As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 10, 2024.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Immatics N.V.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
The Netherlands | Not Applicable | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 15
72076 Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany
+49 (7071) 5397-0
(Address and telephone number of registrants principal executive offices)
Edward A. Sturchio
Immatics US, Inc.
13203 Murphy Rd., Suite 100
Stafford, Texas 77477
(281) 810-7545
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Yasin Keshvargar Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP 450 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10017 (212) 450-4000 |
Paul van der Bijl NautaDutilh N.V. Beethovenstraat 400 1082 PR Amsterdam +31 20 71 71 000 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effectiveness of this registration statement.
If only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933. Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The term new or revised financial accounting standard refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses:
| a base prospectus that covers the offer and sale of the registrants ordinary shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts and units; and |
| a sales agreement prospectus supplement that covers the offer and sale of up to $150,000,000 of the registrants ordinary shares that may be offered and sold under the Sales Agreement between the registrant and Leerink Partners LLC. |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The sales agreement prospectus supplement immediately follows the base prospectus.
PROSPECTUS
IMMATICS N.V.
Ordinary Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Purchase Contracts
Units
We or any selling securityholder may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the following securities: ordinary shares, debt securities, warrants, subscription rights, purchase contracts and units (collectively, the securities). The securities may be offered and sold in different series, at times, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at or prior to the time of each offering. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. We will provide the specific terms of these securities, the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and sold and, if applicable, information about any selling securityholder in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement before you invest.
Our ordinary shares are listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) under the symbol IMTX.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the Risk Factors section beginning on page 5 of this prospectus and, if applicable, any risk factors described in any applicable prospectus supplement and in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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.
Prospectus dated October 10, 2024.
1 | ||||
3 | ||||
5 | ||||
6 | ||||
7 | ||||
8 | ||||
9 | ||||
19 | ||||
21 | ||||
22 | ||||
23 | ||||
24 | ||||
25 | ||||
27 | ||||
28 | ||||
28 | ||||
29 | ||||
30 | ||||
31 |
i
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we or any selling securityholder may offer and sell from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which these securities will be offered. Each time we or any selling stockholders offers or sells securities, we will provide the specific terms of these securities, the specific manner in which these securities will be offered and sold and, if applicable, information about any selling securityholder in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplements may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this prospectus.
Before buying any of the securities offered by this prospectus, you should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with all of the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as the additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information and Information Incorporated by Reference. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision. We have filed or incorporated by reference exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
To the extent there is a conflict between the information contained in this prospectus, on the one hand, and the information contained in any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus, provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later datefor example, a prospectus supplement or a document incorporated by reference in this prospectusthe statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
The information contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the sale of any securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed materially since those dates.
Neither we nor any selling securityholders, underwriters, dealers or agents have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any amendment or supplement to this prospectus, or any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. Neither we nor any selling securityholders, underwriters, dealers or agents take responsibility for, or provide assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities described in this prospectus or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor any selling securityholders, underwriters, dealers or agents have taken any action that would permit the offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities described herein and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, (i) all references to the company, we, our or us or similar terms refer to Immatics N.V., together with its subsidiaries, including Immatics
1
Biotechnologies GmbH and Immatics US, Inc., and (ii) references to Immatics refer solely to Immatics N.V. Immatics N.V. is a Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated on March 10, 2020 and the holding company of Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, a German biopharmaceutical company incorporated in 2000 focused on the development of T cell receptor-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH holds all material assets and conducts all business activities and operations of Immatics N.V.
Trademarks
We own various trademark registrations and applications, and unregistered trademarks, including Immatics®, XPRESIDENT®, ACTengine®, ACTallo®, ACTolog®, XCEPTOR®, TCER®, AbsQuant®, IMADetect® and our corporate logo. All other trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus may be referred to without the ® and TM symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto. We do not intend to use or display other companies trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
Presentation of Financial Information
Our consolidated financial statements are presented in euros and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IFRS). None of the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The terms dollar, USD or $ refer to the U.S. dollar and the term euro, EUR or refer to the euro, unless otherwise indicated. The exchange rate used for conversion between U.S. dollars and euros is based on the ECB euro reference exchange rate published by the European Central Bank. We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this prospectus. Accordingly, any numerical discrepancies in any table between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.
Market and Industry Data
This prospectus contains industry, market and competitive position data that are based on general and industry publications, surveys and studies conducted by third parties, some of which may not be publicly available, and our own internal estimates and research. Third-party publications, surveys and studies generally state that they have obtained information from sources believed to be reliable, but do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of such information. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding such third-party publications, surveys and studies, industry, market and competitive position data involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those identified in the Risk Factors section of this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
2
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the development of T cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies for the treatment of patients with solid tumors with unmet medical need. Our objective is to deliver a meaningful impact on the lives of these patients by developing novel TCR-based immunotherapies that achieve an effect beyond an incremental clinical benefit.
We strive to become an industry-leading, fully integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing, manufacturing and commercializing TCR immunotherapies for the benefit of cancer patients, our shareholders, our employees, and our partners. By utilizing TCR-based therapeutics, we are able to direct T cells to intracellular cancer targets that are not accessible through classical antibody-based or CAR-T therapies. We believe that by identifying what we call true cancer targets and the right TCRs, we are well positioned to transform current solid tumor treatment paradigms by delivering cellular and bispecific product candidates that have the potential to substantially improve the lives of cancer patients.
We are developing our targeted immunotherapy product candidates through two distinct treatment modalities: TCR-engineered autologous (ACTengine) or allogeneic (ACTallo) Adoptive Cell Therapies (ACT) and antibody-like Bispecifics, also called T Cell Engaging Receptors (TCER). Each modality is designed with distinct attributes and mechanisms of action to produce the desired therapeutic effect for the targeted cancer patient populations.
Company and Corporate Information
We were incorporated as a Dutch private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) under the name Immatics B.V. on March 10, 2020 solely for the purpose of effectuating the business combination (the Business Combination) between us, ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company, Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, a German limited liability company, Immatics Merger Sub 1, a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Immatics Merger Sub 2, a Cayman Islands exempted company. Upon the closing of the Business Combination on July 1, 2020, we converted into a Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) and changed our name to Immatics N.V.
We are registered in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) in the Netherlands under number 77595726. We have our corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and our registered office is at Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 15, 72076 Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany, and our telephone number is +49 (7071) 5397-0. Our executive office in the United States is located at Immatics US, Inc., 13203 Murphy Rd., Suite 100, Stafford, Texas 77477 and our telephone number is +1 (346) 204-5400. Our website is www.immatics.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We are a foreign private issuer. Accordingly, we report under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. This means that, as long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:
| the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
3
| the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and |
| the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events. |
We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (i) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States.
In this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, we have taken advantage of certain of the reduced reporting requirements as a result of being a foreign private issuer. Accordingly, the information contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold equity securities.
4
Investing in our securities involves risk. Before making a decision to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risks described under Risk Factors in the applicable prospectus supplement and in our then-most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, and any updates to those risk factors in our reports on Form 6-K incorporated by reference in this prospectus, together with all of the other information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. Although we discuss key risks in our discussion of risk factors, new risks may emerge in the future, which may prove to be significant. We cannot predict future risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
5
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business and commercial strategy, potential market opportunities, products and product candidates, research pipeline, ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials, regulatory submissions and approvals, research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success, as well as plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as anticipate, believe, could, expect, should, plan, intend, estimate, will and potential, among others.
Forward-looking statements are based on our managements beliefs and assumptions and on information available to our management at the time such statements are made. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified in the Risk Factors section of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.
In addition, statements that we believe and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of such statements, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
6
Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the principal purpose of an offering of securities by us would be to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility and the net proceeds from our sale of the securities will be used for general corporate purposes and other business opportunities. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from an offering of securities by a selling securityholder.
7
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends and have no plan to declare or pay any dividends on our ordinary shares in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain any earnings for future operations and expansion.
Since we are a holding company, our ability to pay dividends will be dependent upon the financial condition, liquidity and results of operations of, and the receipt of dividends, loans or other funds from, our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make funds available to us. In addition, there are various statutory, regulatory and contractual limitations and business considerations on the extent, if any, to which our subsidiaries may pay dividends, make loans or otherwise provide funds to us.
Under Dutch law, we may only pay dividends and other distributions from our reserves to the extent our shareholders equity (eigen vermogen) exceeds the sum of our paid-in and called-up share capital plus the reserves we must maintain under Dutch law or our articles of association and (if it concerns a distribution of profits) after adoption of our statutory annual accounts by our general meeting from which it appears that such dividend distribution is allowed. Subject to those restrictions, any future determination to pay dividends or other distributions from our reserves will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including our results of operations, financial condition, future prospects, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors we deem relevant.
Under our articles of association, profits will be at the disposal of the general meeting at the proposal of our board of directors for distribution on our ordinary shares, subject to applicable restrictions of Dutch law. Our board of directors is permitted, subject to certain requirements and applicable restrictions of Dutch law, to declare interim dividends without the approval of our general meeting. Dividends and other distributions shall be made payable four weeks after they have been declared unless our general meeting determines another date at the proposal of our board of directors. Claims to dividends and other distributions not made within five years from the date that such dividends or distributions became payable will lapse and any such amounts will be considered to have been forfeited to us (verjaring).
8
DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
The Company
We were incorporated on March 10, 2020 as a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) under Dutch law, and upon the consummation of the Business Combination, we converted into a Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap).
We are registered in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) in the Netherlands under number 77595726. We have our corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and our registered office is at Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 15, 72076 Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Share Capital
Authorized Share Capital
Our authorized share capital consists of 285,000,000 ordinary shares, nominal value of 0.01 per share, and 15,000,000 financing preferred shares. The financing preferred shares are divided into five series, each consisting of 3,000,000 financing preferred shares.
The financing preferred shares may, at the request of the holder, be converted into ordinary shares pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors. The conditions for conversion and the further terms and conditions related to the financing preferred shares will be determined by our board of directors, our general meeting and the meeting of holders of the series of financing preferred shares concerned, if such series of financing preferred shares has been issued and are held by persons other than us. The preceding sentence applies by analogy to any adjustment to the conditions.
Changes in Our Share Capital
In this section, share amounts are presented as of the date of the relevant transaction. Since January 1, 2021, our share capital has changed as follows:
| On October 12, 2022, we completed an SEC-registered equity offering, pursuant to which we issued and sold 10,905,000 ordinary shares, resulting in increases in share capital of 109 thousand and share premium of 106.1 million; |
| During the year ended December 31, 2022, we issued and sold approximately 2.8 million ordinary shares under the sales agreement with Leerink Partners LLC, resulting in increases in share capital of 28 thousand and share premium of 20.2 million; |
| On July 21, 2023, we issued and sold 2,419,818 ordinary shares to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, resulting in increases in share capital of 24 thousand and share premium of 31.2 million; |
| During the year ended December 31, 2023, we issued and sold approximately 5.5 million ordinary shares under the sales agreement with Leerink Partners LLC, resulting in increases in share capital of 55 thousand and share premium of 57.0 million; and |
| On January 22, 2024, we completed an SEC-registered equity offering, pursuant to which we issued and sold 18,313,750 ordinary shares, resulting in increases in share capital of 183 thousand and share premium of 173.3 million. |
9
Issuance of Ordinary Shares
Under Dutch law, shares are issued and rights to subscribe for shares are granted pursuant to a resolution of our general meeting. Our articles of association provide that the general meeting may only resolve to issue shares upon the proposal of our board of directors. The general meeting may authorize our board of directors to issue new ordinary shares or grant rights to subscribe for ordinary shares. The authorization can be granted and extended, in each case for a period not exceeding five years. For as long as, and to the extent, that such authorization is effective, our general meeting will not have the power to issue ordinary shares.
Pursuant to a resolution of the general meeting dated June 20, 2024, our board of directors is irrevocably authorized for a period of five years from such date, to issue ordinary shares in the Companys capital and/or to grant rights to subscribe for ordinary shares in the Companys capital up to the authorized share capital as included in the Companys articles of association from time to time.
Preemptive Rights
Subject to restrictions in our articles of association, holders of ordinary shares have preemptive rights in relation to newly issued ordinary shares under Dutch law.
Under our articles of association, the preemptive rights in respect of newly issued ordinary shares may be restricted or excluded by a resolution of our general meeting upon the proposal of our board of directors, which resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast if less than half of the issued share capital is present or represented at the meeting. The general meeting may authorize our board of directors to limit or exclude the preemptive rights in respect of newly issued ordinary shares, which resolution requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast if less than half of the issued share capital is present or represented at the meeting. Such authorization for our board of directors can be granted and extended, in each case for a period not exceeding five years.
Pursuant to a resolution of the general meeting dated June 20, 2024, our board of directors is irrevocably authorized for a period of five years from such date to limit or exclude preemptive rights in relation to any issuance of ordinary shares in the Companys capital or granting of rights to subscribe for such ordinary shares the Companys capital up to the authorized share capital as included in the Companys articles of association from time to time.
Preemptive rights do not exist with respect to (a) the issuance of ordinary shares or grant of rights to subscribe for ordinary shares to our employees or a group company of ours, and (b) the issuance of ordinary shares against a contribution in kind. Preemptive rights do not exist with respect to the issuance of financing preferred shares and holders of financing preferred shares have no preemptive right to acquire newly issued ordinary shares.
Transfer of Ordinary Shares
Under Dutch law, transfers of ordinary shares (other than in book-entry form) require a written deed of transfer and, unless the company is a party to the deed of transfer, and acknowledgement by or proper service upon the company to be effective.
Under our articles of association, if one or more ordinary shares are admitted to trading on Nasdaq or any other regulated foreign stock exchange located in the United States, we may, by resolution of our board of directors, determine that the laws of the State of New York will apply to the property law aspects of the ordinary shares included in the part of the register of shareholders kept by the relevant transfer agent. Such resolution, as well as the revocation thereof, will be made public as required by law and will be made available for inspection at our office and the Dutch trade register. Our management has adopted such resolution effective as of July 1, 2020.
10
Form of Ordinary Shares
Pursuant to our articles of association, the ordinary shares are registered shares.
Purchase and Repurchase of Ordinary Shares
Under Dutch law, we may not subscribe for newly issued ordinary shares. We may acquire ordinary shares, subject to applicable provisions and restrictions of Dutch law and our articles of association, to the extent that:
| such ordinary shares are fully paid up; |
| such repurchase would not cause our shareholders equity to fall below an amount equal to the sum of the paid-up and called-up part of the issued share capital and the reserves we are required to maintain pursuant to Dutch law or our articles of association; and |
| immediately after the acquisition of such ordinary shares, we and our subsidiaries would not hold, or would not hold as pledgees, shares having an aggregate nominal value that exceeds 50% of our then-current issued share capital. |
Other than ordinary shares acquired for no valuable consideration or under universal title of succession (onder algemene titel) (e.g., through a merger or spin-off) under statutory Dutch or other law, we may acquire ordinary shares only if our general meeting has authorized our board of directors to acquire ordinary shares. An authorization by our general meeting for the acquisition of ordinary shares can be granted for a maximum period of 18 months. Such authorization must specify the number of ordinary shares that may be acquired, the manner in which these shares may be acquired and the price range within which the shares may be acquired. No authorization of our general meeting is required if ordinary shares are acquired by us on Nasdaq with the intention of transferring such ordinary shares to our employees or employees of a group company pursuant to an arrangement applicable to them. We cannot derive any right to any distribution from ordinary shares, or voting rights attached to ordinary shares, acquired by us.
Pursuant to a resolution of the general meeting dated June 20, 2024, our board of directors is irrevocably authorized for a period of 18 months from such date to resolve for us to acquire fully paid-up ordinary shares or depositary receipts thereof up to the maximum number of ordinary shares permitted pursuant to applicable law and our articles of association from time to time, through repurchases negotiated in the open market or privately, in self-tender offers, or through accelerated repurchase arrangements, at prices ranging from the nominal value of the ordinary shares up to 110% of the market price of the ordinary shares, provided that: (i) for open market or privately negotiated repurchases, the market price shall be the price for ordinary shares on Nasdaq at the time the transaction is agreed upon by us, (ii) for self-tender offers, the market price shall be the volume weighted average price for the ordinary shares on Nasdaq during a period, determined by our board of directors, of no less than one and no more than five consecutive trading days immediately prior to the expiration of the tender offer, and (iii) for accelerated repurchase arrangements, the market price shall be the volume weighted average price of the ordinary shares on Nasdaq over the term of the arrangement; the volume weighted average price for any number of trading days shall be calculated as the arithmetic average of the daily volume weighted average price on those trading days.
Capital Reduction
At a general meeting, our shareholders may resolve on the proposal of our board of directors to reduce our issued share capital by (i) cancelling ordinary shares or (ii) reducing the nominal value of the
11
ordinary shares by amending our articles of association. In either case, this reduction would be subject to applicable statutory provisions. A resolution to cancel ordinary shares may only relate to (i) ordinary shares held by us or in respect of which we hold the depository receipts, or (ii) all financing preferred shares of a class if approved by the holders of all shares of that class. In order to be approved by our general meeting, a resolution to reduce the capital requires a two-thirds majority of the votes cast if less than half of the issued share capital is present or represented at the meeting. A reduction of the nominal value of ordinary shares without repayment and without release from the obligation to pay up the ordinary shares must be effectuated proportionally on shares of the same class (unless all affected shareholders agree to a disproportional reduction).
A resolution that would result in a reduction of capital requires approval by a majority of the votes cast of each group of shareholders of the same class whose rights are prejudiced by the reduction. In addition, a reduction of capital involves a two-month waiting period during which creditors have the right to object to a reduction of capital under specified circumstances.
General Meeting of Shareholders and Voting Rights
General Meeting of Shareholders
General meetings are held in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Arnhem, Utrecht, or in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer (Schiphol Airport), the Netherlands. All of our shareholders and others entitled to attend our general meetings are authorized to address the meeting and, in so far as they have such right, to vote, either in person or by proxy.
We will hold at least one general meeting each year, to be held within six months after the end of our financial year. A general meeting will also be held within three months after our board of directors has determined it to be likely that our equity has decreased to an amount equal to or lower than half of its paid-up and called-up capital, in order to discuss the measures to be taken if so required. If our board of directors fails to hold such general meeting in a timely manner, each shareholder and other person entitled to attend our general meeting may be authorized by the Dutch court to convene our general meeting.
Our board of directors may convene additional extraordinary general meetings of shareholders at its discretion, subject to the notice requirements described below. Pursuant to Dutch law, one or more shareholders and/or others entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders, alone or jointly representing at least 10% of our issued share capital, may on their application be authorized by the Dutch court to convene a general meeting. The Dutch court will disallow the application if (i) the applicants have not previously requested in writing that our board of directors convenes a shareholders meeting, (ii) our board of directors convenes a shareholders meeting or (iii) our board of directors has taken the necessary steps so that the shareholders meeting could be held within six weeks after such request.
The general meeting is convened by a notice, which includes an agenda stating the items to be discussed and the location and time of our general meeting. For the annual general meeting, the agenda will include, among other things, the adoption of our annual accounts, the appropriation of its profits or losses and proposals relating to the composition of and filling of any vacancies on our board of directors. In addition, the agenda for a general meeting includes such additional items as determined by our board of directors. Pursuant to Dutch law, one or more shareholders and/or others entitled to attend general meetings of shareholders, alone or jointly representing at least 3% of the issued share capital, have the right to request the inclusion of additional items on the agenda of shareholders meetings. Such requests must be made in writing, and may include a proposal for a shareholder resolution, and must be received by us no later than on the sixtieth (60th) day before the day the
12
relevant shareholders meeting is held. No resolutions will be adopted on items other than those which have been included in the agenda. Under our articles of association, certain items can only be put on the agenda as a voting item by our board of directors. Shareholders meeting the relevant requirements may still request the inclusion of such items on the agenda as a discussion item.
In accordance with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code, shareholders who have the right to put an item on the agenda for our general meeting or to request the convening of a general meeting shall not exercise such rights until after they have consulted our board of directors. If exercising such rights may result in a change in our strategy (for example, through the dismissal of one or more of our directors), our board of directors must be given the opportunity to invoke a reasonable period of up to 180 days to respond to the shareholders intentions. If invoked, our board of directors must use such response period for further deliberation and constructive consultation, in any event, with the shareholder(s) concerned and exploring alternatives. At the end of the response time, our board of directors shall report on this consultation and the exploration of alternatives to our general meeting. The response period may be invoked only once for any given general meeting and shall not apply (i) in respect of a matter for which a response period or a cooling-off period (as discussed below) has been previously invoked or (ii) if a shareholder holds at least 75% of our issued share capital as a consequence of a successful public bid.
Moreover, our board of directors can invoke a cooling-off period of up to 250 days when shareholders, using their right to have items added to the agenda for a general meeting or their right to request a general meeting, propose an agenda item for our general meeting to dismiss, suspend or appoint one or more directors (or to amend any provision in our articles of association dealing with those matters) or when a public offer for our company is made or announced without our support, provided, in each case, that our board of directors believes that such proposal or offer materially conflicts with the interests of our company and its business. During a cooling-off period, our general meeting cannot dismiss, suspend or appoint directors (or amend the provisions in our articles of association dealing with those matters) except at the proposal of our board of directors. During a cooling-off period, our board of directors must gather all relevant information necessary for a careful decision-making process and at least consult with shareholders representing 3% or more of our issued share capital at the time the cooling-off period was invoked, as well as with our Dutch works council (if we or, under certain circumstances, any of our subsidiaries would have one). Formal statements expressed by these stakeholders during such consultations must be published on our website to the extent these stakeholders have approved that publication. Ultimately one week following the last day of the cooling-off period, our board of directors must publish a report in respect of its policy and conduct of affairs during the cooling-off period on our website. This report must remain available for inspection by shareholders and others with meeting rights under Dutch law at our office and must be tabled for discussion at the next general meeting. Shareholders representing at least 3% of our issued share capital may request the Enterprise Chamber for early termination of the cooling-off period. The Enterprise Chamber must rule in favor of the request if the shareholders can demonstrate that:
| our board of directors, in light of the circumstances at hand when the cooling-off period was invoked, could not reasonably have concluded that the relevant proposal or hostile offer constituted a material conflict with the interests of our company and its business; |
| our board of directors cannot reasonably believe that a continuation of the cooling-off period would contribute to careful policy-making; or |
| other defensive measures, having the same purpose, nature and scope as the cooling-off period, have been activated during the cooling-off period and have not since been terminated or suspended within a reasonable period at the relevant shareholders request (i.e., no stacking of defensive measures). |
13
We will give notice of each general meeting by publication on our website and, to the extent required by applicable law, in a Dutch daily newspaper with national distribution, and in any other manner that we may be required to follow in order to comply with Dutch law and applicable stock exchange and SEC requirements. We will observe the statutory minimum convening notice period for a general meeting. Holders of registered shares may further be provided notice of the meeting in writing at their addresses as stated in its shareholders register.
Pursuant to our articles of association and Dutch law, our board of directors may determine a record date (registratiedatum) of 28 calendar days prior to a general meeting to establish which shareholders and others with meeting rights are entitled to attend and, if applicable, vote at our general meeting. The record date, if any, and the manner in which shareholders can register and exercise their rights will be set out in the notice of our general meeting. Our articles of association provide that a shareholder must notify us in writing of his or her identity and his or her intention to attend (or be represented at) our general meeting, such notice to be received by us on the date set by our board of directors in accordance with our articles of association and as set forth in the convening notice. If this requirement is not complied with or if upon request no proper identification is provided by any person wishing to enter our general meeting, the chairman of our general meeting may, in his or her sole discretion, refuse entry to the shareholder or his or her proxy holder.
Pursuant to our articles of association, our general meeting is chaired by the chairman of our board of directors, who, nevertheless, may charge another person to preside over the meeting in his place even if he himself is present at the meeting. If the chairman of our board of directors is absent and he has not charged another person to preside over the meeting in his place, our directors present at the meeting will appoint one of them to be chairman. In the absence of all directors, our general meeting will appoint its chairman.
Voting Rights and Quorum
In accordance with Dutch law and our articles of association, each ordinary share, irrespective of which class it concerns, confers the right on the holder thereof to cast one vote at our general meeting. The voting rights attached to any ordinary shares held by us or our direct or indirect subsidiaries are suspended, unless the ordinary shares were encumbered with a right of usufruct or a pledge in favor of a party other than us or a direct or indirect subsidiary before such ordinary shares were acquired by us or such a subsidiary, in which case, the other party may be entitled to exercise the voting rights on the ordinary shares. We may not exercise voting rights for ordinary shares in respect of which we or a direct or indirect subsidiary has a right of usufruct or a pledge.
