S-1
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2021.

 

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   2836   37-1657129

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

One Broadway, 16th Floor

Cambridge, MA 02142

617-300-8460

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

 

 

Marcio Souza

Chief Executive Officer

One Broadway, 16th Floor

Cambridge, MA 02142

617-300-8460

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

 

 

Copies to:

 

Richard A. Hoffman, Esq.

Sarah Ashfaq, Esq.

Goodwin Procter LLP

100 Northern Avenue

Boston, MA 02210

(617) 570-1000

 

Jonathan L. Kravetz, Esq.

John T. Rudy, Esq.

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C.

One Financial Center

Boston, MA 02111

(617) 542-6000

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Large Accelerated Filer      Accelerated Filer  
Non-Accelerated Filer      Smaller Reporting Company  
     Emerging Growth Company  

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

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price(1)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee(2)

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

  $129,076,000   $14,083

 

 

(1)

Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Includes the aggregate price of shares that the underwriters may purchase pursuant to an option to purchase additional shares.

(2)

Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based on an estimate of the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.

 

 

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

 

 

 


Table of Contents

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

 

PROSPECTUS (Subject to Completion)

Dated May 11, 2021

PROSPECTUS

4,000,000 Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

We are offering 4,000,000 shares of our common stock. Our common stock is listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “PRAX.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021 was $28.06 per share. The final public offering price will be determined through negotiation between us and the underwriters, and the recent market price used throughout the prospectus may not be indicative of the actual public offering price.

We are an “emerging growth company” under applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules and are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings.

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

Our business and an investment in our common stock involve significant risks. These risks are described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 12 of this prospectus.

 

 

 

    

Per Share

      

Total

 

Public offering price

   $        $  

Underwriting discounts(1)

   $          $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.

   $          $    

 

  (1)

See “Underwriting” beginning on page 33 of this prospectus for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional 600,000 shares from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.

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

 

 

 

BofA Securities

 

Cowen

  Piper Sandler

Wedbush PacGrow

 

 

            , 2021.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     1  

THE OFFERING

     8  

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

     10  

RISK FACTORS

     12  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     14  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     16  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     18  

CAPITALIZATION

     19  

DILUTION

     21  

PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

     23  

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     26  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     28  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK

     29  

UNDERWRITING

     33  

LEGAL MATTERS

     42  

EXPERTS

     42  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     42  

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

     42  

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with information other than that contained in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the underwriters are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover page of this prospectus, or other earlier date stated in this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our common stock.

For investors outside of the United States: We have not, and the underwriters have not, done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than the United States. Persons outside of the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside of the United States.

The market data and certain other statistical information used throughout this prospectus are based on independent industry publications, governmental publications, reports by market research firms or other independent sources that we believe to be reliable sources. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. We are responsible for all of the disclosure contained in this prospectus, and we believe that these sources are reliable; however, we have not independently verified the information contained in such publications. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding any third-party information presented in this prospectus, their estimates, in particular, as they relate to projections, involve numerous assumptions, are subject to risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Some data are also based on our good faith estimates.


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all of the information that you should consider in making your investment decision. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read this entire prospectus and the information in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Unless the context otherwise requires, we use the terms “Praxis,” “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus to refer to Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.

Company Overview

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company translating genetic insights into the development of therapies for central nervous system, or CNS, disorders characterized by neuronal imbalance. Normal brain function requires a delicate balance of excitation and inhibition in neuronal circuits, which, when dysregulated, can lead to abnormal function and disease. We are applying insights from genetic epilepsies to broader neurological and psychiatric disorders, using our understanding of shared biological targets and circuits in the brain. We apply a deliberate and pragmatic precision approach, leveraging a suite of translational tools including novel transgenic and predictive translational animal models and electrophysiology markers, to enable an efficient path to proof-of-concept in patients. Through this approach, we have established a broad portfolio, including multiple disclosed programs across CNS disorders, including depression, epilepsy, movement disorders and pain syndromes, with three clinical-stage product candidates.

Our insights into genetic mutations resulting in neuronal imbalance have enabled us to develop a pipeline addressing prevalent psychiatric and neurologic conditions and rare diseases, with the ability to expand into additional indications. We have established a broad portfolio, including multiple disclosed programs across CNS disorders, including depression, epilepsy, movement disorders and pain syndromes. We expect multiple topline clinical trial readouts from all three programs in the next year and anticipate the launch of a new clinical development program in 2021. We intend to develop differentiated therapies that can deliver long-term benefits to human health by meaningfully impacting patients and society. Below is a summary of our portfolio of disclosed programs, addressing either broad psychiatric and neurologic conditions or rare diseases, followed by a summary of our upcoming milestones.

 

LOGO

 

*

PRAX-222 is a collaboration with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, or Ionis, and RogCon Inc. Ionis is eligible to receive royalties as a percentage of net product sales worldwide in the low-20s.

**

SCN2A-LOF is a collaboration with The Florey Institute; collaboration includes 2 additional ASOs with undisclosed targets.



 

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LOGO

PRAX-114

We are developing PRAX-114, an extrasynaptic GABAA receptor preferring positive allosteric modulator, or PAM, for the treatment of patients suffering from major depressive disorder, or MDD, and perimenopausal depression, or PMD. PRAX-114 is under development as a potentially differentiated treatment for a broad MDD population, as both a monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for both acute and maintenance treatment. We have a multi-cohort, three-part Phase 2a clinical trial ongoing in Australia. Parts A and C of the trial have been completed and were treating patients with MDD, and Part B is ongoing and has focused on patients with PMD. For all parts of the trial, PRAX-114 was generally well-tolerated. In Parts A and C, we observed marked improvements in depression scores in MDD patients within two weeks of treatment that were maintained throughout the treatment period. We expect complete topline data from Part B of the trial in the second half of 2021. We also have initiated the Phase 2/3 Aria Study for monotherapy therapy treatment of MDD and expect topline results in the first half of 2022. If positive, the Phase 2/3 trial is intended to serve as one of two registrational trials required by the FDA to support clinical efficacy to support registration of PRAX-114 for monotherapy treatment of MDD. In addition to the Phase 2/3 monotherapy trial, we intend to initiate a Phase 2 trial for adjunctive treatment of MDD in the third quarter of 2021. This trial will provide controlled data to support advancing a Phase 3 adjunctive MDD trial and will increase the understanding of the dose range for expected Phase 3 monotherapy and adjunctive treatment trials. We expect topline results from this Phase 2 trial in the first half of 2022.

There is significant unmet medical need in MDD and PMD with over 22 million individuals suffering from depressive symptoms in the United States. Current pharmacological interventions suffer from multiple shortcomings including slow onset of efficacy, low remission rates and side effects that limit patient compliance. PRAX-114 targets an increasingly well-understood neuronal circuit in the brain that we believe, when properly modulated, can result in a robust and rapid antidepressant effect with an advantageous safety and tolerability profile.

We believe that our PRAX-114 program has several advantages as compared to currently available therapies and product candidates in the GABAA PAM therapeutic class:

 

   

Planned Path to a Potential Broad MDD Label.    We have been diligently pursuing our strategy to advance PRAX-114 towards regulatory approval and commercialization to support a broad label in MDD that can be easily integrated into standard clinical practice. We intend to develop



 

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PRAX-114 in the United States and in other countries as both a monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for MDD for both acute and maintenance treatment.

 

   

Wider Therapeutic Window.    We have determined that PRAX-114 is approximately 10-fold more selective PAM of the extrasynaptic form of GABAA receptors compared to the synaptic form. By preferentially modulating extrasynaptic GABAA receptors, we believe PRAX-114 is able to uniquely activate the GABAergic target and has the potential to mediate antidepressant and anxiolytic activity without the significant sedation observed with less selective neuroactive steroids.

 

   

Simple Nightly Dosing.    We believe the ability to administer PRAX-114 and achieve targeted exposures, with or without food, is key for clinical and commercial success in MDD. This is also critical for a patient-centric therapy because many patients with depression suffer from appetite disturbances. We have observed fast absorption of PRAX-114 within one to three hours of dosing and a predictable PK profile across multiple trials. Based on clinical findings to date, PRAX-114 achieves reproducible overall exposure (i.e., area under the concentration curve, or AUC) across a wide range of administration conditions, demonstrating consistent exposure when administered with or without food and at different times of day, whereas other GABAA PAM neuroactive steroids may require food to achieve therapeutic levels.

 

   

Sustained Administration.    After consultation with the FDA and other stakeholders in MDD and PMD therapy, we designed our Phase 2/3 trial of PRAX-114 to include 28-day nightly dosing to evaluate patients at 14 days to assess the rapidity and robustness of response and 28 days to measure durability of effect. We believe that having a dosing paradigm consistent with the duration of depressive episodes and easily integrated into standard clinical practice will provide the most substantial benefit to patients in controlling their disease, further differentiating PRAX-114 from other GABAA PAMs.

 

   

Indication Expansion.    Based on the novel pharmacology of PRAX-114 and its generally well-tolerated profile in clinical trials to date and our knowledge of disorders related to MDD that may be treatable through the GABAA PAM mechanism, we believe PRAX-114 is suitable for potential development across a wide-range of indications in psychiatry and neurology, providing for potentially sizable expansion opportunities to explore in addition to MDD. We plan to initiate a Phase 2 trial for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in the second half of 2021 and expect topline results in the second half of 2022. We also plan to initiate a Phase 2 trial for treatment of Essential Tremor, or ET, in the second half of 2021 and expect topline results in the second half of 2022.

PRAX-944

We are developing PRAX-944, a potentially differentiated selective small molecule inhibitor of T-type calcium channels for the treatment of ET. We have evaluated the safety and tolerability of PRAX-944 in over 150 healthy volunteers in five separate clinical trials. We have studied the safety of PRAX-944 modified release formulation with titration up to 120mg/day and no maximum tolerated dose, or MTD, has been identified. We are currently conducting a Phase 2a proof-of-concept, open-label trial, in ET patients. Preliminary site data from six participants in the first dose cohort showed tremor reduction, which compares favorably to the standard of care agents and historical placebo response. Based on the observed safety profile in the healthy volunteer titration study and the safety and preliminary efficacy data in ET participants administered up to 40mg daily, we have added a second cohort to the ongoing ET Phase 2a trial where up to twelve patients will be titrated to a dose of up to120mg/day of PRAX-944. We have also included a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal phase to this later cohort in the trial, where participants will either be maintained on their final open-label dose or switched to placebo. We plan to announce topline open-label safety, tolerability and efficacy data for this second of the two cohorts in mid-2021. In addition, we plan to start a Phase 1 trial to explore faster titration schemes by



 

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mid-2021 and to initiate a Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial for treatment of ET in the fourth quarter of 2021.

There is a large body of clinical, preclinical and genetic evidence that points to the involvement of T-type calcium channels in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical, or CTC, circuit, as a main driver of ET. ET is the most common movement disorder, affecting up to seven million patients in the United States, which is seven times more individuals compared to Parkinson’s tremor. ET is a progressive and debilitating movement disorder with action tremors that significantly disrupt daily living. There is a high unmet need for ET patients given the limited treatment options, with only one approved pharmacotherapy that is poorly tolerated, resulting in high discontinuation rates and a small group of patients opting for invasive brain surgeries.

Successful development of T-type calcium channel modulators in ET likely requires a PK profile with a blunted Cmax and thoughtful clinical trial design and endpoint selection. We have designed our development program to include careful selection of clinical endpoints, a modified release formulation and dose titration strategy. We believe the profile of PRAX-944 coupled with its modified release formulation positions it for development as a differentiated therapy in ET.

Because of the gatekeeper role of T-type calcium channels in regulating neuronal firing patterns in multiple neuronal circuits, we believe PRAX-944 is suitable for potential development across a wide-range of indications in psychiatry and neurology, providing sizable expansion opportunities in addition to ET. We expect to initiate a Phase 2 trial for treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, or PD, in the first half of 2022.

PRAX-562

Our most advanced rare disease product candidate and third clinical program, PRAX-562, is the first selective persistent sodium current blocker in development for the treatment of a broad range of rare, devastating CNS disorders, such as severe pediatric epilepsies and rare adult cephalgias. To date, PRAX-562 has demonstrated pharmacological activity in preclinical in-vivo models at generally well-tolerated doses.

We initiated a Phase 1 trial of PRAX-562 in Australia to evaluate the safety, tolerability, PK and effects on an exploratory electroencephalography, or EEG, biomarker in up to 129 adult healthy volunteers. We have completed the single ascending dose, or SAD, portion and the multiple ascending dose, or MAD, cohort in the Phase 1 trial of PRAX-562 in healthy volunteers up to the highest preplanned dose. We anticipate initiating an exploratory Phase 2 trial in patients with rare adult cephalgias, including Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache attacks with Conjunctival injection and Tearing, or SUNCT, Short-lasting Unilateral Neuralgiform headache with Autonomic symptoms, or SUNA, and Trigeminal Neuralgia, or TN, in the second half of 2021. In January 2021, the FDA granted rare pediatric disease designation for PRAX-562 for the treatment of SCN2A and SCN8A developmental epileptic encephalopathies, or SCN2A-DEE and SCN8A-DEE, respectively, and in April 2021, the FDA granted orphan drug designation for PRAX-562 for the treatment of SCN2A-DEE and SCN8A-DEE. We plan to initiate a Phase 2 trial of PRAX-562 for treatment of developmental epileptic encephalopathies, including SCN2A-DEE and SCN8A-DEE, in the first half of 2022.

Preclinical Programs

In addition to our clinical programs, our most advanced preclinical stage program is PRAX-222, an antisense oligonucleotide, or ASO, designed to decrease the expression levels of the protein encoded by the gene SCN2A in patients with gain-of-function, or GOF, mutations in epilepsy. The FDA has granted both rare pediatric disease designation and orphan drug designation for PRAX-222 for the treatment of SCN2A-DEE. We have one disclosed discovery program in development for KCNT1-related epilepsy, and in March 2021 we entered into an innovative research collaboration with The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health to develop three additional novel ASOs for the treatment of patients with severe genetic epilepsies, including a novel approach targeting SCN2A loss-of-function, or LOF, mutations in epilepsy.



 

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Our Approach

Each of our programs is based on four key principles that we believe will both increase the probability of success and allow us to efficiently translate insights into high-impact therapies for patients and society:

 

  1.

Focus on therapeutic targets identified through human genetics.

 

  2.

Utilize translational tools to validate the potential of our targets and product candidates.

 

  3.

Pursue efficient, rigorous clinical development paths to proof-of-concept in humans.

 

  4.

Apply patient-centric development strategies.

Our Team

Our company was founded by scientific innovators Kiran Reddy, M.D., David Goldstein, Ph.D. and Steven Petrou, Ph.D., who have pioneered work to identify and characterize de novo mutations in several dozen genes believed to cause a number of forms of severe pediatric epilepsies. These genes regulate key neuronal circuits in the brain which, when dysregulated, can result in severe seizure phenotypes as well as comorbid developmental delays, cognitive deficits, sensory-motor issues and often early death. Further, based on our understanding of a body of preclinical and clinical evidence, we now believe that these genes also play critical roles in the predisposition to other more prevalent neurologic and psychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders, movement disorders, pain syndromes, autism, migraine and schizophrenia, making them attractive targets for therapeutic intervention for a wide range of CNS disorders.

