Healthcare Provider letters, press releases and other communications containing warnings or other safety information about the product; or

 

   

injunctions or the imposition of civil or criminal penalties.

The FDA closely regulates the marketing, labeling, advertising and promotion of biologics. A company can make only those claims relating to safety and efficacy, purity and potency that are approved by the FDA and in accordance with the provisions of the approved label. The FDA and other agencies actively enforce the laws and

 

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regulations prohibiting the promotion of off-label uses. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in, among other things, adverse publicity, warning letters, corrective advertising and potential civil and criminal penalties. Physicians may prescribe legally available products for uses that are not described in the product’s labeling and that differ from those tested by us and approved by the FDA. Such off-label uses are common across medical specialties. Physicians may believe that such “off-label” uses are the best treatment for many patients in varied circumstances. The FDA does not regulate the behavior of physicians in their choice of treatments. The FDA does, however, restrict manufacturer’s communications on the subject of off-label use of their products.

Biosimilars and Exclusivity

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, or collectively the Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, includes a subtitle called the BPCIA, which created an abbreviated approval pathway for biological products that are biosimilar to or interchangeable with an FDA-licensed reference biological product. The FDA has issued several guidance documents outlining an approach to review and approval of biosimilars. Biosimilarity, which requires that there be no clinically meaningful differences between the biological product and the reference product in terms of safety, purity and potency, can be shown through analytical studies, animal studies and a clinical study or studies. Interchangeability requires that a product is biosimilar to the reference product and the product must demonstrate that it can be expected to produce the same clinical results as the reference product in any given patient and, for products that are administered multiple times to an individual, the biologic and the reference biologic may be alternated or switched after one has been previously administered without increasing safety risks or risks of diminished efficacy relative to exclusive use of the reference biologic. However, complexities associated with the larger, and often more complex, structures of biological products, as well as the processes by which such products are manufactured, pose significant hurdles to implementation of the abbreviated approval pathway that are still being developed by the FDA.

Under the BPCIA, an application for a biosimilar product may not be submitted to the FDA until four years following the date that the reference product was first licensed by the FDA. In addition, the approval of a biosimilar product may not be made effective by the FDA until 12 years from the date on which the reference product was first licensed. During this 12-year period of exclusivity, another company may still market a competing version of the reference product if the FDA approves a full BLA for the competing product containing that applicant’s own preclinical data and data from adequate and well-controlled clinical trials to demonstrate the safety, purity and potency of its product. The BPCIA also created certain exclusivity periods for biosimilars approved as interchangeable products. At this juncture, it is unclear whether products deemed “interchangeable” by the FDA will, in fact, be readily substituted by pharmacies, which are governed by state pharmacy law.

A biological product can also obtain pediatric market exclusivity in the United States. Pediatric exclusivity, if granted, adds six months to existing exclusivity periods and patent terms. This six-month exclusivity, which runs from the end of other exclusivity protection or patent term, may be granted based on the voluntary completion of a pediatric study in accordance with an FDA-issued “Written Request” for such a study.

The BPCIA is complex and continues to be interpreted and implemented by the FDA. In addition, government proposals have sought to reduce the 12-year reference product exclusivity period. Other aspects of the BPCIA, some of which may impact the BPCIA exclusivity provisions, have also been the subject of recent litigation. As a result, the ultimate impact, implementation and impact of the BPCIA is subject to significant uncertainty.

Other Healthcare Laws and Compliance Requirements

Pharmaceutical companies are subject to additional healthcare regulation and enforcement by the federal government and by authorities in the states and foreign jurisdictions in which they conduct their business. Such laws include, without limitation, U.S. federal and state fraud and abuse laws, including false claims, civil

 

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monetary penalties laws and consumer protection and transparency laws as well as similar foreign laws in the jurisdictions outside the United States. For example, the federal Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits, among other things, individuals or entities from knowingly and willfully offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind to induce or in return for purchasing, leasing, ordering or arranging for or recommending the purchase, lease or order of any item or service reimbursable under Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs. A person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of this statute or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. In addition, the government may assert that a claim including items or services resulting from a violation of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute constitutes a false or fraudulent claim for purposes of the civil False Claims Act and the civil monetary penalties statute. The federal civil and criminal false claims laws, including the civil False Claims Act, prohibit, among other things, any individual or entity from knowingly presenting, or causing to be presented, a false claim for payment to the federal government or knowingly making, using or causing to be made or used a false record or statement material to a false or fraudulent claim to the federal government. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, created additional federal civil and criminal statutes that prohibit, among other things, knowingly and willfully executing a scheme to defraud any healthcare benefit program. Similar to the U.S. federal Anti-Kickback Statute, a person or entity does not need to have actual knowledge of the healthcare fraud statute implemented under HIPAA or specific intent to violate it in order to have committed a violation. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act requires certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics and medical supplies for which payment is available under Medicare, Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program, with specific exceptions, to report annually to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, information related to payments or other transfers of value made to physicians, as defined by such law, and teaching hospitals, and applicable manufacturers and applicable group purchasing organizations to report annually to CMS ownership and investment interests held by physicians and their immediate family members.

Similar state and local laws and regulations may also restrict business practices in the pharmaceutical industry, such as state anti-kickback and false claims laws, which may apply to business practices, including but not limited to, research, distribution, sales and marketing arrangements and claims involving healthcare items or services reimbursed by non-governmental third-party payors, including private insurers, or by patients themselves; state laws that require pharmaceutical companies to comply with the pharmaceutical industry’s voluntary compliance guidelines and the relevant compliance guidance promulgated by the federal government, or otherwise restrict payments that may be made to healthcare providers and other potential referral sources; state laws and regulations that require drug manufacturers to file reports relating to pricing and marketing information or that require tracking gifts and other remuneration and items of value provided to physicians, other healthcare providers and entities; state and local laws that require the registration of pharmaceutical sales representatives; and state and local laws governing the privacy and security of health information in some circumstances, many of which differ from each other in significant ways and often are not preempted by HIPAA, thus complicating compliance efforts. Violation of any of such laws or any other governmental regulations that apply may result in penalties, including, without limitation, significant administrative, civil and criminal penalties, damages, fines, disgorgement, additional reporting obligations, contractual damages, the curtailment or restructuring of operations, exclusion from participation in governmental healthcare programs and individual imprisonment.

Data Privacy and Security Laws

Pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and biotechnology companies may be subject to U.S. federal and state health information privacy, security and data breach notification laws, which may govern the collection, use, disclosure and protection of health-related and other personal information. State laws may be more stringent, broader in scope or offer greater individual rights with respect to protected health information, or PHI, than HIPAA, and state laws may differ from each other, which may complicate compliance efforts. Entities that are found to be in violation of HIPAA as the result of a breach of unsecured PHI, a complaint about privacy practices or an audit by the Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, may be subject to significant civil, criminal and administrative fines and penalties and/or additional reporting and oversight obligations if required to

 

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enter into a resolution agreement and corrective action plan with HHS to settle allegations of HIPAA non-compliance. In addition, California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, which creates individual privacy rights for California consumers and increases the privacy and security obligations of entities handling certain personal data. The CCPA went into effect on January 1, 2020, and the California Attorney General may bring enforcement actions for violations beginning July 1, 2020. The CCPA has been amended from time to time, and it remains unclear what, if any, further modifications will be made to this legislation or how it will be interpreted.

European Union member states, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and other jurisdictions have also adopted data protection laws and regulations, which impose significant compliance obligations. In the EEA and the United Kingdom, the collection and use of personal data, including clinical trial data, is governed by the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. The GDPR became effective on May 25, 2018, repealing its predecessor directive and increasing responsibility and liability of pharmaceutical companies in relation to the processing of personal data of EU data subjects. The GDPR, together with national legislation, regulations and guidelines of the EU member states and the United Kingdom governing the processing of personal data, impose strict obligations and restrictions on the ability to collect, analyze and transfer personal data, including health data from clinical trials and adverse event reporting. In particular, these obligations and restrictions concern the consent of the individuals to whom the personal data relates, the information provided to the individuals, the transfer of personal data out of the European Economic Area, or EEA, or the United Kingdom, security breach notifications, security and confidentiality of the personal data and imposition of substantial potential fines for breaches of the data protection obligations. European data protection authorities may interpret the GDPR and national laws differently and impose additional requirements, which add to the complexity of processing personal data in or from the EEA or United Kingdom. Guidance on implementation and compliance practices are often updated or otherwise revised.

Coverage and Reimbursement

Sales of any pharmaceutical product depend, in part, on the extent to which such product will be covered by third-party payors, such as federal, state and foreign government healthcare programs, commercial insurance and managed healthcare organizations, and the level of reimbursement for such product by third-party payors. No uniform policy exists for coverage and reimbursement for products exists among U.S. third-party payors. Therefore, decisions regarding the extent of coverage and amount of reimbursement to be provided are made on a plan-by-plan basis. The process for determining whether a third-party payor will provide coverage for a product typically is separate from the process for setting the price of such product or for establishing the reimbursement rate that the payor will pay for the product once coverage is approved. Third-party payors may limit coverage to specific products on an approved list, also known as a formulary, which might not include all of the FDA-approved products for a particular indication, or place products at certain formulary levels that result in lower reimbursement levels and higher cost-sharing obligation imposed on patients. One third-party payor’s decision to cover a particular medical product or service does not ensure that other payors will also provide coverage for the medical product or service. As a result, the coverage determination process will often require us to provide scientific and clinical support for the use of our product candidates to each payor separately and can be a time-consuming process, with no assurance that coverage and adequate reimbursement will be applied consistently or obtained in the first instance.

In international markets, reimbursement and healthcare payment systems vary significantly by country, and many countries have instituted price ceilings on specific products and therapies. For example, the European Union provides options for its member states to restrict the range of medicinal products for which their national health insurance systems provide reimbursement and to control the prices of medicinal products for human use. A member state may approve a specific price for the medicinal product or it may instead adopt a system of direct or indirect controls on the profitability of the company placing the medicinal product on the market. Pharmaceutical products may face competition from lower-priced products in foreign countries that have placed price controls on pharmaceutical products. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that a product will be

 

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considered medically reasonable and necessary for a specific indication, that a product will be considered cost-effective by third-party payors, that an adequate level of reimbursement will be established even if coverage is available or that the third-party payors’ reimbursement policies will not adversely affect the ability to sell a product profitably.

Healthcare Reform

In the United States and certain foreign jurisdictions, there have been, and we expect there will continue to be, a number of legislative and regulatory changes to the healthcare system. In March 2010, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, which substantially changed the way healthcare is financed by both governmental and private insurers in the United States and significantly affected the pharmaceutical industry. The Affordable Care Act contains a number of provisions, including those governing enrollment in federal healthcare programs, reimbursement adjustments and fraud and abuse changes. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act increased the minimum level of Medicaid rebates payable by manufacturers of brand name drugs from 15.1% to 23.1%; required collection of rebates for drugs paid by Medicaid managed care organizations; required manufacturers to participate in a coverage gap discount program, under which they must agree to offer 70 percent point-of-sale discounts off negotiated prices of applicable brand drugs to eligible beneficiaries during their coverage gap period, as a condition for the manufacturer’s outpatient drugs to be covered under Medicare Part D; imposed a non-deductible annual fee on pharmaceutical manufacturers or importers who sell certain “branded prescription drugs” to specified federal government programs; implemented a new methodology by which rebates owed by manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program are calculated for drugs that are inhaled, infused, instilled, implanted or injected; expanded eligibility criteria for Medicaid programs; created a new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute to oversee, identify priorities in, and conduct comparative clinical effectiveness research, along with funding for such research; and established a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at CMS to test innovative payment and service delivery models to lower Medicare and Medicaid spending, potentially including prescription drug spending.

Since its enactment, there have been executive, judicial and Congressional challenges to certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act, and we expect there will be additional challenges and amendments to the Affordable Care Act in the future. For example, in 2017, Congress enacted the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which eliminated the tax-based shared responsibility payment imposed by the Affordable Care Act on certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health coverage for all or part of a year that is commonly referred to as the “individual mandate.” On December 14, 2018, a U.S. District Court Judge in the Northern District of Texas, or the Texas District Court Judge, ruled that the individual mandate is a critical and inseverable feature of the Affordable Care Act, and therefore, because it was repealed as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the remaining provisions of the Affordable Care Act are invalid as well. On December 18, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upheld the District Court’s decision that the individual mandate was unconstitutional but remanded the case back to the District Court to determine whether the remaining provisions of the Affordable Care Act are invalid as well. On March 2, 2020, the United States Supreme Court granted the petitions for writs of certiorari to review this case, although it is unclear when a decision will be made or how the Supreme Court will rule. It is also unclear how other efforts to challenge, repeal or replace the Affordable Care Act will impact the law.

Other legislative changes have been proposed and adopted since the Affordable Care Act was enacted, including aggregate reductions of Medicare payments to providers of 2% per fiscal year and reduced payments to several types of Medicare providers, which will remain in effect through 2030 absent additional congressional action. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, designed to provide financial support and resources to individuals and businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, suspended these reductions from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020, and extended the sequester by one year, through 2030.

Moreover, there has recently been heightened governmental scrutiny over the manner in which manufacturers set prices for their marketed products, which has resulted in several Congressional inquiries and

 

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proposed and enacted legislation designed, among other things, to bring more transparency to product pricing, review the relationship between pricing and manufacturer patient programs and reform government program reimbursement methodologies for pharmaceutical products. At the federal level, the Trump administration’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 includes a $135 billion allowance to support legislative proposals seeking to reduce drug prices, increase competition, lower out-of-pocket drug costs for patients and increase patient access to lower-cost generic and biosimilar drugs. On March 10, 2020, the Trump administration sent “principles” for drug pricing to Congress, calling for legislation that would, among other things, cap Medicare Part D beneficiary out-of-pocket pharmacy expenses, provide an option to cap Medicare Part D beneficiary monthly out-of-pocket expenses and place limits on pharmaceutical price increases. Further, the Trump Administration previously released a “Blueprint” to lower drug prices and reduce out of pocket costs of drugs that contained proposals to increase drug manufacturer competition, increase the negotiating power of certain federal healthcare programs, incentivize manufacturers to lower the list price of their products, and reduce the out of pocket costs of drug products paid by consumers. Individual states in the United States have also become increasingly active in implementing regulations designed to control pharmaceutical product pricing, including price or patient reimbursement constraints, discounts, restrictions on certain product access and marketing cost disclosure and transparency measures and, in some cases, mechanisms to encourage importation from other countries and bulk purchasing. Furthermore, there has been increased interest by third-party payors and governmental authorities in reference pricing systems and publication of discounts and list prices.

Facilities

Our corporate headquarters are located in South San Francisco, California, where we lease approximately 12,300 square feet of office, research and development, engineering and laboratory space pursuant to a lease agreement which commenced on July 1, 2017 and expires on June 30, 2024 with an option to extend for five years. We believe that our existing facilities are sufficient for our near-term needs but expect to need additional space as we grow. We believe that suitable additional alternative spaces will be available in the future on commercially reasonable terms, if required.

Employees

As of June 30, 2020, we had 30 full-time employees, 23 of whom were primarily engaged in research and development activities. A total of 12 employees have an M.D., Ph.D. or Pharm.D. degree. Substantially all of our employees are located in South San Francisco, California. None of our employees is represented by a labor union, and we consider our employee relations to be good.

Legal Proceedings

We are not currently a party to any material legal proceedings. We may, however, in the ordinary course of business face various claims brought by third parties, and we may, from time to time, make claims or take legal actions to assert our rights, including intellectual property rights as well as claims relating to employment matters and the safety or efficacy of our products. Any of these claims could subject us to costly litigation, and, while we generally believe that we have adequate insurance to cover many different types of liabilities, our insurance carriers may deny coverage, may be inadequately capitalized to pay on valid claims, or our policy limits may be inadequate to fully satisfy any damage awards or settlements. If this were to happen, the payment of any such awards could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows and financial position. Additionally, any such claims, whether or not successful, could damage our reputation and business.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors as of July 20, 2020:

 

Name

  

Age

  

Position(s)

Executive Officers

     

Douglas Love, Esq.

   53   

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

Sanjay Keswani, MBBS, BSc, FRCP

   50   

Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Jennifer Lew

   47   

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Michael Overdorf

   50   

Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer

Ted Yednock, Ph.D.

   62   

Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer

Non-Employee Directors

     

William D. Young(3)

   75   

Chairman and Director

Jung E. Choi

   50   

Director

Emmett Cunningham, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.(2)

  


59

  


Director

Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D.(1)(3)

   56   

Director

Campbell Murray, M.D.(4)

   44   

Director

Muneer A. Satter(1)(3)

   59   

Director

Ricky Sun, Ph.D.(1)(2)

   47   

Director

Thomas G. Wiggans(2)

   68   

Director

 

(1)

Member of our audit committee.

(2)

Member of our compensation committee.

(3)

Member of our nominating and corporate governance committee.

(4)

Dr. Murray is expected to resign from our Board of Directors prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Executive Officers

Douglas Love, Esq. has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since December 2014. Prior to joining Annexon, from 2008 to April 2013, he served as Head of Operations & Strategic Alliances for Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, where he led the Tysabri® multiple sclerosis franchise, and Elan’s Alzheimer’s Immunotherapy Program, which was licensed to Johnson & Johnson. From 2006 to 2008, he served as Head of Strategic Alliances, Business Development & Business Integration for Elan. Prior to joining Elan, Mr. Love served as an associate at the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Corporate Counsel at Amgen, Inc. and as Section Corporate Counsel at Genentech, Inc., where he led the BioOncology Healthcare Law Group. Mr. Love received a B.S. in business administration from the University of Southern California and a J.D. with great distinction from McGeorge School of Law. We believe that Mr. Love is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to the valuable expertise and perspective he brings in his capacity as our President and Chief Executive Officer and because of his extensive experience and knowledge of our industry.

Sanjay Keswani, MBBS, BSc, FRCP has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer since June 2019. Prior to that, Dr. Keswani was Chief Executive Officer at Rheos Medicines, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, from September 2018 to June 2019. From June 2015 to September 2018, Dr. Keswani was Senior Vice President & Global Head of Neuroscience, Ophthalmology and Rare Diseases for the Roche Pharma Research and Early Development division of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., a publicly-held

 

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pharmaceutical company. Prior to Roche, he was Vice President, Exploratory and Clinical Translational Research at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, a publicly-held pharmaceutical company, where he was responsible for multiple therapeutic areas including Immunology, Neuroscience, Rare Diseases, Fibrosis and Virology from March 2011 to June 2015. Prior to joining Bristol-Myers Squibb, Dr. Keswani held research and development leadership roles at Eli Lilly & Company, a publicly-held pharmaceutical company, and Amgen Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, and also served as Assistant Professor in Neurology at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Keswani received his MBBS in medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London and completed his medical residency in Neurology and fellowships in Neuroimmunology and Neurophysiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. In addition, Dr. Keswani received a first class honors degree from St. Mary’s Hospital, London in Pathology & Basic Medical Sciences (Immunology) and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

Jennifer Lew has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since June 2019. Previously, from October 2013 to May 2019, Ms. Lew held various roles at Aduro Biotech, Inc., a publicly-held immunotherapy company, most recently as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, Ms. Lew held various roles at Dynavax Technologies Corporation, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, from 2004 to October 2013, most recently as Vice President of Finance and Principal Accounting Officer, where she oversaw accounting and finance operations. Prior to joining Dynavax, Ms. Lew held positions as Assistant Controller and Director of Finance at QRS Corporation, a publicly-held technology company, from 2000 to 2004. Ms. Lew was a member of the audit practice at Ernst & Young LLP from 1994 to 1999. She received a B.A. in Economics/Accounting and Government from Claremont McKenna College and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

Michael Overdorf has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer since July 2020. Prior to joining Annexon, from 2001 to July 2020, Mr. Overdorf held various executive leadership roles at Eli Lilly & Company, a publicly-held pharmaceutical company, most recently in Corporate Business Development and Corporate Strategy where he led teams focused on accessing innovative medicines and led the development and execution of the company’s global strategy. Mr. Overdorf also served as a Global Biologics Platform Team Leader, leading two Phase 3 clinical development teams working on biologic molecules targeting autoimmune diseases and as the Chief Operating Officer of the Bio-Medicines Business Unit of Lilly. Mr. Overdorf also held multiple commercial leadership roles at Lilly, including Chief Marketing Officer of the United Kingdom and General Manager of the Czech & Slovak Republics. Mr. Overdorf is an adjunct lecturer in Medicine in the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Mr. Overdorf received a B.A. in Economics from Wabash College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Ted Yednock, Ph.D. has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer since November 2013. Previously, Dr. Yednock was Chief Scientific Officer for Prothena Corporation plc, a publicly-held biotechnology company spun out from Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., until 2013, and served in several roles of increasing responsibility from 1996 to 2013 at Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, including Head of Global Research from 2007 to 2013. From 1990 to 1996, Dr. Yednock was a Scientist at Athena Neurosciences, Inc., a privately-held pharmaceutical company. While at Athena, he was the scientific inventor of Tysabri®, a monoclonal antibody for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In addition to his work in multiple sclerosis, Dr. Yednock has contributed to the invention or progression of numerous drugs in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyloidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease. Dr. Yednock received his B.S. in biology and chemistry from the University of Illinois and his Ph.D. in anatomy and cell biology from the University of California, San Francisco.

Non-Employee Directors

William D. Young has served as Chairman of our board of directors since March 2017 and as a member of our board of directors since December 2014. Since December 2018, he has been a Senior Advisor at Blackstone Life Sciences, following Blackstone’s acquisition of Clarus Ventures, LLC, a healthcare and life sciences venture capital firm where Mr. Young served as Venture Partner since 2010. Mr. Young served from 1999 until 2009 as

 

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Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer of Monogram Biosciences, Inc., then a publicly-held biotechnology company, which was acquired by Laboratory Corporation of America in June 2009. From 1980 to 1999, Mr. Young was employed at Genentech, Inc., most recently as Chief Operating Officer, where he was responsible for all Product Development, Manufacturing and Commercial functions. Prior to joining Genentech, Mr. Young worked at Eli Lilly & Company for 14 years. Mr. Young has been Chairman of the board of directors of NanoString Technologies, Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company, since March 2010. He has served as a director of Theravance Biopharma., Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, since October 2013 and lead independent director since April 2014. Mr. Young served as a director of Innoviva, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, from April 2001 to June 2014, prior to Theravance’s spin-off from Innoviva. In addition, Mr. Young has been a member of the board of directors of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, since May 2014 and is also a member of the board of directors of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., a privately-held pharmaceutical company, and SJF Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately-held pharmaceutical company, both Clarus portfolio companies. He was a member of the board of directors of BioMarin, Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company, until November 2015 and Biogen Idec Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company, until June 2014, having served as a director since 1997 and as Chairman of the board of directors since 2010. Mr. Young is also a Trustee of Montage Health, a nonprofit company. Mr. Young received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, his M.B.A. from Indiana University and an honorary Doctorate of Engineering from Purdue University. Mr. Young was elected to The National Academy of Engineering in 2003 for his contributions to biotechnology. We believe that Mr. Young is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his demonstrated leadership in his field, his experience as an executive and a board member of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and his experience as an investor in life sciences companies.

Jung E. Choi has served as a member of our board of directors since June 2020. Since April 2015, Ms. Choi has served as Chief Business and Strategy Officer of Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, responsible for corporate strategy, business development, patient advocacy, and government affairs. From April 2014 to March 2015, Ms. Choi served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for InterMune, Inc., a biotechnology company (acquired by Roche Holding AG in 2014), and served as an adviser on strategy and business development to InterMune from March 2013 to April 2014. Prior to joining InterMune, from February 2011 to March 2013, Ms. Choi led corporate and business development for Chimerix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, as a consultant and Senior Vice President, Corporate Development. Prior to that, from August 2001 to August 2010, Ms. Choi held various management positions at Gilead Sciences, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, including leadership of business development, licensing, and mergers and acquisition activities. During her tenure at Gilead Sciences, Ms. Choi built and oversaw the corporate development group, and led the U.S. commercial launch of Hepsera® for the treatment of the hepatitis B virus. Ms. Choi received her B.A. in human biology and an M.B.A. from Stanford University. We believe that Ms. Choi is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her experience as an executive of biotechnology companies.

Emmett Cunningham, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H. has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2014. He is a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone Life Sciences, having joined as part of its acquisition of Clarus Ventures, LLC, in December 2018. Dr. Cunningham was a Managing Director at Clarus from January 2017 to November 2018, where he led investments in the medical technology and biotechnology space including partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, and a Partner from December 2008 to December 2016. Prior to joining Clarus, Dr. Cunningham was the Senior Vice President, Medical Strategy at Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held pharmaceutical company, from February 2004 to December 2005, where he helped lead the team that developed Macugen, a treatment for age-related macular degeneration. Dr. Cunningham is an internationally recognized specialist in infectious and inflammatory eye disease with over 350 publications. Dr. Cunningham previously served as a member of the board of directors of Restoration Robotics, Inc., a publicly-held medical device company. He is also a member of the board of directors of Galera Therapeutics, Inc., a privately-held biotechnology company, Graybug Vision, Inc., a privately-held clinical-stage pharmaceutical company, Lumos Pharma, Inc., a privately-held clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, and SFJ Pharmaceutical, Inc., a privately-

 

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held pharmaceutical company, and serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly-held ophthalmic pharmaceutical company. Dr. Cunningham is the founder and Chairman of the Ophthalmology Innovation Summit symposium held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. Dr. Cunningham received his B.S. in Science from Drexel University and a B.A. in human biology, M.D. and M.P.H. in public health from Johns Hopkins University and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California, San Diego for work done at The Salk Institute. We believe that Dr. Cunningham is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his educational background, his medical and scientific expertise, his experience as a board member of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and his experience as an investor in life sciences companies.

Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since October 2018. Since October 2014, Dr. Gallagher has served as a partner with New Enterprise Associates, Inc., a venture capital firm. Prior to joining New Enterprise Associates, Dr. Gallagher served as a venture partner with Frazier Healthcare Partners, a venture capital firm, from October 2013 to July 2014. Dr. Gallagher served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, from 2008 to 2011, when the company was acquired by Gilead Sciences, Inc. From 2007 to 2008, Dr. Gallagher was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Metastatix, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company. Prior to that time starting in 1989, she served in various roles at pharmaceutical companies, Eli Lilly & Company, Amgen Inc., Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer Inc., Biogen Idec Pharmaceuticals Inc., CancerVax Corp. and Anadys Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Dr. Gallagher also serves as Chairman of the board of directors of Millendo Therapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, since 2012, lead director at Atara Bio, Inc., a publicly-held immunotherapy company, since 2012, and as a director and chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Turning Point Therapeutics, a publicly-held oncology company, since August 2019. She also serves as a director to the following private companies: Metacrine, Inc. (since November 2017), PIONYR Immunotherapeutics Inc. (since December 2017), Qpex (since August 2018), XOC Pharmaceuticals (since October 2018) and Chromacode (since December 2018). From November 2011 to March 2018, Dr. Gallagher served as a member of the board of directors of AnaptysBio, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Gallagher attended Vanderbilt University and received B.S. and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Kentucky. We believe that Dr. Gallagher is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her educational background, her experience as an executive and a board member of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and her experience as an investor in life sciences companies.

Campbell Murray, M.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2014. Dr. Murray has served as a Managing Director at the Novartis Venture Fund since August 2005. Previously, Dr. Murray served as the Director of Special Projects at the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research from July 2004 until July 2005. Currently, Dr. Murray serves as a member of the boards of directors of Expansion Therapeutics, Lemonaid Health, Renovacor and TScan Therapeutics. Dr. Murray received a bachelor of human biology from the University of Auckland Medical School, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, an M.P.P. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and an MBChB (M.D.) from the University of Auckland Medical School. We believe that Dr. Murray is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive investment experience in the biotechnology sector. Dr. Murray has notified us that he will resign from our board of directors immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Dr. Murray’s resignation is not due to any disagreement with the company or any matters relating to our operations, policies or practices.

Muneer A. Satter has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2014. Mr. Satter has been Founder and Managing Partner of Satter Medical Technology Partners, L.P. since 2016, and Chairman of Satter Investment Management, LLC since 2012, and he also manages the Satter Foundation. Prior to Satter Investment Management, Mr. Satter was a partner at Goldman Sachs where he spent 24 years in various roles, most recently as the Global Head of the Mezzanine Group in the Merchant Banking Division, where he raised and managed over $30 billion of assets and was also Chairman of the Risk Committee overseeing $80 billion of assets. He is the Chairman of the board of directors of Aerpio Pharmaceuticals, a publicly-held

 

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biopharmaceutical company. Mr. Satter was Chairman of the board of directors of Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. from May 2013 to December 2018 and was Co-Chairman and a director of Vital Therapies, Inc. from October 2012 to October 2018. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Goldman Sachs Foundation and GS Gives, is a director of World Business Chicago and Accelerate Institute, is on the Board of Advisors of the American Enterprise Institute, is on the board of directors of the Navy SEAL Foundation, Northwestern Medical Group and is on the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University where he is Chairman of the Finance Committee, as well as on the Board of Trustees of the US Olympic and Paralymic Foundation. Mr. Satter received a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University, a J.D. from Harvard Law School and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. We believe that Mr. Satter is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience in the financial industry, his experience as a board member of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies and his experience as an investor in life sciences companies.

Ricky Sun, Ph.D. has served as a member of our board of directors since December 2018. Since August 2016, Dr. Sun has been a partner at Bain Capital Life Sciences, L.P. Prior to joining Bain Capital, he was a Director of Corporate Development and Strategy at Biogen Inc., a publicly-held biotechnology company, from January 2013 to July 2016. Prior to Biogen, Dr. Sun served as a Vice President at BlackRock, Inc., as a member of the Fundamental Equity division of BlackRock’s Alpha Strategies Group and senior analyst for BlackRock’s Fundamental Large Cap Growth equity team, covering the health care sector. Prior to that, he was a senior healthcare analyst at Citadel LLC and Alyeska Investment Group, L.P. in Chicago from May 2010 to December 2011, and worked as a pharmaceuticals equity research analyst on Wall Street from September 2006 to July 2007, spending time at Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Morgan Stanley. Dr. Sun began his career as a senior scientist at Ironwood Pharmaceutical, Inc. from January 2002 to July 2009, where he was involved in the discovery and development of the drug Linzess for irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Sun serves as a director of Arcutis Biotherapeutics, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company, and, since December 2019, Dr. Sun has also served as a director of Savara, Inc., a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company. Dr. Sun received a B.A. in chemistry, summa cum laude, from Berea College, an M.B.A. from New York University Stern School of Business, where he was a Mildred Elperin Scholar, and a Ph.D. degree in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Harvard University. He was also an NIH post-doctoral fellow in Biological Chemistry & Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. We believe that Dr. Sun is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his educational background and his experience in the financial industry.

Thomas G. Wiggans has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2017. Mr. Wiggans founded Dermira, Inc., a publicly-held pharmaceutical company, in August 2010 and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since September 2010 and on its board of directors since October 2014. Mr. Wiggans has also served on the boards of various industry organizations, educational institutions and private and public companies, including service on the boards of directors of Onyx Pharmaceuticals from March 2005 until its acquisition by Amgen Inc. in October 2013, Sangamo Biosciences, Inc. from June 2008 until June 2012, Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from June 2008 until May 2012 and as Chairman of the board of directors of Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. from October 2010 until its acquisition by Pfizer, Inc. in December 2011. From October 2007, Mr. Wiggans served as Chairman of the board of directors of Peplin, Inc. and in July 2007, he became its Chief Executive Officer, and he served in these positions until Peplin’s acquisition by LEO Pharma A/S in November 2009. Previously, Mr. Wiggans served as Chief Executive Officer of Connetics Corporation from July 1994, and as Chairman of the board of directors of Connetics from January 2006, and he served in these positions until December 2006 when Connetics was acquired by Stiefel Laboratories, Inc. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Wiggans served as President and Chief Operating Officer of CytoTherapeutics Inc. From 1980 to 1992, Mr. Wiggans served at Ares-Serono S.A. in various management positions including President of its U.S. pharmaceutical operations and Managing Director of its U.K. pharmaceutical operations. Mr. Wiggans began his career with Eli Lilly & Company. In addition, Mr. Wiggans is a member of the board of directors of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization and is a member of the board of trustees of the University of Kansas Endowment Association. Mr. Wiggans received a B.S. in pharmacy from the University of Kansas and an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University. We believe that Mr. Wiggans is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience as an executive and a board member of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

 

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Family Relationships

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

Board Composition

Director Independence

Our board of directors currently consists of nine members, and after the resignation of Dr. Murray, our board of directors will consist of eight members. Our board of directors has determined that all of our directors, other than Mr. Love, qualify as independent directors in accordance with The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC, or Nasdaq, Marketplace Rules or the Nasdaq Listing Rules. Mr. Love is not considered independent by virtue of his position as our President and Chief Executive Officer. Under the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the definition of independence includes a series of objective tests, such as that the director is not, and has not been for at least three years, one of our employees and that neither the director nor any of his or her family members has engaged in various types of business dealings with us. In addition, as required by the Nasdaq Listing Rules, our board of directors has made a subjective determination as to each independent director that no relationships exists that, in the opinion of our board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. In making these determinations, our board of directors reviewed and discussed information provided by the directors and us with regard to each director’s relationships as they may relate to us and our management.

Classified Board of Directors

In accordance with our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, which will be effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three classes with staggered three-year terms. At each annual general meeting of stockholders, the successors to directors whose terms then expire will be elected to serve from the time of election and qualification until the third annual meeting following election. Our directors will be divided among the three classes as follows:

 

   

The Class I directors will be Dr. Gallagher, Mr. Satter and Dr. Sun, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2021;

 

   

The Class II directors will be Ms. Choi, Mr. Love and Mr. Young, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022; and

 

   

The Class III directors will be Dr. Cunningham and Mr. Wiggans, and their terms will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023.

We expect that any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. The division of our board of directors into three classes with staggered three-year terms may delay or prevent a change of our management or a change in control.

Voting Arrangements

The election of the members of our board of directors is currently governed by the amended and restated voting agreement that we entered into with certain holders of our common stock and convertible preferred stock and the related provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Pursuant to our amended and restated voting agreement and amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our current directors were elected as follows:

 

   

Dr. Cunningham, Dr. Gallagher, Dr. Murray, Mr. Satter and Dr. Sun were elected as the designees of Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P., New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P., Novartis Bioventures Ltd., entities affiliated with Mr. Satter and Bain Capital Life Sciences Fund, L.P., respectively;

 

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Mr. Love was elected and designated as our then-serving and current Chief Executive Officer; and

 

   

Ms. Choi, Mr. Wiggans and Mr. Young were elected as the designees of the (i) holders of a majority of the shares of common stock held by stockholders who are our employees, consultants or advisors at the time of such vote and (ii) holders of at least 60% of the shares of our Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock and Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock on an as-converted basis.

Our amended and restated voting agreement will terminate and the provisions of our current amended and restated certificate of incorporation by which our directors were elected will be amended and restated in connection with this offering. After this offering, the number of directors will be fixed by our board of directors, subject to the terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering. Each of our current directors will continue to serve as a director until the election and qualification of his or her successor, or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Leadership Structure of the Board

Our amended and restated bylaws and corporate governance guidelines provide our board of directors with flexibility to combine or separate the positions of Chairman of the board of directors and Chief Executive Officer.

Our board of directors has concluded that our current leadership structure is appropriate at this time. However, our board of directors will continue to periodically review our leadership structure and may make such changes in the future as it deems appropriate.

Role of Board in Risk Oversight Process

Risk assessment and oversight are an integral part of our governance and management processes. Our board of directors encourages management to promote a culture that incorporates risk management into our corporate strategy and day-to-day business operations. Management discusses strategic and operational risks at regular management meetings, and conducts specific strategic planning and review sessions during the year that include a focused discussion and analysis of the risks facing us. Throughout the year, senior management reviews these risks with the board of directors at regular board meetings as part of management presentations that focus on particular business functions, operations or strategies, and presents the steps taken by management to mitigate or eliminate such risks.

Our board of directors does not have a standing risk management committee, but rather administers this oversight function directly through our board of directors as a whole, as well as through various standing committees of our board of directors that address risks inherent in their respective areas of oversight. While our board of directors is responsible for monitoring and assessing strategic risk exposure, our audit committee is responsible for overseeing our major financial risk exposures and the steps our management has taken to monitor and control these exposures. The audit committee also approves or disapproves any related person transactions. Our nominating and corporate governance committee monitors the effectiveness of our corporate governance guidelines. Our compensation committee assesses and monitors whether any of our compensation policies and programs has the potential to encourage excessive risk-taking.

Board Committees

Our board of directors has established an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating and corporate governance committee. Our board of directors may establish other committees to facilitate the management of our business. The composition and functions of each committee are described below. Members

 

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serve on these committees until their resignation or until otherwise determined by our board of directors. Each committee intends to adopt a written charter that satisfies the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq Listing Rules, which we will post on our website at www.annexonbio.com upon the completion of this offering. The reference to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at or available through our website.

Audit Committee

Our audit committee oversees our corporate accounting and financial reporting process. Among other matters, the audit committee:

 

   

appoints our independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

evaluates the independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications, independence and performance;

 

   

determines the engagement of the independent registered public accounting firm;

 

   

reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit and pre-approves the audit and non-audit fees and services;

 

   

reviews and approves all related party transactions on an ongoing basis;

 

   

establishes procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of any complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters;

 

   

discusses with management and the independent registered public accounting firm the results of the annual audit and the review of our quarterly financial statements;

 

   

approves the retention of the independent registered public accounting firm to perform any proposed permissible non-audit services;

 

   

discusses on a periodic basis, or as appropriate, with our management’s policies and procedures with respect to risk assessment and risk management;

 

   

consults with management to establish procedures and internal controls relating to cybersecurity;

 

   

is responsible for reviewing our financial statements and our management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations to be included in our annual and quarterly reports to be filed with the SEC;

 

   

investigates any reports received through the ethics helpline and reports to the board of directors periodically with respect to any information received through the ethics helpline and any related investigations; and

 

   

reviews the audit committee charter and the audit committee’s performance on an annual basis.

Our audit committee consists of Mr. Satter, Dr. Gallagher and Dr. Sun. Our board of directors has determined that all members are independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and Rule 10A-3(b)(1) of the Exchange Act. The chair of our audit committee is Mr. Satter. Our board of directors has determined that Mr. Satter is an audit committee financial expert as such term is currently defined in Item 407(d)(5) of Regulation S-K. Our board of directors has also determined that each member of our audit committee can read and understand fundamental consolidated financial statements, in accordance with applicable requirements.

Compensation Committee

Our compensation committee oversees policies relating to compensation and benefits of our officers and employees. The compensation committee reviews and approves or recommends corporate goals and objectives

 

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relevant to compensation of our executive officers (other than our Chief Executive Officer), evaluates the performance of these officers in light of those goals and objectives and approves the compensation of these officers based on such evaluations. The compensation committee also reviews and approves or makes recommendations to our board of directors regarding the issuance of stock options and other awards under our stock plans to our executive officers (other than our Chief Executive Officer). The compensation committee reviews the performance of our Chief Executive Officer and makes recommendations to our board of directors with respect to his compensation, and our board of directors retains the authority to make compensation decisions relative to our Chief Executive Officer. The compensation committee will review and evaluate, on an annual basis, the compensation committee charter and the compensation committee’s performance.

Our compensation committee consists of Mr. Wiggans, Dr. Cunningham and Dr. Sun. Our board of directors has determined that all members are independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules and are “non-employee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act. The chair of our compensation committee is Mr. Wiggans.

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for making recommendations to our board of directors regarding candidates for directorships and the size and composition of our board of directors. In addition, the nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for overseeing our corporate governance policies and making recommendations to our board of directors concerning governance matters.

Our nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Mr. Young, Dr. Gallagher and Mr. Satter. Our board of directors has determined that all members of the nominating and corporate governance committee are independent under the Nasdaq Listing Rules. The chair of our nominating and corporate governance committee is Mr. Young.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of the members of the compensation committee is currently, or has been at any time, one of our executive officers or employees. None of our executive officers currently serves, or has served during the last year, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or on our compensation committee.

Board Diversity

Upon consummation of this offering, our nominating and corporate governance committee will be responsible for reviewing with the board of directors, on an annual basis, the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience required for the board of directors as a whole and its individual members. In evaluating the suitability of individual candidates (both new candidates and current members), the nominating and corporate governance committee, in recommending candidates for election, and the board of directors, in approving (and, in the case of vacancies, appointing) such candidates, may take into account many factors, including but not limited to the following:

 

   

personal and professional integrity;

 

   

ethics and values;

 

   

experience in corporate management, such as serving as an officer or former officer of a publicly held company;

 

   

professional and academic experience relevant to our industry;

 

   

experience as a board member of another publicly held company;

 

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strength of leadership skills;

 

   

experience in finance and accounting and/or executive compensation practices;

 

   

ability to devote the time required for preparation, participation and attendance at board of directors meetings and committee meetings, if applicable;

 

   

background, gender, age and ethnicity;

 

   

conflicts of interest; and

 

   

ability to make mature business judgments.

Following the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will evaluate each individual in the context of the board of directors as a whole, with the objective of ensuring that the board of directors, as a whole, has the necessary tools to perform its oversight function effectively in light of our business and structure.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

In connection with this offering, we intend to adopt a written code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. The full text of our code of business conduct and ethics will be posted on our website at www.annexonbio.com upon the completion of this offering. Any substantive amendment to, or waiver of, a provision of the code of business conduct and ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions will be disclosed on our website.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, both of which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, limit our directors’ liability, and provide that we may indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL. The DGCL provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for any:

 

   

transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit;

 

   

act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

unlawful payment of dividends or redemption of shares; or

 

   

breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders.

These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under federal securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or recession.

The DGCL and our amended and restated bylaws provide that we will, in certain situations, indemnify our directors and officers and may indemnify other employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by law. Any indemnified person is also entitled, subject to certain limitations, to advancement, direct payment or reimbursement of reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements) in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding.

In addition, we have entered, and intend to continue to enter, into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. These indemnification agreements, among other things, require us to indemnify our directors and officers for certain expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by a director or officer in any action or proceeding arising out of their services as a director or officer, or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.

 

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We also maintain a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy pursuant to which our directors and officers are insured against liability for actions taken in their capacities as directors and officers.

We believe that these provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and these indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers or control persons, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy, as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

 

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EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

This section discusses the material components of the executive compensation program for our executive officers who are named in the “2019 Summary Compensation Table” below.

This discussion may contain forward-looking statements that are based on our current plans, considerations, expectations and determinations regarding future compensation programs. Actual compensation programs that we adopt following the completion of this offering may differ materially from the currently planned programs summarized in this discussion. As an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act, we are not required to include a Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and have elected to comply with the scaled disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies.

2019 Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information concerning the compensation of our named executive officers for the applicable years shown.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Option
Awards
($)(1)
    Non-Equity
Incentive  Plan
Compensation
($)(2)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 

Douglas Love, Esq.

    2019       395,520             2,841,570       151,150             3,388,240  

President and Chief Executive Officer

    2018       379,192                   138,352             517,544  

Sanjay Keswani, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.P.

    2019       205,833             1,244,184       68,912       101,251 (3)      1,620,180  

Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer(4)

             

Jennifer Lew(5)

    2019       204,167             1,036,819       67,982             1,308,968  

Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer

             

Lesley Stolz(6)

    2019       153,788             973,637 (7)            190,452 (8)      1,317,877  

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer

             

 

(1)

Amounts reflect the full grant-date fair value of option awards granted during 2019 computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718, rather than the amounts paid to or realized by the named individual. In accordance with ASC Topic 718, no amount for Dr. Keswani’s performance-based option has been included because the satisfaction of the required performance condition was not considered probable as of the grant date. Assuming full attainment of the performance condition, the grant date fair value of Dr. Keswani’s performance-based option would have been $311,046. See Note 9 of the audited financial statements included in this prospectus for the assumptions used in calculating these amounts.

(2)

Amounts represent the annual performance-based cash bonuses earned by our named executive officers based on the achievement of certain corporate performance objectives during 2019.

(3)

Amounts represent relocation reimbursements made to Dr. Keswani in connection with the commencement of his employment with us, including moving expenses and closing costs on the sale of his home in Massachusetts.

(4)

Dr. Keswani commenced employment effective June 17, 2019.

(5)

Ms. Lew commenced employment effective June 3, 2019.

(6)

Ms. Stolz commenced employment effective May 6, 2019 and terminated on October 11, 2019.

(7)

Represents the new hire option award granted to Ms. Stolz, which was subsequently forfeited in its entirety upon Ms. Stolz’ termination in October 2019.

(8)

Represents severance benefits of (i) a cash payment of $175,000 and (ii) six months of continued healthcare premiums.

Narrative to the Summary Compensation Table

2019 Salaries

Our named executive officers each receive a base salary to compensate them for services rendered to our company. The base salary payable to each named executive officer is intended to provide a fixed component of compensation reflecting the executive’s skill set, experience, role and responsibilities.

 

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For fiscal year 2019, Mr. Love’s annual base salary was $397,762, a merit increase of 3.5% over his fiscal 2018 annual base salary. Dr. Keswani’s and Ms. Lew’s annual base salaries for 2019 were $380,000 and $350,000, respectively, each of which were negotiated in connection with the commencement of their employment with the company during 2019. In December 2019, our board of directors approved increasing the base salaries of our named executive officers. Subject to the consummation of this offering, the annual base salaries for Mr. Love, Dr. Keswani and Ms. Lew will be $502,300, $407,800 and $371,900, respectively.

2019 Bonuses

We maintain an annual performance-based cash bonus program in which each of our named executive officers participated in 2019. Each named executive officer’s target bonus is expressed as a percentage of base salary which can be achieved by meeting certain performance goals discussed below at target level. The 2019 annual bonus for Mr. Love was targeted at 40% of his base salary, which was unchanged from his 2018 level. The 2019 annual bonuses for Dr. Keswani and Ms. Lew were targeted at 35% of their respective base salaries and were negotiated in connection with the commencement of their employment with the company during 2019. Dr. Keswani’s and Ms. Lew’s 2019 annual bonuses will be prorated to reflect the length of their employment during 2019. In December 2019, in connection with this offering, our board of directors approved increasing the target bonuses of our named executive officers as follows for fiscal 2020, subject to the consummation of this offering: Mr. Love: 50%; Dr. Keswani: 40%; and Ms. Lew: 40%.

For 2019, our named executive officers are eligible to earn annual cash bonuses based on the achievement of certain corporate objectives approved by the compensation committee and the board of directors. The goals under our 2019 bonus program were set with respect to research and development activities and corporate activities. Full achievement of all goals could result in up to 120% of target. In the case of our named executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer, annual bonuses were also based on individual achievement, with corporate achievement weighted 80% and individual achievement weighted 20%.

In March 2020, our board of directors reviewed and approved overall achievement of our 2019 corporate goals at 95% of target. Based on this determination and the determination of individual achievement of 100% of target for each of Dr. Keswani and Ms. Lew, the board of directors approved the 2019 annual bonuses set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table in the column titled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation.”

Equity Compensation

We have granted stock options to our employees, including our named executive officers, in order to attract and retain them, as well as to align their interests with the interests of our stockholders. In order to provide a long-term incentive, these stock options generally vest over four years subject to continued service to the company.

In January 2019, we granted to Mr. Love an option to purchase 537,844 shares of our common stock, which vests as to 1/48th of the shares subject to the option on each monthly anniversary of December 12, 2018, subject to continued service. In May 2019, in connection with her commencement of employment with us, we granted to Ms. Stolz an option to purchase 155,793 shares of common stock, which was subsequently forfeited in its entirety upon her termination in October 2019. In June 2019, in connection with their commencement of employment with us, we granted to Dr. Keswani an option to purchase 186,951 shares of common stock and Ms. Lew an option to purchase 155,793 shares of common stock, each of which vests as to 25% of the shares subject to the option on the first anniversary of the applicable named executive officer’s employment commencement date, and as to 1/36th of the remaining shares subject to the option on each monthly anniversary thereafter, subject to continued service. We also granted to Dr. Keswani a performance-based option to purchase 46,737 shares of common stock that vests in full upon the successful completion of a development milestone approved by our Chief Executive Officer and board of directors, subject to continued service through such date.

 

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In June 2020, we granted to Mr. Love an option to purchase 414,301 shares of our common stock and to each of Dr. Keswani and Ms. Lew an option to purchase 68,104 shares of our common stock. Each option vests as to 1/48th of the shares subject to the option on each monthly anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued service.

In connection with this offering, we have adopted the 2020 Incentive Award Plan, referred to below as the 2020 Plan, in order to facilitate the grant of cash and equity incentives to directors, employees (including our named executive officers) and consultants of our company and certain of its affiliates and to enable us to obtain and retain services of these individuals, which is essential to our long-term success. The 2020 Plan will be effective on the date immediately prior to the date the registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective. For additional information about the 2020 Plan, please see the section titled “Equity Incentive Plans” below.

Release Agreement with Ms. Stolz

Lesley Stolz, our former Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, commenced employment effective May 6, 2019 and terminated on October 11, 2019. Ms. Stolz’ 2019 base salary ($350,000), target bonus (35% of base salary) and option to purchase common stock were negotiated in connection with the commencement of her employment with us. Ms. Stolz was not eligible to receive an annual bonus for 2019 as she terminated employment in October 2019. Ms. Stolz’s option to purchase 155,793 shares of common stock was forfeited in its entirety upon her termination. In connection with her termination of employment in October 2019, we entered into a release agreement with Ms. Stolz, pursuant to which she was entitled to receive, in exchange for a release of all potential claims against us, a lump sum payment equal to six months of her then-current base salary and payment of premiums for continued health benefits for up to six months following the date of her termination.

Other Elements of Compensation

Retirement Savings and Health and Welfare Benefits

We maintain a 401(k) retirement savings plan for our employees, including our named executive officers, who satisfy certain eligibility requirements. Our named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan on the same terms as other full-time employees. Currently, we do not match contributions made by participants in the 401(k) plan. We believe that providing a vehicle for tax-deferred retirement savings through our 401(k) plan adds to the overall desirability of our executive compensation package and further incentivizes our employees, including our named executive officers, in accordance with our compensation policies.

All of our full-time employees, including our named executive officers, are eligible to participate in our health and welfare plans, including: medical, dental and vision benefits; basic and supplemental life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance; and medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts.

Perquisites and Other Personal Benefits

In connection with the commencement of his employment with us in June 2019, we reimbursed Dr. Keswani for certain relocation expenses, including moving expenses and closing costs on his home in Massachusetts pursuant to his offer letter, which provided for up to $100,000 for expenses incurred to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area. Such amounts are subject to repayment (i) in full, in the event Dr. Keswani resigns prior to the first anniversary of his employment commencement date or (ii) with respect to 50% in the event Dr. Keswani resigns between the first and second anniversaries of his employment commencement date.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

The following table summarizes the number of shares of common stock underlying outstanding option awards for each named executive officer as of December 31, 2019 other than Ms. Stolz. Ms. Stolz did not hold

 

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any outstanding stock options as of December 31, 2019 as her stock option was forfeited in connection with her termination in October 2019.

 

Name and Principal

Position

  Grant
Date
    Vesting
Commencement
Date (1)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(Exercisable)
(#)
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(Unexercisable)
(#)
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number  of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
    Option
Exercise
Price
($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
 

Douglas Love, Esq.

    1/22/2015       12/12/2014 (2)      139,038                   1.41       1/22/2025  

President and
Chief Executive Officer

    8/11/2016       6/8/2016 (2)      94,849       13,550             1.86       6/8/2026  
    8/11/2016       8/11/2016       30,041       6,009             1.86       8/11/2026  
    1/22/2019       12/12/2018       134,461       403,383             5.11       1/22/2029  

Sanjay Keswani, M.B.B.S., F.R.C.P.

    6/21/2019       6/17/2019 (2)(3)            186,951             7.49       6/21/2029  

Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

    6/21/2019       (4)                  46,737       7.49       6/21/2029  

Jennifer Lew

    6/21/2019       6/3/2019 (2)(3)            155,793            
7.49
 
    6/21/2029  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

             

 

(1)

Except as otherwise indicated, 1/48th of the shares subject to each option vest on each monthly anniversary of the vesting commencement date, subject to continued service with us. All of the named executive officers’ equity awards will be subject to certain acceleration in connection with a change in control in accordance with the terms of their new employment agreements, which will become effective as of immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement relating to this offering, as described below, which will generally supersede the terms of their offer letters.

(2)

Pursuant to the terms of the named executive officer’s offer letter, the shares subject to the option will vest in full in the event of a termination of the executive’s employment by us without “cause” or the executive’s resignation for “good reason” (each, as defined in the offer letter), in each case, that occurs within 12 months following a “change of control” of us (as defined in the offer letter).

(3)

25% of the shares subject to the option vest on the 12-month anniversary of the vesting commencement date and 1/36th of the remaining shares subject to the option vest on each monthly anniversary thereafter, subject to continued service with us.

(4)

100% of the shares subject to the option vest upon the successful completion of a development milestone, subject to continued service with us.

Executive Compensation Arrangements

Offer Letters

As of March 31, 2020, we were party to offer letters with each of our named executive officers. In connection with the offering, we have entered into new employment agreements with each of our named executive officers, which will become effective as of immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement relating to this offering and generally supersede the terms of such offer letters.

