Jasper Therapeutics, Inc S-3, filed Apr 28, 2023
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (JSPR)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Jasper Therapeutics,
Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 84-2984849 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 549-1400
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal
executive offices)
Ronald Martell
President and Chief Executive Officer
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102
Redwood City, CA 94065
(650) 549-1400
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With copies to:
Jeffrey T. Hartlin, Esq.
Samantha H. Eldredge, Esq.
Paul Hastings LLP
1117 S. California Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304
(650) 320-1800
Approximate date of commencement of proposed
sale to the public:
From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
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 the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains:
| ● | a base prospectus, which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to $250,000,000 in the aggregate of the securities identified herein from time to time in one or more offerings; and |
| ● | a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $75,000,000 of our voting common stock that may be issued and sold under a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., dated November 10, 2022 (the “Sales Agreement”). |
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The $75,000,000 of voting common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under the Sales Agreement prospectus is included in the $250,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., any portion of the $75,000,000 included in the sales agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the sales agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement, and if no shares are sold under the sales agreement, the full $75,000,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION — DATED APRIL 28, 2023
PROSPECTUS
Jasper Therapeutics,
Inc.
$250,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
Depositary Shares
From time to time, we may offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in combination with other securities, in one or more offerings. 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, rights, depositary shares or units. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $250,000,000.
This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide the specific terms of these offerings and securities in one or more supplements to this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as any documents incorporated by reference herein or therein before you invest in any of the securities being offered.
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.
Our voting common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the trading symbol “JSPR.” On April 26, 2023, the last reported sale price of our voting common stock was $1.19 per share. Our warrants are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “JSPRW”. On April 26, 2023, the last reported sale price per warrant was $0.17. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to other listings, if any, on the Nasdaq Capital Market or other securities exchange of the securities covered by the applicable prospectus supplement.
We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company”.
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 5 of this prospectus and contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and in any free writing prospectuses we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, and under similar headings in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
The securities may be offered and sold from time to time, through agents designated by us or to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. If any agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers and any applicable fees, commissions, discounts and over allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement or a related free writing prospectus. When applicable, the price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale, if any, will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement or a related free writing prospectus.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2023.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $250,000,000 as described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.
Each time we offer to sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in any documents that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus. To the extent that any statement that we make in a prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus, the statements made in this prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded by those made in a prospectus supplement. We urge you to read carefully this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, together with the information incorporated herein by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information 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 that we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so.
You should not assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference herein or therein is correct on any date subsequent to 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 section entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Jasper,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary, unless otherwise specified.
ii
This summary highlights selected information that is presented in greater detail elsewhere in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Because it is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our securities and it is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information included elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Before you decide whether to purchase our securities, you should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the sections of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors” and similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also carefully read the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, as well as the exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Overview
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to enabling cures through therapeutics targeting mast and hemopoietic stem cells. We are focused on the development and commercialization of safer and more effective therapeutic agents for diseases such as Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, Lower to Intermediate Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome and novel conditioning regimens for stem cell transplantation and ex-vivo gene therapy, a technique in which genetic manipulation of cells is performed outside of the body prior to transplantation.
Our drug development pipeline includes multiple product candidates designed to target mast and/or hematopoietic stem cells. Our lead product candidate, briquilimab (formerly known as JSP191), is in clinical development as a novel therapeutic antibody that targets mast and stem cells in various diseases and as a conditioning agent to clear hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow in patients prior to undergoing allogeneic stem cell therapy or stem cell gene therapy. We are also developing engineered hematopoietic stem cells product candidates reprogrammed using mRNA delivery and gene editing that have a competitive advantage over endogenous hematopoietic stem cells because they may permit higher levels of engraftment without the need for toxic conditioning. We also plan to continue to expand our pipeline to include other novel mast and stem cell therapies based on immune modulation, graft engineering or cell and gene therapies. Our goal is to expand the use of therapeutic agents targeting mast and stem cells as well as to expand curative stem cell transplants and gene therapies for all patients, including children and the elderly.
The following chart summarizes the status and development plan for the product candidates in our pipeline. We own worldwide rights to each of our programs.