We have attracted a talented team of scientists and researchers in genetics and biology, chemistry and translational medicine as well as business leaders with established track records of successfully executing innovative drug discovery and development programs. Our Chief Executive Officer, Marcio Souza, previously served as Chief Operating Officer at PTC Therapeutics, Inc. and was instrumental in the development and commercialization of multiple approved products while at NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Shire Human Genetic Therapies Inc. and Sanofi Genzyme Corporation. Our Chief Medical Officer, Bernard Ravina, M.D., previously Chief Medical Officer at Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., is a neurologist and movement disorder specialist who brings decades of neurologic drug development experience from roles at Biogen, the University of Rochester and the NIH’s Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Our Strategy

Our goal is to translate genetic insights into high-impact therapies for millions of people suffering from rare or prevalent CNS disorders characterized by neuronal imbalance. Key components of our strategy include:

 

   

Advance PRAX-114 toward regulatory approval and commercialization as a potentially differentiated monotherapy and adjunctive therapy for MDD and PMD in both acute and maintenance settings.

 

   

Advance PRAX-944 toward regulatory approval and commercialization as a potentially differentiated therapy for ET.

 

   

Advance our rare disease programs and build our franchise of candidates addressing rare diseases such as DEEs based on precision medicine principles.

 

   

Maximize the value of our product candidates through select indication expansion.

 

   

Advance our understanding of genetics and neuronal imbalance to maintain our leadership and continue to build our pipeline.

 

   

Build a sales and marketing infrastructure to reach prescribers in the United States and maximize the reach of our products globally, alone or in collaboration with others.



 

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Risks Associated with Our Business

Our ability to implement our business strategy is subject to numerous risks, as more fully described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” immediately following this prospectus summary. These risks include, among others:

 

   

We are a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company and we have incurred significant losses since our inception. We anticipate that we will continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future.

 

   

We will need substantial additional funding, and if we are unable to raise capital when needed, we could be forced to delay, reduce or eliminate our product discovery and development programs or commercialization efforts.

 

   

Our business substantially depends upon the successful development of PRAX-114, PRAX-944 and PRAX-562. If we are unable to obtain regulatory approval for, and successfully commercialize, PRAX-114, PRAX-944 or PRAX-562, our business may be materially harmed.

 

   

Clinical development involves a lengthy, complex and expensive process, with an uncertain outcome. The outcome of preclinical testing and early clinical trials may not be predictive of the success of later clinical trials, and the results of our clinical trials, which to date have primarily been conducted in Australia and New Zealand, may not satisfy the requirements of the FDA or comparable foreign regulatory authorities.

 

   

Our product candidates may cause undesirable side effects or have other properties that could delay or prevent their regulatory approval, limit their commercial potential or result in significant negative consequences following regulatory approval, if obtained.

 

   

The markets for PRAX-114 for major depressive disorder and perimenopausal disorder, PRAX-944 for essential tremor, PRAX-562 for multiple rare neurological conditions and any other product candidates we may develop may be smaller than we expect.

 

   

We face significant competition in an environment of rapid technological and scientific change, and there is a possibility that our competitors may achieve regulatory approval before us or develop therapies that are safer, more advanced or more effective than ours, which may negatively impact our ability to successfully market or commercialize any product candidates we may develop and ultimately harm our financial condition.

 

   

Our success depends in part on our ability to protect our intellectual property. It is difficult and costly to protect our proprietary rights and technology, and we may not be able to ensure their protection.

 

   

We have entered into, and may enter into, license or other collaboration agreements that impose certain obligations on us. If we fail to comply with our obligations under such agreements with third parties, we could lose license rights that may be important to our business.

 

   

Third-party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our product discovery and development efforts.

 

   

We expect to depend on collaborations with third parties for the research, development and commercialization of certain of the product candidates we may develop. If any such collaborations are not successful, we may not be able to realize the market potential of those product candidates.

 

   

Business interruptions resulting from COVID-19 or a similar pandemic, epidemic or outbreak of an infectious disease in the United States or worldwide may adversely affect our business.

 

   

The price of our stock may be volatile, and you could lose all or part of your investment.



 

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Corporate Information

We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware on September 22, 2015. Our principal executive office is located at One Broadway, 16th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142, and our telephone number is (617) 300-8460. Our website address is www.praxismedicines.com. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company

We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, as amended, or the JOBS Act, enacted in April 2012. As an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of specified reduced disclosure and other requirements that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 

   

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

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements;

 

   

no non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements; and

 

   

exemption from the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting.

We may take advantage of these exemptions for up to five years or such earlier time that we are no longer an emerging growth company. We would cease to be an emerging growth company on the date that is the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of this offering; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these exemptions. We have taken advantage of reduced reporting requirements in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different from the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock. Additionally, the JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can take advantage of an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. This allows an emerging growth company to delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption and, therefore, while we are an emerging growth company we will not be subject to new or revised accounting standards at the same time that they become applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies.

We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined in the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $250 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or our annual revenues are less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and our voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates is more than $700 million measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter.



 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us

4,000,000 shares.

 

Common stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering

42,621,049 shares (43,221,049 shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).

 

Underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares

We have granted a 30-day option to the underwriters to purchase up to an aggregate of 600,000 additional shares of common stock from us at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions, on the same terms as set forth in this prospectus.

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering of approximately $104.9 million, or $120.7 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full, assuming a public offering price of $28.06 per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We currently intend to use the net proceeds from this offering along with our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities to (i) advance PRAX-114 into and through the completion of our Phase 2/3 Aria Study in monotherapy MDD, which is intended to satisfy one of two registrational trials required by the FDA to support clinical efficacy for monotherapy MDD, advance PRAX-114 into and through the completion of our Phase 2 trial for the adjunctive treatment of MDD, complete Part B (PMD) of our Phase 2a clinical trial for PRAX-114, initiate a Phase 3 monotherapy trial in MDD, initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial in PTSD, initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial in ET and pursue the development of PRAX-114 in an additional indication; (ii) complete our ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial and a Phase 2 randomized, controlled clinical trial for PRAX-944 in ET and initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial of PRAX-944 in PD; (iii) complete our ongoing PRAX-562 Phase 1 healthy volunteer trial and initiate and complete Phase 2 trials of PRAX-562 in SUNCT, SUNA and TN, and in DEEs, including SCN8A-DEE and SCN2A-DEE and (iv) advance other programs in our pipeline and support working capital and other general corporate purposes. For a more complete description of our intended use of the proceeds from this offering, see “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Risk factors

You should carefully read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus, and the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus for a discussion of factors that you should consider before deciding to invest in our common stock.

 

Nasdaq Global Select Market symbol

“PRAX”.


 

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The number of shares of our common stock after this offering is based on 38,621,049 shares of our common stock issued as of March 31, 2021 and excludes:

 

   

6,648,367 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2021 under our 2017 Stock Incentive Plan and 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, at a weighted average exercise price of $15.31 per share;

 

   

3,515,208 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2021;

 

   

654,204 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2021; and

 

   

328,363 shares of our common stock reserved for future vesting of restricted stock units as of March 31, 2021.

Unless otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus reflects or assumes the following:

 

   

no exercise of outstanding options described above; and

 

   

no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to 600,000 additional shares of common stock in this offering.



 

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SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

You should read the following summary consolidated financial data together with our consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have derived the consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 from our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and have derived the consolidated statement of operations data for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and the consolidated balance sheet data of March 31, 2021 from our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

   

Year Ended
December 31,

   

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2021

   

2020

 
                (Unaudited)  
(In thousands, except share and per share data)                  

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:

       

Operating expenses:

       

Research and development

  $ 44,976     $ 29,557     $ 17,929     $ 6,868  

General and administrative

    16,992       6,232       9,490       1,601  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    61,968       35,789       27,419       8,469  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from operations

    (61,968     (35,789     (27,419     (8,469

Other income:

       

Interest income, net

    140       193       46       128  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income

    140       193       46       128  

Loss before benefit from income taxes

    (61,828     (35,596     (27,373     (8,341

Benefit from income taxes

    (8     (84     —         (11
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

  $ (61,820   $ (35,512   $ (27,373   $ (8,330
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Accretion and cumulative dividends on redeemable convertible preferred stock

    (8,996     (5,170     —         (2,064

Gain on repurchase of redeemable convertible preferred stock

    493       —         —         493  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

  $ (70,323   $ (40,682   $ (27,373   $ (9,901
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

  $ (7.86   $ (26.60   $ (0.71   $ (6.08
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic and diluted(1)

    8,950,152       1,529,629       38,470,710       1,629,340  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

See Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and see Note 9 to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for details on the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders.



 

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As of March 31, 2021

 
   

Actual

   

As Adjusted(2)

 
(in thousands)      

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

   

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

  $ 270,811     $ 375,727  

Working capital(1)

  $ 264,826     $ 369,742  

Total assets

  $ 279,253     $ 384,169  

Additional paid-in-capital

  $ 442,524     $ 547,440  

Accumulated deficit

  $ (176,927   $ (176,927

Total stockholders’ equity

  $ 265,515     $ 370,431  

 

(1)

We define working capital as current assets less current liabilities. See our condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, for further details regarding our current assets and current liabilities.

 

(2)

The as adjusted balance sheet data give effect to the issuance and sale of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $28.06 per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The as adjusted information discussed above is illustrative only and will change based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing. A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $28.06 per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, would increase (decrease) the as adjusted amount of each of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, working capital, total assets and total stockholders’ equity by $3.8 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the as adjusted amount of each of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, working capital, total assets and total stockholders’ equity by $26.4 million, assuming no change in the assumed public offering price per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties, together with all other information in this prospectus, or incorporated by reference, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the risks and uncertainties discussed under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before deciding to invest in our common stock. Any of the risk factors we describe below could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. The market price of our common stock could decline if one or more of these risks or uncertainties actually occur, causing you to lose all or part of the money you paid to buy our common stock.

Risks Related to This Offering

If you purchase our common stock in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your shares.

The public offering price will be substantially higher than the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock after this offering. Investors purchasing common stock in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering. As a result, investors purchasing common stock in this offering will incur immediate dilution of $19.37 per share, based on the public offering price of $28.06 per share, representing the difference between our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after giving effect to this offering and the public offering price.

This dilution is due to our investors who purchased shares prior to this offering having paid substantially less when they purchased their shares than the price offered to the public in this offering. To the extent outstanding options are exercised, there will be further dilution to new investors. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing shares in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see the section entitled “Dilution.”

Substantial amounts of our outstanding shares may be sold into the market when lock-up or market standoff periods end. If there are substantial sales of shares of our common stock, the price of our common stock could decline.

If our existing stockholders sell, or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the lock-up and other legal restrictions on resale discussed in this prospectus lapse, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Based on shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, upon the completion of this offering we will have outstanding a total of 42,621,049 shares of common stock, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 600,000 shares. Of these shares, as of the date of this prospectus, 39,589,031 shares of common stock, including the shares of common stock sold in this offering by us, plus any shares sold upon exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase an additional 600,000 shares, will be freely tradable, without restriction, in the public market immediately following this offering, assuming that our current directors and officers do not purchase shares in this offering. The remaining shares are subject to lock-up restrictions described below and elsewhere in this prospectus. The representatives of the underwriters, however, may, in their sole discretion, permit our officers, directors and other stockholders who are subject to these lock-up restrictions to sell shares prior to the expiration of the lock-up restrictions.

The lock-up agreements pertaining to this offering will expire 90 days from the date of this prospectus, subject to earlier release of all or a portion of the shares subject to such agreements by the representatives of the underwriters in this offering in their sole discretion. After the lock-up agreements expire, based upon the number of shares of common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2021, up to an additional 3,032,018 shares of common stock

 

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will be eligible for sale in the public market, all of which are beneficially held by directors, executive officers and their affiliates and will be subject to certain limitations of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.

In addition, shares of common stock that are either subject to outstanding options or reserved for future issuance under our existing equity compensation plans will become eligible for sale in the public market to the extent permitted by the provisions of various vesting schedules, the lock-up agreements and Rule 144 and Rule 701 under the Securities Act. If these additional shares of common stock are sold, or if it is perceived that they will be sold, in the public market, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Additionally, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, or the 2020 Plan, will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2021, by 5% of the total number of shares of our capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares determined by our board of directors or compensation committee. Moreover, the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan will automatically increase on January 1 of each year, beginning on January 1, 2021, by the lesser of 327,102 shares of common stock, 1% of the total number of shares of our capital stock outstanding on December 31 of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares determined by our board of directors or compensation committee. Unless our board of directors elects not to increase the number of shares available for future grant each year, our stockholders may experience additional dilution.

We have broad discretion in the use of our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.

Our management will have broad discretion in the application of our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and the net proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds,” and you will not have the opportunity as part of your investment decision to assess whether such proceeds are being used appropriately. Because of the number and variability of factors that will determine our use of our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and the net proceeds from this offering, their ultimate use may vary substantially from their currently intended use. Our management might not apply our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and the net proceeds from this offering in ways that ultimately increase the value of your investment. The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders. If we do not invest or apply the net proceeds from this offering in ways that enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference contain express or implied forward-looking statements that are based on our management’s belief and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements relate to future events or our future operational or financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials;

 

   

our expectations regarding our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection for our product candidates;

 

   

the ability to license additional intellectual property relating to our product candidates from third parties and to comply with our existing license agreements and collaboration agreements;

 

   

the ability and willingness of our third-party research institution collaborators to continue research and development activities relating to our product candidates;

 

   

our ability to commercialize our products in light of the intellectual property rights of others;

 

   

our ability to obtain funding for our operations, including funding necessary to complete further development and commercialization of our product candidates;

 

   

the commercialization of our product candidates, if approved;

 

   

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

 

   

future agreements with third parties in connection with the commercialization of our product candidates and any other approved product;

 

   

the size and growth potential of the markets for our product candidates, and our ability to serve those markets;

 

   

the rate and degree of market acceptance of our product candidates;

 

   

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

 

   

regulatory developments in the United States and foreign countries;

 

   

our ability to contract with third-party suppliers and manufacturers and their ability to perform adequately;

 

   

the success of competing therapies that are or may become available;

 

   

our ability to attract and retain key scientific or management personnel;

 

   

the accuracy of our estimates regarding expenses, future revenue, capital requirements and needs for additional financing;

 

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our expectations regarding the period during which we qualify as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act, enacted in April 2012, or a smaller reporting company as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

 

   

the development of major public health concerns, including the novel coronavirus outbreak or other pandemics arising globally, and the future impact of it and COVID-19 on our clinical trials, business operations and funding requirements;

 

   

our use of the proceeds from this offering; and

 

   

other risks and uncertainties, including those listed under the caption “Risk Factors.”

In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology, such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could materially affect results. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those listed under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual events or results may vary significantly from those implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance. You should read this prospectus and the documents that we reference in this prospectus and have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission 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 any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements in this prospectus represent our views as of the date of this prospectus. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should therefore not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus.

This prospectus includes statistical and other industry and market data that we obtained from industry publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. Industry publications and third-party research, surveys and studies generally indicate that their information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, although they do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. We are responsible for all of the disclosure contained in this prospectus, and we believe that these sources are reliable; however, we have not independently verified the information contained in such publications.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that our net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering will be approximately $104.9 million, or $120.7 million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares, assuming a public offering price of $28.06 per share, which is the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $28.06 per share would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by $3.8 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We may also increase or decrease the number of shares we are offering. Each increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by $26.4 million, assuming no change in the assumed public offering price per share and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We currently estimate that we will use the net proceeds from this offering, along with our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as follows:

 

   

approximately $40.0 million to $50.0 million to advance PRAX-114 into and through the completion of our Phase 2/3 Aria Study in monotherapy MDD, which is intended to satisfy one of two registrational trials required by the FDA to support clinical efficacy for monotherapy MDD, advance PRAX-114 into and through the completion of our Phase 2 trial for the adjunctive treatment of MDD, complete Part B (PMD) of our ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial for PRAX-114, initiate a Phase 3 monotherapy trial in MDD, initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial in PTSD, initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial in ET and pursue the development of PRAX-114 in an additional indication;

 

   

approximately $20.0 million to $30.0 million to complete our ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial and a Phase 2 randomized, controlled clinical trial for PRAX-944 in ET and initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial of PRAX-944 in PD;

 

   

approximately $10.0 million to $20.0 million to complete our ongoing Phase 1 healthy volunteer trial in PRAX-562 and initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial of PRAX-562 rare adult cephalgias, including SUNCT, SUNA and TN, and initiate and complete a Phase 2 trial of PRAX-562 in DEEs, including SCN8A-DEE and SCN2A-DEE; and

 

   

the remainder for advancement of other programs in our pipeline and support of working capital and other general corporate purposes.