Mr. Love. We entered into an offer letter with Mr. Love in December 2014 setting forth the terms of his employment as our President and Chief Executive Officer, including his initial base salary, target bonus, initial stock option grants and benefit plan participation eligibility. Mr. Love’s offer letter provides that in the event that Mr. Love’s employment is terminated by us without Cause (as defined in the offer letter), then subject to his execution of a release of claims in favor of us, Mr. Love will receive severance payments equal to nine months of his then-current base salary. In addition, in the event that Mr. Love is terminated by us without Cause or resigns for Good Reason (as defined in the offer letter), in each case, within 12 months following a “change of control” (as defined in the offer letter), his initial option grants will vest in full.

Dr. Keswani and Ms. Lew. We entered into offer letters with Dr. Keswani and Ms. Lew in connection with their commencement of employment with us in June 2019, which provide for initial base salary, target bonus and

 

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initial stock option grants as described above. Each of their offer letters also provides that in the event that the named executive officer’s employment is terminated by us without Cause (as defined in the offer letter) any time other than during the period commencing three months prior to and ending 12 months following a change in control, then subject to the execution of a release of claims in favor of us, the named executive officer will receive severance payments equal to nine months of his or her then-current base salary and nine months of premium reimbursement for continuing healthcare coverage under COBRA. In addition, in the event that the named executive officer is terminated by us without Cause or resigns for Good Reason (as defined in the offer letter), in each case, during the period commencing three months prior to and ending 12 months following a change in control, the named executive officer will receive severance payments equal to 12 months of the executive’s then-current base salary and the executive’s target bonus, 12 months of premium reimbursement for continuing healthcare coverage under COBRA, and the executive’s initial time-based option will vest in full.

For purposes of our named executive officers’ offer letters:

“Cause” means (i) the executive’s failure to perform the executive’s assigned duties or responsibilities as an officer of us (other than a failure resulting from the executive’s Disability (as defined in the offer letter) after notice thereof from us describing the executive’s failure to perform such duties or responsibilities, (ii) the executive’s engaging in any act of dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation, (iii) the executive’s violation of any federal or state law or regulation applicable to our business or our affiliates, (iv) the executive’s breach of any confidentiality agreement or invention assignment agreement between the executive and us (or any affiliate of us), or (v) the executive’s commission of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, any crime or committing any act of moral turpitude; and

“Good Reason” for the executive to terminate the executive’s employment shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without the executive’s consent: (i) a material reduction in the executive’s salary or benefits (excluding the substitution of substantially equivalent compensation and benefits), other than as a result of a reduction in compensation affecting our employees, or our successor entity, generally; (ii) a material diminution in the executive’s duties or responsibilities, provided however, that, a mere change in title or reporting relationship alone shall not constitute “Good Reason,” and (iii) relocation of the executive’s place of employment to a location more than 50 miles from our office location. If any of the events set forth above shall occur, the executive shall give prompt written notice of such event to us, or our successor entity, upon becoming aware of such event, and if such event is not cured within thirty (30) days from such notice the executive may exercise his or her rights to resign for Good Reason, provided that if the executive has not exercised such right within forty-five (45) days of the date of such notice the executive shall be deemed to have agreed to the occurrence of such event.

New Employment Agreements

In connection with this offering, we have entered into new employment agreements with each of our named executive officers, which will become effective as of immediately prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement relating to this offering and supersede in their entirety their offer letters (other than with respect to the relocation expense provisions in Dr. Keswani’s offer letter). Each employment agreement sets forth the named executive officer’s base salary and annual target bonus, as described above, and standard benefit plan participation. In addition, pursuant to the employment agreements, in the event the executive is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason (each, as defined in the employment agreements), in each case, other than during the period commencing three months prior to and ending 12 months following a change in control, the executive will receive (i) a lump sum cash payment equal to nine months of base salary, in the case of our executive vice presidents, or 12 months of base salary, in the case of our CEO, and (ii) payment or reimbursement of COBRA premiums for nine months, in the case of our executive vice presidents, or 12 months, in the case of our CEO. In the event the executive is terminated without Cause or resigns for Good Reason, in each case, during the period commencing three months prior to and ending 12 months following a change in control, the executive will receive (i) a lump sum cash payment equal to 12 months of base salary plus the

 

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executive’s target annual bonus, in the case of our executive vice presidents, or 18 months of base salary plus 1.5 times the executive’s target annual bonus, in the case of our CEO, (ii) payment or reimbursement of COBRA premiums for 12 months, in the case of our executive vice presidents, or 18 months, in the case of our CEO, and (iii) and full acceleration of all unvested equity awards. The foregoing severance payments and benefits are subject to the executive’s execution of a release of claims in favor of us.

The definitions of Cause and Good Reason under our named executive officers’ new employment agreements are substantially the same as under their offer letters.

Equity Compensation Plans

The following summarizes the material terms of the 2020 Plan, in which our named executive officers will be eligible to participate following the consummation of this offering, our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, referred to as the 2011 Plan, under which we have previously made periodic grants of equity and equity-based awards to our named executive officers and other key employees, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

2020 Incentive Award Plan

We have adopted the 2020 Plan, which will be effective on the date immediately prior to the date our registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective. The principal purpose of the 2020 Plan is to attract, retain and motivate selected employees, consultants and directors through the granting of stock-based compensation awards and cash-based performance bonus awards. The material terms of the 2020 Plan are summarized below.

Share Reserve. Under the 2020 Plan, 3,125,868 shares of our common stock will be initially reserved for issuance pursuant to a variety of stock-based compensation awards, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, or SARs, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, performance bonus awards, performance stock unit awards, dividend equivalents or other stock or cash based awards. The number of shares initially reserved for issuance or transfer pursuant to awards under the 2020 Plan will be increased by (i) the number of shares represented by awards outstanding under our 2011 Plan, or 2011 Plan Awards, that become available for issuance under the counting provisions described below following the effective date and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each fiscal year beginning in 2021 and ending in 2030, equal to the lesser of (A) 4% of the shares of stock outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of shares of stock as determined by our board of directors; provided, however, that no more than 18,755,212 shares of stock may be issued upon the exercise of incentive stock options.

The following counting provisions will be in effect for the share reserve under the 2020 Plan:

 

   

to the extent that an award (including a 2011 Plan Award) expires, lapses or is terminated, converted into an award in respect of shares of another entity in connection with a spin-off or other similar event, exchanged for cash, surrendered, repurchased or canceled, in any case, in a manner that results in the Company acquiring the underlying shares at a price not greater than the price paid by the participant or not issuing the underlying shares, such unused shares subject to the award at such time will be available for future grants under the 2020 Plan;

 

   

to the extent shares are tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant, exercise price or tax withholding obligation with respect to any award under the 2020 Plan or 2011 Plan Award, such tendered or withheld shares will be available for future grants under the 2020 Plan;

 

   

to the extent shares subject to stock appreciation rights are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of SARs on exercise thereof, such shares will be available for future grants under the 2020 Plan;

 

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the payment of dividend equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding awards or 2011 Plan Awards will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2020 Plan; and

 

   

shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by us or any of our subsidiaries will not be counted against the shares available for issuance under the 2020 Plan.

In addition, the sum of the grant date fair value of all equity-based awards and the maximum that may become payable pursuant to a cash-based award to any individual for services as a non-employee director during any calendar year may not exceed $1,000,000 for the individual’s first year of service and $700,000 for each year thereafter.

Administration. The compensation committee of our board of directors is expected to administer the 2020 Plan unless our board of directors assumes authority for administration. The board of directors may delegate its powers to a committee, which, to the extent required to comply with Rule 16b-3, is intended to be comprised of “non-employee directors” for purposes of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. The 2020 Plan provides that the board or compensation committee may delegate its authority to grant awards other than to individuals subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or officers or directors to whom authority to grant awards has been delegated.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the 2020 Plan, the administrator has the authority to select the persons to whom awards are to be made, to determine the number of shares to be subject to awards and the terms and conditions of awards, and to make all other determinations and to take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the 2020 Plan. The administrator is also authorized to adopt, amend or rescind rules relating to administration of the 2020 Plan. Our board of directors may at any time remove the compensation committee as the administrator and revest in itself the authority to administer the 2020 Plan. The full board of directors will administer the 2020 Plan with respect to awards to non-employee directors.

Eligibility. Awards under the 2020 Plan may be granted to individuals who are then our officers, employees or consultants or are the officers, employees or consultants of certain of our subsidiaries. Such awards also may be granted to our directors. However, only employees of our company or certain of our subsidiaries may be granted incentive stock options, or ISOs.

Awards. The 2020 Plan provides that the administrator may grant or issue stock options, SARs, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance bonus awards, performance stock units, other stock- or cash-based awards and dividend equivalents, or any combination thereof. Each award will be set forth in a separate agreement with the person receiving the award and will indicate the type, terms and conditions of the award.

 

   

Nonstatutory Stock Options, or NSOs, will provide for the right to purchase shares of our common stock at a specified price which may not be less than fair market value on the date of grant, and usually will become exercisable (at the discretion of the administrator) in one or more installments after the grant date, subject to the participant’s continued employment or service with us and/or subject to the satisfaction of corporate performance targets and individual performance targets established by the administrator. NSOs may be granted for any term specified by the administrator that does not exceed ten years.

 

   

Incentive Stock Options, or ISOs, will be designed in a manner intended to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code and will be subject to specified restrictions contained in the Code. Among such restrictions, ISOs must have an exercise price of not less than the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant, may only be granted to employees, and must not be exercisable after a period of ten years measured from the date of grant. In the case of an ISO granted to an individual who owns (or is deemed to own) at least 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our capital stock, the 2020 Plan provides that the exercise price must be at least 110% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant and the ISO must not be exercisable after a period of five years measured from the date of grant.

 

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Restricted Stock may be granted to any eligible individual and made subject to such restrictions as may be determined by the administrator. Restricted stock typically may be forfeited for no consideration or repurchased by us at the original purchase price if the conditions or restrictions on vesting are not met. In general, restricted stock may not be sold or otherwise transferred until restrictions are removed or expire. Purchasers of restricted stock, unlike recipients of options, will have voting rights and will have the right to receive dividends, if any, prior to the time when the restrictions lapse; however, extraordinary dividends will generally be placed in escrow, and will not be released until restrictions are removed or expire.

 

   

Restricted Stock Units may be awarded to any eligible individual, typically without payment of consideration, but subject to vesting conditions based on continued employment or service or on performance criteria established by the administrator. Like restricted stock, restricted stock units may not be sold, or otherwise transferred or hypothecated, until vesting conditions are removed or expire. Unlike restricted stock, stock underlying restricted stock units will not be issued until the restricted stock units have vested, and recipients of restricted stock units generally will have no voting or dividend rights prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

 

   

Stock Appreciation Rights, or SARs, may be granted in connection with stock options or other awards, or separately. SARs granted in connection with stock options or other awards typically will provide for payments to the holder based upon increases in the price of our common stock over a set exercise price. The exercise price of any SAR granted under the 2020 Plan must be at least 100% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. SARs under the 2020 Plan will be settled in cash or shares of our common stock, or in a combination of both, at the election of the administrator.

 

   

Performance Bonus Awards and Performance Stock Units are denominated in cash or shares/unit equivalents, respectively, and may be linked to one or more performance or other criteria as determined by the administrator.

 

   

Other Stock- or Cash-Based Awards are awards of cash, fully vested shares of our common stock and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or otherwise based on, shares of our common stock. Other stock- or cash-based awards may be granted to participants and may also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to any individual who is eligible to receive awards. The administrator will determine the terms and conditions of other stock- or cash-based awards, which may include vesting conditions based on continued service, performance and/or other conditions.

 

   

Dividend Equivalents represent the right to receive the equivalent value of dividends paid on shares of our common stock and may be granted alone or in tandem with awards other than stock options or SARs. Dividend equivalents are converted to cash or shares by such formula and such time as determined by the administrator. In addition, dividend equivalents with respect to an awards subject to vesting will either (i) to the extent permitted by applicable law, not be paid or credited or (ii) be accumulated and subject to vesting to the same extent as the related award.

Any award may be granted as a performance award, meaning that the award will be subject to vesting and/or payment based on the attainment of specified performance goals.

Change in Control. In the event of a change in control, unless the administrator elects to terminate an award in exchange for cash, rights or other property, or cause an award to accelerate in full prior to the change in control, such award will continue in effect or be assumed or substituted by the acquirer, provided that any performance-based portion of the award will be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable award agreement. In the event the acquirer refuses to assume or replace awards granted, prior to the consummation of such transaction, awards issued under the 2020 Plan (other than any portion subject to performance-based vesting) will be subject to accelerated vesting such that 100% of such awards will become vested and exercisable

 

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or payable, as applicable. The administrator may also make appropriate adjustments to awards under the 2020 Plan and is authorized to provide for the acceleration, cash-out, termination, assumption, substitution or conversion of such awards in the event of a change in control or certain other unusual or nonrecurring events or transactions.

Adjustments of Awards. The administrator has broad discretion to take action under the 2020 Plan, as well as make adjustments to the terms and conditions of existing and future awards, to prevent the dilution or enlargement of intended benefits and facilitate necessary or desirable changes in the event of certain transactions and events affecting our common stock, such as stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations and other corporate transactions. In addition, in the event of certain non-reciprocal transactions with our stockholders known as “equity restructurings,” the administrator will make equitable adjustments to the 2020 Plan and outstanding awards.

Amendment and Termination. The administrator may terminate, amend or modify the 2020 Plan at any time and from time to time. However, we must generally obtain stockholder approval to the extent required by applicable law, rule or regulation (including any applicable stock exchange rule), and generally no amendment may materially and adversely affect any outstanding award without the affected participant’s consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an option may be amended to reduce the per share exercise price below the per share exercise price of such option on the grant date and options may be granted in exchange for, or in connection with, the cancellation or surrender of options having a higher per share exercise price without receiving additional stockholder approval.

No incentive stock options may be granted pursuant to the 2020 Plan after the tenth anniversary of the effective date of the 2020 Plan, and no additional annual share increases to the 2020 Plan’s aggregate share limit will occur from and after such anniversary. Any award that is outstanding on the termination date of the 2020 Plan will remain in force according to the terms of the 2020 Plan and the applicable award agreement.

2011 Equity Incentive Plan

Our board of directors adopted, and our stockholders approved, the 2011 Plan effective as of July 31, 2011. The 2011 Plan was subsequently amended on multiple occasions to increase the number of shares issuable thereunder. The 2011 Plan provides for the grant of ISOs, NSOs, SARs, restricted stock, and restricted stock units. As of March 31, 2020, options to purchase 2,136,390 shares of our common stock at a weighted-average exercise price per share of $5.45 remained outstanding under the 2011 Plan. Following this offering and in connection with the effectiveness of our 2020 Plan, no further awards will be granted under the 2011 Plan. However, all outstanding awards will continue to be governed by their existing terms.

Administration. Our board of directors or a committee thereof appointed by our board of directors has the authority to administer the 2011 Plan and the awards granted under it. The administrator’s authority includes the authority to select the service providers to whom awards will be granted under the 2011 Plan, the number of shares to be subject to those awards under the 2011 Plan, and the terms and conditions of the awards granted. The administrator also has the authority to institute and determine the terms and conditions of a program under which all outstanding awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for awards of the same or a different type or in exchange for cash, participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding awards to a financial institution or other person selected by the administrator, or the exercise price of the award is reduced or increased. In addition, the administrator has the authority to construe and interpret the 2011 Plan and to adopt rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the 2011 Plan that are consistent with the terms of the 2011 Plan.

 

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Awards. The 2011 Plan provides that the administrator may grant or issue options, including ISOs and NSOs, SARs, restricted stock and restricted stock units to employees, consultants and directors; provided that only employees may be granted ISOs.

 

   

Stock Options. The 2011 Plan provides for the grant of ISOs or NSOs. ISOs may be granted only to employees. NSOs may be granted to employees, directors or consultants. The exercise price of ISOs granted to employees who at the time of grant own stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of our common stock may not be less than 110% of the fair market value per share of our common stock on the date of grant, and the exercise price of ISOs granted to any other employees may not be less than 100% of the fair market value per share of our common stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of NSOs to employees, directors or consultants may not be less than 100% of the fair market value per share of our common stock on the date of grant.

 

   

Stock Appreciation Rights. The 2011 Plan provides for the grant of SARs. Each SAR will be governed by a SAR agreement. The exercise price of SARs may not be less than 100% of the fair market value per share of our common stock on the date of grant.

 

   

Restricted Stock Awards. The 2011 Plan provides for the grant of restricted stock awards. Each restricted stock award will be governed by a restricted stock award agreement, which will detail the restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions the administrator approves. In general, restricted stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered until restrictions are removed or expire. Holders of restricted stock, unlike recipients of other equity awards, will have voting rights and will have the right to receive dividends, if any, prior to the time when the restrictions lapse.

 

   

Restricted Stock Units. The 2011 Plan provides that we may issue restricted stock unit awards which may be settled in either cash of common stock. Each restricted stock unit award will be governed by a restricted stock unit award agreement that will set forth any vesting conditions based on continued employment or service or on performance criteria established by the administrator. Unlike restricted stock, stock underlying restricted stock units will not be issued until the restricted stock units have vested, and recipients of restricted stock units generally will have no rights as a stockholder prior to the time when vesting conditions are satisfied.

Adjustments of Awards. In the event of any dividend or other distribution, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, exchange of shares or other change in the corporate structure of the company affecting shares of common stock, the administrator will make adjustments to the number and class of shares available for issuance under the 2011 Plan and the number, class and price of shares subject to outstanding awards.

Change in Control. In the event of a merger or change in control, the administrator has discretion to determine the treatment of each outstanding award, and may provide that the awards will be assumed or substituted, that the awards will terminate or accelerate in full immediately prior to the change in control, or that the awards will terminate in exchange for cash or other property, or any combination of the foregoing. The administrator is not obligated to treat all outstanding awards in the same manner. In addition, in the event of a change in control where the acquirer does not assume or replace awards, prior to the consummation of such transaction, awards issued under the 2011 Plan will accelerate in full and any awards subject to performance-based vesting will be deemed achieved at 100% of target levels and all other terms and conditions met. Awards will be considered assumed for this purpose if, following the merger or change in control, the award represents the right to purchase or receive the per share consideration received in the merger or change in control by holders of common stock.

Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may amend or terminate the 2011 Plan at any time, but no amendment will impair the rights of a holder of an outstanding award without the holder’s consent. An amendment of the 2011 Plan will be subject to the approval of our stockholders, where such approval by our stockholders of an amendment is required by applicable law. Following this offering and in connection with the effectiveness of our 2020 Plan, no further awards will be granted under the 2011 Plan.

 

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Employee Stock Purchase Plan

We have adopted the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we refer to as our ESPP, which will be effective on the date immediately prior to the date the registration statement relating to this offering becomes effective. The ESPP is designed to allow our eligible employees to purchase shares of our common stock, at periodic intervals, with their accumulated payroll deductions. The ESPP is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code. The material terms of the ESPP are summarized below.

Administration. Subject to the terms and conditions of the ESPP, our compensation committee will administer the ESPP. Our compensation committee can delegate administrative tasks under the ESPP to the services of an agent and/or employees to assist in the administration of the ESPP. The administrator will have the discretionary authority to administer and interpret the ESPP. Interpretations and constructions of the administrator of any provision of the ESPP or of any rights thereunder will be conclusive and binding on all persons. We will bear all expenses and liabilities incurred by the ESPP administrator.

Share Reserve. The maximum number of our shares of our common stock which will be authorized for sale under the ESPP is equal to the sum of (i) 312,586 shares of common stock and (ii) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2021 and ending in 2030, equal to the lesser of (A) 1% of the shares of common stock outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such number of shares of common stock as determined by our board of directors; provided, however, no more than 3,438,455 shares of our common stock may be issued under the ESPP. The shares reserved for issuance under the ESPP may be authorized but unissued shares or reacquired shares.

Eligibility. Employees eligible to participate in the ESPP for a given offering period generally include employees who are employed by us or one of our subsidiaries on the first day of the offering period, or the enrollment date. Our employees (and, if applicable, any employees of our subsidiaries) who customarily work less than five months in a calendar year or are customarily scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week will not be eligible to participate in the ESPP. Finally, an employee who owns (or is deemed to own through attribution) 5% or more of the combined voting power or value of all our classes of stock or of one of our subsidiaries will not be allowed to participate in the ESPP.

Participation. Employees will enroll under the ESPP by completing a payroll deduction form permitting the deduction from their compensation of at least 1% of their compensation but not more than 15% of their compensation. Such payroll deductions may be expressed as either a whole number percentage or a fixed dollar amount, and the accumulated deductions will be applied to the purchase of shares on each purchase date. However, a participant may not purchase more than 50,000 shares in each offering period and may not accrue the right to purchase shares of common stock at a rate that exceeds $25,000 in fair market value of shares of our common stock (determined at the time the option is granted) for each calendar year the option is outstanding (as determined in accordance with Section 423 of the Code). The ESPP administrator has the authority to change these limitations for any subsequent offering period.

Offering. Under the ESPP, participants are offered the option to purchase shares of our common stock at a discount during a series of successive offering periods, the duration and timing of which will be determined by the ESPP administrator. However, in no event may an offering period be longer than 27 months in length.

The option purchase price will be the lower of 85% of the closing trading price per share of our common stock on the first trading date of an offering period in which a participant is enrolled or 85% of the closing trading price per share on the purchase date, which will occur on the last trading day of each offering period.

Unless a participant has previously canceled his or her participation in the ESPP before the purchase date, the participant will be deemed to have exercised his or her option in full as of each purchase date. Upon exercise, the participant will purchase the number of whole shares that his or her accumulated payroll deductions will buy at the option purchase price, subject to the participation limitations listed above.

 

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A participant may cancel his or her payroll deduction authorization at any time prior to the end of the offering period. Upon cancellation, the participant will have the option to either (i) receive a refund of the participant’s account balance in cash without interest or (ii) exercise the participant’s option for the current offering period for the maximum number of shares of common stock on the applicable purchase date, with the remaining account balance refunded in cash without interest. Following at least one payroll deduction, a participant may also decrease (but not increase) his or her payroll deduction authorization once during any offering period. If a participant wants to increase or decrease the rate of payroll withholding, he or she may do so effective for the next offering period by submitting a new form before the offering period for which such change is to be effective.

A participant may not assign, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution) payroll deductions credited to a participant’s account or any rights to exercise an option or to receive shares of our common stock under the ESPP, and during a participant’s lifetime, options in the ESPP shall be exercisable only by such participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or other disposition will not be given effect.

Adjustments upon Changes in Recapitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of our common stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the common stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of common stock effected without receipt of consideration by us, we will proportionately adjust the aggregate number of shares of our common stock offered under the ESPP, the number and price of shares which any participant has elected to purchase under the ESPP and the maximum number of shares which a participant may elect to purchase in any single offering period. If there is a proposal to dissolve or liquidate us, then the ESPP will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, and any offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new purchase date to take place before the date of our dissolution or liquidation. We will notify each participant of such change in writing at least 10 business days prior to the new exercise date. If we undergo a merger with or into another corporation or sell all or substantially all of our assets, each outstanding option will be assumed or an equivalent option substituted by the successor corporation or the parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation. If the successor corporation refuses to assume the outstanding options or substitute equivalent options, then any offering period then in progress will be shortened by setting a new purchase date to take place before the date of our proposed sale or merger. We will notify each participant of such change in writing at least 10 business days prior to the new exercise date.

Amendment and Termination. Our board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the ESPP at any time. However, the board of directors may not amend the ESPP without obtaining stockholder approval within 12 months before or after such amendment to the extent required by applicable laws.

Director Compensation

We have not historically maintained a formal non-employee director compensation program. However, we have granted stock options to certain of our directors from time to time, and we provide reimbursement to our non-employee directors for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings of our board of directors and committees of our board of directors. In January 2019, we granted to Messrs. Wiggans and Young options to purchase 6,808 and 21,788 shares of common stock, respectively, which vest as to 1/48th of the shares subject to the option on each monthly anniversary of December 12, 2018, subject to continued service. Our non-employee directors received no other compensation from us during the year ended December 31, 2019. Mr. Love receives no additional compensation for his service as director. His compensation as our President and Chief Executive Officer is set forth in the Summary Compensation Table above.

 

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2019 Director Compensation Table

 

Name

   Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash

($)
     Option
Awards
($)
     All Other
Compensation

($)
     Total
($)
 

Emmett Cunningham, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

                           

Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D.

                           

Campbell Murray, M.D.

                           

Muneer Satter

                           

Ricky Sun, Ph.D.

                           

Thomas G. Wiggans

            35,973               35,973  

William Young

            115,114               115,114  

As of December 31, 2019, Mr. Wiggans held options to purchase an aggregate of 22,665 shares of our common stock, and Mr. Young held options to purchase an aggregate of 72,532 shares of our common stock. No other non-employee director held any options to purchase shares of our common stock or any other equity award as of December 31, 2019.

In June 2020, we granted to each of Messrs. Wiggans and Young an option to purchase 9,080 shares of our common stock, which vests on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to the director’s continued service on such vesting date.

We approved a compensation program for our non-employee directors, or the Director Compensation Program, to be effective in connection with the consummation of this offering. Pursuant to the Director Compensation Program, our non-employee directors will receive cash compensation as follows:

 

   

Each non-employee director will receive an annual cash retainer in the amount of $35,000 per year.

 

   

The non-executive chair will receive an additional annual cash retainer in the amount of $30,000 per year.

 

   

The chairperson of the audit committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $15,000 per year for such chairperson’s service on the audit committee. Each non-chairperson member of the audit committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $7,500 per year for such member’s service on the audit committee.

 

   

The chairperson of the compensation committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $10,000 per year for such chairperson’s service on the compensation committee. Each non-chairperson member of the compensation committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $5,000 per year for such member’s service on the compensation committee.

 

   

The chairperson of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $8,000 per year for such chairperson’s service on the nominating and corporate governance committee. Each non-chairperson member of the nominating and corporate governance committee will receive additional annual cash compensation in the amount of $4,000 per year for such member’s service on the nominating and corporate governance committee.

Under the Director Compensation Program, each non-employee director will automatically be granted an option to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock upon the director’s initial appointment or election to our board of directors, referred to as the Initial Grant, and an option to purchase 10,000 shares of our common stock automatically on the date of each annual stockholder’s meeting thereafter, referred to as the Annual Grant. The Initial Grant will vest in substantially equal monthly installments for three years from the date of grant, subject to continued service through each applicable vesting date. The Annual Grant will vest on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of grant or the date of the next annual stockholder’s meeting to the extent unvested as of such date, subject to continued service through each applicable vesting date. Each Initial Grant and Annual Grant will vest in full in the event of a change in control.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following includes a summary of transactions since January 1, 2016 and any currently proposed transactions to which we were or are expected to be a participant in which (i) the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000, and (ii) any of our directors, executive officers or holders of more than 5% of our capital stock, or any affiliate or member of the immediate family of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, other than compensation and other arrangements that are described under the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation.”

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Financings

Series B Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Financing

In June 2016, we entered into a Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock purchase agreement with various investors, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 38,778,090 shares of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock at $1.15 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $44.6 million in two closings. The first closing occurred in June 2016, at which time we issued 26,974,965 shares of our Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock for gross proceeds of approximately $31.0 million. The second closing occurred in February 2018, at which time we issued an additional 11,803,125 shares of our Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock for gross proceeds of approximately $13.6 million.

The table below sets forth the number of shares of our Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock purchased by our executive officers, directors, holders of more than 5% of our capital stock and their affiliated entities or immediate family members. Each share of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock in the table below will convert into 0.1135074 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

 

Name(1)

   Series B
Redeemable
Convertible
Preferred Stock

(#)
     Aggregate Cash
Purchase Price

($)
 

Entities affiliated with New Enterprise Associates(2)

     14,039,383        16,145,291  

Novartis Bioventures Ltd.(3)

     8,406,103        9,667,018  

Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P.(4)

     8,370,685        9,626,288  

Trusts and Other Entities affiliated with Muneer A. Satter(5)

     4,016,573        4,619,059  

 

(1)

For additional information regarding these stockholders and their equity holdings, see the section titled “Principal Stockholders.”

(2)

Entities affiliated with New Enterprise Associates became beneficial owners of (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock upon the closing of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Carol Gallagher was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P. Dr. Gallagher is a partner at New Enterprise Associates, Inc.

(3)

Novartis Bioventures Ltd. beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Campbell Murray is currently, and was at the time of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Murray was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by Novartis Bioventures Ltd. Dr. Murray is a Managing Director at Novartis Venture Fund, and, in such capacity, employed by a corporation that is an affiliate of Novartis Bioventures Ltd. Dr. Murray is expected to resign from our board of directors prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

(4)

Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Emmett Cunningham is currently, and was at the time of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Cunningham was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. Dr. Cunningham is a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone Life Sciences, having joined as part of its acquisition of Clarus Ventures, LLC in December 2018. Dr. Cunningham was a Managing Director at Clarus Ventures, LLC from January 2017 to November 2018.

(5)

Trusts and other entities affiliated with Muneer A. Satter beneficially owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Mr. Satter is currently, and was at the time of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Mr. Satter was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by trusts and other entities affiliated with Mr. Satter. Mr. Satter is the founder and managing partner of Satter Medical Technology Partners, L.P. and Chairperson of Satter Investment Management LLC. Mr. Satter also manages the Satter Foundation.

 

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Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Financing

In December 2018, we entered into a Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock purchase agreement with various investors, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 55,555,546 shares of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock at $1.35 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $75.0 million in two closings. The first closing occurred in December 2018, at which time we issued 33,333,329 shares of our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock for gross proceeds of approximately $45.0 million. The second closing occurred in August 2019, at which time we issued an additional 22,222,217 shares of our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock for gross proceeds of approximately $30.0 million.

The table below sets forth the number of shares of our Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock purchased by our executive officers, directors, holders of more than 5% of our capital stock and their affiliated entities or immediate family members. Each share of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock in the table below will convert into 0.1135074 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

 

Name(1)

   Series C
Redeemable
Convertible
Preferred Stock
(#)
     Aggregate Cash
Purchase Price
($)
 

Entities affiliated with Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC(2)

     22,222,221        29,999,998  

Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P.(3)

     6,148,147        8,299,998  

New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P.(4)

     5,925,925        7,999,999  

Satter Medical Technology Partners, L.P.(5)

     5,537,036        7,474,999  

Novartis Bioventures Ltd.(6)

     4,444,443        5,999,998  

Citadel Multi-Strategy Equities Master Fund Ltd.

     7,407,406        9,999,998  

 

(1)

For additional information regarding these stockholders and their equity holdings, see the section titled “Principal Stockholders.”

(2)

Entities affiliated with Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC became beneficial owners of (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock upon the closing of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Ricky Sun was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by Bain Capital Life Sciences Fund, L.P. Dr. Sun is a partner with Bain Capital Life Sciences, LP.

(3)

Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Emmett Cunningham is currently, and was at the time of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Cunningham was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. Dr. Cunningham is a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone Life Sciences, having joined as part of its acquisition of Clarus Ventures, LLC in December 2018. Dr. Cunningham was a Managing Director at Clarus Ventures, LLC from January 2017 to November 2018.

(4)

Entities affiliated with New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P. beneficially owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Carol Gallagher is currently, and was at the time of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Gallagher was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P. Dr. Gallagher is a partner at New Enterprise Associates, Inc.

(5)

Trusts and other entities affiliated with Muneer A. Satter beneficially owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series C financing. Mr. Muneer Satter is currently, and was at the time of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Mr. Satter was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by trusts and other entities affiliated with Mr. Satter. Mr. Satter is the founder and managing partner of Satter Medical Technology Partners, L.P. and Chairperson of Satter Investment Management LLC. Mr. Satter also manages the Satter Foundation.

(6)

Novartis Bioventures Ltd. beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Campbell Murray is currently, and was at the time of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Murray was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by Novartis Bioventures Ltd. Dr. Murray is a Managing Director at Novartis Venture Fund, and, in such capacity, employed by a corporation that is an affiliate of Novartis Bioventures Ltd. Dr. Murray is expected to resign from our board of directors prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

 

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Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Financing

In June 2020, we entered into a Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock purchase agreement with various investors, pursuant to which we issued an aggregate of 71,719,859 shares of Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock at $1.4222 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $102.0 million.

The table below sets forth the number of shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock purchased by our executive officers, directors, holders of more than 5% of our capital stock and their affiliated entities or immediate family members. Each share of Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock in the table below will convert into 0.1135074 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

 

Name(1)

   Series D
Redeemable
Convertible
Preferred Stock
(#)
     Aggregate Cash
Purchase Price
($)
 

Redmile Group, LLC(2)

     14,062,719        19,999,999  

Zone II Healthcare Holdings, LLC(3)

     10,195,471        14,499,999  

Entities affiliated with Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC(4)

     2,812,543        3,999,999  

Citadel Multi-Strategy Equities Master Fund Ltd.(5)

     2,812,543        3,999,999  

Satter Medical Technology Partners, L.P. (6)

     2,812,543        3,999,999  

Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P.(7)

     2,109,407        2,999,999  

New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P.(8)

     2,039,094        2,899,999  

 

(1)

For additional information regarding these stockholders and their equity holdings, see the section titled “Principal Stockholders.”

(2)

Redmile Biopharma Investments II, L.P. became a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock upon the closing of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Redmile Group, LLC is the investment manager to Redmile Biopharma Investments II, L.P.

(3)

Zone II Healthcare Holdings, LLC became a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock upon the closing of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing.

(4)

Entities affiliated with Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Sun is currently, and was at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Ricky Sun was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by Bain Capital Life Sciences Fund, L.P. Dr. Sun is a partner with Bain Capital Life Sciences, LP.

(5)

Citadel Multi-Strategy Equities Master Fund Ltd. beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing.

(6)

Trusts and other entities affiliated with Muneer A. Satter beneficially owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Mr. Muneer Satter is currently, and was at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Mr. Satter was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by trusts and other entities affiliated with Mr. Satter. Mr. Satter is the founder and managing partner of Satter Medical Technology Partners, L.P. and Chairperson of Satter Investment Management LLC. Mr. Satter also manages the Satter Foundation.

(7)

Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. beneficially owned more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Emmett Cunningham is currently, and was at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Cunningham was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. Dr. Cunningham is a Senior Managing Director of Blackstone Life Sciences, having joined as part of its acquisition of Clarus Ventures, LLC in December 2018. Dr. Cunningham was a Managing Director at Clarus Ventures, LLC from January 2017 to November 2018.

(8)

Entities affiliated with New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P. beneficially owned (in the aggregate) more than 5% of our outstanding capital stock at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Dr. Carol Gallagher is currently, and was at the time of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing, a member of our board of directors. Dr. Gallagher was designated to serve as a member of our board of directors by New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P. Dr. Gallagher is a partner at New Enterprise Associates, Inc.

Investors’ Rights Agreement

In June 2020, we entered into an amended and restated investors’ rights agreement with the purchasers of our outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock, including entities with which certain of our directors are affiliated. Following the consummation of this offering, the holders of approximately 20,824,938 shares of our

 

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common stock, including the shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of our Series A, Series A-1, Series B, Series C and Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock, are entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act. For a more detailed description of these registration rights, see the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.” The investors’ rights agreement also provides for a right of first refusal in favor of certain holders of redeemable convertible preferred stock with regard to certain issuances of our capital stock. The rights of first refusal will not apply to, and will terminate upon the consummation of, this offering.

Voting Agreement

In June 2020, we entered into an amended and restated voting agreement with certain holders of our common stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock. Upon the conversion of all outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock into common stock in connection with the consummation of this offering, the amended and restated voting agreement will terminate. For a description of the amended and restated voting agreement, see the section titled “Management—Board Composition—Voting Arrangements.”

Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement

In June 2020, we entered into an amended and restated right of first refusal and co-sale agreement with certain holders of our common stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock. This agreement provides for rights of first refusal and co-sale relating to the shares of our common stock held by the parties to the agreement. Upon the consummation of this offering, the amended and restated right of first refusal and co-sale agreement will terminate.

Executive Officer and Director Compensation

See the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation” for information regarding the compensation of our directors and named executive officers.

Employment Agreements

We have entered into offer letter agreements with our executive officers that, among other things, provide for certain compensatory and change in control benefits, as well as severance benefits. For a description of these agreements with our named executive officers, see the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Executive Compensation Arrangements.”

Indemnification Agreements

We have entered into indemnification agreements with certain of our current directors and officers, and intend to enter into new indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and officers before the completion of this offering. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. See the section titled “Management—Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters.”

Policies and Procedures for Related Person Transactions

Our board of directors adopted a written related person transaction policy, to be effective upon the consummation of this offering, setting forth the policies and procedures for the review and approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy will cover, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, any transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which we were or are to be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest, including

 

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without limitation purchases of goods or services by or from the related person or entities in which the related person has a material interest, indebtedness, guarantees of indebtedness and employment by us of a related person. In reviewing and approving any such transactions, our audit committee is tasked to consider all relevant facts and circumstances, including but not limited to whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with an unrelated third party and the extent of the related person’s interest in the transaction. All of the transactions described in this section occurred prior to the adoption of this policy.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth, as of June 30, 2020, information regarding beneficial ownership of our capital stock by:

 

   

each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock;

 

   

each of our named executive officers;

 

   

each of our directors; and

 

   

all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

The percentage ownership information under the column titled “Before Offering” is based on 21,258,687 shares of common stock outstanding as of June 30, 2020 assuming the conversion of all outstanding shares of our redeemable convertible preferred stock into an aggregate of 20,824,938 shares of common stock upon the completion of this offering. The percentage ownership information under the column titled “After Offering” is based on the sale of 10,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering. The percentage ownership information assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

The following table does not reflect any shares of common stock that may be purchased pursuant to our directed share program described under “Underwriting—Directed Share Program.”

Beneficial ownership is determined according to the rules of the SEC and generally means that a person has beneficial ownership of a security if he, she or it possesses sole or shared voting or investment power of that security. In addition, shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2020 are included in the following table. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The information contained in the following table does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.

 

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Unless otherwise noted below, the address for each beneficial owner listed in the table below is c/o Annexon, Inc., 180 Kimball Way, Suite 200, South San Francisco, California 94080.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of Shares
Beneficially Owned
(#)
     Percentage of Shares Beneficially
Owned
 
   Before Offering
(%)
    After Offering
(%)
 

Greater than 5% Stockholders:

       

Entities affiliated with Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC(1)

     2,841,628        13.4     9.1

Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P.(2)

     2,530,635        11.9     8.1

Entities affiliated with New Enterprise Associates(3)

     2,497,661        11.7     8.0

Novartis Bioventures Ltd.(4)

     2,107,244        9.9     6.7

Trusts and Other Entities affiliated with Muneer A. Satter(5)

     1,754,978        8.3     5.6

Redmile Group, LLC(6)

     1,596,222        7.5     5.1

Citadel Multi-Strategy Equities Master Fund Ltd.(7)

     1,160,039        5.5     3.7

Zone II Healthcare Holdings, LLC(8)

     1,157,261        5.4     3.7

Named Executive Officers and Directors:

       

Douglas Love, Esq.(9)

     524,851        2.4     1.7

Sanjay Keswani, MBBS, BSc, FRCP(10)

     57,364        *       *  

Jennifer Lew(11)

     48,276        *       *  

William Young(12)

     2,584,727        12.1     8.3

Campbell Murray, M.D.(13)

     2,107,244        9.9     6.7

Muneer Satter(14)

     1,754,978        8.3     5.6

Jung E. Choi(15)

     1,513        *       *  

Emmett Cunningham, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.(16)

     2,530,635        11.9     8.1

Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D.(17)

            *       *  

Ricky Sun(18)

            *       *  

Thomas G. Wiggans(19)

     16,712        *       *  

All executive officers and directors as a group (12 persons)(20)

     7,235,052        32.7     22.5

 

*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

(1)

Consists of (i) 2,288,169 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by Bain Capital Life Sciences Fund, L.P., or BCLS, (ii) 234,216 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by BCIP Life Sciences Associates, or BCIPLS, and together with BCLS, the Bain Capital Life Sciences Entities, and (iii) 289,600 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by BCLS and (iv) 29,643 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by BCIPLS. Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC, whose managers are Jeffrey Schwartz and Adam Koppel, is the ultimate general partner of BCLS and governs the investment strategy and decision-making process with respect to investments held by BCIPLS. As a result, each of Bain Capital Life Sciences Investors, LLC, Mr. Schwartz and Dr. Koppel may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the Bain Capital Life Sciences Entities. The address of the Bain Capital Life Sciences Entities is c/o Bain Capital Life Sciences, LP, 200 Clarendon Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116.

(2)

Consists of (i) 643,208 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, (ii) 950,134 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, (iii) 697,860 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock and (iv) 239,433 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock, collectively, the Clarus Shares, directly held by Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. The address for Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. is 101 Main Street, Suite 1210, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142. Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. is the record owner of the Clarus Shares. Clarus Ventures III GP, L.P. is the sole general partner of Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P. Blackstone Clarus III L.L.C. is the sole general partner of Clarus Ventures III GP, L.P. The sole member of Blackstone Clarus III L.L.C. is Blackstone Holdings II L.P. The sole general partner of Blackstone Holdings II L.P. is Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. The sole member of Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. is The Blackstone Group Inc. The sole holder of the Class C common stock of The Blackstone Group Inc. is Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. is wholly-owned by Blackstone’s senior managing directors and controlled by its founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman. Each of such entities and Mr. Schwarzman may be deemed to beneficially own the shares beneficially owned by Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P., but each (other than Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P.) disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

 

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(3)

Consists of (i) 1,974 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by NEA Ventures 2016, L.P., or Ventures 16, (ii) 1,591,599 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by New Enterprise Associates 15, L.P., or NEA 15, (iii) 672,636 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by NEA 15 and (iv) 231,452 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by NEA 15. The securities directly held by NEA 15 are indirectly held by NEA Partners 15, L.P., or Partners 15, which is the sole general partner of NEA 15; NEA 15 GP, LLC, or NEA 15 LLC, which is the sole general partner of Partners 15; and each of the individual managers of NEA 15 LLC. The individual Managers of NEA 15 LLC, or the NEA 15 Managers, are Forest Baskett, Anthony A. Florence, Mohamad Makhzoumi, Joshua Makower, Scott D. Sandell and Peter Sonsini. Partners 15, NEA 15 LLC and the NEA 15 Managers share voting and dispositive power with regard to the shares owned directly by NEA 15. The securities directly held by Ventures 16 are indirectly held by Karen P. Welsh, the general partner of Ventures 16. All indirect holders of the above referenced shares disclaim beneficial ownership of all applicable shares except to the extent of their actual pecuniary interest therein. The address for the above referenced entities is 1954 Greenspring Drive, Suite 600, Timonium, Maryland 21093.

(4)

Consists of (i) 648,613 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, (ii) 954,154 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock and (iii) 504,477 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by Novartis Bioventures Ltd. The board of directors of Novartis Bioventures Ltd. has sole voting and investment control and power over such securities. None of the members of its board of directors has individual voting or investment power with respect to such securities and each disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. Dr. Campbell Murray, a member of our board of directors, is also an employee of a corporation that is affiliated with Novartis Bioventures Ltd. Dr. Murray disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities held by Novartis Bioventures Ltd. except to the extent of his pecuniary interest arising as a result of his employment by such affiliate of Novartis Bioventures Ltd. Novartis Bioventures Ltd. is a Swiss corporation and an indirectly owned subsidiary of Novartis AG. The address for Novartis Bioventures Ltd. is Lichtstrasse 35, CH-4056 Basel.

(5)

Consists of (i) 108,102 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by the Muneer A. Satter Revocable Trust for which Muneer A. Satter serves as trustee and, in such capacity, has sole voting and dispositive power over all such shares, (ii) 243,229 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by various other trusts and other entities for which Muneer A. Satter serves as trustee, investment advisor or manager and, in such capacity, has sole voting and dispositive power over all such shares, (iii) 131,898 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by the Muneer A. Satter Revocable Trust for which Muneer A. Satter serves as trustee and, in such capacity, has sole voting and dispositive power over all such shares, (iv) 324,011 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by various other trusts and other entities for which Muneer A. Satter serves as trustee, investment advisor or manager and, in such capacity, has sole voting and dispositive power over all such shares, (v) 628,494 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by Satter Medical Technology Partners, L.P., or SMTP, for which Muneer A. Satter has sole voting and dispositive power over all such shares, and (vi) 319,244 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by SMTP for which Muneer A. Satter has sole voting and dispositive power over all such shares, collectively, the Satter Investors. Mr. Satter disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares included in clauses (ii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this footnote (5), except to the extent of his pecuniary interest. The address of the Satter Investors is c/o Satter Management Co., L.P., 676 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

(6)

Consists of 1,596,222 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by Redmile Biopharma Investments II, L.P. Redmile Group, LLC is the investment manager to Redmile Biopharma Investments II, L.P. and, in such capacity, exercises shared voting and dispositive power over the securities held by Redmile Biopharma Investments II, L.P. and may be deemed to beneficially own such securities. Jeremy Green serves as the managing member of Redmile Group, LLC and as such shares voting and dispositive power over the securities held by Redmile Biopharma Investments II, L.P. Redmile Group, LLC and Mr. Green each disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities, except to the extent of its or his pecuniary interest in such securities, if any. The address for each of the above person and entities is Letterman Digital Arts Center, One Letterman Drive, Building D, Suite D3-300, San Francisco, California 94129.

(7)

Consists of (i) 840,795 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by Citadel Multi-Strategy Equities Master Fund Ltd., or Citadel, and (ii) 319,244 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by Citadel. Citadel Advisors LLC, or Citadel Advisors, acts as the portfolio manager of Citadel. Citadel Advisors Holdings LP, or CAH, is the sole member of Citadel Advisors, and Citadel GP LLC, or CGP, is the general partner of CAH. Kenneth Griffin owns a controlling interest in CGP and may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over shares held by Citadel. The address for this entity is c/o Citadel Advisors, 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.

(8)

Consists of 1,157,261 shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock directly held by Zone Healthcare Holdings II, LLC, or ZHH II. Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., or FCM, as the manager of ZHH II, may be deemed to beneficially own such shares of common stock acquirable by ZHH II. Each of Philip D. Dreyfuss, Michael B. Fisch, Richard B. Fried, David T. Kim, Michael G. Linn, Rajiv A. Patel, Thomas G. Roberts, Jr., William Seybold, Andrew J.M. Spokes, John R. Warren and Mark D. Wehrly, the Managing Members, as a senior managing member or managing member, as the case may be, of FCM, in each case with the power to exercise investment discretion, may be deemed to beneficially own such shares of common stock acquirable by ZHH II. Each of FCM and the Managing Members disclaims beneficial ownership of any such shares of common stock. The address for each of the entities and individuals identified in this footnote is c/o Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., One Maritime Plaza, Suite 2100, San Francisco, California 94111.

 

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(9)

Consists of 524,851 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of June 30, 2020.

(10)

Consists of 57,364 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of June 30, 2020.

(11)

Consists of 48,276 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of June 30, 2020.

(12)

Consists of 54,092 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of June 30, 2020 and the shares described in footnote (2) above. Mr. Young disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interests therein.

(13)

Consists of the shares described in footnote (4) above. Dr. Murray disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interests therein.

(14)

Consists of the shares described in footnote (5) above.

(15)

Consists of 1,513 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of June 30, 2020.

(16)

Consists of the shares described in footnote (2) above. Dr. Cunningham disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interests therein.

(17)

Does not include the shares of common stock held by NEA 15 or Ventures 16 described in footnote (3) above. Dr. Gallagher, a member of our board of directors, is employed as a Partner at New Enterprise Associates, Inc.

(18)

Does not include the shares of common stock held by the Bain Capital Life Sciences Entities described in footnote (1) above. Ricky Sun is a Partner of Bain Capital Life Sciences, LP.

(19)

Consists of 16,712 shares of common stock that may be acquired pursuant to the exercise of stock options within 60 days of June 30, 2020.

(20)

Includes (i) 6,392,857 shares held by our current directors and executive officers and (ii) 842,195 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of June 30, 2020. Does not include Mr. Overdorf as he joined the Company on July 20, 2020.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following summary describes our capital stock and the material provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering, the amended and restated investors’ rights agreement to which we and certain of our stockholders are parties and of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Because the following is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description, you should refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, copies of which have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part.

General

Upon the completion of this offering and the filing of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our authorized capital stock will consist of 300,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

Common Stock

Outstanding Shares

As of March 31, 2020, we had 13,117,963 shares of common stock outstanding, held of record by 44 stockholders, assuming the conversion of all of our outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock into 12,684,214 shares of common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering. In June 2020, we issued and sold 71,719,859 shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock to 22 stockholders. The shares of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock are convertible into 8,140,724 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering.

Voting Rights

Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the voting shares are able to elect all of the directors. In addition, the affirmative vote of holders of 66 2/3% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding voting stock will be required to take certain actions, including amending certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, including the provisions relating to amending our amended and restated bylaws, the classified board and director liability.

Dividends

Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.

Liquidation

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.

Rights and Preferences

Holders of our common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of

 

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the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Fully Paid and Nonassessable

All of our outstanding shares of common stock are, and the shares of common stock to be issued in this offering will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

Preferred Stock

Upon the completion of this offering, all of our currently outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock will convert into common stock and we will not have any shares of preferred stock outstanding. Immediately prior to the completion of this offering, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will be amended and restated to delete all references to such shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock. From and after the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will have the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof. These rights, preferences and privileges could include dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting, or the designation of, such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of our common stock. The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon our liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company or other corporate action. Immediately after consummation of this offering, no shares of preferred stock will be outstanding, and we have no present plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.

Stock Options

As of March 31, 2020, we had outstanding options to purchase an aggregate of 2,136,390 shares of our common stock, with a weighted-average exercise price of $5.45 per share. For additional information regarding terms of our equity incentive plans, see the section titled “Executive and Director Compensation—Equity Incentive Plans.”

Registration Rights

Upon the completion of this offering and subject to the lock-up agreements entered into in connection with this offering and federal securities laws, certain holders of shares of our common stock, including those shares of our common stock that will be issued upon the conversion of our redeemable convertible preferred stock in connection with this offering, will initially be entitled to certain rights with respect to registration of such shares under the Securities Act. These shares are referred to as registrable securities. The holders of these registrable securities possess registration rights pursuant to the terms of our amended and restated investors’ rights agreement and are described in additional detail below. The registration of shares of our common stock pursuant to the exercise of the registration rights described below would enable the holders to trade these shares without restriction under the Securities Act when the applicable registration statement is declared effective. We will pay the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes, of the shares registered pursuant to the demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registrations described below.

Generally, in an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter, if any, has the right, subject to specified conditions and limitations, to limit the number of shares the holders may include. The demand, piggyback and Form S-3 registration rights described below will terminate upon the earliest of (i) with respect to each stockholder, such date, on or after the closing of this offering, on which all registrable shares held by such stockholder may immediately be sold during any 90-day period pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, or Rule 144, and (ii) the occurrence of a deemed liquidation event, as defined in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, as currently in effect.

 

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Demand Registration Rights

Upon the completion of this offering, holders of approximately 20,824,938 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock will be entitled to certain demand registration rights. Beginning 180 days following the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, certain major investors holding, collectively, 60% of registrable securities may, on not more than two occasions, request that we register all or a portion of their shares, subject to certain specified exceptions. If any of these holders exercises its demand registration rights, then holders of approximately 20,824,938 shares of our common stock issuable upon the shares of our redeemable convertible preferred stock in connection with this offering will be entitled to register their shares, subject to specified conditions and limitations in the corresponding offering.

Piggyback Registration Rights

In connection with this offering, holders of approximately 20,824,938 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock are entitled to their rights to notice of this offering and to include their shares of registrable securities in this offering. The requisite percentage of these stockholders are expected to waive all such stockholders’ rights to notice of this offering and to include their shares of registrable securities in this offering. In the event that we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act in another offering, either for our own account or for the account of other security holders, the holders of registrable securities will be entitled to certain “piggyback” registration rights allowing them to include their shares in such registration, subject to specified conditions and limitations.

S-3 Registration Rights

Upon the completion of this offering, the holders of approximately 20,824,938 shares of our common stock issuable upon conversion of outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock will initially be entitled to certain Form S-3 registration rights. Certain major investors holding at least 30% of registrable securities may, on not more than two registrations on Form S-3 within any 12-month period, request that we register all or a portion of their shares on Form S-3 if we are qualified to file a registration statement on Form S-3, subject to specified exceptions. Such request for registration on Form S-3 must cover securities with an aggregate offering price which equals or exceeds $1.0 million, net of selling expenses. The right to have such shares registered on Form S-3 is further subject to other specified conditions and limitations.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws

Certain provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws that will become effective immediately prior to the completion of this offering contain provisions that could make the following transactions more difficult: acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or removal of our incumbent officers and directors. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish or could deter transactions that stockholders may otherwise consider to be in their best interest or in our best interests, including transactions that might result in a premium over the market price for our shares.

These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging these proposals because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

 

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Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute

We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits persons deemed “interested stockholders” from engaging in a “business combination” with a publicly-held Delaware corporation for three years following the date these persons become interested stockholders unless the business combination is, or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder was, approved in a prescribed manner or another prescribed exception applies. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. The existence of this provision may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, such as discouraging takeover attempts that might result in a premium over the market price of our common stock.

