CareDx, Inc S-3ASR, filed Jun 9, 2020
CareDx, Inc. (CDNA)
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 9, 2020
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CAREDX, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 94-3316839 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1 Tower Place
South San Francisco, California 94080
(415) 287-2300
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Peter Maag, Ph.D.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
CareDx, Inc.
1 Tower Place
South San Francisco, California 94080
(415) 287-2300
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
Jeffrey T. Hartlin, Esq.
Paul Hastings LLP
1117 S. California Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 320-1804
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, 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 registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
| Emerging growth company | ☐ | |||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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| Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered(1)/(2) |
Proposed maximum offering price per unit(1)/(2) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price(1)/(2) |
Amount of registration fee(3) | ||||
| Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Debt Securities |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Warrants |
— | — | — | — | ||||
| Units(4) |
— | — | — | — | ||||
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| (1) | Omitted pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II.E. |
| (2) | An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price, principal amount or number of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices or upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities registered hereunder to the extent any such securities are, by their terms, convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, such securities. Securities registered hereunder may be sold either separately or as units comprised of more than one type of security registered hereunder. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities or that are issued in units. |
| (3) | Pursuant to Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the registrant is deferring payment of all applicable registration fees. |
| (4) | Each unit will represent an interest in two or more other securities, which may or may not be separable from one another. |
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PROSPECTUS
CareDx, Inc.
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
We may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities identified above, either individually or in combination with other securities identified above. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants.
Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectuses may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference, before you invest in any of our securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and in any applicable free writing prospectuses, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Our common stock is currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CDNA”. On June 8, 2020, the last reported sales price for our common stock was $34.34 per share. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to any other listing on the Nasdaq Global Market or any securities market or other exchange of the securities, if any, covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 9, 2020.
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This prospectus is part of an “automatic shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell shares of our common stock and preferred stock, various series of debt securities, warrants to purchase any of such securities and/or units consisting of any combination of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities, in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we offer securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of those securities and that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the section entitled “Important Information Incorporated by Reference”, before buying any of the securities being offered.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses, along with the information contained in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
The information appearing in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents. Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “CareDx,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” in this prospectus refer to CareDx, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
We own various U.S. federal trademark registrations and applications and unregistered trademarks, including our corporate logo. This prospectus and the information incorporated herein by reference contains references to trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. Solely for convenience, trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus and the information incorporated herein, including logos, artwork, and other visual displays, may appear without the ® or TM symbols,
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but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, service marks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names, service marks or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
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We are a leading precision medicine company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of clinically differentiated, high-value healthcare solutions for transplant patients and caregivers. We offer testing services, products, and digital healthcare solutions along the pre- and post-transplant patient journey, and we are a leading provider of genomics-based information for transplant patients. Our commercially available testing services consist of AlloSure® Kidney, which is a donor-derived cell-free DNA solution for kidney transplant patients, and AlloMap® Heart, which is a gene expression solution for heart transplant patients. We also offer high quality products that increase the chance of successful transplants by facilitating a better match between a donor and a recipient of stem cells and organs. In 2019, we began providing digital solutions to transplant centers following the acquisitions of Ottr Complete Transplant Management and XynManagement, Inc.
We were originally incorporated in Delaware in December 1998 under the name Hippocratic Engineering, Inc. In April 1999, we changed our name to BioCardia, Inc., and in June 2002, we changed our name to Expression Diagnostics, Inc. In July 2007, we changed our name to XDx, Inc. and in March 2014, we changed our name to CareDx, Inc. Our principal executive offices are located at 1 Tower Place, South San Francisco, California 94080, and our telephone number is (415) 287-2300. Our corporate website address is http://www.caredx.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website to be part of this prospectus. We have included our website address only as an inactive textual reference and do not intend it to be an active link to our website.
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Investing in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in the applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, or any updates in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, before deciding whether to purchase any of the securities being offered. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities.
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DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, which statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans or intentions.
Forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the following:
| • | the potential impact to our business, revenue and financial condition, including disruptions to our testing services, laboratories, clinical trials, supply chain and operations, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic; |
| • | our ability to take advantage of opportunities under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, and the potential impact of the CARES Act on our business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity; |
| • | our ability to generate revenue and increase the commercial success of our current and future testing services, products and digital solutions; |
| • | our ability to obtain, maintain and expand reimbursement coverage from payers for our current and other future testing services, if any; |
| • | our plans and ability to continue updating our testing services, products and digital solutions to maintain our leading position in transplantations; |
| • | the outcome or success of our clinical trial collaborations and registry studies; including Kidney Allograft Outcomes AlloSure Registry, the Outcomes of KidneyCare™ on Renal Allografts registry study, and the Surveillance HeartCare Outcomes Registry; |
| • | the favorable review of our testing services and product offerings, and our future solutions, if any, in peer-reviewed publications; |
| • | our ability to obtain additional financing on terms favorable to us, or at all; |
| • | our anticipated cash needs and our anticipated uses of our funds, including our estimates regarding operating expenses and capital requirements; |
| • | anticipated trends and challenges in our business and the markets in which we operate; |
| • | our dependence on certain of our suppliers, service providers and other distribution partners; |
| • | disruptions to our business, including disruptions at our laboratories and manufacturing facilities; |
| • | our ability to retain key members of our management team; |
| • | our ability to make successful acquisitions or investments and to manage the integration of such acquisitions or investments; |
| • | our ability to expand internationally; |
| • | our compliance with federal, state and foreign regulatory requirements; |
| • | our ability to protect and enforce our intellectual property rights, our strategies regarding filing additional patent applications to strengthen our intellectual property rights, and our ability to defend against intellectual property claims that may be brought against us; |
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| • | our ability to successfully assert, defend against or settle any litigation brought by or against us or other legal matters or disputes; and |
| • | our ability to comply with the requirements of being a public company. |
These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those described in this prospectus, in Part I—Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020, and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC on April 30, 2020, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free-writing prospectus and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment, and new risks emerge from time to time. It is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free-writing prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.
You should read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free-writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
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Except as described in the applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, without limitation, supporting asset growth and engaging in acquisitions or other business combinations. We also may use a portion of the proceeds to repay debt. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from the sale of securities under this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement. Accordingly, our management will have broad discretion in the timing and application of these proceeds. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we intend to temporarily invest the proceeds in short-term, interest-bearing instruments.
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This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and units that we may offer and sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not meant to be complete descriptions of each security. However, at the time of an offering and sale, this prospectus together with the accompanying prospectus supplement and any related free-writing prospectus will contain the material terms of the securities being offered.
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The following description summarizes the most important terms of our capital stock. Because it is only a summary of the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, or the Certificate of Incorporation, and amended and restated bylaws, as amended, or the Bylaws, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a complete description of the matters set forth in this “Description of Capital Stock,” you should refer to our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each of which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and to the applicable provisions of Delaware law.
Authorized Capitalization
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock with a $0.001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with a $0.001 par value per share. Our board of directors, or the Board, may establish the rights and preferences of the preferred stock from time to time.
As of June 3, 2020, there were 44,318,224 shares of our common stock outstanding, held by approximately 91 stockholders of record, not including beneficial holders whose shares are held in names other than their own. There are no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Common Stock
| • | Voting rights. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. No share of common stock affords any cumulative voting rights. This means that the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares voting for the election of directors can elect all directors to be elected if they choose to do so, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any outstanding shares of our preferred stock. Generally, except as discussed under the heading “Effect of Certain Provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute” below, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority of the total voting power of common stock present in person or represented by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum exists, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any outstanding preferred stock. Except as otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation (as further discussed under the heading “Effect of Certain Provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute” below), and subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any outstanding preferred stock, amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of our common stock. |
| • | Dividend rights. Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably the dividends, if any, as may be declared from time to time by the Board out of funds legally available therefor. We have never declared or paid any cash dividend on our capital stock and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. |
| • | Liquidation rights. In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in our assets remaining after the payment of liabilities and any preferential rights of any outstanding preferred stock. |
| • | No preemptive or similar rights. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights, and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock. |
| • | Fully paid and non-assessable. The outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. |
| • | Preferred Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future. |
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| • | Anti-Takeover Provisions. See the below section titled “Effect of Certain provision of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. |
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “CDNA.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021, and its telephone number is 1-800-962-4284.
Preferred Stock
The Board is authorized, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences, and rights of the shares of each series and any of its qualifications, limitations or restrictions, in each case without further vote or action by our stockholders. The Board can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by our stockholders. The Board may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company and might adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock.
Equity Awards
As of June 3, 2020, options to purchase 2,940,720 shares of our common stock with a weighted-average exercise price of $18.69 per share were outstanding and restricted stock units with respect to 1,771,487 shares of our common stock, with a weighted-average grant date fair value of $23.33 per share, were outstanding.
Warrants
As of June 3, 2020, we had outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 49,006 shares of common stock with an exercise price of $1.12 per share, all of which are currently exercisable (subject to certain beneficial ownership limitations) and expiring on April 13, 2023.