Based on our current plans, we believe that the net proceeds from this offering, together with our existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, will be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next 24 months. We have based this estimate on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect, and we could use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect.

This expected use of the net proceeds from this offering represents our intentions based upon our current plans and business conditions. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot predict with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to be received upon the closing of this offering or the amounts that we will actually spend on the uses set forth above. The amounts and timing of our actual expenditures and the extent of clinical development may vary significantly depending on numerous factors, including the progress of our development, the status of and results from preclinical studies or clinical trials we may commence in the future, as well as any collaborations that we may

 

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enter into with third parties for our product candidates, and any unforeseen cash needs. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to in-license, acquire or invest in additional businesses, technologies, products or assets, although currently we have no specific agreements, commitments or understandings in this regard. As a result, our management will retain broad discretion over the allocation of the net proceeds from this offering.

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

 

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DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our capital stock. We intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the growth and development of our business. We do not intend to pay cash dividends to our stockholders in the foreseeable future. In addition, any future financing instruments could preclude us from paying dividends. Any future determination to pay dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors subject to applicable laws, and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions and capital requirements. Investors should not purchase our common stock with the expectation of receiving cash dividends.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and our capitalization as of March 31, 2021:

 

   

on an actual basis; and

 

   

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the issuance and sale of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $28.06 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The as adjusted information below is illustrative only, and our capitalization following the completion of this offering will depend on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

You should read the information in this table together with the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

    

As of March 31, 2021

 
    

Actual

   

As Adjusted

 
(In thousands, except share and per share data)             

Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities

   $ 270,811     $ 375,727  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued or outstanding, actual; 10,000,000 shares authorized and no shares issued or outstanding, as adjusted

     —      

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 150,000,000 shares authorized and 38,621,049 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 150,000,000 shares authorized; 42,621,049 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted

     4       4  

Additional paid-in capital

     442,524       547,440  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    
(86

    (86

Accumulated deficit

     (176,927     (176,927
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

     265,515       370,431  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

   $ 265,515     $ 370,431  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $28.06 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, would increase (decrease) the as adjusted amount of each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $3.8 million, assuming the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, an increase (decrease) of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us in this offering, as set forth of the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the as adjusted amount of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization by $26.4 million, assuming no change in the assumed public offering price per share, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

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This table excludes:

 

   

6,648,367 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2021 under our 2017 Stock Incentive Plan and 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, at a weighted average exercise price of $15.31 per share;

 

   

3,515,208 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2021;

 

   

654,204 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2021; and

 

   

328,363 shares of our common stock reserved for future vesting of restricted stock units as of March 31, 2021.

 

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DILUTION

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

Our historical net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 was $265.5 million, or $6.87 per share of common stock. Our historical net tangible book value is the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities. Historical net tangible book value per share represents historical net tangible book value divided by the 38,621,049 issued shares of our common stock as of March 31, 2021.

After giving further effect to the sale and issuance of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $28.06 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2021 would have been $370.4 million, or $8.69 per share. This represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of $1.82 to existing stockholders and immediate dilution of $19.37 in as adjusted net tangible book value per share to new investors participating in this offering. Dilution per share to new investors is determined by subtracting the as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the assumed public offering price per share paid by new investors. The as adjusted information below is illustrative only and will depend on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

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

 

Assumed public offering price per share

      $ 28.06  

Historical net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2021

   $ 6.87     

Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering

   $ 1.82     
  

 

 

    

As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering

      $ 8.69  
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors participating in this offering

      $ 19.37  
     

 

 

 

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed public offering price of $28.06 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, would increase (decrease) our as adjusted net tangible book value by $3.8 million, or $0.09 per share, and increase (decrease) the dilution per share to investors participating in this offering by $0.91 per share, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. An increase of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value by $26.4 million, or $0.41 per share, and decrease the dilution per share to investors participating in this offering by $0.41 per share, assuming that the assumed public offering price remains the same, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of 1,000,000 shares in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would decrease our as adjusted net tangible book value by $26.4 million, or $0.42 per share, and increase the dilution per share to investors participating in this offering by $0.42 per share, assuming that the assumed public offering price remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

If the underwriters exercise their option in full to purchase 600,000 additional shares of common stock in this offering, our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering would be $386.3 million, representing an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of $8.94 to existing

 

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stockholders and immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value per share of $0.25 to investors participating in this offering, assuming a public offering price of $28.06 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 7, 2021, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The above discussion and table are based on issued shares of our common stock and exclude:

 

   

6,648,367 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of March 31, 2021 under our 2017 Stock Incentive Plan and 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, at a weighted average exercise price of $15.31 per share;

 

   

3,515,208 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan as of March 31, 2021;

 

   

654,204 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of March 31, 2021; and

 

   

328,363 shares of our common stock reserved for future vesting of restricted stock units as of March 31, 2021.

You will experience further dilution if new options or warrants are issued under our equity incentive plans or we issue additional shares of common stock, other equity securities or convertible debt securities in the future. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth certain information known to us regarding beneficial ownership of our capital stock as of April 16, 2021, as adjusted to reflect the sale of common stock offered by us in this offering, for:

 

   

each person or group of affiliated persons known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of our capital stock;

 

   

each of our named executive officers;

 

   

each of our directors; and

 

   

all of our executive officers and directors as a group.

To the extent that the underwriters sell more than 4,000,000 shares in this offering, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 600,000 shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discount.

Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has sole or shared voting power or investment power. Except as noted by footnote, and subject to community property laws where applicable, we believe, based on the information provided to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.

The percentage of beneficial ownership prior to this offering in the table below is based on 38,626,547 shares of common stock deemed to be outstanding as of April 16, 2021, and the percentage of beneficial ownership after this offering in the table below is based on 42,621,049 shares of common stock assumed to be outstanding after the closing of the offering. The information in the table below assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. Options to purchase shares of common stock that are exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021 are deemed to be beneficially owned by the persons holding these options for the purpose of computing percentage ownership of that person, but are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing any other person’s ownership percentage.

 

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            Percentage of Shares
Beneficially Owned
 
    

Shares
Beneficially
Owned

    

Before
Offering

   

After
offering

 

5% or Greater Stockholders

       

Entities affiliated with Blackstone(1)

     8,501,487        22.0     19.9

FMR LLC(2)

     4,163,834        10.8     9.8

Entities affiliated with Eventide(3)

     3,513,081        9.1     8.2

Vida Ventures, LLC(4)

     2,939,329        7.6     6.9

Novo Holdings A/S(5)

     1,442,080        3.7     3.4

Directors, Named Executive Officers and Other Executive Officers

       

Dean Mitchell

     —          —         —    

Jeffrey Chodakewitz(6)

     2,144        *       *  

Merit Cudkowicz(7)

     1,072        *       *  

Gregory Norden(8)

     18,420        *       *  

Stefan Vitorovic(4)

     2,939,329        7.6     6.9

William Young(9)

     30,169        *       *  

Marcio Souza(10)

     283,190        *       *  

Bernard Ravina(11)

     154,535        *       *  

Nicole Sweeny

     —          —         —    

All executive officers and directors as a group (10 persons)(12)

     3,437,968        8.8     8.0

 

*

Represents beneficial ownership of less than one percent.

 

(1)

Based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed jointly by Clarus Lifesciences III, L.P., or Clarus, BSOF Parallel Master Fund L.P., Clarus Ventures III GP, L.P., Blackstone Clarus III L.L.C., Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Associates L.L.C., Blackstone Alternative Solutions L.L.C., Blackstone Holdings I L.P., Blackstone Holdings II L.P., Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C., The Blackstone Group Inc., Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. and Stephen A. Schwarzman with the SEC on February 16, 2021. Clarus directly holds 7,594,109 shares of common stock and BSOF Parallel Master Fund L.P. directly holds 907,378 shares of common stock. Clarus Ventures III GP, L.P. is the general partner of Clarus. Blackstone Clarus III L.L.C. is the general partner of Clarus GP. The sole member of Blackstone Clarus III L.L.C. is Blackstone Holdings II L.P. Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Associates L.L.C. is the general partner of BSOF Parallel Master Fund L.P. Blackstone Holdings II L.P. is the sole member of Blackstone Strategic Opportunity Associates L.L.C. Blackstone Alternative Solutions L.L.C. is the investment manager of BSOF Parallel Master Fund L.P. Blackstone Holdings I L.P. is the sole member of Blackstone Alternative Solutions L.L.C. The general partner of Blackstone Holdings I L.P. and Blackstone Holdings II L.P. is Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. The sole member of Blackstone Holdings I/II GP L.L.C. is The Blackstone Group Inc. The sole holder of the Class C common stock of The Blackstone Group Inc. is Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. Blackstone Group Management L.L.C. is wholly-owned by Blackstone’s senior managing directors and controlled by its founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman. Each of such entities and Mr. Schwarzman may be deemed to beneficially own the shares beneficially owned by the Blackstone Funds controlled by it or him, but each (other than the Blackstone Funds to the extent of their direct ownership) disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. The address for each of Clarus and Clarus Ventures III GP, L.P. is c/o Clarus Ventures LLC, 101 Main Street, Suite 1210, Cambridge, MA 02142. The address for each of the other Blackstone entities and Mr. Schwarzman is c/o The Blackstone Group Inc., 345 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10154.

 

(2)

Based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed by FMR LLC with the SEC on February 10, 2021. FMR LLC has sole voting power with respect to 1,564,801 shares of common stock and sole dispositive power with respect to 4,163,834 shares of common stock. Abigail P. Johnson is a Director,

 

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  the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of FMR LLC. Members of the Johnson family, including Abigail P. Johnson, are the predominant owners, directly or through trusts, of Series B voting common shares of FMR LLC, representing 49% of the voting power of FMR LLC. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders have entered into a shareholders’ voting agreement under which all Series B voting common shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Series B voting common shares. Accordingly, through their ownership of voting common shares and the execution of the shareholders’ voting agreement, members of the Johnson family may be deemed, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, to form a controlling group with respect to FMR LLC. Neither FMR LLC nor Abigail P. Johnson has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares owned directly by the various investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act (“Fidelity Funds”) advised by Fidelity Management & Research Company (“FMR Co”), a wholly owned subsidiary of FMR LLC, which power resides with the Fidelity Funds’ Boards of Trustees. FMR Co carries out the voting of the shares under written guidelines established by the Fidelity Funds’ Boards of Trustees. The address of FMR LLC is 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210.

 

(3)

Based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed by Eventide Asset Management, LLC with the SEC on February 12, 2021. Eventide Asset Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is the beneficial owner of 3,513,081 common shares by virtue of being the investment adviser to registered investment companies. Mutual Fund Series Trust, On Behalf Of Eventide Gilead Fund, or Eventide Gilead, directly holds 1,566,708 shares of common stock and the Mutual Fund Series Trust, On Behalf Of Eventide Healthcare & Life Sciences Fund, or Eventide Healthcare, directly holds 1,946,373 shares of common stock. The address for both Eventide Healthcare and Eventide Gilead is One International Place, Suite 4210, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.

 

(4)

Based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G filed by Vida Ventures, LLC with the SEC on February 16, 2021. All shares are held directly by Vida Ventures, LLC, a United States limited liability company. Stefan Vitorovic is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Vida Ventures, LLC and is also a member of our Board of Directors. VV Manager, LLC, or VV Manager, is the managing member of Vida. Stefan Vitorovic, Arjun Goyal, Fred Cohen, Arie Belldegrun and Leonard Potter are managing directors of VV Manager, and may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Vida. The address of Vida is 40 Broad Street, Suite 201, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

 

(5)

Based solely on information contained in a Schedule 13G/A filed by Novo Holdings A/S, or Novo, with the SEC on May 3, 2021. All shares are held directly by Novo Holdings A/S, a Danish limited liability company that manages investments and financial assets. Novo Holdings A/S is wholly owned by Novo Nordisk Foundation, or the Foundation, a Danish commercial foundation. Novo Holdings A/S is the holding company in the group of Novo companies (currently comprised of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novozymes A/S) and is responsible for managing the Foundation’s assets, including its financial assets. Based on the governance structure of Novo Holdings A/S and the Foundation, the Foundation is not deemed to have any beneficial ownership of the shares held by Novo Holdings A/S. The address for Novo Holdings A/S is Tuborg Havnevej 19, DK-2900 Hellerup, Denmark.

 

(6)

Consists of 2,144 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021.

 

(7)

Dr. Cudkowicz was appointed as a member of our Board of Directors on April 28, 2021. Her holdings consist of 1,072 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021.

 

(8)

Consists of 18,420 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021.

 

(9)

Consists of 30,169 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021.

 

(10)

Consists of (i) 24,450 shares of common stock and (ii) 258,740 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021.

 

(11)

Consists of (i) 56,021 shares of common stock and (ii) 98,514 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021.

 

(12)

Consists of (i) 3,019,800 shares of common stock and (ii) 418,168 shares of common stock underlying options exercisable within 60 days of April 16, 2021.

 

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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Future sales of our common stock in the public market, or the availability of such shares for sale in the public market, could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time.

Based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2021, upon the completion of this offering, 42,621,049 shares of our common stock will be outstanding, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares and no exercise of outstanding options. Of the outstanding shares, all of the shares sold in this offering will be freely tradable, except that any shares held by our affiliates, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, may only be sold in compliance with the limitations described below, and shares of our common stock are restricted shares of common stock subject to service-based vesting terms. These restricted securities were issued and sold by us, or will be issued and sold by us, in private transactions and are eligible for public sale only if registered under the Securities Act or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act, including the exemptions provided by Rule 144 or Rule 701, which rules are summarized below.

Rule 144

In general, a person who has beneficially owned restricted stock for at least six months would be entitled to sell their securities provided that (i) such person is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale and (ii) we are subject to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale. Persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares for at least six months but who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the 90 days preceding, a sale, would be subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only a number of securities that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:

 

   

1% of the number of shares then outstanding, which will equal approximately shares immediately after this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, based on the number of shares outstanding as of March 31, 2021; or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale;

provided, in each case, that we are subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale. Such sales both by affiliates and by non-affiliates must also comply with the manner of sale, current public information and notice provisions of Rule 144.

Rule 701

Rule 701 under the Securities Act, as in effect on the date of this prospectus, permits resales of shares in reliance upon Rule 144 but without compliance with certain restrictions of Rule 144, including the holding period requirement. Most of our employees, executive officers or directors who purchased shares under a written compensatory plan or contract may be entitled to rely on the resale provisions of Rule 701, but all holders of Rule 701 shares are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling their shares. However, substantially all Rule 701 shares are subject to lock-up agreements as described below and under “Underwriting” included elsewhere in this prospectus and will become eligible for sale upon the expiration of the restrictions set forth in those agreements.

 

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Lock-Up Agreements

All of our directors, officers and certain affiliates have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters of this offering, under which our directors, officers and certain affiliates have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, not to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any of our securities for a period of 90 days from the date of this prospectus. The representatives of the underwriters of this offering may, in their sole discretion, permit early release of shares subject to the lock-up agreements. See the section entitled “Underwriting,” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

Registration Rights

Certain holders of our securities are entitled to various rights with respect to registration of their shares under the Securities Act. Registration of these shares under the Securities Act would result in these shares becoming fully tradable without restriction under the Securities Act immediately upon the effectiveness of the registration. See the section entitled “Description of Capital Stock—Registration Rights” appearing elsewhere in this prospectus for more information.