Undesignated Preferred Stock

The ability to authorize undesignated preferred stock will make it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to effect a change in control of our company. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of our company.

Special Stockholder Meetings

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that a special meeting of stockholders may be called at any time by our board of directors, but such special meetings may not be called by the stockholders or any other person or persons.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals

Our amended and restated bylaws will establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of the board of directors or a committee of the board of directors.

Elimination of Stockholder Action by Written Consent

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will eliminate the right of stockholders to act by written consent without a meeting.

Classified Board; Election and Removal of Directors; Filling Vacancies

Effective upon the consummation of this offering, our board of directors will be divided into three classes, divided as nearly as equal in number as possible. The directors in each class will serve for a three-year term, one class being elected each year by our stockholders, with staggered three-year terms. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Because our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights, our stockholders holding a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide for the removal of any of our directors only for cause and requires a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock. For more information on the classified board, see the section titled “Management—Board Composition.” Furthermore, any vacancy on our board of directors, however occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the size of the board, may only be filled by a resolution of the board of directors unless the board of directors determines that such vacancies shall be filled by the stockholders.

 

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This system of electing and removing directors and filling vacancies may tend to discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us because it generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.

Choice of Forum

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf; any action asserting a claim of breach of fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or stockholders to us or to our stockholders; any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time); or any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. As a result, any action brought by any of our stockholders with regard to any of these matters will need to be filed in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and cannot be filed in any other jurisdiction; provided that, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction; and provided further that, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware dismisses any such action for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will also provide that the federal district courts of the United States of America will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action against us or any of our directors, officers, employees or agents and arising under the Securities Act. Nothing in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws preclude stockholders that assert claims under the Exchange Act from bringing such claims in state or federal court, subject to applicable law.

If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope described above is filed in a court other than a court located within the State of Delaware, or a Foreign Action, in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the applicable provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder. Although our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws will contain the choice of forum provision described above, it is possible that a court could find that such a provision is inapplicable for a particular claim or action or that such provision is unenforceable.

This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers, other employees or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Amendment of Charter Provisions

The amendment of any of the above provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, except for the provision making it possible for our board of directors to issue undesignated preferred stock, would require approval by a stockholder vote by the holders of at least a 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding voting stock.

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hostile takeovers and, as a consequence, they may also inhibit temporary fluctuations in the market price of our common stock that often result from actual or rumored hostile takeover attempts. These provisions may also have the effect of preventing changes in our management. It is possible that these provisions could make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.

Limitation on Liability and Indemnification

For a discussion of limitation on liability and indemnification, see the section titled “Management—Limitation on Liability and Indemnification Matters.”

Nasdaq Global Market Listing

We have applied to list our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol “ANNX.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Upon completion of this offering, the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock will be Computershare, Inc. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 462 South 4th Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock, and a liquid trading market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained after this offering. Future sales of our common stock, including shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding options, in the public market after the completion of this offering, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price for our common stock from time to time or impair our ability to raise equity capital in the future. As described below, only a limited number of shares of our common stock will be available for sale in the public market for a period of several months after the completion of this offering due to contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below. Future sales of our common stock in the public market either before or after restrictions lapse, or the perception that those sales may occur, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock at such time and our ability to raise equity capital at a time and price we deem appropriate.

Sale of Restricted Shares

Based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020, upon the closing of this offering and (i) assuming the conversion of all of our redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 into 12,684,214 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (ii) assuming the conversion of all of our Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock issued and sold in June 2020 into 8,140,714 shares of our common stock immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (iii) assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock and (iv) assuming no exercise of outstanding options, we will have outstanding an aggregate of approximately 31,258,687 shares of common stock. Of these shares, all of the 10,000,000 shares of common stock to be sold in this offering (excluding any shares sold to affiliates in the directed share program) will be freely tradable in the public market without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, unless the shares are held by any of our “affiliates” as such term is defined in Rule 144 of the Securities Act, or Rule 144, or subject to lock-up agreements. All remaining shares of common stock held by existing stockholders immediately prior to the consummation of this offering will be “restricted securities,” as such term is defined in Rule 144. These restricted securities were issued and sold by us in private transactions and are eligible for public sale only if registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including the exemptions provided by Rule 144 or Rule 701 of the Securities Act, or Rule 701, which rules are summarized below.

As a result of the lock-up agreements referred to below and the provisions of Rule 144 and Rule 701, based on the number of shares of our common stock outstanding (calculated as of March 31, 2020 on the basis of the assumptions described above), the shares of our common stock (excluding the shares sold in this offering) that will be available for sale in the public market are as follows:

 

Approximate Number of Shares

  

First Date Available For Sale Into Public Market

21,258,687 shares

  

181 days after the date of this prospectus, upon expiration of the lock-up agreements referred to below, subject in some cases to applicable volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rule 144 and Rule 701.

We may issue shares of common stock from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions, investments or other corporate purposes. In the event that any such acquisition, investment or other transaction is significant, the number of shares of common stock that we may issue may in turn be significant. We may also grant registration rights covering those shares of common stock issued in connection with any such acquisition and investment.

In addition, the shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2020 Plan will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules, the lock-up agreements, a registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration, including Rule 144 and Rule 701.

 

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Rule 144

Under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, and we are current in our Exchange Act reporting at the time of sale, a person (or persons whose shares are required to be aggregated) who is not deemed to have been one of our “affiliates” for purposes of Rule 144 at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale and who has beneficially owned restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our “affiliates,” is entitled to sell those shares in the public market (subject to the lock-up agreement referred to below, if applicable) without complying with the manner of sale, volume limitations or notice provisions of Rule 144, but subject to compliance with the public information requirements of Rule 144. If such a person has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than “affiliates,” then such person is entitled to sell such shares in the public market without complying with any of the requirements of Rule 144 (subject to the lock-up agreement referred to below, if applicable).

In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, once we have been subject to the public company reporting requirements of the Exchange Act for at least 90 days, our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144, who have beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months, are entitled to sell in the public market, upon expiration of any applicable lock-up agreements and within any three-month period, a number of those shares of our common stock that does not exceed the greater of:

 

   

1% of the number of shares of common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately 312,586 shares of common stock immediately upon the completion of this offering (calculated as of March 31, 2020 on the basis of the assumptions described above); or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on Nasdaq during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to such sale.

Such sales under Rule 144 by our “affiliates” or persons selling shares on behalf of our “affiliates” are also subject to certain manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and requirements related to the availability of current public information about us. Notwithstanding the availability of Rule 144, the holders of substantially all of our restricted securities have entered into lock-up agreements as referenced above and their restricted securities will become eligible for sale (subject to the above limitations under Rule 144) upon the expiration of the restrictions set forth in those agreements.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701 as currently in effect, any of our employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors who acquired common stock from us in connection with a written compensatory stock or option plan or other written agreement in compliance with Rule 701 before the effective date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part (to the extent such common stock is not subject to a lock-up agreement) and who are not our “affiliates” as defined in Rule 144 during the immediately preceding 90 days, is entitled to rely on Rule 701 to resell such shares beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus in reliance on Rule 144, but without complying with the notice, manner of sale, public information requirements or volume limitation provisions of Rule 144. Persons who are our “affiliates” may resell those shares beginning 90 days after the date of this prospectus without compliance with minimum holding period requirements under Rule 144 (subject to the terms of the lock-up agreement referred to below, if applicable).

Lock-Up Agreements

In connection with this offering, we, our directors, our executive officers and holders of substantially all of our other outstanding shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of our common stock outstanding upon the completion of this offering, have agreed, subject to certain limited

 

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exceptions, with the underwriters not to directly or indirectly offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, make any short sale or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC, and certain other limited exceptions. These agreements are described in the section titled “Underwriting.”

In addition to the restrictions contained in the lock-up agreements described above, we have entered into agreements with certain security holders, including the amended and restated investors’ rights agreement, our standard form of option agreement, our standard form of restricted stock agreement and our standard form of restricted stock purchase agreement, that contain market stand-off provisions or incorporate market stand-off provisions from our equity incentive plan imposing restrictions on the ability of such security holders to offer, sell or transfer our equity securities for a period of 180 days following the date of this prospectus.

Registration Rights

Upon the completion of this offering, the holders of approximately 20,824,938 shares of our common stock will be entitled to rights with respect to the registration of their shares under the Securities Act, subject to the lock-up agreements described under “—Lock-Up Agreements” above. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in the shares becoming freely tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for shares purchased by affiliates, immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any sales of securities by these stockholders could have a material adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock. The requisite percentage of these stockholders will waive all such stockholders’ rights to notice of this offering and to include their shares of registrable securities in this offering. See the section titled “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights.”

Equity Incentive Plans

We intend to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act covering the shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our 2020 Plan and our ESPP. Such registration statement is expected to be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after the completion of this offering. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will be available for sale in the open market following its effective date, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations and the lock-up agreements described above, if applicable.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock.

This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:

 

   

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

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

   

persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;

 

   

banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions;

 

   

brokers, dealers or traders in securities;

 

   

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

 

   

partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);

 

   

tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;

 

   

persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

tax-qualified retirement plans; and

 

   

“qualified foreign pension funds” as defined in Section 897(l)(2) of the Code and entities all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds.

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our common stock and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.

THIS DISCUSSION IS NOT TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

 

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Definition of Non-U.S. Holder

For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “U.S. person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A U.S. person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;

 

   

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

 

   

a trust that (i) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and all substantial decisions of which are subject to the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (ii) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Distributions

As described in the section titled “Dividend Policy,” we do not currently intend to pay any cash dividends on our capital stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “—Sale or Other Taxable Disposition.”

Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable tax treaties.

If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States.

Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected dividends, as adjusted for certain items. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

 

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Sale or Other Taxable Disposition

Subject to the discussions below regarding backup withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable);

 

   

the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or

 

   

our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest, or USRPI, by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.

Gain described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.

With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our common stock is “regularly traded,” as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, 5% or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period.

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments of dividends on our common stock will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the Non-U.S. Holder certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any dividends on our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker that does not have certain enumerated relationships with the United States generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.

Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.

 

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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts

Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (i) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our common stock. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of stock on or after January 1, 2019, recently proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.

Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our common stock.

 

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UNDERWRITING

We are offering the shares of common stock described in this prospectus through a number of underwriters. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table:

 

Name

  

Number of
Shares

 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

                       

BofA Securities, Inc.

  

Cowen and Company, LLC

  
  

 

 

 

Total

     10,000,000  
  

 

 

 

The underwriters are committed to purchase all the shares of common stock offered by us if they purchase any shares. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased or the offering may be terminated.

The underwriters propose to offer the common stock directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $            per share. After the initial offering of the shares to the public, if all of the shares of common stock are not sold at the initial public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Sales of shares made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to 1,500,000 additional shares of common stock from us to cover sales of shares by the underwriters which exceed the number of shares specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option to purchase additional shares. If any shares are purchased with this option to purchase additional shares, the underwriters will purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares on the same terms as those on which the shares are being offered.

The underwriting fee is equal to the public offering price per share of common stock less the amount paid by the underwriters to us per share of common stock. The underwriting fee is $            per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

     Without
Option to
Purchase
Additional Shares
Exercise
     With Full
Option to
Purchase
Additional Shares
Exercise
 

Per Share

   $                    $                

Total

   $        $    

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $4.1 million. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for expenses relating to the clearance of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. in an amount up to $35,000.

 

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A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

We have agreed that we will not, subject to certain exceptions, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with , or submit to, the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, relating to, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap, hedging, or other agreement that transfers , in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any shares of common stock or any such other securities , whether any such transaction is to be settled by the delivery of shares of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, in each case without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

Our directors and executive officers, and substantially all of our securityholders have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each of these persons or entities, with limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, may not, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock (including, without limitation, common stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such directors, executive officers, managers and members in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant); (ii) enter into any hedging, swap, or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the common stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise; (iii) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any shares of our common stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock; or (iv) publicly disclose the intention to undertake any of the foregoing.

The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph do not apply to, subject to certain additional limitations, among other items:

(i)    the securities to be sold by the securityholder pursuant to the underwriting agreement for this offering;

(ii)   transfers of shares of our common stock as a bona fide gift or gifts;

(iii)  transfers or dispositions of shares of our common stock to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the securityholder or the immediate family of the securityholder;

(iv)  transfers or dispositions of shares of our common stock to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity all of the beneficial ownership interests of which are held by the securityholder or the immediate family of the securityholder;

(v)   transfers or dispositions of shares of our common stock by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the securityholder;

(vi)   distributions of shares of our common stock to partners, members or stockholders of the securityholder;

 

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  (vii)  

transfers to the securityholder’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by, controlling or managing, or under common control with, the securityholder; and

 

  (viii)  

transfers pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of our common stock and involving a change of control of our company approved by the board of directors of our company, provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the common stock owned by the securityholder shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in the lock-up agreement;

provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) above, each transferee, donee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the representatives a lock-up agreement; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer, disposition or distribution pursuant to clauses (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi) or (vii) above, no filing by any party under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution and any such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value.

Furthermore, securityholders may, subject to certain additional limitations, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC (i) exercise on a cash basis of any option to purchase shares of common stock granted under any stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan, provided that the underlying shares of common stock shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in the lock-up agreement; (ii) establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of common stock, provided that such plan does not provide for any transfers of common stock during the lock-up period; (iii) transfer or dispose of shares of common stock acquired in this offering or on the open market following this offering; (iv) transfer or surrender to us shares of common stock (or any security convertible into common stock) (A) pursuant to a right of first refusal described in this prospectus with respect to transfers of such shares of common stock or other securities, or (B) to us for purposes of exercising or settling (including for the payment of tax withholdings due as a result of such exercise or settlement) on a “net exercise,” “net settlement” or “cashless” basis any equity award, provided such equity award was granted under our stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan; and (v) transfer or dispose of securities by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement or other court order.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

We have applied to list our shares of common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market under the trading symbol “ANNX.”

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing and selling shares of common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of the common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their option to purchase additional shares, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares through the option to purchase additional shares. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares in the open market to cover the position.

 

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The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M of the Securities Act, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representatives of the underwriters purchase common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representatives can require the underwriters that sold those shares as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.

These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock, and, as a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on the Nasdaq Global Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters. In determining the initial public offering price, we and the representatives of the underwriters expect to consider a number of factors including:

 

   

the information set forth in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representatives;

 

   

our prospects and the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete;

 

   

an assessment of our management;

 

   

our prospects for future earnings;

 

   

the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering;

 

   

the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded common stock of generally comparable companies; and

 

   

other factors deemed relevant by the underwriters and us.

Neither we nor the underwriters can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for shares of our common stock, or that the shares will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

Directed Share Program

At our request, the underwriters have reserved up to 1% of the shares of common stock offered hereby, at the initial public offering price, to offer to directors, officers, employees, business associates and other persons related to us. The underwriters will receive the same underwriting discount on any shares purchased pursuant to this program as they will on any other shares sold to the public in this offering. The number of shares of common stock available for sale to the general public will be reduced to the extent these individuals purchase such reserved shares. Any reserved shares that are not so purchased will be offered by the underwriters to the general public on the same basis as the other shares offered by this prospectus. Shares purchased by our directors and officers will be subject to the 180-day lock-up restriction described in the “Underwriting” section of this prospectus.

Other Relationships

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

 

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Selling Restrictions

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, or each, a “Relevant State,” no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), except that offers of shares may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

   (i)  to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 (ii)  to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or

(iii)  in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of shares shall require the Company or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation and each person who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with each of the underwriters and the Company that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters have been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully

 

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communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”) or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the shares in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this document relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, or SIX, or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of, and has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company or the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes, or CISA. The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This document relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Markets Rules 2012 of the Dubai Financial Services Authority, or DFSA. This document is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Markets Rules 2012 of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers.

 

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The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for this document. The securities to which this document relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered should conduct their own due diligence on the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this document you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

In relation to its use in the Dubai International Financial Centre, or DIFC, this document is strictly private and confidential and is being distributed to a limited number of investors and must not be provided to any person other than the original recipient, and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The interests in the securities may not be offered or sold directly or indirectly to the public in the DIFC.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Arab Emirates

The shares have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this prospectus does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and is not intended to be a public offer. This prospectus has not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

This prospectus:

 

   

does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), or the Corporations Act;

 

   

has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, or ASIC, as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and

 

   

may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act, or Exempt Investors.

The shares may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the shares may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any shares may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the shares, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.

As any offer of shares under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the shares you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the shares, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those shares to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The shares have not been and will not be registered pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Accordingly, none of the shares nor any interest therein may be offered or sold,

 

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directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any “resident” of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

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

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

Each underwriter has acknowledged that this prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, each underwriter has represented and agreed that it has not offered or sold any shares or caused the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not offer or sell any shares or cause the shares to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and has not circulated or distributed, nor will it circulate or distribute, this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than:

 

  (i)  

to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time, or the SFA) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA;

 

  (ii)  

to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; or

 

  (iii)  

otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

  (i)  

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

  (ii)  

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

  (A)  

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

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  (B)  

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  (C)  

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

  (D)  

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

  (E)  

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Bermuda

Shares may be offered or sold in Bermuda only in compliance with the provisions of the Investment Business Act of 2003 of Bermuda which regulates the sale of securities in Bermuda. Additionally, non-Bermudian persons (including companies) may not carry on or engage in any trade or business in Bermuda unless such persons are permitted to do so under applicable Bermuda legislation.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Saudi Arabia

This document may not be distributed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia except to such persons as are permitted under the Offers of Securities Regulations as issued by the board of the Saudi Arabian Capital Market Authority, or CMA, pursuant to resolution number 2-11-2004 dated 4 October 2004 as amended by resolution number 1-28-2008, as amended (the “CMA Regulations”). The CMA does not make any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of this document and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoever for any loss arising from, or incurred in reliance upon, any part of this document. Prospective purchasers of the securities offered hereby should conduct their own due diligence on the accuracy of the information relating to the securities. If you do not understand the contents of this document, you should consult an authorized financial adviser.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the British Virgin Islands

The shares are not being, and may not be offered to the public or to any person in the British Virgin Islands for purchase or subscription by or on behalf of the Company. The shares may be offered to companies incorporated under the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004 (British Virgin Islands), or BVI Companies, but only where the offer will be made to, and received by, the relevant BVI Company entirely outside of the British Virgin Islands.

Notice to Prospective Investors in China

This prospectus will not be circulated or distributed in the PRC and the shares will not be offered or sold, and will not be offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale directly or indirectly to any residents of the PRC except pursuant to any applicable laws and regulations of the PRC. Neither this prospectus nor any advertisement or other offering material may be distributed or published in the PRC, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Korea

The shares have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Investments Services and Capital Markets Act of Korea and the decrees and regulations thereunder, or the FSCMA, and the shares have been and will be offered in Korea as a private placement under the FSCMA. None of the shares may be offered, sold or delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of Korea, including the FSCMA and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law of Korea and the decrees and regulations thereunder, or the FETL. The shares have not been listed on any of the securities exchanges in the world including, without limitation, the Korea Exchange in Korea. Furthermore, the purchaser of the shares shall comply with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to requirements under the FETL) in connection

 

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with the purchase of the shares. By the purchase of the shares, the relevant holder thereof will be deemed to represent and warrant that if it is in Korea or is a resident of Korea, it purchased the shares pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of Korea.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Malaysia

No prospectus or other offering material or document in connection with the offer and sale of the shares has been or will be registered with the Securities Commission of Malaysia, or Commission, for the Commission’s approval pursuant to the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Malaysia other than (i) a closed end fund approved by the Commission; (ii) a holder of a Capital Markets Services License; (iii) a person who acquires the shares, as principal, if the offer is on terms that the shares may only be acquired at a consideration of not less than RM250,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies) for each transaction; (iv) an individual whose total net personal assets or total net joint assets with his or her spouse exceeds RM3 million (or its equivalent in foreign currencies), excluding the value of the primary residence of the individual; (v) an individual who has a gross annual income exceeding RM300,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies) per annum in the preceding twelve months; (vi) an individual who, jointly with his or her spouse, has a gross annual income of RM400,000 (or its equivalent in foreign currencies), per annum in the preceding twelve months; (vii) a corporation with total net assets exceeding RM10 million (or its equivalent in a foreign currencies) based on the last audited accounts; (viii) a partnership with total net assets exceeding RM10 million (or its equivalent in foreign currencies); (ix) a bank licensee or insurance licensee as defined in the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010; (x) an Islamic bank licensee or takaful licensee as defined in the Labuan Financial Services and Securities Act 2010; and (xi) any other person as may be specified by the Commission; provided that, in the each of the preceding categories (i) to (xi), the distribution of the shares is made by a holder of a Capital Markets Services License who carries on the business of dealing in securities. The distribution in Malaysia of this prospectus is subject to Malaysian laws. This prospectus does not constitute and may not be used for the purpose of public offering or an issue, offer for subscription or purchase, invitation to subscribe for or purchase any securities requiring the registration of a prospectus with the Commission under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Taiwan

The shares have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitutes an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan that requires a registration or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering and sale of the shares in Taiwan.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in South Africa

Due to restrictions under the securities laws of South Africa, no “offer to the public” (as such term is defined in the South African Companies Act, No. 71 of 2008 (as amended or re-enacted), or the South African Companies Act) is being made in connection with the issue of the shares in South Africa. Accordingly, this document does not, nor is it intended to, constitute a “registered prospectus” (as that term is defined in the South African Companies Act) prepared and registered under the South African Companies Act and has not been approved by, and/or filed with, the South African Companies and Intellectual Property Commission or any other regulatory authority in South Africa. The shares are not offered, and the offer shall not be transferred, sold, renounced or delivered, in South Africa or to a person with an address in South Africa, unless one or other of the following exemptions stipulated in section 96(1) applies:

 

Section

96(1)(a)

 

the offer, transfer, sale, renunciation or delivery is to:

 

(i) persons whose ordinary business, or part of whose ordinary business, is to deal in securities, as principal or agent;

 

(ii) the South African Public Investment Corporation;

 

(iii) persons or entities regulated by the Reserve Bank of South Africa;

 

(iv) authorised financial service providers under South African law;

 

(v) financial institutions recognised as such under South African law;

 

(vi) a wholly-owned subsidiary of any person or entity contemplated in (c), (d) or (e), acting as agent in the capacity of an authorized portfolio manager for a pension fund, or as manager for a collective investment scheme (in each case duly registered as such under South African law); or

 

(vii) any combination of the person in (i) to (vi); or

Section

96(1)(b)

 

the total contemplated acquisition cost of the securities, for any single addressee acting as principal is equal to or greater than ZAR1,000,000 or such higher amount as may be promulgated by notice in the Government Gazette of South Africa pursuant to section 96(2)(a) of the South African Companies Act.

Information made available in this prospectus should not be considered as “advice” as defined in the South African Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Israel

We have not taken any action to permit a public offering of our shares outside the United States. Solicitation of our shares, however, will be made in certain countries in a manner that will not require the publication of a prospectus under the laws of the country. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of our shares and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

Notwithstanding the above, the offering of our shares is available to investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended. A prospectus has not been prepared or filed, and will not be prepared or filed, in Israel relating to the shares offered hereunder. The shares cannot be resold in Israel other than to investors listed in the First Supplement of the Israeli Securities Law of 1968, as amended purchasing for their own account and not for distribution or resale purposes. No action will be taken in Israel that would permit an offering of the shares offered hereunder, or the distribution of any offering document or any other material to the public in Israel. This registration statements has not been reviewed or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. Any materials provided to an investor in Israel may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose, nor be furnished to any other person other than those to whom copies have been provided directly by the Issuer or the Dealer(s). The shares will not be traded on the TASE. Nothing in the above should be considered as the

 

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rendering of a recommendation or advice, including investment advice or investment marketing under the Israeli Law For Regulation of Investment Advice, Investment Marketing and Investment Portfolio Management, 1995, to purchase any shares and in purchasing the shares, the investors acknowledge that they have expertise and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the risks and merits of the purchase of the shares.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the issuance of our common stock offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cooley LLP, San Diego, California.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Annexon, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, have been included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1, including exhibits and schedules, under the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information in the registration statement and its exhibits. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and in each instance, we refer you to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. Each of these statements is qualified in all respects by this reference.

You may read our SEC filings, including this registration statement, over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Upon the completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for review at the SEC’s website referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.annexonbio.com, at which, following the completion of this offering, you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on or accessible through our website is not a part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page  

Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2019

  

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

     F-3  

Consolidated Statements of Operations

     F-4  

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

     F-5  

Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit

     F-6  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     F-7  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-8  

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of and for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2019 and 2020

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

     F-28  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

     F-29  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

     F-30  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit

     F-31  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     F-32  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-33  

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors

Annexon, Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Annexon, Inc. and its subsidiary (the Company) as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit, and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

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

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

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.

San Francisco, California

February 26, 2020, except as to note 12, which is as of July 19, 2020

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     December 31,  
     2018     2019  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 44,175     $ 43,931  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,531       1,475  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     45,706       45,406  

Property and equipment, net

     2,345       2,138  

Other long-term assets

     98       2,354  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 48,149     $ 49,898  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liabilities, Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,271     $ 2,371  

Accrued liabilities

     1,713       2,194  

Deferred rent, current

     342       366  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     3,326       4,931  

Deferred rent

     1,803       1,437  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     5,140        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     10,269       6,368  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)

    

Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 119,155,472 shares authorized as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively; 89,525,848 and 111,748,065 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively; liquidation preference of $107,814 and $137,814 as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively

     102,082       143,984  

Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity:

    

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively; 432,309 and 433,749 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively

     4       4  

Additional paid-in capital

     1,257       2,202  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (66     (80

Accumulated deficit

     (65,397     (102,580
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (64,202     (100,454
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit

   $ 48,149     $ 49,898  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2019  

Operating expenses:

    

Research and development

   $ 15,528     $ 24,524  

General and administrative

     3,619       7,994  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     19,147       32,518  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (19,147     (32,518

Gain (loss) on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     260       (5,670

Other income, net

     584       1,009  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss before taxes

     (18,303     (37,179

Provision for income taxes

     1       4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (18,304     (37,183

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

     176       1,095  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (18,480   $ (38,278
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (45.89   $ (88.30
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     402,738       433,493  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted (unaudited)

     $ (2.75
    

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted (unaudited)

       11,452,244  
    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2019  

Net loss

   $ (18,304   $ (37,183

Other comprehensive loss:

    

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (40     (14
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (18,344   $ (37,197
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

    Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Stock
          Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Deficit
 
    Shares     Cost           Shares     Cost  

Balances as of December 31, 2017

    44,389,394     $ 48,971           356,467     $ 3     $ 905     $ (26   $ (47,093   $ (46,211

Issuance of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $22

    11,803,125       13,552                                          

Issuance of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs of $217 and redeemable convertible preferred stock liability of $5,400

    33,333,329       39,383                                          

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

          176                       (176                 (176

Stock option exercises

                    75,842       1       120                   121  

Stock-based compensation

                                408                   408  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                                      (40           (40

Net loss

                                            (18,304     (18,304
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of December 31, 2018

    89,525,848       102,082           432,309       4       1,257       (66     (65,397     (64,202

Issuance of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, including the value of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability of $10,810, net of issuance costs of $3

    22,222,217       40,807                                          

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

          1,095                       (1,095                 (1,095

Stock option exercises

                    1,440             3                   3  

Stock-based compensation

                                2,037                   2,037  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                                      (14           (14

Net loss

                                            (37,183     (37,183
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of December 31, 2019

    111,748,065     $ 143,984           433,749     $ 4     $ 2,202     $ (80   $ (102,580   $ (100,454
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2019  

Operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (18,304   $ (37,183

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     488       493  

Stock-based compensation

     408       2,037  

Change in fair value of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     (260     5,670  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     396       56  

Other long-term assets

     14        

Accounts payable

     (253     931  

Accrued liabilities

     639       (20

Deferred rent

     (318     (342
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (17,190     (28,358
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (17     (267
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (17     (267
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

    

Proceeds from the exercise common stock options

     121       3  

Proceeds from issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock, net of issuance costs

     58,335       29,997  

Payment of deferred offering costs

           (1,605
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     58,456       28,395  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     41,249       (230

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (40     (14

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     2,966       44,175  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   $ 44,175     $ 43,931  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

    

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 1     $ 2  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

    

Recognition of fair value of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability upon issuance of redeemable convertible preferred stock

   $ 5,400     $  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Reclassification of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability to redeemable convertible preferred stock

   $     $ 10,810  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

   $ 176     $ 1,095  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $     $ 651  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Purchase of property and equipment included in accounts payable

   $     $ 19  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Organization

Annexon, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company targeting C1q and initiating molecules of the classical complement pathway to develop transformative therapies for autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders of the body, eye and brain. The Company is located in South San Francisco, California and was incorporated in Delaware in March 2011.

The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Annexon Biosciences Australia Pty Ltd (the “Subsidiary”), is a proprietary limited company incorporated in 2016 and domiciled in Australia. The Subsidiary is also engaged in research and development activities in support of its parent company.

Liquidity

Since inception, the Company has been involved primarily in performing research and development activities, hiring personnel, and raising capital to support and expand these activities. The Company has experienced losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and, as of December 31, 2019, had an accumulated deficit of $102.6 million and cash and cash equivalents of $43.9 million.

The Company has historically funded its operations through the issuance of shares of its redeemable convertible preferred stock. The Company intends to raise additional capital through public or private equity offerings or debt financings, credit or loan facilities, collaborations or a combination of one or more of these funding sources. If financing is not available at adequate levels, the Company may need to reevaluate its operating plans. Based on projected activities, management believes that cash and cash equivalents on hand is sufficient to support operations for at least the next 12 months following issuance of these consolidated financial statements. Management expects to continue to incur losses and negative cash flows from operations for at least the next several years.

2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including but not limited to the fair value of common stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock liability, stock options, income taxes, clinical trial accruals and stock-based compensation. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjusts those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the operations of Annexon, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary and include the results of operations and cash flows of these entities. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Segments

The Company’s chief operating decision maker is its Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer reviews financial information on an aggregate basis for the purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating the Company’s resources. Accordingly, the Company has determined that it operates in one segment.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less at time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents, which includes amounts invested in money market funds, are stated at fair value.

Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. Depreciation begins at the time the asset is placed in service. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. Upon sale or retirement of assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the balance sheet and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations in the period realized.

The useful lives of the property and equipment are as follows:

 

Laboratory equipment

   5 years

Office and computer equipment

   3 years

Leasehold improvements

   Shorter of remaining lease term or estimated useful life

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, including property and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of these assets may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate over its remaining life. When indications of impairment are present and the estimated undiscounted future cash flows from the use of these assets is less than the assets’ carrying value, the related assets will be written down to fair value. There were no impairments of the Company’s long-lived assets for the periods presented.

Commitments and Contingencies

Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs, consisting of legal, accounting, audit and filing fees relating to an IPO, are capitalized. The deferred offering costs will be offset against offering proceeds upon the completion of the offering. In the event the offering is terminated or delayed, deferred offering costs will be expensed. As of December 31, 2019, $2.3 million of deferred offering costs were capitalized, which are included in other long-term assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. No amounts were deferred as of December 31, 2018.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Liability

The obligation to issue additional shares of the Company’s Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock at a future date was determined to be a freestanding financial instrument that should be accounted for as a liability. At initial recognition, the Company recorded the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability on the balance sheet at its estimated fair value. The liability is subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date, with

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

changes in fair value recognized as gain (loss) on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability on the consolidated statement of operations. Upon settlement of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability in August 2019, the Company remeasured the liability and reclassified the final value associated with the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability to the carrying value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carry forwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred taxes to the amounts expected to be realized.

The Company recognizes benefits of uncertain tax positions if it is more likely than not that such positions will be sustained upon examination based solely on their technical merit, as the largest amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon the ultimate settlement. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties related to the underpayment of income taxes as a component of income tax expense or benefit. To date, there have been no interest or penalties charged in relation to the unrecognized tax benefits.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the Company’s subsidiary located in Australia is the Australian Dollar. Balance sheets prepared in the functional currencies are translated to the reporting currency at exchange rates in effect at the end of the accounting period, except for stockholders’ equity accounts, which are translated at rates in effect when these balances were originally recorded. Revenue and expense accounts are translated using a weighted-average rate during the year. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Foreign exchange translation losses for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 totaled $40,000 and $14,000, respectively.

Gains and losses resulting from exchange rate changes on transactions denominated in a currency other than the local currency are included in earnings as incurred.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development expenses consist primarily of direct and indirect costs incurred for the development of the Company’s product candidates.

Direct expenses include (i) preclinical and clinical outside service costs associated with discovery, preclinical and clinical testing of the Company’s product candidates; (ii) professional services agreements with third-party contract organizations, investigative clinical trial sites and consultants that conduct research and development activities on the Company’s behalf; (iii) contract manufacturing costs to produce clinical trial materials; and (iv) laboratory supplies and materials. Indirect expenses include (A) compensation and personnel-related expenses (including stock-based compensation), (B) allocated expenses for facilities and depreciation; and (C) other indirect costs.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Payments made to third parties are under agreements that are generally cancelable by the Company. Advance payments for research and development activities are deferred as prepaid expenses. The prepaid amounts are expensed as the related services are performed.

The Company estimates preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions and clinical research organizations that conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on the Company’s behalf. In accruing service fees, the Company estimates the period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. These estimates are based on the Company’s communications with the third-party service providers and on information available at each balance sheet date. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies significantly from the estimate, the Company will adjust the accrual accordingly to reflect the best information available at the time of the financial statement issuance. The Company has not experienced any material differences between accrued costs and actual costs incurred since its inception.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation arrangements with employees and non-employee directors and consultants using a fair value method which requires the recognition of compensation expense for costs related to all stock-based payments, including stock options. The fair value method requires the Company to estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards to employees on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value of awards to non-employees is estimated at each measurement date, which is the date on which the award vests. Total expenses for non-employee share based awards has been immaterial to date.

The Company grants certain employees performance-based stock options. For awards that include performance conditions, no compensation cost is recognized until the performance goals are probable of being met, at which time the cumulative compensation expense from the service inception date would be recognized.

Stock-based compensation costs are based on the fair value of the underlying option calculated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and recognized as expense on a straight-line basis (for all but performance based awards for which the accelerated method is used) over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.

Determining the appropriate fair value model and related assumptions requires judgment, including estimating the fair value of the underlying common stock, expected term, expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Accounting for Non-Recurring Grant Income

Non-recurring grant income is recognized when the research and development activities have been undertaken and the Company has completed its assessment of whether such activities meet the relevant qualifying criteria. Grants received from government and other agencies in advance of the specific research and development costs to which they relate are deferred and recognized in the consolidated statement of operations in the period they are earned and when the related research and development costs are incurred. Non-recurring grant income recognized in other income, net for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 was $35,000 and $190,000, respectively.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

Basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, without consideration for potential dilutive shares of common stock. As the Company was in a loss position for all periods presented, basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders because the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive.

Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

In contemplation of the IPO, the Company has computed the unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, to give effect to the conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock. The unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders does not include the shares expected to be sold and related proceeds to be received from the IPO. The unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2019 was computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, including the pro forma effect of the conversion of all outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock, as if such conversion had occurred at the beginning of the period, or their issuance dates if later. The net loss attributable to common stockholders was adjusted to exclude the impact of the remeasurement of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability and accretion on the redeemable convertible preferred stock as the underlying shares would have converted into common stock upon an IPO.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash. The Company’s cash is deposited with high credit quality financial institutions. At times, such deposits may be in excess of the Federal Depository Insurance Corporation insured limits.

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Company is expected to be an emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the guidance in former ASC 840, Leases. This standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less may be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. This standard

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, for public entities beginning after December 15, 2018 and for private entities beginning after December 15, 2020. Originally, a modified retrospective transition approach was required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. In July 2018, the FASB issued guidance to permit an alternative transition method for Topic 842, which allows transition to the new lease standard by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Entities may elect to apply either approach. There are also a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. The Company plans to adopt Topic 842 on January 1, 2021, and is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”). This standard requires entities to recognize current and deferred income tax consequences of intercompany asset transfers other than inventory at the transaction date. For public business entities, the amendments in this standard are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim reporting periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2019. There were no current or deferred income tax consequences of adopting the standard because the Company had no intra-entity transfers of assets for the year ended December 31, 2019 or prior years.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2018-07”). This standard simplifies the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. Some of the areas of simplification apply only to nonpublic entities. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, for public entities beginning after December 15, 2018. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual period for which financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance, but not before an entity adopts ASC 606. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2020 and the adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”), which eliminates certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements for all entities, requires public entities to disclose certain new information and modifies some disclosure requirements. This standard is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2020 and the adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract (“ASU 2018-15”). The standard requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements to be deferred over the noncancelable term of the cloud computing arrangements plus any optional renewal periods (1) that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or (2) for which exercise of the renewal option is controlled by the cloud service provider. The effective date of this pronouncement is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, and early adoption is permitted. The standard can be adopted either using the prospective or retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

3. Fair Value Measurements

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:

 

   

Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date.

 

   

Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

   

Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date.

On a recurring basis, the Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The following tables summarize the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2018  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 43,680      $      $      $ 43,680  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 43,680      $      $      $ 43,680  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

           

Redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

   $      $      $ 5,140      $ 5,140  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $      $      $ 5,140      $ 5,140  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     December 31, 2019  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 43,621      $      $      $ 43,621  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 43,621      $      $      $ 43,621  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company has an operating account invested in money market funds with maturities of less than three months and is classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s balance sheet. The money market funds are valued using Level 1 inputs that are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company recognized no material realized gains or losses on financial instruments.

The Company’s Level 3 liabilities include the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability. The Company initially estimated the fair value of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with an expected term of 0.65 years, the fair value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock of $1.19, expected volatility of 77.7% and risk-free interest rate of 2.47% as of

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

December 7, 2018. The liability was remeasured at December 31, 2018 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with an expected term of 0.58 years, the fair value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock of $1.20, expected volatility of 77.7% and risk-free interest rate 2.56%.

In August 2019, the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability was settled upon the completion of the second closing of the Company’s Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. In light of the Company’s progress towards an IPO, the liability was remeasured at the settlement date using a probability-weighted expected return method (“PWERM”) whereby the Company’s total equity value was estimated under various exit scenarios and allocated to the Company’s different classes of equity. The PWERM included two scenarios, IPO or staying private, that considered an estimate of the timing of each scenario and were weighted based on the Company’s estimate of the probability of each event occurring. The equity value under the IPO scenario was based on recent IPO values of comparable companies. The equity value under the staying private scenario was based on the recent Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. The liability was remeasured to its fair value of $10.8 million upon settlement and the carrying value of the liability was reclassified to the carrying value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock.

The Company recorded a gain of $0.3 million and a loss of $5.7 million in the consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively, for the change in the fair value of the liability.

The changes in the carrying value of the liability were as follows (in thousands):

 

Fair value as of December 31, 2017

   $  

Fair value at issuance

     5,400  

Change in fair value

     (260
  

 

 

 

Fair value as of December 31, 2018

   $ 5,140  

Change in fair value

     5,670  

Reclassification to redeemable convertible preferred stock upon settlement

     (10,810
  

 

 

 

Fair value as of December 31, 2019

   $  
  

 

 

 

There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3 for the periods presented.

4. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Prepaid research and development costs

   $ 1,127      $ 1,086  

Prepaid expenses

     179        310  

Other receivables

     225        79  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 1,531      $ 1,475  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

5. Property and Equipment, Net

Property and equipment, net consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018     2019  

Leasehold improvements

   $ 2,564     $ 2,772  

Laboratory equipment

     429       456  

Furniture and fixtures

     136       187  

Computer equipment and software

     27       27  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, gross

     3,156       3,442  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (811     (1,304
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $ 2,345     $ 2,138  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total depreciation expense recognized for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 was $488,000 and $493,000, respectively.

6. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Accrued research and development expenses

   $ 766      $ 459  

Accrued compensation

     766        926  

Accrued professional services

     65        733  

Other accrued expenses

     116        76  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued liabilities

   $ 1,713      $ 2,194  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

7. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company leases its offices and laboratory in South San Francisco, California under a 7-year noncancelable lease agreement that ends in June 2024 with a 5-year renewal option. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable term of the lease and, accordingly, the Company records the difference between cash rent payments and the recognition of rent expense as a deferred rent liability on the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Total rent expense was $353,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Future minimum lease payments under noncancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2019 were as follows (in thousands):

 

2020

   $ 720  

2021

     743  

2022

     769  

2023

     796  

2024 and thereafter

     362  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 3,390  
  

 

 

 

License and Other Agreements

In November 2011, the Company entered into an exclusive licensing agreement (the “Stanford Agreement”) with The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (“Stanford”) whereby the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license, under certain patent rights (the “Licensed Patents”), to make, use, offer for sale, sell, import and otherwise commercialize products covered by the Licensed Patents for human or animal diseases, disorders or conditions. Under the Stanford Agreement, the Company made an upfront payment and is obligated to pay Stanford annual license maintenance fees, potential future milestone payments totaling up to $600,000, and royalty payments at a rate equal to a low single-digit percentage of worldwide net sales of licensed products.

In December 2016, the Company entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with a not-for-profit entity to perform research on multiple sclerosis. The Sponsored Research Agreement was amended in March 2019. Under the terms of the Sponsored Research Agreement, the Company may receive up to $651,000, which was amended from $693,000, in funding. If within 15 years of the end of the Sponsored Research Agreement the Company files a marketing authorization application for a product treating multiple sclerosis, the Company will be obligated to pay milestone payments up to four times the amounts received under the Sponsored Research Agreement. The Company has received $455,000 in funding to date, including $190,000 received during the year ended December 31, 2019, which was recorded as other income.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements that contain a variety of representations and provide for general indemnification. The Company’s exposure under these agreements is unknown because it involves claims that may be made against the Company in the future. To date, the Company has not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to its indemnification obligations. As of December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any material indemnification claims that were probable or reasonably possible and consequently has not recorded related liabilities.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2018, redeemable convertible preferred stock consisted of the following:

 

     Shares
Authorized
     Shares
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value
(in thousands)
     Liquidation
Preference
(in thousands)
 

Series A

     1,015,434        1,015,434      $ 996      $ 1,000  

Series A-1

     16,398,995        16,398,995        17,142        17,219  

Series B

     38,778,091        38,778,090        44,484        44,595  

Series C

     62,962,952        33,333,329        39,460        45,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     119,155,472        89,525,848      $ 102,082      $ 107,814  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2019, redeemable convertible preferred stock consisted of the following:

 

     Shares
Authorized
     Shares
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value
(in thousands)
     Liquidation
Preference
(in thousands)
 

Series A

     1,015,434        1,015,434      $ 1,000      $ 1,000  

Series A-1

     16,398,995        16,398,995        17,144        17,219  

Series B

     38,778,091        38,778,090        44,505        44,595  

Series C

     62,962,952        55,555,546        81,335        75,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     119,155,472        111,748,065      $ 143,984      $ 137,814  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

In June 2016, the Company issued 26,974,965 shares of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock for $1.15 per share to a group of investors in the first closing of its Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. In February 2018, the Company issued 11,803,125 additional shares of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock in a second closing on the same terms as the initial closing in June 2016.

In December 2018, the Company issued 33,333,329 shares of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock for $1.35 per share in the first closing of its Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. Investors in the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing also received freestanding rights to purchase an additional 22,222,217 shares of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock on the same terms as the first closing upon completion of certain defined milestones or waiver of the milestones by the holders of at least 60% of the outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis, including certain Series C investors. Additionally, the investors had the right to purchase their second closing shares upon providing notice to the Company prior to July 31, 2019. If the milestones were met by July 31, 2019, then the investors were obligated to participate in the second closing on the same terms as the first closing. In August 2019, the term was extended to August 31, 2019. The investors’ rights to purchase Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock represented a freestanding financial instrument accounted for as a liability measured at fair value at inception and remeasured at fair value each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognized in the statement of operations. The proceeds from the initial closing of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock of $44.8 million were allocated to the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability at its fair value of $5.4 million and to the carrying value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In August 2019, upon achieving certain defined milestones, the Company completed the second closing (“Second Closing”) of its Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing and issued 22,222,217 shares of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock at $1.35 per share for gross proceeds of $30.0 million. The redeemable convertible preferred stock liability was settled upon the Second Closing and the fair value of the liability of $10.8 million was reclassified to the carrying value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Significant provisions of the redeemable convertible preferred stock are as follows:

Dividends—The holders of Series A-1, Series B and Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive noncumulative dividends, in preference to any dividends payable to holders of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock or common stock, at the annual dividend rate of $0.063 per share for Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.069 per share for Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock and $0.081 per share for Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, as adjusted for any stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalization, or the like, if declared by the Board of Directors.

The holders of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive noncumulative dividends, in preference to any dividends payable to holders of common stock, if declared by the Board of Directors.

The holders of redeemable convertible preferred stock are also entitled to participate in dividends on common stock, when and if declared by the Board of Directors, based on the outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock (on an as-if converted to common stock basis) and common stock.

Conversion—At the option of the holder, each share of redeemable convertible preferred stock is convertible, one-for-8.81, subject to adjustment for anti-dilution protection, into shares of common stock. Each share automatically converts into the number of shares of common stock into which the shares are convertible at the then applicable conversion ratio upon (i) the closing of the sale of the Company’s common stock in a public offering provided the offering price per share is not less than $23.79 (as adjusted for recapitalization), and the aggregate net proceeds are greater than $50 million (“Qualified Public Offering”) or (ii) upon receipt of the written consent of the holders of at least 60% of the outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis, including certain Series C investors, for the conversion of all then outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Liquidation—In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, including a merger or acquisition where the beneficial owners of the Company’s common and redeemable convertible preferred stock own less than majority of the surviving entity, or a sale of all or substantially all assets, the holders of Series C, Series B and Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock will be entitled to receive a per share amount equal to $1.35, $1.15 and $1.05 for Series C, Series B and Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, respectively (subject to adjustment for recapitalizations, stock dividends or the like), plus all declared but unpaid dividends (if any). The holders of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock are also entitled to an additional amount per share if the liquidation event occurs before a certain date.

After payment of the full liquidation preference of Series C, Series B and Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, the holders of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock will be entitled to receive an amount equal to $0.98 per share, as adjusted, plus all declared but unpaid dividends prior to and in preference to any distribution to the holders of common stock.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

After payment of the full liquidation preference of Series C, Series B, Series A-1 and Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock, distributions by the Company shall be distributed with equal priority, subject to the provisions outlined below, among holders of the redeemable convertible preferred stock and common stock, with redeemable convertible preferred stock being treated on an as converted basis. Upon receipt by the Series C, Series B, Series A-1 and Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock holders of their per share aggregate distribution threshold amounts of $1.35, $2.30, $2.10 and $1.97 for holders of Series C, Series B, Series A-1 and Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock, respectively, any remaining proceeds available for distribution will be distributed among holders of common stock in proportion to the number of common shares held by them.

Voting—The holders of redeemable convertible preferred stock are entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Series C, Series B, Series A-1 and Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock could be converted on the record date for the vote or consent of the stockholders, except as otherwise required by law, and have voting rights and powers equal to the voting rights and powers of the common stockholders.

The holders of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect one member of the Board of Directors. The holders of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect one member of the Board of Directors. The holders of Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect three members of the Board of Directors. The holders of common stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect one member of the Board of Directors. Any additional members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the holders of common stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock voting together as a single class.

Redemption—All redeemable convertible preferred stock shall be redeemed at the election of the holders of at least 60% of the then outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis, including certain Series C investors, at any time after the fifth anniversary of the date of the filing of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificates of Incorporation. The Company shall redeem the outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock by paying in cash, in three equal annual installments, an amount per share equal to the Series C original issue price, with respect to Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock, Series B original issue price, with respect to Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock, Series A-1 original issue price, with respect to the Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred stock, and the Series A original issue price, with respect to the Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock, plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned. Funds available for such redemption shall be used to redeem all shares of Series C, Series B and Series A-l redeemable convertible preferred stock, on a pari passu basis, before any shares of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock are redeemed.

Classification—The Company has classified the redeemable convertible preferred stock as mezzanine equity on the consolidated balance sheets as the stock is contingently redeemable with passage of time or upon deemed liquidation events, such as a change in control. Because the redeemable convertible preferred stock becomes redeemable at any time after the fifth anniversary of the date of the filing of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation at the election of the holders of at least 60% of the then outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis, including certain Series C investors, the carrying values of the redeemable convertible preferred stock are adjusted to redemption value over the period from the date of issuance to the earliest redemption date using the effective interest rate method.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Common Stock

The holders of the Company’s common stock have one vote for each share of common stock. Common stockholders are entitled to dividends when, as, and if declared by the Board of Directors, subject to the prior rights of the redeemable convertible preferred stockholders. The holders have no preemptive or other subscription rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to such shares. As of December 31, 2019, no dividends had been declared by the Board of Directors.

The Company reserved the following shares of common stock for issuance as follows:

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding on an as-converted basis

     10,161,833        12,684,214  

Options issued and outstanding

     705,574        2,007,222  

Options available for future grant

     1,757,198        454,110  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total common stock reserved

     12,624,605        15,145,546  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

9. Equity Incentive Plan

In 2011, the Company adopted the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan provides for granting stock options, stock bonuses, and rights to acquire restricted stock to employees, directors and consultants. As of December 31, 2019, there were 2,577,260 shares authorized under the Plan. Both incentive and nonqualified stock options can be granted under terms of the Plan and conditions established by the Board of Directors. Incentive stock options can only be granted to employees. The exercise price for incentive stock options cannot be less than the fair market value of the related common stock on the grant date. Stock options granted under the Plan generally vest over four years and expire no later than 10 years from the date of grant. The exercise price for rights to acquire restricted stock cannot be less than the fair market value of the related common stock on the grant date. The terms and conditions governing restricted stock is at the sole discretion of the Company.

Stock option activity under the 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) was as follows:

 

     Shares
Available
for
Grant
    Number of
Shares
    Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term

(in years)
     Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

(in thousands)
 

Balances as of December 31, 2017

     314,558       820,458     $ 1.93        8.24      $ 1,888  

Additional shares authorized

     1,403,598            

Stock options granted

     (85,902     85,902     $ 4.23        

Stock options exercised

           (75,842   $ 1.60        

Stock options cancelled

     124,944       (124,944   $ 3.35        
  

 

 

   

 

 

         

Balances as of December 31, 2018

     1,757,198       705,574     $ 2.00        7.23      $ 2,199  

Additional shares authorized

            

Stock options granted

     (1,588,719     1,588,719     $ 6.43        

Stock options exercised

           (1,440   $ 1.86        

Stock options cancelled

     285,631       (285,631   $ 6.17        
  

 

 

   

 

 

         

Balances as of December 31, 2019

     454,110       2,007,222     $ 4.91        8.26      $ 21,623  
  

 

 

   

 

 

         

Exercisable as of December 31, 2019

       771,738     $ 2.65        6.86      $ 10,063  
    

 

 

         

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 was $200,000 and $8,000, respectively. The intrinsic value is the difference between the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise, as determined by the Board of Directors, and the exercise price of the stock option.

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted to employees during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 was $2.91 and $5.72 per share, respectively.

In June 2019, the Company granted options to purchase 46,737 shares of the Company’s common stock to one of its officers that will vest if the Company achieves a certain milestone related to its product candidate. The total grant date fair value of this award was $311,000 and no associated expense was recognized during the year ended December 31, 2019 as the achievement of the performance condition was not yet considered probable.

Stock Options Granted to Employees

To determine the value of stock option awards for stock-based compensation purposes, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the assumptions discussed below. Each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires significant judgment.

Fair Value of Common Stock—The grant date fair market value of the shares of common stock underlying stock options has historically been determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. Because there has been no public market for the Company’s common stock, the Board of Directors exercises reasonable judgment and considers a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair market value, which include contemporaneous valuations performed by an independent third-party, important developments in the Company’s operations, sales of redeemable convertible preferred stock, the rights, preferences and privileges of the Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock relative to those of its common stock, lack of marketability of its common stock, actual operating results, financial performance, the progress of clinical development, the likelihood of achieving a liquidity event for the Company’s security holders, the trends, development and conditions in the life sciences and biotechnology sectors, the economy in general, the stock price performance and volatility of comparable public companies.

Expected Term—The Company’s expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and is determined using the simplified method (based on the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term).

Expected Volatility—Because the Company is privately held and does not have any trading history for its common stock, the expected volatility was estimated based on the average volatility for comparable publicly traded life science companies over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. The comparable companies were chosen based on the similar size, stage in the life cycle, or area of specialty. The Company will continue to apply this process until a sufficient amount of historical information regarding the volatility of its own stock price becomes available.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of the option.

