SEC Form 424B5 filed by SELLAS Life Sciences Group Inc.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-278334
Prospectus Supplement
(To prospectus dated May 1, 2024)
6,370,070 Shares of Common Stock
Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase 9,478,986 Shares of Common Stock
Warrants to Purchase 15,849,056 Shares of Common Stock
We are offering 6,370,070 shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase 9,478,986 shares of our common stock (and the shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of such pre-funded warrants) and warrants to purchase up to 15,849,056 shares of our common stock (and the shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of such warrants) pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Each share of common stock sold in this offering will be accompanied by a warrant to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.20 per share at a combined purchase price equal to $1.325 per share and accompanying warrant. The shares of common stock (or pre-funded warrants sold in lieu thereof) and the accompanying warrants can only be purchased together in this offering but will be issued separately and will be immediately separable upon issuance.
We are offering pre-funded warrants in lieu of shares of common stock to the investors whose purchase of shares of common stock in this offering would otherwise result in such investor, together with its affiliates, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the investor, 9.99%) of our common stock. Each pre-funded warrant sold in this offering will be accompanied by a warrant to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $1.20 per share at a combined purchase price equal to $1.3249 (equal to the purchase price per share of common stock, minus $0.0001). The per share exercise price for the pre-funded warrants will be $0.0001, and the pre-funded warrants are immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time until all of the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full.
Subject to certain ownership limitations, the warrants will be exercisable immediately, and the warrants will expire on the fifth anniversary of the initial exercise date. We refer to the shares of common stock, the pre-funded warrants and the accompanying warrants to purchase shares of common stock issued in this offering, collectively, as the securities.
Our common stock is currently trading on The Nasdaq Capital Market, or Nasdaq, under the stock symbol “SLS.” On July 30, 2024, the closing price for our common stock, as reported on Nasdaq, was $1.25 per share.
There is no established public trading market for the pre-funded warrants or warrants and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants or warrants, nor do we expect the pre-funded warrants or warrants to be quoted, on Nasdaq or any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants and warrants will be limited.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement, as well as those risks described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We have retained Maxim Group LLC to act as our exclusive placement agent (the “placement agent”) in connection with this offering. The placement agent has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to place the securities offered by this prospectus supplement. We have agreed to pay the placement agent the fee set forth in the table below.
Per Share and Accompanying Warrant | Per Pre-Funded Warrant and Accompanying Warrant | Total | ||||||||||
Public offering price | $ | 1.3250 | $ | 1.3249 | $ | 20,999,051.30 | ||||||
Placement Agent Fees (1) | $ | 0.086125 | $ | 0.0861185 | $ | 1,364,938.33 | ||||||
Proceeds to SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc., before expenses | $ | 1.238875 | $ | 1.2387815 | $ | 19,634,112.97 |
(1) In addition, we have agreed to reimburse certain expenses of the placement agent in connection with the offering. See “Plan of Distribution” for additional disclosure regarding placement agent’s compensation.
Delivery of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is expected to be made on or about August 1, 2024.
Sole Placement Agent
MAXIM GROUP LLC
The date of this prospectus supplement is July 30, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus supplement
Prospectus
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of this offering of securities and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. The second part, the accompanying prospectus dated May 1, 2024, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides more general information. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus supplement, on the one hand, and the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, before the date of this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. If any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may from time to time offer and sell any combination of the securities described in the accompanying prospectus up to a total dollar amount of $200 million, of which this offering is a part.
The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of our securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. We are not, and the placement agent is not, making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We have not, and the placement agent has not, authorized any person to provide you with any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein. We and the placement agent do not take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may provide you. The information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the document in which incorporated information appears unless otherwise noted in such documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the information included and referred to under “Risk Factors” below, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus, and the financial statements and the other information incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus, before making an investment decision.
Except as otherwise indicated herein or as the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the information incorporated by referenced herein or therein to “Sellas,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. and, where appropriate, our subsidiaries.
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our securities. Before you decide to invest in our securities, you should carefully read the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the section titled “Risk factors” contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements, and the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part.
Overview
We are a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics for a broad range of cancer indications. Our product candidates currently include galinpepimut-S, or GPS, a peptide immunotherapy directed against the Wilms tumor 1, or WT1, antigen, and SLS009 (formerly GFH009), a highly selective small molecule cyclin-dependent kinase 9, or CDK9, inhibitor.
Galinpepimut-S, or GPS: Highly Novel and Engineered Immunotherapy Targeting the WT1 Antigen
Our lead product candidate, GPS, is a cancer immunotherapeutic agent licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, or MSK, that targets the WT1 protein, which is present in 20 or more cancer types. Based on its mechanism of action as a directly immunizing agent, GPS has potential as a monotherapy or in combination with other immunotherapeutic agents to address a broad spectrum of hematologic, or blood, cancers and solid tumor indications.
In January 2020, we commenced in the United States an open label randomized Phase 3 clinical trial, the REGAL study, for GPS monotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, in the maintenance setting after achievement of second complete remission, or CR2, following successful completion of second-line antileukemic therapy. Patients are randomized to receive either GPS or best available treatment, or BAT. We expect this study will be used as the basis for submission of a Biologics License Application, or BLA, subject to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful data outcome and agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA. The primary endpoint of the REGAL study is overall survival. We planned to enroll approximately 125 to 140 patients at approximately 95 clinical sites in North America, Europe and Asia with a planned interim safety, efficacy and futility analysis after 60 events (deaths). In March 2024, we announced the completion of enrollment. In June 2024, we announced the Independent Data Monitoring Committee, or IDMC, conducted a prespecified risk-benefit assessment of unblinded data from the study and has recommended that the trial continue without modifications. Based on a detailed analysis of all unblinded data, the IDMC projects with a high level of confidence that the interim analysis (60 events) will occur by the fourth quarter of 2024. Because these analyses are event driven, they are difficult to predict with any certainty and may occur at a different time than currently expected.
In December 2020, we entered into an exclusive license agreement, or 3D Medicines Agreement, with 3D Medicines Inc., or 3D Medicines, a China-based biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation immuno-oncology drugs, for the development and commercialization of GPS, as well as the Company’s next generation heptavalent immunotherapeutic GPS+, which is at preclinical stage, across all therapeutic and diagnostic uses in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, which we collectively refer to as Greater China, or the 3DMed Territory. We have retained sole rights to GPS and GPS+ outside of Greater China. In November 2022, we announced that we had agreed with 3D Medicines for 3D Medicines to participate in the REGAL study through the inclusion of approximately 20 patients from mainland China. In December 2022, we entered into a Side Letter Agreement with 3D Medicines, or Side Letter, which, together with the 3D Medicines Agreement, details the terms and conditions of 3D Medicines' participation in the REGAL study. Although the REGAL study has completed enrollment as announced in March 2024, in accordance with the predetermined statistical analysis plan, 3D Medicines may still enroll patients in mainland China. The timing of such participation and patient enrollment by 3D Medicines, if at all, cannot be predicted with certainty. As of March 31, 2024, we have received an aggregate of $10.5 million in upfront and milestone payments under the 3D Medicines Agreement and a total of $191.5 million in potential future development, regulatory and sales milestones, not including future royalties, remains under the license agreement, which milestones are variable in nature and not under our control. In December 2023, we commenced an arbitration proceeding against 3D Medicines regarding, among other things, the trigger and payment of $13.0 million in milestone payments due to us. See Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
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In February 2020, a Phase 1 open-label investigator-sponsored clinical trial of GPS, in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 therapy, nivolumab (Opdivo®), in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, or MPM, who harbor relapsed or refractory disease after having received frontline standard of care multimodality therapy was commenced at MSK. Enrollment of a target total of 10 evaluable patients was completed at the end of 2022. We reported positive topline safety and efficacy data from this study in June 2023 and positive follow-up immune response and survival data in December 2023. Final data from this study was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in the second quarter of 2024.
GPS was granted Orphan Drug Product Designations, or ODD, from the FDA, as well as orphan medicines designations from the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, for GPS in AML, MPM, and multiple myeloma, or MM, as well as Fast Track designation for AML, MPM, and MM from the FDA.
SLS009: Highly Selective Next Generation CDK9 Inhibitor
On March 31, 2022, we entered into an exclusive license agreement, or the GenFleet Agreement, with GenFleet Therapeutics (Shanghai), Inc., or GenFleet, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cutting-edge therapeutics in oncology and immunology, that grants rights to us for the development and commercialization of SLS009, a highly selective small molecule CDK9 inhibitor, across all therapeutic and diagnostic uses worldwide, except for Greater China.
CDK9 activity has been shown to correlate negatively with overall survival in a number of cancer types, including hematologic cancers, such as AML and lymphomas, as well as solid cancers, such as osteosarcoma, pediatric soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma, endometrial, lung, prostate, breast and ovarian. As demonstrated in preclinical and clinical data, to date, SLS009’s high selectivity has the potential to reduce toxicity as compared to older CDK9 inhibitors and other next-generation CDK9 inhibitors currently in clinical development and to potentially be more efficacious.
We completed a Phase 1 dose-escalating clinical trial in the United States and China for SLS009 in mid-2023 and reported positive safety and efficacy data for both patient cohorts, that is relapsed and/or refractory AML and refractory lymphoma. We also established in the trial a recommended Phase 2 dose, or RP2D, of 60 mg for AML and 100 mg for lymphomas.
In the second quarter of 2023, we commenced an open label, single arm, multi-center Phase 2a clinical trial with SLS009 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine, or aza/ven, in patients with AML who failed or did not respond to treatment with venetoclax-based therapies. The trial is evaluating safety, tolerability, and efficacy at two dose levels of SLS009, 45 mg once weekly, and 60 mg once weekly or 30 mg twice a week, in combination with aza/ven. In addition to safety and tolerability of SLS009 in combination with aza/ven, the primary endpoints are complete response composite rate and duration of response. Additional endpoints include event free survival, overall survival, and pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic assessments.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we completed enrollment in the 45 mg (safety) dose cohort in the Phase 2a study and reported positive initial topline data. At that time, we also commenced enrollment in the 60 mg dose cohort with patients randomized to one of two groups, 60 mg fixed dose once weekly or 30 mg fixed twice weekly. Each group was planned to enroll five to 10 patients.
In March 2024, we announced positive topline data from the Phase 2a clinical trial of SLS009 in combination with aza/ven in r/r/ AML. A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study as of March 15, 2024: 10 in the 45 mg safety cohort and 11 in the 60 mg cohort (30 mg twice a week or 60 mg once a week). Response rates observed in the three cohorts were 10% in the 45 mg once a week safety dose cohort (dose level below the RP2D), 20% in the 60 mg once a week dose cohort, and 50% in the 30 mg twice a week dose cohort. Additionally, we observed strong anti-leukemic activity, which is defined as 50% or more bone marrow blast reduction in 67% of patients across all dose levels. Median OS has not been reached in any of the cohorts and the first patient enrolled in the study who achieved a CR continues on the study and remains leukemia-free 9 months after enrollment.
S-2
During the trial, we identified potential biomarkers currently undergoing testing as predictive markers in the most recent portion of the study. In May 2024, we announced additional preliminary data from the Phase 2a trial of SLS009 in r/r AML and successful filing of a provisional patent application around the ASXL1 mutation and SLS009, including all CDK9 inhibitor drugs. ASXL1 mutations are associated with poor prognosis in all myeloid diseases, owing to the reduced response to the current treatment options. We observed a high rate of responses in patients with myelodysplasia-related molecular mutations, as defined by the World Health Organization and patients with the ASXL1 gene mutation accounted for the most responders across all dose cohorts. As of April 19, 2024, a 100% response rate had been achieved in r/r AML patients with ASXL1 truncating mutations at the optimal dose level (30 mg twice a week), and a 57% response rate in r/r AML patients with ASXL1 truncating mutations across all dose levels. Furthermore, we have clarified the proposed biological basis and mechanism of action for SLS009 activity in patients with these biomarkers. The relevant biomarkers are present in multiple hematologic and solid cancer indications, with a substantial proportion of patients exhibiting them in additional indications, ranging up to ~50% of patients in some indications. We also announced that we have expanded the ongoing study to include two additional cohorts, one with ASXL1 mutated AML patients and one with patients with myelodysplasia-related molecular abnormalities other than ASXL1.