All of the outstanding warrants contain provisions for the adjustment of the exercise price in the event of stock dividends, stock splits or similar transactions. Certain of the warrants contain priced-based adjustment provisions, pursuant to which the exercise price of the warrants may be adjusted downward in the event of certain dilutive issuances. In addition, certain of the warrants contain a “cashless exercise” feature that allows the holders thereof to exercise the warrants without a cash payment to us under certain circumstances. Certain of the warrants also contain provisions that provide certain rights to warrantholders in the event of a fundamental transaction, including a merger or consolidation with or into another entity, such as:
| • | The right to receive the same amount and kind of consideration paid to the holders of shares of our common stock in a fundamental transaction; and |
| • | The right to require us to repurchase the unexercised portion of certain warrants at the warrant’s respective fair value using the Black Scholes option pricing formula. |
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Effect of Certain Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and the Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
Certain provisions of Delaware law, along with certain provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, may have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of our company and could make the following transactions more difficult:
| • | acquisition of us by means of a tender offer; |
| • | acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or |
| • | removal of our incumbent officers and directors. |
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to promote stability in our management. These provisions are also designed, in part, to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of our company to first negotiate with the Board. However, these provisions could have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying, discouraging or preventing attempts to acquire us, which could deprive our stockholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws
The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws include a number of provisions that could deter hostile takeovers or delay or prevent changes relating to the control of the Board or our management team, including the following:
| • | Board of Directors Vacancies. The Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws authorize only the Board to fill vacant directorships, including newly created seats. In addition, the number of directors constituting the Board can be set only by a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the entire Board. These provisions would prevent a stockholder from increasing the size of the Board and then gaining control of the Board by filling the resulting vacancies with the stockholder’s own nominees. This makes it more difficult to change the composition of the Board and promotes continuity of management. |
| • | Classified Board. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Board is classified into three classes of directors. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company as it is more difficult and time consuming for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors. |
| • | Stockholder Action; Special Meeting of Stockholders. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that our stockholders may not take action by written consent, but may only take action at annual or special meetings of our stockholders. As a result, a holder controlling a majority of our capital stock would not be able to amend the Bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of our stockholders called in accordance with the Bylaws. The Bylaws further provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by a majority of the Board, the Chairperson of the Board, our Chief Executive Officer or our President, thus prohibiting a stockholder (in the capacity as a stockholder) from calling a special meeting. These provisions might delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for stockholders controlling a majority of our capital stock to take any action, including the removal of directors. |
| • | Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. The Bylaws provide advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders. The Bylaws also specify certain requirements regarding the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions might preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of |
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| stockholders if the proper procedures are not followed. We expect that these provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of our company. |
| • | No Cumulative Voting. The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, provides that stockholders may cumulate votes in the election of directors if the corporation’s certificate of incorporation allows for such mechanism. The Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting. |
| • | Directors Removed Only for Cause. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that stockholders may remove directors only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% in voting power of our stock entitled to vote thereon. |
| • | Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock. The Board has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by the Board. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock would enable the Board to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or other means. |
| • | Amendment of Charter Provisions. Any amendment of the above provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation, with the exception of the ability of the Board to issue shares of preferred stock and designate any rights, preferences and privileges thereto, would require approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our then outstanding common stock. |
| • | Federal Forum Selection. The Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, and that any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in any of our securities shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the forgoing. Our exclusive forum provision will not relieve us of our duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations. While the Delaware Supreme Court recently determined that such choice of forum provisions are facially valid, a stockholder may nevertheless seek to bring such a claim arising under the Securities Act against us, our directors, officers, or other employees in a venue other than in the U.S. federal district courts. In such instance, we would expect to vigorously assert the validity and enforceability of the exclusive forum provisions of the Bylaws, and this may require significant additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions. |
Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute
We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers. In general, those provisions prohibit a public Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
| • | the transaction is approved by the board of directors before the date the interested stockholder attained that status; |
| • | upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced; or |
| • | on or after the date of the transaction, the transaction is approved by the board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
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In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines a business combination to include the following:
| • | any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder; |
| • | any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder; |
| • | subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; |
| • | any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or |
| • | the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. |
In general, Section 203 of the DGCL defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning, or who within three years prior to the time of determination of interested stockholder status did own, 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by any such entity or person.