Dividend Yield—The Company has never paid dividends on its common stock and has no plans to pay dividends on its common stock. Therefore, the Company used an expected dividend yield of zero.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The fair value of each award issued during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
     2018    2019

Expected term (in years)

   6.08    6.02-6.08

Expected volatility

   76%-77%    72%-77%

Risk-free interest rate

   2.49%-2.87%    1.48%-2.61%

Dividend yield

     

As of December 31, 2019, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to outstanding unvested employee stock options that are expected to vest was $6.4 million, which the Company expects to recognize over an estimated weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The total stock-based compensation expense recognized for options granted was as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Research and development

   $ 118      $ 713  

General and administrative

     290        1,324  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ 408      $ 2,037  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

10. Income Taxes

For financial reporting purposes, loss before provision for income taxes, includes the following components (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Domestic

   $ 18,014      $ 36,973  

Foreign

     289        206  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

   $ 18,303      $ 37,179  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

For each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, the Company incurred insignificant amounts for an income tax provision. The U.S. federal and California deferred tax assets generated from the Company’s net operating losses have been fully reserved, as the Company believes it is not more likely than not that the benefit will be realized.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Reconciliation of income tax computed at federal statutory rates to the reported provision for income taxes was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018     2019  

Tax provision at U.S. statutory rate

   $ (3,844   $ (7,808

State income taxes

     1       4  

Stock-based compensation

     67       112  

R&D tax credits

     (541     (782

Change in valuation allowance

     4,309       7,292  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     (55     1,191  

Other

     64       (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

   $ 1     $ 4  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018     2019  

Deferred Tax Assets:

    

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ 16,176     $ 24,917  

Research and development credits

     3,074       4,405  

Other intangibles

     7       6  

Accruals and reserves

     219       254  

Stock-based compensation

     73       393  

Tenant improvement allowances

     389       325  

Other

     7        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross deferred tax assets

     19,945       30,300  

Less: valuation allowance

     (19,545     (29,961
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total deferred tax assets, net

   $ 400     $ 339  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred Tax Liabilities:

    

Fixed assets

     (400     (339
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

     (400     (339
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $     $  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $89.8 million of federal and $65.8 million of state net operating loss carryforwards available to offset future taxable income. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”), net operating losses generated after December 31, 2018 will be carried forward indefinitely with the yearly net operating loss utilization limited to 80 percent of taxable income. The Company has $46.8 million of such federal NOLs that do not expire. If not utilized, the federal carryforward losses generated prior to 2018 and the state carryforward losses will expire in various amounts beginning in 2031.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

As of December 31, 2019, the Company had $3.1 million of federal and $2.5 million of state credit carryforwards available to offset future taxable income. If not utilized, these credit carryforwards will expire in various amounts for federal purposes beginning in 2031. The state credits do not expire.

In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Management believes that, based on available evidence, both positive and negative, it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be utilized; therefore, a full valuation allowance has been recorded. The Company’s valuation allowance increased by $6.4 million and $10.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019, respectively. The changes in the 2018 and 2019 valuation allowance were primarily due to the addition of the current year loss carryforwards and research and development credits.

Utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards and credits may be subject to an annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and similar state provisions. Any annual limitation may result in the expiration of net operating losses and credits before utilization.

Uncertain Tax Benefits

The Company has the following activity relating to the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2018      2019  

Beginning balance

   $ 503      $ 783  

Additions based on tax positions related to prior year

     31         

Additions based on tax positions related to current year

     249        333  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ 783      $ 1,116  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

None of these uncertain tax positions will impact the Company’s effective tax rate if assessed. The Company’s policy is to classify interest and penalties associated with unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. The Company had no interest or penalty accruals associated with uncertain tax benefits in its consolidated balance sheet and consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019. The Company files income tax returns in California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and in Australia. The Company is not currently under examination by any major tax jurisdictions nor has it been in the past. The tax years 2011 through 2019 remain effectively open for examination by the Internal Revenue Service and most state tax authorities.

Although it is reasonably possible that certain unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease within the next 12 months due to tax examination changes, settlement activities, expirations of statute of limitations, or the impact on recognition and measurement considerations related to the results of published tax cases or other similar activities, the Company does not anticipate any significant changes to unrecognized tax benefits over the next 12 months.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

11. Net Loss and Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

The following outstanding potentially dilutive shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share due to their anti-dilutive effect:

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
 
     2018      2019  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock on an as-converted basis

     10,161,833        12,684,214  

Stock options to purchase common stock

     705,574        2,007,222  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     10,867,407        14,691,436  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

The following table sets forth the computation of unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share during the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

 

     Year Ended
December 31,
2019
 
     (unaudited)  

Numerator:

  

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (38,278

Loss on remeasurement of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     5,670  

Accretion to redemption value on redeemable convertible preferred stock

     1,095  
  

 

 

 

Net loss used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (31,513
  

 

 

 

Denominator:

  

Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders

     433,493  

Pro forma adjustment to reflect conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock

     11,018,751  
  

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     11,452,244  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (2.75
  

 

 

 

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

12. Subsequent Events

The Company evaluated its consolidated financial statements for subsequent events through February 26, 2020, the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.

Reverse Stock Split

In July 2020, the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse split of shares of the Company’s common stock on an one-for-8.81 basis, which was effected on July 17, 2020 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The number of authorized shares and the par values of the common stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock were not adjusted as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, the conversion ratio for the Company’s outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock was proportionately adjusted such that the common stock issuable upon conversion of such preferred stock was decreased in proportion to the Reverse Stock Split. All references to common stock and options to purchase common stock share data, per share data and related information contained in the consolidated financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effect of the Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     December 31,
2019
    March 31,
2020
    Pro Forma
March 31,
2020
 

Assets

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 43,931     $ 33,348    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,475       1,161    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current assets

     45,406       34,509    

Property and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of $1,304 and $1,435 as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, respectively

     2,138       2,007    

Other long-term assets

     2,354       2,998    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total assets

   $ 49,898     $ 39,514    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Liabilities, Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit

      

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

   $ 2,371     $ 3,250    

Accrued liabilities

     2,194       2,708    

Deferred rent, current

     366       372    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total current liabilities

     4,931       6,330    

Deferred rent

     1,437       1,343    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total liabilities

   $ 6,368     $ 7,673    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

      

Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 119,155,472 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020; 111,748,065 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020; liquidation preference of $137,814 as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, no shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020, pro forma

   $ 143,984     $ 144,263     $  

Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity:

      

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020; 433,749 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020; 13,117,963 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020, pro forma

     4       4       116  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,202       2,586       146,737  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (80     (91     (91

Accumulated deficit

     (102,580     (114,921     (114,921
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (100,454     (112,422   $ 31,841  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities, redeemable convertible preferred stock and stockholders’ deficit

   $ 49,898     $ 39,514    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ANNEXON, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2019     2020  

Operating Expenses:

    

Research and development

   $ 4,653     $ 10,217  

General and administrative

     1,449       2,239  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     6,102       12,456  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (6,102     (12,456

Loss on remeasurement of convertible redeemable preferred stock liability

     (2,770      

Other income, net

     221       115  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss before taxes

     (8,651     (12,341

Provision for income taxes

     1        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

     (8,652     (12,341

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

     262       279  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (8,914   $ (12,620
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (20.60   $ (29.10
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     432,709       433,749  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     $ (0.94
    

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

       13,117,963  
    

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2019     2020  

Net loss

   $ (8,652   $ (12,341

Other comprehensive loss:

    

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (6     (11
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive loss

   $ (8,658   $ (12,352
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholders’ Deficit

(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

    

 

Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Stock

     Common Stock      Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Deficit
 
     Shares      Cost      Shares      Cost  

Balances as of December 31, 2018

     89,525,848      $ 102,082        432,309      $ 4      $ 1,257     $ (66   $ (65,397   $ (64,202

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

            262                      (262                 (262

Stock option exercises

                   1,440               3               3  

Stock-based compensation

                                 466                   466  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                                       (6           (6

Net loss

                                             (8,652     (8,652
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of March 31, 2019

     89,525,848      $ 102,344        433,749      $ 4      $ 1,464     $ (72   $ (74,049   $ (72,653
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
 
    

 

Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Stock

     Common Stock      Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Total
Stockholders’
Deficit
 
     Shares      Cost      Shares      Cost  

Balances as of December 31, 2019

     111,748,065      $ 143,984        433,749      $ 4      $ 2,202     $ (80   $ (102,580   $ (100,454

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

            279                      (279                 (279

Stock-based compensation

                                 663                   663  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                                       (11           (11

Net loss

                                             (12,341     (12,341
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balances as of March 31, 2020

     111,748,065      $ 144,263        433,749      $ 4      $ 2,586     $ (91   $ (114,921   $ (112,422
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2019     2020  

Operating activities:

    

Net loss

   $ (8,652   $ (12,341

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     117       131  

Stock-based compensation

     466       663  

Loss on remeasurement of redeemable convertible preferred stock liability

     2,770        

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (541     314  

Accounts payable

     891       797  

Accrued liabilities

     (972     523  

Deferred rent

     (82     (88
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

     (6,003     (10,001
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

    

Deferred offering cost payments

           (571

Proceeds from the exercise of common stock options

     3        
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     3       (571
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (6,000     (10,572

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (6     (11

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     44,175       43,931  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 38,169     $ 33,348  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow activities

    

Accretion on redeemable convertible preferred stock

   $ 262     $ 279  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Deferred offering costs included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

   $     $ 723  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

1. Organization

Annexon, Inc. (the “Company”) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company targeting C1q and initiating molecules of the classical complement pathway to develop transformative therapies for autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders of the body, brain and eye. The Company is located in South San Francisco, California and was incorporated in Delaware in March 2011.

The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Annexon Australia Pty Ltd (the “Subsidiary”), is a proprietary limited company incorporated in 2016 and domiciled in Australia. The Subsidiary is also engaged in research and development activities in support of its parent company.

Liquidity

Since inception, the Company has been involved primarily in performing research and development activities, conducting clinical trials, hiring personnel, and raising capital to support and expand these activities. The Company has experienced losses and negative cash flows from operations since its inception and, as of March 31, 2020, had an accumulated deficit of $114.9 million and cash and cash equivalents of $33.3 million.

The Company has historically funded its operations through the issuance of shares of its redeemable convertible preferred stock. In June 2020, the Company completed a Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock financing raising net proceeds of $96.7 million (Note 11). Based on projected activities, management projects that cash on hand and the proceeds from the Series D financing are sufficient to support operations for at least the next 12 months following issuance of these condensed consolidated financial statements. Management expects to continue to incur losses and negative cash flows from operations for at least the next several years.

2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates, including but not limited to the fair value of common stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock, redeemable convertible preferred stock liability, stock options, income taxes, and certain accruals. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors and adjusts those estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the operations of Annexon, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary and include the results of operations and cash flows of these entities. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The interim condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2020, and the interim condensed consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in redeemable convertible preferred stock

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

and stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 are unaudited. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s consolidated financial information. The financial data and the other financial information disclosed in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements related to the three-month periods are also unaudited. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2020 or for any other future annual or interim period. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019 included herein was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet Information

In contemplation of the Company’s planned initial public offering (“IPO”), the unaudited pro forma stockholders’ equity in the condensed consolidated balance sheet reflects shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and assumes the conversion of outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock into common stock immediately prior to the completion of the IPO. The shares of common stock issuable and the proceeds expected to be received in the IPO are excluded from such pro forma financial information.

Deferred Offering Costs

Deferred offering costs, consisting of legal, accounting, audit and filing fees relating to an IPO, are capitalized. The deferred offering costs will be offset against offering proceeds upon the completion of the offering. In the event the offering is terminated or delayed, deferred offering costs will be expensed. As of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, $2.3 million and $2.9 million, respectively, of deferred offering costs were capitalized, which are included in other long-term assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Liability

The obligation to issue additional shares of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock at a future date was determined to be a freestanding financial instrument that should be accounted for as a liability. At initial recognition, the Company recorded the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability on the balance sheet at its estimated fair value. The liability is subject to remeasurement at each balance sheet date, with changes in fair value recognized as loss on remeasurement of convertible redeemable preferred stock liability on the statement of operations. Upon settlement of the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability in August 2019, the Company remeasured the liability and reclassified the final value associated with the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability to the carrying value of the Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Foreign Currencies

The Company’s reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the subsidiary located in Australia is the Australian Dollar. Balance sheets prepared in the functional currencies are translated to the reporting currency at exchange rates in effect at the end of the accounting period, except for stockholders’ equity accounts, which are translated at rates in effect when these balances were originally recorded. Revenue and

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

expense accounts are translated using a weighted-average rate during the year. The resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Foreign exchange translation losses for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 totaled $6,000 and $11,000, respectively.

Gains and losses resulting from exchange-rate changes on transactions denominated in a currency other than the local currency are included in earnings as incurred.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development expenses consist primarily of direct and indirect costs incurred for the development of the Company’s product candidates.

Direct expenses include (i) preclinical and clinical outside service costs associated with discovery, preclinical and clinical testing of the Company’s product candidates; (ii) professional services agreements with third-party contract organizations, investigative clinical trial sites and consultants that conduct research and development activities on the Company’s behalf; (iii) contract manufacturing costs to produce clinical trial materials; and (iv) laboratory supplies and materials. Indirect expenses include (A) compensation and personnel related expenses (including stock-based compensation), (B) allocated expenses for facilities and depreciation; and (C) other indirect costs.

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Payments made to third parties are under agreements that are generally cancelable by the Company. Advance payments for research and development activities are deferred as prepaid expenses. The prepaid amounts are expensed as the related services are performed.

The Company estimates preclinical studies and clinical trial expenses based on the services performed pursuant to contracts with research institutions and clinical research organizations that conduct and manage preclinical studies and clinical trials on the Company’s behalf. In accruing service fees, the Company estimates the period over which services will be performed and the level of effort to be expended in each period. These estimates are based on the Company’s communications with the third-party service providers and on information available at each balance sheet date. If the actual timing of the performance of services or the level of effort varies significantly from the estimate, the Company will adjust the accrual accordingly to reflect the best information available at the time of the financial statement issuance. The Company has not experienced any material differences between accrued costs and actual costs incurred since its inception.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for stock-based compensation arrangements using a fair value method which requires the recognition of compensation expense for costs related to all stock-based payments, including stock options. The fair value method requires the Company to estimate the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.

The Company grants certain employees performance-based stock options. For awards that include performance conditions, no compensation cost is recognized until the performance goals are probable of being met, at which time the cumulative compensation expense from the service inception date would be recognized.

Stock-based compensation costs are based on the fair value of the underlying option calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and recognized as expense on a straight-line basis (for all but performance-

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

based awards for which the accelerated method is used) over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period.

Determining the appropriate fair value model and related assumptions requires judgment, including estimating stock price volatility, expected dividend yield, expected term, risk-free rate of return, and the estimated fair value of the underlying common stock. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur.

Net Loss per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

Basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is calculated by dividing the net loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period, without consideration for potential dilutive shares of common stock. As the Company was in a loss position for all periods presented, basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same as diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders because the effects of potentially dilutive securities are antidilutive.

Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

In contemplation of the IPO, the Company has computed the unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, to give effect to the conversion of the redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock. The unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders does not include the shares expected to be sold and related proceeds to be received from the IPO. The unaudited pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding, including the pro forma effect of the conversion of all outstanding shares of redeemable convertible preferred stock into shares of common stock, as if such conversion had occurred at the beginning of the period, or their issuance dates if later. The net loss attributable to common stockholders was adjusted to exclude accretion on the redeemable convertible preferred stock as the underlying shares would have converted into common stock upon an IPO.

Emerging Growth Company Status

The Company is expected to be emerging growth company, as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). Under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards issued subsequent to the enactment of the JOBS Act until such time as those standards apply to private companies. The Company has elected to use this extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards that have different effective dates for public and private companies until the earlier of the date that it (i) is no longer an emerging growth company or (ii) affirmatively and irrevocably opts out of the extended transition period provided in the JOBS Act. As a result, these consolidated financial statements may not be comparable to companies that comply with the new or revised accounting pronouncements as of public company effective dates.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-07, Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This standard simplifies the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees by aligning it with the accounting for share-based payments to employees, with certain exceptions. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2020 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Disclosure Framework – Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which eliminates certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements for all entities, requires public entities to disclose certain new information and modifies some disclosure requirements. This standard is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2020 and the adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which supersedes the guidance in former ASC 840, Leases. This standard requires lessees to apply a dual approach, classifying leases as either finance or operating leases based on the principle of whether or not the lease is effectively a financed purchase by the lessee. This classification will determine whether lease expense is recognized based on an effective interest method or on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. A lessee is also required to record a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for all leases with a term of greater than 12 months regardless of their classification. Leases with a term of 12 months or less may be accounted for similar to existing guidance for operating leases today. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), delaying the effective implementation date for Topic 842 by one year for entities that have not yet adopted the standard. This standard is effective for annual reporting periods, and interim periods within those years, for public entities beginning after December 15, 2018 and for private entities beginning after December 15, 2020. Originally, a modified retrospective transition approach was required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. In July 2018, the FASB issued guidance to permit an alternative transition method for Topic 842, which allows transition to the new lease standard by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. Entities may elect to apply either approach. There are also a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. The Company plans on adopting Topic 842 on January 1, 2021 and is currently assessing the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract. The standard requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements to be deferred over the noncancelable term of the cloud computing arrangements plus any optional renewal periods (1) that are reasonably certain to be exercised by the customer or (2) for which exercise of the renewal option is controlled by the cloud service provider. The effective date of this pronouncement is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021, and early adoption is permitted. The standard can be adopted either using the prospective or retrospective transition approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

3. Fair Value Measurements

The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible. The Company determines fair value based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability in the principal or most advantageous market. When considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, the following fair value hierarchy distinguishes between observable and unobservable inputs, which are categorized in one of the following levels:

 

   

Level 1 Inputs: Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities accessible to the reporting entity at the measurement date.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

   

Level 2 Inputs: Other than quoted prices included in Level 1 inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

 

   

Level 3 Inputs: Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability used to measure fair value to the extent that observable inputs are not available, thereby allowing for situations in which there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at measurement date.

On a recurring basis, the Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. The following tables summarize the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis by level within the fair value hierarchy as of December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020 (in thousands):

 

     December 31, 2019  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 43,621      $      $      $ 43,621  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 43,621      $      $      $ 43,621  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

     March 31, 2020  
     Level 1      Level 2      Level 3      Total  

Assets:

           

Money market funds

   $ 32,768      $      $      $ 32,768  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 32,768      $      $      $ 32,768  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company has an operating account invested in money market funds with maturities of less than three months and is classified as cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s balance sheet. The money market funds are valued using Level 1 inputs that are based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, the Company recognized no material realized gains or losses on financial instruments.

The Company’s Level 3 liabilities include the redeemable convertible preferred stock liability which was settled in August 2019 upon the completion of the second closing of the Company’s Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing. The liability was remeasured at March 31, 2019 using a probability-weighted expected return method (“PWERM”) whereby the Company’s total equity value was estimated under various exit scenarios and allocated to the Company’s different classes of equity. The PWERM included two scenarios, IPO or staying private, that considered an estimate of the timing of each scenario and were weighted based on the Company’s estimate of the probability of each event occurring. The equity value under the IPO scenario was based on recent IPO values of comparable companies and weighted 35%. The equity value under the staying private scenario was based on the recent Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock financing and was weighted 65%. The liability was remeasured to its fair value of $7.9 million as of March 31, 2019. The Company recorded a loss of $2.8 million in the condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 for the change in the fair value of the liability.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

The changes in the carrying value of the liability were as follows (in thousands):

 

Fair value as of December 31, 2018

   $ 5,140  

Change in fair value

     2,770  
  

 

 

 

Fair value as of March 31, 2019

   $ 7,910  
  

 

 

 

4. Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets

Prepaid expenses and other current assets consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

Prepaid research and development costs

   $ 1,086      $ 785  

Prepaid expenses

     310        370  

Other receivables

     79        6  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   $ 1,475      $ 1,161  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

5. Accrued Liabilities

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2019
     March 31,
2020
 

Accrued compensation

   $ 926      $ 438  

Accrued research and development expenses

     459        1,667  

Accrued professional services

     733        595  

Other accrued expenses

     76        8  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total accrued liabilities

   $ 2,194      $ 2,708  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

6. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company leases its offices and laboratory in South San Francisco, California under a 7-year noncancelable agreement that ends in June 2024 with a 5-year renewal option. Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the non-cancelable term of the lease and, accordingly, the Company records the difference between cash rent payments and the recognition of rent expense as a deferred rent liability on the accompanying balance sheet.

Total rent expense was $88,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

Sponsored Research Agreement

In November 2011, the Company entered into an exclusive licensing agreement (the “Stanford Agreement”) with the Leland Stanford Junior University (“Stanford”) whereby the Company was granted an exclusive, worldwide, royalty-bearing, sublicensable license, under certain patent rights (the “Licensed Patents”), to make, use, offer for sale, sell, import and otherwise commercialize products covered by the Licensed Patents for human

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

or animal diseases, disorders or conditions. Under the Stanford Agreement, the Company made an upfront payment and is obligated to pay Stanford annual license maintenance fees, potential future milestone payments totaling up to $600,000, and royalty payments at a rate equal to a low single-digit percentage of worldwide net sales of licensed products.

In December 2016 and amended in March 2019, the Company entered into a Sponsored Research Agreement with a not-for-profit entity to perform research on multiple sclerosis. Under the terms of the Sponsored Research Agreement, the Company may receive up to $651,000, which was amended from $693,000, in funding. If within 15 years of the end of the Sponsored Research Agreement the Company files a marketing authorization application for a product treating multiple sclerosis, the Company will be obligated to pay milestone payments up to four times the amounts received under the Sponsored Research Agreement. The Company has received $455,000 in funding to date.

No funding was received for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020.

Guarantees and Indemnifications

In the normal course of business, the Company enters into agreements that contain a variety of representations and provide for general indemnification. The Company’s exposure under these agreements is unknown because it involves claims that may be made against the Company in the future. To date, the Company has not paid any claims or been required to defend any action related to its indemnification obligations. As of March 31, 2020, the Company does not have any material indemnification claims that were probable or reasonably possible and consequently has not recorded related liabilities.

7. Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and Stockholder’s Deficit

Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock

As of December 31, 2019, redeemable convertible preferred stock consisted of the following:

 

     Shares
Authorized
     Shares
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value

(in thousands)
     Liquidation
Preference

(in thousands)
 

Series A

     1,015,434        1,015,434      $ 1,000      $ 1,000  

Series A-1

     16,398,995        16,398,995        17,144        17,219  

Series B

     38,778,091        38,778,090        44,505        44,595  

Series C

     62,962,952        55,555,546        81,335        75,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     119,155,472        111,748,065      $ 143,984      $ 137,814  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2020, redeemable convertible preferred stock consisted of the following:

 

     Shares
Authorized
     Shares
Outstanding
     Net Carrying
Value

(in thousands)
     Liquidation
Preference

(in thousands)
 

Series A

     1,015,434        1,015,434      $ 1,000      $ 1,000  

Series A-1

     16,398,995        16,398,995        17,146        17,219  

Series B

     38,778,091        38,778,090        44,512        44,595  

Series C

     62,962,952        55,555,546        81,605        75,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     119,155,472        111,748,065      $ 144,263      $ 137,814  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Common Stock

The Company has reserved the following shares of common stock for issuance as follows:

 

     March 31,
2020
 

Redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding on an as-converted basis

     12,684,214  

Options issued and outstanding

     2,136,390  

Options available for future grant

     324,942  
  

 

 

 

Total common stock reserved

     15,145,546  
  

 

 

 

8. Equity Incentive Plan

Stock option activity under the Plan is as follows:

 

     Shares

Available
for
Grant
    Number of
Shares
     Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share
     Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term

(in Years)
     Aggregate
Intrinsic

Value
(In thousands)
 

Balances as of December 31, 2019

     454,110       2,007,222      $ 4.91        8.26      $ 21,623  

Stock options granted

     (129,168     129,168        13.88        
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balances as of March 31, 2020

     324,942       2,136,390      $ 5.45        8.13      $ 17,026  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Exercisable as of March 31, 2020

       862,992      $ 2.86        6.79      $ 9,089  
    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2019 was $8,000. The intrinsic value is the difference between the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock at the time of exercise, as determined by the Board of Directors, and the exercise price of the stock option.

Stock-Based Compensation Expense

The total stock-based compensation recognized for options granted was as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Research and development

   $ 97      $ 325  

General and administrative

     369        338  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total stock-based compensation expense

   $ 466      $ 663  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of March 31, 2020, the total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to outstanding unvested stock options that are expected to vest was $7.4 million, which the Company expects to recognize over an estimated weighted-average period of 2.2 years.

To determine the value of stock option awards for stock-based compensation purposes, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and the assumptions discussed below. Each of these inputs is subjective and generally requires significant judgment.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Expected Term—The Company’s expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and is determined using the simplified method (based on the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term).

Expected Volatility—Because the Company is privately held and does not have any trading history for its common stock, the expected volatility was estimated based on the average volatility for comparable publicly traded life science companies over a period equal to the expected term of the stock option grants. The comparable companies were chosen based on the similar size, stage in the life cycle, or area of specialty.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon issues in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of the option.

Expected Dividend—The Company has never paid dividends on its common stock and has no plans to pay dividends on its common stock. Therefore, the Company used an expected dividend yield of zero.

Fair Value of Common Stock - The grant date fair market value of the shares of common stock underlying stock options has historically been determined by the Company’s Board of Directors. Because there has been no public market for the Company’s common stock, the Board of Directors exercises reasonable judgment and considers a number of objective and subjective factors to determine the best estimate of the fair market value, which include contemporaneous valuations performed by an independent third-party, important developments in the Company’s operations, sales of convertible preferred stock, actual operating results, financial performance, the conditions in the life sciences industry, the economy in general, the stock price performance and volatility of comparable public companies, and the lack of liquidity of the Company’s common stock.

The fair value of each award issued during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,
     2019    2020

Expected term (in years)

   6.02-6.08    5.00-6.08

Volatility

   77%    85%

Risk-free interest rate

   2.61%    0.64%-1.45%

Dividend yield

     

9. Income Taxes

For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2020, the Company incurred insignificant amounts for an income tax provision. The U.S. federal and California deferred tax assets generated from the Company’s net operating losses have been fully reserved, as the Company believes it is not more likely than not that the benefit will be realized.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

10. Net Loss and Unaudited Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

The following outstanding potentially dilutive shares have been excluded from the calculation of diluted net loss per share for the periods presented due to their anti-dilutive effect:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2019      2020  

Redeemable convertible preferred stock on an as-converted basis

     10,161,821        12,684,214  

Stock options to purchase common stock

     1,603,851        2,136,390  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

     11,765,672        14,820,604  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Unaudited Pro forma Net Loss per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders

The following table sets forth the computation of unaudited pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share during the three months ended March 31, 2020 (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
2020
 

Numerator:

  

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (12,620

Accretion to redemption value on redeemable convertible preferred stock

     279  
  

 

 

 

Net loss used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (12,341
  

 

 

 

Denominator:

  

Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing net loss per share attributable to common stockholders

     433,749  

Pro forma adjustment to reflect conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock

     12,684,214  
  

 

 

 

Weighted-average shares of common stock used in computing pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

     13,117,963  
  

 

 

 

Pro forma net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (0.94
  

 

 

 

11. Subsequent Events

Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock Financing

In June 2020, the Company entered into a Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock purchase agreement with various investors, pursuant to which the Company issued and sold an aggregate of 71,719,859 shares of Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock at $1.4222 per share for gross proceeds of $102.0 million. The Company incurred issuance costs of $5.3 million.

 

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ANNEXON, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

Reverse Stock Split

In July 2020, the Company’s board of directors approved an amendment to the Company’s certificate of incorporation to effect a reverse split of shares of the Company’s common stock on an one-for-8.81 basis, which was effected on July 17, 2020 (the “Reverse Stock Split”). The number of authorized shares and the par values of the common stock and redeemable convertible preferred stock were not adjusted as a result of the Reverse Stock Split. In connection with the Reverse Stock Split, the conversion ratio for the Company’s outstanding redeemable convertible preferred stock was proportionately adjusted such that the common stock issuable upon conversion of such preferred stock was decreased in proportion to the Reverse Stock Split. All references to common stock and options to purchase common stock share data, per share data and related information contained in the consolidated financial statements have been retroactively adjusted to reflect the effect of the Reverse Stock Split for all periods presented.

 

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10,000,000 Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Prospectus

 

J.P. Morgan    BofA Securities    Cowen

                    , 2020

Through and including                     , 2020 (the 25th day after the commencement of this offering), all dealers that buy, sell or trade shares of our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by Annexon, Inc., or the Registrant, in connection with the sale of our common stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except for the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, filing fee and the Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, listing fee.

 

ITEM

   Amount
Paid or to be
Paid
 

SEC registration fee

   $ 23,884  

FINRA filing fee

     28,100  

Nasdaq listing fee

     25,000  

Printing expenses

     770,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     1,700,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     1,500,000  

Transfer agent fees and expenses

     3,500  

Miscellaneous expenses

     49,516  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 4,100,000  
  

 

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, we have adopted provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our directors for a breach of their fiduciary duty of care as a director. The duty of care generally requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:

 

   

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or

 

   

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.

As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, our amended and restated bylaws provide that:

 

   

we may indemnify our directors, officers and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions;

 

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we may advance expenses to our directors, officers and employees in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions; and

 

   

the rights provided in our amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide for the indemnification provisions described above and elsewhere herein. We have entered or will enter into, and intend to continue to enter into, separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements generally require us, among other things, to indemnify our officers and directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also generally require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

We have purchased and currently intend to maintain insurance on behalf of each and every person who is or was a director or officer of the company against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.

The form of underwriting agreement for this initial public offering provides for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors who sign this registration statement for specified liabilities, including matters arising under the Securities Act.

Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Since June 30, 2016, we have made the following sales of unregistered securities:

Equity Plan-Related Issuances

 

  1.  

Since June 30, 2016, we have granted to our directors, employees and consultants options to purchase 3,253,095 shares of our common stock with per share exercise prices ranging from $1.86 to $14.45 under our 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, or the 2011 Plan.

 

  2.  

Since June 30, 2016, we have issued to certain of our directors, employees and consultants an aggregate of 94,752 shares of our common stock at per share purchase prices ranging from $1.41 to $1.86 pursuant to exercises of options under the 2011 Plan for an aggregate purchase price of $150,088.

 

  3.  

Since June 30, 2016, we have issued to our consultants 8,513 shares of restricted common stock at a price per share of $1.86 (including non-cash issuances as consideration for services) under the 2011 Plan for an aggregate purchase price $15,750.

Sale of Preferred Stock

 

  4.  

Between June 2016 and February 2018, we issued and sold an aggregate of 38,778,090 shares of Series B redeemable convertible preferred stock to 17 accredited investors at $1.15 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $44.6 million.

 

  5.  

Between December 2018 and August 2019, we issued and sold an aggregate of 55,555,546 shares of Series C redeemable convertible preferred stock to 10 accredited investors at $1.35 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $75.0 million.

 

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  6.  

In June 2020, we issued and sold an aggregate of 71,719,859 shares of Series D redeemable convertible preferred stock to 22 accredited investors at $1.4222 per share for gross proceeds of approximately $102.0 million.

The offers, sales and issuances of the securities described in paragraphs (1) through (3) were deemed to be exempt from registration under Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act as transactions under compensatory benefit plans and contracts relating to compensation, or under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering. The recipients of such securities were our directors, employees or bona fide consultants and received the securities under our equity incentive plans. Appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in these transactions. Each of the recipients of securities in these transactions had adequate access, through employment, business or other relationships, to information about us.

The offers, sales and issuances of the securities described in paragraphs (4) through (6) were deemed to be exempt under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act or Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities Act as a transaction by an issuer not involving a public offering. The recipients of securities in each of these transactions acquired the securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof and appropriate legends were affixed to the securities issued in these transactions. Each of the recipients of securities in these transactions was an accredited investor within the meaning of Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act and had adequate access to information about us. No underwriters were involved in these transactions.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

(a) Exhibits.

The exhibits listed below are filed as part of this registration statement.

 

Exhibit
Number

        Incorporated by Reference    Filed
Herewith
 
  

Exhibit Description

  

Form

    

Date

    

Number

  1.1    Form of Underwriting Agreement               X  
  3.1    Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, currently in effect               X  
  3.2    Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, to be in effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering               X  
  3.3    Bylaws, currently in effect               X  
  3.4    Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws, to be in effect immediately prior to the completion of this offering               X  
  4.1    Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 through 3.4            
  4.2    Form of Common Stock Certificate      S-1        07/02/20        4.2   
  5.1    Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP               X  
10.1    Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated June  30, 2020, by and among the Registrant and the investors listed therein      S-1        07/02/20      10.1   
10.2†    Exclusive (Equity) Agreement, dated November  21, 2011, by and between the Registrant and The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University      S-1        07/02/20      10.2   
10.3    Lease, dated December 19, 2016, by and between the Registrant and Bayside Acquisition, LLC      S-1        07/02/20      10.3   

 

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Table of Contents

Exhibit
Number

       Incorporated by Reference    Filed
Herewith
 
 

Exhibit Description

  

Form

    

Date

    

Number

10.4(a)#   2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended               X  
10.4(b)#   Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2011 Equity Incentive Plan      S-1        07/02/20      10.4(b)   
10.5(a)#   2020 Incentive Award Plan               X  
10.5(b)#   Form of Stock Option Grant Notice and Stock Option Agreement under the 2020 Incentive Award Plan      S-1        07/02/20      10.5(b)   
10.5(c)#   Form of Restricted Stock Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2020 Incentive Award Plan      S-1        07/02/20      10.5(c)   
10.5(d)#   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Grant Notice and Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the 2020 Incentive Award Plan      S-1        07/02/20      10.5(d)   
10.6#   Employee Stock Purchase Plan               X  
10.7#   Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Douglas Love, Esq.      S-1        07/02/20      10.7   
10.8#   Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Sanjay Keswani, MBBS, BSc, FRCP      S-1        07/02/20      10.8   
10.9#   Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Jennifer Lew      S-1        07/02/20      10.9   
10.10#   Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Ted Yednock, Ph.D.      S-1        07/02/20      10.10   
10.11#   Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Michael Overdorf               X  
10.12#   Non-Employee Director Compensation Program               X  
10.13   Form of Indemnification and Advancement Agreement for directors and officers      S-1        07/02/20      10.12   
21.1   List of subsidiaries      S-1        07/02/20      21.1   
23.1   Consent of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm               X  
23.2   Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)               X  
24.1   Power of Attorney (reference is made to the signature page of the initial filing of the Registration Statement)      S-1        07/02/20      24.1   

 

#

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

Certain portions of this document that constitute confidential information have been redacted in accordance with Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(10).

(b) Financial Statement Schedules.

Schedules not listed above have been omitted because the information required to be set forth therein is not applicable or is shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 17. Undertakings.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  1.  

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  2.  

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of South San Francisco, State of California on July 20, 2020.

 

ANNEXON, INC.

By:

 

/s/ Douglas Love, Esq.

 

Douglas Love, Esq.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

SIGNATURE

  

TITLE

 

DATE

/s/ Douglas Love, Esq.

Douglas Love, Esq.

   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   July 20, 2020

/s/ Jennifer Lew

Jennifer Lew

   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   July 20, 2020

*

William D. Young

   Chairman of the Board of Directors   July 20, 2020

*

Jung E. Choi

   Director   July 20, 2020

*

Emmett Cunningham, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

   Director   July 20, 2020

*

Carol Gallagher, Pharm.D.

   Director   July 20, 2020

*

Campbell Murray, M.D.

   Director   July 20, 2020

*

Muneer A. Satter

   Director  

July 20, 2020

*

Ricky Sun, Ph.D.

  

Director

 

July 20, 2020

*

Thomas G. Wiggans

  

Director

 

July 20, 2020

 

*By:

 

 

/s/ Jennifer Lew

  Jennifer Lew
  Attorney-in-Fact
EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Annexon, Inc.

[●] Shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

Underwriting Agreement

[●], 2020

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Cowen and Company, LLC

As Representatives of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10179

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

c/o Cowen and Company, LLC

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“JPM”), BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofAS”) and Cowen and Company, LLC (“Cowen”) are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of [●] shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Underwritten Shares”) and, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional [●] shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Option Shares”). The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the “Shares”. The shares of Common Stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein as the “Stock”.

JPM (the “Directed Share Underwriter”) has agreed to reserve a portion of the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement, up to [●] Shares, for sale to the Company’s directors, officers, employees, business associates and other parties related to the Company (collectively, “Participants”), as set forth in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) under the heading “Underwriting” (the “Directed Share Program”). The Shares to be sold by the Directed Share Underwriter and its affiliates pursuant to the Directed Share Program are referred to hereinafter as the “Directed Shares”. Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participant by [●] [A/P].M., New York City time on the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.


The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:

1.    Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-239647), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated [•], 2020 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.

“Applicable Time” means [•] [A/P].M., New York City time, on [•], 2020.

2.    Purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters.

(a)    The Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”), and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per share of $[•] (the “Purchase Price”) from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto.

In addition, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares.

If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Company by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make.

 

2


The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.

(b)    The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(c)    Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Cooley LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, at 4401 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, California 92121-1909, at [•] A.M., New York City time, on [•], 2020, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”, and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date”.

(d)    Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.

(e)    The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Representatives and the other Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Representatives nor the other Underwriters shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Representatives and the other Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

 

3


3.    Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

(a)    Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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 that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(b)    Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any 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 that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

(c)    Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any 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 that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter

 

4


through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(d)    Emerging Growth Company. From the time of initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communication undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on either Section 5(d) of, or Rule 163B under, the Securities Act.

(e)     Testing-the-Waters Materials. The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives (x) with entities that are qualified institutional buyers (“QIBs”) within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (a)(2), (a)(3), (a)(7) or (a)(8) under the Securities Act (“IAIs”) and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of Section 5(d) of the Securities Act or (y) with entities that the Company reasonably believed to be QIBs or IAIs and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of Rule 163B under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications by virtue of a writing substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. The Company has not distributed or approved for distribution any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Annex B hereto. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and when taken together with the Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any 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.

(f)    Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and will not contain any 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 that the Company makes no

 

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representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(g)    Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except in the case of unaudited financial statements, which are subject to normal year-end adjustments and do not contain certain footnotes as permitted by the applicable rules of the Commission; and any supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby; all disclosures included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “Exchange Act”) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.

(h)    No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

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(i)    Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement. The Company has no significant subsidiaries.

(j)    Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization” and “Description of Capital Stock”; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights that have not been duly waived or satisfied; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

(k)    Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company.

 

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(l)    Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken.

(m)    Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(n)    The Shares. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights that have not been duly waived or satisfied;

(o)    Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Market, subject to notice of issuance.

(p)    Reserved.

(q)    No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) 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 or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement 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 property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r)    No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement 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 property, right or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(s)    No Consents Required. No consent, filing, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.

(t)    Legal Proceedings. There are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (“Actions”) pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may reasonably be expected to become a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may reasonably be expected to become the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the Company, no such Actions are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(u)    Independent Accountants. KPMG LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

(v)    Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w)    Title to Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries own, or possess valid and enforceable licensed rights to use, all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, trade dress, designs, data, database rights, Internet domain names, copyrights, works of authorship, licenses, proprietary information and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be conducted

 

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(collectively, “Intellectual Property”). The Intellectual Property of the Company has not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such adjudication. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any intellectual property rights of another, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such notice or claim. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, too the Company’s knowledge: (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 Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as owned by or licensed to the Company or its subsidiaries; and (ii) there is no infringement by third parties of any Intellectual Property. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package 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 its subsidiaries infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate, or would, upon the commercialization of any product or service described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as under development, infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate, any intellectual property rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim. The Company and its subsidiaries have complied with the terms of each agreement in all material respects pursuant to which Intellectual Property has been licensed to the Company or its subsidiaries, and all such agreements are in full force and effect. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no material defects in any of the patents or patent applications included in the Intellectual Property. The patents and patent applications included in the Intellectual Property are subsisting and have not lapsed and the patent applications in the Intellectual Property are subsisting and have not been abandoned. The Company and its subsidiaries have taken all reasonable steps to protect, maintain and safeguard their Intellectual Property, including having a policy to execute appropriate nondisclosure, confidentiality agreements and invention assignment agreements and invention assignments with their employees, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company is in or has been in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement, or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the Company. To the Company’s knowledge, the duty of candor and good faith as required by the United States Patent and Trademark Office during the prosecution of the Company owned United States patents and patent applications included in the Intellectual Property have been complied with; and in all foreign offices having similar requirements, all such requirements have been complied with for the Company owned foreign patents and patent applications included in the Intellectual Property. To the Company’s knowledge, none of the Company owned Intellectual Property employed by the Company or its subsidiaries has been obtained or is being used by the Company or its subsidiary in violation of any material contractual obligation binding on the Company or its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors or employees. The product candidates described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as under development by the Company or its subsidiaries fall within the scope of the claims of one or more patents or patent applications owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Company or its subsidiaries.

 

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(x)    Trade Secrets. The Company and its subsidiaries have taken reasonable and customary actions to protect their rights in and prevent the unauthorized use and disclosure of material trade secrets and confidential business information (including confidential source code, ideas, research and development information, know-how, formulas, compositions, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, research records, records of inventions, test information, financial, marketing and business data, customer and supplier lists and information, pricing and cost information, business and marketing plans and proposals) owned by the Company and its subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there has been no unauthorized use or disclosure.

(y)     IT Assets. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the computers, software, hardware, applications, databases, servers, networks, data communications lines, and other information technology assets or systems owned, licensed, leased or otherwise used by the Company or its subsidiaries (excluding any public networks) (collectively, the “IT Assets”) are adequate for, and operate and perform as is necessary for the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, such IT Assets are not infected by viruses, disabling code or other harmful code.    The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards designed to maintain and protect Personal Data (as defined below) and sensitive, confidential or regulated information (collectively, “Confidential Data”) and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Assets used in connection with their businesses. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and to the knowledge of the Company, (1) there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor (2) any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. “Personal Data” means any information that constitutes “personal data”, “personal information”, “personally identifiable information”, “protected health information” under applicable law.

(z)    Data Privacy and Security Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except where non-compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries are, and have since March 1, 2017 been, in compliance with all applicable state, federal, and foreign data privacy, security and consumer protection laws and regulations, including without limitation, to the extent applicable, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH Act”), the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”) and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have since March 1, 2017 made all disclosures to users or customers required by Privacy Laws, and none of such disclosures have, to the knowledge of the Company, been inaccurate or in violation of Privacy Laws. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary: (i) has received written notice of any actual or potential liability, including, but not limited to security or data privacy breaches or other unauthorized or unlawful access to, use of, or destruction of its Confidential Data or Personal Data, under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of

 

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the Privacy Laws, and to the Company’s knowledge, no such notices are threatened or pending; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement with any governmental, regulatory or supervisory authority or body that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.

(aa)    No Complaints. There is no complaint to or audit, proceeding, investigation (formal or informal) or claim currently pending against the Company or its subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Company, any of its customers (specific to the customer’s use of the products or services of the Company) by any state Attorney General or related office, the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and any office contained therein (“HHS”), or any similar authority in any jurisdiction other than the United States or any other governmental entity, or by any person in respect of the collection, use or disclosure of Personal Data by the Company or its subsidiaries, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such complaint, audit, proceeding, investigation or claim is threatened.

(bb)    FDA Compliance. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company: (A) is, and has since March 1, 2017 been, in compliance with all applicable statutes, rules or regulations of the FDA relating to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export or disposal of any product under development, manufactured or distributed by the Company (“Applicable Laws”); (B) has not received any FDA Form 483, written notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or written notice from the FDA or any similar governmental entity in each case alleging or asserting material noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, exemptions, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws (“Authorizations”); (C) possesses all Authorizations required for the conduct of its business and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and the Company is not in violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (D) has not received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from the FDA or any governmental entity or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in material violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that the FDA or any governmental entity or third party has threatened any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; and (E) has not received written notice that the FDA or any governmental entity has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any material Authorizations and has no knowledge that the FDA or any governmental entity is considering such action.

(cc)    Tests and Preclinical and Clinical Trials. The studies, tests and preclinical and clinical trials conducted by or, to the Company’s knowledge, on behalf of the Company were and, if still ongoing, are being conducted in all material respects in accordance with experimental protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to, where applicable, all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and any applicable rules and regulations of the jurisdiction in which such trials and studies are being conducted; except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any studies, tests or trials, the results of which the Company believes materially call into question the study, test, or trial results described or referred to in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus when viewed in the context in which such results are

 

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described and the clinical state of development; and, except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company has not received any written notices or correspondence from the FDA or any governmental entity requiring the termination or suspension of any studies, tests or preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of the Company, other than ordinary course communications with respect to modifications in connection with the design and implementation of such trials.

(dd)    Compliance with Health Care Laws. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: the Company and its subsidiaries are, and have since March 1, 2017 been, in compliance with all Health Care Laws. For purposes of this Agreement, “Health Care Laws” means: (i) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder; and (ii) all applicable federal, state, local and foreign health care fraud and abuse laws, including, without limitation, the U.S. Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(b)), the U.S. Civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq.), the criminal False Statements Law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(a)), 18 U.S.C. Sections 286, 287, 1035, 1347, and 1349 the health care fraud criminal provisions under HIPAA , the civil monetary penalties law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7a), the exclusions law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7), and the Physician Payments Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C Section 1320-7h); and the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in material violation of any Health Care Laws nor, to the Company’s knowledge, has any such claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action been threatened. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have filed, maintained or submitted all reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Health Care Laws, and all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and accurate on the date filed in all respects (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, or any of their respective employees, officers, directors, or to the Company’s knowledge, any of their respective agents, is a party to any corporate integrity agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, or similar agreements with or imposed by any governmental or regulatory authority. Additionally, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any of their respective employees, officers, directors, or to the Company’s knowledge, its agents, has been excluded, suspended or debarred from participation in any U.S. federal health care program or human clinical research or, to the knowledge of the Company, is subject to a governmental inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or other similar action that would reasonably be expected to result in debarment, suspension, or exclusion.

(ee)    No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(ff)    Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to

 

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register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

(gg)    Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof; and except as otherwise disclosed in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or is reasonably expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets; in each case, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect..

(hh)    Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no party granting any such licenses, certificates, permits or other authorizations has taken any action to limit, suspend or revoke the same in any material respect. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required and all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were timely, complete and correct on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission) as required for maintenance of their licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations that are necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses.

(ii)    No Labor Disputes. (i) No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and (ii) the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(jj)    Certain Environmental Matters. (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (x) are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to pollution or the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (y) have received and are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under any Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (z)

 

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have not received written notice of any actual or potential liability or obligation under or relating to, or any actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in each of the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (x) there is no proceeding that is pending, or that is known by the Company to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which the Company reasonably believes no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (z) none of the Company or its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

(kk)    Hazardous Materials. There has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials by, relating to or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or at, on, under or from any other property or facility, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “Hazardous Materials” means any material, chemical, substance, waste, pollutant, contaminant, compound, mixture, or constituent thereof, in any form or amount, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) and petroleum products, natural gas liquids, asbestos and asbestos containing materials, naturally occurring radioactive materials, brine, and drilling mud, regulated or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, or migrating in, into or through the environment, or in, into from or through any building or structure.

(ll)    Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or any entity that would be regarded as a single employer with the Company under Section 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Code) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to 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) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of

 

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the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no Plan has failed (whether or not waived), or is reasonably expected to fail, to satisfy the minimum funding standards (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code) applicable to such Plan; (iv) no Plan is, or is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk status” (within the meaning of Section 303(i) of ERISA) and no Plan that is a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA is in “endangered status” or “critical status” (within the meaning of Sections 304 and 305 of ERISA) (v) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (vi) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA and the regulations promulgated thereunder) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (vii) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter, or is entitled to rely on an opinion letter, from the Internal Revenue Service, and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification; (viii) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (ix) none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (A) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its Controlled Group affiliates in the current fiscal year of the Company and its Controlled Group affiliates compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s and its Controlled Group affiliates’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (B) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Accounting Standards Codification Topic 715-60) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year, except in each case with respect to the events or conditions set forth in (i) through (ix) hereof, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(mm)    Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in 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 controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(nn)    Accounting Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that are designed to comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable

 

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intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

(oo)    Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are generally maintained by similarly situated companies and which the Company believes are reasonably adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (i) 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 or (ii) 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 at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(pp)    No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, affiliate 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 or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

(qq)    Compliance with Anti-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, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

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(rr)    No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, or affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea Region of the Ukraine (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(ss)    No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(tt)    No Broker’s 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 the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

(uu)    No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares, except for such rights as have been waived.

(vv)    No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, affiliates have taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

(ww)    Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in each of the Registration

 

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Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(xx)    Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(yy)    Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(zz)    Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans.

(aaa)    Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

(bbb)    No Ratings. There are (and prior to the Closing Date, will be) no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

(ccc)    Cybersecurity. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except where non-compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Assets and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Assets and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

(ddd)    Directed Share Program. The Company represents and warrants that (i) the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses comply in all material respects, and any further amendments or supplements thereto will comply in all material respects, with any applicable laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and that (ii) no authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration or qualification of or

 

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with any government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have been obtained, is necessary under the securities laws and regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered outside the United States. The Company has not offered, or caused the underwriters to offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its products.

4.    Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a)    Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

(b)    Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, three signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c)    Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.

(d)    Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing (which may be by electronic mail), (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing-the-Waters Communication; (v) of the issuance by the Commission or any other

 

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governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or the initiation or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package, or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Written Testing-the-Waters Communication is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e)    Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

(f)    Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the

 

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Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g)    Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its securityholders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement; provided that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such statements to its securityholders and the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).

(h)    Clear Market. For a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Restricted Period”), the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with, or submit to, the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition, submission or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap, hedging, or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of JPM, BofAS and Cowen; provided, however, that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (1) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (2) any shares of Stock issued upon the conversion of convertible preferred stock described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus outstanding on the date of this Agreement in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, (3) the grant or issuance of any shares of Stock or any securities or other awards (including without limitation options, restricted stock or restricted stock units) convertible into, exercisable for, or that represent the right to receive, shares of Stock pursuant to any Company Stock Plan or otherwise in equity compensation arrangements described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (4) any shares of Stock issued upon the conversion, exercise (whether such exercise is for cash or “cashless”) or exchange of convertible, exercisable or exchangeable securities outstanding on the date of this Agreement and described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus granted pursuant to any plan in effect on the date hereof and described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (5) the filing by the Company of any registration statement on Form S-8 or a successor form thereto relating to any Company Stock Plan described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and (6) any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, shares of Stock issued in connection with any bona fide licensing, commercialization, joint venture, technology transfer, acquisition, development collaboration or other strategic transaction, provided that the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock (on an as-converted or as-exercised basis, as the case may be) that the Company may sell or issue or agree to sell or issue as described in this clause (6) shall not exceed 5% of the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that the recipient of any such shares of Stock or securities issued pursuant to clauses (2), (3), (4) and (6) during the Restricted Period shall enter into a “lock-up” agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit A.

 

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(i)    If JPM, BofAS and Cowen in their sole discretion, agree to release or waive the restrictions set forth in a lock-up letter described in Section 6(l) hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto at least three business days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver.

(j)    Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.

(k)    No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor its subsidiaries or affiliates will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.

(l)    Exchange Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on the Nasdaq Market.

(m)    Reports. During a period of three years from the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as commercially reasonable after the date they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on EDGAR.

(n)    Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(o)    Filings. The Company will file with the Commission such reports as may be required by Rule 463 under the Securities Act.

(p)    Emerging Growth Company. The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (i) completion of the distribution of Shares within the meaning of the Securities Act and (ii) completion of the Restricted Period.

(q)    FinCEN. The Company will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), on or prior to the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as each Underwriter may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.

(r)    Directed Share Program. The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.

 

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5.    Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a)    It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing.

(b)    It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company; provided further that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.

(c)    It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

6.    Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a)    Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

(b)    Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(c)    No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(h) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the

 

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Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(d)    Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representatives, on behalf of the Company and not in their individual capacities, (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(f) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above.

(e)    Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, KPMG LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(f)    Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter of Counsel for the Company. Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(g)    Opinion of Intellectual Property Counsel for the Company. Foley Hoag LLP, intellectual property counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(h)    Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and negative assurance letter of Cooley LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(i)    No Legal Impediment to Issuance and Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal,

 

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state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares.

(j)    Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(k)    Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Market, subject to official notice of issuance.

(l)    Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and substantially all of the securityholders, officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.

(m)    Chief Financial Officer Certificate. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, of its chief financial officer with respect to certain financial data contained in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.

(n)    Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7.    Indemnification and Contribution.

(a)    Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented legal fees and other reasonable and documented expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”) or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement

 

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or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b)    Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the information contained in the fourteenth and fifteenth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c)    Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate

 

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firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person 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 the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d)    Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) or (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, 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 by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e)    Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (d) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with

 

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any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (d) and (e), in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter 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. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (d) and (e) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f)    Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

(g)    Directed Share Program Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Directed Share Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Directed Share Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each a “Directed Share Underwriter Entity”) from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with defending or investigating any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities.

(h)    In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Directed Share Underwriter Entity in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph (g) above, the Directed Share Underwriter Entity seeking indemnity shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company, upon request of the Directed Share Underwriter Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Directed Share Underwriter Entity to represent the Directed Share Underwriter Entity and any others the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Directed Share Underwriter Entity unless (i) the Company and such Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the Company has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Directed Share Underwriter Entity, (iii) the Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Company or (iv) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the Directed Share Underwriter Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Directed Share Underwriter Entities. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent, the Company

 

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agrees to indemnify the Directed Share Underwriter Entities from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time any Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall have requested the Company to reimburse such Directed Share Underwriter Entity for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Company 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 the Company of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed such Directed Share Underwriter Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Directed Share Underwriter, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Directed Share Underwriter Entity is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Directed Share Underwriter Entity, unless (x) such settlement includes an unconditional release of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of the Directed Share Underwriter Entity.