In June 2024, we announced the completion of enrollment and additional positive data in the Phase 2a clinical trial of SLS009 in r/r AML. SLS009 was generally well-tolerated with no safety issues observed across all doses and there were no dose-limiting or high-grade-treatment-related non-hematological malignancies. The hematological malignancy profile was not different from that of venetoclax-based regimens alone. As of the May 25, 2024 data cutoff date, there were 27 patients with at least one efficacy assessment and were considered evaluable for efficacy. The overall response rate (ORR: response defined as leukemia-free status that includes complete response, complete response with incomplete hematologic recovery, and morphologic leukemia-free state) among evaluable patients:
· | 50% (4 out of 8 patients) in the 30 mg BIW cohort | |
· | 33% (3 out of 9 patients) in the 60 mg QW cohort | |
· | 10% (1 out of 10 patients) in the 45 mg QW safety cohort | |
· | 29.6% across all dose levels |
The date in June 2024 was consistent with the data previously announced in May 2024, the highest response rates were observed among patients harboring ASXL1 mutations. Notably, responses were highly correlated with mutational status, with 6 out of 8 responding patients having myelodysplasia-related somatic mutations and 5 having specifically ASXL1 mutations. A 100% overall response rate was achieved in evaluable patients with ASXL1 mutations in the 30mg BIW cohort.
Median overall survival was not reached in the 30 mg BIW and 60 mg QW cohorts. Median overall survival in the 45 mg QW safety cohort was 5.4 months. Observed efficacy outcomes exceeded the targeted ORR of 20% and targeted median overall survival of 3 months. Additional topline data updates are expected in the third quarter of 2024.
Our partner, GenFleet, is focusing on lymphoma indications with SLS009 in its Greater China market. In October 2023, we announced that GenFleet dosed the first patient in a Phase Ib/II trial evaluating SLS009 in patients with relapsed/refractory, or r/r, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, or PTCL. In March 2024, GenFleet announced that it entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with BeiGene Switzerland GmbH to initiate a study of SLS009 in combination with Zanubrutinib (Brukinsa®), a BTK inhibitor, in r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, or DLBCL, and the first patient was dosed in the trial. Both studies are funded and sponsored by GenFleet and are being conducted in China. We expect to report initial topline outcomes data in the third quarter of 2024.
SLS009 is also currently being evaluated in pediatric solid tumors and leukemia models through the NCI Pediatric Preclinical in Vivo Testing, or PIVOT, program. Studies are supported through cooperative agreement grants from the NCI to the PIVOT research centers performing the testing in pediatric tumor models and a centralized coordinating center. We expect to report relevant data from the program in the second half of 2024.
For SLS009, the FDA granted Orphan Drug Product designations in AML and PTCL and Fast Track designations for r/r AML and r/r PTCL. The FDA granted Rare Pediatric Disease (RPD) designation to SLS009 for the treatment of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in June 2024 and the FDA granted RPD designation to SLS009 for the treatment of pediatric AML in July 2024. Also in July 2024, the European Medicines Agency granted Orphan Drug Designation for SLS009 in AML.
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Corporate information
We were incorporated on April 3, 2006 in Delaware as Argonaut Pharmaceuticals, Inc. On November 28, 2006, we changed our name to RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation and began operations January 2007. On September 26, 2011, we changed our name to Galena Biopharma, Inc. In December 2017, we completed a business combination with SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Ltd., and changed our name to “SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.”
Our principal executive offices are located at 7 Times Square, Suite 2503, New York, NY 10036, and our phone number is (646) 200-5278. Our website address is www.sellaslifesciences.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and should not be considered to be part of this prospectus.
Smaller reporting company
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
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THE OFFERING
Common stock offered by us | 6,370,070 shares of common stock. | |
Pre-Funded Warrants offered by us | We are offering pre-funded warrants to purchase an aggregate of 9,478,986 shares of our common stock in lieu of shares of common stock to certain investors whose purchase of shares of common stock in this offering would otherwise result in the investor, together with its affiliates, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the purchaser, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock immediately following the consummation of this offering. The purchase price of each pre-funded warrant is equal to the price at which a share of common stock is sold to the public in this offering, minus $0.0001, and the exercise price of each pre-funded warrant is $0.0001 per share. Each pre-funded warrant will be exercisable immediately and may be exercised at any time until all of the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. | |
This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus also relate to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants. For additional information regarding the warrants, see “Description of Capital Stock—Pre-Funded Warrants” below. | ||
Warrants offered by us | We are offering warrants to purchase an aggregate of 15,849,056 shares of our common stock. Each share of our common stock is being sold together with a warrant to purchase one share of our common stock. Each warrant has an exercise price of $1.20 per share, is immediately exercisable and will expire on the five year anniversary of the date of issuance. | |
This prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus also relate to the offering of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. For additional information regarding the warrants, see “Description of Capital Stock—Warrants” below. | ||
Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering | 62,637,740 shares of common stock assuming no exercise of any pre-funded warrants or warrants issued in this offering. | |
Use of proceeds | We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $19.5 million, after deducting placement agent’s fees and estimated offering expenses payable by us and assuming no exercise of the pre-funded warrants and the warrants. | |
The principal purpose of this offering is to obtain additional capital to support our operations. We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering, in addition to our existing cash resources, for funding of ongoing operations, including clinical development of the product candidates noted in this prospectus supplement, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See “Use of proceeds” for additional information. | ||
Risk factors | See “Risk factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement and other information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities. |
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Market symbol | Our common stock currently is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “SLS.” We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants or the warrants, nor do we expect the pre-funded warrants or the warrants to be quoted, on the Nasdaq or any other national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active market, the liquidity of the warrants will be limited. |
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering set forth above is based on 56,267,670 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and excludes:
· | 2,154,866 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2024, at a weighted-average exercise price of $4.38 per share; | |
· | 737,641 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) outstanding as of March 31, 2024; | |
· | 41,801,843 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2024, at a weighted-average exercise price of $1.05 per share; | |
· | 3,002,965 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2023 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan (the “2023 Plan”) as of March 31, 2024; and | |
· | 129,085 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2021 Employee Plan”) as of March 31, 2024. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise of the pre-funded warrants or the warrants issued in this offering.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as updated or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described in our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and all of the other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including our financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. If any of these risks is realized, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be harmed. In that event, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose part or all of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not yet identified or that we think are immaterial may also harm our business, operating results and financial condition and could result in a complete loss of your investment.
Risks related to this offering
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.
Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the net proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Furthermore, you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether such proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of our cash and cash equivalents, including the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, cause the price of our common stock to decline and delay the development of our drug candidates. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments, which may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders.
If you purchase securities in this offering, you will suffer immediate dilution of your investment.
We expect that the public offering price of our common stock in this offering will be higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Therefore, if you purchase shares of our common stock and accompanying warrants in this offering, you will pay a price per share and accompanying warrant that substantially exceeds our net tangible book value per share after this offering. Based on the public offering price of $1.325 per share and accompanying warrant, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2024 would have been $27.2 million, or $0.43 per share, resulting in an immediate increase in the net tangible book value per share of $0.29 to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $0.895 in net tangible book value per share to investors purchasing common stock in this offering, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering and the assumed public offering price. To the extent outstanding stock options or warrants are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors. See “Dilution.”
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we expect to offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price that is equal to or greater than the price per share and accompanying warrant paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share and accompanying warrant in this offering.
We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock so any returns will be limited to the value of our stock.
You should not rely on an investment in our common stock to provide dividend income. We do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. Instead, we plan to retain any earnings to maintain and expand our operations. Accordingly, investors must rely on sales of their common stock after price appreciation, which may never occur, as the only way to realize any return on their investment. As a result, investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.
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The market price and trading volume of shares of our common stock may be volatile.
The market price of shares of our common stock has exhibited substantial volatility. Between July 30, 2023 and July 30, 2024, the daily closing price of shares of our common stock as reported on Nasdaq ranged from a low of $0.51 to a high of $1.82. The market price of shares of our common stock could continue to fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including the following factors:
· | reports of the results of our clinical trials regarding the safety or efficacy of our product candidates and surrogate markers; | |
· | announcements of regulatory developments or technological innovations by us or our competitors; | |
· | announcements of business or strategic transactions or our success in finalizing such a transaction; | |
· | announcements of legal or regulatory actions against us or any adverse outcome of any such actions; | |
· | changes in our relationships with our licensors, licensees and other strategic partners; | |
· | low volume in the number of shares of our common stock traded on Nasdaq; | |
· | our quarterly or annual operating results; | |
· | announcements of dilutive financing; | |
· | announcements of additional potential reverse stock splits; | |
· | developments in patent or other technology ownership rights; | |
· | additional funds may not be available on terms that are favorable to us and, in the case of equity financings, may result in dilution to our stockholders; | |
· | government regulation of drug pricing; and | |
· | general changes in the economy, the financial markets or the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries. |
Factors beyond our control may also have an impact on the market price of shares of our common stock. For example, to the extent that other companies within our industry experience declines in their stock prices, the market price of shares of our common stock may decline as well.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock by our existing shareholders in the public market or the exercise of common stock warrants could cause our stock price to fall.
If our existing shareholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market or exercise, or indicate an intention to exercise, substantial amounts of warrants of our common stock in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline. In addition, a substantial number of shares of common stock are subject to outstanding options or will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules. 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.
We and our executive officers and directors have agreed for a period of 90 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, without the prior written consent of the purchaser party to the securities purchase agreement, with certain limited exceptions, not to offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of any shares of our common stock. The lock-up provisions apply to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for common stock. They also apply to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the lock-up agreement or for which the person executing the lock-up agreement later acquires the power of disposition.
Risks related to the warrants
There is no public market for the warrants to purchase shares of our common stock being offered in this offering.
There is no established public trading market for the warrants being offered in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. In addition, we do not intend to apply to list the warrants on any national securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system, including the Nasdaq. Without an active market, the liquidity of the warrants will be limited.
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Holders of our warrants will have no rights as a common stockholder until they acquire our common stock.
Until you acquire shares of our common stock upon exercise of the warrants, you will have no rights with respect to shares of our common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants. Upon exercise of your warrants, you will be entitled to exercise the rights of a common stockholder only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.
The warrants are speculative in nature.
The warrants offered hereby do not confer any rights of common stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of common stock at a fixed price. Specifically, commencing on the date of issuance, holders of the warrants may acquire the common stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants at an exercise price of $1.20 per share. Moreover, following this offering, the market value of the warrants is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the market value of the warrants will equal or exceed their public offering price. There can be no assurance that the market price of the common stock will ever equal or exceed the exercise price of the warrants and consequently, whether it will ever be profitable for holders of the warrants to exercise the warrants.
In certain circumstances, we may be required to settle the value of the warrants in cash.
If, at any time while the warrants are outstanding, we enter into a “Fundamental Transaction” (as defined in the warrants), which includes, but is not limited to, a purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer, a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or other scheme of arrangement), then each registered holder of outstanding warrants as at any time concurrently shall have the right to receive, for each share underlying the warrants that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the holder, the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company.
Risks related to the pre-funded warrants
We do not intend to apply for any listing of the pre-funded warrants on any exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a market to develop for the pre-funded warrants.
We do not intend to apply for any listing of the pre-funded warrants on the Nasdaq Capital Market or any other securities exchange or nationally recognized trading system, and we do not expect a market to develop for the pre-funded warrants. Without an active market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be limited. Further, the existence of the pre-funded warrants may act to reduce both the trading volume and the trading price of our common stock.