Equity Incentive Plans

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register our shares issued or reserved for issuance under our equity incentive plans. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement will be available for sale in the open market, unless such shares are subject to vesting restrictions with us or the lock-up restrictions described above.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The information required by this section is hereby incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR NON-U.S. HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK

The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to non-U.S. holders (as defined below) with respect to their ownership and disposition of shares of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering. For purposes of this discussion, a non-U.S. holder means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

a non-resident alien individual;

 

   

a foreign corporation or any other foreign organization taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or

 

   

a foreign estate or trust, the income of which is not subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis.

This discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships or other entities that are pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes or persons that hold their common stock through partnerships or other pass-through entities. A partner in a partnership or other pass-through entity that will hold our common stock should consult his, her or its tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of our common stock through a partnership or other pass-through entity, as applicable.

This discussion is based on current provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code, existing and proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus and, all of which are subject to change or to differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change or differing interpretation could alter the tax consequences to non-U.S. holders described in this prospectus. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the IRS, will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein. We assume in this discussion that a non-U.S. holder holds shares of our common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which is generally property held for investment.

This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular non-U.S. holder in light of that non-U.S. holder’s individual circumstances nor does it address any U.S. state, local or non-U.S. taxes, the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on net investment income, the rules regarding qualified small business stock within the meaning of Section 1202 of the Code or “Section 1244 stock” within the meaning of Section 1244 of the Code, or any other aspect of any U.S. federal tax other than the income tax. This discussion also does not consider any specific facts or circumstances that may apply to a non-U.S. holder and does not address the special tax rules applicable to particular non-U.S. holders, such as:

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

tax-exempt or governmental organizations;

 

   

financial institutions;

 

   

brokers or dealers in securities;

 

   

regulated investment companies;

 

   

pension plans;

 

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

 

   

“qualified foreign pension funds,” or entities wholly owned by a “qualified foreign pension fund”;

 

   

persons that elect to apply Section 1400Z-2 of the Code to gains recognized with respect to shares of our common stock;

 

   

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

 

   

persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

persons that hold our common stock as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction, synthetic security or other integrated investment; and

 

   

certain U.S. expatriates.

This discussion is for general information only and is not tax advice. Accordingly, all prospective non-U.S. holders of our common stock should consult their tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock.

Distributions on Our Common Stock

As indicated in the “Dividend Policy” section of this prospectus, we have never declared or paid cash dividends on any of our capital stock and currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund the development and growth of our business.

In the event that we do make distributions, subject to the discussions below under the sections titled “Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “Withholding and Information Reporting Requirements—FATCA”, distributions paid on our common stock will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. If a distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated as a tax-free return of the non-U.S. holder’s investment, up to such holder’s tax basis in the common stock. Any remaining excess will be treated as capital gain, subject to the tax treatment described below in “Gain on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock.”

Subject to the discussion in the following two paragraphs in this section, dividends paid to a non-U.S. holder generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence.

Dividends that are treated as effectively connected with a trade or business conducted by a non-U.S. holder within the United States and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, that are attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed base maintained by the non-U.S. holder within the United States, are generally exempt from the 30% withholding tax if the non-U.S. holder satisfies applicable certification and disclosure requirements. However, such U.S. effectively connected income, net of specified deductions and credits, is taxed at the same graduated U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to United States persons (as defined in the Code). Any U.S. effectively connected income received by a non-U.S. holder that is a corporation may also, under certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence.

 

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A non-U.S. holder of our common stock who claims the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence generally will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or successor form) to the applicable withholding agent and satisfy applicable certification and other requirements. Non-U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under a relevant income tax treaty. A non-U.S. holder that is eligible for such lower rate of U.S. withholding tax as may be specified under an income tax treaty may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing a U.S. tax return with the IRS.

Gain on Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Our Common Stock

Subject to the discussions below under “Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” and “Withholding and Information Reporting Requirements—FATCA,” a non-U.S. holder generally will not be subject to any U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized upon such holder’s sale or other taxable disposition of shares of our common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the non-U.S. holder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business and, if an applicable income tax treaty so provides, is attributable to a permanent establishment or a fixed-base maintained by such non-U.S. holder in the United States, in which case the non-U.S. holder generally will be taxed on a net income basis at the graduated U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to United States persons (as defined in the Code) and, if the non-U.S. holder is a foreign corporation, the branch profits tax described above in “Distributions on Our Common Stock” also may apply;

 

   

the non-U.S. holder is a nonresident alien individual who is present in the United States for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met, in which case the non-U.S. holder will be subject to a 30% tax (or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty between the United States and such holder’s country of residence) on the net gain derived from the disposition, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of the non-U.S. holder, if any (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided that the non-U.S. holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses; or

 

   

we are, or have been, at any time during the five-year period preceding such sale or other taxable disposition (or the non-U.S. holder’s holding period, if shorter) a “U.S. real property holding corporation,” unless our common stock is regularly traded on an established securities market, as defined by applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, and the non-U.S. holder holds no more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, during the shorter of the 5-year period ending on the date of the disposition or the period that the non-U.S. holder held our common stock. Generally, a corporation is a U.S. real property holding corporation only if the fair market value of its U.S. real property interests equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Although there can be no assurance, we do not believe that we are, or have been, a U.S. real property holding corporation, or that we are likely to become one in the future. No assurance can be provided that our common stock will be regularly traded on an established securities market for purposes of the rules described above. Non-U.S. holders should consult their own tax advisors about the consequences that could result if we are, or become, a U.S. real property holding corporation.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

We must report annually to the IRS and to each non-U.S. holder the gross amount of the distributions on our common stock paid to such holder and the tax withheld, if any, with respect to such distributions. Non-U.S.

 

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holders may have to comply with specific certification procedures to establish that the holder is not a United States person (as defined in the Code) in order to avoid backup withholding at the applicable rate with respect to dividends on our common stock. Dividends paid to non-U.S. holders subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax, as described above in “Distributions on Our Common Stock,” generally will be exempt from U.S. backup withholding.

Information reporting and backup withholding will generally apply to the proceeds of a disposition of our common stock by a non-U.S. holder effected by or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or foreign, unless the holder certifies its status as a non-U.S. holder and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of disposition proceeds to a non-U.S. holder where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a broker. However, for information reporting purposes, dispositions effected through a non-U.S. office of a broker with substantial U.S. ownership or operations generally will be treated in a manner similar to dispositions effected through a U.S. office of a broker.

Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the information reporting and backup withholding rules to them. Copies of information returns may be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which the non-U.S. holder resides or is incorporated under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a non-U.S. holder can be refunded or credited against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that an appropriate claim is filed with the IRS in a timely manner.

Withholding and Information Reporting Requirements—FATCA

Provisions of the Code commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, generally impose a U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% on payments of dividends on our common stock paid to a foreign entity unless (i) if the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution,” such foreign entity undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding and certification obligations, (ii) if the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution,” such foreign entity identifies certain of its U.S. investors, if any or (iii) the foreign entity is otherwise exempt under FATCA. Such withholding may also apply to payments of gross proceeds of sales or other dispositions of our common stock, although under recently proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations (the preamble to which specifies that taxpayers are permitted to rely on such proposed U.S. Treasury Regulations pending finalization), no withholding will apply to such payments of gross proceeds. Under certain circumstances, a non-U.S. holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of this withholding tax. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify the requirements described in this paragraph. Non-U.S. holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of this legislation on their investment in our common stock and the entities through which they hold our common stock, including, without limitation, the process and deadlines for meeting the applicable requirements to prevent the imposition of the 30% withholding tax under FATCA.

The preceding discussion of material U.S. federal tax considerations is for prospective investors’ information only. It is not tax advice. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the particular U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. tax consequences of purchasing, holding, and disposing of our common stock, including the consequences of any proposed changes in applicable laws.

 

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UNDERWRITING

BofA Securities, Inc., Cowen and Company, LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. are acting as representatives of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name below.

 

Underwriter

   Number of Shares  

BofA Securities, Inc.

                       

Cowen and Company, LLC

                       

Piper Sandler & Co.

                       

Wedbush Securities Inc.

                       
  

 

 

 

Total

     4,000,000  
  

 

 

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these shares are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

Commissions and Discounts

The representatives have advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $                per share. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.

The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares.

 

    

Per

Share

    

Without

Option

    

With

Option

 

Public offering price

   $        $        $    

Underwriting discount

   $        $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.

   $        $        $    

 

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The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at $590,000 and are payable by us. We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for up to $30,000 for their FINRA counsel fee. In accordance with FINRA Rule 5110, this reimbursed fee is deemed underwriting compensation for this offering.

Option to Purchase Additional Shares

We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 600,000 additional shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.

No Sales of Similar Securities

We, our executive officers, directors and certain affiliates have agreed not to sell or transfer any common stock or securities convertible into, exchangeable for, exercisable for, or repayable with common stock, for 90 days after the date of this prospectus without first obtaining the written consent of BofA Securities, Inc., Cowen and Company, LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. Specifically, we and these other persons have agreed, with certain limited exceptions, not to directly or indirectly

 

   

offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any common stock,

 

   

sell any option or contract to purchase any common stock,

 

   

purchase any option or contract to sell any common stock,

 

   

grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of any common stock,

 

   

lend or otherwise dispose of or transfer any common stock,

 

   

request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the common stock, or

 

   

enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of any common stock whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise.

This lock-up provision applies to common stock and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with common stock. It also applies to common stock owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition.

Nasdaq Global Market Listing

The shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “PRAX.”

Price Stabilization, Short Positions

Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common stock. However, the representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common stock, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.

 

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In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option granted to them. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common stock in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of shares of common stock made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common stock. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representatives will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Passive Market Making

In connection with this offering, underwriters and selling group members may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act during a period before the commencement of offers or sales of common stock and extending through the completion of distribution. A passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid of that security. However, if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, that bid must then be lowered when specified purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may cause the price of our common stock to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market in the absence of those transactions. The underwriters and dealers are not required to engage in passive market making and may end passive market making activities at any time.

Electronic Distribution

In connection with the offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.

Other Relationships

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their

 

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customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each a “Relevant State”), no Shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation), except that offers of Shares may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

  a.

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the Prospectus Regulation;

 

  b.

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the representatives for any such offer; or

 

  c.

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

provided that no such offer of Shares shall require the Issuer or any Manager to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation.

Each person in a Relevant State who initially acquires any Shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the Company and Managers that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

In the case of any Shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the Shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant State to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

The Company, the representatives and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any Shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any Shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

The above selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restrictions set out below.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

In relation to the United Kingdom (“UK”), no Shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in the UK prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Shares which has

 

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been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK in accordance with the UK Prospectus Regulation and the FSMA, except that offers of Shares may be made to the public in the UK at any time under the following exemptions under the UK Prospectus Regulation and the FSMA:

 

  a.

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

  b.

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of representatives for any such offer; or

 

  c.

at any time in other circumstances falling within section 86 of the FSMA,

provided that no such offer of Shares shall require the Issuer or any Manager to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or Article 3 of the UK Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

Each person in the UK who initially acquires any Shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with the Company and the Managers that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

In the case of any Shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in Article 5(1) of the UK Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the Shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer to the public other than their offer or resale in the UK to qualified investors, in circumstances in which the prior consent of the representatives has been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

The Company, the representatives and their affiliates will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, acknowledgements and agreements.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any Shares in the UK means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any Shares, the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, and the expression “FSMA” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

In connection with the offering, BofA Securities, Inc., Cowen and Company, LLC and Piper Sandler & Co. are not acting for anyone other than the issuer and will not be responsible to anyone other than the issuer for providing the protections afforded to their clients nor for providing advice in relation to the offering.

This document is for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who qualify as investment professionals within the meaning of Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Financial Promotion Order”), (ii) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (“high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.”) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (“FSMA”)) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

The shares may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the Company, the shares have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre

This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus supplement nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The shares to which this prospectus supplement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.

Any offer in Australia of the shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.

The shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.

This prospectus contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities

 

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recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

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

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The shares have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25 of 1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, the shares were not offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase and will not be offered or sold or caused to be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, and this prospectus or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares, has not been circulated or distributed, nor will it be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

  (a)

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

  (b)

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

 

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securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

  (a)

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

  (b)

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

  (c)

where the transfer is by operation of law; or

 

  (d)

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Israel

In the State of Israel this prospectus shall not be regarded as an offer to the public to purchase shares of common stock under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968, which requires a prospectus to be published and authorized by the Israel Securities Authority, if it complies with certain provisions of Section15 of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968, including, inter alia, if: (i) the offer is made, distributed or directed to not more than 35 investors, subject to certain conditions (the “Addressed Investors”); or (ii) the offer is made, distributed or directed to certain qualified investors defined in the First Addendum of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968, subject to certain conditions (the “Qualified Investors”). The Qualified Investors shall not be taken into account in the count of the Addressed Investors and may be offered to purchase securities in addition to the 35 Addressed Investors. The company has not and will not take any action that would require it to publish a prospectus in accordance with and subject to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968. We have not and will not distribute this prospectus or make, distribute or direct an offer to subscribe for our common stock to any person within the State of Israel, other than to Qualified Investors and up to 35 Addressed Investors.

Qualified Investors may have to submit written evidence that they meet the definitions set out in of the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968. In particular, we may request, as a condition to be offered common stock, that Qualified Investors will each represent, warrant and certify to us and/or to anyone

 

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acting on our behalf: (i) that it is an investor falling within one of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968; (ii) which of the categories listed in the First Addendum to the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968 regarding Qualified Investors is applicable to it; (iii) that it will abide by all provisions set forth in the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968 and the regulations promulgated thereunder in connection with the offer to be issued common stock; (iv) that the shares of common stock that it will be issued are, subject to exemptions available under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968: (a) for its own account; (b) for investment purposes only; and (c) not issued with a view to resale within the State of Israel, other than in accordance with the provisions of the Israeli Securities Law, 5728–1968; and (v) that it is willing to provide further evidence of its Qualified Investor status. Addressed Investors may have to submit written evidence in respect of their identity and may have to sign and submit a declaration containing, inter alia, the Addressed Investor’s name, address and passport number or Israeli identification number.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on our behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters and their respective affiliates, with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this document. Accordingly, no purchaser of the shares, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of shares on our behalf or on behalf of the underwriters.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Goodwin Procter LLP, Boston, Massachusetts. Certain legal matters related to this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., Boston, Massachusetts.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. appearing in the Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc’s. Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-                ) under the Securities Act with respect to the common stock we are offering by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us and our common stock, you should refer to the registration statement and to its exhibits. Whenever we make reference in this prospectus to any of our contracts, agreements or other documents, the references are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the exhibits attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract, agreement or other document.

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and will file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read our SEC filings, including the registration statement, at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at http://praxismedicines.com. The information contained in or accessible from our website is not incorporated into this prospectus, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information from other documents that we file, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information in this prospectus supersedes information incorporated by reference that we filed with the SEC prior to the date of this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part the information or documents listed below that we have filed with the SEC (SEC File No. 001-39620):

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 17, 2021; and

 

   

our Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on April 29, 2021, to the extent information therein is filed and not furnished;

 

   

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 11, 2021;

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2021 and April 29, 2021; and

 

   

the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on October 14, 2020, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating this description.

 

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We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., One Broadway, 16th Floor, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142.