A Delaware corporation may opt out of this provision by express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or by amendment to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws approved by its stockholders. However, we have not opted out of, and do not currently intend to opt out of, this provision. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire our company.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The debt securities that are sold may be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares of common stock or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a designated trustee. We will include in a prospectus supplement the specific terms of each series of senior or subordinated debt securities being offered, including the terms, if any, on which a series of senior or subordinated debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities. In addition, the material terms of any indenture, which will govern the rights of the holders of our senior or subordinated debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued independently or together with common stock, preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and may be attached to or separate from those securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. We will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with the specific offering.
As of June 3, 2020, warrants to purchase an aggregate of 49,006 shares of our common stock with an exercise price of $1.12 per share were outstanding. For additional information about our outstanding warrants, see the information under the heading “Warrants” in the section of this prospectus entitled “Description of Capital Stock”.
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We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. Each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.
The following description, together with the additional information included in the applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with a specific offering of units, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.
If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:
| • | the title of the series of units; |
| • | identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units; |
| • | the price or prices at which the units will be issued; |
| • | the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable; |
| • | a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and |
| • | any other terms of the units and their constituent securities. |
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We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee or depositary maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Global securities will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for global securities, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security in certain situations, as described under “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”, or issue securities that are not issued in global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name”. Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.
For securities held in street name, we or any applicable trustee or depositary will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we or any such trustee or depositary will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee or third party employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold
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beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that legal holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass the payment or notice along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture, or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the legal holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the legal holders contact the indirect holders is up to the legal holders.
Special Considerations for Indirect Holders
If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form because the securities are represented by one or more global securities or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:
| • | how it handles securities payments and notices; |
| • | whether it imposes fees or charges; |
| • | how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required; |
| • | whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future; |
| • | how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and |
| • | if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters. |
Global Securities
A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.
Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we issue to, deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.
A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated”. As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and legal holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a legal holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.
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If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued as a global security, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.
Special Considerations for Global Securities
As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only as global securities, an investor should be aware of the following:
| • | an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations described below; |
| • | an investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as described above; |
| • | an investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form; |
| • | an investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in the global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
| • | the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in the global security; |
| • | we and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in the global security, nor will we or any applicable trustee supervise the depositary in any way; |
| • | the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in the global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do the same; and |
| • | financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in the global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. |
There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, a global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own names, so that they will be direct holders. The rights of holders and street name investors are described above.
A global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:
| • | if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; |
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| • | if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or |
| • | if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived. |
The applicable prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and neither we nor any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
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We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we authorize for use in connection with a specific offering, from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, direct sales to the public, “at the market” offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
| • | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| • | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| • | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| • | at negotiated prices. |
Each time we offer and sell securities, a prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| • | the name or names of the underwriters, if any; |
| • | the purchase price of the securities or other consideration therefor, and the proceeds, if any, we will receive from the sale; |
| • | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
| • | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; |
| • | any public offering price; |
| • | any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; and |
| • | any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement applicable to such offering will be underwriters of the securities offered by such prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement, other than securities covered by any over-allotment or other option. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time. We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe the nature of any such relationship in the prospectus supplement naming the underwriter.
We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers from certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed
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delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
All securities we may offer, other than common stock, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum price. Syndicate-covering or other short-covering transactions involve purchases of the securities, either through exercise of the over-allotment option or in the open market after the distribution is completed, to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time.
Any underwriters that are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Global Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the common stock. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
In compliance with guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, the maximum consideration or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate amount of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will be passed upon for us by Paul Hastings LLP, Palo Alto, California. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The 2019 and 2018 financial statements, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of CareDx’s internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference (which reports (i) express an unqualified opinion on the 2019 and 2018 financial statements and includes an explanatory paragraph related to the Company’s change in method of accounting for leases in fiscal year 2019 due to the adoption of ASC 842, Leases), and (ii) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting). Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including CareDx, Inc. You may also access our reports and proxy statements free of charge at our Internet website, http://www.caredx.com.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered under this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered under this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part of the registration statement. The statements this prospectus makes pertaining to the content of any contract, agreement or other document that is an exhibit to the registration statement necessarily are summaries of their material provisions and do not describe all exceptions and qualifications contained in those contracts, agreements or documents. You should read those contracts, agreements or documents for information that may be important to you. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available at the SEC’s Internet website.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain important information that you should read about us.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
| (a) | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020; |
| (b) | the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020; |
| (c) | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2020; |
| (d) | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 8, 2020 and June 9, 2020; and |
| (e) | The description of our common stock set forth in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-36536), filed with the SEC on July 11, 2014, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
Any information in any of the foregoing documents will automatically be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that information in this prospectus or in a later filed document that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference modifies or replaces such information.