Voting rights may be exercised by shareholders or by a duly appointed proxy holder (the written proxy being acceptable to the chairman of our general meeting) of a shareholder, which proxy holder need not be a shareholder. The holder of a usufruct or pledge on shares will have the voting rights attached thereto if so provided for when the usufruct or pledge was created.
Under our articles of association, blank votes (votes where no choice has been made), abstentions and invalid votes will not be counted as votes cast. However, shares in respect of which a blank vote or invalid vote has been cast and shares in respect of which the person with meeting rights who is present or represented at the meeting has abstained from voting are counted when determining the part of the issued share capital that is present or represented at a general meeting. The chairman of our general meeting will determine the manner of voting and whether voting may take place by acclamation.
Resolutions of the shareholders are adopted at a general meeting by a majority of votes cast, except where Dutch law or our articles of association provide for a special majority in relation to specified
14
resolutions. Our articles of association do not provide for a quorum requirement, subject to any provision of mandatory Dutch law.
Subject to certain restrictions in our articles of association, the determination during our general meeting made by the chairman of that general meeting with regard to the results of a vote will be decisive. Our board of directors will keep a record of the resolutions passed at each general meeting.
Amendment of Articles of Association
At a general meeting, at the proposal of our board of directors, our general meeting may resolve to amend the articles of association. A resolution by the shareholders to amend the articles of association requires a majority of the votes cast.
Merger, Demerger and Dissolution
At the proposal of our board of directors, our general meeting may resolve with a majority of the votes cast (subject to certain exceptions), or with at least two-thirds of the votes cast if less than half of the issued capital is present or represented at our general meeting, to legally merge or demerge the company within the meaning of Title 7, Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code.
Our shareholders may at a general meeting, based on a proposal by our board of directors, by means of a resolution passed by a majority of the votes cast, resolve that the company will be dissolved. In the event of dissolution of the company, the liquidation will be effected by our executive directors, under the supervision of our non-executive directors, unless our general meeting decides otherwise.
Squeeze-Out
A shareholder who for its own account (or together with its group companies) holds at least 95% of our issued share capital may institute proceedings against the other shareholders jointly for the transfer of their shares to the shareholder who holds such 95% majority. The proceedings are held before the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal (Ondernemingskamer van het Gerechtshof Amsterdam) (the Enterprise Chamber) and can be instituted by means of a writ of summons served upon each of the minority shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure (Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering). The Enterprise Chamber may grant the claim for squeeze-out in relation to all minority shareholders and will determine the price to be paid for the shares, if necessary, after appointment of one or three experts who will offer an opinion to the Enterprise Chamber on the value of the shares of the minority shareholders. Once the order to transfer by the Enterprise Chamber becomes final and irrevocable, the majority shareholder that instituted the squeeze-out proceedings will give written notice of the date and place of payment and the price to the holders of the shares to be acquired whose addresses are known to the majority shareholder. Unless the addresses of all minority shareholders are known to the majority shareholder acquiring the shares, the majority shareholder is required to publish the same in a newspaper with a national circulation.
A shareholder that holds a majority of our issued share capital, but less than the 95% required to institute the squeeze-out proceedings described above, may seek to propose and implement one or more restructuring transactions with the objective of obtaining at least 95% of our issued share capital so the shareholder may initiate squeeze-out proceedings. Those restructuring transactions could, among other things, include a merger or demerger involving the company, a contribution of cash and/or assets against issuance of ordinary shares, the issuance of new ordinary shares to the majority shareholder without preemptive rights for minority shareholders or an asset sale transaction.
Depending on the circumstances, an asset sale of a Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) or a triangular legal merger (driehoeksfusie) of a Dutch public limited liability company
15
(naamloze vennootschap) with and into a subsidiary followed by a share sale of that subsidiary (as legal successor to the Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) concerned) is sometimes used as a way to squeeze out minority shareholders, for example, after a successful tender offer through which a third party acquires a supermajority, but less than all, of the companys shares. In such scenarios, either (a) the business of the target company is sold to a third party or a special purpose vehicle, followed by the liquidation of the target company or (b) the shares in the legal successor to the target company is sold to a third party or a special purpose vehicle, followed by the liquidation of the holding vehicle of such legal successor. The purchase price is distributed to all shareholders in proportion to their respective shareholding as liquidation proceeds, thus separating the business from the company in which minority shareholders had an interest.
Any sale or transfer of all of our assets and our dissolution or liquidation is subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in our general meeting. Our articles of association provide that our general meeting may only adopt such resolution upon a proposal of our board of directors.
Certain Other Major Transactions
Our articles of association and Dutch law provide that resolutions of our board of directors concerning a material change in our identity, character or business are subject to the approval of our general meeting. Such changes include:
| a transfer of all or materially all of our business to a third party; |
| the entry into or termination of a long-lasting alliance of the company or of a subsidiary either with another entity or company, or as a fully liable partner of a limited partnership or partnership, if this alliance or termination is of significant importance to the company; and |
| the acquisition or disposition of an interest in the capital of a company by the company or by its subsidiary with a value of at least one-third of the value of our assets, according to the balance sheet with explanatory notes or, if the company prepares a consolidated balance sheet, according to the consolidated balance sheet with explanatory notes in our most recently adopted annual accounts. |
Dividends and Other Distributions
We may only make distributions to our shareholders if our equity exceeds the aggregate amount of the issued share capital and the reserves that must be maintained pursuant to Dutch law or our articles of association. We may not make any distribution of profits on shares held by the company as treasury shares and such treasury shares will not be taken into account when determining the profit entitlement of our shareholders, unless such treasury shares are encumbered with a right of usufruct or a right of pledge. Under our articles of association, any profits or distributable reserves must first be applied to pay a dividend on the financing preferred shares, if outstanding.
Any remaining profits may be reserved by our board of directors. After reservation by our board of directors of any distributable profits, our general meeting will be authorized to declare distributions on the proposal of our board of directors. Our board of directors is permitted, subject to certain requirements, to declare interim dividends without the approval of the shareholders. Interim dividends may be declared as provided in our articles of association and may be distributed to the extent that the shareholders equity, based on interim financial statements, exceeds the paid-up and called-up share capital and the reserves that must be maintained under Dutch law or our articles of association. We may reclaim any distributions, whether interim or not interim, made in contravention of certain restrictions of Dutch law from shareholders that knew or should have known that such distribution was
16
not permissible. In addition, on the basis of Dutch case law, if after a distribution we are not able to pay its due and collectable debts, then our shareholders or directors who at the time of the distribution knew or reasonably should have foreseen that result may be liable to its creditors.
Upon proposal of our board of directors, the general meeting may determine that distributions will be made in whole or in part in a currency other than the euro. We shall announce any proposal for a distribution and the date when and the place where the distribution will be payable to all shareholders by electronic means of communication with due observance of the applicable law and stock exchange rules. Claims for payment of dividends and other distributions not made within five years from the date that such dividends or distributions became payable will lapse, and any such amounts will be considered to have been forfeited to the company (verjaring).
Notices
We will give notice of each general meeting by publication on our website and, to the extent required by applicable law, in a Dutch daily newspaper with national distribution, and in any other manner that we may be required to follow in order to comply with Dutch law and applicable stock exchange and SEC requirements. Holders of registered shares may further be provided notice of the meeting in writing at their addresses as stated in our shareholders register.
Registration Rights
We have granted to certain of our securityholders registration rights pursuant to an Investor Rights and Lock-Up Agreement, dated July 1, 2020, among us and the investors party thereto. Such securityholders are entitled to the following rights with respect to the registration of their ordinary shares for public resale under the Securities Act.
Shelf Registration. We are obligated to file and keep effective a shelf registration statement pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act with respect to all securities subject to registration rights, subject to certain exceptions.
Demand Registration. Upon the demand of certain securityholders, we are obligated to effect a resale registration under the Securities Act with respect to all or any portion of their shares subject to registration rights, subject to certain exceptions. Demand registration rights will not be triggered if there is an effective resale shelf registration statement.
Piggyback Registration. In the event that we propose to register any of our securities under the Securities Act, either for our account or for the account of our other securityholders, holders will be entitled to certain piggyback registration rights allowing each to include its shares in the registration, subject to certain marketing and other limitations. As a result, whenever we propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, other than with respect to a demand registration, a registration statement on Form S-4, F-4 or S-8 or a registration of convertible debt securities, these holders will be entitled to notice of the registration and will have the right to include their registrable securities in the registration, subject to certain limitations. Piggyback registration rights will not be triggered if there is an effective resale shelf registration statement, the registration is solely for an offering of securities by us and no other securityholder is entitled to participate in such registration.
Expenses; Indemnification. We must pay all registration expenses in connection with effecting any demand registration, piggyback registration or shelf registration. We are also subject to customary indemnification and contribution provisions.
Stock Exchange Listing
Our ordinary shares are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol IMTX.
17
Transfer Agent
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company serves as our agent in New York to maintain our shareholders register on behalf of our board of directors and acts as transfer agent and registrar for the ordinary shares.
Exchange Controls
Under Dutch law, there are no exchange controls applicable to the transfer to persons outside of the Netherlands of dividends or other distributions with respect to, or of the proceeds from the sale of, shares of a Dutch company, subject to applicable restrictions under sanctions and measures, including those concerning export control, pursuant to applicable resolutions adopted by the United Nations, regulations of the European Union, the Dutch Sanctions Act 1977 (Sanctiewet 1977), national emergency legislation, or other legislation, applicable anti-boycott regulations and similar rules and provided that, under certain circumstances, payments of such dividends or other distributions must be reported to the Dutch Central Bank at their request for statistical purposes. There are no special restrictions in our articles of association or Dutch law that limit the right of shareholders who are not citizens or residents of the Netherlands to hold or vote shares. The European Directive Mandatory Disclosure Rules (2011/16/EU) in relation to cross-border tax arrangements can provide for future notification requirements.
Under German law, there are no exchange controls restricting the transfer of funds between Germany and other countries or individuals, subject to applicable restrictions concerning import or export control or sanctions and measures against certain persons, entities and countries subject to embargoes in accordance with German law and applicable resolutions adopted by the United Nations and the European Union.
Under German foreign trade regulation, with certain exceptions, every corporation or individual residing in Germany must report to the German Central Bank on any payment received from or made to a non-resident corporation or individual if the payment exceeds 12,500 (or the equivalent in a foreign currency). Additionally, corporations and individuals residing in Germany must report to the German Central Bank on any claims of a resident against, or liabilities payable to, a non-resident corporation or individual exceeding an aggregate of 5 million (or the equivalent in a foreign currency) at the end of any calendar month. Resident corporations and individuals are also required to report annually to the German Central Bank on any stakes of 10% or more they hold in the equity of non-resident corporations with total assets of more than 3 million. Corporations residing in Germany with assets in excess of 3 million must report annually to the German Central Bank on any stake of 10% or more in the company held by an individual or a corporation located outside Germany.
18
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities, which may be secured or unsecured and may be exchangeable for and/or convertible into other securities, including our ordinary shares. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a designated trustee. The terms of each series of debt securities being offered, including the terms, if any, on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities, and the material terms of the indenture will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth, to the extent required, the following terms of the debt securities in respect of which the prospectus supplement is delivered:
| the title of the series; |
| the aggregate principal amount; |
| the issue price or prices, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| any limit on the aggregate principal amount; |
| the date or dates on which principal is payable; |
| the interest rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates; |
| the date or dates on which interest, if any, will be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable; |
| the place or places where principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, is payable; |
| the terms and conditions upon which we may, or the holders may require us to, redeem or repurchase the debt securities; |
| the denominations in which such debt securities may be issuable, if other than denomination of $1,000 or any integral multiple of that number; |
| whether the debt securities are to be issuable in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| the portion of principal amount that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date if other than the principal amount of the debt securities; |
| the currency of denomination; |
| the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest, will be made; |
| if payments of principal and, if applicable, premium or interest, on the debt securities are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than the currency of denominations, the manner in which exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined; |
19
| if amounts of principal and, if applicable, premium and interest may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies, or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index, or financial index, then the manner in which such amounts will be determined; |
| the provisions, if any, relating to any collateral provided for such debt securities; |
| any events of default; |
| the terms and conditions, if any, for conversion into or exchange for ordinary shares; |
| any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents, or other agents; and |
| the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to other indebtedness of our company. |
20
We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities. The warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants being offered and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth, to the extent required, the following terms of the warrants in respect of which the prospectus supplement is delivered:
| the title of such warrants; |
| the aggregate number of such warrants; |
| the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued; |
| the currency or currencies in which the price of such warrants will be payable; |
| the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| the price at which and the currency or currencies in which the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased; |
| the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time; |
| if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security; |
| if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| if applicable, a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations; and |
| any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants. |
21
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue subscription rights to purchase our debt or equity securities. The subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other securities, may be attached to, or separate from, such securities and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any unsubscribed securities after such offering. The terms of any subscription rights being offered will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If fewer than all of the subscription rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than shareholders, 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.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth, to the extent required, the following terms of the subscription rights in respect of which the prospectus supplement is delivered:
| the exercise price; |
| the aggregate number of rights to be issued; |
| the type and number of securities purchasable upon exercise of each right; |
| the procedures and limitations relating to the exercise of the rights; |
| the date upon which the exercise of rights will commence; |
| the record date, if any, to determine who is entitled to the rights; |
| the expiration date; |
| the extent to which the rights are transferable; |
| information regarding the trading of rights, including the stock exchanges, if any, on which the rights will be listed; |
| the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| if appropriate, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
| if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of the rights; and |
| any other material terms of the rights. |
22
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, currencies or commodities.
Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. A purchase by us or any of our subsidiaries of ordinary shares pursuant to any such purchase contract shall be subject to certain restrictions under Dutch law that generally apply to a repurchase of shares. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.
The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under an indenture.
23
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, ordinary shares or any combination of such securities. The applicable supplement will describe:
| the terms of the units and of the warrants, debt securities and/or ordinary shares comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately; |
| a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and |
| a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units. |
24
Each debt security, warrant and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investors beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Registered Global Securities
We may issue registered debt securities, warrants and units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a
25
beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to warrants or units, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of Immatics N.V., the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any other agent of Immatics N.V., agent of the trustees or agent of the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in street name, and will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositarys instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
26
The following table sets forth the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters or agents compensation, if any) expected to be incurred by us in connection with a possible offering of securities registered under this registration statement:
Expenses
|
Amount
|
|||
SEC registration fee |
$ | (1)(2) | ||
Printing and engraving expenses |
(1) | |||
Legal fees and expenses |
(1) | |||
Accounting fees and expenses |
(1) | |||
Miscellaneous costs |
(1) | |||
|
|
|||
Total |
$ | (1) | ||
|
|
(1) | These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of offerings, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time and will be reflected in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
(2) | Omitted because the registration fee is being deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act. |
27
The validity of certain securities and certain other matters with respect to Dutch law will be passed upon for us by NautaDutilh N.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The validity of certain securities and certain matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York State law will be passed upon for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York. Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be advised by their own legal counsel concerning issues relating to any offering.
The financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft is a member of the Chamber of Public Accountants (Wirtschaftsprüferkammer), Berlin, Germany.
28
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are organized and existing under the laws of the Netherlands. As such, under Dutch private international law, the rights and obligations of our shareholders vis-à-vis the Company originating from Dutch corporate law and our articles of association, as well as the civil liability of our officers (functionarissen) (including our directors and executive officers) are governed in certain respects by the laws of the Netherlands.
We are not a resident of the United States and our officers may also not all be residents of the United States. As a result, depending on the subject matter of the action brought against us and/or our officers, United States courts may not have jurisdiction. If a Dutch court has jurisdiction with respect to such action, that court will apply Dutch procedural law and Dutch private international law to determine the law applicable to that action. Depending on the subject matter of the relevant action, a competent Dutch court may apply another law than the laws of the United States.
Also, service of process against non-residents of the United States can in principle (absent, for example, a valid choice of domicile) not be effected in the United States.
Furthermore, a substantial amount of our assets are located outside the United States. As of the date of this prospectus, (i) there is no treaty in force between the United States and the Netherlands for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments, other than arbitration awards, in civil and commercial matters and (ii) both the Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements (2005) and the Hague Judgments Convention (2019) have entered into force for the Netherlands, but have not entered into force for the United States. Consequently, a judgment rendered by a court in the United States will not automatically be recognized and enforced by the competent Dutch courts. However, if a person has obtained a judgment rendered by a court in the United States that is enforceable under the laws of the United States and files a claim with the competent Dutch court, the Dutch court will in principle give binding effect to that United States judgment if (i) the jurisdiction of the United States court was based on a ground of jurisdiction that is generally acceptable according to international standards, (ii) the judgment by the United States court was rendered in legal proceedings that comply with the Dutch standards of proper administration of justice including sufficient safeguards (behoorlijke rechtspleging), (iii) binding effect of such United States judgment is not contrary to Dutch public order (openbare orde) and (iv) the judgment by the United States court is not incompatible with a decision rendered between the same parties by a Dutch court, or with a previous decision rendered between the same parties by a foreign court in a dispute that concerns the same subject and is based on the same cause, provided that the previous decision qualifies for recognition in the Netherlands. Even if such a United States judgment is given binding effect, a claim based thereon may, however, still be rejected if the United States judgment is not or no longer formally enforceable. Moreover, if the United States judgment is not final (for instance when appeal is possible or pending) a competent Dutch court may postpone recognition until the United States judgment will have become final, refuse recognition under the understanding that recognition can be asked again once the United States judgment will have become final, or impose as a condition for recognition that security is posted.
A competent Dutch court may deny the recognition and enforcement of punitive damages or other awards. Moreover, a competent Dutch court may reduce the amount of damages granted by a United States court and recognize damages only to the extent that they are necessary to compensate actual losses or damages. Finally, there may be specific other instances, including pursuant to anti-boycott rules and regulations, where Dutch law prohibits the recognition and enforcement of a United States judgment. Thus, United States investors may not be able to enforce, or may experience difficulty in enforcing, a judgment obtained in a United States court against us or our officers.
29
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information we have filed electronically with the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.
We have filed with the SEC a shelf registration statement (including exhibits to the registration statement) on Form F-3 under the Securities Act. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For more detail about us and the securities that may be offered by this prospectus, you may examine the registration statement on Form F-3 and the exhibits filed with it at the website provided in the previous paragraph.
We maintain a corporate website at www.immatics.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
30
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information in this prospectus, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be a part of this prospectus. Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below:
| our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023; |
| our Reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024 (only with respect to Exhibit 99.1 thereto), June 20, 2024, July 31, 2024, August 13, 2024 (only with respect to Exhibit 99.1 thereto), September 16, 2024 (other than Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 thereto) and October 10, 2024 (other than Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 thereto); and |
| our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on July 1, 2020 and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F, Form 40-F or Form 10-K that we file with the SEC and all subsequent filings on Forms 10-Q and 8-K filed by us with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act (excluding, in each case, any information or documents deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC), after the date hereof and prior to the termination or expiration of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, shall be incorporated by reference. We may incorporate by reference any reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC that we specifically identify in such form or in any applicable prospectus supplement as being incorporated by reference into this prospectus or such prospectus supplement after the date hereof and prior to the completion of an offering of securities under this prospectus.
You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus through us or from the SEC through the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 20-F and Reports on Form 6-K and exhibits incorporated in and amendments to those reports, are also available free of charge on our website (www.immatics.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part. We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all the reports or documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus at no cost, upon written or oral request to us at the following address:
Investor Relations
Immatics N.V.
c/o Immatics US, Inc.
13203 Murphy Rd., Suite 100
Stafford, Texas 77477
(281) 810-7545
31
IMMATICS N.V.
Ordinary Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Purchase Contracts
Units
PROSPECTUS
October 10, 2024
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 10, 2024)
IMMATICS N.V.
Up to $150,000,000
Ordinary Shares
We have entered into a Sales Agreement with Leerink Partners LLC (Leerink Partners or the sales agent), dated as of the date of this prospectus supplement, relating to the sale of our ordinary shares, nominal value 0.01 per share, offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (such agreement, the sales agreement). In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, under this prospectus supplement, we may offer and sell our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000 from time to time through the sales agent.
Sales of our ordinary shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an at the market offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The sales agent is not required to sell any specific amount, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The sales agent will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate up to 3.0% of the gross sales price of any ordinary shares sold under the sales agreement. In connection with the sale of ordinary shares on our behalf, the sales agent will be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of the sales agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the sales agent with respect to certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act. See Plan of Distribution beginning on page S-32 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to the sales agent.
Our ordinary shares are listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (Nasdaq) under the symbol IMTX. On October 8, 2024, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on Nasdaq was $10.97 per share.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the Risk Factors section beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and any risk factors in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings that are incorporated by reference in 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 or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Leerink Partners
Prospectus supplement dated October 10, 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
S-1 | ||||
S-3 | ||||
S-5 | ||||
S-6 | ||||
S-8 | ||||
S-9 | ||||
S-10 | ||||
S-11 | ||||
S-32 | ||||
S-34 | ||||
S-34 | ||||
S-35 | ||||
S-36 |
S-i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC using a shelf registration process. The accompanying prospectus describes the general terms of the securities that may be offered pursuant to the accompanying prospectus and the general manner in which those securities will be offered, some of which may not apply to this offering. This prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement supplements, updates and amends the information contained in the accompanying prospectus.
Before buying any of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement, you should carefully read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with all of the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, as well as the additional information described under the heading Where You Can Find More Information and Information Incorporated by Reference. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision. We have filed or incorporated by reference exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
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 in this prospectus supplement, on the other hand, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement, provided that if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later datefor example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplementthe statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
The information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is accurate only as of their respective dates, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus or the sale of any securities. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed materially since those dates.
Neither we nor the sales agent have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, or any free writing prospectus we may authorize to be delivered or made available to you. Neither we nor the sales agent take responsibility for, or provide assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities described in this prospectus supplement or an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.
For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor the sales agent have taken any action that would permit the offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus supplement in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus supplement must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities described herein and the distribution of this prospectus supplement outside the United States.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, (i) all references to the company, we, our or us or similar terms refer to Immatics N.V., together with its subsidiaries, including Immatics
S-1
Biotechnologies GmbH and Immatics US, Inc., and (ii) references to Immatics refer solely to Immatics N.V. Immatics N.V. is a Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) incorporated on March 10, 2020 and the holding company of Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, a German biopharmaceutical company incorporated in 2000 focused on the development of T cell receptor-based immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer. Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH holds all material assets and conducts all business activities and operations of Immatics N.V.
Trademarks
We own various trademark registrations and applications, and unregistered trademarks, including Immatics®, XPRESIDENT®, ACTengine®, ACTallo®, ACTolog®, XCEPTOR®, TCER®, AbsQuant®, IMADetect® and our corporate logo. All other trade names, trademarks and service marks of other companies appearing in this prospectus supplement are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this prospectus supplement may be referred to without the ® and symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, their rights thereto. We do not intend to use or display other companies trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
Presentation of Financial Information
Our consolidated financial statements are presented in euros and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IFRS). None of the consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The terms dollar, USD or $ refer to the U.S. dollar and the term euro, EUR or refer to the euro, unless otherwise indicated. The exchange rate used in this prospectus supplement for conversion between U.S. dollars and euros is based on the ECB euro reference exchange rate published by the European Central Bank, as of June 30, 2024, unless otherwise indicated. We have made rounding adjustments to some of the figures included in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, any numerical discrepancies in any table between totals and sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.
Market and Industry Data
This prospectus supplement contains industry, market and competitive position data that are based on general and industry publications, surveys and studies conducted by third parties, some of which may not be publicly available, and our own internal estimates and research. Third-party publications, surveys and studies generally state that they have obtained information from sources believed to be reliable, but do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of such information. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding such third-party publications, surveys and studies, industry, market and competitive position data involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those identified in the Risk Factors section of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
S-2
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. This summary may not contain all the information that may be important to you, and we urge you to read this entire prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement carefully before deciding to invest in our securities.
Our Company
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to the development of T cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies for the treatment of patients with solid tumors with unmet medical need. Our objective is to deliver a meaningful impact on the lives of these patients by developing novel TCR-based immunotherapies that achieve an effect beyond an incremental clinical benefit.
We strive to become an industry-leading, fully integrated global biopharmaceutical company engaged in developing, manufacturing and commercializing TCR immunotherapies for the benefit of cancer patients, our shareholders, our employees, and our partners. By utilizing TCR-based therapeutics, we are able to direct T cells to intracellular cancer targets that are not accessible through classical antibody-based or CAR-T therapies. We believe that by identifying what we call true cancer targets and the right TCRs, we are well positioned to transform current solid tumor treatment paradigms by delivering cellular and bispecific product candidates that have the potential to substantially improve the lives of cancer patients.