Except as otherwise provided in the pre-funded warrants, holders of pre-funded warrants purchased in this offering will have no rights as stockholders of common stock until such holders exercise their warrants or pre-funded warrants and acquire our common stock.
The pre-funded warrants offered in this offering do not confer any rights of common stock ownership on their holders, such as voting rights or the right to receive dividends, but rather merely represent the right to acquire shares of our common stock at a fixed price. A holder of a pre-funded warrant may exercise the right to acquire a share of common stock and pay a nominal exercise price of $0.0001 at any time. Upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants, the holders thereof will be entitled to exercise the rights of a holder of common stock only as to matters for which the record date occurs after the exercise date.
In certain circumstances, we may be required to settle the value of the pre-funded warrants in cash.
If, at any time while the pre-funded warrants are outstanding, we enter into a “Fundamental Transaction” (as defined in the pre-funded warrants), which includes, but is not limited to, a purchase offer, tender offer or exchange offer, a stock or share purchase agreement or other business combination (including, without limitation, a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or other scheme of arrangement), then each registered holder of outstanding pre-funded warrants as at any time concurrently shall have the right to receive, for each share underlying the pre-funded warrants that would have been issuable upon such exercise immediately prior to the occurrence of such Fundamental Transaction, at the option of the holder, the number of shares of common stock of the successor or acquiring corporation or of the Company.
We may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.
Each pre-funded warrant may be exercised by way of a cashless exercise, meaning that the holder may not pay a cash purchase price upon exercise, but instead would receive upon such exercise the net number of shares of our common stock determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant. Accordingly, we may not receive any additional funds upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants.
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on our management’s current beliefs, expectations and assumptions about future events, conditions and results and on information currently available to us. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including statements regarding our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenue, projected costs, prospects, plan, objectives of management, results of preclinical studies or clinical trials and expected market growth are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements and include, without limitation, statements regarding:
· | our future financial and business performance; | |
· | strategic plans for our business and product candidates; | |
· | our ability to develop or commercialize products; | |
· | the expected results and timing of clinical trials and nonclinical studies; | |
· | our ability to comply with the terms of our license agreements; | |
· | developments and projections relating to our competitors and industry; | |
· | our expectations regarding our ability to obtain, develop and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; | |
· | our ability to retain and attract highly-skilled executive officers and employees; | |
· | our future capital requirements and the timing of those requirements and sources and uses of cash; | |
· | our ability to obtain funding for our operations; and | |
· | changes in applicable laws or regulations. |
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including risks described in the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, regarding, among other things:
· | risks associated with preclinical or clinical development and trials; | |
· | changes in the assumptions underlying our expectations regarding our future business or business model; | |
· | our ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize product candidates; | |
· | general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; | |
· | changes in applicable laws or regulations; | |
· | the impact of natural disasters, including climate change, and the impact of health epidemics on our business; | |
· | the size and growth potential of the markets for our products, and our ability to serve those markets; | |
· | market acceptance of our planned products; | |
· | our ability to raise capital; and | |
· | the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. |
All of our forward-looking statements are as of the date of this prospectus supplement only. In each case, actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking information. We can give no assurance that such expectations or forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. An occurrence of or any material adverse change in one or more of the risk factors or risks and uncertainties referred to in this prospectus supplement or included in our other public disclosures or our other periodic reports or other documents or filings filed with or furnished to the SEC, could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. Except as required by law, we do not undertake or plan to update or revise any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in plans, assumptions, estimates or projections or other circumstances affecting such forward-looking statements occurring after the date of this prospectus supplement, even if such results, changes or circumstances make it clear that any forward-looking information will not be realized. Any public statements or disclosures by us following this prospectus supplement that modify or impact any of the forward-looking statements contained herein will be deemed to modify or supersede such statements in this prospectus supplement.
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We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $19.5 million from this offering, after deducting the placement agent’s fee and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding the proceeds, if any, from the exercise of the warrants and pre-funded warrants issued in this offering. We cannot predict when or if the warrants or pre-funded warrants will be exercised. It is possible that the warrants may expire and may never be exercised.
We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering, in addition to our existing cash resources, for funding of ongoing operations, including clinical development of the product candidates noted in this prospectus supplement, and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the time and cost necessary to conduct our planned clinical trials, the results of our planned clinical trials and other factors described in the section titled “Risk factors” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations and any unforeseen cash needs. Therefore, our actual expenditures may differ materially from the estimates described above. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes, and we will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering.
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We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain all of our future earnings, if any, to finance the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends to our stockholders in the foreseeable future. As a result, investors seeking cash dividends should not purchase our common stock.
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As of March 31, 2024, we had a historical net tangible book deficit of $7.8 million, or $0.14 per share of common stock, based on 56,267,670 shares of common stock outstanding. Our historical net tangible book deficit per share represents total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding.
After giving effect to the sale by us of (i) 6,370,070 shares of common stock and accompanying warrants in this offering at the public offering price of $1.325 per share and accompanying warrant and (ii) 9,478,986 pre-funded warrants and accompanying warrants in this offering at the public offering price of $1.3249 per pre-funded warrant and accompanying warrant, and after deducting fees, commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and excluding the proceeds and shares issuable, if any, from the exercise of the pre-funded warrants and warrants issued pursuant to this offering, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2024 would have been $27.2 million, or $0.43 per share. This amount represents an immediate increase in our net tangible book value of $0.29 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in our net tangible book value of $0.895 per share to investors participating in this offering. We determine dilution by subtracting our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the amount of cash paid by an investor for a share of common stock in this offering. The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:
Public offering price per share and accompanying warrant | $ | 1.325 | ||||||
Historical net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2024 | $ | 0.14 | ||||||
Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors in this offering | $ | 0.29 | ||||||
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering | $ | 0.43 | ||||||
Dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering | $ | 0.895 |
The discussion and table above assume no exercise of the pre-funded warrants and warrants sold in this offering.
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering set forth above is based on 56,267,670 shares of our common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2024 and excludes:
· | 2,154,866 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2024, at a weighted-average exercise price of $4.38 per share; | |
· | 737,641 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of RSUs outstanding as of March 31, 2024; | |
· | 41,801,843 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of March 31, 2024, at a weighted-average exercise price of $1.05 per share; | |
· | 3,002,965 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2023 Plan as of March 31, 2024; and | |
· | 129,085 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2021 Employee Plan as of March 31, 2024. |
To the extent that outstanding stock options or warrants are exercised, you will experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. The issuance of these securities could result in further dilution for investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants and warrants acquired in this offering by non-U.S. holders (as defined below) and the acquisition, ownership and disposition of pre-funded warrants and warrants acquired in this offering by U.S. holders (as defined below) that, in each case, hold such shares of our commons stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment).
This discussion is based on current provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement and all of which are subject to change or to differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change or differing interpretation could alter the tax consequences to holders described in this prospectus supplement. There can be no assurance that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein.
This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of that holder’s individual circumstances nor does it address U.S. state, local or non-U.S. taxes, U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws, any alternative minimum tax levied under the Code, the Medicare tax on net investment income or any other aspect of any U.S. federal tax other than the income tax. This discussion also does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may apply to a holder and does not address the special tax rules applicable to certain holders, such as:
· | insurance companies; | |
· | regulated investment companies and real estate investment trusts; | |
· | tax-exempt or governmental organizations; | |
· | financial institutions; | |
· | brokers or dealers in securities; | |
· | traders that have elected to mark securities to market; | |
· | regulated investment companies; | |
· | pension plans; | |
· | corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; | |
· | “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; | |
· | persons deemed to sell our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; | |
· | persons that hold our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, synthetic security or other integrated investment; | |
· | persons who hold or receive our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option or otherwise as compensation; | |
· | holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; persons that own, or have owned, directly, indirectly, or constructively, more than 5% (by vote or value) of our common stock, warrants or pre-funded warrants at any time (other than as expressly provided below); | |
· | corporations (and shareholders thereof), partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein); | |
· | “Controlled foreign corporations” and “passive foreign investment companies”; and | |
· | certain U.S. expatriates, former citizens, or long-term residents of the United States |
This discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships (including any entity or arrangements treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or persons that hold their common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants through such a partnerships. If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants, 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. A partner in a partnership or other pass-through entity (including an entity or arrangement that is treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that will hold our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants should consult his, her or its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants through a partnership or other pass-through entity, as applicable.
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This discussion is for general information only and is not intended to be, and may not be construed as, tax advice. Accordingly, all prospective holders of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants should consult their tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants.
Treatment of Pre-Funded Warrants
Although it is not entirely free from doubt, a pre-funded warrant should be treated as a share of our common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a holder of pre-funded warrants should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of common stock, as described below. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized upon the exercise of a pre-funded warrant and, upon exercise, the holding period of a pre-funded warrant should carry over to the share of common stock received. Similarly, the tax basis of the pre-funded warrant should carry over to the share of common stock received upon exercise, increased by the exercise price of $0.0001. Each holder should consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the risks associated with the acquisition of pre-funded warrants pursuant to this offering (including potential alternative characterizations). The balance of this discussion generally assumes that the characterization described above is respected for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
In certain circumstances, the pre-funded warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise of pre-funded warrants into common stock is unclear, and the tax consequences of a cashless exercise could differ from the consequences upon the exercise of a pre-funded warrant described in the preceding paragraph. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of a cashless exercise of pre-funded warrants.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations of Owning and Disposing of Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Warrants for U.S. Holders
The following discusses the material U.S. federal income tax consideration of owning and disposing of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants for a U.S. holder. This section does not address the U.S. federal income tax considerations for U.S. holders of backup withholding and information reporting.
For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. holder is any beneficial owner of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
· | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; | |
· | a domestic corporation; | |
· | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or | |
· | a trust, if (A) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all of the trust’s substantial decisions or (B) the trust has validly elected to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Allocation of Purchase Price Between Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants
Because our common stock and accompanying warrants, or pre-funded warrants and accompanying warrants as applicable, are sold together, a purchaser of shares of our common stock and accompanying warrants, or pre-funded warrants and accompanying warrants as applicable, must allocate its purchase price between each share of common stock or pre-funded warrant, as applicable, and the accompanying warrant based on their respective relative fair market values at the time of issuance. This allocation of the purchase price will establish the holder’s initial tax basis for U.S. federal income tax purposes for each share of common stock or pre-funded warrant, as applicable, and warrant. A holder’s allocation of the purchase price among the common stock or pre-funded warrants, as applicable, and warrants is not binding on the IRS or the courts, and no assurance can be given that the IRS or the courts will agree with a holder’s allocation. Each holder should consult its own tax advisor regarding the allocation of the purchase price among the common stock or pre-funded warrants, as applicable, and warrants.
Distributions on Our Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants
As described in the section titled “Dividend Policy,” we do not anticipate paying any future distributions on our common stock. However, if we do make cash or other property distributions on our common stock or pre-funded warrants, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital to the extent of the holder’s tax basis in our common stock or pre-funded warrants, and, thereafter, as gain on the sale or other disposition of our common stock or pre-funded warrants, which is taxed as described under “—Gains on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants” below.
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Dividends received by a corporate U.S. holder may be eligible for a dividends received deduction, subject to applicable limitations. Dividends received by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, are generally taxed at the lower applicable capital gains rate provided certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.
Gains on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants
Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock or pre-funded warrants, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (i) the amount of cash and the fair market value of any property received upon the sale or other taxable disposition and (ii) such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock or pre-funded warrants. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in such common stock or pre-funded warrants is more than one year at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, generally will be subject to reduced rates of U.S. federal income tax. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Warrants
Upon the sale or other taxable disposition of a warrant (other than by exercise), a U.S. holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale or other taxable disposition and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrant. This capital gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period in such warrant is more than one year at the time of the sale or other disposition. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
Exercise of Warrants
A U.S. holder generally will not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the exercise of a warrant and the related receipt of common stock. A U.S. holder’s tax basis in the common stock received upon exercise of the common warrant generally will equal the sum of the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrant and the exercise price. It is unclear whether the U.S. holder’s holding period for the common stock received upon exercise of the warrants will begin on the date following the date of exercise or on the date of exercise of the warrants; in either case, the holding period will not include the period during which the U.S. holder held the warrants.