We also incorporate by reference any future filings (other than current reports furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K and exhibits filed on such form that are related to such items unless such Form 8-K expressly provides to the contrary) made with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, including those made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities made by this prospectus and will become a part of this prospectus from the respective dates that such documents are filed with the SEC. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes hereof or of the related prospectus supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
The documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus are also available on our corporate website at http://www.caredx.com under the heading “Investors.” Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this report unless specifically incorporated herein by reference.
Upon written or oral request, we will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, without charge, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits which are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. Requests should be directed to:
CareDx, Inc.
1 Tower Place
South San Francisco, California 94080
Attn: Investor Relations
Telephone Number: (415) 287-2300
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Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Prospectus
June 9, 2020
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is an estimate of the fees and expenses, other than underwriting discounts or commissions, payable by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown are estimates except for the registration fee. All of the expenses below will be paid by the Registrant.
| SEC registration fee |
$ | (1 | ) | |
| FINRA filing fee |
$ | (2 | ) | |
| Transfer agent’s fees and expenses |
$ | (2 | ) | |
| Legal fees and expenses |
$ | (2 | ) | |
| Accounting fees and expenses |
$ | (2 | ) | |
| Trustee fees and expenses |
$ | (2 | ) | |
| Printing fees and expenses |
$ | (2 | ) | |
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses |
$ | (2 | ) | |
|
|
|
|||
| Total |
$ | (2 | ) | |
|
|
|
| (1) | In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act, the registrant is deferring payment of all applicable registration fees for the securities offered by this prospectus. |
| (2) | These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or the DGCL, authorizes a corporation’s board of directors to grant, and authorizes a court to award, indemnity to officers, directors and other corporate agents.
As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that eliminate the personal liability of its directors and officers for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors and officers.
In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, the Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws (as amended) provide that:
| • | The Registrant shall indemnify its directors and officers for serving the Registrant in those capacities or for serving other business enterprises at the Registrant’s request, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that a corporation may indemnify such person if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. |
| • | The Registrant may, in its discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law. |
| • | The Registrant is required to advance expenses, as incurred, to its directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such director or officer shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification. |
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| • | The Registrant is not obligated pursuant to the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated bylaws (as amended) to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person, except with respect to proceedings authorized by the Registrant’s board of directors or brought to enforce a right to indemnification. |
| • | The rights conferred in the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and the amended and restated bylaws (as amended) are not exclusive, and the Registrant is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons. |
| • | The Registrant may not retroactively amend the bylaw provisions to reduce its indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents. |
The Registrant has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers that provide the maximum indemnity allowed to directors and executive officers by Section 145 of the DGCL and also to provide for certain additional procedural protections. The Registrant also maintains directors and officers insurance to insure such persons against certain liabilities.
These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements entered into between the Registrant and its executive officers and directors may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of the Registrant’s executive officers and directors for liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act.
See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.
Item 16. Exhibits
| Exhibit Number |
Description | Registrant’s Form |
Date Filed with the SEC |
Exhibit Number |
||||||||||
| 1.1† | Form of Underwriting Agreement. | |||||||||||||
| 4.1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. | 10-Q | 8/28/2014 | 3.1 | ||||||||||
| 4.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws. | 10-Q | 8/28/2014 | 3.4 | ||||||||||
| 4.3 | Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Bylaws. | 8-K | 6/9/2020 | 3.1 | ||||||||||
| 4.4 | Form of Registrant’s common stock certificate. | 10-K | 3/31/2015 | 4.1 | ||||||||||
| 4.5# | 2014 Equity Incentive Plan and forms of agreements, as amended. | 8-K | 6/26/2018 | 10.1 | ||||||||||
| 4.6# | Form of Option Agreement under the 2014 Equity Incentive Plan for New Options. | SC TO-I | 10/12/2017 | 99 | (d)(3) | |||||||||
| 4.7# | 2014 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and forms of agreements thereunder. | S-8 | 7/18/2014 | 4.5 | ||||||||||
| 4.8# | 2016 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan. | S-8 | 5/23/2016 | 4.1 | ||||||||||
| 4.9# | Form of Warrant. | 8-K | 4/14/2016 | 10.3 | ||||||||||
| 4.10 | Form of Common Stock Purchase Warrant issued to the Purchasers on March 15, 2017. | 8-K | 3/15/2017 | 4.2 | ||||||||||
| 4.11# | 2019 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan. | 8-K | 9/4/2019 | 10.1 | ||||||||||
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| Exhibit Number |
Description | Registrant’s Form |
Date Filed with the SEC |
Exhibit Number |
||||||||||
| 4.12 | Description of Securities of CareDx, Inc. | 10-K | 2/28/2020 | 4.9 | ||||||||||
| 4.13† | Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |||||||||||||
| 4.14† | Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |||||||||||||
| 4.15† | Form of Debt Securities Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate. | |||||||||||||
| 4.16† | Form of Debt Securities. | |||||||||||||
| 4.17† | Form of Unit Agreement. | |||||||||||||
| 4.18† | Form of Specimen Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock. | |||||||||||||
| 5.1* | Opinion of Paul Hastings LLP. | |||||||||||||
| 23.1* | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | |||||||||||||
| 23.2* | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. | |||||||||||||
| 23.3* | Consent of Paul Hastings LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |||||||||||||
| 24.1* | Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement). | |||||||||||||
| 25.1+ | Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Indenture. | |||||||||||||
| † | To be filed by amendment or an exhibit to a document to be incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference to this registration statement, including a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
| # | Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. |
| * | Filed herewith. |
| + | To be filed separately under the electronic form type 305B2, if applicable. |
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement.