We are developing our targeted immunotherapy product candidates through two distinct treatment modalities: TCR-engineered autologous (ACTengine) or allogeneic (ACTallo) Adoptive Cell Therapies (ACT) and antibody-like Bispecifics, also called T Cell Engaging Receptors (TCER). Each modality is designed with distinct attributes and mechanisms of action to produce the desired therapeutic effect for the targeted cancer patient populations.
Company and Corporate Information
We were incorporated as a Dutch private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) under the name Immatics B.V. on March 10, 2020 solely for the purpose of effectuating the business combination (the Business Combination) between us, ARYA Sciences Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands exempted company, Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH, a German limited liability company, Immatics Merger Sub 1, a Cayman Islands exempted company, and Immatics Merger Sub 2, a Cayman Islands exempted company. Upon the closing of the Business Combination on July 1, 2020, we converted into a Dutch public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) and changed our name to Immatics N.V.
We are registered in the Commercial Register of the Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel) in the Netherlands under number 77595726. We have our corporate seat in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and our registered office is at Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 15, 72076 Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany, and our telephone number is +49 (7071) 5397-0. Our executive office in the United States is located at Immatics US, Inc., 13203 Murphy Rd., Suite 100, Stafford, Texas 77477 and our telephone number is +1 (346) 204-5400. Our website is www.immatics.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus supplement or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
S-3
Implications of Being a Foreign Private Issuer
We are a foreign private issuer. Accordingly, we report under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as a non-U.S. company with foreign private issuer status. This means that, as long as we qualify as a foreign private issuer under the Exchange Act, we will be exempt from certain provisions of the Exchange Act that are applicable to U.S. domestic public companies, including:
| the sections of the Exchange Act regulating the solicitation of proxies, consents or authorizations in respect of a security registered under the Exchange Act; |
| the sections of the Exchange Act requiring insiders to file public reports of their stock ownership and trading activities and liability for insiders who profit from trades made in a short period of time; and |
| the rules under the Exchange Act requiring the filing with the SEC of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q containing unaudited financial and other specified information, or current reports on Form 8-K upon the occurrence of specified significant events. |
We may take advantage of these exemptions until such time as we are no longer a foreign private issuer. We would cease to be a foreign private issuer at such time as more than 50% of our outstanding voting securities are held by U.S. residents and any of the following three circumstances applies: (i) the majority of our executive officers or directors are U.S. citizens or residents, (ii) more than 50% of our assets are located in the United States or (iii) our business is administered principally in the United States.
In this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, we have taken advantage of certain of the reduced reporting requirements as a result of being a foreign private issuer. Accordingly, the information contained in this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold equity securities.
S-4
Ordinary shares offered by us |
Ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000. |
Manner of offering |
At the market offering that may be made from time to time through the sales agent. See Plan of Distribution on page S-32 of this prospectus supplement. |
Use of proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, if any, to fund the continued research and development of our pipeline, the manufacturing, production and, if approved, commercialization of our product candidates and for working capital and other general corporate purposes. See Use of Proceeds. |
Risk factors |
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See the Risk Factors section beginning on page S-6 of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider before deciding to invest in our securities. |
Nasdaq symbol |
IMTX |
S-5
Investing in our securities involves risk. Before making a decision to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the following risks and those included in our then-most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, and any updates to those risk factors in our reports on Form 6-K incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, in light of your particular investment objectives and financial circumstances. Although we discuss key risks in our discussion of risk factors, new risks may emerge in the future, which may prove to be significant. We cannot predict future risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
Risks Related to this Offering
You may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your investment.
If you purchase our securities in this offering, you will experience immediate dilution in an amount equal to the difference between the purchase price per share and our then-net tangible book value per share. See Dilution.
The actual number of ordinary shares we will sell under the sales agreement and the resulting gross proceeds are uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to the sales agent at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of ordinary shares that are sold by the sales agent after we deliver a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our ordinary shares during the sales period and limits we set in the placement notice. Because the price per share sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our ordinary shares during the sales period, it is not possible to predict the number of ordinary shares that will be ultimately sold or the resulting gross proceeds.
The ordinary shares offered in this offering will be sold in at the market offerings. Investors who purchase our ordinary shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase our ordinary shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices and numbers of ordinary shares sold, and subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement, there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their ordinary shares and dilution as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering, and we may not use them effectively.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, if any, as described in Use of Proceeds. However, our board of directors and our management retain broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our ordinary shares. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could result in financial losses, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.
S-6
If a United States person is treated as owning at least 10% of our ordinary shares, such United States person may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
For U.S. federal income tax purposes, if a United States person is treated as owning (directly, indirectly or constructively) 10% or more of our stock by vote or value, such U.S. holder will be treated as a United States shareholder with respect to each controlled foreign corporation in our group (if any). Because our group includes at least one U.S. subsidiary, our non-U.S. subsidiaries and any non-U.S. subsidiaries we form or acquire in the future will generally be treated as controlled foreign corporations.
A United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation will be required to report annually and include in its U.S. federal taxable income its pro rata share of subpart F income, global intangible low-taxed income and investments in U.S. property by the controlled foreign corporation, regardless of whether it makes any distributions of that income. Special rules, however, apply to United States persons that are partnerships or other pass-through entities. Certain deductions and credits for foreign income taxes paid or accrued by the controlled foreign corporation may be allowed to a corporate United States shareholder, but will not be allowed to an individual United States shareholder.
There can be no assurance that we will furnish to any United States shareholder the information required to comply with the obligations applicable to a United States shareholder in respect of controlled foreign corporations. Failure to comply with these obligations may subject a United States shareholder of a controlled foreign corporation to significant monetary penalties and may prevent the statute of limitations for assessments with respect to its U.S. federal income tax return for the year for which reporting was due from starting. Beneficial owners of 10% or more of our ordinary shares that are United States persons should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of these rules to their investment in our ordinary shares.
S-7
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). All statements other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding our future results of operations and financial position, business and commercial strategy, potential market opportunities, products and product candidates, research pipeline, ongoing and planned preclinical studies and clinical trials, regulatory submissions and approvals, research and development costs, timing and likelihood of success, as well as plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as anticipate, believe, could, expect, should, plan, intend, estimate, will and potential, among others.
Forward-looking statements are based on our managements beliefs and assumptions and on information available to our management at the time such statements are made. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including, but not limited to, those identified in the Risk Factors section of this prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. Because forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified and some of which are beyond our control, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The events and circumstances reflected in our forward-looking statements may not be achieved or occur and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, we operate in an evolving environment. New risk factors and uncertainties may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for management to predict all risk factors and uncertainties. Except as required by applicable law, we do not plan to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of any new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise. You should read this prospectus supplement, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the documents that we have filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement is a part completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from what we expect.
In addition, statements that we believe and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of such statements, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
S-8
We may offer and sell our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000 from time to time through the sales agent. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering, if any, to fund the continued research and development of our pipeline, the manufacturing, production and, if approved, commercialization of our product candidates and for working capital and other general corporate purposes.
Our expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our current intentions based on our present plans and business condition, which could change as our plans and business conditions evolve. The amounts and timing of our actual use of the net proceeds from this offering will vary depending on numerous factors. As a result, we cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for any net proceeds to be received or the amounts that we will actually spend on the uses set forth above. Our board of directors and our management retains broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering.
Pending the use of the proceeds from this offering, we intend to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation instruments, which may include all or a combination of short-term and long-term interest-bearing instruments, investment-grade securities, and direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government. We cannot predict whether the proceeds invested will yield a favorable return.
S-9
Net tangible book value per ordinary share is determined by dividing our total assets, less intangible assets, less total liabilities by the number of our ordinary shares outstanding.
Our historical net tangible book value as of June 30, 2024 was 386.3 million (or $413.5 million), or 3.75 (or $4.01) per ordinary share. After giving effect to the assumed sale by us of $150,000,000 of ordinary shares at an assumed public offering price of $10.97 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on Nasdaq on October 8, 2024, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of June 30, 2024 would have been 522.0 million (or $558.8 million) and our as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share as of June 30, 2024 would have been 4.47 (or $4.78) per ordinary share, representing an immediate increase of 0.72 (or $0.77) per ordinary share. At the assumed public offering price, you will experience immediate dilution of $6.19 per ordinary share, which is the difference between the assumed public offering price and our as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share as of June 30, 2024.
In the foregoing paragraph, the number of our ordinary shares outstanding is based on 103,105,906 ordinary shares outstanding as of June 30, 2024 and excludes:
| 14,185,636 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding as of June 30, 2024, at an average weighted exercise price of 9.24 per share; |
| 6,372,592 additional ordinary shares reserved for future issuance under our share-based compensation plans as of June 30, 2024; and |
| 7,187,500 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of warrants outstanding as of June 30, 2024, at an exercise price of $11.50 per warrant. |
To the extent that any outstanding warrants are exercised, any outstanding options under our share-based compensation plans are exercised, new options are issued under our share-based compensation plans or we issue additional ordinary shares in the future, there will be further dilution to investors participating in this offering.
S-10
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for U.S. Holders
In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, the following is a description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to the U.S. Holders, as defined below, of owning and disposing of our ordinary shares. It does not describe all tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular persons decision to acquire ordinary shares.
This discussion applies only to a U.S. Holder that acquires ordinary shares registered for offer and sale pursuant to this prospectus supplement and holds ordinary shares as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). In addition, it does not describe any tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences, including state and local tax consequences and estate tax consequences, and does not describe all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant in light of the U.S. Holders particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax consequences, the potential application of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) known as the Medicare contribution tax and tax consequences applicable to U.S. Holders subject to special rules, such as:
| certain banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions; |
| brokers, dealers or traders in securities who use a mark-to-market method of tax accounting; |
| persons holding ordinary shares as part of a straddle, wash sale, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction or persons entering into a constructive sale with respect to the ordinary shares; |
| persons whose functional currency for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar; |
| entities or arrangements classified as partnerships or S corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
| tax-exempt entities, including an individual retirement account or Roth IRAs and governmental entities; |
| real estate investment trusts or regulated investment companies; |
| corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
| persons that own or are deemed to own 10% or more of the voting power or value of our shares; or |
| persons holding ordinary shares in connection with a trade or business conducted outside of the United States or in connection with a permanent establishment or other fixed place of business outside of the United States. |
If an entity or arrangement that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds ordinary shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships holding ordinary shares and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors as to the particular U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of the ordinary shares.
S-11
This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions, final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, and the income tax treaty between Germany and the United States (the Treaty), all as of the date hereof, any of which is subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect.
A U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of our ordinary shares who, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is eligible for the benefits of the Treaty and who is:
| a U.S. citizen (other than a resident of the Netherlands or Germany) or individual resident of the United States; |
| a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia; or |
| an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source. |
Certain Treasury regulations (the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations) may in some circumstances prohibit a U.S. person from claiming a foreign tax credit with respect to certain non-U.S. taxes that are not creditable under applicable income tax treaties. The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) has released notices which indicate that the Treasury Department and the IRS are considering amendments to the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations and provide temporary relief from certain of their provisions until such time as the IRS issues a subsequent notice or other guidance withdrawing or modifying the temporary relief (or any later date specified in the relevant notice or guidance). The rules governing the calculation and timing of foreign tax credits and the deduction of foreign taxes are complex and depend upon a U.S. Holders particular circumstances. Accordingly, U.S. investors that are not eligible for Treaty benefits should consult their tax advisors regarding the creditability or deductibility of any non-U.S. taxes imposed on dividends on, or dispositions of, ordinary shares. This discussion does not apply to investors in this special situation.
U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of owning and disposing of the ordinary shares in their particular circumstances.
Taxation of Distributions
Subject to the discussion under Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules below, distributions (if any) paid on ordinary shares, other than certain pro rata distributions of ordinary shares, will generally be treated as dividends to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Because we do not maintain calculations of our earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, we expect that distributions generally will be reported to U.S. Holders as dividends. Dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders may be eligible for taxation as qualified dividend income and therefore, subject to applicable limitations, may be taxable at long-term capital gain rates. Dividends may constitute qualified dividend income if (a) the ordinary shares with respect to which the dividends are paid are listed on Nasdaq or are otherwise considered readily tradable on an established securities market for U.S. federal income tax purposes or we are eligible for benefits under the Treaty and (b) we are not a PFIC in the year in which the dividend is paid or the prior taxable year. However, there can be no assurance that our ordinary shares will remain listed or otherwise be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in the future, nor (as discussed under Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules below) that we will not be a PFIC for any future taxable year. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the reduced tax rate on dividends in their particular circumstances.
As described below under Material Dutch Tax Considerations and Material German Tax Considerations, it is expected that any dividends we pay to a U.S. Holder will be subject to German
S-12
withholding tax (and will not be subject to Dutch withholding tax). The amount of a dividend will include any amounts withheld in respect of German income taxes. The amount of the dividend will be treated as foreign-source dividend income to U.S. Holders and will not be eligible for a dividends-received deduction generally available to U.S. corporations under the Code. Dividends will be included in a U.S. Holders income on the date of the U.S. Holders receipt of the dividend. The amount of any dividend income paid in euros will be the U.S. dollar amount calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date of actual or constructive receipt, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted into U.S. dollars at that time. If the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder should not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. A U.S. Holder may have foreign currency gain or loss if the dividend is converted into U.S. dollars after the date of receipt.
Subject to applicable limitations, some of which vary depending upon the U.S. Holders particular circumstances, and the discussion below regarding the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations, German taxes withheld from dividends on ordinary shares (at a rate not exceeding the rate provided by the Treaty, in the case of a U.S. Holder eligible for a reduced rate under the Treaty) will be creditable against the U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability. As discussed under Material German Tax Considerations below, Germany requires special procedures to be followed by U.S. Holders eligible for a reduced rate under the Treaty to obtain the benefit of such reduced rate. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex. For example, the Foreign Tax Credit Regulations provide that, in the absence of an election to apply the benefits of an applicable income tax treaty, in order for foreign income taxes (including foreign withholding taxes treated as income taxes) to be creditable, the relevant foreign jurisdictions income tax rules must be consistent with certain U.S. federal income tax principles, and we have not determined whether the German income tax system meets these requirements. However, under the temporary relief in the notice described above, certain of the requirements for making this determination would not apply until such time as the IRS withdraws or modifies this temporary relief (or any later date specified in the relevant notice or guidance). Whether the IRS will withdraw this relief for 2024 or future years is inherently uncertain. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the creditability of any German taxes in their particular circumstances. In lieu of claiming a foreign tax credit, a U.S. Holder may be able to elect to deduct foreign taxes, such as the German withholding tax, in computing its taxable income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law. An election to deduct otherwise creditable non-U.S. taxes instead of claiming foreign tax credits applies to all creditable non-U.S. taxes paid or accrued in the taxable year.
Sale or Other Disposition of Ordinary Shares
Subject to the discussion under Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules below, gain or loss realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holders holding period for such ordinary shares was more than one year as of the date of the sale or other disposition. The amount of the gain or loss will equal the difference between the U.S. Holders tax basis in the ordinary shares disposed of and the amount realized on the disposition, in each case as determined in U.S. dollars. Long-term capital gain recognized by a non-corporate U.S. Holder is subject to U.S. federal income tax at rates lower than the rates applicable to ordinary income and short-term capital gains, while short-term capital gains are subject to U.S. federal income tax at the rates applicable to ordinary income. This gain or loss will generally be U.S.-source gain or loss for foreign tax credit purposes. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to various limitations.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules
Under the Code, we will be a PFIC for any taxable year in which either (i) 75% or more of our gross income consists of passive income or (ii) 50% or more of the average quarterly value of our assets
S-13
consist of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income. For purposes of the above calculations, we will be treated as if we hold our proportionate share of the assets of, and receive directly our proportionate share of the income of, any other corporation in which we directly or indirectly own at least 25%, by value, of the shares of such corporation. Passive income generally includes interest, dividends, certain non-active rents and royalties (other than certain rents and royalties derived in an active conduct of a trade or business), and capital gains. Cash is generally a passive asset for these purposes. In addition, intangible assets, such as intellectual property and goodwill (the value of which may be determined by reference to the excess of the sum of a corporations market capitalization and liabilities over the value of its assets) are generally characterized as an active asset to the extent it is attributable to activities that produce active income.
Whether we will be a PFIC in the current or any future year is uncertain because, among other things, (i) we currently own, and likely will continue to own, a substantial amount of passive assets, including cash, (ii) the valuation of our assets that generate non-passive income for PFIC purposes, including our intangible assets, is uncertain and may be determined in substantial part by our market capitalization, which may vary substantially over time and (iii) the timing of our recognition of active income for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which may differ from the timing of the recognition of such income for financial accounting purposes, may result in our recognizing lesser amounts of active income for U.S. federal income tax purposes in certain taxable years. In particular, our market capitalization has been volatile. Accordingly, to the extent that the value of our non-passive assets is determined by reference to our market capitalization, there is a significant risk that we may be a PFIC for our current taxable year and possibly future taxable years. However, such determination can only be made after the end of the taxable year.
If we are a PFIC for any year during which a U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares, we will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to that U.S. Holder for all succeeding years during which the U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares, even if we cease to meet the threshold requirements for PFIC status, unless the U.S. Holder elects to recognize gain, if any, as if it sold its ordinary shares as of the last day of the last tax year in which we are a PFIC (a Purging Election). In addition, we may, directly or indirectly, have held or hold equity interests in other PFICs (collectively, Lower-tier PFICs). Under attribution rules, if we are a PFIC, U.S. Holders will be deemed to own their proportionate shares of the stock of Lower-tier PFICs and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax according to the rules described in the following paragraphs on (i) certain distributions by a Lower-tier PFIC and (ii) a disposition of shares of a Lower-tier PFIC, in each case as if the U.S. Holder held those shares directly, even though it will not have received the proceeds of those distributions or dispositions directly. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors about the consequences to them if we own one or more Lower-tier PFICs.
If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares (assuming the U.S. Holder has not made one of certain elections, as described below), gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition (including certain pledges) of ordinary shares (including any gain recognized as a consequence of a Purging Election) will be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holders holding period for the ordinary shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and to any year before we became a PFIC will be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year will be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge will be imposed on the resulting tax liability. Further, to the extent that any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on its ordinary shares exceeds 125% of the average of the annual distributions on the ordinary shares received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holders holding period, whichever is shorter, that distribution will be subject to taxation in the same manner as gain.
If we were a PFIC and a U.S. Holder made either (a) an election to treat our ordinary shares as stock of a qualified electing fund, or QEF, or (b) a mark-to-market election with respect to our ordinary
S-14
shares, that election would alleviate some of the adverse tax consequences of PFIC status and would result in an alternative treatment of the ordinary shares. If we determine that we are a PFIC for any taxable year, we intend to provide the information for U.S. Holders to make or maintain a QEF election, including information necessary to determine the appropriate income inclusion amounts for purposes of the QEF election. However, we cannot give any assurance that we will have timely knowledge of our status as a PFIC in the future or that we will provide the information necessary for U.S. Holders to make QEF elections. Furthermore, the availability of a mark-to-market election with respect to the ordinary shares is a factual determination that will depend on the manner and quantity of trading of our ordinary shares. A mark-to-market election cannot be made with respect to the stock of any of our subsidiaries. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding whether any of these elections for alternative treatment would be available and, if so, what the consequences of the alternative treatments would be in their particular circumstances.
If we are a PFIC (or, with respect to a particular U.S. Holder, are treated as a PFIC) for a taxable year in which we pay a dividend or for the prior taxable year, the preferential dividend rates discussed above with respect to dividends paid to certain non-corporate U.S. Holders will not apply.
If we are a PFIC for a taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares, the U.S. Holder will generally be required to file an annual report on IRS Form 8621 with its annual U.S. federal income tax returns, subject to certain exceptions. The failure to file IRS Form 8621 could result in the imposition of penalties and the extension of the statute of limitations with respect to U.S. federal income tax.
Prospective U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential PFIC rules to an investment in ordinary shares.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of dividends and sales proceeds that are made within the United States or through certain U.S.-related financial intermediaries generally are subject to information reporting, and may be subject to backup withholding, unless (i) the U.S. Holder is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) in the case of backup withholding, the U.S. Holder provides a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that it is not subject to backup withholding.
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle it to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Material Dutch Tax Considerations
Scope of Discussion
The section only outlines certain material Dutch tax consequences of the acquisition, holding and disposal of the ordinary shares. This section does not purport to describe all possible tax considerations or consequences that may be relevant to a holder or prospective holder of ordinary shares and does not purport to deal with the tax consequences applicable to all categories of investors, some of which (such as trusts or similar arrangements) may be subject to special rules. In view of its general nature, this section should be treated with corresponding caution.
For the purposes of this discussion, it is assumed that we are a tax resident of Germany under German national tax laws since we intended to have, from our incorporation and on a continuous basis, our place of effective management in Germany.
S-15
Except as otherwise indicated, this section is based on and only addresses the tax laws of the Netherlands, published regulations thereunder and published authoritative case law, all as in effect on the date hereof, including, for the avoidance of doubt, the tax rates, tax brackets and deemed returns applicable on the date hereof, and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Where this section refers to the Netherlands or Dutch it refers only to the part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located in Europe. The applicable tax laws or interpretations thereof may change, or the relevant facts and circumstances may change, and such changes may affect the contents of this section, which will not be updated to reflect any such changes.
This section is intended as general information only and is not Dutch tax advice or a complete description of all Dutch tax consequences relating to the acquisition, holding and disposal of the ordinary shares. Holders or prospective holders of ordinary shares should consult their own tax advisor regarding the Dutch tax consequences relating to the acquisition, holding and disposal of ordinary shares in light of their particular circumstances.
Please note that this section does not describe the Dutch tax consequences for:
| a holder of ordinary shares if such holder has a substantial interest (aanmerkelijk belang) or deemed substantial interest (fictief aanmerkelijk belang) in us under the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001 (Wet inkomstenbelasting 2001). Generally, a holder is considered to hold a substantial interest in us, if such holder alone or, in the case of an individual, together with such holders partner for Dutch income tax purposes, or any relatives by blood or marriage in the direct line (including foster children), directly or indirectly, holds (i) an interest of 5% or more of our total issued and outstanding capital or of 5% or more of the issued and outstanding capital of a certain class of shares; or (ii) rights (including warrants) to acquire, directly or indirectly, such interest; or (iii) certain profit sharing rights that relate to 5% or more of our annual profits or to 5% or more of our liquidation proceeds. A deemed substantial interest may arise if a substantial interest (or part thereof) in us has been disposed of, or is deemed to have been disposed of, on a non-recognition basis; |
| a holder of ordinary shares if the ordinary shares held by such holder qualify or qualified as a participation (deelneming) for purposes of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969 (Wet op de vennootschapsbelasting 1969). Generally, a holders shareholding, or right to acquire, of 5% or more in our nominal paid-up share capital qualifies as a participation. A holder may also have a participation if (a) such holder does not have a shareholding of 5% or more but a related entity (statutorily defined term) has a participation or (b) we are a related entity (statutorily defined term); |
| holder of ordinary shares which is or who is entitled to the dividend withholding tax exemption (inhoudingsvrijstelling) with respect to any income (opbrengst) derived from the ordinary shares (as defined in Article 4 of the Dutch Dividend Withholding Tax Act 1965 (Wet op de dividendbelasting)). Generally, a holder of ordinary shares may be entitled or required to apply, subject to certain other requirements, the dividend withholding tax exemption if it is an entity and holds an interest of 5% or more in our nominal paid-up share capital; |
| pension funds, investment institutions (fiscale beleggingsinstellingen) and tax exempt investment institutions (vrijgestelde beleggingsinstellingen) (each as defined in the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969) and other entities that are, in whole or in part, not subject to or exempt from Dutch corporate income tax, entities that have a function comparable to an investment institution or a tax exempt investment institution, as well as entities that are exempt from corporate income tax in their country of residence, such country of residence being another state of the European Union, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or any other state with which the Netherlands has agreed to exchange information in line with international standards; and |
S-16
| a holder of ordinary shares if such holder is an individual for whom the ordinary shares or any benefit derived from the ordinary shares is a remuneration or deemed to be a remuneration for (employment) activities performed by such holder or certain individuals related to such holder (as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001). |
Withholding Tax on Dividends
Regular Dutch Dividend Withholding Tax
We are incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, and therefore a Dutch tax resident for Dutch domestic tax law purposes, including the Dutch Dividend Withholding Tax Act 1969. As such, we are required to withhold Dutch dividend withholding tax at a rate of 15% from dividends distributed by us (which withholding tax will not be borne by us but will be withheld by us from the gross dividends paid on the shares). We are however also treated as a German tax resident for German domestic tax law purposes, since our place of effective management is located in Germany. Based on the so-called tie-breaker provision (the Tie-Breaker Provision) included in Section 4(3) of the 2012 Convention between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income (the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands) as in effect on the date hereof, our tax residence in either the Netherlands or Germany for the purposes of the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands should be determined based on our place of effective management. As long as we have our place of effective management continuously in Germany, and the Tie-Breaker Provision is not changed (for instance, by change in the reservations and choices made by Germany with respect to the application of the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting), we will be considered to be exclusively tax resident in Germany for purposes of the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands. As a consequence, the Netherlands will be restricted to impose Dutch dividend withholding tax on dividends distributed by us pursuant to Section 10(5) of the double tax treaty between Germany and the Netherlands (and we will not be required to withhold Dutch dividend withholding tax). This restriction does not apply to dividends distributed by us to a holder of our ordinary shares who is resident or deemed to be resident in the Netherlands for Dutch personal income tax purposes or Dutch corporate income tax purposes (Dutch Resident Individual and Dutch Resident Entity, respectively) or to a holder of our ordinary shares that is neither resident nor deemed to be resident of the Netherlands (Non-Resident Holder) if the ordinary shares are attributable to a Dutch permanent establishment of such Non-Resident Holder, in which evens the following applies.