(i)    To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (g) above is unavailable to a Directed Share Underwriter Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Company in lieu of indemnifying the Directed Share Underwriter Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Directed Share Underwriter Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (1) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or (2) if the allocation provided by clause 7(i)(1) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 7(i)(1) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand in connection with any 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 Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Directed Shares. If the loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Directed Share Underwriter Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(j)    The Company and the Directed Share Underwriter Entities agree that it would be not just or equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (i) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Directed Share Underwriter Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (i) above. The amount paid or payable by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Directed Share Underwriter Entities in connection with investigating or defending such any action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (i) above, no Directed Share Underwriter Entity shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the

 

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Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Directed Share Underwriter Entity has otherwise been required to pay. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in paragraphs (g) through (j) are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(k)    The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in paragraphs (g) through (j) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Directed Share Underwriter Entity or the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.

8.    Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.

9.    Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date: (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

10.    Defaulting Underwriter.

(a)    If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b)    If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in

 

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paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c)    If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d)    Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11.    Payment of Expenses.

(a)    Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum and any “Canadian wrapper” (including the related and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if applicable; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA (including the related and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters), provided that the fees and expenses pursuant to clauses (iv) and (vii) shall not, in the aggregate, exceed $35,000; (viii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors (provided that subject to the Company’s and Representatives’ prior written approval of each such expense, the cost of any chartered plane to be used in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors will be paid 50% by the Company and 50% by the Underwriters); (ix) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq Market; and (x) all of the fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program, and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section 11 or Section 7 hereof, the Underwriters will pay their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on the resale of

 

32


any of the Shares owned by them, any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make and all travel (except as set forth in clause (viii) above), lodging and other expenses of the Underwriters, any of their employees, their representatives and counsel.

(b)    If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 11(b), the Company shall in no event be liable to any of the Underwriters for any other amounts (for the avoidance of doubt, not including any amounts under Section 7 hereof), including, without limitation, damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale of the Shares. For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that the Company shall not pay or reimburse any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any Underwriter that defaults on its obligations to purchase the Shares.

12.    Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13.    Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters or the directors, officers, controlling persons or affiliates referred to in Section 7 hereof.

14.    Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and (d) the term “significant subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act. In the event that the Company has only one subsidiary, then all references herein to “subsidiaries” of the Company shall be deemed to refer to such single subsidiary, mutatis mutandis.

15.    Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

16.    Miscellaneous.

(a)    Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o J.P. Morgan

 

33


Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, c/o BofA Securities, Inc., One Bryant Park , New York, New York 10036, Attention: Syndicate Department (fax: (646) 855-3073), with a copy to ECM Legal (fax: (212) 230-8730), and c/o Cowen and Company, LLC, 599 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at Annexon, Inc., 180 Kimball Way, Suite 200, South San Francisco, California 94080; Attention: Chief Financial Officer (e-mail: *****), with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Latham & Watkins LLP, 140 Scott Drive, Menlo Park, California 94025, Attention: Kathleen M. Wells and Brian J. Cuneo (e-mail: kathleen.wells@lw.com and brian.cuneo@lw.com).

(b)    Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(c)    Submission to Jurisdiction. The Company hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. The Company agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which Company is subject by a suit upon such judgment.

(d)    Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any suit or legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(e)    Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

As used in this Section 16(e):

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

 

34


(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(f)    Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

(g)    Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(h)    Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

(i)    Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

35


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

Very truly yours,

ANNEXON, INC.

By:

 

 

  Name:
  Title:

Accepted: As of the date first written above

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

For themselves and on behalf of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto.

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

 

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Signatory

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]


Schedule 1

 

Underwriter

  

Number of Shares

    

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

          

BofA Securities, Inc.

     

Cowen and Company, LLC

     
  

 

  
Total                                   
  

 

  


Annex A

 

a.

Pricing Disclosure Package

None.

 

b.

Pricing Information

Number of Underwritten Shares: [●]

Number of Option Shares: [●]

Public Offering Price: $[●] per Share


Annex B

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

 

Annexon TTW presentation


Annex C

Annexon, Inc.

Pricing Term Sheet

[TO COME]


Exhibit A

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

                    , 20[🌑]

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

As Representatives of

the several Underwriters listed in

Schedule 1 to the Underwriting

Agreement referred to below

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10179

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, NY 10036

c/o Cowen and Company, LLC

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Re:     Annexon, Inc. (the “Company”) — Initial Public Offering

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned understands that you, as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company, providing for the initial public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters named in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Securities”). Capitalized terms used in this letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.

In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, and will not cause any direct or indirect affiliate to, during the period beginning on the date of this Letter Agreement and ending at the close of business 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (such period, the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including, without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the


rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) (the “Other Securities” and together with the Common Stock, the “Lockup Securities”), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lockup Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lockup Securities, or publicly disclose the intention to undertake any of the foregoing (and, for the avoidance of doubt, the undersigned hereby waives any and all notice requirements and rights with respect to the registration of any securities pursuant to any agreement, instrument, understanding or otherwise, including any stockholders or registration rights agreement or similar agreement, to which the undersigned is a party or under which the undersigned is entitled to any right or benefit; provided, however, that such waiver shall apply only to the proposed Public Offering), in each case other than (A) the Securities to be sold by the undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (B) transfers of shares of Common Stock as a bona fide gift or gifts, (C) transfers or dispositions of shares of Common Stock to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, (D) transfers or dispositions of shares of Common Stock to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity all of the beneficial ownership interests of which are held by the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, (E) transfers or dispositions of shares of Common Stock by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned, (F) distributions of shares of Common Stock to partners, members or stockholders of the undersigned, (G) transfers to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by, controlling or managing, or under common control with, the undersigned, and (H) transfers pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of the Common Stock and involving a Change of Control of the Company approved by the board of directors of the Company, provided that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Common Stock owned by the undersigned shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Letter Agreement; provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) or (G), each transferee, donee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter in the form of this Letter Agreement; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer, disposition or distribution pursuant to clause (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) or (G), no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period referred to above or the filing of a required Schedule 13F or 13G) and any such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value). If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, the undersigned further agrees that the foregoing provisions shall be equally applicable to any Company-directed Securities the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition (whether by the undersigned or someone other than the undersigned) or transfer of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any shares of Lockup Securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise. For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin. For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “Change of Control” shall mean the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section


13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of more than 90% of total voting power of the voting stock of the Company. The undersigned further confirms that it has furnished the Representatives with the details of any transaction the undersigned, or any of its affiliates, is a party to as of the date hereof, which transaction would have been restricted by this Letter Agreement if it had been entered into by the undersigned during the Lock-Up Period.

[If the undersigned is not a natural person, the undersigned represents and warrants that no single natural person, entity or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than a natural person, entity or “group” (as described above) that has executed a Letter Agreement in substantially the same form as this Letter Agreement, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the common equity interests, or 50% or more of the voting power, in the undersigned.]1

Furthermore, notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by this Letter Agreement, the undersigned may, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (1) exercise on a cash basis of any option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted under any stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company disclosed in the Prospectus, provided that the underlying shares of Common Stock shall continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Letter Agreement, and provided further that any required filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause (1) above and no other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or surrender, (2) establish a trading plan pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of Common Stock, provided that such plan does not provide for any transfers of Common Stock during the Lock-Up Period, and provided, further, that no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection therewith during the Lock-Up Period, (3) transfer or dispose of shares of Common Stock acquired in the Public Offering or on the open market following the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or disposition during the Lock-Up Period (other than a required filing on a Schedule 13F or 13G), (4) transfer or surrender to the Company shares of Common Stock (or any security convertible into Common Stock) (a) pursuant to a right of first refusal described in the Prospectus with respect to transfers of such shares of Common Stock or other securities, provided that no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or disposition during the Lock-Up Period, or (b) to the Company for purposes of exercising or settling (including for the payment of tax withholdings due as a result of such exercise or settlement) on a “net exercise,” “net settlement” or “cashless” basis any equity award, provided such equity award was granted under a stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company described in the Prospectus, and provided further that no filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act or other public filing, report or announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period referred to above) within 60 days after the date of the Prospectus, and after such 60th day, if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16 of the Exchange Act during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer, and (5) transfer or dispose of Lockup Securities by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement or other court order, provided that the recipient of such shares of Common Stock shall execute

 

1 

To include only for entities signing.


and deliver to the Representatives a lock-up letter in the form of this Letter Agreement, provided, further that any required filing under Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto that the filing relates to the circumstances described in this clause (5) above.

In the event that, during the Lock-Up Period, the Representatives release or waive any prohibition set forth in this agreement on the transfer of shares of Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, held by any director, officer or Significant Holder (as defined below), the same percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned on the date of such release or waiver as the percentage of the total number of outstanding shares of Common Stock held by such director, officer or such Significant Holder on the date of such release or waiver that are the subject of such waiver shall be immediately and fully released on the same terms from the applicable prohibition(s) set forth herein. For the purposes of the foregoing, a “Significant Holder” shall mean any person or entity that (together with any investment funds affiliated with such person or entity) beneficially owns 5% or more of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply (1) if the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not involving a disposition for value, (2) if the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of transfer, (3) in the case of any secondary underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock (including a secondary underwritten public offering with a primary component), (4) if the release or waiver is granted to any individual party by the Representatives in an amount of Common Stock, individually or in the aggregate, less than or equal to $5,000,000, or (5) if the release or waiver is granted due to circumstances of an emergency or hardship as determined by the Representatives in their sole judgment. The Representatives shall use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly notify the Company of each such release (provided that the failure to provide such notice shall not give rise to any claim or liability against the Representatives or the Underwriters). The undersigned further acknowledges that the Representatives are under no obligation to inquire into whether, or to ensure that, the Company notifies the undersigned of the delivery by the Representatives of any such notice, which is a matter between the undersigned and the Company.

If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters agree that, at least three business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing restrictions in connection with a transfer of shares of Common Stock, the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver, and (ii) the Company has agreed in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver by press release through a major news service at least two business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective two business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer not for consideration and (b) the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this letter to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of the transfer.

In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.


The undersigned shall automatically be released from all obligations under this letter agreement if: (i) the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by December 31, 2020 (provided, however, that the undersigned agrees that this Letter Agreement shall be automatically extended by three months if the Company provides written notice to the undersigned that the Company is still pursuing the Public Offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement); (ii) if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder; (iii) either the Company, on the one hand, or the Representatives, on the other hand, notifies the other in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the Public Offering; or (iv) the registration statement filed with the SEC in connection with the Public Offering is withdrawn. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.

[Signature Page Follows]


This letter agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.

 

Very truly yours,

    

Name of Security Holder (Print exact name)
By:  

    

  Signature
If not signing in an individual capacity:

    

Name of Authorized Signatory (Print)

    

Title of Authorized Signatory (Print)
(indicate capacity of person signing if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)


Exhibit B

Form of Waiver of Lock-up

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

Annexon, Inc.

Public Offering of Common Stock

[●], 2020

[Name and Address of

Officer or Director

Requesting Waiver]

Dear Mr./Ms. [Name]:

This letter is being delivered to you in connection with the offering by Annexon, Inc. (the “Company”) of                shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company and the lock-up letter dated [●], 20[●] (the “Lock-up Letter”), executed by you in connection with such offering, and your request for a [waiver] [release] dated [●], 20[●], with respect to                shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”).

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC hereby agree to [waive] [release] the transfer restrictions set forth in the Lock-up Letter, but only with respect to the Shares, effective    , 20[●]; provided, however, that such [waiver] [release] is conditioned on the Company announcing the impending [waiver] [release] by press release through a major news service at least two business days before effectiveness of such [waiver] [release]. This letter will serve as notice to the Company of the impending [waiver] [release].

Except as expressly [waived] [released] hereby, the Lock-up Letter shall remain in full force and effect.

[Signature Page Follows]


Yours very truly,
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
By:  

    

Name:  
Title:  
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By:  

    

Name:  
Title:  
COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC
By:  

    

Name:  
Title:  

cc: Company


Exhibit C

Form of Press Release

Annexon, Inc.

[Date]

Annexon, Inc. (the “Company”) announced today that J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC, the joint book-running managers in the Company’s recent public sale of shares of common stock, are [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to            shares of the Company’s common stock held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on                 , 20[●], and the shares may be sold on or after such date.

This press release is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer is prohibited, and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

ANNEXON, INC.

Annexon, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), certifies that:

1.    The name of the Corporation is Annexon, Inc. The Corporation’s original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 3, 2011.

2.    The Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 15, 2011, the Corporation’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on October 1, 2013, the Corporation’s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware on December 10, 2014, the Corporation’s Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 3, 2016 and the Corporation’s Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 4, 2018.

3.    This Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, and has been duly approved by the written consent of the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

4.    The text of the Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation is amended and restated to read as set forth in EXHIBIT A attached hereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Annexon, Inc. has caused this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by Douglas Love, a duly authorized officer of the Corporation, on June 29, 2020.

/s/ Douglas Love                                                     

Douglas Love, Chief Executive Officer


EXHIBIT A

ARTICLE I

The name of the Corporation is Annexon, Inc.

ARTICLE II

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE III

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 3500 South DuPont Highway, City of Dover, County of Kent, zip code 19901. The name of the registered agent at such address is Incorporating Services, Ltd.

ARTICLE IV

The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is four hundred twenty-two million, five hundred sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred twenty-four (422,567,924), consisting of two hundred thirty-nine million, one hundred thousand (239,100,000) shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and one hundred eighty-three million, four hundred sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred twenty-four (183,467,924) shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share. The first series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series A Preferred Stock” and shall consist of one million fifteen thousand four hundred thirty-four (1,015,434) shares; the second series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series A-1 Preferred Stock” and shall consist of sixteen million, three hundred ninety-eight thousand, nine hundred ninety-five (16,398,995) shares; the third series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series B Preferred Stock” and shall consist of thirty eight million, seven hundred seventy-eight thousand, ninety (38,778,090) shares; the fourth series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series C Preferred Stock” and shall consist of fifty-five million, five hundred fifty-five thousand, five hundred forty-six (55,555,546) shares; and the fifth series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series D Preferred Stock” and shall consist of seventy-one million, seven hundred nineteen thousand, eight hundred fifty-nine (71,719,859) shares.

ARTICLE V

The terms and provisions of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock are as follows:

1.    Definitions. For purposes of this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)    “Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any specified person, any other person who or which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified person, including, without limitation any partner, member, officer, director, manager or employee of such person and any venture capital fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one or more general partners or managing members of, or is under common investment management with, such person.

(b)    “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

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(c)    “Conversion Price” shall mean the Series D Conversion Price, Series C Conversion Price, Series B Conversion Price, Series A-1 Conversion Price or Series A Conversion Price, as applicable.

(d)    “Convertible Securities” shall mean any evidences of indebtedness, shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock.

(e)    “Corporation” shall mean Annexon, Inc.

(f)    “Distribution” shall mean the transfer of cash or other property without consideration whether by way of dividend or otherwise, other than dividends on Common Stock payable solely in Common Stock or the purchase or redemption of shares of the Corporation by the Corporation or its subsidiaries for cash or property other than: (i) repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation upon termination of their employment or services pursuant to agreements in effect at the Effective Time or approved by the Board of Directors after the Effective Time and providing for the right of said repurchase, (ii) repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries pursuant to rights of first refusal contained in agreements in effect at the Effective Time or approved by the Board of Directors after the Effective Time providing for such right, (iii) repurchase of capital stock of the Corporation in connection with the settlement of disputes with any stockholder, provided that such settlement is approved by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors), and (iv) any other repurchase or redemption of capital stock of the Corporation approved by the Requisite Preferred Consent.

(g)    “Dividend Rate” shall mean $0.085 per share for the Series D Preferred Stock; $0.081 per share for the Series C Preferred Stock; $0.069 per share for the Series B Preferred Stock and $0.063 per share for the Series A-1 Preferred Stock (each as subject to adjustment from time to time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(h)    “Effective Time” shall mean the time and date of the filing of this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

(i)    “Options” shall mean rights, options or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire Common Stock or Convertible Securities.

(j)    “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.

(k)    “Preferred Stock” shall mean, collectively, the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock and the Series D Preferred Stock.

(l)    “Recapitalization” shall mean any stock dividend, stock split, combination of shares, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification or other similar event.

(m)    “Requisite Preferred Consent” shall mean the consent or vote of the holders of at least sixty percent (60%) of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting as a single class and on an as-converted basis.

(n)    “Series A Conversion Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $0.9848 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

 

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(o)    “Series A-1 Conversion Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.05 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(p)    “Series B Conversion Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.15 per share for the Series B Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(q)    “Series C Conversion Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.35 per share for the Series C Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(r)    “Series D Conversion Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.4222 per share for the Series D Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(s)    Series A Distribution Preference” as of the Effective Time shall mean $0.9848 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(t)    “Series A-1 Distribution Preference” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.05 per share for the Series A-1 Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(u)    “Series B Distribution Preference” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.15 per share for the Series B Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(v)    “Series C Distribution Preference” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.35 per share for the Series C Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(w)    “Series D Distribution Preference” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.4222 per share for the Series D Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(x)    “Series A Original Issue Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $0.9848 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(y)    “Series A-1 Original Issue Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.05 per share for the Series A-1 Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(z)    “Series B Original Issue Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.15 per share for the Series B Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

 

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(aa)    “Series C Original Issue Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.35 per share for the Series C Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(bb)    “Series D Original Issue Price” as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.4222 per share for the Series D Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(cc)    “Series A Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount as of the Effective Time shall mean $1.9696 per share for the Series A Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(dd)     “Series A-1 Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount as of the Effective Time shall mean $2.10 per share for the Series A-1 Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(ee)    “Series B Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount as of the Effective Time shall mean $2.30 per share for the Series A-1 Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(ff)    “Series C Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount” as of the Effective Time shall mean $2.70 per share for the Series C Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

(gg)    “Series D Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount” as of the Effective Time shall mean $2.8444 per share for the Series D Preferred Stock (subject to adjustment from time to time after the Effective Time for Recapitalizations and as otherwise set forth elsewhere herein).

2.    Dividends.

(a)    Preferred Stock.

(i)    In any calendar year, the holders of the outstanding shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and the outstanding shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets at the time available therefor, at the Dividend Rate applicable to such series of Preferred Stock, payable on a pari passu basis and in preference and priority to any declaration or payment of any Distribution on Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock of the Corporation in such calendar year. No Distributions shall be made with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock unless all declared dividends on the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and the Series A-1 Preferred Stock have been paid to the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and the Series A-1 Preferred Stock holders, respectively. The right to receive dividends on shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall not be cumulative, and no right to dividends shall accrue to holders of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series A-1 Preferred Stock by reason of the fact that dividends on said shares are not declared or paid.

(ii)    In any calendar year, subject to the prior dividend rights of the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and the Series A-1 Preferred Stock set

 

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forth in Section 2(a)(i), and the consent of the Requisite Preferred Consent, the holders of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of any assets at the time available therefor, payable in preference and priority to any declaration or payment of any dividend on Common Stock of the Corporation in such calendar year. No Distributions shall be made with respect to the Common Stock unless all declared dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock have been paid to the Series A Preferred Stock holders. The right to receive dividends on shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be cumulative, and no right to dividends shall accrue to holders of Series A Preferred Stock by reason of the fact that dividends on said shares are not declared or paid.

(b)    Common Stock. Dividends may be paid on the Common Stock when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, subject to the prior dividend rights of the Preferred Stock and to Section 8 and to Section 2(c) below.

(c)    Additional Dividends. The Corporation shall not declare, set aside or pay any dividends on any share of Common Stock (other than dividends on Common Stock payable solely in Common Stock) unless a dividend (including the amount of any dividends paid pursuant to the above provisions of this Section 2) is declared, set aside or paid with respect to all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock in an amount for each such share of Preferred Stock at least equal to the aggregate amount of the dividends for all shares of Common Stock into which each such share of Preferred Stock could then be converted, calculated on the record date for determination of holders entitled to receive such dividend.

(d)    Consent to Certain Distributions. As authorized by Section 402.5(c) of the California Corporations Code, if Section 502 or Section 503 of the California Corporations Code is applicable to a payment made by the Corporation then such applicable section or sections shall not apply if such payment is a payment made by the Corporation in connection with (i) repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries upon termination of their employment or services pursuant to agreements in effect at the Effective Time or approved by the Board of Directors after the Effective Time and providing for the right of said repurchase, (ii) repurchases of Common Stock issued to or held by employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Corporation or its subsidiaries pursuant to rights of first refusal contained in agreements in effect at the Effective Time or approved by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors) after the Effective Time providing for such right, (iii) repurchases of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in connection with the settlement of disputes with any stockholder, provided that such settlement is approved by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors), (iv) any other repurchase or redemption of Common Stock or Preferred Stock approved by Requisite Preferred Consent.

(e)    Waiver of Dividends. Any dividend preference of any series of Preferred Stock may be waived, in whole or in part, by the consent or vote of the holders of the majority of the outstanding shares of such series; provided that, (i) with respect to any series vote of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, such majority shall include at least three of the four largest holders of Series B Preferred Stock (with shares held by Affiliates aggregated for purposes of determining the largest holders) (the “Series B Waiver”) and (ii) with respect to any series vote of the holders of Series C Preferred Stock, such majority shall include a holder or holders of at least 7,400,000 shares of Series C Preferred Stock (as adjusted for stock splits, recapitalizations and similar events) in the aggregate (the “Series C Waiver”).

3.    Liquidation Distribution Rights.

(a)    Tier 1 Distributions. In the event of any Deemed Liquidation Event (as defined below), either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B

 

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Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on a pari passu basis, prior and in preference to any Distribution of any of the assets of the Corporation to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock or Common Stock by reason of their ownership of such stock, (w) an amount per share for each share of Series D Preferred Stock held by them equal to the sum of (i) the Series D Distribution Preference specified for such share of Series D Preferred Stock and (ii) all declared but unpaid dividends (if any) on such share of Series D Preferred Stock, (x) an amount per share for each share of Series C Preferred Stock held by them equal to the sum of (i) the Series C Distribution Preference specified for such share of Series C Preferred Stock and (ii) all declared but unpaid dividends (if any) on such share of Series C Preferred Stock, (y) an amount per share for each share of Series B Preferred Stock held by them equal to the sum of (i) the Series B Distribution Preference specified for such share of Series B Preferred Stock and (ii) all declared but unpaid dividends (if any) on such share of Series B Preferred Stock, and (z) an amount per share for each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock held by them equal to the sum of (i) the Series A-1 Distribution Preference specified for such share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock and (ii) all declared but unpaid dividends (if any) on such share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock. If upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, the assets of the Corporation available for Distribution to the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock are insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full amounts specified in this Section 3(a), then the entire assets of the Corporation available for Distribution shall be distributed with equal priority and pro rata among the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock in proportion to the full amounts they would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 3(a).

(b)    Tier 2 Distributions. In the event of any Deemed Liquidation Event, either voluntary or involuntary, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, prior and in preference to any Distribution of any of the assets of the Corporation to the holders of the Common Stock by reason of their ownership of such stock, an amount per share for each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by them equal to the sum of (i) the Series A Distribution Preference specified for such share of Series A Preferred Stock and (ii) all declared but unpaid dividends (if any) on such share of Series A Preferred Stock. If upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, and after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the assets of the Corporation available for Distribution to the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full amounts specified in this Section 3(b), then the remaining assets of the Corporation available for Distribution shall be distributed with equal priority and pro rata among the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock in proportion to the full amounts they would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 3(b).

(c)    Tier 3 Distributions. After the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid to the holders of shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock, Series A-1 Preferred Stock and Series A Preferred Stock pursuant to Sections 3(a) and 3(b) above, Distributions by the Corporation shall be distributed, with equal priority and pro rata (but subject to the below proviso) among the holders of the Preferred Stock and Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them with the shares of Preferred Stock being treated for this purpose as if they had been converted to shares of Common Stock at the then applicable Conversion Rate, until the aggregate amount of all Distributions paid with respect to each share of Preferred Stock equals, with respect to the Series D Preferred Stock, the Series D Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount; with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount; with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, with respect to the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-1 Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, and with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount; and provided, that the aggregate

 

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amount of all Distributions paid with respect to each share of Series D Preferred Stock shall not exceed the Series D Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, the aggregate amount of all Distributions paid with respect to each share of Series C Preferred Stock shall not exceed the Series C Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, the aggregate amount of all Distributions paid with respect to each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall not exceed the Series B Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, the aggregate amount of all Distributions paid with respect to each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall not exceed the Series A-1 Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, and the aggregate amount of all Distributions paid with respect to each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall not exceed the Series A Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount.

(d)    Tier 4 Distributions. After Distributions equal to the Series D Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to the holders of Series D Preferred Stock, the Series C Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to the holders of Series C Preferred Stock, the Series B Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, the Series A-1 Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to the holders of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, and the Series A Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to the holders of Series A Preferred Stock have been paid with respect to each share of Preferred Stock, pursuant to Section 3(c), Distributions by the Corporation shall be distributed pro rata among the holders of Common Stock in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them.

(e)    Reorganization. For purposes of this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, “Deemed Liquidation Event” shall mean a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation shall be deemed to be occasioned by, or to include, (i) the acquisition of the Corporation by another Person by means of any transaction or series of related transactions to which the Corporation is party (including, without limitation, any stock acquisition, reorganization, merger or consolidation but excluding any sale of stock for capital raising purposes) other than a transaction or series of related transactions in which the holders of the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior to such transaction or series of related transactions retain, immediately after such transaction or series of related transactions, as a result of shares in the Corporation held by such holders prior to such transaction or series of related transactions, at least a majority of the total voting power represented by the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation or such other surviving or resulting entity (or if the Corporation or such other surviving or resulting entity is a wholly-owned subsidiary immediately following such acquisition, its parent); (ii) a sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets or intellectual property of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole by means of any transaction or series of related transactions, except where such sale, lease, transfer, exclusive license or other disposition is to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation; or (iii) any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary. The treatment of any transaction or series of related transactions as a Deemed Liquidation Event pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of the preceding sentence may be waived by the Requisite Preferred Consent.

(f)    Valuation of Non-Cash Consideration. If any assets of the Corporation distributed to stockholders in connection with any Distribution are other than cash, then the value of such assets shall be their fair market value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors), except that any publicly-traded securities to be distributed to stockholders in a Deemed Liquidation Event shall be valued as follows:

(i)    if the securities are then traded on a national securities exchange, then the value of the securities shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on such exchange over the 10 trading-day period ending five trading days prior to the Distribution;

 

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(ii)    if the securities are actively traded over-the-counter, then the value of the securities shall be deemed to be the average of the closing bid prices of the securities over the 10 trading-day period ending five trading days prior to the Distribution.

In the event of a merger or other acquisition of the Corporation by another entity, the Distribution date shall be deemed to be the date such transaction closes.

For the purposes of this Section 3(f), “trading day” shall mean any day which the exchange or system on which the securities to be distributed are traded is open and “closing prices” or “closing bid prices” shall be deemed to be: (i) for securities traded primarily on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market, the last reported trade price or sale price, as the case may be, at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on that day and (ii) for securities listed or traded on other exchanges, markets and systems, the market price as of the end of the regular hours trading period that is generally accepted as such for such exchange, market or system. If, after the date hereof, the benchmark times generally accepted in the securities industry for determining the market price of a stock as of a given trading day shall change from those set forth above, the fair market value shall be determined as of such other generally accepted benchmark times.

(g)    Allocation of Escrow and Contingent Consideration. In the event of any Deemed Liquidation Event pursuant to Section 3(e)(i), if any portion of the consideration payable to the stockholders of the Corporation is placed into escrow and/or is payable to the stockholders of the Corporation subject to contingencies, the definitive agreement for such transaction shall provide that (i) the portion of such consideration that is not placed in escrow and not subject to any contingencies (the “Initial Consideration”) shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 3 as if the Initial Consideration were the only consideration payable in connection with such transaction and (ii) any additional consideration which becomes payable to the stockholders of the Corporation upon release from escrow or satisfaction of contingencies shall be allocated among the holders of capital stock of the Corporation in accordance with this Section 3(g) after taking into account the previous payment of the Initial Consideration and the previous payment of any additional consideration as part of the same transaction.

(h)    Deemed Conversion. Notwithstanding the above, for purposes of determining the amount each holder of shares of Preferred Stock is entitled to receive in the event of a Deemed Liquidation Event (an “Acquisition Distribution”), each such holder of shares of a series of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive proceeds from each such Acquisition Distribution until the aggregate consideration such holder of shares of a series of Preferred Stock would receive under this Section 3 is less than the aggregate consideration such holder of shares of a series of Preferred Stock would have received had such holder not converted such series of Preferred Stock into shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the Deemed Liquidation Event, at which point such holder’s shares of such series of Preferred Stock will automatically be deemed to have converted to Common Stock immediately prior to the Deemed Liquidation Event, and all further consideration for such series of Preferred Stock will be calculated on an as-converted to Common Stock basis. For clarity, (i) holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall not be required to elect whether to convert their shares at the time of any payment that is addressed by Section 3(g) above, and (ii) if any such holder shall be deemed to have converted shares of Preferred Stock into Common Stock pursuant to this paragraph, then such holder shall not be entitled to receive any distribution that would otherwise be made to holders of Preferred Stock that have not converted (or have not been deemed to have converted) into shares of Common Stock and the aggregate per share consideration that such holder receives pursuant to this Section 3 shall be no greater than the aggregate per share consideration by other holders of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 3(h).

4.    Conversion. The holders of the Preferred Stock shall have conversion rights as follows:

 

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(a)    Right to Convert. Each share of Preferred Stock shall be convertible, at the option of the holder thereof, at any time after the date of issuance of such share, and without the payment of additional consideration by the holder thereof, at the office of the Corporation or any transfer agent for the Preferred Stock, into that number of fully-paid, nonassessable shares of Common Stock determined by dividing the Series D Original Issue Price, with respect to Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Original Issue Price, with respect to Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Original Issue Price, with respect to Series B Preferred Stock, Series A-1 Original Issue Price, with respect to Series A-1 Preferred Stock, and Series A Original Issue Price, with respect to Series A Preferred Stock, by the Series D Conversion Price, with respect to Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Conversion Price, with respect to Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Conversion Price, with respect to Series B Preferred Stock, Series A-1 Conversion Price, with respect to Series A-1 Preferred Stock, and Series A Conversion Price, with respect to Series A Preferred Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock into which each share of Preferred Stock of a series may be converted is hereinafter referred to as the “Conversion Rate” for each such series. Following the Effective Time, upon any decrease or increase in the Conversion Price for any series of Preferred Stock, as described in this Section 4, the Conversion Rate for such series shall be appropriately increased or decreased.

(b)    Automatic Conversion. Each share of Preferred Stock shall automatically be converted into fully-paid, nonassessable shares of Common Stock at the then effective Conversion Rate for such share (i) immediately prior to the closing of a firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), covering the offer and sale of the Corporation’s Common Stock, provided that the aggregate net proceeds to the Corporation are greater than $50,000,000 (a “Qualified Public Offering”) or (ii) upon the receipt by the Corporation of a written request for such conversion approved by the Requisite Preferred Consent, or, if later, the effective date for conversion specified in such requests. Each of the events referred to in this Section 4(b) are referred to herein as an “Automatic Conversion Event” with respect to the shares of Preferred Stock subject to automatic conversion.

(c)    Mechanics of Conversion. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon conversion of Preferred Stock. In lieu of any fractional shares to which the holder would otherwise be entitled, the Corporation shall pay cash equal to such fraction multiplied by the then fair market value of a share of Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors. For such purpose, all shares of Preferred Stock held by each holder of Preferred Stock shall be aggregated, and any resulting fractional share of Common Stock shall be paid in cash. Before any holder of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to convert the same into full shares of Common Stock, and to receive certificates therefor, the holder shall either (A) surrender the certificate or certificates therefor, duly endorsed, at the office of the Corporation or of any transfer agent for the Preferred Stock or (B) notify the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and execute an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates, and shall give written notice to the Corporation at such office that the holder elects to convert the same; provided, however, that on the date of an Automatic Conversion Event, the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock shall be converted automatically without any further action by the holders of such shares and whether or not the certificates representing such shares are surrendered to the Corporation or its transfer agent; provided further, however, that the Corporation shall not be obligated to issue certificates evidencing the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such Automatic Conversion Event unless either the certificates evidencing such shares of Preferred Stock are delivered to the Corporation or its transfer agent as provided above, or the holder notifies the Corporation or its transfer agent that such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed and executes an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation to indemnify the Corporation from any loss incurred by it in connection with such certificates. On the date of the occurrence of an Automatic Conversion Event, each holder of record of shares of Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the Common Stock

 

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issuable upon such conversion, notwithstanding that the certificates representing such shares of Preferred Stock shall not have been surrendered at the office of the Corporation, that notice from the Corporation shall not have been received by any holder of record of shares of Preferred Stock, or that the certificates evidencing such shares of Common Stock shall not then be actually delivered to such holder.

The Corporation shall, as soon as practicable after such delivery, or after such agreement and indemnification, issue and deliver at such office to such holder of Preferred Stock, a certificate or certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled as aforesaid and a check payable to the holder in the amount of any cash amounts payable as the result of a conversion into fractional shares of Common Stock, plus any declared and unpaid dividends on the converted Preferred Stock. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such surrender of the shares of Preferred Stock to be converted, and the person or persons entitled to receive the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated for all purposes as the record holder or holders of such shares of Common Stock on such date; provided, however, that if the conversion is in connection with an underwritten offer of securities registered pursuant to the Securities Act or a merger, sale or liquidation of the Corporation, the conversion may, at the option of any holder tendering Preferred Stock for conversion, be conditioned upon the closing of such transaction, in which event the person(s) entitled to receive the Common Stock issuable upon such conversion of the Preferred Stock shall not be deemed to have converted such Preferred Stock until immediately prior to the closing of such transaction.

(d)    Adjustments to Conversion Price for Diluting Issues.

(i)    Special Definition. For purposes of this Section 4(d), “Additional Shares of Common” shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued (or, pursuant to Section 4(d)(iii), deemed to be issued) by the Corporation after the filing of this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, other than issuances or deemed issuances of:

(1)    shares of Common Stock actually issued upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock;

(2)    shares of Common Stock and options, warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock issued or issuable to employees, officers or directors of, or consultants or advisors to the Corporation or any subsidiary pursuant to any plan approved by the Board of Directors, including at least three of the Preferred Directors;

(3)    shares of Common Stock issued or issuable upon the exercise or conversion of Options or Convertible Securities (other than the Preferred Stock);

(4)    shares of Common Stock issued or issuable as a dividend or distribution on Preferred Stock or pursuant to any event for which adjustment is made pursuant to Sections 4(e), 4(f) or 4(g) hereof;

(5)    shares of Common Stock issued or issuable as consideration pursuant to the acquisition of another corporation by the Corporation by merger, purchase of substantially all of the assets or other reorganization or to a joint venture agreement, provided, that such issuances are approved by the Board of Directors;

 

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(6)    shares of Common Stock issued upon closing of a firm-commitment underwritten initial public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act;

(7)    shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to banks, equipment lessors or other financial institutions pursuant to a debt financing or commercial leasing transaction approved by the Board of Directors;

(8)    shares of Common Stock issued or issuable in connection with sponsored research, collaboration, technology license, development, OEM, marketing or other similar agreements or strategic partnerships; provided that such issuances are approved by the Board of Directors; and

(9)    shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to suppliers or third party service providers in connection with the provision of goods or services pursuant to transactions approved by the Board of Directors.

(ii)    No Adjustment of Conversion Price. No adjustment in the Conversion Price of a particular series of Preferred Stock shall be made in respect of the issuance of Additional Shares of Common unless the consideration per share (as determined pursuant to Sections 4(d)(v)) for an Additional Share of Common issued or deemed to be issued by the Corporation is less than the Conversion Price in effect on the date of, and immediately prior to such issue, for such series of Preferred Stock.

(iii)    Deemed Issue of Additional Shares of Common. In the event the Corporation at any time or from time to time after the Effective Time shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class of securities entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of shares (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto without regard to any provisions contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities or, in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options and the conversion or exchange of the underlying securities, shall be deemed to have been issued as of the time of such issue or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date, provided that in any such case in which shares are deemed to be issued:

(1)    no further adjustment in the Conversion Price of any series of Preferred Stock shall be made upon the subsequent issue of Convertible Securities or shares of Common Stock in connection with the exercise of such Options or conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities;

(2)    if such Options or Convertible Securities by their terms provide, with the passage of time or otherwise, for any change in the consideration payable to the Corporation or in the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or exchange thereof (other than a change pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of such Options or Convertible Securities such as this Section 4(d) or pursuant to Recapitalization provisions of such Options or Convertible Securities such as Sections 4(e), 4(f) and 4(g) hereof), the Conversion Price of each series of Preferred Stock and any subsequent adjustments based thereon shall be recomputed to reflect such change as if such change had been in effect as of the original issue thereof (or upon the occurrence of the record date with respect thereto);

(3)    no readjustment pursuant to clause (2) above shall have the effect of increasing the Conversion Price of a series of Preferred Stock to an amount above the Conversion Price that

 

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would have resulted from any other issuances of Additional Shares of Common and any other adjustments provided for herein between the original adjustment date and such readjustment date;

(4)    upon the expiration of any such Options or any rights of conversion or exchange under such Convertible Securities which shall not have been exercised, the Conversion Price of each series of Preferred Stock computed upon the original issue thereof (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto) and any subsequent adjustments based thereon shall, upon such expiration, be recomputed as if:

(a)    in the case of Convertible Securities or Options for Common Stock, the only Additional Shares of Common issued were the shares of Common Stock, if any, actually issued upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities and the consideration received therefor was the consideration actually received by the Corporation for the issue of such exercised Options plus the consideration actually received by the Corporation upon such exercise or for the issue of all such Convertible Securities which were actually converted or exchanged, plus the additional consideration, if any, actually received by the Corporation upon such conversion or exchange, and

(b)    in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, only the Convertible Securities, if any, actually issued upon the exercise thereof were issued at the time of issue of such Options, and the consideration received by the Corporation for the Additional Shares of Common deemed to have been then issued was the consideration actually received by the Corporation for the issue of such exercised Options, plus the consideration deemed to have been received by the Corporation (determined pursuant to Section 4(d)(v)) upon the issue of the Convertible Securities with respect to which such Options were actually exercised; and

(5)    if such record date shall have been fixed and such Options or Convertible Securities are not issued on the date fixed therefor, the adjustment previously made in the Conversion Price which became effective on such record date shall be canceled as of the close of business on such record date, and thereafter the Conversion Price shall be adjusted pursuant to this Section 4(d)(iii) as of the actual date of their issuance.

(iv)    Adjustment of Conversion Price Upon Issuance of Additional Shares of Common. In the event this Corporation shall issue Additional Shares of Common (including Additional Shares of Common deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 4(d)(iii)) without consideration or for a consideration per share less than the applicable Conversion Price of a series of Preferred Stock in effect on the date of and immediately prior to such issue, then, the Conversion Price of the affected series of Preferred Stock shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest cent) determined by multiplying such Conversion Price by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issue plus the number of shares which the aggregate consideration received by the Corporation for the total number of Additional Shares of Common so issued would purchase at such Conversion Price, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issue plus the number of such Additional Shares of Common so issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Conversion Price shall not be reduced at such time if the amount of such reduction would be less than $0.01, but any such amount shall be carried forward, and a reduction will be made with respect to such amount at the time of, and together with, any subsequent reduction which, together with such amount and any other amounts so carried forward, equal $0.01 or more in the aggregate. For the purposes of this Section 4(d)(iv), all shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock and the exercise and/or conversion of any other outstanding Convertible Securities and all outstanding Options shall be deemed to be outstanding.

 

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(v)    Determination of Consideration. For purposes of this Section 4(d), the consideration received by the Corporation for the issue (or deemed issue) of any Additional Shares of Common shall be computed as follows:

(1)    Cash and Property. Such consideration shall:

(a)    insofar as it consists of cash, be computed at the aggregate amount of cash received by the Corporation before deducting any reasonable discounts, commissions or other expenses allowed, paid or incurred by the Corporation for any underwriting or otherwise in connection with such issuance;

(b)    insofar as it consists of property other than cash, be computed at the fair market value thereof at the time of such issue, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors; and

(c)    in the event Additional Shares of Common are issued together with other shares or securities or other assets of the Corporation for consideration which covers both, be the proportion of such consideration so received, computed as provided in clauses (a) and (b) above, as reasonably determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

(2)    Options and Convertible Securities. The consideration per share received by the Corporation for Additional Shares of Common deemed to have been issued pursuant to Section 4(d)(iii) shall be determined by dividing:

(a)    the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Corporation as consideration for the issue of such Options or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such consideration) payable to the Corporation upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities by

(b)    the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein for a subsequent adjustment of such number) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

(e)    Adjustments for Subdivisions or Combinations of Common Stock. In the event the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be subdivided (by stock split, by payment of a stock dividend or otherwise), into a greater number of shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Price of each series of Preferred Stock in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such subdivision, be proportionately decreased. In the event the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be combined (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of shares of Common Stock, the Conversion Prices in effect immediately prior to such combination shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such combination, be proportionately increased.

(f)    Adjustments for Subdivisions or Combinations of Preferred Stock. In the event the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock or a series of Preferred Stock shall be subdivided (by stock split, by payment of a stock dividend or otherwise), into a greater number of shares of Preferred Stock, the Series D

 

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Original Issue Price, the Series D Distribution Preference, and the Series D Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series D Preferred Stock, the Series C Original Issue Price, the Series C Distribution Preference, and the Series C Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series C Preferred Stock, the Series B Original Issue Price, the Series B Distribution Preference, and the Series B Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the Series A-1 Original Issue Price, the Series A-1 Distribution Preference, and the Series A-1 Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, and the Series A Original Issue Price, the Series A Distribution Preference, and the Series A Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in effect immediately prior to such subdivision shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such subdivision, be proportionately decreased. In the event the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock or a series of Preferred Stock shall be combined (by reclassification or otherwise) into a lesser number of shares of Preferred Stock, the Series D Original Issue Price, the Series D Distribution Preference, and the Series D Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series D Preferred Stock, the Series C Original Issue Price, the Series C Distribution Preference, and the Series C Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series C Preferred Stock, the Series B Original Issue Price, the Series B Distribution Preference, and the Series B Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series B Preferred Stock, the Series A-1 Original Issue Price, the Series A-1 Distribution Preference, and the Series A-1 Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, and the Series A Original Issue Price, the Series A Distribution Preference, and the Series A Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount with respect to shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in effect immediately prior to such combination shall, concurrently with the effectiveness of such combination, be proportionately increased.

(g)    Adjustments for Reclassification, Exchange and Substitution. Subject to Section 3 (“Distribution Rights”), if the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock shall be changed into the same or a different number of shares of any other class or classes of stock, whether by Recapitalization, capital reorganization, reclassification or otherwise (other than a subdivision or combination of shares provided for above), then, in any such event, in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock which the holders would otherwise have been entitled to receive each holder of such Preferred Stock shall have the right thereafter to convert such shares of Preferred Stock into a number of shares of such other class or classes of stock which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon conversion of such series of Preferred Stock immediately before that change would have been entitled to receive in such reorganization or reclassification, all subject to further adjustment as provided herein with respect to such other shares.

(h)    Certificate as to Adjustments. Upon the occurrence of each adjustment or readjustment of the Conversion Price pursuant to this Section 4, the Corporation at its expense shall promptly compute such adjustment or readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and furnish to each holder of Preferred Stock a certificate setting forth such adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment or readjustment is based. The Corporation shall, upon the written request at any time of any holder of Preferred Stock, furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a like certificate setting forth (i) such adjustments and readjustments, (ii) the Conversion Price, Series D Distribution Preference, Series C Distribution Preference, Series B Distribution Preference, Series A-1 Distribution Preference or Series A Distribution Preference, as applicable, and the Series D Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, Series C Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, Series B Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, the Series A-1 Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount or Series A Preferred Distribution Threshold Amount, as applicable, at the time in effect and (iii) the number of shares of Common Stock and the amount, if any, of other property which at the time would be received upon the conversion of Preferred Stock.

 

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(i)    Waiver of Adjustment of Conversion Price. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any downward adjustment of the Conversion Price of any series of Preferred Stock may be waived by the consent or vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such series either before or after the issuance causing the adjustment; provided that, (1) with respect to any series vote of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, such majority shall include the Series B Waiver and (2) with respect to any series vote of the holders of Series C Preferred Stock, such majority shall include the Series C Waiver.

(j)    Notices of Record Date. In the event that this Corporation shall propose at any time:

(i)    to declare any Distribution upon its Common Stock, whether in cash, property, stock or other securities, whether or not a regular cash dividend and whether or not out of earnings or earned surplus;

(ii)    to effect any reclassification or Recapitalization of its Common Stock outstanding involving a change in the Common Stock; or

(iii)    to voluntarily liquidate or dissolve or to enter into any transaction deemed to be a Deemed Liquidation Event;

then, in connection with each such event, this Corporation shall send to the holders of the Preferred Stock at least 10 days’ prior written notice of the date on which a record shall be taken for such Distribution (and specifying the date on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled thereto and, if applicable, the amount and character of such Distribution) or for determining rights to vote in respect of the matters referred to in (ii) and (iii) above.

Such written notice shall be given by first class mail (or express courier), postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of Preferred Stock at the address for each such holder as shown on the books of the Corporation and shall be deemed given on the date such notice is mailed.

The notice provisions set forth in this section may be shortened or waived prospectively or retrospectively by the Requisite Preferred Consent.

(k)    Reservation of Stock Issuable Upon Conversion. The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock solely for the purpose of effecting the conversion of the shares of the Preferred Stock, such number of its shares of Common Stock as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock; and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the conversion of all then outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock, the Corporation will take such corporate action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as shall be sufficient for such purpose.

5.    Voting.

(a)    Restricted Class Voting. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by law, the holders of Preferred Stock and the holders of Common Stock shall vote together and not as separate classes.

(b)    No Series Voting. Other than as provided herein or required by law, there shall be no series voting.

 

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(c)    Preferred Stock. Each holder of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the number of shares of Common Stock into which the shares of Preferred Stock held by such holder could be converted as of the record date. Fractional votes shall not be permitted and any fractional voting rights resulting from the above formula (after aggregating all shares into which shares of Preferred Stock held by each holder could be converted) shall be disregarded. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or as required by law, the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock shall be entitled to vote on all matters on which the Common Stock shall be entitled to vote and may act by written consent in the same manner as the Common Stock. Holders of Preferred Stock shall be entitled to notice of any stockholders’ meeting in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation.

(d)    Election of Directors. The holders of Series C Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class either by written consent or at a special meeting, shall be entitled to elect one member of the Board of Directors at each meeting or pursuant to each consent of the Corporation’s stockholders for the election of directors (the “Series C Director”), the holders of Series B Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class either by written consent or at a special meeting, shall be entitled to elect one member of the Board of Directors at each meeting or pursuant to each consent of the Corporation’s stockholders for the election of directors (the “Series B Director”), the holders of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, voting as a separate class either by written consent or at a special meeting, shall be entitled to elect three members of the Board of Directors at each meeting or pursuant to each consent of the Corporation’s stockholders for the election of directors (the “Series A-1 Directors and, together with the Series C Director and the Series B Director, the “Preferred Directors”). The holders of Common Stock, voting as a separate class either by written consent or at a special meeting, shall be entitled to elect one member of the Board of Directors at each meeting or pursuant to each consent of the Corporation’s stockholders for the election of directors. Any additional members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the holders of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class. If a vacancy on the Board of Directors is to be filled by the Board of Directors, only directors elected by the same class or classes of stockholders as those who would be entitled to vote to fill such vacancy shall vote to fill such vacancy.

(e)    Adjustment in Authorized Common Stock. The number of authorized shares of Common Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by (in addition to any vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock that may be required by the terms of this Certificate of Incorporation) the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of capital stock of the Corporation representing a majority of the votes represented by all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

(f)    Common Stock. Each holder of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share thereof held.

(g)    California Section 2115. To the extent that Section 2115 of the California General Corporation Law makes Section 708 subdivisions (a), (b) and (c) of the California General Corporation Law applicable to the Corporation, the Corporation’s stockholders shall have the right to cumulate their votes in connection with the election of directors as provided by Section 708 subdivisions (a), (b) and (c) of the California General Corporation Law.

6.    Redemption.

(a)    Except to the extent prohibited by Delaware law governing distributions to stockholders, at any time after the fifth anniversary of the date of the filing of this Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate

 

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of Incorporation, and at the election of Requisite Preferred Consent, this Corporation shall redeem all (but not less than all) outstanding shares of Preferred Stock which have not been converted into Common Stock pursuant to Section 4, in three equal annual installments (each a “Redemption Date”). The Corporation shall redeem the shares of Preferred Stock by paying in cash an amount per share equal to (a) with respect to the Series D Preferred Stock, the Series D Original Issue Price, plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned (the “Series D Redemption Price”), (b) with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, the Series C Original Issue Price, plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned (the “Series C Redemption Price”), (c) with respect to the Series B Preferred Stock, the Series B Original Issue Price, plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned (the “Series B Redemption Price”), (d) with respect to the Series A-1 Preferred Stock, the Series A-1 Original Issue Price plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned (the “Series A-1 Redemption Price”), and (e) with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, the Series A Original Issue Price plus an amount equal to all declared and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not earned (the “Series A Redemption Price”). The number of shares of a series of Preferred Stock that the Corporation shall be required under this Section 7 to redeem on any one Redemption Date shall be equal to the amount determined by dividing: (a) the aggregate number of shares of such series of Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Redemption Date by; (b) the number of remaining Redemption Dates (including the Redemption Date to which such calculation applies). For purposes hereof, the “Redemption Price” shall mean the Series D Redemption Price, Series C Redemption Price, Series B Redemption Price, the Series A-1 Redemption Price or the Series A Redemption Price, as applicable.

(b)    Any redemption effected pursuant to Section 6(a) shall be made on a pro rata basis among the holders of Preferred Stock in proportion to the shares of Preferred Stock then held by them. Funds available for such redemption shall be used to redeem all shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock, on a pari passu basis, before any shares of Series A Preferred Stock are redeemed. If the funds available for redemption of the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series D Redemption Price, Series C Redemption Price, Series B Redemption Price and Series A-1 Redemption Price, as applicable, the Corporation shall effect such redemption pro rata among the holders of the Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred so that each holder of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock shall receive a redemption payment equal to a fraction of the aggregate amount available for redemption, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series A-1 Preferred Stock, as applicable, held by such holder with each number multiplied by the Series D Redemption Price, Series C Redemption Price, Series B Redemption Price or Series A-1 Redemption Price, as applicable of each share of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series A-1 Preferred Stock held by such holder, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series A-1 Preferred Stock outstanding multiplied by the Series D Redemption Price, Series C Redemption Price, Series B Redemption Price or Series A-1 Redemption Price, as applicable, of each such outstanding share of Series D Preferred Stock, Series C Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock or Series A-1 Preferred Stock, as applicable. If the funds available for redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be insufficient to permit the payment to such holders of the full Series A Redemption Price, the Corporation shall effect such redemption pro rata among the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock so that each holder of Series A Preferred Stock shall receive a redemption payment equal to a fraction of the aggregate amount available for redemption, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder with each number multiplied by the Series A Redemption Price of each share of Series A Preferred Stock held by such holder,

 

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and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding multiplied by the Series A Redemption Price of each such outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock.

(c)    At least 15 days, but no more than 30 days prior to each Redemption Date, written notice shall be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each holder of record (at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given) of the Preferred Stock to be redeemed, at the address last shown on the records of the Corporation for such holder, notifying such holder of the redemption to be effected, specifying the number of shares to be redeemed from such holder, the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price, the place at which payment may be obtained and calling upon such holder to surrender to the Corporation, in the manner and at the place designated, the holder’s certificate or certificates representing the shares to be redeemed (the “Redemption Notice”). Except as provided herein, on or after the Redemption Date each holder of Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall surrender to this Corporation the certificate or certificates representing such shares, in the manner and at the place designated in the Redemption Notice, and thereupon the Redemption Price of such shares shall be payable to the order of the person whose name appears on such certificate or certificates as the owner thereof and each surrendered certificate shall be cancelled. In the event less than all the shares represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares.

(d)    From and after the applicable Redemption Date, unless there shall have been a default in payment of the Redemption Price, all rights of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock designated for redemption in the Redemption Notice as holders of Preferred Stock (except the right to receive the Redemption Price without interest upon surrender of their certificate or certificates) shall cease with respect to the shares designated for redemption on such date, and such shares shall not thereafter be transferred on the books of the Corporation or be deemed to be outstanding for any purpose whatsoever. If the funds of the Corporation available for redemption of shares of Preferred Stock on any Redemption Date are insufficient to redeem the total number of shares of Preferred Stock to be redeemed on such date, those funds which are available will be used to redeem the maximum possible number of such shares ratably among the holders of such shares to be redeemed based upon their holdings of Preferred Stock. The shares of Preferred Stock not redeemed shall remain outstanding and entitled to all the rights and preferences provided herein. At any time thereafter when additional funds of the Corporation are available for the redemption of shares of Preferred Stock such funds will immediately be used to redeem the balance of the shares which the Corporation has become obliged to redeem on any Redemption Date, but which it has not redeemed.