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(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
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(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(8) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 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 Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of South San Francisco, State of California, on June 9, 2020.
| CAREDX, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Peter Maag, Ph.D. | |
| Peter Maag, Ph.D. | ||
| Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ||
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Peter Maag, Ph.D. and Michael Bell, and each or any one of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other 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 connection therewith, 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 their or his substitutes or substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This power of attorney shall be governed by and construed with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable federal securities laws.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Peter Maag, Ph.D. Peter Maag, Ph.D. |
Chairman and (Principal Executive Officer) |
June 9, 2020 | ||
| /s/ Michael Bell Michael Bell |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
June 9, 2020 | ||
| /s/ Michael D. Goldberg Michael D. Goldberg |
Director | June 9, 2020 | ||
| /s/ George W. Bickerstaff, III George W. Bickerstaff, III |
Director | June 9, 2020 | ||
| /s/ Fred E. Cohen, M.D. Fred E. Cohen, M.D. |
Director | June 9, 2020 | ||
| /s/ Grace E. Colón, Ph.D. Grace E. Colón, Ph.D. |
Director | June 9, 2020 | ||
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| Signature |
Title |
Date | ||
| /s/ Chris Cournoyer Chris Cournoyer |
Director | June 9, 2020 | ||
| /s/ William Hagstrom William Hagstrom |
Director | June 9, 2020 | ||
| /s/ Ralph Snyderman, M.D. Ralph Snyderman, M.D. |
Director | June 9, 2020 | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
| June 9, 2020 | 94656.00001 |
CareDx, Inc.
1 Tower Place
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to CareDx, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing on the date hereof with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form S-3ASR (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). You have provided us with a draft of the Registration Statement in the form in which it will be filed, which includes a base prospectus (the “Prospectus”). The Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements to the Prospectus, free writing prospectuses or term sheets (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”).
The Registration Statement registers the offering and sale of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) one or more series of debt securities (collectively, “Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to indentures to be entered into between the Company, as issuer, and a trustee (the “Trustee”) (each, an “Indenture”), (iv) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (collectively, the “Warrants”), which may be issued under warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”), to be dated on or about the date of the first issuance of the applicable Warrants thereunder, by and between the Company and a warrant agent to be selected by the Company (the “Warrant Agent”), and (v) units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities and/or Warrants (collectively, the “Units”), which may be issued under unit agreements by and between the Company and a unit agent to be selected by the Company (each, a “Unit Agreement”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”
This opinion letter is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Securities.
As such counsel and for purposes of our opinions set forth herein, we have examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, resolutions, certificates and other instruments of the Company and corporate records furnished to us by the Company, and have reviewed certificates of public officials, statutes, records and such other instruments and documents and have made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth in this opinion letter. In such examination and in rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or verification: (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us; (ii) the legal capacity and authority of all persons or entities (other than the Company) executing all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to
Paul Hastings LLP | 1117 S. California Avenue | Palo Alto, California 94304
t: +1.650.320.1800 | www.paulhastings.com
June 9, 2020
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us; (iii) the authenticity and completeness of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as originals; (iv) that all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to us as certified, electronic, facsimile, conformed, photostatic or other copies conform to originals thereof, and that such originals are authentic and complete; (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery of all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents by all parties thereto (other than the Company); (vi) that no documents submitted to us have been amended or terminated orally or in writing, except as has been disclosed to us in writing; (vii) that the statements contained in the certificates and comparable documents of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and other persons on which we have relied for the purposes of this opinion letter are true and correct; (viii) that there has not been any change in the good standing status of the Company from that reported in the certificate of good standing regarding the Company obtained from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (ix) that each of the officers and directors of the Company has properly exercised his or her fiduciary duties. As to all questions of fact material to this opinion letter and as to the materiality of any fact or other matter referred to herein, we have relied (without independent investigation or verification) upon representations and certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company. Our knowledge of the Company and its legal and other affairs is limited by the scope of our engagement, which scope includes the delivery of this opinion letter. We do not represent the Company with respect to all legal matters or issues. The Company may employ other independent counsel and, to our knowledge, handles certain legal matters and issues without the assistance of independent counsel.