You also may access these filings on our website at http://praxismedicines.com. We do not incorporate the information contained on or accessible through our website into this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus (other than those filings with the SEC that we specifically incorporate by reference into this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus).

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed modified, superseded or replaced for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies, supersedes or replaces such statement.

 

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4,000,000 Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

  BofA Securities  
  Cowen  
  Piper Sandler  

Wedbush PacGrow

 

 

 


Table of Contents

PART II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

Item 13. Other expenses of issuance and distribution.

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, to be paid by us in connection with the sale of the shares of common stock being registered hereby. All amounts shown are estimates except for the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, registration fee, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, filing fee and the Nasdaq Global Select Market initial listing fee.

 

    

Amount to be
Paid

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 14,083  

FINRA filing fee

     19,250  

Printing expenses

     120,000  

Legal fees and expenses

     350,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

     80,000  

Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses

     5,000  

Miscellaneous

     1,667  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 590,000  
  

 

 

 

Item 14. Indemnification of directors and officers.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL) authorizes a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities arising out of actions, suits and proceedings to which they are made or threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that they have served or are currently serving as a director or officer to a corporation. The indemnity may cover expenses (including attorneys’ fees) judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the director or officer in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding. Section 145 permits corporations to pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by directors and officers in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding. In addition, Section 145 provides that a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in their capacity as a director or officer, or arising out of their status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the director or officer against such liability under Section 145.

We have adopted provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our directors to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages or breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:

 

   

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders;

 

   

any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

any unlawful payments related to dividends or unlawful stock purchases, redemptions or other distributions; or

 

   

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

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These limitations of liability do not alter director liability under the federal securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as an injunction or rescission.

In addition, our bylaws will provide that:

 

   

we will indemnify our directors, officers and, at the discretion of our board of directors, certain employees to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended; and

 

   

we will advance reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to our directors and, at the discretion of our board of directors, to our officers and certain employees, in connection with legal proceedings relating to their service for or on behalf of us, subject to limited exceptions.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and certain of our executive officers. These agreements provide that we will indemnify each of our directors, certain of our executive officers and, at times, their affiliates to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We will advance expenses, including attorneys’ fees (but excluding judgments, fines and settlement amounts), to each indemnified director, executive officer or affiliate in connection with any proceeding in which indemnification is available and we will indemnify our directors and officers for any action or proceeding arising out of that person’s services as a director or officer brought on behalf of us or in furtherance of our rights. Additionally, certain of our directors or officers may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses or insurance provided by their affiliates or other third parties, which indemnification relates to and might apply to the same proceedings arising out of such director’s or officer’s services as a director referenced herein. Nonetheless, we have agreed in the indemnification agreements that our obligations to those same directors or officers are primary and any obligation of such affiliates or other third parties to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the expenses or liabilities incurred by those directors are secondary.

We also maintain general liability insurance which covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

In the underwriting agreement that we enter into in connection with the sale of shares of our common stock in this offering, a form of which will be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement, there will be provisions for indemnification of us and our directors and officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

Item 15. Recent sales of unregistered securities.

The following list sets forth information regarding all unregistered securities sold by us since January 1, 2018. No underwriters were involved in the sales and the certificates representing the securities sold and issued contain legends restricting transfer of the securities without registration under the Securities Act or an applicable exemption from registration.

(a) Preferred stock issuances

In March 2018, we issued an aggregate of 902,916 shares of our Series B preferred stock at a price per share of $2.25 pursuant to the conversion of a promissory note. In March 2018, we issued an aggregate of 383,269 shares of our Series B preferred stock at a price per share of $2.625 pursuant to the conversion of a promissory note.

In June 2019, we issued and sold an aggregate of 2,666,666 shares of our Series B-1 preferred stock at a per share purchase price of $3.75 for aggregate gross consideration of $10.0 million.

 

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From November 2019 to May 2020, we issued and sold an aggregate of 14,368,935 shares of our Series C preferred stock at a per share purchase price of $5.15 for aggregate gross consideration of $74.0 million. From February 2020 to March 2020, we repurchased 5,825,243 shares of our Series C preferred stock at the original issuance price of $5.15 per share for an aggregate cash repurchase price of $30.0 million.

From July 2020 to August 2020, we issued and sold an aggregate of 19,444,453 shares of our Series C-1 preferred stock at a per share purchase price of $5.67 for aggregate gross consideration of $110.3 million.

(b) Option issuances

From January 1, 2018 through October 15, 2020, we granted to employees, officers, directors, consultants and other service providers options to purchase an aggregate of 5,866,168 shares of our common stock, with exercise prices ranging from $2.27 to $8.91 per share, pursuant to the 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, or the 2017 Plan. Through May 1, 2021, 436,464 shares of common stock have been issued upon the exercise of stock options pursuant to the 2017 Plan.

On October 15, 2020, our 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, or the 2020 Plan, became effective, and, as a result, no further awards were made under our 2017 Plan.

On October 15, 2020, and prior to our Registration Statement on Form S-8 becoming effective on October 16, 2020, we granted to employees options to purchase an aggregate of 37,615 shares of our common stock, with an exercise price of $19.00 per share, pursuant to the 2020 Plan.

We deemed the offers, sales, and issuances of the securities described above to be exempt from registration under the Securities Act, in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, including Regulation D and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, regarding transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering. All purchasers of securities in transactions exempt from registration pursuant to Regulation D represented to us that they were accredited investors and were acquiring the shares for investment purposes only and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof and that they could bear the risks of the investment and could hold the securities for an indefinite period of time. The purchasers received written disclosures that the securities had not been registered under the Securities Act and that any resale must be made pursuant to a registration statement or an available exemption from such registration.

Item 16. Exhibits and financial statement schedules.

(a) Exhibits

The exhibits to the registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index to this registration statement and are incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules

All schedules have been omitted because they are not required or because the required information is given in the financial statements or notes to those statements.

Item 17. Undertakings.

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 Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the

 

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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 whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) That for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement
  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39620) filed on October 20, 2020)
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-39620) filed on October 20, 2020)
  4.1    Specimen Stock Certificate Evidencing the Shares of Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
  4.2    Fourth Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement among Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. and certain of its stockholders, effective as of July 24, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
  5.1*    Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP
10.1    Form of Director Indemnification Agreement, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.2    Form of Officer Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
10.3#    Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. 2017 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and form of award agreements thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 17, 2021)
10.4#    Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.5#    Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.6#    Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Company Employees under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.7#    Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Non-Employee Directors under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.8#    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)

 

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10.9#    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Company Employees under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.10#    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement for Non-Employee Directors under the 2020 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.11#    Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. 2020 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.12#    Form of Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-39620) filed on November 23, 2020)
10.13#    Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (File No. 333-249074) filed on October 9, 2020)
10.14†    License Agreement, dated December  31, 2017, by and between Purdue Neuroscience Company and Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
10.15†    Cooperation and License Agreement, dated September  11, 2019, by and between RogCon Inc. and Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
10.16†    Research Collaboration, Option and License Agreement, dated September  11, 2019, by and between Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
10.17    Sublease, dated October  4, 2018, by and between Highland Capital Partners, LLC and Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
10.18    Consent to Sublease, First Amendment of Lease and Amendment, dated November  2, 2018, by and among Highland Capital Partners, LLC, MIT One Broadway, LLC and Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
21.1    Subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-249074) filed on September 25, 2020)
23.1*    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2*    Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1*    Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

 

*

Filed herewith.

#

Indicates a management contract or any compensatory plan, contract or arrangement.

Portions of this exhibit (indicated by asterisks) have been omitted in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-1 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on the 11th day of May, 2021.

 

PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.
By:   /s/ Marcio Souza
 

Marcio Souza

Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Marcio Souza and Alex Nemiroff, and each of them, either of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by the registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, 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 or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done or by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following person in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

Name

  

Title

  

Date

/s/ Marcio Souza

Marcio Souza

   Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)    May 11, 2021

/s/ Lauren Mastrocola

Lauren Mastrocola

   Principal Accounting Officer and Interim Principal Financial Officer    May 11, 2021

/s/ Dean Mitchell

Dean Mitchell

   Chairman of the Board    May 11, 2021

/s/ Jeffrey Chodakewitz, M.D.

Jeffrey Chodakewitz, M.D.

   Director    May 11, 2021

/s/ Gregory Norden

Gregory Norden

   Director    May 11, 2021

/s/ Merit Cudkowicz, M.D.

Merit Cudkowicz, M.D.

   Director    May 11, 2021

 

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Name

  

Title

  

Date

/s/ Stefan Vitorovic

Stefan Vitorovic

   Director    May 11, 2021

/s/ William Young

William Young

   Director    May 11, 2021

 

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EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

[•] Shares

PRAXIS PRECISION MEDICINES, INC.

Common Stock

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

May [•], 2021

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

PIPER SANDLER & CO.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

c/o Cowen and Company, LLC

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

c/o Piper Sandler & Co.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, Floor 7

New York, New York 10020

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

1. INTRODUCTORY. Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell, pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “Underwriters,” or, each, an “Underwriter”), an aggregate of [•] shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value (the “Common Stock”) of the Company. The aggregate of [•] shares so proposed to be sold is hereinafter referred to as the “Firm Stock”. The Company also proposes to sell to the Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3 hereof, up to an additional [•] shares of Common Stock (the “Optional Stock”). The Firm Stock and the Optional Stock are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Stock”. BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA”), Cowen and Company, LLC (“Cowen”), and Piper Sandler & Co. (“Piper”) are acting as representatives of the several Underwriters and in such capacity are hereinafter referred to as the “Representatives.”

2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

(i) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company represents and warrants to the several Underwriters, as of the date hereof and as of each Closing Date (as defined below), and agrees with the several Underwriters, that:

(a) Registration Statement. A registration statement of the Company on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[•]) (including all amendments thereto, the “Initial Registration Statement”) in respect of the Stock has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered to you, and, excluding exhibits thereto, to you for each of the other


Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form and meet the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (the “Rules and Regulations”). Other than (i) the Initial Registration Statement, (ii) a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), (iii) any Preliminary Prospectus (as defined below), (iv) the Prospectus (as defined below) contemplated by this Agreement to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations in accordance with Section 4(i)(a) hereof and (v) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), no other document with respect to the offer or sale of the Stock has heretofore been filed with the Commission. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 of the Rules and Regulations is hereinafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus”). The Initial Registration Statement including all exhibits thereto and including the information contained in the Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Securities Act to be part of the Initial Registration Statement at the time it became effective is hereinafter collectively called the “Registration Statement.” If the Company has filed a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. The final prospectus, in the form filed pursuant to and within the time limits described in Rule 424(b) under the Rules and Regulations, is hereinafter called the “Prospectus.”

(b) General Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time (as defined below) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date (as defined below), as the case may be, neither (i) the General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the Pricing Prospectus (as defined below) and the information included on Schedule C hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), (iii) the bona fide electronic roadshow (as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) of the Rules and Regulations); nor (iv) any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from the Pricing Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below), in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information (as defined in Section 18). As used in this paragraph (b) and elsewhere in this Agreement:

Applicable Time” means [•] [A.M. / P.M.], New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Representatives.

Pricing Prospectus” means the Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Stock that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations relating to the Stock in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) of the Rules and Regulations.

 

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General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is identified on Schedule B to this Agreement.

Limited Use Free Writing Prospectuses” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Free Writing Prospectus.

Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication (as defined below) that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of the Form S-1 under the Securities Act. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(c) No Stop Orders; No Material Misstatements. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Stock has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act has been instituted or, to the Company’s Knowledge (as defined below), threatened by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained in or omitted from any Preliminary Prospectus, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.

(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus Contents. At the respective times, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto became or become effective as to the Underwriters and at each Closing Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto was issued and at each Closing Date, conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the

 

3


circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (d) shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.

(e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Stock or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as described in Section 4(i)(f), did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus that has not been superseded or modified, or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would 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, provided, however, that the foregoing representations and warranties in this paragraph (e) shall not apply to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.

(f) Distribution of Offering Materials. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and other materials, if any, permitted under the Securities Act and consistent with Section 4(I)(b) below. The Company will file with the Commission all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses (other than a “road show” as described in Rule 433(d)(8) of the Rules and Regulations) in the time and manner required under Rules 163(b)(2) and 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations.

(g) Emerging Growth Company. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission (or, if earlier, the first date on which the Company engaged directly or through any person authorized to act on its behalf in any Testing-the-Waters Communications) through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”). “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) or 163B of the Securities Act.

(h) Not an Ineligible Issuer. At the time of filing the Initial Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, and at the date hereof, the Company was not, and the Company currently is not, an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations.

(i) Testing the Waters Communications. The Company (a) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (b) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications other than those listed on Schedule D hereto.

 

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(j) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries (as defined in Section 15) have been duly organized and are validly existing as corporations or other legal entities in good standing (or the foreign equivalent thereof) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing as foreign corporations or other legal entities 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 (corporate or other) necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to so qualify or have such power or authority would not (i) have, singularly or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (any such effect as described in clauses (i) or (ii), a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any interest in any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement.

(k) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(l) The Stock. The Stock to be issued and sold by the Company to the Underwriters hereunder has been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Stock is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(m) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth under the heading “Capitalization” in the Pricing Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company, have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws, and conform to the description thereof contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. As of the date set forth in the General Disclosure Package, there were no authorized or outstanding shares of capital stock, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those described above or accurately described in the General Disclosure Package. Since such date, the Company has not issued any securities other than Common Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of warrants or upon the exercise of stock options or other awards outstanding under the Company’s stock option plans, options or other securities granted or issued pursuant to the Company’s existing equity compensation plans or other plans, and the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to employee stock purchase plans. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, accurately and fairly present the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

 

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(n) Capitalization of Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of capital stock (if any) of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and, except to the extent set forth in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, are owned by the Company directly or indirectly through one or more wholly-owned subsidiaries, free and clear of any claim, lien, encumbrance, security interest, restriction upon voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

(o) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the issue and sale of the Stock by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, encumbrance, security interest, claim or charge upon any property or assets 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 of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws (or analogous governing instruments, as applicable) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. A “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(p) No Consents Required. Except for the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Exchange”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Stock by the Underwriters and the listing of the Stock on the Exchange, no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing, qualification or registration (each an “Authorization”) with, any court, governmental or regulatory agency or body, foreign or domestic, which has not been made, obtained or taken and is not in full force and effect, is required for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, the issuance and sale of the Stock or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and no event has occurred that allows or results in, or after notice or lapse of time or both would allow or result in, revocation, suspension, termination or invalidation of any such Authorization or any other impairment of the rights of the holder or maker of any such Authorization.

(q) Independent Auditors. Ernst & Young LLP, who have certified certain financial statements and related schedules of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of Article 2-01 of Regulation S-X and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”).

 

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(r) Financial Statements. The financial statements, together with the related notes, included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the respective dates or for the respective periods therein specified. Such statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved except as may be set forth in the related notes included in the General Disclosure Package. The financial statements, together with the related notes, included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with Regulation S-X. No other financial statements or supporting schedules or exhibits are required by Regulation S-X to be described, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. The summary and selected financial data included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement fairly present, in all material respects, the information shown therein as at the respective dates and for the respective periods specified and are derived from the consolidated financial statements set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus and other financial information. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(s) No Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, (i) any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or action, order or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory authority, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package; (ii) any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse changes, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, assets, general affairs, management, financial position, prospects, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package.