Dividends distributed by us are generally subject to Dutch dividend withholding tax at a rate of 15%. Generally, we are responsible for the withholding of such dividend withholding tax at source; the Dutch dividend withholding tax is for the account of the holder of ordinary shares.
The expression dividends distributed includes, but is not limited to:
| distributions in cash or in kind, deemed and constructive distributions and repayments of paid-in capital not recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes; |
| liquidation proceeds, proceeds from the redemption of ordinary shares, or proceeds from the repurchase of ordinary shares (other than as temporary portfolio investment; tijdelijke belegging) by us or one of our subsidiaries or other affiliated entities, in each case to the extent such proceeds exceed the average paid-in capital of those ordinary shares as recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes; |
| an amount equal to the par value of the ordinary shares issued or an increase of the par value of the ordinary shares, to the extent that no related contribution, recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes, has been made or will be made; and |
S-17
| partial repayment of the paid-in capital recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes, if and to the extent that we have net profits (zuivere winst), unless (i) the general meeting of shareholders has resolved in advance to make such repayment and (ii) the par value of the ordinary shares concerned has been reduced by an equal amount by way of an amendment to the articles of association. The term net profits includes anticipated profits that have yet to be realized. |
Dutch Resident Entities generally are entitled to an exemption from, or a credit for, any Dutch dividend withholding tax against their Dutch corporate income tax liability. The credit in any given year is, however, limited to the amount of Dutch corporate income tax payable in respect of the relevant year with an indefinite carry forward of any excess amount. Dutch Resident Individuals generally are entitled to a credit for any Dutch dividend withholding tax against their Dutch personal income tax liability and to a refund of any residual Dutch dividend withholding tax. The above generally also applies to Non-Resident Holders if the ordinary shares are attributable to a Dutch permanent establishment of such Non-Resident Holder.
A Non-Resident Holder may, depending on such holders specific circumstances, be entitled to exemptions from, reduction of, or full or partial refund of, Dutch dividend withholding tax under Dutch domestic law, EU law, or treaties for the avoidance of double taxation in effect between the Netherlands and such other country.
Dividend Stripping
According to Dutch domestic anti-dividend stripping rules, no credit against Dutch tax, exemption from, reduction, or refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax will be granted if the recipient of the dividends we paid is not considered the beneficial owner (uiteindelijk gerechtigde; as described in the Dutch Dividend Withholding Tax Act 1965) of those dividends. This legislation generally targets situations in which a shareholder retains its economic interest in shares but reduces the withholding tax costs on dividends by a transaction with another party. It is not required for these rules to apply that the recipient of the dividends is aware that a dividend stripping transaction took place. The Dutch State Secretary of Finance takes the position that the definition of beneficial ownership introduced by this legislation will also be applied in the context of a double taxation convention.
As from January 1, 2024, more stringent rules apply to the setoff, exemption from, and reduction or refund of Dutch dividend withholding tax to address situations where a claim for setoff, exemption, reduction or refund may align with the letter of Dutch tax law or a double taxation convention but goes against the underlying intention or spirit of the dividend stripping rules, as perceived by the legislator. The burden of proof with respect to beneficial ownership of dividends distributed by us rests on the Dutch tax authorities. If, however, a shareholder would receive dividends, including dividends on the ordinary shares, in a calendar year in respect of which an aggregate amount of EUR 1,000 in Dutch dividend withholding tax would otherwise be due based on the rate of 15%, the burden of proof with respect to beneficial ownership of such dividends lies with the shareholder. Furthermore, for shares traded on a regulated market, including the ordinary shares, it has been codified that the record date is used when determining the person who is entitled to the dividend.
Conditional Withholding Tax on Dividends
In addition to the regular Dutch dividend withholding tax as described above, a Dutch conditional withholding tax will be imposed on dividends distributed by us to entities related (gelieerd) to us (within the meaning of the Dutch Withholding Tax Act 2021; Wet bronbelasting 2021), if such related entity:
| is considered to be resident (gevestigd) in a jurisdiction that is listed in the yearly updated Dutch Regulation on low-taxing states and non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (Regeling |
S-18
laagbelastende staten en niet-coöperatieve rechtsgebieden voor belastingdoeleinden) (a Listed Jurisdiction); or |
| has a permanent establishment located in a Listed Jurisdiction to which the ordinary shares are attributable; or |
| holds the ordinary shares with the main purpose or one of the main purposes of avoiding taxation for another person or entity and there is an artificial arrangement or transaction or a series of artificial arrangements or transactions; or |
| is not considered to be the beneficial owner of the ordinary shares in its jurisdiction of residence because such jurisdiction treats another entity as the beneficial owner of the ordinary shares (a hybrid mismatch); or |
| is not resident in any jurisdiction (also a hybrid mismatch); or |
| is a reverse hybrid (within the meaning of Article 2(12) of the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969), if and to the extent (x) there is a participant in the reverse hybrid which is related (gelieerd) to the reverse hybrid, (y) the jurisdiction of residence of such participant treats the reverse hybrid as transparent for tax purposes and (z) such participant would have been subject to the Dutch conditional withholding tax in respect of dividends distributed by us without the interposition of the reverse hybrid, |
all within the meaning of the Dutch Withholding Tax Act 2021.
The Dutch conditional withholding tax on dividends will be imposed at the highest Dutch corporate income tax rate in effect at the time of the distribution (2024: 25.8%). The Dutch conditional withholding tax on dividends will be reduced, but not below zero, by any regular Dutch dividend withholding tax withheld in respect of the same dividend distribution. As such, based on the currently applicable rates, the overall effective tax rate of withholding the regular Dutch dividend withholding tax (as described above) and the Dutch conditional withholding tax on dividends will not exceed the highest corporate income tax rate in effect at the time of the distribution (2024: 25.8%).
Taxes on Income and Capital Gains
Dutch Resident Entities
Generally, if the holder of ordinary shares is a Dutch Resident Entity, any income derived or deemed to be derived from the ordinary shares or any capital gains realized on the disposal or deemed disposal of the ordinary shares is subject to Dutch corporate income tax at a rate of 19% with respect to taxable profits up to 200,000 and 25.8% with respect to taxable profits in excess of that amount (rates and brackets for 2024).
Dutch Resident Individuals
If the holder of ordinary shares is a Dutch Resident Individual, any income derived or deemed to be derived from the ordinary shares or any capital gains realized on the disposal or deemed disposal of the ordinary shares is subject to Dutch personal income tax at the progressive rates (with a maximum of 49.5% in 2024), if:
| the ordinary shares are attributable to an enterprise from which the holder of ordinary shares derives a share of the profit, whether as an entrepreneur (ondernemer) or as a person who has a co-entitlement to the net worth (medegerechtigd tot het vermogen) of such enterprise without being a shareholder (as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001); or |
S-19
| the holder of ordinary shares is considered to perform activities with respect to the ordinary shares that go beyond ordinary asset management (normaal, actief vermogensbeheer) or otherwise derives benefits from the ordinary shares that are taxable as benefits from miscellaneous activities (resultaat uit overige werkzaamheden). |
Taxation of Savings and Investments
If the above-mentioned conditions (i) and (ii) do not apply to the Dutch Resident Individual, the ordinary shares will be subject to an annual Dutch income tax under the regime for savings and investments (inkomen uit sparen en beleggen). Taxation only occurs insofar the Dutch Resident Individuals net investment assets for the year exceed a statutory threshold (heffingvrij vermogen). The net investment assets for the year are the fair market value of the investment assets less the fair market value of the liabilities on January 1 of the relevant calendar year (reference date; peildatum). Actual income or capital gains realized in respect of the ordinary shares are as such not subject to Dutch income tax.
The Dutch Resident Individuals assets and liabilities taxed under this regime, including the ordinary shares, are allocated over the following three categories: (a) bank savings (banktegoeden), (b) other investments (overige bezittingen), including the ordinary shares, and (c) liabilities (schulden). The taxable benefit for the year (voordeel uit sparen en beleggen) is equal to the product of (x) the total deemed return divided by the sum of bank savings, other investments and liabilities and (y) the sum of bank savings, other investments and liabilities minus the statutory threshold, and is taxed at a flat rate of 36% (rate for 2024).
The deemed return applicable to other investments, including the ordinary shares, is set at 6.04% for the calendar year 2024. Transactions in the three-month period before and after January 1 of the relevant calendar year implemented to arbitrate between the deemed return percentages applicable to bank savings, other investments and liabilities will for this purpose be ignored if the holder of ordinary shares cannot sufficiently demonstrate that such transactions are implemented for other than tax reasons.
On June 6, 2024, the Dutch Supreme Court (Hoge Raad) ruled that the current Dutch income tax regime for savings and investments in certain specific circumstances contravenes with Section 1 of the First Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights in combination with Section 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the Ruling). This is, in short, the case in the event the deemed return on the investment assets exceeds the actual return realized in respect thereof (calculated in line with the rules set out in the Ruling and successfully demonstrated by the taxpayer). Holders of ordinary shares are advised to consult their own tax advisor to ensure that the tax in respect of the ordinary shares is levied in accordance with the applicable Dutch tax rules at the relevant time.
Non-Residents of the Netherlands
A holder of ordinary shares that is neither a Dutch Resident Entity nor a Dutch Resident Individual will not be subject to Dutch income tax in respect of income derived or deemed to be derived from the ordinary shares or in respect of capital gains realized on the disposal or deemed disposal of the ordinary shares provided that:
| such holder does not have an interest in an enterprise or deemed enterprise (as defined in the Dutch Income Tax Act 2001 and the Dutch Corporate Income Tax Act 1969, as applicable) which, in whole or in part, is either effectively managed in the Netherlands or carried on through a permanent establishment, a deemed permanent establishment or a permanent representative in the Netherlands and to which enterprise or part of an enterprise the ordinary shares are attributable; and |
S-20
| in the event the holder is an individual, such holder does not carry out any activities in the Netherlands with respect to the ordinary shares that go beyond ordinary asset management and does not otherwise derive benefits from the ordinary shares that are taxable as benefits from miscellaneous activities in the Netherlands. |
Gift and Inheritance Taxes
Residents of the Netherlands
Gift or inheritance taxes will arise in the Netherlands with respect to a transfer of ordinary shares by way of a gift by, or on the death of, a holder of such ordinary shares who is resident or deemed resident of the Netherlands at the time of the gift or such holders death.
Non-Residents of the Netherlands
No gift or inheritance taxes will arise in the Netherlands with respect to a transfer of ordinary shares by way of a gift by, or on the death of, a holder of such ordinary shares who is neither resident nor deemed to be resident of the Netherlands, unless:
| in the case of a gift of ordinary shares by an individual who at the date of the gift was neither resident nor deemed to be resident of the Netherlands, such individual dies within 180 days after the date of the gift, while being resident or deemed to be resident of the Netherlands; |
| in the case of a gift of ordinary shares is made under a condition precedent, the holder of such ordinary shares is resident or is deemed to be resident of the Netherlands at the time the condition is fulfilled; or |
| the transfer is otherwise construed as a gift or inheritance made by, or on behalf of, a person who, at the time of the gift or death, is or is deemed to be resident of the Netherlands. |
For purposes of Dutch gift and inheritance taxes, amongst others, a person that holds the Dutch nationality will be deemed to be resident of the Netherlands if such person has been a resident of the Netherlands at any time during the ten years preceding the date of the gift or such persons death. Additionally, for purposes of Dutch gift tax, amongst others, a person not holding the Dutch nationality will be deemed to be resident of the Netherlands if such person has been a resident of the Netherlands at any time during the twelve months preceding the date of the gift. Applicable tax treaties may override deemed residency.
Value Added Tax (VAT)
No Dutch VAT will be payable by a holder of ordinary shares in respect of any payment in consideration for the holding or disposal of the ordinary shares.
Real Property Transfer Tax
Under circumstances, the ordinary shares could, for the purposes of Dutch real property transfer tax (overdrachtsbelasting), be treated as real property (fictieve onroerende zaken) located in the Netherlands, in which case this tax could be payable upon acquisition of the ordinary shares.
The ordinary shares will generally not be treated as real property (fictieve onroerende zaken) if at the time of, or at any time during the year preceding, the acquisition of the ordinary shares:
(i) | our assets do not and did not include real property situated in the Netherlands; or |
S-21
(ii) | our assets only include and included real property, situated either in or outside the Netherlands, that we do not and did not hold, and currently do not intend to hold, predominantly as a financial investment. |
Real property as referred to under (i) and (ii) above includes legal ownership and more limited legal rights over the property (rights in rem) (zakelijke rechten) as well as contractual rights that give us economic exposure to the value of such real property, and certain participations or interests in entities that are treated as real property (fictieve onroerende zaken).
Our assets do not include and have not included real property situated in the Netherlands as described above. Consequently, no Dutch real property transfer tax becomes payable upon an acquisition of the ordinary shares.
Stamp Duties
No Dutch documentation taxes (commonly referred to as stamp duties) will be payable by a holder of ordinary shares in respect of any payment in consideration for the holding or disposal of the ordinary shares.
Material German Tax Considerations
The following section is a description of the material German tax considerations that become relevant when acquiring, owning and transferring Immatics ordinary shares. It is based on the German tax law applicable as of the date of this prospectus supplement without prejudice to any amendments introduced at a later date and implemented with or without retroactive effect.
This section is intended as general information only and does not purport to be a comprehensive or complete description of all potential German tax effects of the acquisition, ownership or transfer of ordinary shares and does not set forth all German tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular persons decision to acquire ordinary shares. It does not constitute particular German tax advice and potential purchasers of Immatics ordinary shares are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and transfer of ordinary shares in light of their particular circumstances with regard to the application of German tax law to their particular situations (including full or partial tax exemptions of certain pension or investment funds or non-profit organizations), in particular with respect to the procedure to be complied with to obtain a relief of withholding tax on dividends and on capital gains (Kapitalertragsteuer) and with respect to the influence of double tax treaty provisions, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or other non-German jurisdiction. For German tax purposes, a shareholder may include an individual who or an entity that does not have the legal title to the ordinary shares, but to whom nevertheless the ordinary shares are attributed, based either on such individual or entity owning a beneficial interest in the ordinary shares or based on specific statutory provisions.
All of the following is subject to change. Such changes could apply retroactively and could affect the consequences set forth below. This section does not refer to any foreign account tax compliance act (FATCA) aspects.
Immatics Tax Residency Status
Immatics has its statutory seat in the Netherlands and its sole place of management in Germany and is therefore tax resident in Germany (for purposes of the German-Dutch tax treaty). Thus, Immatics qualifies as a corporation subject to German unlimited liability for corporate income tax purposes. However, because Immatics tax residency depends on future facts regarding its place of management, the German unlimited liability for corporate income tax purposes may change in the future.
S-22
Taxation of Dividends
Withholding Tax on Dividend Payments
Dividends distributed from Immatics to its shareholders are generally subject to German withholding tax, conditionally upon certain exemptions (for example, repayments of capital from the tax contribution account (steuerliches Einlagekonto)), as further described herein. The withholding tax rate is 25% plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge (Solidaritätszuschlag) thereon totaling 26.375% of the gross dividend amount. Withholding tax is to be withheld and passed on for the account of the shareholders by a domestic branch of a domestic or foreign credit or financial services institution (Kredit- und Finanzdienstleistungsinstitut), by the domestic securities trading company (inländisches Wertpapierhandelsunternehmen) or a domestic securities trading bank (inländische Wertpapierhandelsbank) which keeps and administers the ordinary shares and disburses or credits the dividends or disburses the dividends to a foreign agent, or by the securities custodian bank (Wertpapiersammelbank) to which the ordinary shares were entrusted for collective custody if the dividends are distributed to a foreign agent by such securities custodian bank (which is referred to as the Dividend Paying Agent). In case the ordinary shares are not held in collective deposit with a Dividend Paying Agent, Immatics is responsible for withholding and remitting the tax to the competent tax office. Such withholding tax is levied and withheld irrespective of whether and to what extent the dividend distribution is taxable at the level of the shareholder and whether the shareholder is a person residing in Germany or in a foreign country.
In the case of dividends distributed to a company within the meaning of Art. 2 of the amended EU Directive 2011/96/EU of the Council of November 30, 2011 (the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive) domiciled in another Member State of the European Union, withholding tax is effectively reduced to zero. This also applies to dividends distributed to a permanent establishment located in another Member State of the European Union of such a parent company or of a parent company tax resident in Germany if the participation in Immatics is effectively connected with this permanent establishment. The key prerequisite for the application of the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive is that the shareholder has held a direct participation in the share capital of Immatics of at least 10% for an uninterrupted period of at least one year.
The withholding tax on dividends distributed to other foreign resident shareholders is reduced in accordance with an applicable double tax treaty (to 15%, 5% or 0%, depending on certain prerequisites) if Germany has concluded such double tax treaty with the country of residence of the shareholder and if the shareholder does not hold his or her ordinary shares either as part of the assets of a permanent establishment or a fixed place of business in Germany or as business assets for which a permanent representative has been appointed in Germany. Further, the foreign resident shareholder must be eligible for treaty purposes and no limitation of benefits provision in a double tax treaty andboth in relation to a reduction pursuant to the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive and an applicable tax treatyno German anti-directive/treaty shopping provision of Section 50d paragraph 3 of the German Income Tax Act (Einkommensteuergesetz) must be applicable.
However, the deduction of withholding taxes will generally apply irrespective of a possible reduction pursuant to the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive or an applicable double tax treaty except for the case that the recipient of the dividends has been granted an exemption from the German Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern) upon formal application by the recipient of the dividends (Freistellung im Steuerabzugsverfahren). In case of deducted withholding taxes, the reduction of the withholding tax pursuant to both the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive and an applicable double tax treaty is procedurally granted in such a manner that the difference between the total amount withheld, including the solidarity surcharge, and the tax liability determined on the basis of the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive (0%) or on the basis of the tax rate set forth in the applicable double tax treaty
S-23
(15% unless further qualifications are met) is upon request refunded by the German Federal Central Tax Office (Bundeszentralamt für Steuern).
In the case of dividends received by corporations who are not tax resident in Germany, two-fifths of the withholding tax deducted and remitted are refunded without the need to fulfill all prerequisites required for such refund under the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive or under a double tax treaty or if no double tax treaty has been concluded between the state of residence of the shareholder, however, likewise subject to the conditions of the German anti-directive/treaty shopping provision.
In order to receive a refund pursuant to a double tax treaty or the aforementioned option for foreign corporations, the shareholder has to submit a completed form for refund (available at the website of the Federal Central Tax Office (http://www.bzst.de) as well as at the German embassies and consulates) together with a withholding tax certificate (Kapitalertragsteuerbescheinigung) issued by the institution that deducted the respective withholding tax.
The aforementioned reductions of (or exemptions from) withholding tax are further restricted if (i) the applicable double tax treaty provides for a tax reduction resulting in an applicable tax rate of less than 15% and (ii) the shareholder is not a corporation that directly holds at least 10% in the equity capital of Immatics and is subject to tax on its income and profits in its state of residence without being exempt. In this case, the reduction of (or exemption from) withholding tax is subject to the following three cumulative prerequisites: (i) the shareholder must qualify as beneficial owner of the shares in a company for a minimum holding period of 45 consecutive days occurring within a period of 45 days prior and 45 days after the due date of the dividends, (ii) the shareholder has to bear at least 70% of the change in value risk related to the shares in a company during the minimum holding period without being directly or indirectly hedged, and (iii) the shareholder must not be required to fully or largely compensate directly or indirectly the dividends to third parties.
In the absence of the fulfillment of all of the three prerequisites, three-fifths of the withholding tax imposed on the dividends must not be credited against the shareholders (corporate) income tax liability, but may, upon application, be deducted from the shareholders tax base for the relevant assessment period. Furthermore, a shareholder that has received gross dividends without any deduction of withholding tax due to a tax exemption without qualifying for such a full tax credit has (i) to notify the competent local tax office accordingly, (ii) to declare according to the officially prescribed form and (iii) has to make a payment in the amount of the omitted withholding tax deduction.
However, these special rules on the restriction of withholding tax credit do not apply to a shareholder whose overall dividend earnings within an assessment period do not exceed 20,000 or that has been the beneficial owner of the shares in a company for at least one uninterrupted year upon receipt of the dividends.
For individual or corporate shareholders tax resident outside Germany not holding the ordinary shares through a permanent establishment (Betriebsstätte) in Germany or as business assets (Betriebsvermögen) for which a permanent representative (ständiger Vertreter) has been appointed in Germany, the remaining and paid withholding tax (if any) is then final (i.e., not refundable) and settles the shareholders limited tax liability in Germany. For individual or corporate shareholders tax resident in Germany (for example, those shareholders whose residence, domicile, registered office or place of management is located in Germany) holding their ordinary shares as business assets, as well as for shareholders tax resident outside of Germany holding their ordinary shares through a permanent establishment in Germany or as business assets for which a permanent representative has been appointed in Germany, the withholding tax withheld (including solidarity surcharge) can be credited against the shareholders personal income tax or corporate income tax liability in Germany. Any withholding tax (including solidarity surcharge) in excess of such tax liability is refunded. For individual
S-24
shareholders tax resident in Germany holding Immatics ordinary shares as private assets, the withholding tax is a final tax (Abgeltungsteuer), subject to the exceptions described in the following section.
Taxation of Dividend Income of Shareholders Tax Resident in Germany Holding Immatics Ordinary Shares as Private Assets (Private Individuals)
For individual shareholders (individuals) resident in Germany holding Immatics ordinary shares as private assets, dividends are subject to a flat rate tax which is satisfied by the withholding tax actually withheld (Abgeltungsteuer). Accordingly, dividend income will be taxed at a flat tax rate of 25% plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge thereon totaling 26.375% and church tax (Kirchensteuer) in case the shareholder is subject to church tax because of his or her personal circumstances. An automatic procedure for deduction of church tax by way of withholding will apply to shareholders being subject to church tax unless the shareholder has filed a blocking notice (Sperrvermerk) with the German Federal Tax Office (details related to the computation of the specific tax rate including church tax are to be discussed with the individual tax advisor of the relevant shareholder). Except for an annual lump sum savings allowance (Sparer-Pauschbetrag) of up to 1,000 (for individual filers) or up to 2,000 (for married couples and for partners in accordance with the registered partnership law (Gesetz über die Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) filing jointly), private individual shareholders will not be entitled to deduct expenses incurred in connection with the capital investment from their dividend income.
The income tax owed for the dividend income is satisfied by the withholding tax withheld by the Dividend Paying Agent. However, if the flat tax results in a higher tax burden as opposed to the private individual shareholders personal income tax rate, the private individual shareholder can opt for taxation at his or her personal income tax rate. In that case, the final withholding tax will be credited against the income tax. The option can be exercised only for all capital income from capital investments received in the relevant assessment period uniformly and married couples as well as partners in accordance with the registered partnership law filing jointly may only jointly exercise the option.