1
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as that term is defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to “emerging growth companies,” including:
| ● | not being required to have our independent registered public accounting firm audit our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended; |
| ● | permission to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies; |
| ● | reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and Annual Reports on Form 10-K; and |
| ● | exemptions from the requirements of holding non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. |
Under the JOBS Act, we will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of:
| ● | the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; |
| ● | the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the Initial Public Offering, or December 31, 2024; |
| ● | the date on which we have issued, during the previous three-year period, more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and |
| ● | the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act (i.e., the first day of the fiscal year after we have (1) more than $700.0 million in outstanding common equity held by our non-affiliates, measured each year on the last day of our second fiscal quarter, (2) been public for at least 12 months, and (3) are not eligible to be deemed a “smaller reporting company” because we do not meet the revenue test of the definition of “smaller reporting company”, which includes an initial determination that our annual revenues are more than $100.0 million for the most recently completed fiscal year). |
We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings with the SEC. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different from the information you receive from other public reporting companies.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated under the name “Amplitude Healthcare Acquisition Corporation” on August 13, 2019 as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On September 24, 2021, we consummated a business combination (the “Business Combination”) and changed our name to “Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.”
2
Our principal executive offices are located at 2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102, Redwood City, CA 94065, and our telephone number is (650) 549-1400. Our website address is www.jaspertherapeutics.com. Any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, nor is it in any way part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any decision with respect to an investment in our securities. We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may obtain any of the documents filed by us with the SEC at no cost from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Description of Securities
We may offer shares of our common stock and preferred stock, depositary shares, various series of debt securities and warrants or rights to purchase any of such securities, either individually or in combination with other securities or in units, from time to time under this prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of any offering. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| ● | designation or classification; |
| ● | aggregate principal amount or aggregate offering price; |
| ● | maturity date, if applicable; |
| ● | original issue discount, if any; |
| ● | rates and times of payment of interest or dividends, if any; |
| ● | redemption, conversion, exercise, exchange or sinking fund terms, if any; |
| ● | ranking; |
| ● | restrictive covenants, if any; |
| ● | voting or other rights, if any; |
| ● | conversion or exchange prices or rates, if any, and, if applicable, any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the conversion or exchange prices or rates and in the securities or other property receivable upon conversion or exchange; and |
| ● | material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations, if any. |
The applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you may also add, update or change any of the information contained in this prospectus or in the documents we have incorporated by reference.
3
The securities may be offered directly to investors from time to time, through agents designated by us or to or through agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers. We, and our agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers, reserve the right to accept or reject all or part of any proposed purchase of securities. If we do offer securities to or through agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers, we will include in the applicable prospectus supplement:
| ● | the names of those agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers; |
| ● | applicable fees, discounts and commissions to be paid to them; |
| ● | details regarding over-allotment or other options to purchase additional securities, if any; and |
| ● | the net proceeds to us, if any. |
Use of Proceeds
Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include funding research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses. See “Use of Proceeds” on page 8 of this prospectus.
Nasdaq Capital Market Exchange Listing
Our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “JSPR.” Our Public Warrants are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “JSPRW.”
4
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before you make a decision to buy our securities, in addition to the risks and uncertainties discussed above under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described under the section titled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, together with all of the other information appearing in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings with the SEC, as well as the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus before deciding to invest in our securities. If any of these risks actually occur, it may materially harm our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. As a result, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. Additionally, the risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, any post-effective amendment or in any filing or document incorporated by reference herein or therein are not the only risks and uncertainties that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial may become material and adversely affect our business.