In certain circumstances, the warrants may be exercised on a cashless basis. The U.S. federal income tax treatment of an exercise of a warrant on a cashless basis is not clear under current law, and could differ from the consequences described above. It is possible that a cashless exercise is a non-taxable transaction, either because the exercise is not treated as a realization event or because the exercise is treated as a tax-free recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Under either characterization, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the common stock received generally would equal the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrants. If the cashless exercise was not a realization event, it is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding period for the shares of common stock acquired pursuant to the cashless exercise will commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant. If the cashless exercise were treated as a recapitalization, the holding period of the shares of common stock acquired pursuant to it would include the holding period of the warrants.
It is also possible that a cashless exercise is treated as a taxable exchange in which gain or loss would be recognized. In such event, a U.S. holder may be deemed to have surrendered warrants with an aggregate fair market value equal to the exercise price for the total number of warrants to be exercised. The U.S. holder would recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the warrants deemed surrendered and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in such warrants (such gain or loss would be long-term or short-term, depending on the U.S. holder’s holding period in the warrants deemed surrendered). In this case, a U.S. holder’s tax basis in the shares of common stock received pursuant to the cashless exercise would equal the sum of the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the warrants exercised and the exercise price of such warrants. It is unclear whether a U.S. holder’s holding period for the common stock would commence on the date of exercise of the warrant or the day following the date of exercise of the warrant.
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Due to the absence of authority on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a cashless exercise, there can be no assurance which, if any, of the alternative tax consequences and holding periods described above would be adopted by the IRS or a court of law. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the consequences of an exercise of a warrant on a cashless basis, including with respect to their holding period and tax basis in the common stock received.
Lapse of Warrants
If a U.S. holder allows a warrant to expire unexercised, such holder will generally recognize a capital loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to such holder’s tax basis in the warrant. Any such loss generally will be a capital loss and will be long-term capital loss if the warrant is held for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Contingent Payments on the Warrants
The warrants entitle a holder to receive payments upon the occurrence of certain contingencies, including a distribution on shares of our common stock or our failure to deliver shares of common stock upon exercise of a warrant. The tax treatment of such payments, if made, is subject to substantial uncertainty. Holders should consult their own tax advisors as to the appropriate U.S. federal income tax treatment of any such contingent payments that may be made to them in respect of the warrants.
Adjustments to Warrant Conversion Ratio
Under Section 305 of the Code, an adjustment to the number of shares of our common stock that will be issued on exercise of the warrants, or an adjustment to the exercise price of the warrants, may be treated as a constructive distribution to a holder of the warrants if, and to the extent that, such adjustment has the effect for U.S. federal income tax purposes of increasing such U.S. holder’s proportionate interest in our earnings and profits or assets, depending on the circumstances of such adjustment. Adjustments made pursuant to a bona fide reasonable adjustment formula which has the effect of preventing the dilution of the interest of the holders of warrants generally will not be deemed to result in a constructive distribution. A constructive distribution under these rules would be subject to tax in the same manner as if the U.S. holders of the warrants received a cash distribution from us equal to the fair market value of such increased interest resulting from the adjustment.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences for Non-U.S. Holders
The following discusses the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants and warrants to a non-U.S. holder. For purposes of this discussion, a non-U.S. holder is any beneficial owner of shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
· | a non-resident alien individual; | |
· | a foreign corporation or any other foreign association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or | |
· | a foreign estate or trust the income of which is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis. |
Allocation of Purchase Price Between Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants
If it is relevant for a non-U.S. holder to determine its tax basis in shares of common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a non-U.S. holder will determine such tax basis based on the allocation of the purchase price as described above under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations of Owning and Disposing of Pre-Funded Warrants or Warrants for U.S. Holders -- Allocation of Purchase Price Between Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants and Warrants”.
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Warrants
The U.S. federal income tax treatment of a non-U.S. holder’s exercise of a warrant, or the lapse of a warrant held by a non-U.S. holder, generally will correspond to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the exercise or lapse of a warrant by a U.S. holder, as described under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations of Owning and Disposing of Pre-Funded Warrants or Warrants for U.S. Holders” above, although to the extent a cashless exercise results in a taxable exchange, the rules described below under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences for Non-U.S. Holders—Gains on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Warrants” would apply.
If contingent payments are made with respect to a warrant, as described above under “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations of Owning and Disposing of Pre-Funded Warrants or Warrants for U.S. Holders—Contingent Payments on the Warrants”, such payments may be subject to a U.S. withholding tax. Any U.S. federal income tax required to be withheld on any portion of such contingent payment may be withheld from common stock delivered, sales proceeds subsequently paid or credited, or other amounts payable or distributable to a non-U.S. holder.
Distributions on Our Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants
As described in the section titled “Dividend Policy,” we do not anticipate paying any future distributions on our common stock. However, if we do make distributions on our common stock or pre-funded warrants, such distributions will constitute dividends to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of the non-U.S. holder’s investment, up to such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common stock or pre-funded warrants. Any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain from the sale or exchange of such common stock or pre-funded warrants, subject to the tax treatment described below in “—Gain on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock or Pre-Funded Warrants.” Any such distributions will also be subject to the discussions below in the sections titled “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “FATCA.”
Subject to the discussion in the remainder of this section, dividends (including any portion of constructive distributions treated as dividends) paid to a non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence. Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by a non-U.S. holder within the United States and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, that are attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the United States, are generally exempt from the 30% withholding tax if that non-U.S. holder has furnished to us or our paying agent an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or applicable successor form), certifying under penalties of perjury that the dividend is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained in the United States). However, such U.S. effectively connected income, net of specified deductions and credits, is generally taxed on a net income basis in the same manner and at the same regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to United States persons (as defined in the Code). Any U.S. effectively connected income received by a corporate non-U.S. holder may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence.
A non-U.S. holder of our common stock who claims the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence generally will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or successor form) to the applicable withholding agent and satisfy applicable certification and other requirements. A non-U.S. holder that holds our common stock through a financial institution or other agent will be required to provide appropriate documentation to the financial institution or other agent, which then will be required to provide certification to us or our paying agent either directly or through other intermediaries. Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty. A non-U.S. holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. withholding tax under an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing a U.S. tax return with the IRS.
The taxation of a distribution received with respect to a pre-funded warrant is unclear. It is possible such a distribution would be treated as a distribution as described in this section, although other treatments may also be possible. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the proper treatment of any payments in respect of the pre-funded warrants.
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Gains on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock, Pre-Funded Warrants or Warrants
Subject to the discussions below under “—Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “—FATCA,” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to any U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized upon such holder’s sale or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants unless:
· | the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, is attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base maintained by such non-U.S. holder in the United States, in which case the non-U.S. holder generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to United States persons (as defined in the Code) and, if the non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, the branch profits tax described above in “Distributions on Our Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants” also may apply; | |
· | the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition (as such days are calculated pursuant to Section 7701(b) of the Code) and certain other conditions are met, in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence) on the net gain derived from the sale or other taxable disposition of the shares of common stock, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of the non-U.S. holder, if any (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided that the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses; or | |
· | we are, or have been, at any time during the five-year period preceding such sale or other taxable disposition (or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period, if shorter) of such shares of common stock, a U.S. real property holding corporation, unless our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market and the non-U.S. holder holds no more than 5% (by value) of our outstanding common, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held our common stock. If we are or were a U.S. real property holding corporation during the relevant period and the foregoing exception does not apply, the non-U.S. holder generally will be taxed on its net gain derived from the disposition at the regular U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to United States persons (as defined in the Code). Generally, a corporation is a U.S. real property holding corporation only if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Although there can be no assurance, we do not believe that we are, or have been, a U.S. real property holding corporation, or that we are likely to become one in the future. No assurance can be provided that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market for purposes of the rules described above. Special rules may apply to non-U.S. holders of pre-funded warrants, who should consult their tax advisors. |
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the gross amount of the distributions on our securities paid to such holder and the tax withheld, if any, with respect to such distributions. A non-U.S. holder may have to comply with specific certification procedures to establish that such holder is not a United States person (as defined in the Code) in order to avoid backup withholding at the applicable rate with respect to dividends on our securities. Dividends paid to non-U.S. holders subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, as described above in “—Distributions on Our Common Stock and Pre-Funded Warrants,” generally will be exempt from U.S. backup withholding.
Information reporting and backup withholding will generally apply to the proceeds of a disposition of our securities by a non-U.S. holder effected by or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or foreign, unless the holder certifies its status as a non-U.S. holder and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds to a non-U.S. holder where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a broker. However, for information reporting purposes, dispositions effected through a non-U.S. office of a broker with substantial U.S. ownership or operations generally will be treated in a manner similar to dispositions effected through a U.S. office of a broker.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a non-U.S. holder can be refunded or credited against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that an appropriate claim is filed with the IRS in a timely manner.
Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them. Copies of information returns may be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is incorporated under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement.
FATCA
Provisions of the Code commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, generally impose a U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% on payments of dividends on our common stock paid to a foreign entity unless (i) if the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution,” such foreign entity undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, (ii) if the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” such foreign entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner and such entity meets certain other specified requirements, or (iii) the foreign entity is otherwise exempt under FATCA. Such withholding may also apply to gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of our common stock or warrants, although under proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations, no withholding would apply to such gross proceeds. The preamble to the proposed regulations specifies that taxpayers (including withholding agents) are permitted to rely on the proposed regulations pending finalization. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of this withholding tax. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in this paragraph. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on their investment in our common stock and the entities through which they hold our common stock, including, without limitation, the process and deadlines for meeting the applicable requirements to prevent the imposition of the 30% withholding tax under FATCA.
The preceding discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations is for general information only. It is not tax advice. Each prospective investor should consult its tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state and local and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our common stock, pre-funded warrants or warrants, including the consequences of any proposed change in applicable laws.
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We are offering 6,370,070 shares of our common stock, pre-funded warrants to purchase 9,478,986 shares of our common stock and accompanying warrants to purchase 15,849,056 shares of our common stock. Each share of common stock we sell will be accompanied by a warrant to purchase one share of common stock. The shares of common stock and warrants will be issued separately. We are also registering the shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of the common warrants offered hereby.
We are also offering pre-funded warrants in lieu of shares of common stock to the investors whose purchase of shares of common stock in this offering would otherwise result in such investor, together with its affiliates, beneficially owning more than 4.99% (or, at the election of the investor, 9.99%) of our common stock. Each pre-funded warrant sold in this offering will be accompanied by a warrant to purchase one share of our common stock. The pre-funded warrants and the accompanying warrants will be issued separately. We are also registering the shares of common stock issuable from time to time upon exercise of the pre-funded warrants offered hereby.
As of the date of this prospectus supplement, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 350,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
The following is a summary of the rights of our common, preferred stock, pre-funded warrants and warrants and some of the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and Delaware General Corporation Law. This is only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part.
Common stock
Voting
Each holder of our 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 amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting rights. Because of this absence of cumulative voting, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all the directors standing for election, if they should so choose.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation
In the event of our dissolution or liquidation, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any preferential rights that may be granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The rights, preferences, and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock.
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Fully-paid
All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the shares of common stock issued upon the conversion of any securities convertible into our common stock will be, fully paid and non-assessable. The shares of common stock offered by this prospectus or upon the conversion of any preferred stock or debt securities or exercise of any warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus, when issued and paid for, will also be, fully paid and non-assessable.