Exceptions from the flat rate tax (satisfied by withholding the tax at source, Abgeltungswirkung) may applythat is, only upon applicationfor shareholders who have a shareholding of at least 25% in Immatics and for shareholders who have a shareholding of at least 1% in Immatics and work for a company in a professional capacity. In such a case, the same rules apply as for sole proprietors holding the ordinary shares as business assets (see below Taxation of Dividend Income of Shareholders Tax Resident in Germany Holding the Companys Ordinary Shares as Business AssetsSole Proprietors). Further, the flat rate tax does not apply if and to the extent dividends reduced Immatics taxable income.
Taxation of Dividend Income of Shareholders Tax Resident in Germany Holding Immatics Ordinary Shares as Business Assets
If a shareholder holds Immatics ordinary shares as business assets, the taxation of the dividend income depends on whether the respective shareholder is a corporation, a sole proprietor or a partnership.
Corporations
Dividend income of corporate shareholders is exempt from corporate income tax, provided that the corporation holds a direct participation of at least 10% in the share capital of a company at the beginning of the calendar year in which the dividends are paid (participation exemption). The
S-25
acquisition of a participation of at least 10% in the course of a calendar year is deemed to have occurred at the beginning of such calendar year. Participations in the share capital of the company which a corporate shareholder holds through a partnership, including co-entrepreneurships (Mitunternehmerschaften), are attributable to such corporate shareholder only on a pro rata basis at the ratio of the interest share of the corporate shareholder in the assets of the relevant partnership. However, 5% of the tax-exempt dividends are deemed to be non-deductible business expenses for tax purposes and therefore are effectively subject to corporate income tax (plus solidarity surcharge) and trade tax; i.e., tax exemption of 95%. Business expenses incurred in connection with the dividends received are entirely tax deductible. The participation exemption does not apply if and to the extent dividends reduced Immatics taxable income.
For trade tax purposes the entire dividend income is subject to trade tax (i.e., the tax-exempt dividends must be added back when determining the trade taxable income), unless the corporation shareholder holds at least 15% of the companys registered share capital at the beginning of the relevant tax assessment period (Erhebungszeitraum). In case of an indirect participation via a partnership please refer to the section Partnerships below.
If the shareholding is below 10% in the share capital, dividends are taxable at the applicable corporate income tax rate of 15%, plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge thereon and trade tax (the rate of which depends on the applicably municipality levy rate determined by the municipality the corporate shareholder has its place of management and permanent establishments respectively).
Special regulations apply which abolish the 95% tax exemption, if the companys ordinary shares are held as trading portfolio assets in the meaning of Section 340e of the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch) by (i) a credit institution (Kreditinstitut), (ii) a financial service institution (Finanzdienstleistungsinstitut) or (iii) a financial enterprise within the meaning of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz), in case more than 50% of the shares of such financial enterprise are held directly or indirectly by a credit institution or a financial service institution, as well as by a life insurance company, a health insurance company or a pension fund in case the shares are attributable to the capital investments, resulting in fully taxable income.
Sole Proprietors
For sole proprietors (individuals) resident in Germany holding ordinary shares as business assets dividends are subject to the partial income rule (Teileinkünfteverfahren). Accordingly, only (i) 60% of the dividend income will be taxed at his/her personal income tax rate plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge thereon and church tax (if applicable) and (ii) 60% of the business expenses related to the dividend income are deductible for tax purposes. In addition, the dividend income is entirely subject to trade tax if the ordinary shares are held as business assets of a permanent establishment in Germany within the meaning of the German Trade Tax Act (Gewerbesteuergesetz), unless the shareholder holds at least 15% of the companys registered share capital at the beginning of the relevant assessment period. The trade tax levied will be eligible for credit against the shareholders personal income tax liability based on the applicable municipal trade tax rate and the individual tax situation of the shareholder limited to currently 4.0 times the trade tax measurement amount (Gewerbesteuer-Messbetrag).
Partnerships
In case ordinary shares are held by a partnership, the partnership itself is not subject to corporate income tax or personal income tax. In this regard, corporate income tax or personal income tax (and church tax, if applicable) as well as solidarity surcharge are levied only at the level of the partner with
S-26
respect to their relevant part of the partnerships taxable income and depending on their individual circumstances:
| if the partner is a corporation, the dividend income will be subject to corporate income tax plus solidarity surcharge (see Corporations above); |
| if the partner is a sole proprietor, the dividend income will be subject to the partial income rule (see Sole Proprietors above); and |
| if the partner is a private individual, the dividend income will be subject to the flat tax rate (see Private Individuals above) unless the partnership is a (operative or deemed) commercial partnership, in which case the partial income rule applies. |
In case the partnership is a (operative or deemed) commercial partnership with its place of management in Germany the dividend income is subject to German trade tax at the level of the partnership, unless the partnership holds at least 15% of a companys registered share capital at the beginning of the relevant assessment period, in which case the dividend income is exempt from trade tax.
Investment Funds
Investment funds (Investmentfonds) and specialized investment funds (Spezial-Investmentfonds) in the meaning of the German Investment Tax Act (Investmentsteuergesetz) and their investors are subject to special rules concerning the taxation of dividends, in particular in relation to the application of the German participation exemption, withholding tax treatment (applicable rate and exemption/refund procedure) and tax assessment.
Taxation of Dividend Income of Shareholders Tax Resident Outside of Germany
For foreign individual or corporate shareholders tax resident outside of Germany not holding the ordinary shares through a permanent establishment in Germany or as business assets for which a permanent representative has been appointed in Germany, the deducted withholding tax (possibly reduced by way of a tax relief under a double tax treaty or domestic tax law, such as in connection with the EU Parent Subsidiary Directive) is final (that is, not refundable) and settles the shareholders limited tax liability in Germany, unless the shareholder is entitled to apply for a withholding tax refund or exemption.
In contrast, individual or corporate shareholders tax resident outside of Germany holding the companys ordinary shares through a permanent establishment in Germany or as business assets for which a permanent representative has been appointed in Germany are subject to the same rules as applicable (and described above) to shareholders resident in Germany holding the ordinary shares as business assets. The withholding tax withheld (including solidarity surcharge) is credited against the shareholders personal income tax or corporate income tax liability in Germany.
Taxation of Capital Gains
Withholding Tax on Capital Gains
Capital gains realized on the disposal of ordinary shares are only subject to withholding tax if (i) a permanent establishment in Germany of a German or foreign credit or financial institution, (ii) a German securities trading company or (iii) a German securities trading bank stores or administrates or carries out the disposal of the ordinary shares and pays or credits the capital gains. In those cases, the institution (and not the company) is required to deduct the withholding tax at the time of payment for the account of the shareholder and has to pay the withholding tax to the competent tax authority.
S-27
In case the ordinary shares in the company are held (i) as business assets by a sole proprietor, a partnership or a corporation and such shares are attributable to a German business or (ii) in case of a corporation being subject to unlimited corporate income tax liability in Germany, the capital gains are not subject to withholding tax. In case of the aforementioned exemption under (i) above, the withholding tax exemption is subject to the condition that the paying agent has been notified by the beneficiary (Gläubiger) that the capital gains are exempt from withholding tax. The respective notification has to be filed by using the officially prescribed form.
Taxation of Capital Gains Realized by Shareholders Tax Resident in Germany Holding Immatics Ordinary Shares as Private Assets (Private Individuals)
For individual shareholders (individuals) resident in Germany holding ordinary shares as private assets, capital gains realized on the disposal of ordinary shares are subject to final withholding tax (Abgeltungsteuer). Accordingly, capital gains will be taxed at a flat tax rate of 25%, plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge thereon totaling 26.375% and church tax, in case the shareholder is subject to church tax because of his or her personal circumstances. An automatic procedure for deduction of church tax by way of withholding will apply to shareholders being subject to church tax unless the shareholder has filed a blocking notice (Sperrvermerk) with the German Federal Central Tax Office (details related to the computation of the specific tax rate including church tax are to be discussed with the personal tax advisor of the relevant shareholder). The taxable capital gain is calculated by deducting the acquisition costs of the ordinary shares and the expenses directly and materially related to the disposal from the proceeds of the disposal. Apart from that, except for an annual lump sum savings allowance (Sparer-Pauschbetrag) of up to 1,000 (for individual filers) or up to 2,000 (for married couples and for partners in accordance with the registered partnership law (Gesetz über die Eingetragene Lebenspartnerschaft) filing jointly), private individual shareholders will not be entitled to deduct expenses incurred in connection with the capital investment from their capital gain.
In case the flat tax results in a higher tax burden as opposed to the private individual shareholders personal income tax rate, the private individual shareholder can opt for taxation at his or her personal income tax rate. In that case, the withholding tax (including solidarity surcharge) withheld will be credited against the income tax. The option can be exercised only for all capital income from capital investments received in the relevant assessment period uniformly and married couples as well as for partners in accordance with the registered partnership law filing jointly may only jointly exercise the option.
Capital losses arising from the disposal of the ordinary shares can only be offset against other capital gains resulting from the disposition of the ordinary shares or shares in other stock corporations during the same calendar year. Offsetting of overall losses with other income (such as business or rental income) and other capital income is not possible. Such losses are to be carried forward and to be offset against positive capital gains deriving from the disposal of ordinary shares in stock corporations in future years.
The final withholding tax (Abgeltungsteuer) will not apply if the seller of the ordinary shares or in case of gratuitous transfer, its legal predecessor has held, directly or indirectly, at least 1% of the companys registered share capital at any time during the five years prior to the disposal. In that case capital gains are subject to the partial income rule (Teileinkünfteverfahren). Accordingly, only (i) 60% of the capital gains will be taxed at his/her personal income tax rate, plus a 5.5% solidarity surcharge thereon and church tax (if applicable) and (ii) 60% of the business expenses related to the capital gains are deductible for tax purposes. The withholding tax withheld (including solidarity surcharge) will be credited against the shareholders personal income tax liability in Germany.
S-28
Taxation of Capital Gains Realized by Shareholders Tax Resident in Germany Holding Immatics Ordinary Shares as Business Assets
If a shareholder holds ordinary shares as business assets, the taxation of capital gains realized on the disposal of such shares depends on whether the respective shareholder is a corporation, a sole proprietor or a partnership:
Corporations
Capital gains realized on the disposal of ordinary shares by a corporate shareholder are generally exempt from corporate income tax and trade tax. However, 5% of the tax-exempt capital gains are deemed to be non-deductible business expenses for tax purposes and therefore are effectively subject to corporate income tax (plus solidarity surcharge) and trade tax; i.e., tax exemption of 95%. Business expenses incurred in connection with the capital gains are entirely tax deductible.
Capital losses incurred upon the disposal of ordinary shares or other impairments of the share value are not tax deductible. A reduction of profit is also defined as any losses incurred in connection with a loan or security in the event the loan or the security is granted by a shareholder or by a related party thereto or by a third person with the right of recourse against the before mentioned persons and the shareholder holds directly or indirectly more than 25% of the companys registered share capital.
Special regulations apply, if the ordinary shares are held as trading portfolio assets by a credit institution, a financial service institution or a financial enterprise within the meaning of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz) as well as by a life insurance company, a health insurance company or a pension fund (see Material German Tax ConsiderationsTaxation of DividendsCorporations).
Sole Proprietors
If the ordinary shares are held by a sole proprietor, capital gains realized on the disposal of the ordinary shares are subject to the partial income rule (Teileinkünfteverfahren). Accordingly, only (i) 60% of the capital gains will be taxed at his/her personal income tax rate plus 5.5% solidarity surcharge thereon and church tax (if applicable) and (ii) 60% of the business expenses related to the dividend income are deductible for tax purposes. In addition, 60% of the capital gains are subject to trade tax if the ordinary shares are held as business assets of a permanent establishment in Germany within the meaning of the German Trade Tax Act (Gewerbesteuergesetz). The trade tax levied, depending on the applicable municipal trade tax rate and the individual tax situation, is partly or entirely be credited against the shareholders personal income tax liability.
Partnerships
In case the ordinary shares are held by a partnership, the partnership itself is not subject to corporate income tax or personal income tax as well as solidarity surcharge (and church tax) since partnerships qualify as transparent for German income tax purposes. In this regard, corporate income tax or personal income tax as well as solidarity surcharge (and church tax, if applicable) are levied only at the level of the partner with respect to their relevant part of the partnerships taxable income and depending on their individual circumstances:
| If the partner is a corporation, the capital gains will be subject to corporate income tax plus solidarity surcharge (see above Corporations). Trade tax will be levied additionally at the level of the partner insofar as the relevant profit of the partnership is not subject to trade tax at the level of the partnership. However, with respect to both corporate income and trade tax, the 95%- |
S-29
exemption rule as described above applies. With regard to corporate partners, special regulations apply if they are held as trading portfolio assets by credit institutions, financial service institutions or financial enterprises within the meaning of the German Banking Act or life insurance companies, health insurance companies or pension funds, as described above. |
| If the partner is a sole proprietor (individual), the capital gains are subject to the partial income rule (see above Sole Proprietors). |
In addition, if the partnership is liable to German trade tax, 60% of the capital gains are subject to trade tax at the level of the partnership, to the extent the partners are individuals, and 5% of the capital gains are subject to trade tax, to the extent the partners are corporations. However, if a partner is a private individual, the trade tax paid at the level of the partnership is credited against the partners personal income tax liability at up to 4.0 times of the trade tax measurement amount (Gewerbesteuer-Messbetrag) depending on the applicable municipal trade tax levy rate and the personal tax situation.
Taxation of Capital Gains Realized by Shareholders Tax Resident Outside of Germany
Capital gains realized on the disposal of the ordinary shares by a shareholder tax resident outside of Germany are subject to German taxation provided that (i) the companys ordinary shares are held as business assets of a permanent establishment or as business assets for which a permanent representative has been appointed in Germany, or (ii) the shareholder or, in case of a gratuitous transfer, its legal predecessor has held, directly or indirectly at least 1% of the companys shares capital at any time during a five-year period prior to the disposal. In these cases, capital gains are generally subject to the same rules as described above for shareholders resident in Germany. However, except for the cases referred to in (i) above, most double tax treaties concluded by Germany provide for a full exemption from German taxation except that the company is considered a real estate holding entity for treaty purposes. Further, the participation exemption applies in full resulting in a tax exemption of 100% (i.e., no deemed non-tax-deductible business expenses).
Inheritance and Gift Tax
The transfer of Immatics ordinary shares to another person by way of succession or donation is subject to German inheritance and gift tax (Erbschaft- und Schenkungsteuer) if:
(i) | the decedent, the donor, the heir, the donee or any other beneficiary has his/her/its residence, domicile, registered office or place of management in Germany at the time of the transfer, or is a German citizen who has not stayed abroad for more than five consecutive years without having a residence in Germany; |
(ii) | (irrespective of the personal circumstances) the ordinary shares are held by the decedent or donor as business assets for which a permanent establishment in Germany is maintained or a permanent representative is appointed in Germany; or |
(iii) | (irrespective of the personal circumstances) at least 10% of the ordinary shares are held directly or indirectly by the decedent or person making the gift, himself or together with a related party in terms of Section 1, paragraph 2, Foreign Tax Act. |
Special regulations apply to qualified German citizens who maintain neither a residence nor their domicile in Germany but in a low tax jurisdiction and to former German citizens, also resulting in inheritance and gift tax. The few double tax treaties on inheritance and gift tax which Germany has entered into provide that German inheritance and gift tax is levied only in case of (i) and, with certain restrictions, in case of (ii).
S-30
Value Added Tax (VAT)
No German value added tax (Umsatzsteuer) will be payable by a shareholder in respect of any purchase, ownership and disposal of the ordinary shares except for a valid option to waive VAT exemption requiring a sale between entrepreneurs for VAT purposes.
Transfer Taxes
No German capital transfer tax (Kapitalverkehrsteuer) or stamp duty (Stempelgebühr) or similar taxes are levied when acquiring, owning or transferring the companys ordinary shares. Net wealth tax (Vermögensteuer) is currently not levied in Germany.
On January 22, 2013, the Council of the European Union approved the resolution of the ministers of finance from eleven EU member states (including Germany) to introduce a financial transaction tax (FTT) within the framework of enhanced cooperation. On February 14, 2013, the European Commission accepted the proposal for a Council Directive implementing enhanced cooperation in the area of FTT. The plan focuses on levying a financial tax of 0.1% (0.01% for derivatives) on the purchase and sale of financial instruments.
A joint statement issued by ten of the eleven participating EU Member States in October 2016 reaffirmed the intention to introduce an FTT. However, at the moment not many details are available. Thus, it is not known to what extent the elements of the European Commissions proposal outlined in the preceding paragraph will be followed in relation to the taxation of shares. The FTT proposal remains subject to negotiation between the participating EU Member States and is subject to political discussion. It may therefore be altered prior to the implementation, the timing of which remains unclear. With the EU Councils conclusion of COVID-19 financial support and the agreement on an FTT becomes more realistic as one of the measures to fund the EUs response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional EU Member States may decide to participate. If an EU-wide FTT (see above) fails, representatives of the IfW (Institute for the World Economy) intend to advocate the introduction of a comprehensive version of the tax in Germany after the COVID-19 pandemic. Prospective holders of the ordinary shares are advised to seek their own professional advice in relation to FTT.
S-31
We have entered into a sales agreement with Leerink Partners, under which we may offer and sell our ordinary shares from time to time through Leerink Partners, acting as our agent. Pursuant to this prospectus supplement, we may offer and sell our ordinary shares having an aggregate offering price of up to $150,000,000. Sales of our ordinary shares, if any, under this prospectus supplement will be made by any method that is deemed an at the market offering as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through Nasdaq, on or through any other existing trading market for our ordinary shares. If authorized by us in writing, Leerink Partners may purchase our ordinary shares as principal.
Leerink Partners will offer our ordinary shares subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement on a daily basis or as otherwise agreed upon by us and Leerink Partners. We will designate the maximum number or amount of ordinary shares to be sold through Leerink Partners on a daily basis or otherwise determine such maximum number or amount together with Leerink Partners. Subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, Leerink Partners will use commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the ordinary shares requested to be sold by us. Leerink Partners or we may suspend the offering of our ordinary shares being made through Leerink Partners under the sales agreement upon proper notice to the other party. Leerink Partners and we each have the right, by giving written notice as specified in the sales agreement, to terminate the sales agreement in each partys sole discretion at any time. The offering of our ordinary shares pursuant to the sales agreement will otherwise terminate upon the termination of the sales agreement as provided therein.
The compensation payable to Leerink Partners will be an amount up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the ordinary shares sold under the sales agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse Leerink Partners for actual outside legal expenses incurred by Leerink Partners in connection with this offering, including Leerink Partners counsel fees in an amount up to $75,000 in connection with the execution of the sales agreement and in amounts up to $25,000 and $15,000 in connection with annual and quarterly, respectively, program refreshes. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5510, these reimbursed fees and expenses are deemed sales compensation to Leerink Partners in connection with this offering. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding any commissions payable to Leerink Partners under the sales agreement, will be approximately $1.0 million.
The remaining sale proceeds, after deducting any commissions and expense reimbursement payable to Leerink Partners and any other transaction fees and expenses payable by us, will equal our net proceeds from the sale of such ordinary shares.
Leerink Partners will provide written confirmation to us by 5:00 p.m. on each day on which our ordinary shares are sold through it as sales agent under the sales agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of ordinary shares sold through it as sales agent on that day, the volume-weighted average price of the ordinary shares sold, the percentage of the daily trading volume and the net proceeds to us.
Settlement for sales of ordinary shares will occur, unless the parties agree otherwise, on the first business day that is also a trading day following the date on which any sales were made in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will report at least quarterly the number of ordinary shares sold through Leerink Partners under the sales agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable to Leerink Partners in connection with the sales of ordinary shares during the relevant period.
S-32
In connection with the sale of our ordinary shares on our behalf, Leerink Partners may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid Leerink Partners may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed in the sales agreement to provide indemnification and contribution to Leerink Partners against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As sales agent, Leerink Partners will not engage in any transactions that stabilize our ordinary shares.
Leerink Partners and/or its affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, various investment banking and other financial services for us for which services they have received, and may in the future receive, customary fees.
S-33
The validity of the securities offered and other matters with respect to Dutch law will be passed upon for us by NautaDutilh N.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Certain matters with respect to U.S. federal and New York State law will be passed upon for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York. The sales agent is represented in connection with this offering with respect to matters of U.S. law by Covington & Burling LLP, New York, New York.
The financial statements and managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Managements Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft is a member of the Chamber of Public Accountants (Wirtschaftsprüferkammer), Berlin, Germany.
S-34
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information we have filed electronically with the SEC. As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act.
We have filed with the SEC a shelf registration statement (including exhibits to the registration statement) on Form F-3 under the Securities Act. This prospectus supplement, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For more detail about us and the securities offered by this prospectus supplement, you may examine the registration statement on Form F-3 and the exhibits filed with it at the website provided in the previous paragraph.
We maintain a corporate website at www.immatics.com. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus supplement or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
S-35
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The rules of the SEC allow us to incorporate by reference information in this prospectus supplement, which means that we disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement is considered to be a part of this prospectus supplement. Any statement made in this prospectus supplement or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus supplement. This prospectus supplement incorporates by reference the documents listed below:
| our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023; |
| our Reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on May 14, 2024 (only with respect to Exhibit 99.1 thereto), June 20, 2024, July 31, 2024, August 13, 2024 (only with respect to Exhibit 99.1 thereto), September 16, 2024 (other than Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 thereto) and October 10, 2024 (other than Exhibits 99.1, 99.2 and 99.3 thereto); and |
| our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on July 1, 2020 and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
All subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F, Form 40-F or Form 10-K that we file with the SEC and all subsequent filings on Forms 10-Q and 8-K filed by us with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act (excluding, in each case, any information or documents deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC), after the date hereof and prior to the completion or termination of this offering, shall be incorporated by reference. We may incorporate by reference any reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC that we specifically identify in such form as being incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement after the date hereof and prior to the completion or termination of the offering of securities under this prospectus supplement.
You can obtain any of the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement through us or from the SEC through the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 20-F and Reports on Form 6-K and exhibits incorporated in and amendments to those reports, are also available free of charge on our website (www.immatics.com) as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only, and information contained therein or connected thereto is not incorporated into this prospectus supplement or the registration statement of which it forms a part. We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement is delivered, a copy of any or all the reports or documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement at no cost, upon written or oral request to us at the following address:
Investor Relations
Immatics N.V.
c/o Immatics US, Inc.
13203 Murphy Rd., Suite 100
Stafford, Texas 77477
(281) 810-7545
S-36
IMMATICS N.V.
Up to $150,000,000
Ordinary Shares
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Leerink Partners
October 10, 2024
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Under Dutch law, directors of a Dutch public company may be held jointly and severally liable to the company for damages in the event of improper performance of their duties. In addition, directors may be held liable to third parties for any actions that may give rise to a tort. This applies equally to our non-executive directors and executive directors.
Pursuant to our articles of association and unless Dutch law provides otherwise, the following will be reimbursed to actual and former non-executive directors and executive directors and other members of the executive committee:
| the costs of conducting a defense against claims, also including claims by the company and its group companies, as a consequence of any acts or omissions in the fulfillment of their duties or any other duties currently or previously performed by them at our request; |
| any damages or financial penalties payable by them as a result of any such acts or omissions; |
| any amounts payable by them under settlement agreements entered into by them in connection with any such acts or omissions; |
| the costs of appearing in other legal proceedings in which they are involved in such capacity, with the exception of proceedings primarily aimed at pursuing a claim on their own behalf; and |
| any taxes payable by them as a result of any reimbursements. |
No indemnification shall be given to an indemnified officer or director under our articles of association where:
| it has been adjudicated by a Dutch court or, in the case of arbitration, an arbitrator, in a final and conclusive decision that the act or omission may be characterized as intentional, deliberately reckless or grossly negligent conduct, unless Dutch law provides otherwise or this would, in view of the circumstances of the case, be unacceptable according to standards of reasonableness and fairness; or |
| the costs or financial loss are covered by insurance and the insurer has paid out the costs or financial loss. |
We have entered into an indemnification agreement with each of our directors and executive officers.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company, the Company has been advised that, in the opinion of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
Item 9. Exhibits
The following documents are filed as part of this registration statement:
II-1
* | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of securities. |
** | To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act. |
Item 10. | Undertakings |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) | to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
(1) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act; |
(2) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Filing Fee Tables or Calculation of Registration Fee table, as applicable, in the effective registration statement; and |
(3) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
II-2
contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(b) | that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; |
(c) | to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering; |
(d) | to file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (d) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3; |
(e) | that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser: |
(1) | each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and |
(2) | each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; and |
II-3
(f) | that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
(1) | any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(2) | any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(3) | the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(4) | any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless, in the opinion of its counsel, the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act (Trust Indenture Act) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
II-4
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Tübingen, Germany on October 10, 2024.