5
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions (including the negative of any of the foregoing) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may include, for example, but are not limited to, statements about:
| ● | our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including those relating to the impact of the Business Combination on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; | |
| ● | our ability to research, discover and develop additional product candidates; | |
| ● | the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials; | |
| ● | the potential attributes and benefits of our product candidates; | |
| ● | our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates; | |
| ● | our ability to obtain funding for our operations; | |
| ● | our projected financial information, anticipated growth rate and market opportunity; | |
| ● | our ability to maintain the listing of our public securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market; | |
| ● | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; | |
| ● | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, officers, key employees or directors; | |
| ● | our ability to grow and manage growth profitably; | |
| ● | the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model, developments and projections relating to our competitors and industry; | |
| ● | our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; | |
| ● | our ability to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; and | |
| ● | our ability to maintain our existing license agreements and manufacturing arrangements. |
We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
6
These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023, as updated by our subsequent annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them and to the risk factors. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this prospectus, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, other strategic transactions or investments we may make or enter into.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of the statement is made, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and such statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
7
Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include funding research and development, capital expenditures, working capital and general and administrative expenses. We also may use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in other businesses, products and technologies that are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or agreements to do so.
The amounts of and timing of our use of the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus will depend on a number of factors. 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, we will retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus our intended use for the net proceeds, if any, received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to such prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Pending application of the net proceeds as described above, we may invest the proceeds in interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government securities.
8
The following summary of certain provisions of our capital stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to our second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), our third amended and restated bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”) and the provisions of applicable law. A copy of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and a copy of our Amended and Restated Bylaws are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” The summary below is also qualified by reference to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”), as applicable.
Authorized and Outstanding Stock
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 490,000,000 shares of voting common stock (the “Common Stock”), 2,000,000 shares of non-voting common stock (the “Non-Voting Common Stock”), and 10,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock (the “Preferred Stock”). As of March 31, 2023, we had 109,428,211 shares of Common Stock outstanding and no shares of Non-Voting Common Stock outstanding.
Common Stock
Under our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, holders of our Common Stock and our Non-Voting Common Stock have identical rights other than with respect to voting and conversion rights, each as described below.
Voting Power
Except as otherwise expressly provided in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or as required by applicable law, on any matter that is submitted to a vote by our stockholders, holders of our Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share of Common Stock, and holders of Non-Voting Common Stock shall not be entitled to any votes per share of Non-Voting Common Stock, including for the election of directors.
Conversion Rights
Holders of Common Stock do not have conversion rights, while holders of Non-Voting Common Stock shall have the right to convert each share of Non-Voting Common Stock held by such holder into one share of Common Stock at such holder’s election by providing written notice to us, provided that as a result of such conversion, such holder, together with its affiliates and any members of a Schedule 13(d) group with such holder, would not beneficially own in excess of 9.9% of our Common Stock following such conversion. However, this ownership limitation may be increased to any other percentage designated by such holder of our Non-Voting Common Stock (and applicable only to such holder) upon 61 days’ prior written notice to us or decreased to any other percentage designated by such holder of our Non-Voting Common Stock (and applicable only to such holder) at any time upon prior written notice to us. Holders of our Non-Voting Common Stock are also permitted to make certain transfers to non-affiliates upon which such transferred shares would immediately convert to shares of our Common Stock upon the written request of the original holder and the written certification from the transferee holder of its non-affiliation with the original holder of such Non-Voting Common Stock.
Dividends
Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably any dividends declared by our board of directors (the “Board”) or a committee thereof out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any then outstanding preferred stock. Our Common Stock does not have preemptive rights or other subscription rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions.
9
Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up
In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our net assets will be distributed pro rata to the holders of our Common Stock, subject to any liquidation preference of any then outstanding preferred stock. The holders of Non-Voting Common Stock rank on parity with holders of Common Stock as to such distributions.
Preemptive or Other Rights
Our stockholders have no preemptive or other subscription rights, and there are no sinking fund or redemption provisions applicable to our Common Stock.
Election of Directors
Our Board is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term, except that our current Class II directors are serving an initial two-year term (and three-year terms subsequently). There is no cumulative voting with respect to the election of directors.
Preferred Stock
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that shares of our Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our Board is authorized to fix the number of shares applicable to any such series of Preferred Stock and to determine or alter for each such series, such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designation, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights and such qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. Our Board will be able to, without stockholder approval, issue Preferred Stock with voting and other rights that could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of our Common Stock and could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our Board to issue Preferred Stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of our company or the removal of existing management. As of March 31, 2023, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law
Special Meetings of Stockholders
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders may be called only by a majority vote of our Board, by the Chairman of our Board, or by our Chief Executive Officer. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws limit the business that may be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders to those matters properly brought before the meeting.
Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before an annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, a stockholder’s notice will generally need to be received by the corporate secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 60 days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and the 10th day following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made, whichever first occurs. Pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.
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Authorized but Unissued Shares
The authorized but unissued Common Stock and Preferred Stock are available for future issuances without stockholder approval and could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved Common Stock and Preferred Stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Written Consent by Stockholders
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that no action shall be taken by our stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in accordance with our Amended and Restated Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent or electronic transmission.
Amendments to Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66⅔% of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class to alter, amend or appeal Articles V (regarding directors), VI (regarding indemnification), VII (exclusive forum) or VIII (regarding amendments of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation) of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (provided that as of September 24, 2024, such reference to “66⅔%” shall be deemed to be “50%”).
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that they may be adopted, amended, or repealed by our stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66⅔% of the voting power of all of our then outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class (provided that as of September 24, 2024, such reference to “66⅔%” shall be deemed to be “50%”).
Removal of Directors
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that, subject to the rights of any series of preferred stock, directors may be removed at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of 66⅔% of the voting power of all then outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally at an election of directors, voting together as a single class (provided that as of September 24, 2024, such reference to “66⅔%” shall be deemed to be “50%”).
Exclusive Forum Selection
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the sole and exclusive forum for the following claims or causes of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law: (i) any derivative action or claim brought on our behalf; (ii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees to our company or our stockholders; (iii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against us or any of our current or former directors, officers or other employees, arising out of or pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or our Amended and Restated Bylaws; (iv) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers, or other employees governed by the internal-affairs doctrine or otherwise related to our internal affairs; (v) any action or claim to interpret, apply, enforce or determine the validity of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws; and (vi) any action or claim as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction to the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, in all cases to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the court having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Further, pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, these foregoing provisions would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity holding, owning or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to such provisions.
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Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which they apply, a court may determine that these provisions are unenforceable, and to the extent they are enforceable, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. Additionally, we cannot be certain that a court will decide that these provisions are either applicable or enforceable, and if a court were to find the choice of forum provisions contained in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Furthermore, Section 22 of the Securities Act creates concurrent jurisdiction for federal and state courts over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. Accordingly, both state and federal courts have jurisdiction to entertain such claims. To prevent having to litigate claims in multiple jurisdictions and the threat of inconsistent or contrary rulings by different courts, among other considerations, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the federal district courts of the United States are the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, including all causes of action asserted against any defendant named in such complaint.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
We are subject to provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL regulating corporate takeovers under our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. This statute prevents certain Delaware corporations, under certain circumstances, from engaging in a “business combination” with:
| ● | a stockholder who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock (otherwise known as an “interested stockholder”); |
| ● | an affiliate of an interested stockholder; or |
| ● | an associate of an interested stockholder, for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder. |
A “business combination” includes a merger or sale of more than 10% of our assets. However, the above provisions of Section 203 do not apply if:
| ● | our Board approves the transaction that made the stockholder an “interested stockholder,” prior to the date of the transaction; |
| ● | after the completion of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, that stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, other than statutorily excluded shares of common stock; or |
| ● | on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, our initial business combination is approved by our Board and authorized at a meeting of our stockholders, and not by written consent, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder. |
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Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested stockholder” to effect various business combinations with us for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with our Board because the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our Board approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our Board, and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Limitation on Liability and Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation eliminates directors’ liability for monetary damages to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws require us to indemnify and advance expenses to, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, its directors and officers. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws authorize our Board to determine whether to indemnify and advance expenses to, as set forth in the DGCL or any other applicable law, our employees and other agents. Further, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation prohibits any retroactive changes to the rights or protections or increase the liability of any director in effect at the time of the alleged occurrence of any act or omission to act giving rise to liability or indemnification. We believe that these provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and our Amended and Restated Bylaws are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. However, these provisions may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors us for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder’s investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Public Warrants
Our Public Warrants are issued under that certain warrant agreement dated November 19, 2019 (the “Warrant Agreement”), by and between us and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent. Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, each Public Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time. The Public Warrants will expire on September 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. As of March 31, 2023, a total of 4,999,863 shares of Common Stock were issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such Public Warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No Public Warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of a Public Warrant unless the Common Stock issuable upon such Public Warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the Public Warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Public Warrant, the holder of such Public Warrant will not be entitled to exercise such Public Warrant and such Public Warrant may have no value and expire worthless.
We agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 15 business days, after the Closing, we would use our reasonable best efforts to file, and within 60 business days following the Business Combination to have declared effective, a registration statement for the registration, under the Securities Act, of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Warrants. We filed a registration statement in October 2021 in order to satisfy the foregoing obligations. We will use our reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Public Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement. Notwithstanding the above, if our Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a Public Warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of Public Warrants who exercise their Public Warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will be required to use our best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
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We may call the Public Warrants for redemption:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
| ● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and |
| ● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of our Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by us, we may exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification.
We have established the last of the redemption criterion discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the Public Warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise its Public Warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Common Stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
If we call the Public Warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its Public Warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their Public Warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of Public Warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, all holders of Public Warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their Public Warrants for that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of our Common Stock underlying the Public Warrants, multiplied by the excess of the “fair market value” (defined below) over the exercise price of the Public Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average last reported sale price of our Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of Public Warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of our Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Public Warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a Public Warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the Public Warrants.
A holder of a Public Warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such Public Warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Public Warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.8% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of our Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
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If the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of our Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of our Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of our Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of our Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of our Common Stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of our Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of our Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock) multiplied by (ii) one minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of our Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for our Common Stock, in determining the price payable for our Common Stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of our Common Stock as reported during the ten-trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of our Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the Public Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of our Common Stock on account of such shares of our Common Stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the Public Warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above, (b) certain ordinary cash dividends or (c) to satisfy the redemption rights of the holders of our Common Stock in connection with the Closing, then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of our Common Stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of our Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of our Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of our Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of our Common Stock.
Whenever the number of shares of our Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of our Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of our Common Stock purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of our Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of our Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the Public Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the Public Warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the Public Warrants would have received if such holder had exercised their Public Warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of our Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of common stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the Public Warrant properly exercises the Public Warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the Public Warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the Warrant Agreement based on the Black-Scholes value (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) of the Public Warrant. The Public Warrants will be issued in registered form under the Warrant Agreement. You should review a copy of the Warrant Agreement, which has been publicly filed with the SEC and which you can find in the list of exhibits to this registration statement, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the Public Warrants. The Warrant Agreement provides that the terms of the Public Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least 50% of the then outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants.
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The Public Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of Public Warrants being exercised. The warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of our Common Stock or any voting rights until they exercise their Public Warrants and receive shares of our Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of our Common Stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Public Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number of shares of our Common Stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our Common Stock and warrant agent for the Public Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Stock Exchange Listing
Our Common Stock and Public Warrants are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbols “JSPR” and “JSPRW”, respectively.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
This prospectus describes the general terms and provisions of our debt securities. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. In the event that any series of debt securities will be subordinated to other indebtedness that we have outstanding or may incur, the terms of the subordination will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the subordinated debt securities.
The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between Jasper and a trustee named in the prospectus supplement. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The form of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meaning specified in the indenture.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our Board and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our Board, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series, including any pricing supplement or term sheet.