With your consent, we have assumed that (i) each of the Debt Securities, the Indentures and any related supplemental indenture, term sheet or certificate establishing the terms thereof, the Warrants and any related Warrant Agreement, the Units and any related Unit Agreement and any purchase, underwriting or similar agreement (collectively, the “Documents”) will be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York and that the choice of law is legally enforceable, (ii) the Warrants and Warrant Agreements and the Units and Unit Agreements will contain all provisions required under the laws of the State of Delaware in respect of contracts for the sale of securities issued by a Delaware corporation, (iii) each of the Documents will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto other than the Company, and (iv) each of the Documents will constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Company, enforceable against such parties in accordance with their respective terms.
We also have assumed that none of (i) the execution, delivery or performance of any of the Documents, (ii) the terms of any of the Securities to be established after the date hereof, (iii) the issuance or delivery of such Securities, or (iv) the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Securities will (a) violate any applicable law, rule or regulation to which the Company is then subject or the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, as amended or restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or its bylaws then in effect, (b) result in a breach of or default under any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or any of its properties, or (c) violate, or cause the Company not to comply with, any consent, approval, license, authorization, restriction or requirement imposed by, or any filing, recording or registration with, any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
We have further assumed that (i) an appropriate Prospectus Supplement relating to the Securities offered thereby will have been prepared and filed with the Commission in compliance with the Act and will comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered and issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and such Prospectus Supplement; (ii) the terms of the Securities will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or applicable
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Prospectus Supplement and the corporate action of the Company authorizing the issuance and sale of such Securities; (iii) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Act, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, if applicable, and the securities or blue sky laws of various states and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement; (iv) the Indentures and the Trustee will have been qualified pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, at the time the Securities are offered or issued (or such later time as may be permitted pursuant to the rules, regulations, interpretations or positions of the Commission) as contemplated by the Registration Statement; and (v) the number of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be, offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement or, in the case of Debt Securities, Warrants and Units, as applicable, represented by, comprising or issuable upon exchange, exercise or conversion of such Securities, does not exceed, at the time of issuance of such Securities, the authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as the case may be. We have also assumed that the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto will have become effective under the Act (and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded) and comply with all applicable laws at the time the Securities are offered and issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Based upon the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and exceptions set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:
1. With respect to any shares of Common Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (including any shares of Common Stock duly issued upon the exchange, exercise or conversion of Securities that are exchangeable or exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock), when (i) the issuance of such shares of Common Stock has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and (ii) such shares of Common Stock have been duly issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Common Stock) as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, any applicable Documents and such corporate action, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
2. With respect to any shares of Preferred Stock to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement (including any shares of Preferred Stock duly issued upon the exchange, exercise or conversion of Securities that are exchangeable or exercisable for, or convertible into, Preferred Stock), when (i) a series of Preferred Stock has been duly established in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law, and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (ii) the relative rights, preferences and limitations of such series of Preferred Stock have been designated by all necessary corporate action of the Company and set forth in a Certificate of Designation properly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) the issuance of such shares of Preferred Stock has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, and (iv) such shares of Preferred Stock have been duly issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, any applicable Documents and such corporate action, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
3. With respect to any series of Debt Securities to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the applicable Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, (ii) the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with such Indenture and applicable law, (iii) such Debt Securities have been
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duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, duly authenticated by the Trustee and duly executed, issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor in accordance with such Indenture and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, any applicable Documents and such corporate action, and (iv) if such Debt Securities are convertible into shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, such shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action of the Company and in accordance with the applicable Indenture, such Debt Securities will constitute binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
4. With respect to any Warrants to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) a Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent named therein, (ii) the specific terms of the particular issuance of Warrants have been duly established in accordance with such Warrant Agreement and applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (iii) the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such Warrant Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, any applicable Documents and such corporate action, and (iv) as applicable, (a) the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants or (b) the Debt Securities issuable upon exercise of such Warrants have been duly authorized, executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and reserved for delivery upon exercise of the Warrants, in each case by all necessary corporate action of the Company and in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and the Warrant Agreement, such Warrants will constitute binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