(t) Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, there is no legal or governmental proceeding to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, including any proceeding before the United States Food and Drug Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“FDA”) or comparable federal, state, local or foreign governmental bodies (it being understood that the interaction between the Company and the FDA and such comparable governmental bodies relating to the clinical development and product approval process, if any, shall not be deemed proceedings for purposes of this representation), which is required to

 

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be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and is not described therein, or which, singularly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no such proceedings are threatened or, to the Company’s knowledge after reasonable investigation and due diligence inquiry (“Knowledge”), contemplated by governmental or regulatory authorities or threatened by others. The Company is in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, orders and decrees governing its business, as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as prescribed by the FDA, or any other federal, state or foreign agencies or bodies engaged in the regulation of pharmaceuticals or biohazardous substances or materials, except where noncompliance would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All preclinical and clinical studies conducted by or on behalf of the Company to support approval for commercialization of the Company’s products have been conducted by the Company, or to the Company’s Knowledge by third parties, in compliance with all applicable federal, state or foreign laws, rules, orders and regulations, except for such failure or failures to be in compliance as could not reasonably be expected to have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any corporate integrity agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, or similar agreements with or imposed by any governmental or regulatory authority. Additionally, neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of their respective employees, officers, directors, or agents has been excluded, suspended or debarred from participation in any U.S. federal health care program or human clinical research or is subject to a governmental inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or other similar action that could reasonably be expected to result in debarment, suspension, or exclusion.

(u) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws (or analogous governing instrument, as applicable), (ii) in default in any respect, and no event has occurred which, 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, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or assets is subject or (iii) in violation in any respect of any law, ordinance, governmental rule, regulation or court order, decree or judgment to which it or its property or assets may be subject (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Licenses or Permits. The Company and each of its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, authorizations and permits issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate local, state, federal or foreign governmental or regulatory agencies or bodies (including, without limitation, those administered by the FDA or by any foreign, federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) that are necessary for the ownership, lease or operation of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Governmental Permits”) except where any failures to possess or make the same would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all such Governmental Permits; all such Governmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity or failure to be in full force and effect would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received written notification of any revocation, modification, suspension, termination or invalidation (or proceedings related thereto) of any such Governmental Permit and the Company has no reason to believe that any such Governmental Permit will not be renewed.

 

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(w) Regulatory Matters. The studies, tests and preclinical or clinical trials conducted by or on behalf of the Company that are described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (the “Company Studies and Trials”) were and, if still pending, are being, conducted in all material respects in accordance with experimental protocols, procedures and controls, including all applicable laws and regulations; the descriptions of the results of the Company Studies and Trials contained in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus are accurate in all material respects; the Company has no Knowledge of any other studies or trials not described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the results of which are inconsistent with or call in question the results described or referred to in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the Company has not received any written notices from or had any other correspondence with the FDA or any foreign, state or local governmental body exercising comparable authority requiring the termination, suspension or material modification of any Company Studies or Trials for which termination, suspension or material modification would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there are no reasonable grounds for the same. In using or disclosing patient information received by the Company, if any, in connection with the Company Studies and Trials, the Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including, without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and the rules and regulations thereunder. To the Company’s Knowledge, none of the Company Studies and Trials involved any investigator who has been disqualified as a clinical investigator or has been found by the FDA or a comparable foreign regulatory authority to have engaged in scientific misconduct or violations of good clinical practices. To the Company’s Knowledge, the manufacturing facilities and operations of its suppliers are operated in compliance in all material respects with all applicable statutes, rules, and regulations of the FDA and comparable regulatory agencies outside of the United States to which the Company is subject.

(x) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, is or after giving effect to the offering of the Stock and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will 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.

(y) No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its officers, directors or affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company.

(z) Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess the valid right to use all (i) patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, Internet domain name registrations, copyrights, copyright registrations, licenses, trade secret rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) and (ii) inventions, software, works of authorships, trademarks, service marks, trade names, databases, formulae, know how, Internet domain names and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary confidential information, systems, or procedures) (collectively, “Intellectual Property Assets”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted and described in the General Disclosure Package and

 

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the Prospectus. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any opinion from their legal counsel concluding that any activities of their respective businesses infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate, valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person, and except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, have not received written notice of any challenge, which is to their Knowledge still pending, by any other person to the rights of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets owned or used by the Company or its subsidiaries. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries’ respective businesses as now conducted do not give rise to any infringement of, any misappropriation of, or other violation of, any valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person. All licenses for the use of the Intellectual Property Rights described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are valid, binding upon, and enforceable by or against the parties thereto in accordance to its terms. The Company has complied in all material respects with, and is not in breach nor has received any asserted or threatened claim of breach of any Intellectual Property license, and the Company has no Knowledge of any breach or anticipated breach by any other person to any Intellectual Property license. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package, no claim has been made against the Company alleging the infringement by the Company of any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name, copyright, trade secret, license in or other intellectual property right or franchise right of any person. The Company has taken all reasonable steps to protect, maintain and safeguard its Intellectual Property Rights, including the execution of appropriate nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other person in respect of, the Company’s right to own, use, or hold for use any of the Intellectual Property Rights as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the business as currently conducted. With respect to the use of the software in the Company’s business as it is currently conducted, the Company has not experienced any material defects in such software including any material error or omission in the processing of any transactions other than defects which have been corrected, and to the Company’s Knowledge, no such software contains any device or feature designed to disrupt, disable, or otherwise impair the functioning of any software or is subject to the terms of any “open source” or other similar license that provides for the source code of the software to be publicly distributed or dedicated to the public.

(aa) Privacy Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations, including, in each case, to the extent applicable, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH Act”) (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.), and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, “Privacy Laws”). The Company and its subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). The Company provides accurate notice of its Policies to those data subjects whose Personal Data is subject to the Policies. The Policies provide accurate and sufficient notice of the Company’s then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter and such Policies do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural persons’ name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) Protected Health Information as defined by HIPAA; (iv) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (v) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an

 

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identified person’s health or sexual orientation. To the Company’s Knowledge, none of such disclosures made or contained in any of the Policies have been inaccurate, misleading, deceptive or in violation of any Privacy Laws or Policies in any material respect. To the Company’s Knowledge, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any other agreement referred to in this Agreement will not result in a breach of any Privacy Laws or Policies. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, (i) has received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no Knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposed any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.

(bb) IT Systems. To the Company’s Knowledge, there has been no security breach or attack or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (“IT Systems and Data”) and (y) 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, attack or compromise to their IT Systems and Data, (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have complied, and are presently in compliance with, all applicable laws, statutes or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and all industry guidelines, standards, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification and (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practice.

(cc) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in and (in the case of real property) to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property which are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, claims and defects that (i) do not, singularly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(dd) No Labor Dispute. There is (A) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against it or any of its subsidiaries, before the National Labor Relations Board, any state or local labor relation board or any foreign labor relations board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against it and (B) no labor disturbance by or dispute with, employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s Knowledge, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors, that could reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any subsidiary plans to terminate employment with the Company or any such subsidiary.

 

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(ee) Compliance with ERISA. No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “Code”)) or “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) or any of the events set forth in Section 4043 (b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the thirty (30)-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which could, singularly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including ERISA and the Code. The Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred and could not reasonably be expected to incur liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from, any pension plan (as defined in ERISA). Each pension plan for which the Company or any of its subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could, singularly or in the aggregate, cause the loss of such qualification.

(ff) Environmental Laws and Hazardous Materials. The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses (“Environmental Laws”). The Company has no Knowledge of any storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may otherwise be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or upon any other property, in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any law, statute, ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any liability; and there has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries has knowledge.

(gg) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries each (i) have timely filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax returns, and all such returns were true, complete and correct, (ii) have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, for which it is liable, including, without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties, and (iii) do not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding or assessed or, to its Knowledge, proposed against any of them, except those, in each of the cases described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, that would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh) Insurance. The Company and each of its subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice from any insurer, agent of such insurer or the broker of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that any material capital improvements or any other material expenditures (other than premium payments) are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance.

 

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(ii) Accounting Controls. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act (the “Exchange Act Rules”)) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (v) interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (B) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(jj) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Rules) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company and its subsidiaries in reports that they file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management to allow timely decisions regarding disclosures. The Company and its subsidiaries have conducted evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(kk) Minute Books. The minute books of the Company and each of its subsidiaries have been made available to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, and such books (i) contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders of the Company (or analogous governing bodies and interest holders, as applicable), and each of its subsidiaries since the time of its respective incorporation or organization through the date of the latest meeting and action, and (ii) accurately in all material respects reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes.

(ll) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders (or analogous interest holders), customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its affiliates on the other hand, which is required to be described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and which is not so described.

(mm) No Registration Rights. No person or entity has the right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries because of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or otherwise, except for persons and entities who have expressly waived such right in writing or who have been given timely and proper written

 

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notice and have failed to exercise such right within the time or times required under the terms and conditions of such right. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package, there are no persons with registration rights or similar rights to have any securities registered by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Securities Act.

(nn) Margin Rules. The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Stock as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not 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.

(oo) No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Underwriters for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Stock or any transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.

(pp) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(qq) PFIC. The Company is not a Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1296 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1966, and the Company is not likely to become a PFIC.

(rr) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in either the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(ss) Listing. The Stock has been approved for listing subject to notice of issuance on the Exchange. A registration statement has been filed on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, which registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange Act.

(tt) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(uu) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any directory, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary, has (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity (or taken any act in furtherance thereof) , (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, political parties or campaigns, political party officials,

 

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or candidates for political office from corporate funds, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable anti-corruption laws, rules, or regulation of any other jurisdiction in which the Company or any subsidiary conducts business, or (iv) made any other unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or other unlawful payment to any person.

(vv) Statistical and Market Data. The statistical and market related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

(ww) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries conduct 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.

(xx) Compliance with OFAC.

 

  (A)

Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer or employee thereof, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any agent, affiliate, representative or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is: (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union (“EU”), Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of a U.S. government embargo (including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea).

 

  (B)

The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions, or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of a U.S. government embargo; or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

  (C)

For the past five (5) years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any direct or indirect dealings or transactions with any Person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions or any country or territory that, at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of a U.S. government embargo.

 

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(yy) No Associated Persons; FINRA Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(1)) directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, or is an associated person (within the meaning of Article I, Section 1(ee) of the By-laws of FINRA) of, any member firm of FINRA.

(zz) Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners. The Company has delivered to the Representatives a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, and, if required, copies of identifying documentation.

(aaa) No Acquisitions or Dispositions. Except as are described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, letters of intent, term sheets, agreement, arrangements or understandings with respect to the direct or indirect acquisition or disposition by the Company of material interests in real or personal property.

Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

3. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF OFFERED SECURITIES. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.

The purchase price per share to be paid by the Underwriters to the Company for the Stock will be $[•] per share (the “Purchase Price”).

The Company will deliver the Firm Stock to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, in each such case, issued in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior to 12:00 Noon, New York time, on the second (2nd) full business day preceding the Closing Date against payment of the aggregate Purchase Price therefor by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds to an account at a bank specified by the Company payable to the order of the Company for the Firm Stock sold by them all at the offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligations of each Underwriter hereunder. The time and date of the delivery and payment shall be at 10:00 A.M., New York time, on May [•], 2021, in accordance with Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act. The time and date of such payment and delivery are herein referred to as the “Closing Date”. The Closing Date and the location of delivery of, and the form of payment for, the Firm Stock may be varied by agreement between the Company and the Representatives.

The Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Stock. The price per share to be paid for the Optional Stock shall be the Purchase Price. The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Stock specified in the written notice delivered by the Representatives to the Company described below and the Underwriters agree,

 

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severally and not jointly, to purchase such shares of Optional Stock. Such shares of Optional Stock shall be purchased from the Company for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of shares of Firm Stock set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name on Schedule A bears to the total number of shares of Firm Stock (subject to adjustment by the Representatives to eliminate fractions). The option granted hereby may be exercised as to all or any part of the Optional Stock at any time, and from time to time, provided however, that notice of such exercise must be delivered not more than thirty (30) days subsequent to the date of this Agreement. No Optional Stock shall be sold and delivered unless the Firm Stock previously has been, or simultaneously is, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Stock or any portion thereof may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by Representatives to the Company.

The option granted hereby shall be exercised by written notice being given to the Company by Representatives setting forth the number of shares of the Optional Stock to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Optional Stock. Each date and time for delivery of and payment for the Optional Stock (which may be the Closing Date, but not earlier) is herein called the “Option Closing Date” and shall in no event be earlier than two (2) business days nor later than five (5) business days after written notice is given. The Option Closing Date and the Closing Date are herein called the “Closing Dates.”

The Company will deliver the Optional Stock to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or, at the election of the Representatives, in the form of definitive certificates, in each such case, issued in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives may direct by notice in writing to the Company given at or prior to 12:00 Noon, New York time, on the second (2nd) full business day preceding the Option Closing Date against payment of the aggregate Purchase Price therefor by wire transfer in federal (same day) funds to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representatives payable to the order of the Company for the Optional Stock sold by them, all at the offices of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified pursuant to this Agreement is a further condition of the obligations of each Underwriter hereunder. The Company, in the event the Representatives elect to have the Underwriters take delivery of definitive certificates instead of delivery from the Company of the certificates through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, shall make the certificates for the Optional Stock available to the Representatives for examination on behalf of the Underwriters in New York, New York not later than 10:00 A.M., New York Time, at least one (1) full business day prior to the Option Closing Date. The Option Closing Date and the location of delivery of, and the form of payment for, the Optional Stock may be varied by agreement between the Company and the Representatives.

The several Underwriters propose to offer the Stock for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

4. FURTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY

(i) FURTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters:

(a) Required Filings; Amendments or Supplements; Notice to the Representative. To prepare the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if necessary, in a form approved by the Representatives and file such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission by 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date hereof, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Rules and Regulations; to prepare the

 

17


Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rules 430A, 430B or 430C of the Rules and Regulations and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations not later than the second business (2nd) day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by the Securities Act; to notify the Representatives promptly of the Company’s intention to file or prepare any supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement or to the Prospectus and to make no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or to the Prospectus to which the Representatives shall reasonably object by notice to the Company after a reasonable period to review; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Written Testing-the -Waters Communication has been filed and to furnish the Underwriters with copies thereof; to file promptly all material required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rules 433(d) or 163(b)(2) of the Rules and Regulations, as the case may be; to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, of the suspension of the qualification of the Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or for additional information including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing-the-Waters Communication; and, in the event of the issuance of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, and promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order.

(b) Emerging Growth Company. The Company will promptly notify the Representatives if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the later of (a) the completion of the distribution of the Firm Stock within the meaning of the Securities Act and (b) completion of the Lock-Up Period (as defined below).

If at any time following the distribution of any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Written Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

(c) Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Representative, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and the Representative, it has not made and will not, other than the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 4(d) hereof, make any offer relating to the Stock that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations unless the prior written consent of the Representatives has been received (each, a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus”); provided that the prior written consent of the Representatives hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule B hereto. The Company represents that it has treated

 

18


and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Rules and Regulations applicable to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including the requirements relating to timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping and will not take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that such Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder. The Company will satisfy the condition in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road show.

(d) Ongoing Compliance. If at any time prior to the date when a prospectus relating to the Stock is required to be delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) any event occurs or condition exists as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made when the Prospectus is delivered (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Rules and Regulations), not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act, that the Company will promptly notify the Representatives thereof and upon their request will prepare an appropriate amendment or supplement in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance and will use its reasonable best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement declared effective as soon as possible. The Company will furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request of such amendment or supplement. In case any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Rules and Regulations) relating to the Stock, the Company upon the request of the Representatives will prepare promptly an amended or supplemented Prospectus as may be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as such Underwriter may request of such amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.

(e) Amendment to General Disclosure Package. If the General Disclosure Package is being used to solicit offers to buy the Stock at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, or to make the statements therein not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file and not superseded or modified, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package to comply with any law, the Company promptly will prepare, file with the Commission (if required) and furnish to the Underwriters and any dealers an appropriate amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package.