Pre-Funded Warrants
The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the pre-funded warrants that are being offered hereby is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the provisions of the pre-funded warrant, the form of which will be filed as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of pre-funded warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the pre-funded warrants.
Each pre-funded warrant will be sold in this offering at a purchase price equal to $1.3249 (equal to the purchase price per share of common stock, minus $0.0001). The purpose of the pre-funded warrants is to enable investors that may have restrictions on their ability to beneficially own more than 4.99% (or, upon election of the holder, 9.99%) of our outstanding common stock following the consummation of this offering the opportunity to make an investment in the Company without triggering their ownership restrictions, by receiving pre-funded warrants in lieu of our common stock which would result in such ownership of more than 4.99% (or 9.99%), and receive the ability to exercise their option to purchase the shares underlying the pre-funded warrants at such nominal price at a later date.
Exercise Price and Duration
The pre-funded warrants will have an exercise price of $0.0001 per share. The pre-funded warrants are exercisable immediately upon issuance, and may be exercised at any time until all of the pre-funded warrants are exercised in full. The exercise price is subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of certain stock dividends and distributions, stock splits, stock combinations, reclassifications or similar events affecting our shares of common stock and also upon any distributions of assets, including cash, stock or other property to our shareholders.
Exercisability
The pre-funded warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part by delivering to us a duly executed exercise notice and, at any time a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants under the Securities Act is effective and available for the issuance of such shares, or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of such shares, by payment in full in immediately available funds for the number of common shares purchased upon such exercise.
Cashless Exercise
If, at the time of exercise there is no effective registration statement registering, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of, the shares of common stock underlying the pre-funded warrants, then the pre-funded warrants may also be exercised, in whole or in part, at such time by means of a cashless exercise, in which case the holder would receive upon such exercise the net number of common shares determined according to the formula set forth in the pre-funded warrant.
Exercise Limitation
A holder will not have the right to exercise any portion of the pre-funded warrant if the holder (together with its affiliates) would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% (or 9.99% upon the request of the holder) of the number of common shares outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise, as such percentage ownership is determined in accordance with the terms of the pre-funded warrants. However, any holder may increase or decrease such percentage, provided that any increase will not be effective until the 61st day after such election.
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Transferability
Subject to applicable laws, the pre-funded warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.
Fractional Shares
No fractional common shares will be issued upon the exercise of the pre-funded warrants. Rather, the number of common shares to be issued will be rounded to the nearest whole number.
Trading Market
There is no established public trading market for the warrants being issued in this offering, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for listing of the warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the pre-funded warrants will be limited.
Fundamental Transactions
If a fundamental transaction occurs, then the successor entity will succeed to, and be substituted for us, and may exercise every right and power that we may exercise and will assume all of our obligations under the pre-funded warrants with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named in the pre-funded warrant itself. If holders of our common shares are given a choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a fundamental transaction, then the holder shall be given the same choice as to the consideration it receives upon any exercise of the pre-funded warrant following such fundamental transaction.
Rights as a Shareholder
Except as otherwise provided in the pre-funded warrants or by virtue of such holder’s ownership of our shares of common stock, the holder of a pre-funded warrant does not have the rights or privileges of a holder of our common shares, including any voting rights, until the holder exercises the pre-funded warrant.
Amendment and Waiver
The pre-funded warrants may be modified or amended or the provisions thereof waived with the written consent of our company and the respective holder.
Warrants
The following is a summary of the material terms and provisions of the warrants that are being offered hereby. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the form of warrant, which will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K in connection with this offering and incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus form a part. Prospective investors should carefully review the terms and provisions of the form of warrant for a complete description of the terms and conditions of the warrants.
Duration and Exercise Price. The warrants offered hereby will have an exercise price of $1.20 per share and will expire on the five-year anniversary of the initial exercise date. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are subject to appropriate adjustment in the event of stock dividends, stock splits, reorganizations or similar events affecting our common stock.
Exercisability. The warrants will be exercisable, at the option of each holder, in whole or in part, by delivering a duly executed exercise notice accompanied by payment in full for the number of shares of our common stock purchased upon such exercise (except in the case of a cashless exercise as discussed below).
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Exercise Limitations. We may not effect the exercise of any warrant, and a holder will not be entitled to exercise any portion of any common warrant that, upon giving effect to such exercise, would cause the aggregate number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by such holder (together with its affiliates) to exceed 4.99% or 9.99% (at the election of the holder) of the number of shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to the exercise. However, any holder of a warrant may increase or decrease such percentage upon at least 61 days’ prior written notice from the holder to us, provided that such percentage in no event exceeds 9.99%.
Cashless Exercise. If, at the time a holder exercises its warrants a registration statement registering the issuance of the shares of common stock underlying such warrants under the Securities Act is not then effective or available for the issuance of such shares, or the prospectus contained therein is not available for the issuance of such shares, then in lieu of making the cash payment to us upon such exercise in payment of the aggregate exercise price, the holder may elect instead to receive upon such exercise (either in whole or in part) the net number of shares of common stock determined according to a formula set forth in the warrant.
Transferability. Subject to applicable laws, the warrants may be offered for sale, sold, transferred or assigned without our consent.
Trading Market. There is no established trading market for any of the warrants, and we do not expect a market to develop. We do not intend to apply for a listing for any of the warrants on any securities exchange or other nationally recognized trading system. Without an active trading market, the liquidity of the warrants will be limited.
Rights as a Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided in the warrants or by virtue of the holders’ ownership of shares of our common stock, the holders of warrants do not have the rights or privileges of the holders of our common stock, including any voting rights, until such warrant holders exercise their warrants.
Fundamental Transaction. If a fundamental transaction occurs, then the successor entity will succeed to, and be substituted for us, and may exercise every right and power that we may exercise and will assume all of our obligations under the warrants with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named in the warrant itself. If holders of our common shares are given a choice as to the securities, cash or property to be received in a fundamental transaction, then the holder shall be given the same choice as to the consideration it receives upon any exercise of the warrant following such fundamental transaction. Additionally, as more fully described in the form of warrant, in the event of certain fundamental transactions, the holders of the warrants will be entitled to receive consideration in an amount equal to the Black Scholes value of the warrants on the date of consummation of the transaction.
Preferred stock
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has 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 any series or the designation of such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of 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 liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company or other corporate action.
The following summary of terms of our preferred stock is not complete. You should refer to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and the resolutions containing the terms of each class or series of the preferred stock which have been or will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the time of issuance of such class or series of preferred stock and described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth herein are inapplicable to such series of preferred stock, provided that the information set forth in such prospectus supplement does not constitute material changes to the information herein such that it alters the nature of the offering or the securities offered.
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Our board of directors will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series we issue under this prospectus, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of preferred stock being offered, including, to the extent applicable:
· | the title and stated value; | |
· | the number of shares we are offering; | |
· | the liquidation preference per share; | |
· | the purchase price; | |
· | the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends; | |
· | whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; | |
· | the procedures for any auction and remarketing; | |
· | the provisions for a sinking fund; | |
· | the provisions for redemption or repurchase and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights; | |
· | any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; | |
· | whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock or other securities, and the conversion rate or conversion price, or how they will be calculated, and the conversion period; | |
· | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and the exchange rate or exchange price, or how they will be calculated, and the exchange period; | |
· | voting rights of the preferred stock; | |
· | preemptive rights; | |
· | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment; | |
· | whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares; | |
· | a discussion of material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; | |
· | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; | |
· | any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend | |
· | rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and | |
· | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock. |
If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, they will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The DGCL provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of such preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.
The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon 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. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
Possible Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Provisions of the DGCL and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and takeover bids that our board of directors may consider inadequate and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure our company outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
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Classified Board
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes. The directors designated as Class III directors will have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2025, and the directors designated as Class I directors will have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2026. The directors designated as Class II directors have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2027. Directors for each class will be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter will serve for a term of three years. At any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the election will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the election. Under the classified board provisions, it would take at least two elections of directors for any individual or group to gain control of our board. Accordingly, these provisions could discourage a third party from initiating a proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of our company.
Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that our stockholders may only remove our directors with cause.
Amendment
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our voting stock then outstanding is required to amend certain provisions relating to the number, term, election and removal of our directors, the filling of our board vacancies, stockholder notice procedures, the calling of special meetings of stockholders and the indemnification of directors. Further, any amendments of our bylaws must be approved by our stockholders as our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize our board of directors to amend our bylaws.
Size of Board and Vacancies
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the number of directors on our board of directors is fixed exclusively by our board of directors. Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in our authorized number of directors will be filled by a majority of our board of directors then in office, provided that a majority of the entire board of directors, or a quorum, is present and any vacancies in our board of directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause will be filled generally by the majority vote of our remaining directors in office, even if less than a quorum is present.
Special Stockholder Meetings
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only the Chairman of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors we would have if there were no vacancies may call special meetings of our stockholders.
Stockholder Action by Unanimous Written Consent
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation expressly eliminates the right of our stockholders to act by written consent.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
Our amended and restated bylaws provide advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors other than nominations made by or at the direction of board of directors or a committee of our board of directors.
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No Cumulative Voting
The DGCL provides that stockholders are denied the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
Undesignated Preferred Stock
The authority that is possessed by our board of directors to issue preferred stock could potentially be used to discourage attempts by third parties to obtain control of our company through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise by making it more difficult or costlier to obtain control of our company. Our board of directors may issue preferred stock with voting rights or conversion rights that, if exercised, could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may use additional shares for a variety of purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to fund acquisitions and as employee compensation. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
The above provisions may deter a hostile takeover or delay a change in control or management of our company.
Listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SLS”. On July 30, 2024, the closing price of our common stock was $1.25 per share. As of July 30, 2024, we had approximately 37 stockholders of record.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our capital stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021. Its telephone number is (201) 680-4503.
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Maxim Group LLC has agreed to act as our exclusive placement agent in connection with this offering subject to the terms and conditions of the placement agency agreement, dated July 30, 2024. The placement agent is not purchasing or selling any of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement, nor are they required to arrange the purchase or sale of any specific number or dollar amount of securities, but have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to arrange for the sale of all of the securities offered hereby. We have entered into a securities purchase agreement directly with investors who have agreed to purchase our securities in this offering. The placement agent may retain sub-agents and selected dealers in connection with this offering.
We expect to deliver the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement on or about August 1, 2024.
We have agreed to indemnify the placement agent against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the placement agent may be required to make in respect thereof.
Fees and Expenses
We have agreed to pay to Maxim Group LLC a fee in cash equal to 6.5% of the gross proceeds from the sale of the shares, pre-funded warrants and warrants in this offering. The following table shows the per share and total cash placement agent’s fees we will pay to the placement agent in connection with the sale of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, assuming the purchase of all of the securities offered hereby.
Per Share and Accompanying Warrant | Per Pre-Funded Warrant and Accompanying Warrant | Total | ||||||||||
Public Offering Price | $ | 1.325 | $ | 1.3249 | $ | 20,999,051.30 | ||||||
Placement Agent Fees | $ | 0.086125 | $ | 0.0861185 | $ | 1,364,938.33 | ||||||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | 1.238875 | $ | 1.2387815 | $ | 19,634,112.97 |
We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding the placement agent’s fees, will be approximately $0.2 million, which includes up to $60,000 of legal fees and expenses that we have agreed to reimburse Maxim Group LLC in connection with this offering.
The placement agent may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, and any commissions received by them and any profit realized on the resale of the securities sold by them while acting as principal might be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. As underwriters, the placement agent would be required to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 and Regulation M under the Exchange Act. These rules and regulations may limit the timing of purchases and sales of securities by the placement agent acting as principal. Under these rules and regulations, the placement agent:
· | may not engage in any stabilization activity in connection with our securities; and | |
· | may not bid for or purchase any of our securities or attempt to induce any person to purchase any of our securities, other than as permitted under the Exchange Act, until it has completed its participation in the distribution. |
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Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SLS.” We do not intend to list the pre-funded warrants or warrants on any national securities exchange or any other nationally recognized trading system.