(e)    On or prior to each Redemption Date, the Corporation may deposit the Redemption Price of all shares of Preferred Stock designated for redemption in the Redemption Notice and not yet redeemed with a bank or trust corporation having aggregate capital and surplus in excess of $100,000,000, as a trust fund for the benefit of the respective holders of the shares designated for redemption and not yet redeemed, with irrevocable instructions and authority to the bank or trust corporation to pay the Redemption Price for such shares to their respective holders on or after the Redemption Date upon receipt of notification from the Corporation that such holder has surrendered a share certificate to the Corporation pursuant to Section 6(c). As of the Redemption Date, the deposit shall constitute full payment of the shares to their holders, and from and after the Redemption Date the shares so called for redemption shall be redeemed and shall be deemed to be no longer outstanding, and the holders thereof shall cease to be stockholders with respect to such shares and shall have no rights with respect thereto except the right to receive from the bank or trust corporation payment of the Redemption Price of the shares, without interest, upon surrender of their certificates therefor. Such instructions shall also provide that any moneys deposited by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 6(e) for the redemption of shares thereafter converted into shares of the Corporation’s Common Stock pursuant to Section 4 prior to the Redemption Date shall be returned to the Corporation forthwith upon such conversion. The balance of any moneys deposited by the Corporation pursuant to this Section 6(e) remaining

 

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unclaimed at the expiration of two (2) years following the Redemption Date shall thereafter be returned to the Corporation upon its request expressed in a resolution of its Board of Directors.

7.    Amendments and Changes. At any time when shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, either directly or indirectly by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, do or consent to do any of the following without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of Requisite Preferred Consent, and any such act or transaction entered into without such consent or vote shall be null and void ab initio, and of no force or effect:

(a)    amend, alter or repeal any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Corporation;

(b)    increase or decrease (other than for decreases resulting from conversion of the Preferred Stock) the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof;

(c)    authorize or create (by reclassification, merger or otherwise) or issue or obligate itself to issue any new class or series of equity security (including any security convertible into or exercisable for any equity security) having rights, preferences or privileges with respect to dividends, redemption or payments upon liquidation senior to or on a parity with any series of Preferred Stock or issue any additional shares of Series D Preferred Stock;

(d)    liquidate, dissolve or wind-up the affairs of the Corporation, or enter into any transaction or series of related transactions deemed to be a Deemed Liquidation Event;

(e)    purchase or redeem or pay any dividend on any capital stock, other than (i) stock repurchased from former employees or consultants in connection with the cessation of their employment/services pursuant to agreements in effect at the Effective Time or approved by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors) after the Effective Time, at the lower of fair market value or cost or (ii) stock repurchased pursuant to rights of first refusal contained in agreements in effect at the Effective Time or approved by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors) after the Effective Time providing for such right;

(f)    change the size of the Board of Directors;

(g)    create, or authorize the creation of, or issue, or authorize the issuance of any debt security such that the Corporation’s aggregate indebtedness for borrowed money would exceed $1,000,000;

(h)    create or hold capital stock in any subsidiary that is not a wholly-owned subsidiary or dispose of any subsidiary stock or all or substantially all of any subsidiary assets;

(i)     make any loan or advance to, or own any stock or other securities of, any subsidiary or other corporation, partnership, or other entity unless it is wholly owned by the Corporation;

(j)     make any loan or advance to any person, including, any employee or director, except advances and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business or under the terms of an employee stock or option plan approved by the Board of Directors;

(k)     guarantee any indebtedness except for trade accounts of the Corporation or any subsidiary arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(l)     enter into or be a party to any transaction with any director, officer or employee of the Corporation or any “associate” (as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of any such person, except proprietary information and invention assignment agreements, stock purchase or stock option agreements pursuant to an employee stock or option plan approved by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors) or director indemnification agreements in the form approved by the Board of Directors (including at least three of the Preferred Directors);

(m)     change the principal business of the Corporation, enter new lines of business, or exit the current line of business;

(n)     sell, assign, license, pledge or encumber material technology or intellectual property, other than in the ordinary course of business; or

(o)    adopt or amend any equity incentive plan of the Corporation.

8.    Notices. Any notice required by the provisions of this Article V to be given to the holders of Preferred Stock shall be deemed given if deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to each holder of record at such holder’s address appearing on the books of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VI

The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

ARTICLE VII

Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of the Corporation shall so provide.

ARTICLE VIII

Unless otherwise set forth herein, the number of directors that constitute the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IX

Unless otherwise set forth herein and in furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is expressly authorized to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE X

1.    To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as so amended.

 

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2.    The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify, to the extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended from time to time, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any such Proceeding.

3.    Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article X, nor the adoption of any provision of this Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article X, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article X, in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising or that, but for this Article X, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

ARTICLE XI

Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State of Delaware, as the Bylaws may provide. The books of the Corporation may be kept (subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XII

The Corporation renounces, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any interest or expectancy of the Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, any Excluded Opportunity. An “Excluded Opportunity” is any matter, transaction or interest that is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or which otherwise comes into the possession of (i) any director of the Corporation who is not an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii) any holder of Preferred Stock or any partner, member, director, stockholder, employee or agent of any such holder, other than someone who is an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries (collectively, “Covered Persons”), unless such matter, transaction or interest is presented to, or acquired, created or developed by, or otherwise comes into the possession of, a Covered Person expressly and solely in such Covered Person’s capacity as a director of the Corporation. No amendment or repeal of this Article XII shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any officer, director or stockholder of the Corporation for or with respect to any opportunities which such officer, director or stockholder becomes aware prior to such amendment or repeal.

ARTICLE XIII

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time), or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, except for, as to each of (i) through (iv) above, any claim as to which such court determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of such court (and the indispensable party does not consent

 

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to the personal jurisdiction of such court within ten (10) days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than such court, or for which such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring or holding any interest in shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Article XIII.

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO THE

SIXTH AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

OF

ANNEXON, INC.

Annexon, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

A.    The name of this corporation is Annexon, Inc., and the original certificate of incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 3, 2011.

B.    The amendment to the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation herein certified was duly adopted by this corporation’s Board of Directors in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 242 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

C.    Article IV of the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“That, effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 to the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, a one-for-8.81 reverse stock split of the Corporation’s Common Stock (as defined below) shall become effective, pursuant to which each 8.81 shares of Common Stock outstanding and held of record by each stockholder of the Corporation (including treasury shares) immediately prior to the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 shall be reclassified and reconstituted into one validly issued, fully-paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock automatically and without any action by the holder thereof upon the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 (such reclassification and reconstitution of shares, the “Reverse Stock Split”). The par value of the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock (as defined below) following the Reverse Stock Split shall remain at $0.001 per share. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued as a result of the Reverse Stock Split and, in lieu thereof, upon surrender after the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 of a certificate which formerly represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1, any person who would otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock as a result of the Reverse Stock Split, following the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1, shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the fraction of which such holder would otherwise be entitled multiplied by the fair value per share as determined by the Board of Directors.

Each stock certificate that, immediately prior to the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1, represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 shall, from and after the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1, automatically and without the necessity of presenting the same for exchange, represent that number of whole shares of Common Stock after the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1

 


into which the shares formerly represented by such certificate have been reclassified (as well as the right to receive cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock after the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1); provided, however, that each person of record holding a certificate that represented shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 shall receive, upon surrender of such certificate, a new certificate evidencing and representing the number of whole shares of Common Stock after the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 into which the shares of Common Stock formerly represented by such certificate shall have been reclassified; and provided further, however, that whether or not fractional shares would be issuable as a result of the Reverse Stock Split shall be determined on the basis of (i) the total number of shares of Common Stock that were issued and outstanding immediately prior to the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 formerly represented by certificates that the holder is at the time surrendering for a new certificate evidencing and representing the number of whole shares of Common Stock after the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 and (ii) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock after the filing of this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 into which the shares of Common Stock formerly represented by such certificates shall have been reclassified. For the foregoing purposes, all shares of Common Stock held by a holder shall be aggregated (thus resulting in no more than one fractional share per holder).

This Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, common stock and preferred stock. The total number of shares of stock that the Corporation shall have authority to issue is four hundred twenty-two million, five hundred sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred twenty-four (422,567,924), consisting of two hundred thirty-nine million, one hundred thousand (239,100,000) shares of common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), and one hundred eighty-three million, four hundred sixty-seven thousand, nine hundred twenty-four (183,467,924) shares of Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share. The first series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series A Preferred Stock” and shall consist of one million fifteen thousand four hundred thirty-four (1,015,434) shares; the second series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series A-1 Preferred Stock” and shall consist of sixteen million, three hundred ninety-eight thousand, nine hundred ninety-five (16,398,995) shares; the third series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series B Preferred Stock” and shall consist of thirty eight million, seven hundred seventy-eight thousand, ninety (38,778,090) shares; the fourth series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series C Preferred Stock” and shall consist of fifty-five million, five hundred fifty-five thousand, five hundred forty-six (55,555,546) shares; and the fifth series of Preferred Stock shall be designated “Series D Preferred Stock” and shall consist of seventy-one million, seven hundred nineteen thousand, eight hundred fifty-nine (71,719,859) shares.”

D.    The foregoing amendment was duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242 and 228 (by written consent of the stockholders) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

*****


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Annexon, Inc. has caused this Certificate of Amendment No. 1 to the Sixth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be signed by its duly authorized officer on this 17th day of July, 2020.

 

ANNEXON, INC.
By:  

/s/ Douglas Love

Name: Douglas Love
Title: Chief Executive Officer
EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

ANNEXON, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

Annexon, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the Delaware General Corporation Law, hereby certifies as follows:

The name of the Corporation is Annexon, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 3, 2011.

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto has been duly adopted in accordance with the provisions of Sections 242, 245 and 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

The text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as heretofore amended or supplemented is hereby restated and further amended to read in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation shall be effective as of 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on [ ● ], 2020.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed this [ ● ] day of [ ● ], 2020.

 

ANNEXON, INC.
By:  

         

  Douglas Love, Esq.
  Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF

ANNEXON, INC.

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the corporation is Annexon, Inc. (the “Corporation”).

ARTICLE II

REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT

The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, 19801. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE AND DURATION

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which a corporation may be organized under the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Corporation is to have a perpetual existence.

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 1. This Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of capital stock which shall be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares that the Corporation is authorized to issue is 305,000,000, of which 300,000,000 shares shall be Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares shall be Preferred Stock. The Common Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share and the Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $0.001 per share. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, the number of authorized shares of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock of the Corporation with the power to vote thereon irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law or any successor provision thereof, and no vote of the holders of any of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock voting separately as a class shall be required therefor.

Section 2. Shares of Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) is hereby authorized to provide from time to time by resolution or resolutions for the creation and issuance, out of the authorized and unissued shares of Preferred Stock, of one or more series of Preferred Stock by filing a certificate (a “Certificate of Designation”) pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law, setting forth such resolution and, with respect to each such series, establishing

 

A-1


the designation of such series and the number of shares to be included in such series and fixing the voting powers (full or limited, or no voting power), preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of each such series. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any series of Preferred Stock may, to the extent permitted by law, provide that such series shall be superior to, rank equally with or be junior to the Preferred Stock of any other series. The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of Preferred Stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, if any, may be different from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the resolution or resolutions providing for the establishment of any series of Preferred Stock, no vote of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock shall be a prerequisite to the issuance of any shares of any series of the Preferred Stock so authorized in accordance with this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation establishing a series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors may, by resolution or resolutions, increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding) the number of shares of such series and, if the number of shares of such series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status that they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

For the management of the business and for the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation it is further provided that:

Section 1.

(a) The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be fixed exclusively by one or more resolutions adopted from time to time by the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly delegated by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to appoint and remove officers of the Corporation.

(b) Other than any directors elected by the separate vote of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors shall be and is divided into three classes, designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, as nearly equal in number as possible. Directors shall be assigned to each class in accordance with a resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors. At the first annual meeting of stockholders following the effectiveness of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Qualifying Record Date”), the term of office of the Class I directors shall expire and Class I directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the second annual meeting of stockholders following the Qualifying Record Date, the term of office of the Class II directors shall expire and Class II directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. At the third annual meeting of stockholders following the Qualifying Record Date, the term of office of the Class III directors

 

A-2


shall expire and Class III directors shall be elected for a full term of three years. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, at each succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors shall be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual meeting.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article V, Section 1(b), each director shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

(c) Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, the Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote at an election of directors (the “Voting Stock”).

(d) Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation or removal and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by the stockholders, and except as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and shall not be filled by the stockholders. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of the class to which the director shall have been appointed and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 2.

(a) In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation. In addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by applicable law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the adoption, amendment or repeal of the Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders of the Corporation shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class.

(b) The directors of the Corporation need not be elected by written ballot unless the Bylaws so provide.

 

A-3


ARTICLE VI

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, and the taking of any action by written consent of the stockholders in lieu of a meeting of the stockholders is specifically denied.

Section 2. Subject to the special rights of the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock, special meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called, for any purpose or purposes, at any time by the Board of Directors, but such special meetings may not be called by stockholders or any other person or persons.

Section 3. Advance notice of stockholder nominations for the election of directors and of other business proposed to be brought by stockholders before any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or as may hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is amended after approval by the stockholders of this Article VII to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended, automatically and without further action, upon the date of such amendment.

Section 2. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, shall indemnify and advance expenses to any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as a director or officer at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

Section 3. The Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may indemnify and advance expenses to any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or any predecessor of the Corporation, or serves or served at any other enterprise as an employee or agent at the request of the Corporation or any predecessor to the Corporation.

 

A-4


Section 4. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article VII, nor the adoption by amendment of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of any provision inconsistent with this Article VII, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Article VII in respect of any matter occurring, or any action or proceeding accruing or arising (or that, but for this Article VII, would accrue or arise) prior to such amendment or repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

ARTICLE VIII

EXCLUSIVE FORUM

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or the bylaws of the Corporation or this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Article VIII, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article VIII. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article VIII shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.

 

A-5


If any provision or provisions of this Article VIII shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article VIII (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article VIII containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the Voting Stock required by law or by this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (including any Certificate of Designation in respect of one or more series of Preferred Stock), the affirmative vote of the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal Articles V, VI, VII and VIII and this Article IX.

* * * *

 

A-6

EX-3.3

Exhibit 3.3

BYLAWS OF

ANNEXON, INC.

(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

     Page  

ARTICLE I OFFICES

     1  

1.1   Registered Office

     1  

1.2   Offices

     1  

ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

     1  

2.1   Location

     1  

2.2   Timing

     1  

2.3   Notice of Meeting

     1  

2.4   Stockholders’ Records

     1  

2.5   Special Meetings

     2  

2.6   Notice of Meeting

     2  

2.7   Business Transacted at Special Meeting

     2  

2.8   Quorum; Meeting Adjournment; Presence by Remote Means

     2  

2.9   Voting Thresholds

     3  

2.10  Number of Votes Per Share

     3  

2.11  Action by Written Consent of Stockholders; Electronic Consent; Notice of Action

     3  

ARTICLE III DIRECTORS

     4  

3.1   Authorized Directors

     4  

3.2   Vacancies

     4  

3.3   Board Authority

     5  

3.4   Location of Meetings

     5  

3.5   First Meeting

     5  

3.6   Regular Meetings

     5  

3.7   Special Meetings

     5  

3.8   Quorum

     6  

3.9   Action Without a Meeting

     6  

3.10  Telephonic Meetings

     6  

3.11  Committees

     6  

3.12  Minutes of Meetings

     6  

3.13  Compensation of Directors

     6  

3.14  Removal of Directors

     7  

ARTICLE IV NOTICES

     7  

4.1   Notice

     7  

4.2   Waiver of Notice

     7  

4.3   Electronic Notice

     7  

 

 

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ARTICLE V OFFICERS

     8  

5.1   Required and Permitted Officers

     8  

5.2   Appointment of Required Officers

     8  

5.3   Appointment of Permitted Officers

     8  

5.4   Officer Compensation

     8  

5.5   Term of Office; Vacancies

     8  

5.6   Chairman Presides

     8  

5.7   Absence of Chairman

     8  

5.8   Powers of President

     9  

5.9   President’s Signature Authority

     9  

5.10  Absence of President

     9  

5.11  Duties of Secretary

     9  

5.12  Duties of Assistant Secretary

     9  

5.13  Duties of Treasurer

     10  

5.14  Disbursements and Financial Reports

     10  

5.15  Treasurer’s Bond

     10  

5.16  Duties of Assistant Treasurer

     10  

ARTICLE VI CERTIFICATE OF STOCK

     10  

6.1   Stock Certificates

     10  

6.2   Facsimile Signatures

     11  

6.3   Lost Certificates

     11  

6.4   Transfer of Stock

     11  

6.5   Fixing a Record Date

     11  

6.6   Registered Stockholders

     11  

ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS

     12  

7.1   Dividends

     12  

7.2   Reserve for Dividends

     12  

7.3   Checks

     12  

7.4   Fiscal Year

     12  

7.5   Corporate Seal

     12  

7.6   Indemnification

     12  

7.7   Conflicts with Certificate of Incorporation

     13  

ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS

     14  

ARTICLE IX LOANS TO OFFICERS

     14  

ARTICLE X RECORDS AND REPORTS

     14  

 

 

ii


BYLAWS

OF

ANNEXON, INC.

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

1.1    Registered Office. The registered office shall be in the City of Dover, County of Kent, State of Delaware.

1.2    Offices. The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

2.1    Location. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors shall be held in the City of Palo Alto, State of California, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211 of the Delaware General Corporations Law (“DGCL”). Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, if any, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice.

2.2    Timing. Annual meetings of stockholders, commencing with the year 2012, shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which they shall elect by a plurality vote a Board of Directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

2.3    Notice of Meeting. Written notice of any stockholder meeting stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not fewer than 10 nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.

2.4    Stockholders Records. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address (but not the electronic address or other electronic contact information) of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a

 


period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. In the event that the corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

2.5    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the certificate of incorporation, may be called by the president and shall be called by the president or secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning at least twenty percent (20%) in amount of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

2.6    Notice of Meeting. Written notice of a special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting shall also be provided in the notice.

2.7    Business Transacted at Special Meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

2.8    Quorum; Meeting Adjournment; Presence by Remote Means.

(a)    Quorum; Meeting Adjournment. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

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(b)    Presence by Remote Means. If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication:

(1)    participate in a meeting of stockholders; and

(2)    be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication, provided that (i) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings, and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the corporation.

2.9    Voting Thresholds. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

2.10    Number of Votes Per Share. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote by such stockholder or by proxy for each share of the capital stock having voting power held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted on after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

2.11    Action by Written Consent of Stockholders; Electronic Consent; Notice of Action.

(a)    Action by Written Consent of Stockholders. Unless otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken, is signed in a manner permitted by law by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Written stockholder consents shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent in the manner permitted by law and shall be, delivered to the corporation as provided in subsection (b) below. No written consent shall be effective to take the action set forth therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the corporation in the manner provided above, written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take the action set forth therein are delivered to the corporation in the manner provided above.

 

3


(b)    Electronic Consent. A telegram, cablegram or other electronic, transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder or proxyholder, or a person or persons authorized to act for a stockholder or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this section, provided that any such telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the corporation can determine (1) that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or proxyholder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the stockholder or proxyholder and (2) the date on which such stockholder or proxyholder or authorized person or persons transmitted such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission. The date on which such telegram, cablegram or electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form is delivered to the corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to a corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on delivery, consents given by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission may be otherwise delivered to the principal place of business of the corporation or to an officer or agent of the corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded if to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the Board of Directors of the corporation.

(c)    Notice of Action. Prompt notice of any action taken pursuant to this Section 2.11 shall be provided to the stockholders in accordance with Section 228(e) of the DGCL.

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

3.1    Authorized Directors. The number of directors that shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the stockholders at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.2 of this Article, and each director elected shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders.

3.2    Vacancies. Unless otherwise provided in the corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner displaced. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by statute. If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a majority of the whole Board of Directors (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the total number of the shares at the time outstanding having the right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in office.

 

4


3.3    Board Authority. The business of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board of Directors, which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the certificate of incorporation or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

3.4    Location of Meetings. The Board of Directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

3.5    First Meeting. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place, as shall be fixed by the vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present. In the event of the failure of the stockholders to fix the time or place of such first meeting of the newly elected Board of Directors, or in the event such meeting is not held at the time and place so fixed by the stockholders, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors, or as shall be specified in a written waiver signed by all of the directors.

3.6    Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

3.7    Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the president upon notice to each director; special meetings shall be called by the president or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of two (2) directors unless the Board of Directors consists of only one director, in which case special meetings shall be called by the president or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of the sole director. Notice of any special meeting shall be given to each director at his business or residence in writing, or by telegram, facsimile transmission, telephone communication or electronic transmission (provided, with respect to electronic transmission, that the director has consented to receive the form of transmission at the address to which it is directed). If mailed, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when deposited in the United States mails so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid, at least five (5) days before such meeting. If by telegram, such notice shall be deemed adequately delivered when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by facsimile transmission or other electronic transmission, such notice shall be transmitted at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. If by telephone, the notice shall be given at least twelve (12) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting, except for amendments to these Bylaws as provided under Section 8.1 of Article VIII hereof. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the directors are present (except as otherwise provided by law) or if those not present waive notice of the meeting in writing, either before or after such meeting.

 

5


3.8    Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors a majority of the directors (including at least two of the Preferred Directors (as defined in the certificate of incorporation, as may be amended from time to time)) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and any act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be an act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the certificate of incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, or the Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement of even date herewith, between the Company and the investors set forth on Exhibit A thereto, as may be amended from time to time. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

3.9    Action Without a Meeting. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing, writings, electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

3.10    Telephonic Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

3.11    Committees. Subject to Section 2.7 of the Amended and Restated Voting Agreement of even date herewith, as may be amended from time to time, the Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.

In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any provision of these bylaws.

3.12    Minutes of Meetings. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

3.13    Compensation of Directors. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

6


3.14    Removal of Directors. Unless otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote at an election of directors.

ARTICLE IV

NOTICES

4.1    Notice. Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram.

4.2    Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

4.3    Electronic Notice.

(a)    Electronic Transmission. Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders and directors, any notice to stockholders or directors given by the corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder or director to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder or director by written notice to the corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation or to the transfer agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

(b)    Effective Date of Notice. Notice given pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder or director has consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder or director has consented to receive notice; (3) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder or director of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder or director. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

7


(c)    Form of Electronic Transmission. For purposes of these bylaws, “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

5.1    Required and Permitted Officers. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall be a president, treasurer and a secretary. The Board of Directors may elect from among its members a Chairman of the Board and a Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may also choose one or more vice-presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws otherwise provide.

5.2    Appointment of Required Officers. The Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a president, a treasurer, and a secretary and may choose vice-presidents.

5.3    Appointment of Permitted Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

5.4    Officer Compensation. The salaries of all officers and agents of the corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

5.5    Term of Office; Vacancies. The officers of the corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

5.6    Chairman Presides. The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. He or she shall have and may exercise such powers as are, from time to time, assigned to him by the Board of Directors and as may be provided by law.

5.7    Absence of Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, if any, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. He or she shall have and may exercise such powers as are, from time to time, assigned to him by the Board of Directors and as may be provided by law.

 

8


THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENTS

5.8    Powers of President. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation; in the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board he or she shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors; he or she shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.

5.9    Presidents Signature Authority. The president shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation.

5.10    Absence of President. In the absence of the president or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, the vice-president, if any, (or in the event there be more than one vice-president, the vice-presidents in the order designated by the directors, or in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The vice-presidents shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY

5.11    Duties of Secretary. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or president, under whose supervision he or she shall be. He or she shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and he or she, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature.

5.12    Duties of Assistant Secretary. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

9


THE TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS

5.13    Duties of Treasurer. The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

5.14    Disbursements and Financial Reports. He or she shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.

5.15    Treasurers Bond. If required by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall give the corporation a bond (which shall be renewed every six years) in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the corporation.

5.16    Duties of Assistant Treasurer. The assistant treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election) shall, in the absence of the treasurer or in the event of the treasurer’s inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATE OF STOCK

6.1    Stock Certificates. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by or in the name of the corporation by, the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the president or a vice-president and the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the corporation.

Certificates may be issued for partly paid shares and in such case upon the face or back of the certificates issued to represent any such partly paid shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor, and the amount paid thereon shall be specified.

If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the DGCL, in lieu of the foregoing

 

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requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

6.2    Facsimile Signatures. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In the event that any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, the certificate may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still acting as such at the date of issue.

6.3    Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

6.4    Transfer of Stock. Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

6.5    Fixing a Record Date. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

6.6    Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, to vote as such owner, to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

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ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1    Dividends. Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, if any, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation.

7.2    Reserve for Dividends. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their sole discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purposes as the directors think conducive to the interests of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

7.3    Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

7.4    Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

7.5    Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may adopt a corporate seal having inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.

7.6    Indemnification. The corporation shall, to the fullest extent authorized under the laws of the State of Delaware, as those laws may be amended and supplemented from time to time, indemnify any director made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of being a director of the corporation or a predecessor corporation or a director or officer of another corporation, if such person served in such position at the request of the corporation; provided, however, that the corporation shall indemnify any such director or officer in connection with a proceeding initiated by such director or officer only if such proceeding was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation. The indemnification provided for in this Section 7.6 shall: (i) not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under these bylaws, agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacities and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, (ii) continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, and (iii) inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a person who has ceased to be a director. Except as otherwise provided in and subject to the terms of any agreements providing for the indemnification of the corporation’s directors or officers, the corporation’s obligation to provide indemnification under this Section 7.6 shall be offset to the extent of any other payment made to or on behalf of an indemnitee under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision, except with respect to any excess beyond the amount paid under any insurance policy or other indemnity provision.

 

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Except as otherwise provided in and subject to the terms of any agreements providing for the indemnification of the corporation’s directors or officers, expenses incurred by a director of the corporation in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director of the corporation (or was serving at the corporation’s request as a director or officer of another corporation) shall be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized by relevant sections of the DGCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in and subject to the terms of any agreements providing for the indemnification of the corporation’s directors or officers, the corporation shall not be required to advance such expenses to an agent who is a party to an action, suit or proceeding brought by the corporation and approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the corporation that alleges willful misappropriation of corporate assets by such agent, disclosure of confidential information in violation of such agent’s fiduciary or contractual obligations to the corporation or any other willful and deliberate breach in bad faith of such agent’s duty to the corporation or its stockholders.

The foregoing provisions of this Section 7.6 shall be deemed to be a contract between the corporation and each director who serves in such capacity at any time while this bylaw is in effect, and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts.

The Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall have power on behalf of the corporation to indemnify any person, other than a director, made a party to any action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or his or her testator or intestate, is or was an officer or employee of the corporation.

To assure indemnification under this Section 7.6 of all directors, officers and employees who are determined by the corporation or otherwise to be or to have been “fiduciaries” of any employee benefit plan of the corporation that may exist from time to time, Section 145 of the DGCL shall, for the purposes of this Section 7.6, be interpreted as follows: an “other enterprise” shall be deemed to include such an employee benefit plan, including without limitation, any plan of the corporation that is governed by the Act of Congress entitled “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,” as amended from time to time; the corporation shall be deemed to have requested a person to serve the corporation for purposes of Section 145 of the DGCL, as administrator of an employee benefit plan where the performance by such person of his duties to the corporation also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to such Act of Congress shall be deemed “fines.”

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION GOVERNS

7.7    Conflicts with Certificate of Incorporation. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the corporation’s certificate of incorporation and these bylaws, the provisions of the certificate of incorporation shall govern.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

8.1    Subject to any other approval required by the certificate of incorporation, these bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors, when such power is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the certificate of incorporation at any regular meeting of the stockholders or of the Board of Directors or at any special meeting of the stockholders or of the Board of Directors if notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new bylaws be contained in the notice of such special meeting. If the power to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws is conferred upon the Board of Directors by the certificate of incorporation, it shall not divest or limit the power of the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal bylaws.

ARTICLE IX

LOANS TO OFFICERS

9.1    The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of or otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its subsidiaries, including any officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or its subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, such loan, guarantee or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be unsecured or secured in such manner as the Board of Directors shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation. Nothing in these bylaws shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any statute.

ARTICLE X

RECORDS AND REPORTS

10.1    The application and requirements of Section 1501 of the California General Corporation Law are hereby expressly waived to the fullest extent permitted thereunder.

 

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EX-3.4

Exhibit 3.4

Amended and Restated Bylaws of

Annexon, Inc.

(a Delaware corporation)

 


Table of Contents

 

         Page  

Article I - Corporate Offices

     1  

1.1

  Registered Office      1  

1.2

  Other Offices      1  

Article II - Meetings of Stockholders

     1  

2.1

  Place of Meetings      1  

2.2

  Annual Meeting      1  

2.3

  Special Meeting      1  

2.4

  Advance Notice Procedures for Business Brought before a Meeting      2  

2.5

  Advance Notice Procedures for Nominations of Directors      5  

2.6

  Notice of Stockholders’ Meetings      7  

2.7

  Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice      7  

2.8

  Quorum      8  

2.9

  Adjourned Meeting; Notice      8  

2.10

  Conduct of Business      8  

2.11

  Voting      8  

2.12

  Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes      9  

2.13

  Proxies      9  

2.14

  List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote      10  

2.15

  Inspectors of Election      10  

Article III - Directors

     11  

3.1

  Powers      11  

3.2

  Number of Directors      11  

3.3

  Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors      11  

3.4

  Resignation and Vacancies      11  

3.5

  Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone      12  

3.6

  Regular Meetings      12  

3.7

  Special Meetings; Notice      12  

3.8

  Quorum      12  

3.9

  Board Action by Written Consent without a Meeting      13  

3.10

  Fees and Compensation of Directors      13  

Article IV - Committees

     13  

4.1

  Committees of Directors      13  

4.2

  Committee Minutes      13  

4.3

  Meetings and Action of Committees      13  

Article V - Officers

     14  

5.1

  Officers      14  

5.2

  Appointment of Officers      14  

5.3

  Subordinate Officers      14  

5.4

  Removal and Resignation of Officers      15  

5.5

  Vacancies in Offices      15  

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

         Page  

5.6

  Representation of Shares of Other Corporations      15  

5.7

  Authority and Duties of Officers      15  

Article VI - Records

     15  

Article VII - General Matters

     16  

7.1

  Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments      16  

7.2

  Stock Certificates; Partly Paid Shares      16  

7.3

  Lost Certificates      16  

7.4

  Shares Without Certificates      16  

7.5

  Construction; Definitions      16  

7.6

  Dividends      17  

7.7

  Fiscal Year      17  

7.8

  Seal      17  

7.9

  Transfer of Stock      17  

7.10

  Stock Transfer Agreements      17  

7.11

  Registered Stockholders      17  

7.12

  Waiver of Notice      18  

Article VIII - Notice by Electronic Transmission

     18  

8.1

  Notice by Electronic Transmission      18  

8.2

  Definition of Electronic Transmission      19  

Article IX - Indemnification

     19  

9.1

  Indemnification of Directors and Officers      19  

9.2

  Indemnification of Others      19  

9.3

  Prepayment of Expenses      20  

9.4

  Determination; Claim      20  

9.5

  Non-Exclusivity of Rights      20  

9.6

  Insurance      20  

9.7

  Other Indemnification      20  

9.8

  Continuation of Indemnification      20  

9.9

  Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation      21  

Article X - Amendments

     21  

Article XI - Forum Selection

     22  

 

 

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Amended and Restated Bylaws of

Annexon, Inc.

 

 

Article I - Corporate Offices

1.1 Registered Office.

The address of the registered office of Annexon, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware, and the name of its registered agent at such address, shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”).

1.2 Other Offices.

The Corporation may have additional offices at any place or places, within or outside the State of Delaware, as the Corporation’s board of directors (the “Board”) may from time to time establish or as the business of the Corporation may require.

Article II - Meetings of Stockholders

2.1 Place of Meetings.

Meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place, if any, within or outside the State of Delaware, designated by the Board. The Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). In the absence of any such designation or determination, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office.

2.2 Annual Meeting.

The Board shall designate the date and time of the annual meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and other proper business properly brought before the meeting in accordance with Section 2.4 may be transacted.

2.3 Special Meeting.

Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by such Persons and only in such manner as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation. As used in these bylaws, “Person” means any individual, general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust, business trust, joint stock company, joint venture, unincorporated association, cooperative or association or any other legal entity or organization of whatever nature, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

No business may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders other than the business specified in the notice of such meeting.

 


2.4 Advance Notice Procedures for Business Brought before a Meeting.

(i) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in a notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board, (b) if not specified in a notice of meeting, otherwise brought before the meeting by the Board or the chairperson of the meeting, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder present in Person who (A)(1) was a stockholder of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.4 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 2.4 or (B) properly made such proposal in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”), which proposal has been included in the proxy statement for the annual meeting. The foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Person calling the meeting pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 2.3 of these bylaws. For purposes of this Section 2.4 and Section 2.5 of these bylaws, “present in Person” shall mean that the stockholder proposing that the business be brought before the annual or special meeting of the Corporation, or, if the proposing stockholder is not an individual, a qualified representative of such proposing stockholder, appear at such annual meeting, and a “qualified representative” of such proposing stockholder shall be, if such proposing stockholder is (x) a general or limited partnership, any general partner or Person who functions as a general partner of the general or limited partnership or who controls the general or limited partnership, (y) a corporation or a limited liability company, any officer or Person who functions as an officer of the corporation or limited liability company or any officer, director, general partner or Person who functions as an officer, director or general partner of any entity ultimately in control of the corporation or limited liability company or (z) a trust, any trustee of such trust. This Section 2.4 shall apply to any business that may be brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders other than nominations for election to the Board at an annual meeting, which shall be governed by Section 2.5 of these bylaws. Stockholders seeking to nominate Persons for election to the Board must comply with Section 2.5 of these bylaws, and this Section 2.4 shall not be applicable to nominations for election to the Board except as expressly provided in Section 2.5 of these bylaws.

(ii) Without qualification, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation and (b) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.4. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

 

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(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.4, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(a) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person (including, if applicable, the name and address that appear on the Corporation’s books and records); and (B) the number of shares of each class or series of stock of the Corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

(b) As to each Proposing Person, (A) the full notional amount of any securities that, directly or indirectly, underlie any “derivative security” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) that constitutes a “call equivalent position” (as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(b) under the Exchange Act) (“Synthetic Equity Position”) and that is, directly or indirectly, held or maintained by such Proposing Person with respect to any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation; provided that, for the purposes of the definition of “Synthetic Equity Position,” the term “derivative security” shall also include any security or instrument that would not otherwise constitute a “derivative security” as a result of any feature that would make any conversion, exercise or similar right or privilege of such security or instrument becoming determinable only at some future date or upon the happening of a future occurrence, in which case the determination of the amount of securities into which such security or instrument would be convertible or exercisable shall be made assuming that such security or instrument is immediately convertible or exercisable at the time of such determination; and, provided, further, that any Proposing Person satisfying the requirements of Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act (other than a Proposing Person that so satisfies Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act solely by reason of Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)) shall not be deemed to hold or maintain the notional amount of any securities that underlie a Synthetic Equity Position held by such Proposing Person as a hedge with respect to a bona fide derivatives trade or position of such Proposing Person arising in the ordinary course of such Proposing Person’s business as a derivatives dealer, (B) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (C) any material pending or threatened legal proceeding in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the Corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the Corporation, (D) any other material relationship between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation, on the other hand, (E) any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement of such Proposing Person with the Corporation or any affiliate of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement) and (F) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies or consents by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (F) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary course business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

 

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(c) As to each item of business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other Person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and (D) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, that the disclosures required by this Section 2.4(iii) shall not include any disclosures with respect to any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these bylaws on behalf of a beneficial owner.

(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.4, the term “Proposing Person shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, (c) any participant (as defined in paragraphs (a)(ii)-(vi) of Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A) with such stockholder in such solicitation or (d) any associate (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for the purposes of these bylaws) of such stockholder, beneficial owner or any other participant.

(v) A Proposing Person shall update and supplement its notice to the Corporation of its intent to propose business at an annual meeting, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.4 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(vi) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting that is not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4. The presiding officer of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 2.4, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

(vii) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.4 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

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(viii) For purposes of these bylaws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

2.5 Advance Notice Procedures for Nominations of Directors.

(i) Nominations of any Person for election to the Board at an annual meeting may be made at such meeting only (a) by or at the direction of the Board, including by any committee or Persons authorized to do so by the Board or these bylaws, or (b) by a stockholder present in Person (as defined in Section 2.4) (1) who was a beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 2.5 and at the time of the meeting, (2) is entitled to vote at the meeting and (3) has complied with this Section 2.5 as to such notice and nomination. The foregoing clause (b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a Person or Persons for election to the Board at any annual meeting of stockholders.

(ii) Without qualification, for a stockholder to make any nomination of a Person or Persons for election to the Board at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (a) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 2.4(ii) of these bylaws) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation, (b) provide the information, agreements and questionnaires with respect to such stockholder and its candidate for nomination as required to be set forth by this Section 2.5, and (c) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 2.5. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(iii) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 2.5, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

(a) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(a) of these bylaws) except that for purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(a);

(b) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 2.4(iii)(b), except that for purposes of this Section 2.5 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 2.4(iii)(b) and the disclosure with respect to the business to be brought before the meeting in Section 2.4(iii)(c) shall be made with respect to nomination of each Person for election as a director at the meeting); and

(c) As to each candidate whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such candidate for nomination that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 if such candidate for nomination were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such candidate for nomination that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a

 

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contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such candidate’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected), (C) a description of any direct or indirect material interest in any material contract or agreement between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each candidate for nomination or his or her respective associates or any other participants in such solicitation, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the candidate for nomination were a director or executive officer of such registrant (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (C) are referred to as “Nominee Information”), and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 2.5(vi).

(iv) For purposes of this Section 2.5, the term “Nominating Person shall mean (a) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (b) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, (c) any other participant in such solicitation and (d) any associate of such stockholder or beneficial owner or any other participant in such solicitation.

(v) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 2.5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for notice of the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for notice of the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of such record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting or, if practicable, any adjournment or postponement thereof (and, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to the date to which the meeting has been adjourned or postponed) (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(vi) To be eligible to be a candidate for election as a director of the Corporation at an annual meeting, a candidate must be nominated in the manner prescribed in this Section 2.5 and the candidate for nomination, whether nominated by the Board or by a stockholder of record, must have previously delivered (in accordance with the time period prescribed for delivery in a notice to such candidate given by or on behalf of the Board), to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, (a) a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such candidate for nomination and (b) a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Corporation) that such candidate for nomination (A) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation or reimbursement for service as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed therein and (B) if elected as a director of the Corporation, will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality, stock ownership and trading and other policies and guidelines of the Corporation applicable to all directors and in effect during such Person’s term in office as a director (and, if requested by any candidate for nomination, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such candidate for nomination all such policies and guidelines then in effect).

 

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(vii) The Board may also require any proposed candidate for nomination as a Director to furnish such other information as may reasonably be requested by the Board in writing prior to the meeting of stockholders at which such candidate’s nomination is to be acted upon in order for the Board to determine the eligibility of such candidate for nomination to be an independent director of the Corporation.

(viii) In addition to the requirements of this Section 2.5 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations.

(ix) No candidate shall be eligible for nomination as a director of the Corporation unless such candidate for nomination and the Nominating Person seeking to place such candidate’s name in nomination has complied with this Section 2.5, as applicable. The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Section 2.5, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting, the defective nomination shall be disregarded and any ballots cast for the candidate in question (but in the case of any form of ballot listing other qualified nominees, only the ballots case for the nominee in question) shall be void and of no force or effect.

(x) Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no candidate for nomination shall be eligible to be seated as a director of the Corporation unless nominated and elected in accordance with this Section 2.5.

2.6 Notice of Stockholders Meetings.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in accordance with either Section 2.7 or Section 8.1 of these bylaws not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in Person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

2.7 Manner of Giving Notice; Affidavit of Notice.

Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed given:

(i) if mailed, when deposited in the U.S. mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the Corporation’s records; or

(ii) if electronically transmitted as provided in Section 8.1 of these bylaws.

An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or of the transfer agent or any other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by mail or by a form of electronic transmission, as applicable, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

 

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2.8 Quorum.

Unless otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the holders of a majority in voting power of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in Person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. If, however, a quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairperson of the meeting or (ii) a majority in voting power of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, present in Person, or by remote communication, if applicable, or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 2.9 of these bylaws until a quorum is present or represented.

2.9 Adjourned Meeting; Notice.

When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, if any, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time, place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in Person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At any adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. If after the adjournment a new record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the Board shall fix as the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each stockholder of record as of the record date so fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.

2.10 Conduct of Business.

The date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting by the Person presiding over the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the chairperson of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to convene and (for any or no reason) to recess and/or adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairperson, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or prescribed by the chairperson of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other Persons as the chairperson of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairperson of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

2.11 Voting.

Except as may be otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws or the DGCL, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share of capital stock held by such stockholder.

 

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Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, at all duly called or convened meetings of stockholders at which a quorum is present, for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect a director. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to the Corporation, or applicable law or pursuant to any regulation applicable to the Corporation or its securities, each other matter presented to the stockholders at a duly called or convened meeting at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker non-votes) on such matter.

2.12 Record Date for Stockholder Meetings and Other Purposes.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting. If the Board so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination. If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which notice is first given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting; and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance herewith at the adjourned meeting.

In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or for the purposes of any other lawful action, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

2.13 Proxies.

Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another Person or Persons to act for such stockholder by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting, but, no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL. A proxy may be in the form of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.

 

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2.14 List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.

The Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting (provided, however, that if the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote is less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting, the list shall reflect the stockholders entitled to vote as of the tenth (10th) day before the meeting date), arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. The Corporation shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the Corporation’s principal executive office. In the event that the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such information is available only to stockholders of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by each of them. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the list of stockholders required by this Section 2.14 or to vote in Person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

2.15 Inspectors of Election.

Before any meeting of stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint an inspector or inspectors of election to act at the meeting or its adjournment and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more Persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If any Person appointed as inspector or any alternate fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, then the chairperson of the meeting shall appoint a Person to fill that vacancy.

Such inspectors shall:

(i) determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting and the validity of any proxies and ballots;

(ii) count all votes or ballots;

(iii) count and tabulate all votes;

(iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s); and

(v) certify its or their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and its or their count of all votes and ballots.

 

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Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspection with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. Any report or certificate made by the inspectors of election is prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. The inspectors of election may appoint such Persons to assist them in performing their duties as they determine.

Article III - Directors

3.1 Powers.

Except as otherwise provided by the certificate of incorporation or the DGCL, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board.

3.2 Number of Directors.

Subject to the Certificate of Incorporation, the total number of directors constituting the Board shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board. No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before that director’s term of office expires.

3.3 Election, Qualification and Term of Office of Directors.

Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship, shall hold office until the expiration of the term of the class, if any, for which elected and until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws may prescribe qualifications for directors.

3.4 Resignation and Vacancies.

Any director may resign at any time upon notice given in writing or by electronic transmission to the Corporation. The resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon the happening of an event specified therein, and if no time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt. When one or more directors so resigns and the resignation is effective at a future date or upon the happening of an event to occur on a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in this section in the filling of other vacancies.

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director appointed in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the class, if any, to which the director is appointed and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy in the Board shall be deemed to exist under these bylaws in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.

 

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3.5 Place of Meetings; Meetings by Telephone.

The Board may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting pursuant to this bylaw shall constitute presence in Person at the meeting.

3.6 Regular Meetings.

Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

3.7 Special Meetings; Notice.

Special meetings of the Board for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by a majority of the total number of directors constituting the Board.

Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be:

(i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone;

(ii) sent by United States first-class mail, postage prepaid;

(iii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail; or

(iv) sent by other means of electronic transmission,

directed to each director at that director’s address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail address, or other address for electronic transmission, as the case may be, as shown on the Corporation’s records.

If the notice is (i) delivered personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or electronic mail, or (iii) sent by other means of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is sent by U.S. mail, it shall be deposited in the U.S. mail at least four (4) days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the Corporation’s principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.

3.8 Quorum.

At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the total number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

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A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum for that meeting.

3.9 Board Action by Written Consent without a Meeting.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

3.10 Fees and Compensation of Directors.

Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.

Article IV - Committees

4.1 Committees of Directors.

The Board may designate one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist, of one (1) or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one (1) or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority to (i) approve or adopt, or recommend to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the DGCL to be submitted to stockholders for approval, or (ii) adopt, amend or repeal any bylaw of the Corporation.

4.2 Committee Minutes.

Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board when required.

4.3 Meetings and Actions of Committees.

Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance with, the provisions of:

(i) Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone);

 

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(ii) Section 3.6 (regular meetings);

(iii) Section 3.7 (special meetings and notice);

(iv) Section 3.9 (action without a meeting); and

(v) Section 7.12 (waiver of notice),

with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to substitute the committee and its members for the Board and its members. However:

(i) the time of regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the Board or by resolution of the committee;

(ii) special meetings of committees may also be called by resolution of the Board or the chairperson of the applicable committee; and

(iii) the Board may adopt rules for the governance of any committee to override the provisions that would otherwise apply to the committee pursuant to this Section 4.3, provided that such rules do not violate the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law.

Article V - Officers

5.1 Officers.

The officers of the Corporation shall include a president and a secretary. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board, a chairperson of the Board, a vice chairperson of the Board, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer, a treasurer, one (1) or more vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant vice presidents, one (1) or more assistant treasurers, one (1) or more assistant secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same Person.

5.2 Appointment of Officers.

The Board shall appoint the officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.3 of these bylaws.

5.3 Subordinate Officers.

The Board may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or, in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president, to appoint, such other officers and agents as the business of the Corporation may require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these bylaws or as the Board may from time to time determine.

 

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5.4 Removal and Resignation of Officers.

Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the Board, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board.

Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice. Unless otherwise specified in the notice of resignation, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

5.5 Vacancies in Offices.

Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board or as provided in Section 5.2.

5.6 Representation of Shares of Other Corporations.

The chairperson of the Board, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president, the treasurer, the secretary or assistant secretary of this Corporation, or any other Person authorized by the Board, the chief executive officer, the president or a vice president, is authorized to vote, represent and exercise on behalf of this Corporation all rights incident to any and all shares or other ownership interests of any other corporation or corporations or other entity or entities standing in the name of this Corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either by such Person directly or by any other Person authorized to do so by proxy or power of attorney duly executed by such Person having the authority.

5.7 Authority and Duties of Officers.

All officers of the Corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the business of the Corporation as may be provided herein or designated from time to time by the Board and, to the extent not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.

Article VI - Records

A stock ledger consisting of one or more records in which the names of all of the Corporation’s stockholders of record, the address and number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder, and all issuances and transfers of stock of the corporation are recorded in accordance with Section 224 of the DGCL shall be administered by or on behalf of the Corporation. Any records administered by or on behalf of the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of account and minute books, may be kept on, or by means of, or be in the form of, any information storage device, or method, or one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible paper form within a reasonable time and, with respect to the stock ledger, that the records so kept (i) can be used to prepare the list of stockholders specified in Sections 219 and 220 of the DGCL, (ii) record the information specified in Sections 156, 159, 217(a) and 218 of the DGCL, and (iii) record transfers of stock as governed by Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

 

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Article VII - General Matters

7.1 Execution of Corporate Contracts and Instruments.

The Board, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized or ratified by the Board or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

7.2 Stock Certificates.

The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board by resolution may provide that some or all of the shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall be uncertificated. Certificates for the shares of stock, if any, shall be in such form as is consistent with the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law. Every holder of stock represented by a certificate shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, any two officers authorized to sign stock certificates representing the number of shares registered in certificate form. The chairperson or vice chairperson of the Board, the president, vice president, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the secretary or any assistant secretary of the Corporation shall be specifically authorized to sign stock certificates. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

7.3 Lost Certificates.

The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

7.4 Shares Without Certificates.

The Corporation may adopt a system of issuance, recordation and transfer of its shares of stock by electronic or other means not involving the issuance of certificates, provided the use of such system by the Corporation is permitted in accordance with applicable law.

7.5 Construction; Definitions.

Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular number includes the plural and the plural number includes the singular.

 

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7.6 Dividends.

The Board, subject to any restrictions contained in either (i) the DGCL or (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of its capital stock. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.

The Board may set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, and meeting contingencies.

7.7 Fiscal Year.

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board and may be changed by the Board.

7.8 Seal.

The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which shall be adopted and which may be altered by the Board. The Corporation may use the corporate seal by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

7.9 Transfer of Stock.

Shares of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these bylaws. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred on the books of the Corporation only by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, upon surrender to the Corporation of the certificate or certificates representing such shares endorsed by the appropriate Person or Persons (or by delivery of duly executed instructions with respect to uncertificated shares), with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement or execution, transfer, authorization and other matters as the Corporation may reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer stamps. No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing the names of the Persons from and to whom it was transferred.

7.10 Stock Transfer Agreements.

The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not prohibited by the DGCL.

7.11 Registered Stockholders.

The Corporation:

(i) shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a Person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner; and

 

17


(ii) shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of another Person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

7.12 Waiver of Notice.

Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the Person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the Person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a Person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the Person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws.

Article VIII - Notice by Electronic Transmission

8.1 Notice by Electronic Transmission.

Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders pursuant to the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if:

(i) the Corporation is unable to deliver by electronic transmission two (2) consecutive notices given by the Corporation in accordance with such consent; and

(ii) such inability becomes known to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer agent, or other Person responsible for the giving of notice.

However, the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other action.

Any notice given pursuant to the preceding paragraph shall be deemed given:

(i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

(ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice;

(iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and

 

18


(iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.

8.2 Definition of Electronic Transmission.

An “electronic transmission” means any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, including the use of, or participation in, one or more electronic networks or databases (including one or more distributed electronic networks or databases), that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

Article IX - Indemnification

9.1 Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any director or officer of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he or she, or a Person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with any such Proceeding. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 9.4, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a Person in connection with a Proceeding initiated by such Person only if the Proceeding was authorized in the specific case by the Board.

9.2 Indemnification of Others.

The Corporation shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any employee or agent of the Corporation who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any Proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she, or a Person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with any such Proceeding.

 

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9.3 Prepayment of Expenses.

The Corporation shall to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any officer or director of the Corporation, and may pay the expenses incurred by any employee or agent of the Corporation, in defending any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that, to the extent required by law, such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Person to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Person is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article IX or otherwise.

9.4 Determination; Claim.

If a claim for indemnification (following the final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article IX is not paid in full within sixty (60) days, or a claim for advancement of expenses under this Article IX is not paid in full within thirty (30) days, after a written claim therefor has been received by the Corporation the claimant may thereafter (but not before) file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim to the fullest extent permitted by law. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

9.5 Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

The rights conferred on any Person by this Article IX shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

9.6 Insurance.

The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of the DGCL.

9.7 Other Indemnification.

The Corporation’s obligation, if any, to indemnify or advance expenses to any Person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise shall be reduced by any amount such Person may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise.

9.8 Continuation of Indemnification.

The rights to indemnification and to prepayment of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall continue notwithstanding that the Person has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors, administrators, legatees and distributees of such Person.

 

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9.9 Amendment or Repeal; Interpretation.

The provisions of this Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Corporation, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, each individual who serves or has served as a director or officer of the Corporation (whether before or after the adoption of these bylaws), in consideration of such Person’s performance of such services, and pursuant to this Article IX the Corporation intends to be legally bound to each such current or former director or officer of the Corporation. With respect to current and former directors and officers of the Corporation, the rights conferred under this Article IX are present contractual rights and such rights are fully vested, and shall be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon adoption of theses bylaws. With respect to any directors or officers of the Corporation who commence service following adoption of these bylaws, the rights conferred under this provision shall be present contractual rights and such rights shall fully vest, and be deemed to have vested fully, immediately upon such director or officer commencing service as a director or officer of the Corporation. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article IX shall not adversely affect any right or protection (i) hereunder of any Person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification or (ii) under any agreement providing for indemnification or advancement of expenses to an officer or director of the Corporation in effect prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

Any reference to an officer of the Corporation in this Article IX shall be deemed to refer exclusively to the chairperson of the Board, a vice chairperson of the Board, a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer, a treasurer appointed pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and to any vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer or other officer of the Corporation appointed by (x) the Board pursuant to Article V of these Bylaws or (y) an officer to whom the Board has delegated the power to appoint officers pursuant to Article V of these bylaws, and any reference to an officer of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, non-profit entity or other enterprise shall be deemed to refer exclusively to an officer appointed by the board of directors (or equivalent governing body) of such other entity pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents) of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, non-profit entity or other enterprise. The fact that any Person who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an employee of any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, non-profit entity or other enterprise has been given or has used the title of “vice president” or any other title that could be construed to suggest or imply that such Person is or may be an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, non-profit entity or other enterprise shall not result in such Person being constituted as, or being deemed to be, an officer of the Corporation or of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, non-profit entity or other enterprise for purposes of this Article IX.