(f) Amendment to Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, Pricing Prospectus or Prospectus, and not superseded or modified or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would 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 prevailing at the subsequent time, not misleading, the

 

19


Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives so that any use of the Issuer Free Writing Prospectus may cease until it is amended or supplemented and has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.

(g) Delivery of Registration Statement. To the extent not available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”), upon the request of the Representatives, to furnish promptly to the Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission, and of each amendment thereto filed with the Commission, including all consents and exhibits filed therewith.

(h) Delivery of Copies. Upon request of the Representatives, to the extent not available on EDGAR, to deliver promptly to the Representatives in New York City such number of the following documents as the Representatives shall reasonably request: (i) conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission (in each case excluding exhibits), (ii) each Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (iv) the Prospectus (the delivery of the documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) of this paragraph (h) to be made not later than 10:00 A.M., New York time, on the business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement), (v) conformed copies of any amendment to the Registration Statement (excluding exhibits) and (vi) any amendment or supplement to the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (the delivery of the documents referred to in clauses (v) and (vi) of this paragraph (h) to be made not later than 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day following the date of such amendment or supplement).

(i) Earnings Statement. To make generally available to its stockholders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than sixteen (16) months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) of the Rules and Regulations), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158); and to furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public accountants) and as soon as possible after each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the first fiscal quarter after the effective date of such Registration Statement), consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail.

(j) Blue Sky Compliance. To take promptly from time to time such actions as the Representatives may reasonably request to qualify the Stock for offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably designate and to continue such qualifications in effect, and to comply with such laws, for so long as required to permit the offer and sale of Stock in such jurisdictions; provided that the Company and its subsidiaries shall not be obligated to (i) qualify as foreign corporations in any jurisdiction in which they are not so qualified, (ii) file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

 

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(k) Reports. Upon request, during the period of five (5) years from the date hereof, to deliver to each of the Underwriters, (i) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and (ii) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports EDGAR, it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.

(l) Lock-Up. During the period commencing on and including the date hereof and ending on and including the 90th day following the date of this Agreement, (the “Lock-Up Period”) the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representatives), directly or indirectly offer, sell (including, without limitation, any short sale), assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of, or announce the offering of, or submit or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any Common Stock, options, rights or warrants to acquire Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock (other than is contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Stock) or publicly announce any intention to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the Company may (i) sell the Stock pursuant to this Agreement; (ii) issue Common Stock and options to purchase Common Stock, shares of Common Stock underlying options granted and other securities, each pursuant to any director or employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect on the date hereof and described in the General Disclosure Package; (iii) issue Common Stock pursuant to the conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, which securities or warrants are outstanding on the date hereof and described in the General Disclosure Package; (iv) adopt a new equity incentive plan, and file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the Securities Act to register the offer and sale of securities to be issued pursuant to such new equity incentive plan, and issue securities pursuant to such new equity incentive plan (including, without limitation, the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of options or other securities issued pursuant to such new equity incentive plan), provided that (1) such new equity incentive plan satisfies the transaction requirements of General Instruction A.1 of Form S-8 under the Securities Act and (2) this clause (iv) shall not be available unless each recipient of shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Common Stock, pursuant to such new equity incentive plan shall be contractually prohibited from selling, offering, disposing of or otherwise transferring any such shares or securities during the remainder of the Lock-Up Period. The Company will cause each person and entity listed in Schedule E to furnish to the Representative, prior to the Closing Date, a “lock-up” agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto. In addition, the Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions upon any such securities of the Company that are bound by such “lock-up” agreements.

(m) Delivery of SEC Correspondence. To supply the Underwriters with copies of all correspondence to and from, and all documents issued to and by, the Commission in connection with the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act or any of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto.

(n) Press Releases. Prior to the Closing Date, not to issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or business prospects (except for

 

21


routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Representatives are notified), without the prior consent of the Representatives, unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Representatives, such press release or communication is required by law.

(o) Compliance with Regulation M. Until the Underwriters shall have notified the Company of the completion of the resale of the Stock, that the Company will not, and will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliated purchasers (as defined in Regulation M under the Exchange Act) not to, either alone or with one or more other persons, bid for or purchase, for any account in which it or any of its affiliated purchasers has a beneficial interest, any Stock, or attempt to induce any person to purchase any Stock; and not to, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause its affiliated purchasers not to, make bids or purchase for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in or of raising the price of the Stock.

(p) Registrar and Transfer Agent. To maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Stock.

(q) Use of Proceeds. To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Stock as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds,” and except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Stock hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

(r) Exchange Listing. To use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation the Stock on the Exchange.

(s) Performance of Covenants and Satisfaction of Conditions. To use its reasonable best efforts to do and perform all things required to be done or performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to each Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Firm Stock and the Optional Stock.

5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company agrees to pay, or reimburse if paid by any Underwriter, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated: (a) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Stock and any taxes payable in that connection; (b) the costs incident to the registration of the Stock under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act; (c) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and distribution of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, any amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto; (d) the fees and expenses (including up to an aggregate of $30,000 in related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters) incurred in connection with securing any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Stock and any filings made with FINRA; (e) any applicable listing or other fees; (f) the fees and expenses (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters) of qualifying the Stock under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 4(i)(j) and of preparing, printing and distributing wrappers, Blue Sky Memoranda and Legal Investment Surveys; (g) the cost of preparing and printing stock certificates; (h) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Stock; and (i) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Stock, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the officers of the Company and such consultants; provided, that the Company shall be responsible for 50%

 

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of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show and the underwriters shall be responsible for the balance, and (k) all other costs and expenses incident to the offering of the Stock or the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement (including, without limitation, the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s independent accountants; provided that, except to the extent otherwise provided in this Section 5 and in Sections 9 and 10, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel not contemplated herein, any transfer taxes on the resale of any Stock by them and the expenses of advertising any offering of the Stock made by the Underwriters.

6. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS’ OBLIGATIONS. The respective obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and as of the Applicable Time and on each Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Orders. The Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof, preventing or suspending the use of, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission, and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives; the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus shall have been filed with, the Commission within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by, and in compliance with, the Rules and Regulations and in accordance with Section 4(i)(a), and the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, shall have become effective immediately upon its filing with the Commission; and FINRA shall have raised no unresolved objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

(b) No Material Misstatements. None of the Underwriters shall have discovered and disclosed to the Company on or prior to such Closing Date that the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of a fact which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or that the General Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue statement of fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material or omits to state any fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material and is necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

(c) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings incident to the authorization, form and validity of each of this Agreement, the Stock, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

 

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(d) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. Goodwin Procter LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives such counsel’s written opinion and 10b-5 Statement, as counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Exhibit II hereto.

(e) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Intellectual Property Counsel for the Company. Each of Goodwin Procter, LLP and Cooley LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives such counsel’s written opinion and 10b-5 Statement, as intellectual property counsel to the Company, addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Exhibits III and IV, respectively, hereto.

(f) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received from Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions and 10b-5 Statement, dated such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for enabling them to pass upon such matters.

(g) Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, addressed to the Underwriters, executed and dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that they are an independent registered accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and PCAOB and (ii) stating the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Bring Down Comfort. On the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and on such Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a letter (the “bring-down letter”) from Ernst & Young LLP addressed to the Underwriters and dated such Closing Date confirming, as of the date of the bring-down letter (or, with respect to matters involving changes or developments since the respective dates as of which specified financial information is given in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be, as of a date not more than three (3) business days prior to the date of the bring-down letter), the conclusions and findings of such firm, of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters, with respect to the financial information and other matters covered by its letter delivered to the Representatives concurrently with the execution of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph (h) of this Section 6.

(i) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of its Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, or an officer acting in a similar capacity, stating in their respective capacities as officers of the Company on behalf of the Company and not in their individual capacities that (i) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including, for avoidance of doubt, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement), or any post-effective amendment thereto, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or, to their knowledge, threatened by the Commission, (ii) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Effect, (iii) to their knowledge, after reasonable investigation, as of such Closing Date, the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date, and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent

 

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audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, any Material Adverse Effect in the financial position or results of operations of the Company, or any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to involve a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(j) No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the General Disclosure Package, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, and (ii) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph (m), is, in the judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Stock on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the General Disclosure Package.

(k) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no law, statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental or regulatory agency or body which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Stock; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Stock or materially and adversely affect or potentially materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.

(l) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the Company’s corporate credit rating or the rating accorded the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading), the Company’s corporate credit rating or the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities.

(m) Market Conditions. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) trading in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq Global Select Market, Nasdaq Global Market, Nasdaq Capital Market or the NYSE MKT LLC or in the over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices or maximum range for prices shall have been established on any such exchange or such market by the Commission, by such exchange or market or by any other regulatory body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by Federal or state authorities or a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, (iii) the United States shall have become engaged in hostilities, or the subject of an act of terrorism, or there shall have been an outbreak of or escalation in hostilities involving the United States, or there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or (iv) there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic,

 

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political or financial conditions (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the sale or delivery of the Stock on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(n) Exchange Listing. The Exchange shall have approved the Stock for listing therein, subject only to official notice of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution.

(o) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on and as of such Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate Governmental Authorities of such jurisdictions.

(p) Lock Up Agreements. The Representatives shall have received the written agreements, substantially in the form of Exhibit I hereto, of the officers, directors and stockholders of the Company listed in Schedule E to this Agreement.

(q) Secretary’s Certificate. The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a Secretary’s Certificate of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and customary for the type of offering contemplated by this Agreement.

(r) [1Chief Financial Officer Certificate. The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate, as of the time of the execution of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, of its Chief Financial Officer, substantially in the form of Exhibit V hereto.]

(s) Additional Document. On or prior to such Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.

(a) Indemnification of Underwriters by the Company. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless:

each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors, officers, managers, members, employees, representatives and agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,” and each an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any

 

1 

TBD whether necessary.

 

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Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Common Stock, including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) (“Marketing Materials”) or (B) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Company Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any Marketing Materials, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter Indemnified Party promptly upon demand for any legal fees or other expenses reasonably incurred by that Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, or preparing to defend, or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in, or omission or alleged omission from any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement thereto, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Marketing Materials made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information.

Each indemnity agreement in this Section 7(a) is not exclusive and is in addition to each other liability which the Company might have under this Agreement or otherwise, and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available under this Agreement, at law or in equity to any Underwriter Indemnified Party.

(b) Indemnification of Company by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Company Indemnified Parties” and each a “Company Indemnified Party”) against any loss, claim, damage, expense or liability whatsoever (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), joint or several, to which such Company Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or

 

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on behalf of that Underwriter specifically for use therein, which information the parties hereto agree is limited to the Underwriters’ Information, and shall reimburse the Company Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as third party witness in connection with any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation or proceeding, as such fees and expenses are incurred. This indemnity agreement is not exclusive and will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters might otherwise have and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available under this Agreement, at law or in equity to the Company Indemnified Parties.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of that action; provided, however, that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent it has been materially prejudiced by such failure; and, provided, further, that the failure to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 7. If any such action shall be brought against an indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to assume the defense of such action with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party (which counsel shall not, except with the written consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party). After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such action, except as provided herein, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and to participate in the defense of such action but the fees and expenses of such counsel (other than reasonable costs of investigation) shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment thereof has been specifically authorized in writing by the Company in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(a) or the Representatives in the case of a claim for indemnification under Section 7(b), (ii) such indemnified party shall have been advised by its counsel that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or (iii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense of such action and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of the commencement of the action or the indemnifying party does not diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, in which case, if such indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of (or, in the case of a failure to diligently defend the action after assumption of the defense, to continue to defend) such action on behalf of such indemnified party and the indemnifying party shall be responsible for legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense of such action; provided, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all such indemnified parties (in addition to any local counsel), which firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Underwriter Indemnified Party or by the Company if the indemnified parties under this Section 7 consist of any Company Indemnified Parties. Subject to

 

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this Section 7(c), the amount payable by an indemnifying party under Section 7 shall include, but not be limited to, (x) reasonable documented legal fees and expenses of counsel to the indemnified party and any other expenses in investigating, or preparing to defend or defending against, or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any action, investigation, proceeding or claim, and (y) all amounts paid in settlement of any of the foregoing. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever, in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 7 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) 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 action or claim and (ii) 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. Subject to the provisions of the following sentence, no indemnifying party shall be liable for settlement of any pending or threatened action or any claim whatsoever that is effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), but if settled with its written consent, if its consent has been unreasonably withheld or delayed or if there be a judgment for the plaintiff in any such matter, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested that an indemnifying party reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 7(a) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than forty-five (45) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the request for reimbursement, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least thirty (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.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b), then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid, payable or otherwise incurred by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof), as incurred, (i) in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Stock, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this Section 7(d) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) of this Section 7(d) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to the statements, omissions, acts or failures to act which resulted in such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability (or any action, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Stock purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Stock purchased under this Agreement, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement,

 

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omission, act or failure to act; provided that the parties hereto agree that the written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of the Underwriters for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, consists solely of the Underwriters’ Information.

(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to Section 7(d) above were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to Section 7(d) above. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding referred to in Section 7(d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending against or appearing as a third party witness in respect of, or otherwise incurred in connection with, any such loss, claim, damage, expense, liability, action, investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriters shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Stock exceeds the amount of any damages which the Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission, act or alleged act or failure to act or alleged failure to act. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

8. TERMINATION. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representatives, in their absolute discretion by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Firm Stock if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 6(m), 6(o) or 6(p) have occurred or if the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement.

9. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS’ EXPENSES. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if (a) this Agreement shall have been terminated pursuant to Section 8 or 10, (b) the Company shall fail to tender the Stock for delivery to the Underwriters for any reason not permitted under this Agreement, (c) the Underwriters shall decline to purchase the Stock for any reason permitted under this Agreement or (d) the sale of the Stock is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth herein is not satisfied or because of the refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to satisfy any condition or to comply with the provisions hereof, then in addition to the payment of amounts in accordance with Section 5, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for the fees and expenses of Underwriters’ counsel and for such other out-of-pocket expenses as shall have been reasonably incurred by them in connection with this Agreement and the proposed purchase of the Stock, including, without limitation, travel and lodging expenses of the Underwriters, and upon demand the Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representatives; provided that if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 by reason of the default of one or more Underwriters, the Company shall not be obligated to reimburse any defaulting Underwriter on account of expenses to the extent incurred by such defaulting Underwriter, provided further that the foregoing shall not limit any reimbursement obligation of the Company to any non-defaulting Underwriter under this Section 9.

10. SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITERS. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase shares of Stock hereunder on any Closing Date and the aggregate number of

 

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shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall so default and the aggregate number of shares with respect to which such default or defaults occur is more than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares to be purchased by all Underwriters on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such shares by other persons are not made within forty eight (48) hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate.

If the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters are required hereby or agree to take up all or part of the shares of Stock of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters on such Closing Date as provided in this Section 10, (i) the Company shall have the right to postpone such Closing Dates for a period of not more than five (5) full business days in order that the Company may effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees promptly to file any amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to the Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the respective numbers of shares to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters shall be taken as the basis of their underwriting obligation for all purposes of this Agreement. Nothing herein contained shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability to the Company or the other Underwriters for damages occasioned by its default hereunder. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of any non defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except that the representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities, agreements and other statements set forth in Section 2, the obligations with respect to expenses to be paid or reimbursed pursuant to Sections 5 and 9 and the provisions of Section 7 and Sections 11 through 21, inclusive, shall not terminate and shall remain in full force and effect.