IMMATICS N.V. | ||||
By: | /s/ Harpreet Singh | |||
Name: | Harpreet Singh | |||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer and Director |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Harpreet Singh, Arnd Christ and Edward A. Sturchio and each of them, individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead in any and all capacities, in connection with this registration statement, including to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, this registration statement and any and all post-effective amendments thereto and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on October 10, 2024 in the capacities indicated:
Name | Title | |||
|
| |||
/s/ Harpreet Singh | Chief Executive Officer and Director (principal executive officer) | |||
|
||||
Harpreet Singh |
| |||
/s/ Arnd Christ | Chief Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer) | |||
|
||||
Arnd Christ |
| |||
/s/ Peter Chambré | Chair of the Board of Directors | |||
|
||||
Peter Chambré |
| |||
/s/ Heather L. Mason | Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors | |||
|
||||
Heather L. Mason | ||||
/s/ Michael G. Atieh | Director | |||
|
||||
Michael G. Atieh |
| |||
/s/ Paul Carter | Director | |||
|
||||
Paul Carter |
| |||
/s/ Eliot Forster | Director | |||
|
||||
Eliot Forster |
|
/s/ Mathias Hothum | Director | |||
|
||||
Mathias Hothum |
| |||
/s/ Alise Reicin | Director | |||
|
||||
Alise Reicin | ||||
/s/ Adam Stone | Director | |||
|
||||
Adam Stone |
| |||
/s/ Edward A. Sturchio | Authorized Representative in the United States | |||
|
||||
Edward A. Sturchio |
|
Exhibit 1.2
IMMATICS N.V.
Ordinary Shares
(Nominal value 0.01 per share)
SALES AGREEMENT
October 10, 2024
LEERINK PARTNERS LLC
1301 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Immatics N.V., a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) under Dutch law (the Company), confirms its agreement (this Agreement) with Leerink Partners LLC (the Agent), as follows:
1. Issuance and Sale of Shares. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may offer and sell through the Agent the Companys ordinary shares, nominal value 0.01 per share, of the Company (the Ordinary Shares), subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c) (the Placement Shares). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitation set forth in this Section 1 on the aggregate gross sales price of Placement Shares that may be offered and sold under this Agreement from time to time shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and that the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The offer and sale of Placement Shares through the Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on October 10, 2024, although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to offer or sell any Placement Shares.
The Company has prepared and will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the Securities Act), with the Commission a registration statement on Form F-3, including (a) a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Ordinary Shares, to be offered and sold from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the Exchange Act), and (b) a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Placement Shares to be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to this Agreement (the Prospectus Supplement) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement. The Company will furnish to the Agent, for use by the Agent, copies of the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement at the time it becomes effective, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, including any amendments thereto and all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, is herein called the Registration Statement. The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with any issuer free writing prospectus (as used herein, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (Rule 433)), relating to the Placement Shares that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (ii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i), in each case, in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Companys records pursuant to Rule 433(g), is herein called the Prospectus.
Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, that are or are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein (the Incorporated Documents), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms amend, amendment or supplement with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the most-recent effective date of the Registration Statement, or the respective dates of the Prospectus Supplement, Prospectus or such issuer free writing prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated therein by reference. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System or, if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, EDGAR).
2. Placements. Each time that the Company wishes to offer and sell any Placement Shares through the Agent hereunder (each, a Placement), it will notify the Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (each such notice, a Placement Notice) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires such Placement Shares to be sold, which at a minimum shall include the maximum number or amount of Placement Shares to be sold, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number or amount of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined in Section 3) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (provided that the Company shall ensure that the minimum sales price must always be such that sales of Placement Shares cannot result in Net Proceeds (as defined below) being less than the aggregate nominal value of such Placement Shares), a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice must originate from one of the individuals authorized to act on behalf of the Company and set forth on Schedule 2 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such Schedule 2), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agent set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be updated by either party from time to time by sending a written notice containing a revised Schedule 2 to the other party in the manner provided in Section 12 (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply). The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Agent unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Agent declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, within two Trading Days of the date the Agent receives the Placement Notice, (ii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Agent suspends sales under the Placement Notice for any reason in its sole discretion, (iii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares has been sold pursuant to this Agreement, (iv) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Company suspends sales under or terminates the Placement Notice for any reason in its sole discretion, (v) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice and explicitly indicates that its parameters supersede those contained in the earlier dated Placement Notice or (vi) this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 11. The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares effected through the Agent shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 3. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent and the Agent does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control with respect to the matters covered thereby.
3. Sale of Placement Shares by the Agent. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, including Section 5(c), upon the Agents acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice as provided in Section 2, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Nasdaq Global Market or the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as applicable based on the market on which the Ordinary Shares are then-listed (such market, Nasdaq) to sell such Placement Shares up to the number or amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. The Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) no later
2
than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Trading Day (as defined below) on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number or amount of Placement Shares sold on such Trading Day, the volume-weighted average price of the Placement Shares sold and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company. Unless otherwise specified by the Company in a Placement Notice, the Agent may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an at the market offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through Nasdaq, on or through any other existing trading market for the Ordinary Shares or to or through a market maker. If expressly authorized by the Company (including in a Placement Notice), the Agent may also sell Placement Shares in negotiated transactions. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6(oo), except as may be otherwise agreed by the Company and the Agent, the Agent shall not purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement unless the Company and the Agent enter into a separate written agreement setting forth the terms of such sale. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling Placement Shares, (ii) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of Nasdaq to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Agreement and (iii) the Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement unless the Company and the Agent enter into a separate written agreement setting forth the terms of such sale. For the purposes hereof, Trading Day means any day on which the Ordinary Shares are purchased and sold on Nasdaq.
4. Suspension of Sales.
(a) The Company or the Agent may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 2), suspend any sale of Placement Shares; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either partys obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other party unless notice is sent by one of the individuals named on Schedule 2 hereto to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply).
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information, the Company and the Agent agree that (i) no sale of Placement Shares will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Placement Shares and shall suspend or cancel any effective Placement Notices instructing the Agent to make any sales and (iii) the Agent shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Placement Shares.
5. Settlement and Delivery of the Placement Shares.
(a) Settlement of Placement Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice or as is required for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a Settlement Date). The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the Net Proceeds) (or, if the Net Proceeds cannot be delivered to the Company on or prior to such Settlement Date, delivery of a written confirmation by the Agent that the Agent is keeping such Net Proceeds in escrow for the sole benefit and at the instruction of the Company, with such Net Proceeds in that case to be delivered to the Company promptly following the Settlement Date (the Net Proceeds Confirmation)) will be equal to the aggregate gross sales price received by the Agent at which such Placement Shares were sold, after deduction of (i) the Agents commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to the Agent hereunder pursuant to Section 7(g) hereof and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.
3
(b) Delivery of Placement Shares. On or before each Settlement Date, subject to the delivery of the related Net Proceeds or the Net Proceeds Confirmation by the Agent to the Company, the Company will issue the Placement Shares being sold on such date to its transfer agent pursuant to a deed of issue (each, a Deed of Issue) and will cause its transfer agent to electronically transfer such Placement Shares by crediting the Agents or its designees account (provided the Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (DWAC) or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, which in all cases shall be duly authorized, freely tradeable, transferable, registered Ordinary Shares in good deliverable form. Subject to the Companys execution and delivery of any additional documentation that the Agent reasonably and in good faith requests pursuant to Section 7(dd) hereto in order to facilitate one or more settlements pursuant to this Agreement, on or before each Settlement Date the Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company (or, in case of a Net Proceeds Confirmation, the Net Proceeds will be delivered to the Company promptly following the Settlement Date). The Agent shall be responsible for providing DWAC instructions or other instructions for delivery by other means with regard to the transfer of the Placement Shares being sold. In addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 9(a) hereto, the Company agrees that, following receipt of the Net Proceeds, if the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized, freely tradeable, transferable, registered Placement Shares in good deliverable form by 2:30 P.M., New York City time, on a Settlement Date (other than as a result of a failure by the Agent to provide instructions for delivery), the Company will (i) take all necessary action to cause the full amount of any Net Proceeds that were delivered to the Companys account with respect to such settlement, together with any costs incurred by the Agent and/or its clearing firm in connection with recovering such Net Proceeds, to be immediately returned to the Agent or its clearing firm no later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on such Settlement Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Agent or its clearing firm, (ii) indemnify and hold the Agent and its clearing firm harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (iii) pay to the Agent any commission, discount or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.
(c) Limitations on Offering Size. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Shares, the aggregate number or gross sales proceeds of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of: (i) the number or dollar amount of Ordinary Shares registered pursuant to, and available for offer and sale under, the Registration Statement pursuant to which the offering of Placement Shares is being made, (ii) the number of Ordinary Shares that remain available for issuance under the authorized share capital of the Company (maatschappelijk kapitaal) (less Ordinary Shares issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Companys authorized share capital), (iii) the number or dollar amount of Ordinary Shares permitted to be offered and sold by the Company under Form F-3 (including General Instruction I.B.5. thereof, if such instruction is applicable), (iv) the number or dollar amount of Ordinary Shares that the Companys board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof is authorized to issue and sell from time to time in accordance with the Companys articles of association, applicable resolutions of the Companys shareholders and applicable Dutch law, and notified to the Agent in writing or (v) the dollar amount of Ordinary Shares for which the Company has filed the Prospectus Supplement. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Companys board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Agent in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 5(c) on the number or dollar amount of Placement Shares that may be issued and sold under this Agreement from time to time shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and that the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.
6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agent that as of the date of this Agreement (except for those representations, warranties and agreements that speak solely as of a specific date or time, in which case, as of such date or time), and as of (i) each Representation Date (as defined in Section 7(m)), (ii) each date on which a Placement Notice is given, (iii) the date and time of each sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and (iv) each Settlement Date (each such time or date referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), an Applicable Time):
4
(a) The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for, and comply with the conditions for the use of, Form F-3 (including General Instructions I.A and I.B.1.) under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement will be filed with the Commission and will become effective under the Securities Act prior to the issuance of any Placement Notices by the Company. At the time the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Securities Act and, if later, at the time the Companys most-recent Annual Report on Form 20-F was filed with the Commission, the Company will meet and met, as the case may be, the then-applicable requirements for use of Form F-3 (including General Instructions I.A and I.B.1.) under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of Placement Shares as contemplated hereby comply with, the requirements of Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the Securities Act. The Agent is named as the agent engaged by the Company in the section entitled Plan of Distribution in the Prospectus Supplement. The Company has not received, and has no notice from the Commission of, any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(1) under the Securities Act objecting to the use of the shelf registration statement form. No stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the base prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any such amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing and all Incorporated Documents that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or are available through EDGAR, to the Agent and its counsel.
(b) Each of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, at the time it became or becomes effective, at each deemed effective date with respect to the Agent pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Securities Act and as of each Applicable Time, complied, complies and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and did not, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this sentence do not apply to Agents Information (as defined below). The Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, when so filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, complied, complies and as of each Applicable Time will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, and each Prospectus Supplement, Prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus (or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing) furnished to the Agent for use in connection with the offering of the Placement Shares was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its date and as of each Applicable Time, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this sentence do not apply to Agents Information. Each Incorporated Document filed on or before the date hereof, when it was filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and any Incorporated Documents filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; no such Incorporated Document when it was filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and no such Incorporated Document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) If the Registration Statement is on a form that automatically becomes effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e), (A) at the original effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment or incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or in the form of prospectus), and (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) under the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Placement Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 under the Securities Act, the Company was and is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the first Settlement Date.
5
(d) Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending, and each such free writing prospectus, as of its issue date, did not include any information that conflicted with the information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein.
(e) The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commissions rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(f) The Company is subject to and in compliance in all material respects with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Ordinary Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed on Nasdaq, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting the Ordinary Shares from Nasdaq, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the current listing standards of Nasdaq. The Company has filed or will file a Notification of Listing of Additional Shares with Nasdaq with respect to the Placement Shares.
(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (as defined below) is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Agent for a brokerage commission, finders fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.
(h) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (for purposes of this Agreement, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) (each, a Subsidiary and collectively, the Subsidiaries) have been duly incorporated or organized (and are in good standing, to the extent such concept is applicable) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are validly existing and are duly qualified to do business (and are in good standing, to the extent such concept is applicable), in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified (or in good standing, to the extent such concept is applicable) or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the this Agreement (a Material Adverse Effect). The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(i) All of the issued and outstanding share capital or other equity or ownership interests of each Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable, has been issued in compliance with federal state and securities laws and is owned by the Company, directly or through other wholly-owned Subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim. No Subsidiary is prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution with respect to such Subsidiarys equity securities, from repaying to the Company or any other Subsidiary any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company or to any other Subsidiary.
6
(j) The Company has an authorized capital as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All the outstanding Ordinary Shares of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that a holder of any such Ordinary Shares shall not by reason of merely being such a holder be subject to assessment or calls by the Company or its creditors for further payment on such Ordinary Shares) and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights that have not been duly waived or satisfied or validly excluded. Except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any Ordinary Shares or other equity interest in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any Ordinary Shares or other equity interest of the Company or any such Subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options. The Ordinary Shares of the Company conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(k) With respect to the share options or performance shares (the Share Options) granted pursuant to the share-based compensation plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the Company Share Plans), (i) each grant of a Share Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Share Option was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors or similar governing body of the Company (or its designee) and any required shareholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and to the knowledge of the Company (other than with respect to the execution and delivery by the Company), the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (ii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Share Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of Nasdaq, applicable to the Company on the date the Share Option was granted and (iii) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IFRS) in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company.
(l) The Placement Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (meaning that a holder of any such Placement Shares shall not by reason of merely being such a holder be subject to assessment or calls by the Company or its creditors for further payment on such Placement Shares) and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The issuance of the Placement Shares was not, and the sale of the Placement Shares is not, subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights the exercise and transfer of which have not been validly and irrevocably waived or otherwise validly and irrevocably declined or excluded. The Placement Shares, when delivered against payment thereof, will be freely transferable to or for the account of the Agent and the initial purchasers thereof. There are no restrictions on subsequent transfers of the Placement Shares under the laws of the Netherlands that generally restrict subsequent transfers of the Placement Shares.
(m) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has sent or received any written communication regarding the termination of, or non-renewal or non-performance under, any contract or agreement that is material to the Company and that is described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except such termination, non-renewal or non-performance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(o) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Placement Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an investment company or an entity controlled by an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the Investment Company Act).
(p) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance of the Placement Shares, the sale of the Placement Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the registration of the Placement Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by Nasdaq, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Placement Shares as contemplated hereunder.
7
(q) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance of the Placement Shares, the sale of the Placement Shares, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any property, right or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of association or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material change in the share capital (other than the sale of Placement Shares hereunder and the issuance of Ordinary Shares upon exercise or settlement of options, awards or warrants described in, and the grant of options and awards under equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of share capital, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, shareholders equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority.
(s) No person has the right to require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the sale of Placement Shares, except for such rights as have been satisfied or duly waived.
(t) The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, which are included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations and its changes in cash flows for the periods specified. The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have been prepared in conformity with IFRS applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto, and except in the case of unaudited financial statements, which are subject to normal year-end adjustments and do not contain certain footnotes as permitted by the applicable rules of the Commission, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein. The other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or of such other company and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby.
(u) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, demands, claims, suits, arbitrations, inquiries or proceedings (Actions) pending to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject that would, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no Actions are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others. There are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
8
(v) The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries or (ii) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its articles of association or similar organizational documents, (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft, or any accounting firm whose audit opinion covers the financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(y) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and except for any net income, capital gains or franchise taxes imposed on the Agent by the governments of the Netherlands, the United States, or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein as a result of any present or former connection between the Agent and the jurisdiction imposing such tax, no stamp duties or other issuance or transfer taxes (for the avoidance of doubt this does not include any value added tax or similar taxes) are payable by or on behalf of the Agent in the Netherlands, the United States or any political subdivision or tax authority thereof solely in connection with (i) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or (ii) the sale and delivery by the Agent of the Placement Shares as contemplated herein and in the Prospectus, assuming that the Agent will not waive any value-added tax exemption.
(z) The Company and its Subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date that this representation is made, except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, or where the failure to pay or file such taxes or tax returns would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets that has or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, except for any tax deficiency being contested in good faith and for which appropriate reserves have been provided in accordance with IFRS.
(aa) No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its Subsidiaries principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of cancellation or termination with respect to any collective bargaining agreement that is material to the Company to which it is a party.
9
(bb) The Company and its Subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in such amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are generally maintained by similarly situated companies and which the Company believes are adequate to protect the Company and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) received written notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain comparable coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business as now conducted at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc) The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all licenses, sub-licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, sub-license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where such revocation or modification would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(dd) The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain systems of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS. The Company and its Subsidiaries maintain internal accounting controls that are designed to be sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managements general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Companys internal controls. The Companys auditors and the Audit Committee of the board of directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Companys ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Companys internal controls over financial reporting.
(ee) The Company maintains an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out an evaluation of its effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures to the extent required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act.
(ff) Except any such matter as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries (1) are in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws (including common law), rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and other legally enforceable requirements relating to pollution or the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, Environmental Laws); (2) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under any Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (3) have not received written notice of any actual or potential liability or obligation under or relating to, or any actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and
10
have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (x) there is no proceeding that is pending, or that is known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceeding regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (y) the Company and its Subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (z) none of the Company or its Subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.
(gg) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates (as defined hereafter) has any liability (contingent or otherwise) under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) with respect to any employee benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA. An ERISA Affiliate of any person or entity means any other person or entity which, together with that person or entity, could be treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). Each employee benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA that is maintained for the benefit of the employees of the Company or its affiliates has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of applicable law. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus identify each employment, severance or other similar agreement, arrangement or policy and each material plan or arrangement required to be disclosed pursuant to the Securities Act providing for insurance coverage (including any self-insured arrangements), workers compensation, disability benefits, severance benefits, supplemental unemployment benefits, vacation benefits or retirement benefits, or deferred compensation, profit-sharing, bonuses, share options, share appreciation rights or other forms of incentive compensation, or post-retirement insurance, compensation or benefits that is entered into, maintained or contributed to, as the case may be, by the Company or any of its affiliates for the benefit of any officer, executive director or non-executive director or former officer or director of the Company or any of its affiliates. These agreements, arrangements, policies or plans are referred to collectively as Benefit Arrangements. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, each Benefit Arrangement has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and with the requirements of applicable law and there is no liability in respect of post-retirement health and medical benefits for retired employees of the Company or any of its affiliates, other than medical benefits required to be continued under applicable law.
(hh) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Companys executive directors, non-executive directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) applicable to the Company as of the date the Company became subject to such provisions, including Section 402 related to loans.
(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any officer, executive director or non-executive director of the Company or its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any employee of, or any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has (i) made, offered, promised or authorized any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense (or taken any act in furtherance thereof); (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or the rules and regulations thereunder, any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery, anti-corruption or related law, statute or regulation (collectively, Anti-Corruption Laws); or (iv) made, offered, promised, authorized, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other direct or indirect unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with all Anti-Corruption Laws and each have instituted and maintained, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures reasonably
11
designed to promote and ensure compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws and with the representations and warranties contained in this paragraph; neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will
use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering of the Placement Shares hereunder in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in
violation of the
Anti-Corruption Laws.
(jj) The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its Subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the Anti-Money Laundering Laws) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(kk) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any executive director, non-executive director or officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries nor to the knowledge of the Company, any employee of, or any agent, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is (i) currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a specially designated national or blocked person), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majestys Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, Sanctions) or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the Crimea region of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic, the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a Sanctioned Country). The Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Placement Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (x) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, (y) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (z) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not engaged in and are not now engaged in any dealings or transactions with or involving any person that is, or at the time of the dealing or transaction was, the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country. The Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted, and maintain, policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with Sanctions; nothing in this paragraph shall impose any obligations and/or restrictions on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be, and will only apply if and to the extent that it does not cause the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be, in violation of EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 (EU Blocking Statute) as amended from time to time, or any applicable implementing legislation, including but not limited to the German Foreign Trade Regulations (Außenwirtschaftsverordnung), or any similar anti-boycott law, statute or regulation.
(ll) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries own or have a valid and enforceable right to use all (1) patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, Internet domain name registrations (and all applications for, and all goodwill associated with, such trademarks, service marks, trade names and Internet domain name registrations), copyrights, copyright registrations, licenses and trade secret rights, in each case, in any jurisdiction throughout the world (collectively, Intellectual Property Rights) and (2) inventions, know-how, software, databases, systems, procedures, and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and proprietary or confidential information) (collectively, Intellectual Property Assets) used or held for use in any material respect, or otherwise necessary for, the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (ii) the Companys and its Subsidiaries conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate, and has not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, any Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets of any third party in any material respect (it being understood that the foregoing representation in this clause (ii) is made to the Companys knowledge with respect to patents); (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received notice of any pending or threatened action, suit, or proceeding by any third party that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
12
Companys or any of its Subsidiaries respective businesses as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (A) challenging the Companys or any of its Subsidiaries rights in or to any of the Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets owned by or licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (C) alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets of any third party; (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, neither the Intellectual Property Rights nor the Intellectual Property Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and neither the Intellectual Property Rights nor the Intellectual Property Assets exclusively licensed to the Company and its Subsidiaries are being materially infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated by any third party; (v) other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all Intellectual Property Rights and Intellectual Property Assets owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are solely and exclusively owned by the Company or such Subsidiaries and all other Intellectual Property Rights and Intellectual Property Assets used or held for use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are licensed to the Company or such Subsidiaries, and the Company and its Subsidiaries hold all of such ownership and license rights, in each case, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, defects or other restrictions; (vi) other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries are not aware of any facts that could result in a finding that any of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by or licensed to the Company is invalid or unenforceable; (vii) other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps in accordance with customary industry practice to maintain and protect any confidential information and trade secrets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to protect any confidential information provided to them by any third party; (viii) other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable actions to maintain and to protect all patents and trademark and copyright and Internet domain name registrations (including all applications therefor) owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including payment of applicable maintenance fees, filing of applicable statements of use, timely response office actions, and disclosure of any required information; (ix) other than as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, all personnel (including founders, current and former employees, consultants, contractors, representatives, and agents) involved in the development of Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have signed written and enforceable confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries either (A) has obtained sole and exclusive ownership of such Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets, or (B) has obtained a valid right to exploit such Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets, sufficient for the conduct of the business as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (x) to the Companys knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets have been licensed to the Company and its Subsidiaries; and (xi) the parties prosecuting such applications have complied with their duty of candor and disclosure to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in connection with such applications, and the Company is not aware of any facts required to be disclosed to the USPTO that were not disclosed to the USPTO and which would preclude the grant of a patent in connection with any such application or could form the basis of a finding of invalidity with respect to any patents that have issued with respect to such applications.
(mm) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company (collectively with its Subsidiaries): (i) has operated and currently operates its business in compliance in all material respects with applicable provisions of the Health Care Laws (as defined below) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Health and Human Services and any comparable foreign or other regulatory authority to which they are subject (collectively, the Applicable Regulatory Authorities) applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, storage, import, export or disposal of any of the Companys or its Subsidiaries product candidates or any product manufactured or distributed by the Company; (ii) has not received any FDA Form 483, written notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or written notice from any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority alleging or asserting non-compliance with (A) any Health Care Laws or (B) any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, exemptions, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Health Care Laws (Regulatory Authorizations); (iii) possesses all Regulatory Authorizations required to conduct its business as currently conducted, except where the failure to possess the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
13
Material Adverse Effect, and such Regulatory Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and the Company is not in violation, in any material respect, of any term of any such Regulatory Authorizations; (iv) has not received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from the Applicable Regulatory Authorities or any other third party alleging that any product of the Company is in material violation of any Health Care Laws or Regulatory Authorizations and has no knowledge that the Applicable Regulatory Authorities or any other third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (v) has not received written notice that any of the Applicable Regulatory Authorities has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any material Regulatory Authorizations and has no knowledge that any of the Applicable Regulatory Authorities is considering such action; (vi) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Health Care Laws or Regulatory Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were materially complete and correct on the date filed (or were materially corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission); (vii) is not a party to and does not have any ongoing reporting obligations pursuant to any corporate integrity agreements, deferred prosecution agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, plans of correction or similar agreements with or imposed by any Applicable Regulatory Authority; and (viii) along with its employees, officers and executive directors and non-executive directors, has not been excluded, suspended or debarred from participation in any government health care program or human clinical research and, to the knowledge of the Company, is not subject to a governmental inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or other similar action that would reasonably be expected to result in debarment, suspension, or exclusion.