Lock-Up Agreements
Our directors and officers have entered into lock-up agreements. Under these agreements, these individuals have agreed, subject to specified exceptions, not to sell or transfer any shares of common stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, our common stock during a period ending 90 days after the date of this prospectus supplement, without first obtaining the written consent of the purchaser party to the securities purchase agreement. Specifically, these individuals have agreed, in part, not to:
· | sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-l(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; | |
· | enter into any swap or other agreement, arrangement, hedge or transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our securities, whether any such transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares of our common stock, in cash or otherwise; | |
· | publicly announce the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge; or | |
· | other arrangement relating to any of our securities. |
Notwithstanding these limitations, these shares of common stock may be transferred under limited circumstances, including, without limitation, by gift, will or intestate succession.
In addition, we have agreed that (i) we will not conduct any issuances of our shares of common stock or file any registration statement or amendment or supplement thereto, subject to certain exceptions, for a period of 90 days following closing of this offering, and that (ii) we will not enter into a variable rate transaction for a period of two years following the closing of this offering, with the exception of an at-the-market transaction, which we will not enter into for a period of five months following the closing of this offering.
Other Relationships
The placement agent and certain of its respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The placement agent and certain of its respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various commercial and investment banking and financial advisory services for us and our affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the placement agent and certain of its respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments issued by us and our affiliates. If the placement agent or its respective affiliates have a lending relationship with us, they routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. The placement agent and its respective affiliates may hedge such exposure by entering into transactions that consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities or the securities of our affiliates, including potentially the securities offered hereby. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the securities offered hereby. The placement agent and certain of its respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
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Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York, which has acted as our counsel in connection with this offering, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered hereby. Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York, is counsel to the placement agent in connection with this offering.
The consolidated financial statements of SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (the “Company”) incorporated in this Prospectus Supplement by reference from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Moss Adams LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph related to a going concern emphasis), which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and do not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits thereto. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the reference may not be complete and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement or the exhibits to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference therein. For further information with respect to us and the common stock we are offering under this prospectus supplement, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. The address of the SEC website is www.sec.gov.
Copies of certain information filed by us with the SEC are also available on our website at www.sellaslifesciences.com. Information contained in or accessible through our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information from other documents that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC (other than Current Reports or portions thereof furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items and other portions of documents that are furnished, but not filed, pursuant to applicable rules promulgated by the SEC) that are filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the filing and concurrent effectiveness of the registration statement but prior to the termination of all offerings covered by this prospectus supplement:
· | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024; | |
· | the portions of our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, as filed with the SEC on April 29, 2024 that are deemed “filed” with the SEC under the Exchange Act; | |
· | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024; | |
· | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 3, 2024, January 8, 2024, February 16, 2024, March 5, 2024, March 8, 2024, March 11, 2024, March 15, 2024, March 28, 2024 and June 21, 2024 (except for any information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 and exhibits furnished thereto); and | |
· | the description of our common stock set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on February 8, 2008, as amended on February 12, 2008, including any further amendments thereto or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description. |
Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. You may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to a filing unless that exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference into that filing) at no cost by writing, telephoning or e-mailing us at the following address or telephone number:
SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.,
Attention: Corporate Secretary
7 Times Square
Suite 2503
New York, New York 10036
(646) 200-5278
You may also access these documents, free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on our website at www.sellaslifesciences.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed from, our website as part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
S-31
PROSPECTUS
$200,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
From time to time, we may offer and sell up to an aggregate amount of $200,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. We may also offer such securities as may be issuable upon conversion, redemption, repurchase, exchange or exercise of any securities registered hereunder, including any applicable anti-dilution provisions.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide the specific terms of these offerings in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before buying any of the securities being offered.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SLS.” On March 27, 2024, the closing price of our common stock, as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market, was $1.03 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listings on The Nasdaq Capital Market or any securities market or other exchange of the securities, if any, covered by the prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus beginning on page 9 and any applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
The securities may be sold directly by us to investors, through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section titled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts and over-allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
1
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings, up to a total dollar amount of $200,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to carefully read this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation by Reference,” before buying any of the securities being offered.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information in addition to or different from that contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any information not contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any document incorporated by reference filed with the SEC before the date of this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus. If any statement in a document incorporated by reference is inconsistent with a statement in another document incorporated by reference having a later date, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below in the section titled “Where You Can Find More Information.”
The names “SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.,” “SELLAS,” the SELLAS logo, and other trademarks or service marks of SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. appearing in this prospectus are the property of SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. Other trademarks, service marks or trade names appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. We do not intend the use or display of other companies’ trade names, trademarks or service marks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of or by either, of these other companies.
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. This summary provides an overview of selected information and does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read this entire prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement carefully, especially the sections titled “Risk Factors” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference therein before making an investment decision. Except as otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, references to “company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “SELLAS,” refer to SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Overview
We are a late-stage clinical biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapeutics for a broad range of cancer indications. Our product candidates currently include galinpepimut-S, or GPS, a peptide immunotherapy directed against the Wilms tumor 1, or WT1, antigen, and SLS009 (formerly GFH009), a highly selective small molecule cyclin-dependent kinase 9, or CDK9, inhibitor.
Galinpepimut-S
Our lead product candidate, GPS, is a cancer immunotherapeutic agent licensed from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, or MSK, that targets the WT1 protein, which is present in 20 or more cancer types. Based on its mechanism of action as a directly immunizing agent, GPS has potential as a monotherapy or in combination with other immunotherapeutic agents to address a broad spectrum of hematologic, or blood, cancers, and solid tumor indications.
In January 2020, we commenced in the United States an open label randomized Phase 3 clinical trial, the REGAL study, for GPS monotherapy in patients with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML, in the maintenance setting after achievement of second complete remission, or CR2, following successful completion of second-line antileukemic therapy. Patients are randomized to receive either GPS or best available treatment, or BAT. We expect this study will be used as the basis for submission of a Biologics License Application, or BLA, subject to a statistically significant and clinically meaningful data outcome and agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA. The primary endpoint of the REGAL study is overall survival, or OS. We planned to enroll approximately 125 to 140 patients at approximately 95 clinical sites in North America, Europe and Asia with a planned interim safety, efficacy and futility analysis after 60 events (deaths). In March 2024, we announced the completion of enrollment. Under our current assumptions with respect to enrollment and the estimated survival times for both the treated and control groups in the study, we believe, after discussions with our external statisticians and experts, that the planned interim analysis after 60 events (deaths) per the protocol will occur in the first half of 2024 and the final analysis after 80 events will occur by the end of 2024. Because these analyses are event driven, they are difficult to predict with any certainty and may occur at a different time than currently expected.
In December 2020, we entered into an exclusive license agreement with 3D Medicines Inc., or 3D Medicines, a China-based biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation immuno-oncology drugs, for the development and commercialization of GPS, as well as the Company’s next generation heptavalent immunotherapeutic GPS+, which is at preclinical stage, across all therapeutic and diagnostic uses in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, which we refer to as Greater China. We have retained sole rights to GPS and GPS+ outside of Greater China. In November 2022, we announced that we had agreed with 3D Medicines for 3D Medicines to participate in the REGAL study through the inclusion of approximately 20 patients from mainland China. Although the REGAL study has completed enrollment as announced in March 2024, in accordance with the predetermined statistical analysis plan, 3D Medicines may still enroll patients in mainland China. The timing of such participation and patient enrollment by 3D Medicines, if at all, cannot be predicted with certainty. In December 2023, we announced that we had commenced a binding arbitration proceeding against 3D Medicines to resolve a dispute regarding, among other things, the trigger and payment of relevant milestone payments due to us under the 3D Medicines Agreement. As of March 15, 2024, we have received an aggregate of $10.5 million in upfront and milestone payments under our license agreement with 3D Medicines, or the 3D Medicines Agreement, and a total of $191.5 million in potential future development, regulatory and sales milestones, not including future royalties, remains under the license agreement, which milestones are variable in nature and not under our control.
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In December 2018, pursuant to a Clinical Trial Collaboration and Supply Agreement, we initiated a Phase 1/2 multi-arm "basket" type clinical study of GPS in combination with Merck & Co., Inc.’s anti-PD-1 therapy, pembrolizumab (Keytruda®). In 2020, we, together with Merck, determined to focus on ovarian cancer (second or third line). In November 2022, we reported topline clinical and initial immune response data from this study, which showed that treatment with the combination of GPS and pembrolizumab compared favorably to treatment with anti-PD-1 therapy alone in a similar patient population. In November 2023, additional immunobiological and clinical data from the study was presented at the International Gynecologic Cancer Society 2023 Annual Global Meeting which showed a correlation between immune response and progression free survival, or PFS.
In February 2020, a Phase 1 open-label investigator-sponsored clinical trial of GPS, in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb’s anti-PD-1 therapy, nivolumab (Opdivo®), in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, or MPM, who harbor relapsed or refractory disease after having received frontline standard of care multimodality therapy was commenced at MSK. Enrollment of a target total of 10 evaluable patients was completed at the end of 2022. We reported positive topline safety and efficacy data from this study in June 2023 and positive follow-up immune response and survival data in December 2023.
GPS was granted Orphan Drug Designations, or ODD, from the FDA, as well as orphan medicines designations from the European Medicines Agency, or EMA, for GPS in AML, MPM, and multiple myeloma, or MM, as well as Fast Track designations for AML, MPM, and MM from the FDA.
SLS009
On March 31, 2022, we entered into an exclusive license agreement, or the GenFleet Agreement, with GenFleet Therapeutics (Shanghai), Inc., or GenFleet, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing cutting-edge therapeutics in oncology and immunology, that grants rights to us for the development and commercialization of SLS009, a highly selective small molecule CDK9 inhibitor, across all therapeutic and diagnostic uses worldwide, except for Greater China.
CDK9 activity has been shown to correlate negatively with OS in a number of cancer types, including hematologic cancers, such as AML and lymphomas, as well as solid cancers, such as osteosarcoma, pediatric soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma, endometrial, lung, prostate, breast and ovarian. As demonstrated in preclinical and clinical data, to date, SLS009’s high selectivity has the potential to reduce toxicity as compared to older CDK9 inhibitors and other next-generation CDK9 inhibitors currently in clinical development and to potentially be more efficacious.
We completed a Phase 1 dose-escalating clinical trial in the United States and China for SLS009 in mid-2023 and reported positive safety and efficacy data for both patient cohorts, that is relapsed and/or refractory AML and refractory lymphoma. We also established in the trial a recommended Phase 2 dose, or RP2D, of 60 mg for AML and 100 mg for lymphomas.
In the second quarter of 2023, we commenced an open label, single arm, multi-center Phase 2a clinical trial of SLS009 in combination with venetoclax and azacitidine, or aza/ven, in AML patients who failed or did not respond to treatment with venetoclax-based therapies. The Phase 2a trial is evaluating safety, tolerability and efficacy at two dose levels, 45 mg once weekly, and 60 mg once weekly or 30 mg twice a week.
In the fourth quarter of 2023, we announced the dosing of the first patient in a Phase 1b/2 open-label, single arm trial in relapsed/refractory, or r/r, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, or PTCL, which will enroll up to 95 patients to evaluate safety and efficacy and, based on results, may serve as a registrational study. This study is fully funded by GenFleet and is being conducted in China.