11. ABSENCE OF FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) each Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature, the Representatives have been retained solely to act as underwriters in connection with the sale of the Stock and no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Representatives have been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether any of the Representatives has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;

(b) the price of the Stock set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representatives, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) it has been advised that the Representatives and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Representatives have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

(d) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Representatives shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

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12. SUCCESSORS; PERSONS ENTITLED TO BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the several Underwriters, the Company and their respective successors and assigns. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, other than the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement, or any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person; except that the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and indemnities of the Company contained in this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and the indemnities of the several Underwriters shall be for the benefit of the Company Indemnified Parties. It is understood that each Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and the Underwriters do not owe the Company, or any other party, any fiduciary duty as a result of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Stock from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

13. SURVIVAL OF INDEMNITIES, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, ETC. The respective indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by them respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any person controlling any of them and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Stock. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, including without limitation any termination pursuant to Section 8 or Section 10, the indemnities, covenants, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements forth in Sections 2, 5, 7 and 9 and Sections 11 through 21, inclusive, of this Agreement shall not terminate and shall remain in full force and effect at all times.

14. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes

(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

15. NOTICES. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and:

(a) if to the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex, facsimile transmission or email to BofA Securities, Inc., Attention: Syndicate Department, Fax: 646-855-3073 with a copy to the ECM Legal, Fax: 212-230-8730 , Cowen and Company, LLC, Attention: Head of Equity Capital Markets, Fax: 646-562-1249 with a copy to the General Counsel, Fax: 646-562-1130, and Piper Sandler & Co., Attention: Equity Capital Markets, Fax: 612-303-1070 with a copy to the General Counsel, Fax: 612-303-1068; and

(b) if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex, facsimile transmission or email to Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., Attention: Marcio Souza, email: msouza@praxismedicines.com; with a copy to Goodwin Procter LLP, 100 Northern Avenue, Boston Massachusetts 02210; email: wcollins@goodwinlaw.com;

 

32


provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 shall be delivered or sent by mail, or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its acceptance telex to the Representatives, which address will be supplied to any other party hereto by the Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

16. DEFINITION OF CERTAIN TERMS. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (b) “business day” means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. is open for trading (c) “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations; (d) “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), (e) “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), (f) “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, (g) “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.

17. GOVERNING LAW, JURISDICTION, WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, including without limitation Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations. The Company irrevocably (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement and any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding may be heard and determined by any such court, (c) waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any immunity from the jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process, (d) agrees not to commence any such suit, action or proceeding other than in such courts, and (e) waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the parties to this Agreement hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.

18. UNDERWRITERS’ INFORMATION. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriters’ Information consists solely of the following information in the Prospectus: (i) the last paragraph on the front cover page concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters; and (ii) the statements concerning the Underwriters contained in the [tenth and fourteenth through sixteenth] paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting.”

19. AUTHORITY OF THE REPRESENTATIVES. In connection with this Agreement, the Representatives will act for and on behalf of the several Underwriters, and any action taken under this Agreement by the Representatives, will be binding on all the Underwriters.

20. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph, clause or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

21. GENERAL. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and

 

33


negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. In this Agreement, the masculine, feminine and neuter genders and the singular and the plural include one another. The section headings in this Agreement are for the convenience of the parties only and will not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement may be amended or modified, and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived, only by a writing signed by the Company and the Representatives.

22. COUNTERPARTS AND ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this Agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

 

34


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided for that purpose below.

 

Very truly yours,
Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.
By:                       
Name:   Marcio Souza
Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

35


Accepted as of

the date first above written:

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

PIPER SANDLER & CO.

 

Acting on their own behalf
and as Representatives of several
Underwriters listed on Schedule A to this Agreement.

 

By:   BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By:               
  Name: Arvind Kush
  Title: Managing Director

 

By:   COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC
By:               
  Name: Bill Follis
  Title: Managing Director

 

By:   PIPER SANDLER & CO.
By:               
  Name: Neil Riley
  Title: Managing Director


SCHEDULE A

 

Name

  

Number of Shares of
Firm Stock to be
Purchased

  

Number of Shares of
Optional Stock to be
Purchased

BofA Securities, Inc.

     

Cowen and Company, LLC

     

Piper Sandler & Co.

     

Wedbush Securities Inc.

     
Total      


SCHEDULE B

General Use Free Writing Prospectuses

[None]


SCHEDULE C

Pricing Information

Firm Stock to be Sold: [•] shares

Offering Price: $[•] per share

Underwriting Discounts and Commissions: [•]%

Estimated Net Proceeds to the Company (after underwriting discounts and commissions, but before transaction expenses): $[•]


SCHEDULE D

Written Testing-the-Waters Communications

 

1.

[To be updated]


SCHEDULE E

List of officers, directors and stockholders subject to Section 4(i)(l)

[To update]


Exhibit I

Form of Lock Up Agreement

Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.

May [    ], 2021

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC

PIPER SANDLER & CO.

    As Representatives of the several Underwriters

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

c/o Cowen and Company, LLC

599 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York 10022

c/o Piper Sandler & Co.

1251 Avenue of the Americas, Floor 7

New York, New York 10020

 

Re:

Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-1 for Shares of Common Stock

Dear Sirs and Madams:

This letter agreement (“Agreement”) is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and BofA Securities, Inc. (“BofA”), Cowen and Company, LLC (“Cowen”) and Piper Sandler & Co. (“Piper”), as representatives (the “Representatives”) of a group of underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriters”), to be named therein, and the other parties thereto (if any), relating to the proposed public offering of shares of the common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (the “Offering”).

In order to induce the Underwriters to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, and in light of the benefits that the Offering will confer upon the undersigned in his, her or its capacity as a securityholder and/or an officer, director or employee of the Company, and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each Underwriter that, during the period beginning on the date hereof through and including the date that is the 90th day after the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, and will not cause or direct


any of its affiliates to, without the prior written consent of BofA, Cowen and Piper, (i) offer, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, contract to sell, lend or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or publicly announce the intention to otherwise dispose of, any shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation, Common Stock which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time (such shares, the “Beneficially Owned Shares”)) or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, (ii) enter into, or publicly announce the intention to enter into, any swap, hedge or similar agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) that transfers, is designed to transfer or reasonably could be expected to transfer (whether by the undersigned or someone other than the undersigned) in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic risk of ownership of the Beneficially Owned Shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (the “Prohibited Activity”), or (iii) engage in, or publicly announce the intention to engage in, any short selling of the Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The undersigned represents and warrants that the undersigned is not, and has not caused or directed any of its affiliates to be or become, currently a party to any agreement or arrangement that is designed to or which reasonably could be expected to lead to or result in any Prohibited Activity during the Lock-Up Period.

In addition, the Representatives (on behalf of the Underwriters) agree that, should a discretionary release or waiver of the restrictions contained herein be granted to any officer, director or shareholder of the Company who is party to a lock-up agreement similar to this agreement that contains a paragraph similar to this paragraph (each, a “Released Party”), the Representatives (on behalf of the Underwriters) shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide at least two business days’ notice to the Company prior to the effective date of such release or waiver (the effective date of such release or waiver, the “Release Date”), stating the percentage of shares held by such person or entity to be released (the “Release Percentage”), and the Company shall (on behalf of the Underwriters), within two business days thereafter, send notice to the undersigned, stating that the Release Percentage of shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned shall also be released on a pro rata basis and on the same terms and conditions from the restrictions set forth herein on the Release Date (the “Pro-rata Release”); provided, that such Pro-rata Release shall not be applied in the event of releases granted from such lock-up restrictions to Released Parties by the Representatives are in an aggregate amount less than 1% of the Company’s total outstanding stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the provisions of this paragraph will not apply if the release or waiver is effected (A) solely to permit a transfer not involving a disposition for value and if the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this Agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of transfer or (B) due to circumstances of a bona fide emergency or hardship, as determined by the Representatives in their sole judgment and (ii) if the release or waiver is in connection with any primary and/or secondary underwritten public offering of shares of Common Stock (an “Underwritten Sale”), then such waiver or release shall only apply with respect to, and to the extent of, the undersigned’s participation in such Underwritten Sale.

The restrictions set forth in the second paragraph shall not apply to:

(1)    (x) if the undersigned is a natural person, any transfers made by the undersigned (a) as a bona fide gift to any member of the immediate family (as defined below) of the undersigned or to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned or members of the undersigned’s immediate family, or (b) by will or intestate succession upon the death of the undersigned or (y) any transfers made by the undersigned as a bona fide gift to a charity or educational institution;


(2)    if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers to any stockholder, partner or member of, or beneficial owner of a similar equity interest in, the undersigned, as the case may be, if, in any such case, such transfer is not for value;

(3)    if the undersigned is a trust, distributions of shares of Common Stock or any security directly or indirectly convertible into shares of Common Stock to its beneficiaries in a transaction not involving a disposition of value;

(4)    if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfer made by the undersigned (a) in connection with the sale or other bona fide transfer in a single transaction of all or substantially all of the undersigned’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other similar equity interests, as the case may be, or all or substantially all of the undersigned’s assets, in any such case not undertaken for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Agreement or (b) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity so long as the transferee is an affiliate (as defined below) of the undersigned, or to an investment fund or other entity that controls or manages, or is under common control with the undersigned, and such transfer is not for value;

(5)    the receipt by the undersigned of shares of Common Stock acquired in the Offering;

(6)    transfers to the Company pursuant to agreements that are in effect as of the date hereof under which the Company has the option to repurchase such shares or securities upon termination of the undersigned; provided that if the undersigned is required to file a report under the Exchange Act reporting such repurchase, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that such repurchase was made under terms of the Company’s repurchase rights upon termination of the undersigned and provided further that no other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or repurchase;

(7)    to any transfers of Common Stock solely in connection with the surrender or forfeiture to the Company of shares of Common Stock to the Company in partial or full settlement of any withholding tax obligation of the undersigned accruing upon the exercise or vesting of any equity award outstanding on the date of the Underwriting Agreement granted pursuant to the Company’s equity plans;

(8)    transactions relating to Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock acquired in the Offering or in open market transactions after completion of the Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period;

(9)    the entry, by the undersigned, at any time on or after the date of the Underwriting Agreement, of any trading plan providing for the sale of Common Stock by the undersigned, which trading plan meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), provided, however, that such plan does not provide for, or permit, the sale of any Common Stock during the Lock-up Period and no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made or required regarding such plan during the Lock-Up Period;

(10)     the transfer of Common Stock (or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of Common Stock involving a change of control of the Company (including, without limitation, the entry into any lock-up, voting or similar agreement pursuant to which the undersigned may agree to transfer, sell, tender or otherwise dispose of Common Stock or other such securities in favor of any such transaction, or vote any securities in favor of such transaction); provided that all of the Common stock subject to


this Agreement that is not so transferred, sold, tendered or otherwise disposed of remain subject to this Agreement; and provided further that in the event that the tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the Common Stock owned by the undersigned shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, “change of control” shall mean the consummation of (1) any bona fide third-party tender offer approved by the board of directors of the Company, for any and all of the Company’s outstanding voting securities or (2) any merger, consolidation or other similar transaction, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, in each case, approved by the board of directors of the Company and the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), or group of persons, other than the Company, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 of the Exchange Act) of 75% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, the Offering shall not constitute a change of control; and

(11)    pursuant to a court order or order of a regulatory agency,

provided, however, that in the case of any transfer described in clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) above, it shall be a condition to the transfer that (A) the transferee executes and delivers to BofA, acting on behalf of the Underwriters, not later than the day of such transfer, a written agreement, in substantially the form of this Agreement (it being understood that any references to “immediate family” in the agreement executed by such transferee shall expressly refer only to the immediate family of the undersigned and not to the immediate family of the transferee) and otherwise satisfactory in form and substance to BofA, Cowen and Piper, unless prohibited by an order of court, and (B) in the case of any transfer described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) above, no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made regarding such transfer during the Lock-Up Period and if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock or Beneficially Owned Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or Beneficially Owned Shares during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect that, (i) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (1) above, such transfer is being made as a gift or by will or intestate succession, (ii) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (2) above, such transfer is being made to a stockholder, partner or member of, or owner of a similar equity interest in, the undersigned and is not a transfer for value, (iii) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (4) above, such transfer is being made either (a) in connection with the sale or other bona fide transfer in a single transaction of all or substantially all of the undersigned’s capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests or other similar equity interests, as the case may be, or all or substantially all of the undersigned’s assets or (b) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity that is an affiliate of the undersigned and such transfer is not for value, and (iv) in the case of any transfer pursuant to clause (7) above, such transfer is being made to satisfy tax withholding obligations. For purposes of this paragraph, “immediate family” shall mean a spouse, child, grandchild or other lineal descendant (including by adoption), father, mother, brother or sister of the undersigned; and “affiliate” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

For avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement prohibits the undersigned from exercising any options or warrants to purchase Common Stock (which exercises may be effected on a cashless basis to the extent the instruments representing such options or warrants permit exercises on a cashless basis), it being understood that any Common Stock issued upon such exercises will be subject to the restrictions of this Agreement and provided, however, that no public announcement or filing is voluntarily made regarding such exercise during the Lock-Up Period and provided that if the undersigned is required to file a report under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of such options or warrants during the Lock-Up Period, the undersigned shall include a statement in such report to the effect


that the disposition relates to the exercise of an option or warrant, as applicable, and that the shares of Common Stock received upon exercise are subject to the restrictions of this Agreement.

In order to enable this covenant to be enforced, the undersigned hereby consents to the placing of legends or stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent with respect to any Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.

The undersigned further agrees that it will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make any demand or request for or exercise any right with respect to the registration under the Securities Act, of any shares of Common Stock or other Beneficially Owned Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or other Beneficially Owned Shares.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and that this Agreement has been duly authorized (if the undersigned is not a natural person), executed and delivered by the undersigned and is a valid and binding agreement of the undersigned. This Agreement and all authority herein conferred are irrevocable and shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned (if a natural person) and shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

Upon the earliest to occur, if any, of (i) the Company notifying BofA in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the Offering, (ii) the Underwriting Agreement not being executed by May 31, 2021, or (iii) the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) terminating or being terminated for any reason prior to payment for and delivery of any Common Stock to be sold thereunder, this Agreement shall immediately be terminated and the undersigned shall automatically be released from all of his, her or its obligations under this Agreement. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that whether or not any public offering of Common Stock actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions.

[Signature page follows]


Very truly yours,

 

(Name of Stockholder—Please Print)

 

(Signature)

 

(Name of Signatory if Stockholder is an entity—Please Print)

 

(Title of Signatory if Stockholder is an entity—Please Print)

Address:    
   
   


Exhibit II

Form of Company Counsel Opinion

[See attached]


Exhibit III

Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Intellectual Property Counsel to the Company (Goodwin)

[See attached]


Exhibit IV

Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Intellectual Property Counsel to the Company (Cooley)

[See attached]


Exhibit V

CFO Certificate

[See attached]

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

   

Goodwin Procter LLP

100 Northern Avenue

Boston, MA 02210

    goodwinlaw.com
    +1 617 570 1000

May 11, 2021

Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc.

One Broadway, 16th Floor

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

 

  Re:

Securities Registered under Registration Statement on Form S-1

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to you in connection with your filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of the offering by Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) of up to 4,600,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, including Shares purchasable by the underwriters upon their exercise of an option to purchase additional shares granted to the underwriters by the Company. The Shares are being sold to the several underwriters named in, and pursuant to, an underwriting agreement among the Company and such underwriters (the “Underwriting Agreement”).

We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions set forth below. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company.

The opinion set forth below is limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Goodwin Procter LLP
GOODWIN PROCTER LLP
EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” and to the use of our report dated March 17, 2021, in the Registration Statement (Form S-1) and related Prospectus of Praxis Precision Medicines, Inc. dated May 11, 2021.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Boston, Massachusetts

May 11, 2021