Article X - Amendments

The Board is expressly empowered to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation. The stockholders also shall have power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of voting stock of the Corporation with the power to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

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Article XI - Forum Selection

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, (a) the Court of Chancery (the “Chancery Court”) of the State of Delaware (or, in the event that the Chancery Court does not have jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware or other state courts of the State of Delaware) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action, suit or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or stockholder of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action, suit or proceeding arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation or these bylaws (as either may be amended from time to time) or (iv) any action, suit or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine; and (b) subject to the preceding provisions of this Article XI, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. If any action the subject matter of which is within the scope of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence is filed in a court other than the courts in the State of Delaware (a “Foreign Action”) in the name of any stockholder, such stockholder shall be deemed to have consented to (x) the personal jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of Delaware in connection with any action brought in any such court to enforce the provisions of clause (a) of the immediately preceding sentence and (y) having service of process made upon such stockholder in any such action by service upon such stockholder’s counsel in the Foreign Action as agent for such stockholder.

Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any security of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to this Article XI. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this Article XI shall not apply to suits brought to enforce any liability or duty created by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other claim for which the federal courts of the United States have exclusive jurisdiction.

If any provision or provisions of this Article XI shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable as applied to any circumstance for any reason whatsoever, (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of such provisions in any other circumstance and of the remaining provisions of this Article XI (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this Article XI containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and (b) the application of such provision to other persons or entities and circumstances shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

 

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Annexon, Inc.

Certificate of Amendment and Restatement of Bylaws

 

 

The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the duly elected, qualified, and acting Secretary of Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and that the foregoing bylaws were approved on December 11, 2019, effective as of                     , 2020 by the Corporation’s board of directors.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this              day of                     , 2020.

 

 

Jennifer Lew
Secretary
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

  

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

Tel: +1.650.328.4600 Fax: +1.650.463.2600

www.lw.com

LOGO

   FIRM / AFFILIATE OFFICES

 

 

July 20, 2020

 

 

 

Annexon, Inc.

180 Kimball Way, Suite 200

South San Francisco, California 94080

  

 

Beijing

Boston

Brussels

Century City

Chicago

Dubai

Düsseldorf

Frankfurt

Hamburg

Hong Kong

Houston

London

Los Angeles

Madrid

Milan

 

 

Moscow

Munich

New York

Orange County

Paris

Riyadh

San Diego

San Francisco

Seoul

Shanghai

Silicon Valley

Singapore

Tokyo

Washington, D.C.

 

  Re:

Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-239647)

   

Up to 11,500,000 Shares of Common Stock of Annexon, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the proposed issuance of up to 11,500,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Shares”). The Shares are included in a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on July 2, 2020 (Registration No. 333-239647) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”). This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement or related prospectus (the “Prospectus”), other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issue of the Shares.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Company and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, when the Shares shall have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the form of underwriting agreement most recently filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, the issue and sale of the Shares will have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have assumed that the Company will comply with all applicable notice requirements regarding uncertificated shares provided in the DGCL.


July 20, 2020

Page 2

 

LOGO

 

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Latham & Watkins LLP

EX-10.4(a)

Exhibit 10.4(a)

ANNEXON, INC.

2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this Plan are:

 

   

to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility,

 

   

to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants, and

 

   

to promote the success of the Company’s business.

The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions will apply:

(a) “Administrator” means the Board or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan.

(b) “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of equity-based awards under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.

(c) “Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, or Restricted Stock Units.

(d) “Award Agreement” means the written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

(e) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.


(f) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(i) Change in Ownership of the Company. A change in the ownership of the Company which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (“Person”), acquires ownership of the stock of the Company that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the Company, except that any change in the ownership of the stock of the Company as a result of a private financing of the Company that is approved by the Board will not be considered a Change in Control; or

(ii) Change in Effective Control of the Company. If the Company has a class of securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, a change in the effective control of the Company which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the Board is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this clause (ii), if any Person is considered to be in effective control of the Company, the acquisition of additional control of the Company by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

(iii) Change in Ownership of a Substantial Portion of the Company’s Assets. A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the Company’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions. For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Company, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

For purposes of this Section 2(f), persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed a Change in Control unless the transaction qualifies as a change in control event within the meaning of Code Section 409A, as it has been and may be amended from time to time, and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated thereunder from time to time.

Further and for the avoidance of doubt, a transaction will not constitute a Change in Control if: (i) its sole purpose is to change the jurisdiction of the Company’s incorporation, or (ii) its sole purpose is to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.

 

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(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a section of the Code herein will be a reference to any successor or amended section of the Code.

(h) “Committee” means a committee of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the Board, or by the compensation committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

(i) “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

(j) “Company” means Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

(k) “Consultant” means any individual, including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity. For the avoidance of doubt, the term “Consultant” shall not include any entity or any non-natural person.

(l) “Director” means a member of the Board.

(m) “Disability” means total and permanent disability as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3), provided that in the case of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards adopted by the Administrator from time to time.

(n) “Employee” means any person, including officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

(o) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(p) “Exchange Program” means a program under which (i) outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in exchange for Awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise prices and different terms), Awards of a different type, and/or cash, (ii) Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator, and/or (iii) the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced or increased. The Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in its sole discretion.

(q) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Capital Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value will be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system on the day of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

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(ii) If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such bids and asks were reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

(r) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

(s) “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

(t) “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

(u) “Parent” means a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(e).

(v) “Participant” means the holder of an outstanding Award.

(w) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events as determined by the Administrator.

(x) “Plan” means this 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

(y) “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued pursuant to an Award of Restricted Stock under Section 8 of the Plan, or issued pursuant to the early exercise of an Option.

(z) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share, granted pursuant to Section 9. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.

(aa) “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

(bb) “Share” means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 13 of the Plan.

(cc) “Stock Appreciation Right” means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to Section 7 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.

(dd) “Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Code Section 424(f).

 

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3. Stock Subject to the Plan.

(a) Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Awards and sold under the Plan is 22,705,663 Shares. The Shares may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

(b) Lapsed Awards. If an Award expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program, or, with respect to Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, is forfeited to or repurchased by the Company due to the failure to vest, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights the forfeited or repurchased Shares) which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). With respect to Stock Appreciation Rights, only Shares actually issued pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right will cease to be available under the Plan; all remaining Shares under Stock Appreciation Rights will remain available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan; provided, however, that if Shares issued pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company due to the failure to vest, such Shares will become available for future grant under the Plan. Shares used to pay the exercise price of an Award or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to an Award will become available for future grant or sale under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing and, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will equal the aggregate Share number stated in Section 3(a), plus, to the extent allowable under Code Section 422 and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, any Shares that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 3(b).

(c) Share Reserve. The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

4. Administration of the Plan.

(a) Procedure.

(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of Service Providers may administer the Plan.

(ii) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which Committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.

 

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(b) Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:

(i) to determine the Fair Market Value;

(ii) to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;

(iii) to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

(iv) to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator will determine;

(vi) to institute and determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program;

(vii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

(viii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for favorable tax treatment under applicable foreign laws;

(ix) to modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 18(c) of the Plan), including but not limited to the discretionary authority to extend the post-termination exercisability period of Awards and to extend the maximum term of an Option (subject to Section 6(d));

(x) to allow Participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations in a manner prescribed in Section 14;

(xi) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the Administrator;

(xii) to allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that otherwise would be due to such Participant under an Award; and

(xiii) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan.

(c) Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions, determinations and interpretations will be final and binding on all Participants and any other holders of Awards.

 

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5. Eligibility. Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, and Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Service Providers. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.

6. Stock Options.

(a) Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Options in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

(b) Option Agreement. Each Award of an Option will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Option, the number of Shares subject to the Option, the exercise restrictions, if any, applicable to the Option, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

(c) Limitations. Each Option will be designated in the Award Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. Notwithstanding such designation, however, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), such Options will be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 6(c), Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, the Fair Market Value of the Shares will be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such Shares is granted, and calculation will be performed in accordance with Code Section 422 and Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

(d) Term of Option. The term of each Option will be stated in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term will be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Incentive Stock Option will be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.

(e) Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

(i) Exercise Price. The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option will be determined by the Administrator, but will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. In addition, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an Employee who owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price will be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6(e)(i), Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Code Section 424(a).

 

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(ii) Waiting Period and Exercise Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be exercised.

(iii) Form of Consideration. The Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration for exercising an Option, including the method of payment. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the Administrator will determine the acceptable form of consideration at the time of grant. Such consideration may consist entirely of: (1) cash; (2) check; (3) promissory note, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, (4) other Shares, provided that such Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option will be exercised and provided further that accepting such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences to the Company, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion; (5) consideration received by the Company under cashless exercise program (whether through a broker or otherwise) implemented by the Company in connection with the Plan; (6) by net exercise, (7) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, or (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator will consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company.

(f) Exercise of Option.

(i) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

An Option will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (i) notice of exercise (in such form as the Administrator may specify from time to time) from the person entitled to exercise the Option, and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (together with applicable tax withholding). Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 13 of the Plan.

Exercising an Option in any manner will decrease the number of Shares thereafter available, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

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(ii) Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider, other than upon the Participant’s termination as the result of the Participant’s death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within three (3) months of termination, or such longer period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement) to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

(iii) Disability of Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within six (6) months of termination, or such longer period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement) to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

(iv) Death of Participant. If a Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised within six (6) months following the Participant’s death, or within such longer period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement (but in no event later than the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement) to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death, by the Participant’s designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to the Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option will immediately revert to the Plan. If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option will revert to the Plan.

7. Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Service Providers at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

(b) Number of Shares. The Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Shares subject to any Award of Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

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(c) Exercise Price and Other Terms. The per Share exercise price for the Shares that will determine the amount of the payment to be received upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in Section 7(f) will be determined by the Administrator and will be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Otherwise, the Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan.

(d) Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

(e) Expiration of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(d) relating to the maximum term and Section 6(f) relating to exercise also will apply to Stock Appreciation Rights.

(f) Payment of Stock Appreciation Right Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

(i) The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price; times

(ii) The number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised.

At the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.

8. Restricted Stock.

(a) Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Service Providers in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine.

(b) Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Company as escrow agent will hold Shares of Restricted Stock until the restrictions on such Shares have lapsed.

(c) Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 8 or as the Administrator determines, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of Restriction.

(d) Other Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.

 

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(e) Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or at such other time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.

(f) Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares, unless the Administrator determines otherwise.

(g) Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to such Shares, unless the Administrator provides otherwise. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.

(h) Return of Restricted Stock to Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.

9. Restricted Stock Units.

(a) Grant. Restricted Stock Units may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the Administrator. After the Administrator determines that it will grant Restricted Stock Units, it will advise the Participant in an Award Agreement of the terms, conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, including the number of Restricted Stock Units.

(b) Vesting Criteria and Other Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion, which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or service), or any other basis determined by the Administrator in its discretion.

(c) Earning Restricted Stock Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be entitled to receive a payout as determined by the Administrator. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time after the grant of Restricted Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any vesting criteria that must be met to receive a payout.

(d) Form and Timing of Payment. Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as practicable after the date(s) determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award Agreement. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may settle earned Restricted Stock Units in cash, Shares, or a combination of both.

(e) Cancellation. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited to the Company.

 

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10. Compliance With Code Section 409A. Awards will be designed and operated in such a manner that they are either exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Code Section 409A, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. The Plan and each Award Agreement under the Plan is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 409A and will be construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent, except as otherwise determined in the sole discretion of the Administrator. To the extent that an Award or payment, or the settlement or deferral thereof, is subject to Code Section 409A the Award will be granted, paid, settled or deferred in a manner that will meet the requirements of Code Section 409A, such that the grant, payment, settlement or deferral will not be subject to the additional tax or interest applicable under Code Section 409A.

11. Leaves of Absence/Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise, vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Participant will not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, then six (6) months following the first (1st) day of such leave, any Incentive Stock Option held by the Participant will cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and will be treated for tax purposes as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

12. Limited Transferability of Awards.

(a) Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award may only be transferred (i) by will, (ii) by the laws of descent and distribution, or (iii) as permitted by Rule 701 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

(b) Further, until the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or after the Administrator determines that it is, will, or may no longer be relying upon the exemption from registration under the Exchange Act as set forth in Rule 12h-1(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, an Option, or prior to exercise, the Shares subject to the Option, may not be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred or disposed of, in any manner, including by entering into any short position, any “put equivalent position” or any “call equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) and Rule 16a-1(b) of the Exchange Act, respectively), other than to (i) persons who are “family members” (as defined in Rule 701(c)(3) of the Securities Act) through gifts or domestic relations orders, or (ii) to an executor or guardian of the Participant upon the death or disability of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit transfers to the Company or in connection with a Change in Control or other acquisition transactions involving the Company to the extent permitted by Rule 12h-1(f).

 

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13. Adjustments; Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change in Control.

(a) Adjustments. In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of Shares that may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares covered by each outstanding Award; provided, however, that the Administrator will make such adjustments to an Award required by Section 25102(o) of the California Corporations Code to the extent the Company is relying upon the exemption afforded thereby with respect to the Award.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action.

(c) Merger or Change in Control. In the event of a merger or Change in Control, each outstanding Award will be treated as the Administrator determines (subject to the provisions of the following paragraph) without a Participant’s consent, including, without limitation, that (i) Awards will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; (ii) upon written notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate upon or immediately prior to the consummation of such merger or Change in Control; (iii) outstanding Awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or upon consummation of such merger or Change in Control, and, to the extent the Administrator determines, terminate upon or immediately prior to the effectiveness of such merger or Change in Control; (iv) (A) the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the transaction the Administrator determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment), or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion; or (v) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this subsection 13(c), the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, similarly.

In the event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award (or portion thereof), the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one hundred percent (100%)

 

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of target levels and all other terms and conditions met. In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or substituted in the event of a merger or Change in Control, the Administrator will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.

For the purposes of this subsection 13(c), an Award will be considered assumed if, following the merger or Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the merger or Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, for each Share subject to such Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the merger or Change in Control.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 13(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change in Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise valid Award assumption.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 13(c) to the contrary, if a payment under an Award Agreement is subject to Code Section 409A and if the change in control definition contained in the Award Agreement does not comply with the definition of “change of control” for purposes of a distribution under Code Section 409A, then any payment of an amount that is otherwise accelerated under this Section will be delayed until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Code Section 409A without triggering any penalties applicable under Code Section 409A.

14. Tax Withholding.

(a) Withholding Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such Award (or exercise thereof).

 

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(b) Withholding Arrangements. The Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (i) paying cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld, (iii) delivering to the Company already-owned Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the statutory amount required to be withheld, provided the delivery of such Shares will not result in any adverse accounting consequences, as the Administrator determines in its sole discretion, or (iv) selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be withheld.

15. No Effect on Employment or Service. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as a Service Provider with the Company, nor will they interfere in any way with the Participant’s right or the Company’s right to terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws.

16. Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

17. Term of Plan. Subject to Section 21 of the Plan, the Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board. Unless sooner terminated under Section 18, it will continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years from the later of (a) the effective date of the Plan, or (b) the earlier of the most recent Board or stockholder approval of an increase in the number of Shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.

18. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

(a) Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.

(b) Stockholder Approval. The Company will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

(c) Effect of Amendment or Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

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19. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

(a) Legal Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

(b) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required.

20. Inability to Obtain Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been obtained.

21. Stockholder Approval. The Plan will be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board. Such stockholder approval will be obtained in the manner and to the degree required under Applicable Laws.

22. Information to Participants. Beginning on the earlier of (i) the date that the aggregate number of Participants under this Plan is five hundred (500) or more and the Company is relying on the exemption provided by Rule 12h-1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act and (ii) the date that the Company is required to deliver information to Participants pursuant to Rule 701 under the Securities Act, and until such time as the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, is no longer relying on the exemption provided by Rule 12h-1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act or is no longer required to deliver information to Participants pursuant to Rule 701 under the Securities Act, the Company shall provide to each Participant the information described in paragraphs (e)(3), (4), and (5) of Rule 701 under the Securities Act not less frequently than every six (6) months with the financial statements being not more than 180 days old and with such information provided either by physical or electronic delivery to the Participants or by written notice to the Participants of the availability of the information on an Internet site that may be password-protected and of any password needed to access the information. The Company may request that Participants agree to keep the information to be provided pursuant to this section confidential. If a Participant does not agree to keep the information to be provided pursuant to this section confidential, then the Company will not be required to provide the information unless otherwise required pursuant to Rule 12h-1(f)(1) under the Exchange Act or Rule 701 of the Securities Act.

 

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AMENDMENT

TO THE ANNEXON, INC.

2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

Pursuant to the authority reserved to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), under Section 18 of the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Board hereby amends the Plan as follows.

1. Section 3(a) of the Plan is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“(a) Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 13 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be subject to Awards and sold under the Plan is 31,005,057 Shares. The Shares may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.”

2. Except as set forth herein, the Plan shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

* * * * * * * * * *


I hereby certify that the foregoing Amendment to the Plan was duly adopted by the Board effective as of June 30, 2020.

I hereby further certify that the foregoing Amendment to the Plan was duly adopted by the Company’s stockholders effective as of June 30, 2020.

Executed on this 30th day of June, 2020.

 

/s/ Jennifer Lew

Jennifer Lew, Secretary
EX-10.5(a)

Exhibit 10.5(a)

ANNEXON, INC.

2020 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE

The Plan’s purpose is to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make (or are expected to make) important contributions to the Company by providing these individuals with equity ownership opportunities.

ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

2.1 “Administrator” means the Board or a Committee to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee. With reference to the Board’s or a Committee’s powers or authority under the Plan that have been delegated to one or more officers pursuant to Section 4.2, the term “Administrator” shall refer to such officer(s) unless and until such delegation has been revoked.

2.2 “Applicable Law” means any applicable law, including without limitation: (a) provisions of the Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and any rules or regulations thereunder; (b) corporate, securities, tax or other laws, statutes, rules, requirements or regulations, whether federal, state, local or foreign; and (c) rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

2.3 “Award” means an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock award, Restricted Stock Unit award, Performance Bonus Award, Performance Stock Unit award, Dividend Equivalents award or Other Stock or Cash Based Award granted to a Participant under the Plan.

2.4 “Award Agreement” means an agreement evidencing an Award, which may be written or electronic, that contains such terms and conditions as the Administrator determines, consistent with and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

2.5 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.6 “Change in Control” means any of the following:

(a) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of Common Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of “persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of the Company’s securities possessing more than 50% of the total combined voting power of the


Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any acquisition by an employee benefit plan maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any acquisition which complies with Sections 2.6(c)(i), 2.6(c)(ii) and 2.6(c)(iii); or (iv) in respect of an Award held by a particular Participant, any acquisition by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant (or any entity controlled by the Participant or any group of persons including the Participant);

(b) The Incumbent Directors cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board;

(c) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination, (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets in any single transaction or series of related transactions or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other than a transaction:

(i) which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction;

(ii) after which no person or group beneficially owns voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated for purposes of this Section 2.6(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; and

(iii) after which at least a majority of the members of the board of directors (or the analogous governing body) of the Successor Entity were Board members at the time of the Board’s approval of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such transaction; or

(d) The completion of a liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change in Control constitutes a payment event with respect to any Award (or any portion of an Award) that provides for the deferral of compensation that is subject to Section 409A, to the extent required to avoid the imposition of additional taxes under Section 409A, the transaction or event described in subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this Section 2.6 with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) shall only constitute a Change in Control for purposes of the payment timing of such Award if such transaction also constitutes a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

 

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The Administrator shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in its sole discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to the above definition, the date of such Change in Control and any incidental matters relating thereto; provided that any exercise of authority in conjunction with a determination of whether a Change in Control is a “change in control event” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) shall be consistent with such regulation.

2.7 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.8 “Committee” means one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board, which may include one or more Company directors or executive officers, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law. To the extent required to comply with the provisions of Rule 16b-3, it is intended that each member of the Committee will be, at the time the Committee takes any action with respect to an Award that is subject to Rule 16b-3, a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3; however, a Committee member’s failure to qualify as a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 will not invalidate any Award granted by the Committee that is otherwise validly granted under the Plan.

2.9 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

2.10 “Company” means Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

2.11 “Consultant” means any person, including any adviser, engaged by the Company or its parent or Subsidiary to render services to such entity if the consultant or adviser: (i) renders bona fide services to the Company; (ii) renders services not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and does not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) is a natural person.

2.12 “Designated Beneficiary” means the beneficiary or beneficiaries the Participant designates, in a manner the Company determines, to receive amounts due or exercise the Participant’s rights if the Participant dies. Without a Participant’s effective designation, “Designated Beneficiary” will mean the Participant’s estate.

2.13 “Director” means a Board member.

2.14 “Disability” means a permanent and total disability under Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

2.15 “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Shares) of dividends paid on a specified number of Shares. Such Dividend Equivalent shall be converted to cash or additional Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares, by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Administrator.

 

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2.16 “DRO” means a “domestic relations order” as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder.

2.17 “Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3.

2.18 “Employee” means any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

2.19 “Equity Restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split (including a reverse stock split), spin-off or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of Shares (or other Company securities) or the share price of Common Stock (or other Company securities) and causes a change in the per share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

2.20 “Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.21 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a Share determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share as quoted on such exchange for such date, or if no sale occurred on such date, the last day preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on an established stock exchange but is quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value of a Share will be the closing sales price for a Share on such date, or if no sales occurred on such date, then on the last date preceding such date during which a sale occurred, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or another source the Administrator deems reliable; or (iii) if the Common Stock is not listed on any established stock exchange or quoted on a national market or other quotation system, the value established by the Administrator in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award granted on or after the effectiveness of the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering and prior to the Public Trading Date, the Fair Market Value means the initial public offering price of a Share as set forth in the Company’s final prospectus relating to its initial public offering filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

2.22 “Greater Than 10% Stockholder” means an individual then owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as determined in accordance with in Section 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively.

2.23 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that meets the requirements to qualify as an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

2.24 “Incumbent Directors” means, for any period of 12 consecutive months, individuals who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new Director(s) (other than a Director designated by a person who shall have entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in Section 2.6(a) or 2.6(c)) whose election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of at least a majority (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such

 

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person is named as a nominee for Director without objection to such nomination) of the Directors then still in office who either were Directors at the beginning of the 12-month period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved. No individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the Company as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to Directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be an Incumbent Director.

2.25 “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.26 “Option” means a right granted under Article VI to purchase a specified number of Shares at a specified price per Share during a specified time period. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.

2.27 “Other Stock or Cash Based Awards” means cash awards, awards of Shares, and other awards valued wholly or partially by referring to, or are otherwise based on, Shares or other property.

2.28 “Overall Share Limit” means the sum of (i) [3,125,868] Shares; (ii) any Shares that are subject to Prior Plan Awards that become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Article V; and (iii) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2021 and ending in 2030, equal to the lesser of (A) 4% of the Shares outstanding on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (B) such smaller number of Shares as determined by the Board.

2.29 “Participant” means a Service Provider who has been granted an Award.

2.30 “Performance Bonus Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.

2.31 “Performance Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.1 and subject to Section 8.2, to receive Shares, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals or other performance-based targets established by the Administrator.

2.32 “Permitted Transferee” means, with respect to a Participant, any “family member” of the Participant, as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (or any successor form thereto), or any other transferee specifically approved by the Administrator after taking into account Applicable Law.

2.33 “Plan” means this 2019 Incentive Award Plan.

2.34 “Prior Plan” means the Company’s 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.

 

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2.35 “Prior Plan Award” means an award outstanding under the Prior Plan as of the Effective Date.

2.36 “Public Trading Date” means the first date upon which Common Stock is listed upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

2.37 “Restricted Stock” means Shares awarded to a Participant under Article VII, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

2.38 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an unfunded, unsecured right to receive, on the applicable settlement date, one Share or an amount in cash or other consideration determined by the Administrator to be of equal value as of such settlement date, subject to certain vesting conditions and other restrictions.

2.39 “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

2.40 “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code.

2.41 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all regulations, guidance and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.42 “Service Provider” means an Employee, Consultant or Director.

2.43 “Shares” means shares of Common Stock.

2.44 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted under Article VI to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of Shares on the date the right is exercised over the exercise price set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

2.45 “Subsidiary” means any entity (other than the Company), whether domestic or foreign, in an unbroken chain of entities beginning with the Company if each of the entities other than the last entity in the unbroken chain beneficially owns, at the time of the determination, securities or interests representing at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of securities or interests in one of the other entities in such chain.

2.46 “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, in each case by a company or other entity acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

2.47 “Termination of Service” means:

(a) As to a Consultant, the time when the engagement of a Participant as a Consultant to the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, with or without cause, including, without limitation, by resignation, discharge, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Consultant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

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(b) As to a Non-Employee Director, the time when a Participant who is a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a Director for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, failure to be elected, death or retirement, but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

(c) As to an Employee, the time when the employee-employer relationship between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary is terminated for any reason, including, without limitation, a termination by resignation, discharge, death, disability or retirement; but excluding terminations where the Participant simultaneously commences or remains in employment or service with the Company or any Subsidiary.

The Company, in its sole discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to any Termination of Service, including, without limitation, whether a Termination of Service has occurred, whether a Termination of Service resulted from a discharge for “cause” and all questions of whether particular leaves of absence constitute a Termination of Service. For purposes of the Plan, a Participant’s employee-employer relationship or consultancy relationship shall be deemed to be terminated in the event that the Subsidiary employing or contracting with such Participant ceases to remain a Subsidiary following any merger, sale of stock or other corporate transaction or event (including, without limitation, a spin-off), even though the Participant may subsequently continue to perform services for that entity.

ARTICLE III.

ELIGIBILITY

Service Providers are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations described herein. No Service Provider shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to the Plan and neither the Company nor the Administrator is obligated to treat Service Providers, Participants or any other persons uniformly.

ARTICLE IV.

ADMINISTRATION AND DELEGATION

4.1 Administration.

(a) The Plan is administered by the Administrator. The Administrator has authority to determine which Service Providers receive Awards, grant Awards and set Award terms and conditions, subject to the conditions and limitations in the Plan. The Administrator also has the authority to take all actions and make all determinations under the Plan, to interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and to adopt, amend and repeal Plan administrative rules, guidelines and practices as it deems advisable. The Administrator may correct defects and ambiguities, supply omissions, reconcile inconsistencies in the Plan or any Award and make all other determinations that it deems necessary or appropriate to administer the Plan and any Awards. The Administrator (and each member thereof) is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act

 

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upon any report or other information furnished to it, him or her by any officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. The Administrator’s determinations under the Plan are in its sole discretion and will be final, binding and conclusive on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or any Award.

(b) Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrator has the exclusive power, authority and sole discretion to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant; (iii) determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate; (iv) subject to the limitations in the Plan, determine the terms and conditions of any Award and related Award Agreement, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, purchase price, any performance criteria, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for vesting, lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an Award, and accelerations, waivers or amendments thereof; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may be paid in cash, Shares, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited, or surrendered; and (vi) make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.

4.2 Delegation of Authority. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board or any Committee may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more Committees or officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that in no event shall an officer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (a) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or (b) officers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Directors to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation or that are otherwise included in the applicable organizational documents, and the Board or Committee, as applicable, may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegatee. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 4.2 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or the Committee, as applicable, and the Board or the Committee may abolish any committee at any time and re-vest in itself any previously delegated authority. Further, regardless of any delegation, the Board or a Committee may, in its discretion, exercise any and all rights and duties as the Administrator under the Plan delegated thereby, except with respect to Awards that are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

ARTICLE V.

STOCK AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS

5.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Article IX and the terms of this Article V, Awards may be made under the Plan covering up to the Overall Share Limit. As of the Effective Date, the Company will cease granting awards under the Prior Plan; however, Prior Plan Awards will remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plan. Shares issued or delivered under the Plan may consist of authorized but unissued Shares, Shares purchased on the open market or treasury Shares.

 

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5.2 Share Recycling.

(a) If all or any part of an Award or Prior Plan Award expires, lapses or is terminated, converted into an award in respect of shares of another entity in connection with a spin-off or other similar event, exchanged for cash, surrendered, repurchased, canceled without having been fully exercised or forfeited, in any case, in a manner that results in the Company acquiring Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award at a price not greater than the price (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) paid by the Participant for such Shares or not issuing any Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award, the unused Shares covered by the Award or Prior Plan Award will, as applicable, become or again be available for Awards under the Plan. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards or Prior Plan Awards shall not count against the Overall Share Limit.

(b) In addition, the following Shares shall be available for future grants of Awards: (i) Shares tendered by a Participant or withheld by the Company in payment of the exercise price of an Option or any stock option granted under the Prior Plan; (ii) Shares tendered by the Participant or withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award or any award granted under the Prior Plan; and (iii) Shares subject to a Stock Appreciation Right that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of the Stock Appreciation Right on exercise thereof. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.2(b), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded pursuant to an Incentive Stock Option if such action would cause such Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

5.3 Incentive Stock Option Limitations. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no more than [18,755,212] Shares (as adjusted to reflect any Equity Restructuring) may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.

5.4 Substitute Awards. In connection with an entity’s merger or consolidation with the Company or any Subsidiary or the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s acquisition of an entity’s property or stock, the Administrator may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted before such merger or consolidation by such entity or its affiliate. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate, notwithstanding limitations on Awards in the Plan. Substitute Awards will not count against the Overall Share Limit (nor shall Shares subject to a Substitute Award be added to the Shares available for Awards under the Plan as provided above), except that Shares acquired by exercise of substitute Incentive Stock Options will count against the maximum number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary

 

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or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as appropriately adjusted to reflect the transaction) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan (and Shares subject to such Awards may again become available for Awards under the Plan as provided under Section 5.2 above); provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employees or directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to such acquisition or combination.

5.5 Non-Employee Director Award Limit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or in any policy of the Company regarding non-employee director compensation, the sum of the grant date fair value (determined as of the grant date in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto) of all equity-based Awards and the maximum amount that may become payable pursuant to all cash-based Awards that may be granted to a Service Provider as compensation for services as a Non-Employee Director during any calendar year shall not exceed $1,000,000 for such Service Provider’s first year of service as a Non-Employee Director and $700,000 for each year thereafter.

ARTICLE VI.

STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

6.1 General. The Administrator may grant Options or Stock Appreciation Rights to one or more Service Providers, subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine. The Administrator will determine the number of Shares covered by each Option and Stock Appreciation Right, the exercise price of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right. A Stock Appreciation Right will entitle the Participant (or other person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right) to receive from the Company upon exercise of the exercisable portion of the Stock Appreciation Right an amount determined by multiplying the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over the exercise price per Share of the Stock Appreciation Right by the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, subject to any limitations of the Plan or that the Administrator may impose and payable in cash, Shares valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise or a combination of the two as the Administrator may determine or provide in the Award Agreement.

6.2 Exercise Price. The Administrator will establish each Option’s and Stock Appreciation Right’s exercise price and specify the exercise price in the Award Agreement. Subject to Section 6.6, the exercise price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is a Substitute Award, the exercise price per share of the Shares subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be less than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of grant; provided that the exercise price of any Substitute Award shall be determined in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 424 and 409A of the Code.

 

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6.3 Duration of Options. Subject to Section 6.6, each Option or Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable at such times and as specified in the Award Agreement, provided that the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right will not exceed ten years; provided, further, that, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, (a) no portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right which is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall thereafter become exercisable and (b) the portion of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that is unexercisable at a Participant’s Termination of Service shall automatically expire on the date of such Termination of Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Participant, prior to the end of the term of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, commits an act of “cause” (as determined by the Administrator), or violates any non-competition, non-solicitation or confidentiality provisions of any employment contract, confidentiality and nondisclosure agreement or other agreement between the Participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the right to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, as applicable, may be terminated by the Company and the Company may suspend the Participant’s right to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right when it reasonably believes that the Participant may have participated in any such act or violation.

6.4 Exercise. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised by delivering to the Company (or such other person or entity designated by the Administrator) a notice of exercise, in a form and manner the Company approves (which may be written, electronic or telephonic and may contain representations and warranties deemed advisable by the Administrator), signed or authenticated by the person authorized to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right, together with, as applicable, payment in full of (a) the exercise price for the number of Shares for which the Option is exercised in a manner specified in Section 6.5 and (b) all applicable taxes in a manner specified in Section 10.5. The Administrator may, in its discretion, limit exercise with respect to fractional Shares and require that any partial exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right be with respect to a minimum number of Shares.

6.5 Payment Upon Exercise. The Administrator shall determine the methods by which payment of the exercise price of an Option shall be made, including, without limitation:

(a) Cash, check or wire transfer of immediately available funds; provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing methods if one or more of the methods below is permitted;

(b) If there is a public market for Shares at the time of exercise, unless the Company otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option and that the broker has been directed to deliver promptly to the Company funds sufficient to pay the exercise price, or (B) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company an amount sufficient to pay the exercise price by cash, wire transfer of immediately available funds or check; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company;

 

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(c) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery (either by actual delivery or attestation) of Shares owned by the Participant valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery;

(d) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, surrendering Shares then issuable upon the Option’s exercise valued at their Fair Market Value on the exercise date;

(e) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery of a promissory note or any other lawful consideration; or

(f) To the extent permitted by the Administrator, any combination of the above payment forms.

6.6 Additional Terms of Incentive Stock Options. The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options only to employees of the Company, any of its present or future parent or subsidiary corporations, as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Code, respectively, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code. If an Incentive Stock Option is granted to a Greater Than 10% Stockholder, the exercise price will not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Option’s grant date, and the term of the Option will not exceed five years. All Incentive Stock Options (and Award Agreements related thereto) will be subject to and construed consistently with Section 422 of the Code. By accepting an Incentive Stock Option, the Participant agrees to give prompt notice to the Company of dispositions or other transfers (other than in connection with a Change in Control) of Shares acquired under the Option made within (a) two years from the grant date of the Option or (b) one year after the transfer of such Shares to the Participant, specifying the date of the disposition or other transfer and the amount the Participant realized, in cash, other property, assumption of indebtedness or other consideration, in such disposition or other transfer. Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable to a Participant, or any other party, if an Incentive Stock Option fails or ceases to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code. Any Incentive Stock Option or portion thereof that fails to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code for any reason, including becoming exercisable with respect to Shares having a fair market value exceeding the $100,000 limitation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.422-4, will be a Nonqualified Stock Option.

ARTICLE VII.

RESTRICTED STOCK; RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

7.1 General. The Administrator may grant Restricted Stock, or the right to purchase Restricted Stock, to any Service Provider, subject to forfeiture or the Company’s right to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant if conditions the Administrator specifies in the Award Agreement are not satisfied before the end of the applicable restriction period or periods that the Administrator establishes for such Award. In addition, the Administrator may grant Restricted Stock Units, which may be subject to vesting and forfeiture conditions during the applicable restriction period or periods, as

 

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set forth in an Award Agreement, to Service Providers. The Administrator shall establish the purchase price, if any, and form of payment for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units; provided, however, that if a purchase price is charged, such purchase price shall be no less than the par value, if any, of the Shares to be purchased, unless otherwise permitted by Applicable Law. In all cases, legal consideration shall be required for each issuance of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to the extent required by Applicable Law. The Award Agreement for each Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award shall set forth the terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.

7.2 Restricted Stock.

(a) Stockholder Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, each Participant holding shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to all the rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, subject to the restrictions in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, including the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares to the extent such dividends and other distributions have a record date that is on or after the date on which such Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares; provided, however, that with respect to a share of Restricted Stock subject to restrictions or vesting conditions as described in Section 8.3, except in connection with a spin-off or other similar event as otherwise permitted under Section 9.2, dividends which are paid to Company stockholders prior to the removal of restrictions and satisfaction of vesting conditions shall only be paid to the Participant to the extent that the restrictions are subsequently removed and the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the share of Restricted Stock vests.

(b) Stock Certificates. The Company may require that the Participant deposit in escrow with the Company (or its designee) any stock certificates issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock, together with a stock power endorsed in blank.

(c) Section 83(b) Election. If a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which such Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, such Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof.

7.3 Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator may provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units will occur upon or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Restricted Stock Units vest or will instead be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the Participant’s election, subject to compliance with Applicable Law.

ARTICLE VIII.

OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS

8.1 General. The Administrator may grant Performance Stock Unit awards, Performance Bonus Awards, Dividend Equivalents or Other Stock or Cash Based Awards, to one or more Service Providers, in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine.

 

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8.2 Performance Stock Unit Awards. Each Performance Stock Unit award shall be denominated in a number of Shares or in unit equivalents of Shares or units of value (including a dollar value of Shares) and may be linked to any one or more of performance or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or Subsidiaries, determined to be appropriate by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator. In making such determinations, the Administrator may consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.

8.3 Performance Bonus Awards. Each right to receive a bonus granted under this Section 8.3 shall be denominated in the form of cash (but may be payable in cash, stock or a combination thereof) (a “Performance Bonus Award”) and shall be payable upon the attainment of performance goals that are established by the Administrator and relate to one or more of performance or other specific criteria, including service to the Company or Subsidiaries, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator.

8.4 Dividend Equivalents. If the Administrator provides, an Award (other than an Option or Stock Appreciation Right) may provide a Participant with the right to receive Dividend Equivalents. Dividend Equivalents may be paid currently or credited to an account for the Participant, settled in cash or Shares and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Award with respect to which the Dividend Equivalents are granted and subject to other terms and conditions as set forth in the Award Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award subject to vesting shall either (i) to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, not be paid or credited or (ii) be accumulated and subject to vesting to the same extent as the related Award. All such Dividend Equivalents shall be paid at such time as the Administrator shall specify in the applicable Award Agreement.

8.5 Other Stock or Cash Based Awards. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be granted to Participants, including Awards entitling Participants to receive cash or Shares to be delivered in the future and annual or other periodic or long-term cash bonus awards (whether based on specified performance criteria or otherwise), in each case subject to any conditions and limitations in the Plan. Such Other Stock or Cash Based Awards will also be available as a payment form in the settlement of other Awards, as standalone payments and as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock or Cash Based Awards may be paid in Shares, cash or other property, as the Administrator determines. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of each Other Stock or Cash Based Award, including any purchase price, performance goal(s), transfer restrictions, and vesting conditions, which will be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Except in connection with a spin-off or other similar event as otherwise permitted under Article IX, dividends that are paid prior to vesting of any Other Stock or Cash Based Award shall only be paid to the applicable Participant to the extent that the vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Other Stock or Cash Based Award vests.

 

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ARTICLE IX.

ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN COMMON STOCK

AND CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS

9.1 Equity Restructuring. In connection with any Equity Restructuring, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article IX the Administrator will equitably adjust the terms of the Plan and each outstanding Award as it deems appropriate to reflect the Equity Restructuring, which may include (i) adjusting the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article V hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares that may be issued); (ii) adjusting the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the performance goals or other criteria included in, outstanding Awards; and (iii) granting new Awards or making cash payments to Participants. The adjustments provided under this Section 9.1 will be nondiscretionary and final and binding on all interested parties, including the affected Participant and the Company; provided that the Administrator will determine whether an adjustment is equitable.

9.2 Corporate Transactions. In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin off, combination, amalgamation, repurchase, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or sale or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, Change in Control, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, other similar corporate transaction or event, other unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company or its financial statements or any change in any Applicable Law or accounting principles, the Administrator, on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event (except that action to give effect to a change in Applicable Law or accounting principles may be made within a reasonable period of time after such change) and either automatically or upon the Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to (x) prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award granted or issued under the Plan, (y) to facilitate such transaction or event or (z) give effect to such changes in Applicable Law or accounting principles:

(a) To provide for the cancellation of any such Award in exchange for either an amount of cash or other property with a value equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment;

(b) To provide that such Award shall vest and, to the extent applicable, be exercisable as to all Shares (or other property) covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award;

 

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(c) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation or entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and applicable exercise or purchase price, in all cases, as determined by the Administrator;

(d) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article V hereof on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued) or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards;

(e) To replace such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator; or

(f) To provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the applicable event.

9.3 Change in Control.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, unless the Administrator elects to (i) terminate an Award in exchange for cash, rights or property, or (ii) cause an Award to become fully exercisable and no longer subject to any forfeiture restrictions prior to the consummation of a Change in Control, pursuant to Section 9.2, (A) such Award (other than any portion subject to performance-based vesting) shall continue in effect or be assumed or an equivalent Award substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation and (B) the portion of such Award subject to performance-based vesting shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement and, in the absence of applicable terms and conditions, the Administrator’s discretion.

(b) In the event that the successor corporation in a Change in Control refuses to assume or substitute for an Award, the Administrator shall cause such Award to become fully vested and, if applicable, exercisable immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction and all forfeiture restrictions on such Award to lapse and, to the extent unexercised upon the consummation of such transaction, to terminate in exchange for cash, rights or other property. Unless otherwise set forth in an applicable award agreement, for purposes of this Section 9.3(b), each award subject to performance-based vesting will be deemed earned at the greater of (i) target or (ii) actual achievement measured as of the Change in Control (to the extent then measurable). The Administrator shall notify the Participant of any Award that becomes exercisable pursuant to the preceding sentence that such Award shall be fully exercisable for a period of 15 days from the date of such notice, contingent upon the occurrence of the Change in Control, and such Award shall terminate upon the consummation of the Change in Control in accordance with the preceding sentence.

 

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(c) For the purposes of this Section 9.3, an Award shall be considered assumed if, following the Change in Control, the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the Change in Control by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the Change in Control was not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent, the Administrator may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Award, for each Share subject to an Award, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its parent equal in fair market value to the per-share consideration received by holders of Common Stock in the Change in Control.

9.4 Administrative Stand Still. In the event of any pending stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of Company assets to stockholders, or any other extraordinary transaction or change affecting the Shares or the share price of Common Stock (including any Equity Restructuring or any securities offering or other similar transaction) or for reasons of administrative convenience or to facilitate compliance with any Applicable Law, the Company may refuse to permit the exercise or settlement of one or more Awards for such period of time as the Company may determine to be reasonably appropriate under the circumstances.

9.5 General. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no Participant will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of Shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of Shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation. Except as expressly provided with respect to an Equity Restructuring under Section 9.1 above or the Administrator’s action under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of Shares of any class, or securities convertible into Shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of Shares subject to an Award or the Award’s grant or exercise price. The existence of the Plan, any Award Agreements and the Awards granted hereunder will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation, spinoff, dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Shares.

ARTICLE X.

PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS

10.1 Transferability.

(a) No Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or, subject to the Administrator’s consent, pursuant to a domestic relations order, unless and until such Award has been exercised or the Shares underlying such Award have been issued, and all restrictions applicable to such Shares have lapsed. During the life of a Participant,

 

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Awards will be exercisable only by the Participant, unless it has been disposed of pursuant to a domestic relations order. After the death of a Participant, any exercisable portion of an Award may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, be exercised by the Participant’s personal representative or by any person empowered to do so under the deceased Participant’s will or under the then-Applicable Law of descent and distribution. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, will include references to a transferee approved by the Administrator.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 10.1(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Participant or a Permitted Transferee of such Participant to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option (unless such Incentive Stock Option is intended to become a Nonqualified Stock Option) to any one or more Permitted Transferees of such Participant, subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than (A) to another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Participant or (B) by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, subject to the consent of the Administrator, pursuant to a domestic relations order; (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Participant (other than the ability to further transfer the Award to any Person other than another Permitted Transferee of the applicable Participant); (iii) the Participant (or transferring Permitted Transferee) and the receiving Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Administrator, including, without limitation documents to (A) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (B) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under Applicable Law and (C) evidence the transfer; and (iv) any transfer of an Award to a Permitted Transferee shall be without consideration, except as required by Applicable Law. In addition, and further notwithstanding Section 10.1(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Participant to transfer Incentive Stock Options to a trust that constitutes a Permitted Transferee if, under Section 671 of the Code and other Applicable Law, the Participant is considered the sole beneficial owner of the Incentive Stock Option while it is held in the trust.

(c) Notwithstanding Section 10.1(a), a Participant may, in the manner determined by the Administrator, designate a Designated Beneficiary. A Designated Beneficiary, legal guardian, legal representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to the Participant and any additional restrictions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Administrator. If the Participant is married or a domestic partner in a domestic partnership qualified under Applicable Law and resides in a community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner, as applicable, as the Participant’s Designated Beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant’s interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written or electronic consent of the Participant’s spouse or domestic partner. Subject to the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a Participant at any time; provided that the change or revocation is delivered in writing to the Administrator prior to the Participant’s death.

 

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10.2 Documentation. Each Award will be evidenced in an Award Agreement in such form as the Administrator determines in its discretion. Each Award may contain such terms and conditions as are determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, to the extent not inconsistent with those set forth in the Plan.

10.3 Discretion. Except as the Plan otherwise provides, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award to a Participant need not be identical, and the Administrator need not treat Participants or Awards (or portions thereof) uniformly.

10.4 Changes in Participant’s Status. The Administrator will determine how the disability, death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or any other change or purported change in a Participant’s Service Provider status affects an Award and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary may exercise rights under the Award, if applicable. Except to the extent otherwise required by law or expressly authorized by the Company or by the Company’s written policy on leaves of absence, no Service credit shall be given for vesting purposes for any period the Participant is on a leave of absence.

10.5 Withholding. Each Participant must pay the Company, or make provision satisfactory to the Administrator for payment of, any taxes required by law to be withheld in connection with such Participant’s Awards by the date of the event creating the tax liability. The Company may deduct an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations from any payment of any kind otherwise due to a Participant. The amount deducted shall be determined by the Company and may be up to, but no greater than, the aggregate amount of such obligations based on the maximum statutory withholding rates in the applicable Participant’s jurisdiction for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such taxable income. Subject to any Company insider trading policy (including blackout periods), Participants may satisfy such tax obligations (i) in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, by check made payable to the order of the Company; provided that the Company may limit the use of one of the foregoing methods if one or more of the exercise methods below is permitted, (ii) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, in whole or in part by delivery of Shares, including Shares delivered by attestation and Shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of delivery, (iii) if there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligations are satisfied, unless the Administrator otherwise determines, (A) delivery (including electronically or telephonically to the extent permitted by the Company) of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker acceptable to the Company with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option and that the broker has been directed to deliver promptly to the Company funds sufficient to satisfy the tax obligations, or (B) the Participant’s delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a broker acceptable to the Company to deliver promptly to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy the tax withholding by cash, wire transfer of immediately available funds or check; provided that such amount is paid to the Company at such time as may be required by the Company, (iv) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, delivery of a promissory note or any other lawful consideration or (v) to the extent permitted by the Administrator, any combination of the foregoing payment forms. If any tax withholding obligation will be satisfied under clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence by the Company’s retention of Shares from the Award creating the tax obligation and there is a public market for Shares at the time the tax obligation is satisfied, the Company may

 

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elect to instruct any brokerage firm determined acceptable to the Company for such purpose to sell on the applicable Participant’s behalf some or all of the Shares retained and to remit the proceeds of the sale to the Company or its designee, and each Participant’s acceptance of an Award under the Plan will constitute the Participant’s authorization to the Company and instruction and authorization to such brokerage firm to complete the transactions described in this sentence.

10.6 Amendment of Award; Repricing. The Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including by substituting another Award of the same or a different type, changing the exercise or settlement date, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonqualified Stock Option. The Participant’s consent to such action will be required unless (i) the action, taking into account any related action, does not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Award, or (ii) the change is permitted under Article IX or pursuant to Section 11.6. In addition, the Administrator shall, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, have the authority to (a) amend any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right to reduce its exercise price per Share, or (b) cancel any Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award.

10.7 Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any Shares under the Plan or remove restrictions from Shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all Award conditions have been met or removed to the Company’s satisfaction, (ii) as determined by the Company, all other legal matters regarding the issuance and delivery of such Shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Administrator deems necessary or appropriate to satisfy Applicable Law. The Company’s inability to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which the Administrator determines is necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any securities, will relieve the Company of any liability for failing to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority has not been obtained.

10.8 Acceleration. The Administrator may at any time provide that any Award will become immediately vested and fully or partially exercisable, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise fully or partially realizable.

ARTICLE XI.

MISCELLANEOUS

11.1 No Right to Employment or Other Status. No person will have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award will not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continue employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan or any Award, except as expressly provided in an Award Agreement or other written agreement between the Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

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11.2 No Rights as Stockholder; Certificates. Subject to the Award Agreement, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under an Award until becoming the record holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless the Administrator otherwise determines or Applicable Law requires, the Company will not be required to deliver to any Participant certificates evidencing Shares issued in connection with any Award and instead such Shares may be recorded in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator). The Company may place legends on any share certificate or book entry to reference restrictions applicable to the Shares (including, without limitation, restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock).

11.3 Effective Date. The Plan will become effective on the date immediately prior to the date the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering becomes effective (the “Effective Date”). No Incentive Stock Option may be granted pursuant to the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date the Plan was approved by the Board and (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the Company’s stockholders.

11.4 Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time; provided that (a) no amendment requiring stockholder approval to comply with Applicable Law shall be effective unless approved by the Board, and (b) no amendment, other than an increase to the Overall Share Limit or pursuant to Article IX or Section 11.6, may materially and adversely affect any Award outstanding at the time of such amendment without the affected Participant’s consent. No Awards may be granted under the Plan during any suspension period or after Plan termination. Awards outstanding at the time of any Plan suspension or termination will continue to be governed by the Plan and the Award Agreement, as in effect before such suspension or termination. The Board will obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary to comply with Applicable Law.

11.5 Provisions for Foreign Participants. The Administrator may modify Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States, establish subplans or procedures under the Plan or take any other necessary or appropriate action to address Applicable Law, including (a) differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters, (b) listing and other requirements of any foreign securities exchange, and (c) any necessary local governmental or regulatory exemptions or approvals.

11.6 Section 409A.

(a) General. The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A, such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, the Administrator may, without a Participant’s consent, amend this Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (A) exempt this Plan or any Award from Section 409A, or (B) comply with Section 409A, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax

 

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treatment under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 11.6 or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A.

(b) Separation from Service. If an Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any payment or settlement of such Award upon a Participant’s Termination of Service will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the Participant’s Termination of Service. For purposes of this Plan or any Award Agreement relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms means a “separation from service.”

(c) Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award Agreement, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under an Award to a “specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A and as the Administrator determines) due to his or her “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award Agreement) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.

11.7 Limitations on Liability. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Plan, no individual acting as a director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary will be liable to any Participant, former Participant, spouse, beneficiary, or any other person for any claim, loss, liability, or expense incurred in connection with the Plan or any Award, and such individual will not be personally liable with respect to the Plan because of any contract or other instrument executed in his or her capacity as an Administrator, director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each director, officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary that has been or will be granted or delegated any duty or power relating to the Plan’s administration or interpretation, against any cost or expense (including attorneys’ fees) or liability (including any sum paid in settlement of a claim with the Administrator’s approval) arising from any act or omission concerning this Plan unless arising from such person’s own fraud or bad faith; provided that he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf.

11.8 Data Privacy. As a condition for receiving any Award, each Participant explicitly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of personal data as described in this Section by and among the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates exclusively for implementing, administering and managing the Participant’s

 

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participation in the Plan. The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may hold certain personal information about a Participant, including the Participant’s name, address and telephone number; birthdate; social security, insurance number or other identification number; salary; nationality; job title(s); any Shares held in the Company or its Subsidiaries and affiliates; and Award details, to implement, manage and administer the Plan and Awards (the “Data”). The Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data amongst themselves as necessary to implement, administer and manage a Participant’s participation in the Plan, and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates may transfer the Data to third parties assisting the Company with Plan implementation, administration and management. These recipients may be located in the Participant’s country, or elsewhere, and the Participant’s country may have different data privacy laws and protections than the recipients’ country. By accepting an Award, each Participant authorizes such recipients to receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, to implement, administer and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan, including any required Data transfer to a broker or other third party with whom the Company or the Participant may elect to deposit any Shares. The Data related to a Participant will be held only as long as necessary to implement, administer, and manage the Participant’s participation in the Plan. A Participant may, at any time, view the Data that the Company holds regarding such Participant, request additional information about the storage and processing of the Data regarding such Participant, recommend any necessary corrections to the Data regarding the Participant or refuse or withdraw the consents in this Section 11.8 in writing, without cost, by contacting the local human resources representative. The Company may cancel Participant’s ability to participate in the Plan and, in the Administrator’s sole discretion, the Participant may forfeit any outstanding Awards if the Participant refuses or withdraws the consents in this Section 11.8. For more information on the consequences of refusing or withdrawing consent, Participants may contact their local human resources representative.

11.9 Severability. If any portion of the Plan or any action taken under it is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had been excluded, and the illegal or invalid action will be null and void.

11.10 Governing Documents. If any contradiction occurs between the Plan and any Award Agreement or other written agreement between a Participant and the Company (or any Subsidiary), the Plan will govern, unless such Award Agreement or other written agreement was approved by the Administrator and expressly provides that a specific provision of the Plan will not apply.

11.11 Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

11.12 Clawback Provisions. All Awards (including the gross amount of any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit the Participant actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of any Award or the receipt or resale of any Shares underlying the Award) will be subject to recoupment by the Company to the extent required to comply with Applicable Law or any policy of the Company providing for the reimbursement of incentive compensation, whether or not such policy was in place at the time of grant of an Award.

 

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11.13 Titles and Headings. The titles and headings in the Plan are for convenience of reference only and, if any conflict, the Plan’s text, rather than such titles or headings, will control.