5. With respect to any Units to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the applicable Unit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (ii) the specific terms of a particular issuance of Units have been duly established in accordance with such Unit Agreement and applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (iii) the Units have been duly executed, issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor in accordance with such Unit Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, any applicable Documents and such corporate action, and (iv) as applicable, (a) the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Units have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Units or (b) the Debt Securities or Warrants issuable upon exercise of such Units have been duly authorized, executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture or Warrant Agreement and reserved for delivery upon exercise of the Units, in each case by all necessary corporate action of the Company and in accordance with the terms of the Units and the Unit Agreement, such Units will constitute binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
Our opinions are subject to (i) the effect of any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws and principles affecting creditors’ rights generally (including, without limitation, fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance laws); and (ii) the effect of general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing) and the availability of equitable remedies (including, without limitation, specific performance and equitable relief), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
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Without limiting any of the other limitations, exceptions and qualifications stated elsewhere herein, we express no opinion as to any provision (i) that could be construed as a penalty or forfeiture; (ii) indemnifying a party against liability for its own wrongful or negligent acts or otherwise in cases where indemnification or contribution could be considered contrary to public policy (including, without limitation, under federal and state securities laws and regulations as interpreted by applicable governmental authorities); (iii) exculpating another party from liability or waiving defenses or other rights; (iv) to the effect that terms of a document may not be waived or modified except in writing; (v) regarding the recovery of attorneys’ fees for a person who is not the prevailing party in a final proceeding; (vi) imposing a payment obligation with respect to the Company’s obligations; or (vii) whereby a party purports to ratify acts in advance of the occurrence of such acts.
We express no opinion with respect to the validity or enforceability of (i) any provision allowing any party to exercise any remedial rights without notice to the Company; (ii) any waiver of demand by the Company or any waiver of any rights or any defense which as a matter of law or public policy cannot be waived; (iii) any provision purporting to establish evidentiary standards; (iv) any provision that purports to establish the subject matter jurisdiction of the United States District Court to adjudicate any controversy; (v) any provision that purports to entitle any person or entity to specific performance of any provision of such document; (vi) any provision that requires a person or entity to cause another person or entity to take or to refrain from taking action under circumstances in which such person or entity does not control such other person or entity; (vii) any provision insofar as it purports to effect a choice of governing law or choice of forum for the adjudication of disputes; (viii) any provision to the extent that it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides; or (ix) the effectiveness of service of process by mail in any suit, action or proceeding of any nature. Further, we express no opinion as to the acceptance by a federal court located in the State of New York of jurisdiction of a dispute arising under any Document.
We express no opinion as to the validity or enforceability of any provision that (i) waives (a) vague or broadly stated rights, (b) future rights, (c) the benefits of statutory, regulatory or constitutional rights, unless and to the extent that the statute, regulation or constitution expressly allows waiver, (d) unknown future defenses, or (e) rights to damages; (ii) states that rights or remedies are not exclusive, that every right or remedy is cumulative and may be exercised in addition to any other right or remedy, that the election of some particular remedy does not preclude recourse to one or more others or that the failure to exercise or delay in exercising rights or remedies will not operate as a waiver of any such right or remedy; (iii) grants set-off rights; (iv) imposes penalties, forfeitures, late payment charges or an increase in interest rate upon delinquency in payment or the occurrence of a default; (v) appoints one party as an attorney-in-fact for an adverse party; or (vi) states that time is of the essence.
Without limiting any of the other limitations, exceptions and qualifications stated elsewhere herein, we express no opinion with regard to the applicability or effect of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and, with respect to the Documents, the internal laws of the State of New York, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.
This opinion letter deals only with the specified legal issues expressly addressed herein, and you should not infer any opinion that is not explicitly stated herein from any matter addressed in this opinion letter.
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This opinion letter is rendered solely in connection with the Registration Statement. This opinion letter is rendered as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you or any other person with regard to any change after the date hereof in the circumstances or the law that may bear on the matters set forth herein even if the change may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion or other matters in this opinion letter. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Very truly yours, |
| /s/ Paul Hastings LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 27, 2020, relating to the consolidated financial statements of CareDx, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”), and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2019. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
San Jose, California
June 9, 2020
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in this Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of CareDx, Inc. for the registration of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, and units and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 22, 2018, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of CareDx, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Redwood City, California
June 9, 2020