The term Health Care Laws means Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1395-1395hhh (the Medicare statute); Title XIX of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1396-1396v (the Medicaid statute); the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b); the civil False Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. §§ 3729 et seq.; the criminal False Claims Act, 42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b(a); any criminal laws relating to health care fraud and abuse, including but not limited to 18 U.S.C. Sections 286 and 287 and the health care fraud criminal provisions under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1320d et seq., (HIPAA); the Civil Monetary Penalties Law, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1320a-7a and 1320a-7b; the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7h; the Exclusion Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7; HIPAA, as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 17921 et seq.; the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. §§ 301 et seq.; the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.; the regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws; and any similar federal, state and local laws and regulations.
(nn) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the pre-clinical studies and clinical trials conducted by or, to the knowledge of the Company, on behalf of or sponsored by the Company, or in which the Company has participated that are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as applicable, were, and if still pending are, being conducted in all material respects in accordance with standard medical and scientific research standards and procedures for products or product candidates comparable to those being developed by the Company and all applicable statutes and all applicable rules and regulations of the Applicable Regulatory Authorities and current Good Clinical Practices and Good Laboratory Practices. The descriptions in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of the results of such studies and trials are, to the knowledge of the Company, accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present the data derived therefrom. The Company has no knowledge of any other studies or trials not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus the results of which are inconsistent with or which the Company reasonably believes call into question the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company has not received any written notices or correspondence from the Applicable Regulatory Authorities or any other governmental agency requiring or threatening the termination, modification or suspension of any pre-clinical studies or clinical trials that are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or the results of which are referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus other than ordinary course communications with respect to modifications in connection with the design and implementation of such studies or trials, and, to the Companys knowledge, there are no reasonable grounds for the same.
14
(oo) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Agent has informed the Company that the Agent may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell Ordinary Shares for its own account while this Agreement is in effect; provided, that (i) no such purchase or sales shall take place while a Placement Notice is in effect (except to the extent the Agent may engage in sales of Placement Shares purchased or deemed purchased from the Company as a riskless principal or in a similar capacity) and (ii) the Company shall not be deemed to have authorized or consented to any such purchases or sales by the Agent, except as may be otherwise agreed by the Company and the Agent.
(pp) The Company is not a party to any agreement with an agent or underwriter for any other at the market or continuous equity transaction.
(qq) The Company is not required to register as a broker or dealer in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act and does not, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control or have any other association with (within the meaning of Article I of the By-laws of FINRA) any member firm of FINRA. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand, and the executive directors, non-executive directors, officers or shareholders of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the rules of FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, which is not so described.
(rr) Neither the sale and delivery of the Placement Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.
(ss) The board of directors of the Company has determined in good faith that each member of its Audit Committee satisfies the Nasdaq and Commission independence standards applicable to the Company.
(tt) Neither the Company nor, to the Companys knowledge, any of its affiliates (within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act) has, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of any securities which could be integrated (within the meaning of the Securities Act) with the offer and sale of the Placement Shares hereunder.
(uu) No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in either of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(vv) Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.
(ww) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications and databases owned by, or leased or licensed to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, IT Systems), to the knowledge of the Company, are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted, and to the Companys knowledge are free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants; the Company and its Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third-party data maintained by or on behalf of them (Personal Data)) used in connection with their businesses; to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no material breaches, violations, outages, unauthorized uses of, accesses to or other compromise of or relating to any of the Companys or any of its Subsidiaries Personal Data or IT Systems, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any third party; there are no material incidents under internal review or investigations relating to any security breach or other compromise of the Companys or any of its Subsidiaries Personal Data or IT Systems and the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems or Personal Data; the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented
15
commercially reasonable backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices; and the Company and its Subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and internal policies, procedures and contractual obligations relating to the security of IT Systems and the privacy, collection, use, transfer, storage, protection, disposal or disclosure of Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(xx) There are no debt securities, convertible securities or preferred shares issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that are rated by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization, as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act (a Rating Organization).
(yy) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets has immunity under Dutch, German, U.S. federal or New York state law from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any such legal action, suit or proceeding, from set-off or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any Dutch, German, U.S. federal or New York state court, from service of process, attachment upon or prior to judgment, or attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of a judgment, or other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of a judgment, in any such court with respect to their respective obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection herewith; and, to the extent that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to any such right of immunity in any such court in which proceedings arising out of, or relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, may at any time be commenced, the Company has, pursuant to Section 17 of this Agreement, waived, and it will waive, or will cause its Subsidiaries to waive, such right to the extent permitted by law.
(zz) Any final judgment for a fixed or determined sum of money rendered by any U.S. federal or New York state court located in the State of New York having jurisdiction under its own laws in respect of any suit, action or proceeding against the Company based upon this Agreement would generally be declared enforceable against the Company by the courts of the Netherlands, without reconsideration or reexamination of the merits.
(aaa) The choice of laws of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of the Netherlands and subject to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 relating to the law applicable to contractual obligations (Rome I), will be given effect to by the courts of the Netherlands, subject to the restrictions described under the caption Enforcement of Judgments in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 17 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each New York state and United States federal court sitting in the City of New York and has validly and irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding brought in such court.
(bbb) The indemnification and contribution provisions set forth in Section 6 hereof do not contravene Dutch law or public policy.
(ccc) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and subject to the qualifications and assumptions described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company believes that it was not a passive foreign investment company (PFIC) as defined in Section 1297 of the Code for its most recently completed taxable year and the Company does not expect to be a PFIC for the current tax year.
(ddd) The legality, validity, enforceability or admissibility into evidence of any of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, this Agreement or the Placement Shares in any jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or does business is not dependent upon such document being submitted into, filed or recorded with any court or other authority in any such jurisdiction (other than court filings in the ordinary course of proceedings) on or before the date that this representation is made or that any tax, imposition or charge (other than court fees or similar documentary tax payable in the ordinary course of proceedings) be paid in any such jurisdiction on or in respect of any such document.
16
(eee) A holder of the Placement Shares and the Agent are both entitled to sue as plaintiff in the court of the jurisdiction of formation and domicile of the Company for the enforcement of its respective rights under this Agreement and such access to such courts will not be subject to any conditions which are not applicable to residents of such jurisdiction or a company incorporated in such jurisdiction except that plaintiffs not residing in the Netherlands may be required to guarantee payment of a possible order for payment of costs or damages at the request of the defendant; provided, however, that the enforcement in the Netherlands of foreign judgments and arbitral awards is subject to the provisions of the Netherlands Code of Civil Procedure (Wetboek van Burgerlijke Rechtsvordering).
(fff) The Company is a foreign private issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(ggg) The Company is not an ineligible issuer as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or its counsel in connection with the offering of the Placement Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to the Agent.
7. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agent that:
(a) Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which the Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or a similar rule); (i) the Company will notify the Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than Incorporated Documents, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus, other than Incorporated Documents, has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus related to the Placement Shares or for additional information related to the Placement Shares; (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agents request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agents reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by the Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agents right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to make such filing (but without limiting the Agents rights under Section 9 hereof) will be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement relating to the Placement Shares or the Prospectus, other than Incorporated Documents, unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agent has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agents right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and the Company shall have no obligation to provide the Agent any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Agent an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing (i) is not an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus Supplement and (ii) does not name the Agent or does not relate to the Placement Shares or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the Companys making such filing notwithstanding the Agents objection (but without limiting the Agents rights under Section 9 hereof) will be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any Incorporated Document, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than Incorporated Documents, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act and, in the case of any Incorporated Document, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed.
(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Agent, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued. The Company will advise the Agent promptly after it receives any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Registration Statement related to the Placement Shares or any amendment or supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information related to the offering of the Placement Shares or for additional information related to the Registration Statement with respect to the Placement Shares or the Prospectus.
17
(c) Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or a similar rule), the Company will comply in all material respects with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and will file on or before their respective due dates (taking into account any extensions available under the Exchange Act) all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agent to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, it will use its best efforts to comply with the provisions thereof and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430B and to notify the Agent promptly of all such filings if not available on EDGAR.
(d) Listing of Placement Shares. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or a similar rule), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on Nasdaq. The Company will timely file with Nasdaq all material documents and notices required by Nasdaq of companies that have or will issue securities that are traded on Nasdaq.
(e) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agent and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all Incorporated Documents) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all Incorporated Documents filed with the Commission during such period), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request and, at the Agents request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to the Agent to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.
(f) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Agent as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Companys current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.
(g) Expenses. The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereunder, will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including expenses relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and each amendment and supplement thereto, of the Prospectus and of each amendment and supplement thereto and of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares, (ii) the preparation, issuance, sale and delivery of the Placement Shares and any taxes due or payable in connection therewith, (iii) the qualification of the Placement Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(w) of this Agreement, including filing fees (provided, however, that any fees or disbursements of counsel for the Agent in connection therewith shall be paid by the Agent except as set forth in clauses (vii) below), (iv) the printing and delivery to the Agent and its counsel of copies of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and of this Agreement, (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing or qualification of
18
the Placement Shares for trading on Nasdaq, (vi) the filing fees and expenses, if any, owed to the Commission or FINRA and the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Ordinary Shares, and (vii) the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Agents outside legal counsel in an amount not to exceed (A) $75,000 in connection with the first Placement Notice, (B) $25,000 in connection with each Representation Date on which the Company is required to provide a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m)(ii), and (C) $15,000 in connection with each Representation Date on which the Company is required to provide a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m)(iii).
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the Section entitled Use of Proceeds.
(i) Notice of Other Sales. Without the prior written consent of the Agent, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Ordinary Shares (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Ordinary Shares during the period beginning on the second Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to Agent hereunder and ending on the Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Shares covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination); and will not directly or indirectly in any other at the market offering or continuous equity transaction offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Ordinary Shares (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Ordinary Shares prior to the later of the termination of this Agreement and the thirtieth day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice; provided, however, that such restrictions will not be required in connection with the Companys issuance or sale of (i) Ordinary Shares, options to purchase Ordinary Shares, other securities under the Companys equity incentive plans, or Ordinary Shares issuable upon the exercise of options or vesting of other securities, pursuant to any employee or director share option or benefits plan, share ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan (but not Ordinary Shares subject to a waiver to exceed plan limits in its dividend reinvestment plan) of the Company whether now in effect or hereafter implemented, (ii) Ordinary Shares issuable upon conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding, and disclosed in filings by the Company available on EDGAR or otherwise in writing to the Agent and (iii) Ordinary Shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares as consideration for mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations or strategic alliances occurring after the date of this Agreement which are not issued for capital raising purposes.
(j) Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Placement Shares, advise the Agent promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided or required to be provided to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
(k) Due Diligence Cooperation. During the term of this Agreement, the Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agent, its affiliates, agents and counsel from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Companys principal offices, as the Agent may reasonably request.
(l) Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares. The Company agrees that on or prior to such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the number or amount of Placement Shares sold through the Agent, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent with respect to such Placement Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market; provided, that, unless a prospectus supplement containing such information is required to be filed under the Securities Act, the requirement of this Section 7(l) may be satisfied by Companys inclusion in the Companys Form 20-F or Form 6-K, as applicable, of the number or amount of Placement Shares sold through the Agent, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent with respect to such Placement Shares during the relevant period.
19
(m) Representation Dates; Certificate. On or prior to the date on which the Company first delivers a Placement Notice pursuant to this agreement (the First Placement Notice Date) and each time the Company:
(i) | amends or supplements (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement Shares) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares (other than a prospectus supplement filed in accordance with Section 7(l) of this Agreement) by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker or supplement but not by means of incorporation of document(s) by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares; |
(ii) | files an annual report on Form 20-F under the Exchange Act (including any Form 20-F/A containing amended financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed Form 20-F); |
(iii) | files a report on Form 6-K under the Exchange Act containing quarterly financial information (other than an earnings release that is furnished) that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and Prospectus; or |
(iv) | files a report on Form 6-K under the Exchange Act containing amended financial information (other than an earnings release that is furnished) that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and Prospectus (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a Representation Date), |
the Company shall furnish the Agent (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if (1) a Placement Notice is pending or in effect and (2) the Agent requests such certificate within three Business Days after the filing of such Form 6-K with the Commission) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented), within one Trading Day of any Representation Date. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(m) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending or in effect, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of (1) the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and (2) the next occurring Representation Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date on which the Company relied on the waiver referred to in the previous sentence and did not provide the Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(m), then before the Company delivers a Placement Notice or the Agent sells any Placement Shares pursuant thereto, the Company shall provide the Agent with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, dated the date of such Placement Notice. Within one Trading Day of each Representation Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such further information, certificates and documents as the Agent may reasonably request.
(n) Legal Opinions. On or prior to the First Placement Notice Date and on any date which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent the written opinion and negative assurance letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, U.S. counsel to the Company, and the written opinion of NautaDutilh N.V., Netherlands counsel to the Company, or, in either case, such other counsel satisfactory to the Agent (Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and NautaDutilh N.V., together, Company Counsel), each in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinions and negative assurance letter are required to be delivered, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinions and negative assurance letters for subsequent Representation Dates, Company Counsel may furnish the Agent with letters to the effect that the Agent may rely on a prior opinion or negative assurance letter delivered by such counsel under this Section 7(n) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letters (except that statements in such prior opinion or negative assurance letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).
20
(o) Intellectual Property Opinion. On or prior to the First Placement Notice Date and on any date which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent the written opinion of McBee Moore & Vanik IP Law, counsel for the Company with respect to intellectual property matters, or such other intellectual property counsel satisfactory to the Agent (Intellectual Property Counsel), in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion letter is required to be delivered, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that in lieu of such written opinion for subsequent Representation Dates, Intellectual Property Counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter to the effect that the Agent may rely on a prior opinion letter delivered by such counsel under this Section 7(o) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such opinion letter (except that statements in such prior opinion letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).
(p) Comfort Letter. On or prior to the First Placement Notice Date and on any date which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause its independent registered public accounting firm (and any other independent accountants whose report is included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) to furnish the Agent letters (the Comfort Letters), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(p); provided, that if requested by the Agent, the Company shall cause a Comfort Letter to be furnished to the Agent within 10 Trading Days of the occurrence of any material transaction or event that necessitates the filing of additional, pro forma, amended or revised financial statements (including any restatement of previously issued financial statements). Each Comfort Letter shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and each Comfort Letter from the Companys independent registered public accounting firm shall (i) confirm that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (ii) state, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants comfort letters to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the Initial Comfort Letter) and (iii) update the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.
(q) Market Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, and will cause its officers, executive directors, non-executive directors and Subsidiaries not to (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of Ordinary Shares or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase Ordinary Shares in violation of Regulation M, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than the Agent; provided, however, that the Company may bid for and purchase Ordinary Shares in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act.
(r) Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary for the business for which it is engaged.
(s) Compliance with Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental certificates, authorizations or permits required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus (collectively, Permits), and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such Permits and with applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such Permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an investment company, as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
21
(u) Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the sales of, or dealings in, the Placement Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.
(v) No Offer to Sell. Other than a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) approved in advance by the Company and the Agent, neither the Agent nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Agent in its capacity as agent) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Placement Shares hereunder.
(w) Blue Sky and Other Qualifications. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Agent, to qualify the Placement Shares for offering and sale, or to obtain an exemption for the Placement Shares to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Agent may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Placement Shares have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement).
(x) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Companys financial statements in accordance with IFRS, (iii) that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with managements and the Companys directors authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company will maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the applicable regulations thereunder that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commissions rules and forms, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Companys management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to it by others within the Company, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are being prepared.
(y) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. The Company will promptly notify the Agent if the Company loses its status as a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) as of the time the Company files with the Commission an Annual Report on Form 20-F.
(z) Renewal of Registration Statement. If, immediately prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement (the Renewal Date), any of the Placement Shares remain unsold and this Agreement has not been terminated, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Date, file a new shelf registration statement or, if applicable, an automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Ordinary Shares that may be offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement (which shall include a prospectus reflecting the number or amount of Placement Shares that may be offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement), in a form satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, and, if such registration statement is not an automatic shelf registration statement, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Date. The Company will take all other reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to permit the public offer and sale of the Placement Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement and this Agreement. From and after the effective date thereof, references herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new shelf registration statement or such new automatic shelf registration statement, as the case may be.
22
(aa) General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3. If, from and after the date of this Agreement, the Company is no longer eligible to use Form F-3 (including pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5.) at the time it files with the Commission an annual report on Form 20-F or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, then it shall promptly notify the Agent and, within two Business Days after the date of filing of such annual report on Form 20-F or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Company shall file a new prospectus supplement with the Commission reflecting the number of Ordinary Shares available to be offered and sold by the Company under this Agreement pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3; provided, however, that the Company may delay the filing of any such prospectus supplement for up to 30 days if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, it is in the best interest of the Company to do so, provided that no Placement Notice is in effect or pending during such time. Until such time as the Company shall have corrected such misstatement or omission or effected such compliance, the Company shall not notify the Agent to resume the offering of Placement Shares.
(bb) Tax Indemnity. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Agent against any documentary, stamp or similar issue tax, including any interest and penalties, on the issue and sale of the Placement Shares.
(cc) Transfer Agent. The Company has engaged and will maintain, at its sole expense, a transfer agent and registrar for the Ordinary Shares.
(dd) Settlement Documents. The Company hereby agrees to execute and deliver any additional documentation that the Agent reasonably and in good faith requests in order to facilitate one or more settlements pursuant to this Agreement.
8. Conditions to the Agents Obligations. The obligations of the Agent hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein, to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by the Agent of a due diligence review satisfactory to the Agent in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by the Agent in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall be effective and shall be available for all offers and sales of Placement Shares (i) that have been issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices and (ii) that will be issued pursuant to any Placement Notice.
(b) Prospectus Supplement. The Company shall have filed with the Commission the Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commissions close of business on the second Business Day following the date of this Agreement.
(c) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material Incorporated Document untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any material changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or Incorporated Documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, in the case of the Prospectus, so that it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
23
(d) No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Agent shall not have advised the Company that in the Agents opinion, the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Companys reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized share capital of the Company or any Material Adverse Effect or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or any downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Companys securities (other than asset backed securities), if any, by any Rating Organization or a public announcement by any Rating Organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Companys securities (other than asset backed securities), if any, the effect of which, in the judgment of the Agent (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(f) Company Counsel Legal Opinions. The Agent shall have received the opinions and negative assurance letters, as applicable, of Company Counsel and Intellectual Property Counsel required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) and Section 7(o), as applicable, on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinions and negative assurance letters are required pursuant to Section 7(n) and Section 7(o), as applicable.
(g) Agents Counsel Legal Opinion. The Agent shall have received from Covington & Burling LLP, U.S. counsel for the Agent, such opinion or opinions, on or before the date on which the delivery of the Company Counsel legal opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(n), with respect to such matters as the Agent may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(h) Comfort Letter. The Agent shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(p) on or before the date on which such delivery of such Comfort Letter is required pursuant to Section 7(p).
(i) Representation Certificate. The Agent shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(m), in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.
(j) Secretarys Certificate. On or prior to the First Placement Notice Date and on any date which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Agent shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by the Secretary of the Company and attested to by an executive officer of the Company, in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto.
(k) No Suspension. The Ordinary Shares shall be duly listed, and admitted and authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, on Nasdaq. Trading in the Ordinary Shares shall not have been suspended on, and the Ordinary Shares shall not have been delisted from, Nasdaq.
(l) Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m), the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such appropriate further information, opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agent may have reasonably requested. All such information, opinions, certificates, letters and other documents shall have been in compliance with the provisions hereof. The Company shall have furnished the Agent with conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agent may have reasonably requested.
(m) Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the Securities Act) or Rule 433, as applicable.
24
(n) Approval for Listing. Either (i) the Placement Shares shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on Nasdaq at, or prior to, the First Placement Notice Date and Nasdaq shall have reviewed such application and not provided any objections thereto.
(o) FINRA. FINRA shall have raised no objection to the terms of the offering contemplated hereby and the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Agent as described in the Prospectus.
(p) No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit the Agent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a).
9. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, its affiliates and their respective partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Agent, in each case from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses documented and reasonably incurred in connection with, and any and all amounts paid in settlement (in accordance with this Section 9), any action, suit, investigation or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party (including any governmental or self-regulatory authority, or otherwise, or any claim asserted or threatened), as and when incurred, to which the Agent, or any such other person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based, directly or indirectly, on (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) or in any free writing prospectus or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or based on written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Ordinary Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, (y) the omission or alleged omission to state in any such document a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein (solely with respect to the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading or (z) any breach by any of the indemnifying parties of any of their respective representations, warranties or agreements contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and is caused, directly or indirectly, by an untrue statement or omission, or alleged untrue statement or omission, made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agents Information. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.
(b) Agent Indemnification. The Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 9(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agents Information.
(c) Procedure. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 9 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 9, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 9 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be
25
entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any other legal expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm (plus local counsel) admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly after the indemnifying party receives a written invoice relating to such fees, disbursements and other charges in reasonable detail. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 9 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for which it is entitled to be reimbursed under this Section 9, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 9(a) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 9 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable or insufficient from the Company or the Agent, the Company and the Agent will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit, investigation or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Agent, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and executive directors and non-executive directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and the Agent may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total Net Proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by the Agent from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the
26
relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action, suit, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Agent, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action, suit, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 9(e) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 9(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action, suit, investigation, proceeding or claim to the extent consistent with this Section 9. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(e), the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 9(e), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, any affiliates of the Agent, any partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents of the Agent and each person that is controlled by or under common control with the Agent will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 9(e), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 9(e) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 9(c) hereof or pursuant to Section 9(d) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.
10. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 9 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.
11. Termination.
(a) The Agent shall have the right, by giving notice as hereinafter specified, at any time to terminate this Agreement if (i) any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, has occurred that, in the judgment of the Agent, may materially impair the ability of the Agent to sell the Placement Shares hereunder, (ii) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder; provided, however, in the case of any failure of the Company to deliver (or cause another person to deliver) any certification, opinion or letter required under Section 7(m), Section 7(n), Section 7(o) or Section 7(p), the Agents right to terminate shall not arise unless such failure to deliver (or cause to be delivered) continues for more than 15 calendar days from the date such delivery was required, (iii) any other condition of the Agents obligations hereunder is not fulfilled, (iv) any suspension or limitation of trading in the Placement Shares or in securities generally on Nasdaq shall have occurred, (v) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of United States federal or New York authorities, or (vi) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States or international political, financial or economic conditions that, in the judgment of the Agent, may materially impair the ability of the Agent to sell the Placement Shares hereunder or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Agent elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 11(a), the Agent shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 12.
27
(b) The Company shall have the right, by giving 10 days prior notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) The Agent shall have the right, by giving 10 days prior notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(d) Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 11, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through the Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; provided that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(e) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 11(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 shall remain in full force and effect.
(f) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agent or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to pay to the Agent any discount or commission with respect to any Placement Shares not otherwise sold by the Agent under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall remain obligated to reimburse the Agents expenses pursuant to Section 7(g).
12. Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, and if sent to the Agent, shall be delivered to:
Leerink Partners LLC
1301 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Peter M. Fry
E-mail: peter.fry@leerink.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Leerink Partners LLC
1301 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Stuart R. Nayman, Esq.
E-mail: stuart.nayman@leerink.com
28
and
Covington & Burling LLP
The New York Times Building
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10018
Attention: Matthew T. Gehl
E-mail: mgehl@cov.com
and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:
Immatics N.V.
Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 15
72076 Tübingen
Germany
Attention: Edward Sturchio
E-mail: Edward.Sturchio@immatics.com
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Attention: Yasin Keshvargar
E-mail: yasin.keshvagar@davispolk.com
and
NautaDutilh N.V.
Beethovenstraat
1082 PR Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Attention Paul van der Bijl
E-mail: paul.vanderbijl@nautadutilh.com
Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally on or before 4:30 P.M., New York City time, on a Business Day, or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) by Electronic Notice as set forth in the next paragraph, (iii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier or (iv) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, Business Day shall mean any day on which the Nasdaq and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.
An electronic communication (Electronic Notice) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section 12 if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party in Section 12. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives actual acknowledgment of receipt from the person whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (Nonelectronic Notice), which shall be sent to the requesting party within 10 days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice.
13. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Agent and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers, directors and other persons referred to in Section 9 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of each such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto, the persons referred to in the preceding sentence and their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Agent may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate of the Agent without obtaining the Companys consent, so long as such affiliate is a registered broker-dealer.