11.14 Conformity to Applicable Law. Participant acknowledges that the Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with Applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan and all Awards will be administered only in a manner intended to conform with Applicable Law. To the extent Applicable Law permit, the Plan and all Award Agreements will be deemed amended as necessary to conform to Applicable Law.

11.15 Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary, except as expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

11.16 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded” plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or Award Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.

11.17 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and any Award granted or awarded to any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act and any amendments thereto) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

11.18 Prohibition on Executive Officer Loans. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Awards granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or a loan arranged by the Company in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

11.19 Broker-Assisted Sales. In the event of a broker-assisted sale of Shares in connection with the payment of amounts owed by a Participant under or with respect to the Plan or Awards, including amounts to be paid under the final sentence of Section 10.5: (a) any Shares to be sold through the broker-assisted sale will be sold on the day the payment first becomes due, or as soon thereafter as practicable; (b) such Shares may be sold as part of a block trade with other Participants in the Plan in which all participants receive an average price; (c) the applicable Participant will be responsible for all broker’s fees and other costs of sale, and by accepting an Award, each Participant agrees to indemnify and hold the Company harmless from any losses, costs, damages, or expenses relating to any such sale; (d) to the extent the Company or its designee receives proceeds of such sale that exceed the amount owed, the Company will pay such excess in cash to the applicable Participant as soon as reasonably practicable; (e) the

 

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Company and its designees are under no obligation to arrange for such sale at any particular price; and (f) in the event the proceeds of such sale are insufficient to satisfy the Participant’s applicable obligation, the Participant may be required to pay immediately upon demand to the Company or its designee an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy any remaining portion of the Participant’s obligation.

*     *     *     *     *

 

 

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I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of Annexon, Inc. on December 11, 2019.

I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was approved by the stockholders of Annexon, Inc. on July 16, 2020.

Executed on _________, 2020.

 

 

Corporate Secretary
EX-10.6

Exhibit 10.6

ANNEXON, INC.

EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

ARTICLE I.

PURPOSE

The Plan’s purpose is to assist employees of the Company and its Designated Subsidiaries in acquiring a stock ownership interest in the Company pursuant to a plan which is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code, and to help such employees provide for their future security and to encourage them to remain in the employment of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

ARTICLE II.

DEFINITIONS

As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases have the meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

2.1 “Administrator” means the Committee, or such individuals to which authority to administer the Plan has been delegated under Section 7.1 hereof.

2.2 “Agent” means the brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution, entity or person(s), if any, engaged, retained, appointed or authorized to act as the agent of the Company or an Employee with regard to the Plan.

2.3 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.4 “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and all regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority issued thereunder.

2.5 “Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

2.6 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

2.7 “Company” means Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor.

2.8 “Compensation” of an Employee means the regular earnings or base salary paid to the Employee from the Company on each Payday as compensation for services to the Company or any Designated Subsidiary, before deduction for any salary deferral contributions made by the Employee to any tax-qualified or nonqualified deferred compensation plan, including, if applicable, overtime, shift differentials, vacation pay, salaried production schedule premiums, holiday pay, jury duty pay, funeral leave pay, paid time off, military pay, prior week adjustments and weekly bonus, but excluding education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group insurance or benefit program, travel expenses, business and moving reimbursements, including tax gross ups and taxable mileage allowance, income

 


received in connection with any stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other compensatory equity awards and all contributions made by the Company or any Designated Subsidiary for the Employee’s benefit under any employee benefit plan now or hereafter established. Such Compensation shall be calculated before deduction of any income or employment tax withholdings, but shall be withheld from the Employee’s net income.

2.9 “Designated Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary that has been designated by the Board or Committee from time to time in its sole discretion as eligible to participate in the Plan, including any Subsidiary in existence on the Effective Date and any Subsidiary formed or acquired following the Effective Date, in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof.

2.10 “Effective Date” means the date immediately prior to the date the Company’s registration statement relating to its initial public offering becomes effective, provided that the Board has adopted the Plan prior to or on such date, subject to approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders in accordance with Section 7.7 hereof.

2.11 “Eligible Employee” means an Employee who:

(a) is customarily scheduled to work at least 20 hours per week;

(b) whose customary employment is more than five months in a calendar year; and

(c) after the granting of the Option would not be deemed for purposes of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code to possess 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary.

For purposes of clause (c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code with regard to the attribution of stock ownership shall apply in determining the stock ownership of an individual, and stock which an Employee may purchase under outstanding options shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may exclude from participation in the Plan as an Eligible Employee:

(x) any Employee that is a “highly compensated employee” of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary (within the meaning of Section 414(q) of the Code), or that is such a “highly compensated employee” (A) with compensation above a specified level, (B) who is an officer or (C) who is subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act; or

(y) any Employee who is a citizen or resident of a foreign jurisdiction (without regard to whether they are also a citizen of the United States or a resident alien (within the meaning of Section 7701(b)(1)(A) of the Code)) if either (A) the grant of the Option is prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction governing such Employee, or (B) compliance with the laws of the foreign jurisdiction would cause the Plan or the Option to violate the requirements of Section 423 of the Code;

 

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provided that any exclusion in clauses (x) or (y) shall be applied in an identical manner under each Offering Period to all Employees of the Company and all Designated Subsidiaries, in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.423-2(e).

2.12 “Employee” means any person who renders services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. “Employee” shall not include any director of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary who does not render services to the Company or a Designated Subsidiary in the status of an employee within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on military leave, sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary and meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2). Where the period of leave exceeds three months, or such other period specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2), and the individual’s right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three-month period, or such other period specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2).

2.13 “Enrollment Date” means the first date of each Offering Period.

2.14 “Exercise Date” means the last day of each Offering Period, except as provided in Section 5.2 hereof.

2.15 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.16 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

(a) If the Common Stock is (i) listed on any established securities exchange (such as the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Global Select Market), (ii) listed on any national market system or (iii) listed, quoted or traded on any automated quotation system, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a share of Common Stock as quoted on such exchange or system for such date or, if there is no closing sales price for a share of Common Stock on the date in question, the closing sales price for a share of Stock on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

(b) If the Common Stock is not listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system, but the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean of the high bid and low asked prices for such date or, if there are no high bid and low asked prices for a share of Common Stock on such date, the high bid and low asked prices for a share of Common Stock on the last preceding date for which such information exists, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

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(c) If the Common Stock is neither listed on an established securities exchange, national market system or automated quotation system nor regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be established by the Administrator in good faith.

2.17 “Grant Date” means the first day of an Offering Period.

2.18 “New Exercise Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2(b) hereof.

2.19 “Offering Period” means such period of time commencing on such date(s) as determined by the Board or Committee, in its sole discretion, and with respect to which Options shall be granted to Participants. The duration and timing of Offering Periods may be established or changed by the Board or Committee at any time, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may an Offering Period exceed 27 months.

2.20 “Option” means the right to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan during each Offering Period.

2.21 “Option Price” means the purchase price of a share of Common Stock hereunder as provided in Section 4.2 hereof.

2.22 “Parent” means any entity that is a parent corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code.

2.23 “Participant” means any Eligible Employee who elects to participate in the Plan.

2.24 “Payday” means the regular and recurring established day for payment of Compensation to an Employee of the Company or any Designated Subsidiary.

2.25 “Plan” means this Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

2.26 “Plan Account” means a bookkeeping account established and maintained by the Company in the name of each Participant.

2.27 “Section 423 Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) hereof.

2.28 “Subsidiary” means any entity that is a subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code. In addition, with respect to any sub-plans adopted under Section 7.1(d) hereof which are designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code, Subsidiary shall include any corporate or noncorporate entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect equity interest or significant business relationship.

2.29 “Withdrawal Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a) hereof.

 

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ARTICLE III.

PARTICIPATION

3.1 Eligibility.

(a) Any Eligible Employee who is employed by the Company or a Designated Subsidiary on a given Enrollment Date for an Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan during such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of Articles IV and V hereof, and the limitations imposed by Section 423(b) of the Code.

(b) No Eligible Employee shall be granted an Option under the Plan which permits the Participant’s rights to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan, and to purchase stock under all other employee stock purchase plans of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary subject to Section 423 of the Code (any such Option or other option, a “Section 423 Option”), to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of fair market value of such stock (determined at the time the Section 423 Option is granted) for each calendar year in which any Section 423 Option granted to the Participant is outstanding at any time. The limitation under this Section 3.1(b) shall be applied in accordance with Section 423(b)(8) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder.

3.2 Election to Participate; Payroll Deductions

(a) Except as provided in Section 3.3 hereof, an Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan only by means of payroll deduction. Each individual who is an Eligible Employee as of an Offering Period’s Enrollment Date may elect to participate in such Offering Period and the Plan by delivering to the Company a payroll deduction authorization no later than the period of time prior to the applicable Enrollment Date that is determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion.

(b) Subject to Section 3.1(b) hereof, payroll deductions (i) shall be equal to at least 1% of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday of the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date, but not more than 15% of the Participant’s Compensation as of each Payday of the Offering Period following the Enrollment Date; and (ii) may be expressed either as (A) a whole number percentage, or (B) a fixed dollar amount. Amounts deducted from a Participant’s Compensation with respect to an Offering Period pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be deducted each Payday through payroll deduction and credited to the Participant’s Plan Account.

(c) Following at least one payroll deduction, a Participant may decrease (to as low as zero) the amount deducted from such Participant’s Compensation only once during an Offering Period upon ten calendar days’ prior written notice to the Company. A Participant may not increase the amount deducted from such Participant’s Compensation during an Offering Period.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the termination of an Offering Period, each Participant in such Offering Period shall automatically participate in the immediately following Offering Period at the same payroll deduction percentage or fixed amount as in effect at the termination of the prior Offering Period, unless such Participant delivers to the Company a different election with respect to the successive Offering Period in accordance with Section 3.2(a) hereof, or unless such Participant becomes ineligible for participation in the Plan.

 

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3.3 Leave of Absence. During leaves of absence approved by the Company meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2), a Participant may continue participation in the Plan by making cash payments to the Company on his or her normal payday equal to his or her authorized payroll deduction.

ARTICLE IV.

PURCHASE OF SHARES

4.1 Grant of Option. Each Participant shall be granted an Option with respect to an Offering Period on the applicable Grant Date. Subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(b) hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Participant’s Option shall be determined by dividing (a) such Participant’s payroll deductions accumulated prior to an Exercise Date and retained in the Participant’s Plan Account on such Exercise Date by (b) the applicable Option Price; provided that in no event shall a Participant be permitted to purchase during each Offering Period more than 50,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 5.2 hereof). The Administrator may, for future Offering Periods, increase or decrease, in its absolute discretion, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that a Participant may purchase during such future Offering Periods. Each Option shall expire on the Exercise Date for the applicable Offering Period immediately after the automatic exercise of the Option in accordance with Section 4.3 hereof, unless such Option terminates earlier in accordance with Article 6 hereof.

4.2 Option Price. The “Option Price” per share of Common Stock to be paid by a Participant upon exercise of the Participant’s Option on the applicable Exercise Date for an Offering Period shall be equal to 85% of the lesser of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on (a) the applicable Grant Date and (b) the applicable Exercise Date; provided that in no event shall the Option Price per share of Common Stock be less than the par value per share of the Common Stock.

4.3 Purchase of Shares.

(a) On the applicable Exercise Date for an Offering Period, each Participant shall automatically and without any action on such Participant’s part be deemed to have exercised his or her Option to purchase at the applicable per share Option Price the largest number of whole shares of Common Stock which can be purchased with the amount in the Participant’s Plan Account. Any balance less than the per share Option Price that is remaining in the Participant’s Plan Account (after exercise of such Participant’s Option) as of the Exercise Date shall be carried forward to the next Offering Period, unless the Participant has elected to withdraw from the Plan pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof or, pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof, such Participant has ceased to be an Eligible Employee. Any balance not carried forward to the next Offering Period in accordance with the prior sentence promptly shall be refunded to the applicable Participant. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall an amount greater than or equal to the per share Option Price as of an Exercise Date be carried forward to the next Offering Period.

(b) As soon as practicable following the applicable Exercise Date, the number of shares of Common Stock purchased by such Participant pursuant to Section 4.3(a) hereof shall be delivered (either in share certificate or book entry form), in the Company’s sole discretion, to

 

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either (i) the Participant or (ii) an account established in the Participant’s name at a stock brokerage or other financial services firm designated by the Company. If the Company is required to obtain from any commission or agency authority to issue any such shares of Common Stock, the Company shall seek to obtain such authority. Inability of the Company to obtain from any such commission or agency authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance of any such shares shall relieve the Company from liability to any Participant except to refund to the Participant such Participant’s Plan Account balance, without interest thereon.

4.4 Transferability of Rights. An Option granted under the Plan shall not be transferable, other than by will or the applicable laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant. No option or interest or right to the Option shall be available to pay off any debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempt at disposition of the Option shall have no effect.

ARTICLE V.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO COMMON STOCK

5.1 Common Stock Reserved. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.2 hereof, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that shall be made available for sale under the Plan shall be the sum of (a) [312,586] shares and (b) an annual increase on the first day of each year beginning in 2021 and ending in 2030 equal to the lesser of (i) 1% of the shares outstanding (on an as converted basis) on the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) such number of shares as may be determined by the Board; provided, however, no more than [3,438,455] shares may be issued under the Plan. Shares made available for sale under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares, treasury shares of Common Stock, or reacquired shares reserved for issuance under the Plan.

5.2 Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Liquidation, Merger or Asset Sale.

(a) Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but not yet placed under Option, as well as the price per share and the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each Option under the Plan which has not yet been exercised shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued

 

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shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.” Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.

(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period then in progress shall be shortened by setting a new Exercise Date (the “New Exercise Date”), and shall terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed dissolution or liquidation, unless provided otherwise by the Administrator. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed dissolution or liquidation. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 6.1 hereof.

(c) Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the Company with or into another corporation, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent Option substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or Subsidiary of the successor corporation. In the event that the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, any Offering Periods then in progress shall be shortened by setting a New Exercise Date and any Offering Periods then in progress shall end on the New Exercise Date. The New Exercise Date shall be before the date of the Company’s proposed sale or merger. The Administrator shall notify each Participant in writing, at least ten business days prior to the New Exercise Date, that the Exercise Date for the Participant’s Option has been changed to the New Exercise Date and that the Participant’s Option shall be exercised automatically on the New Exercise Date, unless prior to such date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period as provided in Section 6.1 hereof.

5.3 Insufficient Shares. If the Administrator determines that, on a given Exercise Date, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Options are to be exercised may exceed the number of shares of Common Stock remaining available for sale under the Plan on such Exercise Date, the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Common Stock available for issuance on such Exercise Date in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants exercising Options to purchase Common Stock on such Exercise Date, and unless additional shares are authorized for issuance under the Plan, no further Offering Periods shall take place and the Plan shall terminate pursuant to Section 7.5 hereof. If an Offering Period is so terminated, then the balance of the amount credited to the Participant’s Plan Account which has not been applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock shall be paid to such Participant in one lump sum in cash within 30 days after such Exercise Date, without any interest thereon.

 

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5.4 Rights as Stockholders. With respect to shares of Common Stock subject to an Option, a Participant shall not be deemed to be a stockholder of the Company and shall not have any of the rights or privileges of a stockholder. A Participant shall have the rights and privileges of a stockholder of the Company when, but not until, shares of Common Stock have been deposited in the designated brokerage account following exercise of his or her Option.

ARTICLE VI.

TERMINATION OF PARTICIPATION

6.1 Cessation of Contributions; Voluntary Withdrawal.

(a) A Participant may cease payroll deductions during an Offering Period and elect to withdraw from the Plan by delivering written notice of such election to the Company in such form and at such time prior to the Exercise Date for such Offering Period as may be established by the Administrator (a “Withdrawal Election”). A Participant electing to withdraw from the Plan may elect to either (i) withdraw all of the funds then credited to the Participant’s Plan Account as of the date on which the Withdrawal Election is received by the Company, in which case amounts credited to such Plan Account shall be returned to the Participant in one lump-sum payment in cash within 30 days after such election is received by the Company, without any interest thereon, and the Participant shall cease to participate in the Plan and the Participant’s Option for such Offering Period shall terminate; or (ii) exercise the Option for the maximum number of whole shares of Common Stock on the applicable Exercise Date with any remaining Plan Account balance returned to the Participant in one lump-sum payment in cash within 30 days after such Exercise Date, without any interest thereon, and after such exercise cease to participate in the Plan. Upon receipt of a Withdrawal Election, the Participant’s payroll deduction authorization and his or her Option to purchase under the Plan shall terminate.

(b) A participant’s withdrawal from the Plan shall not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to participate in any similar plan which may hereafter be adopted by the Company or in succeeding Offering Periods which commence after the termination of the Offering Period from which the Participant withdraws.

(c) A Participant who ceases contributions to the Plan during any Offering Period shall not be permitted to resume contributions to the Plan during that Offering Period.

6.2 Termination of Eligibility. Upon a Participant’s ceasing to be an Eligible Employee, for any reason, such Participant’s Option for the applicable Offering Period shall automatically terminate, he or she shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan, and such Participant’s Plan Account shall be paid to such Participant or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or persons entitled thereto pursuant to applicable law, within 30 days after such cessation of being an Eligible Employee, without any interest thereon.

 

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ARTICLE VII.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1 Administration.

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of members of the Board. The Committee may delegate administrative tasks under the Plan to the services of an Agent or Employees to assist in the administration of the Plan, including establishing and maintaining an individual securities account under the Plan for each Participant.

(b) It shall be the duty of the Administrator to conduct the general administration of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. The Administrator shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

(i) To establish and terminate Offering Periods;

(ii) To determine when and how Options shall be granted and the provisions and terms of each Offering Period (which need not be identical);

(iii) To select Designated Subsidiaries in accordance with Section 7.2 hereof; and

(iv) To construe and interpret the Plan, the terms of any Offering Period and the terms of the Options and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation, and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The Administrator, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan, any Offering Period or any Option, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to administer the Plan, subject to Section 423 of the Code.

(c) The Administrator may adopt rules or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator is specifically authorized to adopt rules and procedures regarding handling of participation elections, payroll deductions, payment of interest, conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling of stock certificates which vary with local requirements. In its absolute discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Administrator under the Plan.

(d) The Administrator may adopt sub-plans applicable to particular Designated Subsidiaries or locations, which sub-plans may be designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code. The rules of such sub-plans may take precedence over other provisions of this Plan, with the exception of Section 5.1 hereof, but unless otherwise superseded by the terms of such sub-plan, the provisions of this Plan shall govern the operation of such sub-plan.

 

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(e) All expenses and liabilities incurred by the Administrator in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Administrator may, with the approval of the Committee, employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Administrator, the Company and its officers and directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Administrator in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Board or Administrator shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the options, and all members of the Board or Administrator shall be fully protected by the Company in respect to any such action, determination, or interpretation.

7.2 Designation of Subsidiary Corporations. The Board or Committee shall designate from among the Subsidiaries, as determined from time to time, the Subsidiary or Subsidiaries that shall constitute Designated Subsidiaries. The Board or Committee may designate a Subsidiary, or terminate the designation of a Subsidiary, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company.

7.3 Reports. Individual accounts shall be maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of Plan Accounts shall be given to Participants at least annually, which statements shall set forth the amounts of payroll deductions, the Option Price, the number of shares purchased and the remaining cash balance, if any.

7.4 No Right to Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to give any person (including any Participant) the right to remain in the employ of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary or to affect the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any person (including any Participant) at any time, with or without cause, which right is expressly reserved.

7.5 Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

(a) The Board may, in its sole discretion, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time and from time to time; provided, however, that without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within 12 months before or after action by the Board, the Plan may not be amended to increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan or change the designation or class of Eligible Employees; and provided, further that without approval of the Company’s stockholders, the Plan may not be amended in any manner that would cause the Plan to no longer be an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423(b) of the Code.

(b) In the event the Administrator determines that the ongoing operation of the Plan may result in unfavorable financial accounting consequences, the Administrator may, to the extent permitted under Section 423 of the Code, in its discretion and, to the extent necessary or desirable, modify or amend the Plan to reduce or eliminate such accounting consequence including, but not limited to:

(i) altering the Option Price for any Offering Period including an Offering Period underway at the time of the change in Option Price;

 

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(ii) shortening any Offering Period so that the Offering Period ends on a new Exercise Date, including an Offering Period underway at the time of the Administrator action; and

(iii) allocating shares of Common Stock.

Such modifications or amendments shall not require stockholder approval or the consent of any Participant.

(c) Upon termination of the Plan, the balance in each Participant’s Plan Account shall be refunded as soon as practicable after such termination, without any interest thereon.

7.6 Use of Funds; No Interest Paid. All funds received by the Company by reason of purchase of Common Stock under the Plan shall be included in the general funds of the Company free of any trust or other restriction and may be used for any corporate purpose. No interest shall be paid to any Participant or credited under the Plan.

7.7 Term; Approval by Stockholders. No Option may be granted during any period of suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within 12 months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Options may be granted prior to such stockholder approval; provided, however, that such Options shall not be exercisable prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the stockholders; provided, further that if such approval has not been obtained by the end of the 12-month period, all Options previously granted under the Plan shall thereupon terminate and be canceled and become null and void without being exercised.

7.8 Effect Upon Other Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company, any Parent or any Subsidiary (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Employees of the Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary, or (b) to grant or assume Options otherwise than under the Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the grant or assumption of options in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or association.

7.9 Conformity to Securities Laws. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan and the participation in the Plan by any individual who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemption rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

7.10 Notice of Disposition of Shares. Each Participant shall give the Company prompt notice of any disposition or other transfer of any shares of Common Stock, acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option, if such disposition or transfer is made (a) within two years after the applicable Grant Date or (b) within one year after the transfer of such shares of Common Stock to such Participant upon exercise of such Option. The Company may direct that any certificates evidencing shares acquired pursuant to the Plan refer to such requirement.

 

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7.11 Tax Withholding. The Company or any Parent or any Subsidiary shall be entitled to require payment in cash or deduction from other compensation payable to each Participant of any sums required by federal, state or local tax law to be withheld with respect to any purchase of shares of Common Stock under the Plan or any sale of such shares.

7.12 Governing Law. The Plan and all rights and obligations thereunder shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law rules thereof or of any other jurisdiction.

7.13 Notices. All notices or other communications by a participant to the Company under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

7.14 Conditions To Issuance of Shares.

(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates or make any book entries evidencing shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option by a Participant, unless and until the Board or the Committee has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance of such shares of Common Stock is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed or traded, and the shares of Common Stock are covered by an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration. In addition to the terms and conditions provided herein, the Board or the Committee may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants, agreements, and representations as the Board or the Committee, in its discretion, deems advisable in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements.

(b) All certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to the Plan and all shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to book entry procedures are subject to any stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to comply with federal, state, or foreign securities or other laws, rules and regulations and the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of Common Stock are listed, quoted, or traded. The Committee may place legends on any certificate or book entry evidencing shares of Common Stock to reference restrictions applicable to the shares of Common Stock.

(c) The Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement, distribution or exercise of any Option, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee or required by any applicable law, rule or regulation, the Company may, in lieu of delivering to any Participant certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock issued in connection with any Option, record the issuance of shares of Common Stock in the books of the Company (or, as applicable, its transfer agent or stock plan administrator).

7.15 Equal Rights and Privileges. Except with respect to sub-plans designed to be outside the scope of Section 423 of the Code, all Eligible Employees of the Company (or of any Designated Subsidiary) shall have equal rights and privileges under this Plan to the extent required under Section 423 of the Code so that this Plan qualifies as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code. Any provision of this Plan that is inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code shall, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Board, be reformed to comply with the equal rights and privileges requirement of Section 423 of the Code.

*    *    *    *    *

 

 

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I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of Annexon, Inc. on December 11, 2019.

I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was approved by the stockholders of Annexon, Inc. on July 16, 2020.

Executed on _______, 2020.

 

 

Corporate Secretary

EX-10.11

Exhibit 10.11

ANNEXON, INC.

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (the “Agreement”), is made and entered into by and between Annexon, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and Michael Overdorf (“Executive” and, together with the Company, the “Parties”). This Agreement will become effective as of immediately prior to the time the Company’s registration statement relating to the initial public offering of the Company’s common stock becomes effective (the “Effective Date”). This Agreement supersedes in its entirety that certain offer letter between Executive and the Company dated as of July 2, 2020 (“Offer Letter”).

WHEREAS, the Company desires to assure itself of the continued services of Executive by engaging Executive to perform services as an employee of the Company under the terms hereof;

WHEREAS, Executive desires to provide continued services to the Company on the terms herein provided; and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to execute this Agreement to supersede the Offer Letter in its entirety and reflect certain changes to Executive’s employment with the Company effective as of the Effective Date.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and for other good and valuable consideration, including the respective covenants and agreements set forth below, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Employment.

(a) General. The Company shall employ Executive upon the terms and conditions provided herein effective as of the Effective Date.

(b) Position and Duties. Effective as of the Effective Date, Executive: (i) shall continue to serve as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, with responsibilities, duties, and authority usual and customary for such position, subject to direction by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the “CEO”); (ii) shall continue to report directly to the CEO; and (iii) agrees promptly and faithfully to comply with all present and future policies, requirements, rules and regulations, and reasonable directions and requests, of the Company in connection with the Company’s business. At the Company’s request, Executive shall serve the Company and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates in such other capacities in addition to the foregoing as the Company shall designate, provided that such additional capacities are consistent with Executive’s position as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer. In the event that Executive serves in any one or more of such additional capacities, Executive’s compensation shall not automatically be increased on account of such additional service.

(c) Principal Office. Executive shall continue to perform services for the Company at the Company’s offices located in South San Francisco, California, or, with the Company’s consent, at any other place in connection with the fulfillment of Executive’s role with the Company; provided, however, that the Company may from time to time require Executive to travel temporarily to other locations in connection with the Company’s business.


(d) Exclusivity. Except with the prior written approval of the CEO (which the CEO may grant or withhold in his or her sole and absolute discretion), Executive shall devote Executive’s best efforts and full working time, attention, and energies to the business of the Company, except during any paid vacation or other excused absence periods. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may, without violating this Section 1(d), (i) as a passive investment, own publicly traded securities in such form or manner as will not require any services by Executive in the operation of the entities in which such securities are owned; (ii) engage in charitable and civic activities; or (iii) engage in other personal passive investment activities, in each case, so long as such interests or activities do not materially interfere to the extent such activities do not, individually or in the aggregate, interfere with or otherwise prevent the performance of Executive’s duties and responsibilities hereunder. Executive may also serve as a member of the board of directors or board of advisors of another organization provided (i) such organization is not a competitor of the Company; (ii) Executive receives prior written approval from the Company’s CEO; and (iii) such activities do not individually or in the aggregate interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement, violate the Company’s standards of conduct then in effect, or raise a conflict under the Company’s conflict of interest policies. For the avoidance of doubt, the CEO has approved Executive’s continued service with those organizations set forth on Exhibit A, such approval to continue until the earlier to occur of (a) the CEO’s revocation of such approval in his or her sole and absolute discretion, or (b) such time as such service interferes with the performance of Executive’s duties under this Agreement, violates the Company’s standards of conflict or raises a conflict under the Company’s conflict of interest policies.

2. Term. The period of Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until Executive’s employment with the Company is terminated pursuant to Section 5. The phrase “Term” as used in this Agreement shall refer to the entire period of employment of Executive by the Company.

3. Compensation and Related Matters.

(a) Annual Base Salary. During the Term, Executive shall receive a base salary at the rate of $340,000 per year (as may be increased from time to time, the “Annual Base Salary”), subject to withholdings and deductions, which shall be paid to Executive in accordance with the customary payroll practices and procedures of the Company. Such Annual Base Salary shall be reviewed by the CEO, and, as applicable, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and/or the Compensation Committee of the Board, not less than annually.

(b) Annual Bonus. Executive shall be eligible to receive a discretionary annual bonus based on Executive’s achievement of performance objectives established by the Board, its Compensation Committee and/or the CEO, such bonus to be targeted at 35% of Executive’s Annual Base Salary (the “Annual Bonus”). Any Annual Bonus approved by the Board or the Compensation Committee of the Board shall be paid at the same time annual bonuses are paid to other executives of the Company generally, subject to Executive’s continuous employment through the date of approval.

 

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(c) Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in such employee and executive benefit plans and programs as the Company may from time to time offer to provide to its executives, subject to the terms and conditions of such plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein is intended, or shall be construed, to require the Company to institute or continue any particular plan or benefit.

(d) Business Expenses. The Company shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as are in effect from time to time.

(e) Vacation. Executive will be entitled to paid vacation in accordance with the Company’s vacation policy, as in effect from time to time.

4. Equity Awards. Executive shall be eligible for the grant of stock options and other equity awards as may be determined by the Board or its Compensation Committee.

5. Termination.

(a) At-Will Employment. The Company and Executive acknowledge that Executive’s employment is and shall continue to be at-will, as defined under applicable law. This means that it is not for any specified period of time and, subject to any ramifications under Section 6 of this Agreement, can be terminated by Executive or by the Company at any time, with or without advance notice, and for any or no particular reason or cause. It also means that Executive’s job duties, title, and responsibility and reporting level, work schedule, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Company’s personnel policies and procedures, may be changed with prospective effect, with or without notice, at any time in the sole discretion of the Company (subject to any ramification such changes may have under Section 6 of this Agreement). This “at-will” nature of Executive’s employment shall remain unchanged during Executive’s tenure as an employee and may not be changed, except in an express writing signed by Executive and a duly-authorized officer of the Company. If Executive’s employment terminates for any lawful reason, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments, benefits, damages, award, or compensation other than as provided in this Agreement.

(b) Notice of Termination. During the Term, any termination of Executive’s employment by the Company or by Executive (other than by reason of death) shall be communicated by written notice (a “Notice of Termination”) from one Party hereto to the other Party hereto (i) indicating the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon, if any, (ii) setting forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to provide a basis for termination of Executive’s employment under the provision so indicated, and (iii) specifying the Date of Termination (as defined below). The failure by the Company to set forth in the Notice of Termination all of the facts and circumstances which contribute to a showing of Cause (as defined below) shall not waive any right of the Company hereunder or preclude the Company from asserting such fact or circumstance in enforcing its rights hereunder.

 

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(c) Date of Termination. For purposes of this Agreement, “Date of Termination” shall mean the date of the termination of Executive’s employment with the Company specified in a Notice of Termination.

(d) Deemed Resignation. Upon termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices and board memberships, if any, then held with the Company or any of its affiliates, and, at the Company’s request, Executive shall execute such documents as are necessary or desirable to effectuate such resignations.

6. Consequences of Termination.

(a) Payments of Accrued Obligations upon all Terminations of Employment. Upon a termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive (or Executive’s estate or legal representative, as applicable) shall be entitled to receive, within 30 days after Executive’s Date of Termination (or such earlier date as may be required by applicable law): (i) any portion of Executive’s Annual Base Salary earned through Executive’s Date of Termination not theretofore paid, (ii) any expenses owed to Executive under Section 3, (iii) any accrued but unused paid time off owed to Executive, solely to the extent applicable under the Company’s paid time off policies; (iv) any Annual Bonus earned but unpaid as of the Date of Termination, and (v) any amount arising from Executive’s participation in, or benefits under, any employee benefit plans, programs, or arrangements under Section 3, which amounts shall be payable in accordance with the terms and conditions of such employee benefit plans, programs, or arrangements. Except as otherwise set forth in Sections 6(b) and (c), the payments and benefits described in this Section 6(a) shall be the only payments and benefits payable in the event of Executive’s termination of employment for any reason.

(b) Severance Payments upon Covered Termination Outside a Change in Control Period. If, during the Term, Executive experiences a Covered Termination outside of a Change in Control Period (each as defined below), then in addition to the payments and benefits described in Section 6(a), the Company shall, subject to Executive’s delivery to the Company of a waiver and release of claims agreement in a form acceptable to the Company (the “Release”) that becomes effective and irrevocable in accordance with Section 10(d), provide Executive with the following:

(i) Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to nine (9) months of Executive’s annual base salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination, payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, on the first payroll date following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable in accordance with Section 10(d).

(ii) If Executive timely elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended (“COBRA”), the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the Company’s portion of the premium (at the same rates in effect on the Date of Termination) for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (A) the nine (9)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination and (B) the date Executive and

 

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Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (x) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the “Code”) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (y) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 6(b)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance with the provisions of COBRA. Executive shall notify the Company immediately if Executive becomes covered by a group health plan of a subsequent employer.

(c) Severance Payments upon Covered Termination During a Change in Control Period. If, during the Term, Executive experiences a Covered Termination during a Change in Control Period, then, in addition to the payments and benefits described in Section 6(a), the Company shall, subject to Executive’s delivery to the Company of the Release that becomes effective and irrevocable in accordance with Section 10(d), provide Executive with the following:

(i) Executive shall be entitled to receive an amount equal to the sum of (i) twelve (12) months of Executive’s annual base salary at the rate in effect immediately prior to the Date of Termination and (ii) Executive’s target annual bonus assuming achievement of performance goals at one hundred percent (100%) of target, payable in a cash lump sum, less applicable withholdings, on the first payroll date following the date the Release becomes effective and irrevocable in accordance with Section 10(d).

(ii) If Executive timely elects to receive continued healthcare coverage pursuant to the provisions of COBRA, the Company shall directly pay, or reimburse Executive for, the Company’s portion of the premium (at the same rates in effect on the Date of Termination) for Executive and Executive’s covered dependents through the earlier of (i) the twelve (12)-month anniversary of the Date of Termination and (ii) the date Executive and Executive’s covered dependents, if any, become eligible for healthcare coverage under another employer’s plan(s). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if any plan pursuant to which such benefits are provided is not, or ceases prior to the expiration of the period of continuation coverage to be, exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Code under Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(a)(5), or (ii) the Company is otherwise unable to continue to cover Executive under its group health plans without penalty under applicable law (including without limitation, Section 2716 of the Public Health Service Act), then, in either case, an amount equal to each remaining Company subsidy shall thereafter be paid to Executive in substantially equal monthly installments. After the Company ceases to pay premiums pursuant to this Section 6(c)(ii), Executive may, if eligible, elect to continue healthcare coverage at Executive’s expense in accordance with the provisions of COBRA. Executive shall notify the Company immediately if Executive becomes covered by a group health plan of a subsequent employer.

 

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(iii) Each outstanding and unvested equity award, including, without limitation, each restricted stock, stock option, restricted stock unit and stock appreciation right, held by Executive shall automatically become vested and, if applicable, exercisable and any forfeiture restrictions or rights of repurchase thereon shall immediately lapse with respect to one percent (100%) of the shares subject thereto, as of immediately prior to the Date of Termination. Unless otherwise set forth in an applicable award agreement, for purposes of this Section 6(c)(iii) each award subject to performance-based vesting will be deemed earned at the greater of (A) target or (B) actual achievement measured as of the Date of Termination (to the extent then measurable).

(d) No Other Severance. Except as otherwise approved by the Board, the provisions of this Section 6 shall supersede in their entirety any severance payment provisions in any severance plan, policy, program, or other arrangement maintained by the Company, including without limitation, the Offer Letter.

(e) No Requirement to Mitigate; Survival. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount of any payment provided for under this Agreement by seeking other employment or in any other manner. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the termination of Executive’s employment shall not impair the rights or obligations of any Party.

(f) Definition of Cause. For purposes hereof, “Cause” means: (i) Executive’s failure to perform Executive’s assigned duties or responsibilities as an officer of the Company (other than a failure resulting from Executive’s Disability (as defined herein) after notice thereof from the Company describing Executive’s failure to perform such duties or responsibilities; (ii) Executive’s engaging in any act of dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation; (iii) Executive’s violation of any federal or state law or regulation applicable to the business of the Company or its affiliates; (iv) Executive’s breach of any confidentiality agreement or invention assignment agreement between Executive and the Company (or any affiliate of the Company); or (v) Executive’s commission of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, any crime or committing any act of moral turpitude.

(g) Definition of Change in Control. For purposes hereof, “Change in Control” has the meaning ascribed to such term under the Company’s 2020 Incentive Award Plan, as may be amended from time to time; provided, that such transaction must also constitute a “change in control event” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5).

(h) Definition of Change in Control Period. For purposes hereof, “Change in Control Period” shall mean the period commencing three months prior to a Change in Control and ending 12 months after such Change in Control.

(i) Definition of Covered Termination. For purposes hereof, “Covered Termination” shall mean the termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, and shall not include a termination due to Executive’s death or disability.

(j) Definition of Disability. For purposes hereof, “Disability” has the meaning set forth under the long-term disability policy of the Company or a related entity to which

 

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Executive provides services regardless of whether Executive is covered by such policy. If the Company or the related entity to which Executive provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that Executive is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by Executive by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90) consecutive days. Executive will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless Executive furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Board in its discretion.

(k) Definition of Good Reason. For purposes hereof, “Good Reason” for Executive to terminate Executive’s employment hereunder shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events without Executive’s consent: (i) a material reduction in Executive’s salary or benefits (excluding the substitution of substantially equivalent compensation and benefits), other than as a result of a reduction in compensation affecting employees of the Company, or its successor entity, generally; (ii) a material diminution in Executive’s duties or responsibilities, provided however, that, a mere change in title or reporting relationship alone shall not constitute “Good Reason;” or (iii) relocation of Executive’s place of employment to a location more than 50 miles from the Company’s office location, provided, in each case, that if any of the events set forth above shall occur, Executive shall give written notice of such event to the Company, or its successor entity, within thirty (30) days following such event, and if such event is not cured within thirty (30) days from such notice (the “Cure Period”) Executive may exercise Executive’s rights to resign for Good Reason, provided that if Executive has not exercised such right within forty-five (45) days of the expiration of the Cure Period Executive shall be deemed to have agreed to the occurrence of such event.

7. Assignment and Successors. The Company shall assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any successor to all or substantially all of the business or the assets of the Company (by merger or otherwise). This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company, Executive, and their respective successors, assigns, personnel, and legal representatives, executors, administrators, heirs, distributees, devisees, and legatees, as applicable. None of Executive’s rights or obligations may be assigned or transferred by Executive, other than Executive’s rights to payments hereunder, which may be transferred only by will, operation of law, or as otherwise provided herein.

8. Miscellaneous Provisions.

(a) Confidentiality Agreement. Executive hereby affirms Executive’s obligations under that certain At-Will Employment, Confidential Information, Invention Assignment, and Arbitration Agreement or other confidentiality agreement by and between the Company and Executive (the “Confidentiality Agreement”). The Confidentiality Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement and Executive’s employment with the Company for the applicable period(s) set forth therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any conflict between the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed, construed, interpreted, and enforced in accordance with its express terms, and otherwise in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law, whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction, and where applicable, the laws of the United States, that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

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(c) Validity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same Agreement. Signatures delivered by facsimile shall be deemed effective for all purposes.

(e) Entire Agreement. The terms of this Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement and the section entitled “Relocation Expenses” set forth in the Offer Letter, are intended by the Parties to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the employment of Executive by the Company and supersede all prior understandings and agreements, whether written or oral, regarding Executive’s service to the Company, including without limitation, the Offer Letter (other than the section entitled “Relocation Expenses”). The Parties further intend that this Agreement, together with the Confidentiality Agreement and the “Relocation Expenses” section of the Offer Letter, shall constitute the complete and exclusive statement of their terms and that no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced in any judicial, administrative, or other legal proceeding to vary the terms of this Agreement or the Confidentiality Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of any conflict between the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement and the terms of this Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

(f) Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be modified, amended, or terminated except by an instrument in writing signed by Executive and a duly authorized representative of the Company. By an instrument in writing similarly executed, Executive or a duly authorized officer of the Company, as applicable, may waive compliance by the other Party with any specifically identified provision of this Agreement that such other Party was or is obligated to comply with or perform; provided, however, that such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any other or subsequent failure. No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy, or power hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, remedy, or power provided herein or by law or in equity.

(g) Dispute Resolution. To ensure the timely and economical resolution of disputes that arise in connection with this Agreement, Executive and the Company agree that, except as excluded herein, any and all controversies, claims and disputes arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including without limitation any alleged violation of its terms or otherwise arising out of the Parties’ relationship, shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration held in San Mateo County, California through JAMS in conformity with California law and the then-existing JAMS employment arbitration rules, which can be found at https://www.jamsadr.com/rules-employment-arbitration/. The Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of this arbitration clause. All remedies available from a court of competent jurisdiction shall be available in the arbitration; provided, however, in the event of a breach of Section 8(a), the Company may request relief from a court of competent jurisdiction if such relief is not available or not available in a timely fashion through

 

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arbitration as determined by the Company. The arbitrator shall: (a) provide adequate discovery for the resolution of the dispute; and (b) issue a written arbitration decision, to include the arbitrator’s essential findings and conclusions and a statement of the award. The arbitrator shall award the prevailing Party attorneys’ fees and expert fees, if any. Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is acknowledged that it will be impossible to measure in money the damages that would be suffered if the Parties fail to comply with any of the obligations imposed on them under Section 8(a), and that in the event of any such failure, an aggrieved person will be irreparably damaged and will not have an adequate remedy at law. Any such person shall, therefore, be entitled to seek injunctive relief, including specific performance, to enforce such obligations, and if any action shall be brought in equity to enforce any of the provisions of Section 8(a), none of the Parties shall raise the defense, without a good faith basis for raising such defense, that there is an adequate remedy at law. Executive and the Company understand that by agreement to arbitrate any claim pursuant to this Section 8(g), they will not have the right to have any claim decided by a jury or a court, but shall instead have any claim decided through arbitration. Executive and the Company waive any constitutional or other right to bring claims covered by this Agreement other than in their individual capacities. Except as may be prohibited by applicable law, the foregoing waiver includes the ability to assert claims as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or collective action or representative proceeding. Nothing herein shall limit Executive’s ability to pursue claims for workers compensation or unemployment benefits or pursue other claims which by law cannot be subject to mandatory arbitration.

(h) Enforcement. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable under present or future laws, such provision shall be fully severable; this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision had never comprised a portion of this Agreement; and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be affected by the illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision or by its severance from this Agreement. Furthermore, in lieu of such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision there shall be added automatically as part of this Agreement a provision as similar in terms to such illegal, invalid, or unenforceable provision as may be possible and be legal, valid, and enforceable.

(i) Withholding. The Company shall be entitled to withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement any federal, state, local, or foreign withholding or other taxes or charges which the Company is required to withhold. The Company shall be entitled to rely on an opinion of counsel if any questions as to the amount or requirement of withholding shall arise.

(j) Whistleblower Protections and Trade Secrets. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, nothing in this Agreement prohibits Executive from reporting possible violations of federal law or regulation to any United States governmental agency or entity in accordance with the provisions of and rules promulgated under Section 21F of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or any other whistleblower protection provisions of state or federal law or regulation (including the right to receive an award for information provided to any such government agencies). Furthermore, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 1833, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) Executive shall not be in breach of this Agreement, and shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law (x) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose

 

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of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (y) for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal; and (ii) if Executive files a lawsuit for retaliation by the Company for reporting a suspected violation of law, Executive may disclose the trade secret to Executive’s attorney, and may use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if Executive files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.

9. Golden Parachute Excise Tax.

(a) Best Pay. Any provision of this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any payment or benefit Executive would receive from the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (“Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then such Payment will be equal to the Reduced Amount (as defined below). The “Reduced Amount” will be either (A) the largest portion of the Payment that would result in no portion of the Payment (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax or (B) the entire Payment, whichever amount after taking into account all applicable federal, state, and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from a deduction of such state and local taxes), results in Executive’ s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater economic benefit notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a reduction in a Payment is required pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Reduced Amount is determined pursuant to clause (A) of the preceding sentence, the reduction shall occur in the manner (the “Reduction Method”) that results in the greatest economic benefit for Executive. If more than one method of reduction will result in the same economic benefit, the items so reduced will be reduced pro rata (the “Pro Rata Reduction Method”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Reduction Method or the Pro Rata Reduction Method would result in any portion of the Payment being subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A (as defined below) that would not otherwise be subject to taxes pursuant to Section 409A, then the Reduction Method and/or the Pro Rata Reduction Method, as the case may be, shall be modified so as to avoid the imposition of taxes pursuant to Section 409A as follows: (1) as a first priority, the modification shall preserve to the greatest extent possible, the greatest economic benefit for Executive as determined on an after-tax basis; (2) as a second priority, Payments that are contingent on future events (e.g., being terminated without cause), shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not contingent on future events; and (3) as a third priority, Payments that are “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A shall be reduced (or eliminated) before Payments that are not deferred compensation within the meaning of Section 409A.

(b) Accounting Firm. The accounting firm engaged by the Company for general tax purposes as of the day prior to the Change in Control will perform the calculations set forth in Section 9(a). If the firm so engaged by the Company is serving as the accountant or auditor for the acquiring company, the Company will appoint a nationally recognized accounting firm to make the determinations required hereunder. The Company will bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such firm required to be made hereunder. The accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder will provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company within 30 days before the consummation of a Change in Control

 

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(if requested at that time by the Company) or such other time as requested by the Company. If the accounting firm determines that no Excise Tax is payable with respect to a Payment, either before or after the application of the Reduced Amount, it will furnish the Company with documentation reasonably acceptable to the Company that no Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to such Payment. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder will be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive.

10. Section 409A.

(a) General. The intent of the Parties is that the payments and benefits under this Agreement comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date, (“Section 409A”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Agreement shall be interpreted to be in compliance therewith. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company determines that any compensation or benefits payable under this Agreement may be subject to Section 409A, the Company shall work in good faith with Executive to adopt such amendments to this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Company determines are necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of taxes under Section 409A, including, without limitation, actions intended to (i) exempt the compensation and benefits payable under this Agreement from Section 409A, and/or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A; however, this Section 10(a) shall not create an obligation on the part of the Company to adopt any such amendment, policy or procedure or take any such other action, nor shall the Company (A) have any liability for failing to do so, or (B) incur or indemnify Executive for any taxes, interest or other liabilities arising under or by operation of Section 409A.

(b) Separation from Service, Installments and Reimbursements. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Agreement: (i) no amount that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A shall be payable pursuant to Section 6 unless the termination of Executive’s employment constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Department of Treasury Regulations (“Separation from Service”); (ii) for purposes of Section 409A, Executive’s right to receive installment payments shall be treated as a right to receive a series of separate and distinct payments; and (iii) to the extent that any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A, such reimbursement or benefit shall be provided no later than December 31st of the year following the year in which the expense was incurred. The amount of expenses reimbursed in one year shall not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement in any subsequent year. The amount of any in-kind benefits provided in one year shall not affect the amount of in-kind benefits provided in any other year.

(c) Specified Employee. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if Executive is deemed by the Company at the time of Executive’s Separation from Service to be a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A, to the extent delayed commencement of any portion of the benefits to which Executive is entitled under this Agreement is required in order to avoid a prohibited distribution under Section 409A, such portion of Executive’s benefits shall not be provided to Executive prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of

 

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the six-month period measured from the date of Executive’s Separation from Service with the Company or (ii) the date of Executive’s death. Upon the first business day following the expiration of the applicable Section 409A period, all payments deferred pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be paid in a lump sum to Executive (or Executive’s estate or beneficiaries), and any remaining payments due to Executive under this Agreement shall be paid as otherwise provided herein.

(d) Release. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent that any payments due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are subject to Executive’s execution and delivery of the Release, (i) if Executive fails to execute the Release on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below) or timely revokes Executive’s acceptance of the Release thereafter, Executive shall not be entitled to any payments or benefits otherwise conditioned on the Release, and (ii) in any case where Executive’s Date of Termination and the last day the Release may be considered or, if applicable, revoked, fall in two separate taxable years, any payments required to be made to Executive that are conditioned on the Release and are treated as nonqualified deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes of this Section 10(d), “Release Expiration Date” shall mean (1) if Executives is under 40 years old as of the Date of Termination, the date that is seven (7) days following the date upon which the Company timely delivers the Release to Executive, and (2) if Executive is 40 years or older as of the Date of Termination, the date that is 21 days following the date upon which the Company timely delivers the Release to Executive, or, in the event that Executive’s termination of employment is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), the date that is 45 days following such delivery date. To the extent that any payments of nonqualified deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) due under this Agreement as a result of Executive’s termination of employment are delayed pursuant to this Section 10(d), such amounts shall be paid in a lump sum on the first payroll date following the date that Executive executes and does not revoke the Release (and the applicable revocation period has expired) or, in the case of any payments subject to Section 10(d)(ii), on the first payroll period to occur in the subsequent taxable year, if later.

11. Employee Acknowledgement.

Executive acknowledges that Executive has read and understands this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, has not acted in reliance upon any representations or promises made by the Company other than those contained in writing herein, and has entered into this Agreement freely based on Executive’s own judgment.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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The Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

ANNEXON, INC.
By:  

/s/ Douglas E. Love

Name:   Douglas E. Love
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
EXECUTIVE
By:  

/s/ Michael Overdorf

Name:   Michael Overdorf


EXHIBIT A

PERMITTED OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES

1. None.

EX-10.12

Exhibit 10.12

ANNEXON, INC.

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION PROGRAM

This Annexon, Inc. (the “Company”) Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (this “Program”) has been adopted under the Company’s 2020 Incentive Award Plan (the “Plan”) and shall be effective upon the closing of the Company’s initial public offering of its common stock (the “IPO”). Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed in the Plan.

Cash Compensation

Effective upon the IPO, annual retainers will be paid in the following amounts to Non-Employee Directors:

 

Non-Employee Director:

   $ 35,000  

Non-Executive Chair:

   $ 30,000  

Audit Committee Chair:

   $ 15,000  

Compensation Committee Chair:

   $ 10,000  

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chair:

   $ 8,000  

Audit Committee Member (non-Chair):

   $ 7,500  

Compensation Committee Member (non-Chair):

   $ 5,000  

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Member (non-Chair):

   $ 4,000  

All annual retainers will be paid in cash quarterly in arrears promptly following the end of the applicable calendar quarter, but in no event more than 30 days after the end of such quarter. In the event a Non-Employee Director does not serve as a Non-Employee Director, or in the applicable positions described above, for an entire calendar quarter, the retainer paid to such Non-Employee Director shall be prorated for the portion of such calendar quarter actually served as a Non-Employee Director, or in such position, as applicable.

Equity Compensation

 

Initial Stock Option Grant:   

Each Non-Employee Director who is initially elected or appointed to serve on the Board after the IPO shall be granted an Option under the Plan or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock.

 

The Initial Option will be automatically granted on the date on which such Non-Employee Director commences service on the Board, and will vest as to 1/36th of the shares subject thereto on each monthly anniversary of the applicable date of grant such that the shares subject to the Initial Option are fully vested on the third anniversary of the grant, subject to the Non-Employee Director continuing in service on the Board through each vesting date.


Annual Stock Option Grant:   

Each Non-Employee Director who is serving on the Board as of the date of each annual stockholder meeting of the Company (each, an “Annual Meeting”) shall be granted an Option under the Plan or any other applicable Company equity incentive plan then-maintained by the Company to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock.

 

The Annual Option will be automatically granted on the date of the applicable Annual Meeting, and will vest in full on the earlier of (i) the first anniversary of the date of grant and (ii) immediately prior to the Annual Meeting following the date of grant, subject to the Non-Employee Director continuing in service on the Board through such vesting date.

The per share exercise price of each Option granted to a Non-Employee Director shall equal the Fair Market Value of a share of common stock on the date the Option is granted.

The term of each Option granted to a Non-Employee Director shall be ten years from the date the Option is granted.

No portion of an Initial Option or Annual Option which is unvested or unexercisable at the time of a Non-Employee Director’s termination of service on the Board shall become vested and exercisable thereafter.

Members of the Board who are employees of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company who subsequently terminate their service with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company and remain on the Board will not receive an Initial Option, but to the extent that they are otherwise eligible, will be eligible to receive, after termination from service with the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the Company, Annual Options as described above.

Change in Control

Upon a Change in Control of the Company, all outstanding equity awards granted under the Plan and any other equity incentive plan maintained by the Company that are held by a Non-Employee Director shall become fully vested and/or exercisable, irrespective of any other provisions of the Non-Employee Director’s Award Agreement.

 

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Reimbursements

The Company shall reimburse each Non-Employee Director for all reasonable, documented, out-of-pocket travel and other business expenses incurred by such Non-Employee Director in the performance of his or her duties to the Company in accordance with the Company’s applicable expense reimbursement policies and procedures as in effect from time to time.

Miscellaneous

The other provisions of the Plan shall apply to the Options granted automatically pursuant to this Program, except to the extent such other provisions are inconsistent with this Program. All applicable terms of the Plan apply to this Program as if fully set forth herein, and all grants of Options hereby are subject in all respects to the terms of the Plan. The grant of any Option under this Program shall be made solely by and subject to the terms set forth in a written agreement in a form to be approved by the Board and duly executed by an executive officer of the Company.

* * * * *

 

 

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I hereby certify that the foregoing Program was adopted by the Board of Directors of Annexon, Inc. on July 14, 2020.

* * * * *

I hereby certify that the foregoing Program was approved by the stockholders of Annexon, Inc. on July 16, 2020.

Executed on July 19, 2020.

 

/s/ Jennifer Lew

Corporate Secretary
EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

Annexon, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our report included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

/s/ KPMG LLP
San Francisco, California
July 19, 2020