In March 2024, we announced positive topline data from the Phase 2a clinical trial of SLS009 in combination with aza/ven in r/r/ AML. A total of 21 patients were enrolled in the study as of March 15, 2024: 10 in the 45 mg safety cohort and 11 in the 60 mg cohort (30 mg twice a week or 60 mg once a week). Response rates observed in the three cohorts were 10% in the 45 mg once a week safety dose cohort (dose level below the RP2D), 20% in the 60 mg once a week dose cohort, and 50% in the 30 mg twice a week dose cohort. Additionally, we observed strong anti-leukemic activity, which is defined as 50% or more bone marrow blast reduction in 67% of patients across all dose levels. Median OS has not been reached in any of the cohorts and the first patient enrolled in the study who achieved a CR continues on the study and remains leukemia-free 9 months after enrollment. During the trial, we identified potential biomarkers currently undergoing testing as predictive markers in the most recent portion of the study. Patients with the identified biomarkers exhibited significantly higher response rates: 100% response rate at the optimal dose level (30 mg twice a week) and 57% response rate across all dose levels. Furthermore, we have clarified the proposed biological basis and mechanism of action for SLS009 activity in patients with these biomarkers. The relevant biomarkers are present in multiple hematologic and solid cancer indications, with a substantial proportion of patients exhibiting them in additional indications, ranging up to ~50% of patients in some indications.
SLS009 was granted ODD for AML and PTCL and Fast Track designations for r/r AML and r/r PTCL by the FDA.
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Recent Developments
January 2024 Registered Direct Offering
On January 4, 2024, we entered into Securities Purchase Agreements with certain investors (the “January Investors”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell, in a registered direct offering by the Company directly to the January Investors (the “January Registered Offering”), (i) an aggregate of 10,130,000 shares of common stock and (ii) an aggregate of 1,870,000 pre-funded warrants exercisable for shares of common stock (the “January Pre-Funded Warrants”), together with warrants (the “January Common Warrants”) to purchase up to 12,000,000 shares of common stock, to the January Investors. Each share of common stock and accompanying January Common Warrant was sold at a combined offering price of $0.75, and each January Pre-Funded Warrant and accompanying January Common Warrant was sold at a combined offering price of $0.7499. Each January Common Warrant has an exercise price of $0.75 and was exercisable immediately on the issuance date and will expire five years from the issuance date. The aggregate gross proceeds to us from the January Registered Offering were approximately $9.0 million before deducting the placement agent’s fees and related offering expenses.
March 2024 Registered Direct Offering and Concurrent Private Placement
On March 15, 2024, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with institutional investors (the “Investors”), pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell, in a registered direct offering by the Company directly to the Investors (the “Registered Offering”), (i) an aggregate of 11,000,000 shares of common stock and (ii) an aggregate of 2,029,316 pre-funded warrants exercisable for shares of common stock (the “Pre-Funded Warrants”) to the Investors. Each share of common stock was sold at an offering price of $1.535, and each Pre-Funded Warrant was sold at an offering price of $1.5349. In a concurrent private placement (the “Private Placement” and together with the Registered Offering, the “Offerings”), we agreed to issue to the Investors warrants exercisable for up to an aggregate of 13,029,316 shares of common stock (the “Common Warrants”) at an exercise price of $1.41 per share. Each Common Warrant was exercisable immediately on the issuance date and will expire five years and six months from the issuance date. The aggregate gross proceeds to us from the Offerings were approximately $20.0 million before deducting the placement agent’s fees and related offering expenses.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated on April 3, 2006 in Delaware as Argonaut Pharmaceuticals, Inc. On November 28, 2006, we changed our name to RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation and began operations January 2007. On September 26, 2011, we changed our name to Galena Biopharma, Inc. In December 2017, we completed a business combination with SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Ltd., and changed our name to “SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc.”
Our principal executive offices are located at 7 Times Square, Suite 2503, New York, NY 10036, and our phone number is (646) 200-5278. Our website address is www.sellaslifesciences.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of, and is not incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and should not be considered to be part of this prospectus.
Smaller reporting company
We are a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies and will be able to take advantage of these scaled disclosures for so long as our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenue is less than $100.0 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700.0 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.
The Securities We May Offer
We may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities and/or warrants, rights or units to purchase any such securities, either individually or in combination, up to a total dollar amount of $200,000,000, from time to time under this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of any offering. We may also offer common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants, rights or units. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
· | designation or classification; |
· | aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price; |
· | maturity date, if applicable; |
· | original issue discount, if any; |
· | rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any; |
· | redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange or sinking fund terms, if any; |
· | conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange; |
· | ranking, if applicable; |
5
· | restrictive covenants, if any; |
· | voting or other rights, if any; and |
· | material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any. |
Any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference. However, no prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will offer any security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of our securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We may sell the securities directly to investors or to or through agents, underwriters or dealers. We, and our agents or underwriters, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities to or through agents or underwriters, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:
· | the names of those agents or underwriters; |
· | applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them; |
· | details regarding over-allotment options, if any; and |
· | the estimated net proceeds to us. |
Common Stock
We may issue shares of our common stock from time to time. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets legally available for distribution to stockholders remaining after payment of liabilities and the liquidation preferences of any outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive rights and no right to convert their common stock into any other securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. When we issue shares of common stock under this prospectus, the shares will be fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate in the future. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the common stock under “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock.” We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to any common stock being offered.
Preferred Stock
We may issue shares of our preferred stock from time to time, in one or more series. If we sell any series of preferred stock under this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, our board of directors will determine the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock being offered, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, preemptive rights, terms of redemption or repurchase, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of any series. Convertible preferred stock may be convertible into our common stock or exchangeable for our other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at the holder’s option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of the certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock that we are offering before the issuance of the related series of preferred stock. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of preferred stock being offered, as well as the complete certificate of designation that contains the terms of the applicable series of preferred stock.
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Debt Securities
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all of our senior indebtedness. Convertible debt securities will be convertible into our common stock or other securities. Conversion may be mandatory or at the holder’s option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.
Any debt securities issued under this prospectus will be issued under one or more documents called indentures, which are contracts between us and a national banking association or other eligible party, as trustee. Forms of senior and subordinated indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC. In this prospectus, we have summarized certain general features of the debt securities under “Description of Debt Securities.” We urge you, however, to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities.
Warrants
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities. Forms of the warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants being offered have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the particular series of warrants being offered, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.
Any warrants issued under this prospectus may be evidenced by warrant certificates. Warrants may also be issued under an applicable warrant agreement that we enter into with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of the warrant agent, if applicable, in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of warrants being offered.
Rights
We may issue rights for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may issue subscription rights independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, and the rights may be attached to or separate from these securities. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the particular series of rights being offered, as well as the complete rights agreements that contain the terms of the rights.
Units
We may issue units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, one or more debt securities, warrants or rights for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series, in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each security included in the unit. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the particular series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units.
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Use of Proceeds
Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes, including research and development of our product candidates (including clinical trial activities), and general and administrative expenses. See “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus.
Nasdaq Capital Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SLS.” The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on The Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks described in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of our securities could decline due to the occurrence of any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks described in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including in (1) our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC, (2) our most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file with the SEC and (3) any amendments thereto reflected in subsequent filings with the SEC, all of which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus in their entirety, together with other information in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference that we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering. Please also read carefully the section below entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, and the documents incorporated by reference contain 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, the applicable prospectus supplement, and the documented incorporated by reference, including statements regarding our future financial condition, business strategy and plans, and objectives of management for future operations, 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,” “predict,” “positioned,” “potential,” “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.
We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including risks described in the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded by the risks and uncertainties described under similar headings in the other documents that are filed after the date hereof and incorporated by reference into this prospectus, regarding, among other things:
· | our future financial and business performance; |
· | strategic plans for our business and product candidates; |
· | our ability to develop or commercialize products; |
· | the expected results and timing of clinical trials and nonclinical studies; |
· | our ability to comply with the terms of our license agreements; |
· | developments and projections relating to our competitors and industry; |
· | our expectations regarding our ability to obtain, develop and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; |
· | our ability to retain and attract highly-skilled executive officers and employees; |
· | our future capital requirements and the timing of those requirements and sources and uses of cash; |
· |
our ability to obtain funding for our operations; |
· | changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
· | risks associated with preclinical or clinical development and trials; |
· | changes in the assumptions underlying our expectations regarding our future business or business model; |
· | our ability to develop, manufacture and commercialize product candidates; |
· | general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; |
· | changes in applicable laws or regulations; |
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· | the impact of natural disasters, including climate change, and the impact of health epidemics, on our business; |
· | the size and growth potential of the markets for our products, and our ability to serve those markets; |
· | market acceptance of our planned products; |
· | our ability to raise capital; |
· | the possibility that we may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and |
· | other risks and uncertainties set forth herein in the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. |
These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement, or the documents incorporated herein by reference may include additional factors that could harm our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for our management to predict all risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus or to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
You should carefully read this prospectus, and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the heading “Incorporation by Reference,” as well as the documents filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
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Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectuses we may authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder, if any, for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes including research and development of our product candidates (including clinical trial activities), and general and administrative expenses. In addition, we may use a portion of the proceeds for the acquisition of, or investment in, technologies, solutions or businesses that complement our business, although we have no present commitments or agreements to enter into any such acquisitions or investments. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus.
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We will set forth in a prospectus supplement the following information regarding any material dilution of the equity interests of investors purchasing securities in an offering under this prospectus:
· | the net tangible book value per share of our equity securities before and after the offering; |
· | the amount of the increase in such net tangible book value per share attributable to the cash payments made by purchasers in the offering; and |
· | the amount of the immediate dilution from the public offering price which will be absorbed by such purchasers. |
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The following description of our capital stock summarizes the material terms and provisions of our common stock and our preferred stock. For the complete terms of our common stock, please refer to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws, each as amended to date, that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The terms of these securities may also be affected by the Delaware General Corporation Law. The summary below is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
General
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue up to 350,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
As of December 31, 2023, there were:
· | 32,132,890 shares of common stock outstanding; |
· | no shares of preferred stock outstanding; |
· | 1,606,803 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding options; |
· | 338,141 shares of common stock issuable upon vesting of outstanding restricted stock units; and |
· | warrants outstanding for the purchase of an aggregate of 15,853,773 shares of common stock. |
Common stock
Voting
Each holder of our 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 amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting rights. Because of this absence of cumulative voting, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all the directors standing for election, if they should so choose.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably those dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds.
Liquidation
In the event of our dissolution or liquidation, holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all our debts and other liabilities and the satisfaction of any preferential rights that may be granted to the holders of any then outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Rights and Preferences
Holders of common stock have no preemptive, conversion or subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. The rights, preferences, and privileges of the holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock.
Fully-paid
All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and the shares of common stock issued upon the conversion of any securities convertible into our common stock will be, fully paid and non-assessable. The shares of common stock offered by this prospectus or upon the conversion of any preferred stock or debt securities or exercise of any warrants offered pursuant to this prospectus, when issued and paid for, will also be, fully paid and non-assessable.
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Preferred stock
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our board of directors has 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 any series or the designation of such series, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of 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 liquidation. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company or other corporate action.
The following summary of terms of our preferred stock is not complete. You should refer to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws and the resolutions containing the terms of each class or series of the preferred stock which have been or will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the time of issuance of such class or series of preferred stock and described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement may also state that any of the terms set forth herein are inapplicable to such series of preferred stock, provided that the information set forth in such prospectus supplement does not constitute material changes to the information herein such that it alters the nature of the offering or the securities offered.
Our board of directors will fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and rights of the preferred stock of each series we issue under this prospectus, as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in the certificate of designation relating to that series. We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of preferred stock being offered, including, to the extent applicable:
· | the title and stated value; |
· | the number of shares we are offering; |
· | the liquidation preference per share; |
· | the purchase price; |
· | the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends; |
· | whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
· | the procedures for any auction and remarketing; |
· | the provisions for a sinking fund; |
· | the provisions for redemption or repurchase and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights; |
· | any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market; |
· | whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock or other securities, and the conversion rate or conversion price, or how they will be calculated, and the conversion period; |
· | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and the exchange rate or exchange price, or how they will be calculated, and the exchange period; |
· | voting rights of the preferred stock; |
· | preemptive rights; |
· | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment; |
· | whether interests in the preferred stock will be represented by depositary shares; |
· | a discussion of material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
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· | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; |
· | any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and |
· | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock. |
If we issue shares of preferred stock under this prospectus, they will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The DGCL provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of such preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.