29
14. Adjustments for Share Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any share split, share dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Ordinary Shares.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability; Waiver. This Agreement (including all schedules (as amended pursuant to this Agreement) and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Agent; provided, however, that Schedule 2 of this Agreement may be amended by either party from time to time by sending a notice containing a revised Schedule 2 to the other party in the manner provided in Section 12 and, upon such amendment, all references herein to Schedule 2 shall automatically be deemed to refer to such amended Schedule 2. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement. No implied waiver by a party shall arise in the absence of a waiver in writing signed by such party. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power, or privilege hereunder.
16. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
17. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to such party at the address in effect for notices under Section 12 of this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient notice of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. The Company hereby irrevocably appoints Edward A. Sturchio of Immatics US, Inc., which currently maintains an office at 13203 Murphy Rd., Suite 100, Stafford, Texas 77477 as its agent to receive service of process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, United States of America. To the extent that the Company has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (sovereign or otherwise) from jurisdiction of any court of (i) the Netherlands, (ii) the United States or the State of New York, (iii) any jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or assets or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution, set-off or otherwise) with respect to itself or its respective property and assets or this Agreement, the Company hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of its obligations under this Agreement to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
18. Construction.
(a) The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
30
(b) Words defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa.
(c) The words hereof, hereto, herein and hereunder and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
(d) Wherever the word include, includes or including is used in this Agreement, it shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation.
(e) References herein to any gender shall include each other gender.
(f) References herein to any law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority shall be deemed to refer to such law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority as amended, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time and also to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
19. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. Each of the Company and the Agent represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Placement Shares that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405), required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Agent or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an issuer free writing prospectus, and that it has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.
20. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) the Agent has been retained to act as sales agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares, the Agent has acted at arms length and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, shareholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters and the Agent has no duties or obligations to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth herein;
(b) the Company is capable of evaluating, and understanding and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) neither the Agent nor its affiliates have provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;
(d) the Company has been advised and is aware that the Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Agent and its affiliates have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and
(e) the Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agent or its affiliates for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agrees that the Agent and its affiliates shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including shareholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees of the Company.
31
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile or electronic transmission. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
22. Use of Information. The Agent may not provide any information gained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including due diligence, to any third party other than its legal counsel advising it on this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless expressly approved by the Company in writing.
23. Agents Information. As used in this Agreement, Agents Information means solely the following information in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus: the last sentence of the eighth paragraph and the ninth paragraph under the heading Plan of Distribution in the Prospectus Supplement.
24. Currency Provisions. The obligations of the Company pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any sum due to the Agent shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first Business Day, following receipt by the Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, on which the Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency. If the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to the Agent in United States dollars hereunder, the Company agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Agent against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to the Agent hereunder, the Agent agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to the Agent hereunder.
All payments made by the Company under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of any withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (including any amounts that result from the payment of fees, compensation or reimbursement of costs contemplated by this Agreement) imposed or levied by or on behalf of the Netherlands or by any department, agency or other political subdivision or any taxing authority thereof or therein, and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto (collectively, Dutch Taxes), unless such deduction or withholding is required by law. If any Dutch Taxes are required by law to be deducted or withheld by the Company in connection with such payment or repurchase, the Company will increase the amount to be paid to the Agent so that the full amount of such payment is received by the Agent, provided that the Company will not be required to pay any such additional amounts to the extent that the obligation to withhold or deduct any amounts arises as a result of any present or former connection between the Agent and the relevant jurisdiction other than any such connection arising solely as a result of the transaction described in this Agreement.
25. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. In the event that the Agent is a Covered Entity and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from the Agent of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States. In the event that the Agent is a Covered Entity and the Agent or a BHC Act Affiliate of the Agent becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against the Agent are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Agreement, (A) BHC Act Affiliate has the meaning assigned to the term affiliate in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (B) Covered Entity means any of the following: (i) a covered entity as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a covered bank as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a covered FSI as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (C) Default Right has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (D) U.S. Special Resolution Regime means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
32
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is contained, included or stated in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
All references in this Agreement to supplements to the Prospectus shall include any supplements, wrappers or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by the Agent outside of the United States.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
33
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Agent, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent.
Very truly yours, | ||||
IMMATICS N.V. | ||||
By: | /s/ Arnd Christ | |||
Name: | Arnd Christ | |||
Title: | Chief Financial Officer |
ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written: | ||||
LEERINK PARTNERS LLC | ||||
By: | /s/ Peter Fry | |||
Name: | Peter Fry | |||
Title: | Head of Alternative Equities |
[Signature Page to Sales Agreement]
SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE
From: | [ ] | |||
[TITLE] | ||||
Immatics N.V. | ||||
Cc: | [ ] | |||
To: | Leerink Partners LLC | |||
Subject: | Leerink PartnersAt the Market OfferingPlacement Notice |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Sales Agreement, dated October 10, 2024 (the Agreement), by and between Immatics N.V., a public limited liability company (naamloze vennootschap) under Dutch law (the Company), and Leerink Partners LLC (Leerink Partners), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that Leerink Partners sell up to [ ] Ordinary Shares, nominal value 0.01 per share, of the Company (the Shares), at a minimum market price of $ per share[; provided that no more than [ ] Shares shall be sold in any one Trading Day (as such term is defined in Section 3 of the Agreement)]. Sales should begin [on the date of this Placement Notice] and end on [DATE] [until all Shares that are the subject of this Placement Notice are sold].
SCHEDULE 2
The Company
Harpreet Singh (Harpreet.Singh@immatics.com)
Arnd Christ (Arnd.Christ@immatics.com)
Edward Sturchio (Edward.Sturchio@immatics.com)
Leerink Partners
Dan Dubin (dan.dubin@leerink.com)
Gabriel Cavazos (gabriel.cavazos@leerink.com)
Atm@leerink.com
SCHEDULE 3
Compensation
The Company shall pay Leerink Partners compensation in cash up to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales of Placement Shares pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement of which this Schedule 3 forms a part.
Exhibit 5.1
ATTORNEYS CIVIL LAW NOTARIES TAX ADVISERS
|
|
P.O. Box 7113 1007 JC Amsterdam Beethovenstraat 400 1082 PR Amsterdam T +31 20 71 71 000 F +31 20 71 71 111 |
Amsterdam, 10 October 2024. | |
To the Company:
We have acted as legal counsel as to Dutch law to the Company in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement with the SEC. This opinion letter is rendered to you in order to be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Capitalised terms used in this opinion letter have the meanings set forth in Exhibit A to this opinion letter. The section headings used in this opinion letter are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect its construction or to be taken into consideration in its interpretation.
This opinion letter is strictly limited to the matters stated in it and may not be read as extending by implication to any matters not specifically referred to in it. Nothing in this opinion letter should be taken as expressing an opinion in respect of any representations or warranties, or other information, contained in any document reviewed by us in connection with this opinion letter.
In rendering the opinions expressed in this opinion letter, we have reviewed and relied upon a draft of the Registration Statement and pdf copies of the Corporate Documents and we have assumed that any issuance of Registered Securities shall be effected for bona fide commercial reasons. We have not investigated or verified any factual matter disclosed to us in the course of our review.
This opinion letter sets out our opinion on certain matters of the laws with general applicability of the Netherlands, and, insofar as they are directly applicable in the Netherlands, of the European Union, as at todays date and as presently interpreted under published authoritative case law of the Dutch courts, the General Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union. We do not express any opinion on Dutch or European competition law, data protection law, tax law, securitisation law or regulatory law. No undertaking is assumed on our part to revise, update or amend this opinion letter in connection with, or to notify or inform you of, any developments and/or changes of Dutch law subsequent to todays date. We do not purport to opine on the consequences of amendments to the Registration Statement or the Corporate Documents subsequent to the date of this opinion letter.
|
All legal relationships are subject to NautaDutilh N.V.s general terms and conditions (see https://www.nautadutilh.com/terms), which apply mutatis mutandis to our relationship with third parties relying on statements of NautaDutilh N.V., include a limitation of liability clause, have been filed with the Rotterdam District Court and will be provided free of charge upon request. NautaDutilh N.V.; corporate seat Rotterdam; trade register no. 24338323. |
2
The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are to be construed and interpreted in accordance with Dutch law. The competent courts at Amsterdam, the Netherlands, have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any issues of interpretation or liability arising out of or in connection with this opinion letter. Any legal relationship arising out of or in connection with this opinion letter (whether contractual or non-contractual), including the above submission to jurisdiction, is governed by Dutch law and shall be subject to the general terms and conditions of NautaDutilh. Any liability arising out of or in connection with this opinion letter shall be limited to the amount which is paid out under NautaDutilhs insurance policy in the matter concerned. No person other than NautaDutilh may be held liable in connection with this opinion letter.
In this opinion letter, legal concepts are expressed in English terms. The Dutch legal concepts concerned may not be identical in meaning to the concepts described by the English terms as they exist under the law of other jurisdictions. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency, the relevant expression shall be deemed to refer only to the Dutch legal concepts described by the English terms.
For the purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed that:
a. each copy of a document conforms to the original, each original is authentic, and each signature is the genuine signature of the individual purported to have placed that signature;
b. if any signature under any document is an electronic signature (as opposed to a handwritten (wet ink) signature) only, it is either a qualified electronic signature within the meaning of the eIDAS Regulation, or the method used for signing is otherwise sufficiently reliable;
c. the Registration Statement will become effective upon filing with the SEC in the form reviewed by us;
d. at each Relevant Moment, (i) Ordinary Shares shall have been admitted for trading on a trading system outside the European Economic Area comparable to a regulated market or a multilateral trading facility as referred to in Section 2:86c(1) DCC and (ii) no financial instruments issued by the Company (or depository receipts for or otherwise representing such financial instruments) have been admitted to trading on a regulated market, multilateral trading facility or organised trading facility operating in the European Economic Area (and no request for admission of any such financial instruments to trading on any such trading venue has been made;
e. each of the Deed of Incorporation and the Deed of Conversion is a valid notarial deed; |
3
f. the Current Articles are the Articles of Association currently in force and as they will be in force at each Relevant Moment;
g. at each Relevant Moment, the authorised share capital (maatschappelijk kapitaal) of the Company shall allow for the issuance of the Registered Shares;
h. at each Relevant Moment, the Company will not have (i) been dissolved (ontbonden), (ii) ceased to exist pursuant to a merger (fusie) or a division (splitsing), (iii) been converted (omgezet) into another legal form, either national or foreign, (iv) had its assets placed under administration (onder bewind gesteld), (v) been declared bankrupt (failliet verklaard), (vi) been granted a suspension of payments (surseance van betaling verleend), (vii) started or become subject to statutory proceedings for the restructuring of its debts (akkoordprocedure) or (viii) been made subject to similar proceedings in any jurisdiction or otherwise been limited in its power to dispose of its assets;
i. any Registered Securities shall be issued, and any pre-emption rights in connection therewith shall have been excluded, pursuant to resolutions validly passed by the corporate body (orgaan) of the Company duly authorised to do so;
j. the issue price for any Registered Shares shall at least equal the aggregate nominal value thereof, any conversion, exchange or exercise price of other Registered Securities shall at least equal the aggregate nominal value of the underlying Registered Shares, any such issue, conversion, exchange or exercise price shall have been satisfied in cash and shall have been received and accepted by the Company ultimately upon the issuance of the relevant Registered Shares and, where relevant, the Company shall have consented to payment in a currency other than Euro;
k. any Registered Shares issued in connection with the conversion, exchange or exercise of other Registered Securities shall be issued pursuant to a valid conversion, exchange or exercise of such Registered Securities in accordance with their respective terms; and
l. no Registered Securities shall be offered to the public (aanbieden aan het publiek) in the Netherlands other than in conformity with the Prospectus Regulation, the PRIIPs Regulation and the rules promulgated thereunder.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and subject to the qualifications set forth in this opinion letter and to any matters, documents or events not disclosed to us, we express the following opinions: |
4
Corporate Status
1. The Company has been duly incorporated as a besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid and is validly existing as a naamloze vennootschap.
Registered Shares
2. Subject to receipt by the Company of payment in full for, or other satisfaction of the issue, conversion, exchange or exercise price for, the Registered Shares, and when issued by the Company and accepted by the acquiror(s) thereof, the Registered Shares shall be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:
A. Opinion 1 must not be read to imply that the Company cannot be dissolved (ontbonden). A company such as the Company may be dissolved, inter alia by the competent court at the request of the companys board of directors, any interested party (belanghebbende) or the public prosecution office in certain circumstances, such as when there are certain defects in the incorporation of the company. Any such dissolution will not have retro-active effect.
B. Pursuant to Section 2:7 DCC, any transaction entered into by a legal entity may be nullified by the legal entity itself or its liquidator in bankruptcy proceedings (curator) if the objects of that entity were transgressed by the transaction and the other party to the transaction knew or should have known this without independent investigation (wist of zonder eigen onderzoek moest weten). The Dutch Supreme Court (Hoge Raad der Nederlanden) has ruled that in determining whether the objects of a legal entity are transgressed, not only the description of the objects in that legal entitys articles of association (statuten) is decisive, but all (relevant) circumstances must be taken into account, in particular whether the interests of the legal entity were served by the transaction. Based on the objects clause contained in the Current Articles, we have no reason to believe that, by issuing Registered Securities, the Company would transgress the description of the objects contained in its Articles of Association. However, we cannot assess whether there are other relevant circumstances that must be taken into account, in particular whether the interests of the Company are served by issuing Registered Securities since this is a matter of fact. |
5
C. Pursuant to Section 2:98c DCC, a company such as the Company may grant loans (leningen verstrekken) only in accordance with the restrictions set out in Section 2:98c DCC, and may not provide security (zekerheid stellen), give a price guarantee (koersgarantie geven) or otherwise bind itself, whether jointly and severally or otherwise with or for third parties (zich op andere wijze sterk maken of zich hoofdelijk of anderszins naast of voor anderen verbinden) with a view to (met het oog op) the subscription or acquisition by third parties of shares in its share capital or depository receipts. This prohibition also applies to its subsidiaries (dochtervennootschappen). It is generally assumed that a transaction entered into in violation of Section 2:98c DCC is null and void (nietig).
D. The opinions expressed in this opinion letter may be limited or affected by:
a. rules relating to Insolvency Proceedings or similar proceedings under a foreign law and other rules affecting creditors rights generally;
b. the provisions of fraudulent preference and fraudulent conveyance (Actio Pauliana) and similar rights available in other jurisdictions to insolvency practitioners and insolvency office holders in bankruptcy proceedings or creditors;
c. claims based on tort (onrechtmatige daad);
d. sanctions and measures, including but not limited to those concerning export control, pursuant to European Union regulations, under the Dutch Sanctions Act 1977 (Sanctiewet 1977) or other legislation;
e. the Anti-Boycott Regulation, Anti Money Laundering Laws and related legislation;
f. any intervention, recovery or resolution measure by any regulatory or other authority or governmental body in relation to financial enterprises or their affiliated entities; and
g. the rules of force majeure (niet toerekenbare tekortkoming), reasonableness and fairness (redelijkheid en billijkheid), suspension (opschorting), dissolution (ontbinding), unforeseen circumstances (onvoorziene omstandigheden) and vitiated consent (i.e., duress (bedreiging), fraud (bedrog), abuse of circumstances (misbruik van omstandigheden) and error (dwaling)) or a difference of intention (wil) and declaration (verklaring). |
6
E. The term non-assessable has no equivalent in the Dutch language and for purposes of this opinion letter such term should be interpreted to mean that a holder of an Ordinary Share shall not by reason of merely being such a holder be subject to assessment or calls by the Company or its creditors for further payment on such Ordinary Share.
F. This opinion letter does not purport to express any opinion or view on the operational rules and procedures of any clearing or settlement system or agency.
We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and also consent to the reference to NautaDutilh in the Registration Statement under the caption Legal Matters. In giving this consent we do not admit or imply that we are a person whose consent is required under Section 7 of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ NautaDutilh N.V. |
7
EXHIBIT A
LIST OF DEFINITIONS
Anti Money Laundering Laws | The European Anti-Money Laundering Directives, as implemented in the Netherlands in the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act (Wet ter voorkoming van witwassen en financieren van terrorisme) and the Dutch Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht). | |
Anti-Boycott Regulation | The Council Regulation (EC) No 2271/96 of 22 November 1996 on protecting against the effects of the extra-territorial application of legislation adopted by a third country, and actions based thereon or resulting therefrom. | |
Articles of Association | The Companys articles of association (statuten) as they read from time to time. | |
Bankruptcy Code | The Dutch Bankruptcy Code (Faillissementswet). | |
Commercial Register | The Dutch Commercial Register (handelsregister). | |
Company | Immatics N.V., a public company with limited liability (naamloze vennootschap), registered with the Commercial Register under number 77595726. | |
Corporate Documents | The Deed of Incorporation, the Deed of Conversion and the Current Articles. | |
Current Articles | The Articles of Association as contained in the Deed of Conversion and as they read as of July 1, 2021 pursuant to the transitional provision previously included in the Articles of Association as article 51. | |
DCC | The Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek). | |
Debt Securities | One or more series of debt securities issuable by the Company and registered pursuant to the Registration Statement. |
8
Deed of Conversion | The deed of conversion and amendment to the Articles of Association dated 1 July 2020. | |
Deed of Incorporation | The Companys deed of incorporation (akte van oprichting) dated 10 March 2020. | |
eIDAS Regulation | Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC. | |
Insolvency Proceedings | Any insolvency proceedings within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2015/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2015 on insolvency proceedings (recast), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2021/2260 of the European Parliament and of the Counsel of 15 December 2021, listed in Annex A thereto and any statutory proceedings for the restructuring of debts (akkoordprocedure) pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code. | |
NautaDutilh | NautaDutilh N.V. | |
the Netherlands | The European territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Dutch is in or from the Netherlands. | |
Ordinary Shares | Ordinary shares in the Companys capital, with a nominal value of EUR 0.01 each. | |
PRIIPs Regulation | Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2014 on key information documents for packaged retail and insurance-based investment products (PRIIPs). | |
Prospectus Regulation | Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC. |
9
Purchase Contracts | One or more series of purchase contracts issuable by the Company and registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, for the purchase or sale of Debt Securities, Registered Shares or other securities as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. | |
Registered Securities | The Debt Securities, Purchase Contracts, Registered Shares, Subscription Rights, Units and Warrants. | |
Registered Shares | The following Ordinary Shares:
a. the Ordinary Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, including Ordinary Shares issuable under the Sales Agreement, dated as of the date of this opinion letter, between the Company and Leerink Partners LLC, relating to the offer and sale from time to time of Ordinary Shares having an aggregate offering price of $150,000,000; and
b. the Ordinary Shares issuable pursuant to the conversion, exchange or exercise of other Registered Securities. | |
Registration Statement | The Companys registration statement on Form F-3 filed or to be filed with the SEC in the form reviewed by us. | |
Relevant Moment | Each time when one or more Registered Securities are issued by the Company. | |
SEC | The United States Securities and Exchange Commission. |
10
Subscription Rights | One or more series of subscription rights issuable by the Company and registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, for the purchase of Debt Securities, Registered Shares or securities as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. | |
Units | One or more series of units issuable by the Company and registered pursuant to the Registration Statement consisting of one or more Debt Securities, Purchase Contracts, Registered Shares, Warrants or any combination of such securities as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. | |
Warrants | One or more series of warrants issuable by the Company and registered pursuant to the Registration Statement for the purchase of Debt Securities, Registered Shares or other securities as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Exhibit 5.2
OPINION OF DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP
October 10, 2024
Immatics N.V.
Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 15
72076 Tübingen
Federal Republic of Germany
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Immatics N.V., a naamloze vennootschap organized under the laws of the Netherlands (the Company) is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the Registration Statement) for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), (a) ordinary shares, nominal value 0.01 per share (the Ordinary Shares) of the Company; (b) the Companys debt securities (the Debt Securities), which may be issued pursuant to an indenture to be entered into between the Company and the trustee to be named therein (the Trustee) (the Indenture); (c) warrants of the Company (the Warrants), which may be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent to be named therein (the Warrant Agent) (each such warrant agreement, a Warrant Agreement); (d) purchase contracts (the Purchase Contracts), which may be issued pursuant to one or more purchase contract agreements to be entered into between the Company and the purchase contract agent to be named therein (the Purchase Contract Agent) (each such purchase contract agreement, a Purchase Contract Agreement); (e) units (the Units), which may be issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements to be entered into among the Company, a bank or trust company, as unit agent (the Unit Agent), and the holders from time to time of the Units (each such unit agreement, a Unit Agreement); and (f) subscription rights (the Rights), which may be issued pursuant to one or more subscription rights agreements to be entered into between the Company and the subscription agent to be named therein (the Rights Agent) (each such subscription rights agreement, a Rights Agreement).
We, as your counsel, have examined originals or copies of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion.
In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all documents filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been executed will conform to the forms thereof, (iv) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (v) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so, (vi) all statements in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company that we reviewed were and are accurate and (vii) all representations made by the Company as to matters of fact in the documents that we reviewed were and are accurate.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional assumptions and qualifications set forth below, we advise you that, in our opinion:
1. | When the Indenture and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee and the Company; the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Indenture; and such Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the Indenture and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, |
1
concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, and may be subject to possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors rights, provided that we express no opinion as to (w) the enforceability of any waiver of rights under any usury or stay law, (x) the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above, (y) the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any section of the Indenture that requires or relates to adjustments to the conversion rate at a rate or in an amount that a court would determine in the circumstances under applicable law to be commercially unreasonable or a penalty or forfeiture or (z) the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision that permits holders to collect any portion of stated principal amount upon acceleration of the Debt Securities to the extent determined to constitute unearned interest. |
2. | When the Warrant Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Warrants have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Warrant Agreement; and such Warrants have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, and may be subject to possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors rights. |
3. | When the Purchase Contract Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Purchase Contracts has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchase Contract Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement; and such Purchase Contracts have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Purchase Contracts will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, and may be subject to possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors rights. |
4. | When the Unit Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Unit Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Units have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Unit Agreement; and such Units have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, and may be subject to possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors rights. |
5. | When the Rights Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Rights has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Rights Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Rights have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Rights Agreement; and such Rights have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Rights Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Rights will |
2
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, and may be subject to possible judicial or regulatory actions giving effect to governmental actions or foreign laws affecting creditors rights. |
In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any such security, (i) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have duly established the terms of such security and the Board of Directors of the Company and, to the extent required under Dutch law, the shareholders of the Company shall have duly authorized the issuance and sale of such security and such authorization shall not have been modified or rescinded; (ii) the Company is, and shall remain, validly existing as a corporation in good standing (to the extent such concept exists) under the laws of the Netherlands; (iii) the Registration Statement shall have become effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded; (iv) the Indenture, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement, the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Unit Agreement and the Rights Agreement are each valid, binding and enforceable agreements of each party thereto (other than as expressly covered above in respect of the Company); and (v) there shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such security. We have also assumed that the terms of any security whose terms are established subsequent to the date hereof and the issuance, execution, delivery and performance by the Company of any such security (a) are within its corporate powers, (b) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, the articles of association or other constitutive documents of the Company, (c) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and (d) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or public policy or regulation or any judgment, injunction, order or decree or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company and (ii) any Warrant Agreement, Purchase Contract Agreement, Unit Agreement and Rights Agreement and any security issued pursuant to any such agreements will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States. Insofar as the foregoing opinion involves matters governed by the laws of the Netherlands, we have relied, without independent inquiry or investigation, on the opinion of NautaDutilh N.V. delivered to you today.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement referred to above and further consent to the reference to our name under the caption Legal Matters in the prospectus, which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
3
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-3 of Immatics N.V. of our report dated March 21, 2024 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Immatics N.V.s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading Experts in such Registration Statement.
Stuttgart, Germany
October 10, 2024
PricewaterhouseCoopers GmbH
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft
/s/ Stefanie Fink Wirtschaftsprüferin (German Public Auditor) |
/s/ Jens Rosenberger Wirtschaftsprüfer (German Public Auditor) |
1
Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule |
Amount Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee Rate |
Amount of Registration Fee |
Carry Forward Form Type |
Carry Forward File Number |
Carry Forward Initial Effective Date |
Filing Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to Be Carried Forward | |||||||||||||
Newly Registered Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
(1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||
(1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
(1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
$ |
$ |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Fees Previously Paid |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||||
Carry Forward Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carry Forward Securities |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||||||||
Total Offering Amounts | $ |
$ |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fees Previously Paid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fee Offsets | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Fee Due | $ |
(1) | The registrant is relying on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to defer payment of all registration fees. In connection with the securities offered hereby, the registrant will pay “pay-as-you-go |