The issuance of our preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power, conversion or other rights of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon 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. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
Possible Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Provisions of the DGCL and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and takeover bids that our board of directors may consider inadequate and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure our company outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Classified Board
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that our board of directors is divided into three classes. The directors designated as Class I directors have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2026. The directors designated as Class II directors will have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2024, and the directors designated as Class III directors will have terms expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2025. Directors for each class will be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the year in which the term for that class expires and thereafter will serve for a term of three years. At any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the election will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote at the election. Under the classified board provisions, it would take at least two elections of directors for any individual or group to gain control of our board. Accordingly, these provisions could discourage a third party from initiating a proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of our company.
Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that our stockholders may only remove our directors with cause.
Amendment
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws provide that the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75% of our voting stock then outstanding is required to amend certain provisions relating to the number, term, election and removal of our directors, the filling of our board vacancies, stockholder notice procedures, the calling of special meetings of stockholders and the indemnification of directors. Further, any amendments of our bylaws must be approved by our stockholders as our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not authorize our board of directors to amend our bylaws.
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Size of Board and Vacancies
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that the number of directors on our board of directors is fixed exclusively by our board of directors. Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in our authorized number of directors will be filled by a majority of our board of directors then in office, provided that a majority of the entire board of directors, or a quorum, is present and any vacancies in our board of directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause will be filled generally by the majority vote of our remaining directors in office, even if less than a quorum is present.
Special Stockholder Meetings
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that only the Chairman of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors we would have if there were no vacancies may call special meetings of our stockholders.
Stockholder Action by Unanimous Written Consent
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation expressly eliminates the right of our stockholders to act by written consent.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
Our amended and restated bylaws provide advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors other than nominations made by or at the direction of board of directors or a committee of our board of directors.
No Cumulative Voting
The DGCL provides that stockholders are denied the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting.
Undesignated Preferred Stock
The authority that is possessed by our board of directors to issue preferred stock could potentially be used to discourage attempts by third parties to obtain control of our company through a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, or otherwise by making it more difficult or costlier to obtain control of our company. Our board of directors may issue preferred stock with voting rights or conversion rights that, if exercised, could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of common stock.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval. We may use additional shares for a variety of purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, to fund acquisitions and as employee compensation. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
The above provisions may deter a hostile takeover or delay a change in control or management of our company.
Listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market
Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “SLS”. On March 27, 2024, the closing price of our common stock was $1.03 per share. As of March 27, 2024, we had approximately 35 stockholders of record.
The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listing, if any, on The Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange of the preferred stock covered by such prospectus supplement.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our capital stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021. Its telephone number is (201) 680-4503.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed forms of senior and subordinated indentures as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
· | the title of the series of debt securities; |
· | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued; |
· | the maturity date or dates; |
· | the form of the debt securities of the series; |
· | the applicability of any guarantees; |
· | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
· | whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
· | if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined; |
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· | the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
· | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
· | if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
· | the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
· | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
· | any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series; |
· | whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities; and the depositary for such global security or securities; |
· | if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange; |
· | if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
· | additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant; |
· | additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable; |
· | additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance; |
· | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture; |
· | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture; |
· | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; |
· | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
· | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we will pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the debt securities of the series to any holder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes; |
· | any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and |
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· | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.
Events of Default under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
· | if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; |
· | if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; |
· | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
· | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
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Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
· | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
· | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
· | A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if: |
· | the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
· | the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, |
· | such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; and |
· | the trustee does not institute the proceeding and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
· | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series; |
· | to comply with the provisions described above under “Description of Debt Securities—Consolidation, Merger or Sale;” |
· | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
· | to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture; |
· | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture; |
· | to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect; |
· | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under “Description of Debt Securities—General” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
· | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or |
· | to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
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In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
· | extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series; |
· | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; or |
· | reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver. |
Discharge
Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
· | provide for payment; |
· | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
· | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
· | pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series; |
· | maintain paying agencies; |
· | hold monies for payment in trust; |
· | recover excess money held by the trustee; |
· | compensate and indemnify the trustee; and |
· | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book-entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
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If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
· | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
· | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.
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The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement and in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be distributed to you, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, which may consist of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities and may be issued in one or more series. Warrants may be offered independently or in combination with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following description of warrants will apply to the warrants offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of warrants may specify different or additional terms.
We have filed forms of the warrant agreements and forms of warrant certificates containing the terms of the warrants that may be offered as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, that contain the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of such warrants. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the warrants are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectus, and the complete form of warrant and/or the warrant agreement and warrant certificate, as applicable, and any supplemental agreements, that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants being offered, including, to the extent applicable:
· | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
· | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
· | the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
· | the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
· | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise; |
· | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
· | the amount of warrants or rights outstanding; |
· | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants; |
· | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
· | the terms of any rights to force the exercise of the warrants; |
· | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
· | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
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· | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
· | a discussion of material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations of holding or exercising the warrants; |
· | the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and |
· | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:
· | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or |
· | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrants may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants offered. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, warrants may be exercised at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant or warrant certificate, as applicable, representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth in the applicable warrant or warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent in connection with the exercise of the warrant.
Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant or warrant certificate, as applicable, properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent, if any, or any other office, including ours, indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants (or the warrants represented by such warrant certificate) are exercised, a new warrant or a new warrant certificate, as applicable, will be issued for the remaining warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
Governing Law
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants, warrant agreements, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the warrants or warrant agreements will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent, if any, will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
Outstanding Warrants
Certain of our outstanding warrants contain customary net exercise provisions and provisions for the adjustment of the exercise price and the number of shares issuable upon the exercise of the warrant in the event of certain stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, reclassifications, consolidations and other fundamental transactions, as well as, in certain circumstances, price-based anti-dilution adjustments.
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General
We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock or the other securities described in this prospectus. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, debt securities, preferred stock, common stock, warrants or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable rights agreement and rights certificate for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our rights. We will provide in a prospectus supplement the following terms of the rights being issued:
· | the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
· | the aggregate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
· | the exercise price; |
· | the aggregate number of rights issued; |
· | whether the rights are transferrable and the date, if any, on and after which the rights may be separately transferred; |
· | the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence, and the date on which the right to exercise the rights will expire; |
· | the method by which holders of rights will be entitled to exercise; |
· | the conditions to the completion of the offering, if any; |
· | the withdrawal, termination and cancellation rights, if any; |
· | whether there are any backstop or standby purchaser or purchasers and the terms of their commitment, if any; |
· | whether stockholders are entitled to oversubscription rights, if any; |
· | any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
· | any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights, as applicable. |
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities, as applicable, purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Rights Agent
The rights agent for any rights we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The following description, together with the additional information that we include in any applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be distributed to you, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
We will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses and the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.
General
We may issue units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, one or more debt securities, warrants or rights for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each security included in the unit. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units being offered, including:
· | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
· | any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and |
· | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those set forth in any prospectus supplement or as described under “Description of Common Stock,” “Description of Preferred Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants” and “Description of Rights” will apply to each unit, as applicable, and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security, warrant or right included in each unit, as applicable.
Unit Agent
The name and address of the unit agent, if any, for any units we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
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We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any applicable trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that legal holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the legal holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the legal holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.
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Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
· | how it handles securities payments and notices; |
· | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
· | how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required; |
· | whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future; |
· | how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and |
· | if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
Global Securities
A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, DTC will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations for Global Securities
The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
· | an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below; |
· | an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank, broker or other financial institution for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above; |
· | an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form; |
· | an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
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· | the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security; |
· | we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security, nor do we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way; |
· | the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your bank, broker or other financial institution may require you to do so as well; and |
· | financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. |
· | There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries. |
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks, brokers or other financial institutions to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
· | if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; |
· | if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or |
· | if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. |
The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
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We may sell our securities from time to time:
· | to or through underwriters; |
· | through dealers; |
· | through agents; |
· | directly to one or more purchasers; |
· | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
· | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
· | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
· | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; or |
· | through a combination of any of these methods or any other method permitted by law. |
We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or agents may be designated to solicit such offers. In any applicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering, we will name any agent that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act and describe any commissions that we must pay to any such agent. Any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment basis. This prospectus may be used in connection with any offering of our securities through any of these methods or other methods described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The distribution of our securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions:
· | at a fixed price, or prices, which may be changed from time to time; |
· | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
· | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
· | at negotiated prices. |
Each prospectus supplement will describe the method of distribution of the securities and any applicable restrictions.
A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you with respect to a particular offering) will describe the terms of the offering of our securities, including the following:
· | the name or names of the agent or any underwriters; |
· | the public offering or purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds, if any, we will receive from the sale; |
· | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
· | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters; |
· | all other items constituting underwriting compensation; |
· | any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers; and |
· | any securities exchange or market on which the securities will be listed. |
If any underwriters or agents are used in the sale of our securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting agreement, sales agreement or other agreement with them at the time of sale to them, and we will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering the names of the underwriters or agents and the terms of the related agreement with them.
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In connection with the offering of securities, we may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional securities with an additional underwriting commission, as may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities in respect of which the prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer, who may be deemed to be an “underwriter” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.
We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to those liabilities.
If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters or other persons acting as agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each contract will be for an amount not less than, and the aggregate amount of securities sold pursuant to such contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Institutions with whom the contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions. Delayed delivery contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that:
· | the purchase by an institution of the securities covered under that contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which that institution is subject; and |
· | if the securities are also being sold to underwriters acting as principals for their own account, the underwriters shall have purchased such securities not sold for delayed delivery. |
Offered securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts or as agents for us. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with us and its compensation will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with their remarketing of offered securities.
Certain agents, underwriters and dealers, and their associates and affiliates, may be customers of, have borrowing relationships with, engage in other transactions with, or perform services, including investment banking services, for us or one or more of our respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.
In order to facilitate the offering of our securities, any underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering, creating a short position for their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the securities or any such other securities in the open market. Finally, in any offering of our securities through a syndicate of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities above independent market levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end any of these activities at any time.
We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
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Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days (or such shorter settlement cycle that is in effect under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act from time to time), unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the second business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than two scheduled business days after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The anticipated date of delivery of offered securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offer.
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Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., New York, New York, will pass upon the validity of the securities offered hereby unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Any underwriters will also be advised about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. (the “Company”) incorporated in the Prospectus Supplement by reference from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Moss Adams LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph related to a going concern emphasis), which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. This prospectus is part of the registration statement on Form S-3 we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and does not contain all the information set forth or incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the reference may not be complete and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement or the exhibits to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a copy of such contract, agreement or other document. You may read and copy the registration statement, as well as our reports, proxy statements and other information, at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc. The SEC’s Internet site can be found at www.sec.gov. We maintain a website at www.sellaslife.com. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus, or any prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we have filed separately with the SEC. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus, while information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (Commission File No. 001-33958):
· | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2024; and |
· | the description of our common stock set forth in our registration statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on February 8, 2008, as amended on February 12, 2008, including any further amendments thereto or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description. |
We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than the portions of current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the common stock made by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the date that such documents are filed with the SEC. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information in any document we previously filed with the SEC that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference to the extent that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.
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We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus and applicable prospectus supplement, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You should direct any requests for documents to SELLAS Life Sciences Group, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 7 Times Square, Suite 2503, New York, NY 10036. Our phone number is (646) 200-5278.
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6,370,070 Shares of Common Stock
Pre-Funded Warrants to Purchase 9,478,986 Shares of Common Stock
Warrants to Purchase 15,849,056 Shares of Common Stock
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT |
Sole Placement Agent
MAXIM GROUP LLC
July 30, 2024