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any pricing supplement or term sheet, relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, to the extent applicable:
| ● | the title of the debt securities; |
| ● | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will issue the debt securities; |
| ● | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| ● | the date or dates on which we will pay the principal on the debt securities; |
| ● | the form of the debt securities; |
| ● | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| ● | the place or places where principal of and interest on the debt securities will be payable; |
| ● | the applicability of any guarantees; |
| ● | the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
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| ● | whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a United States person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts; |
| ● | any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities; |
| ● | the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; |
| ● | the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| ● | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| ● | if the debt securities of the series will be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global debt security, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global debt security may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual debt securities in definitive registered form, the depositary (as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement) for such global security and the form of any legend or legends to be borne by any such global security in addition to or in lieu of the legend referred to in the indenture; |
| ● | the principal amount due at maturity, and whether the debt securities will be issued with original issue discount; |
| ● | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
| ● | the currency of denomination of the debt securities; |
| ● | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
| ● | if payments of principal of or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
| ● | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies other than that in which the debt securities are denominated or designated to be payable or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| ● | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| ● | the terms of the subordination of any series of the debt securities; |
| ● | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment of the debt securities, if any; |
| ● | if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to such stated maturity, the amount that will be deemed to be such principal amount as of any such date for any purpose, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as of any such date (or, in any such case, the manner in which such deemed principal amount is to be determined), and if necessary, the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in U.S. dollars; |
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| ● | the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| ● | with regard to the debt securities that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the trustee; |
| ● | any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs; |
| ● | any addition to or change in the provisions relating to or dealing with defeasance; |
| ● | any addition to or change in the events of default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| ● | any addition to or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| ● | any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series; and |
| ● | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities. |
In addition, the indenture does not limit our ability to issue convertible or subordinated debt securities. Any conversion or subordination provisions of a particular series of debt securities will be set forth in the resolution of our Board, the officer’s certificate or supplemental indenture related to that series of debt securities and will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, in which case the number of shares of common stock or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, as depositary, or a nominee (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a book-entry debt security), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a certificated debt security) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “—Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.
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You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of and interest on, certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary, and registered in the name of the depositary or a nominee of the depositary.
We will require the depositary to agree to follow the following procedures with respect to book-entry debt securities.
Ownership of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities will be limited to persons who have accounts with the depositary for the related global debt security, which we refer to as participants, or persons who may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global debt security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security beneficially owned by such participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the book-entry debt securities. Ownership of book-entry debt securities will be shown on, and the transfer of such ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the related global debt security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants). The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities.
So long as the depositary for a global debt security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of that global debt security, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the book-entry debt securities represented by such global debt security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described below, beneficial owners of book-entry debt securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of a certificate in definitive form representing securities and will not be considered the owners or holders of those securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person beneficially owning book-entry debt securities must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the related global debt security and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.
We understand, however, that under existing industry practice, the depositary will authorize the persons on whose behalf it holds a global debt security to exercise certain rights of holders of debt securities, and the indenture provides that we, the trustee and our respective agents will treat as the holder of a debt security the persons specified in a written statement of the depositary with respect to that global debt security for purposes of obtaining any consents or directions required to be given by holders of the debt securities pursuant to the indenture.
We will make payments of principal of, and premium and interest on, book-entry debt securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the related global debt security. Jasper, the trustee and any other agent of ours or agent of the trustee will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global debt security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, and premium or interest on, a global debt security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to the respective amounts of book-entry debt securities held by each participant as shown on the records of such depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in book-entry debt securities held through those participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.
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We will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for each global debt security if the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have the book-entry debt securities of any series represented by one or more global debt securities and, in that event, will issue certificated debt securities in exchange for the global debt securities of that series. Global debt securities will also be exchangeable by the holders for certificated debt securities if an event of default with respect to the book-entry debt securities represented by those global debt securities has occurred and is continuing. Any certificated debt securities issued in exchange for a global debt security will be registered in such name or names as the depositary shall instruct the trustee. We expect that such instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of book-entry debt securities relating to such global debt security.
We have obtained the foregoing information concerning the depositary and the depositary’s book-entry system from sources we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) that could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
Subordination
Debt securities of a series may be subordinated, which we refer to as subordinated debt securities, to senior indebtedness (as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement) to the extent set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. To the extent we conduct operations through subsidiaries, the holders of debt securities (whether or not subordinated debt securities) will be structurally subordinated to the creditors of our subsidiaries.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person, which we refer to as a successor person, unless:
| ● | we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than our Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; |
| ● | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture; and |
| ● | certain other conditions are met. |
Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.
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Events of Default
Event of default means, with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
| ● | default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of that default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period); |
| ● | default in the payment of principal of any debt security of that series when due and payable; |
| ● | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture or any debt security (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or we and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
| ● | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of our company; and |
| ● | any other event of default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus. |
No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain events of default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain of our other indebtedness outstanding from time to time.
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series outstanding at the time occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an event of default.
The indenture provides that the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture, unless the trustee receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
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No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
| ● | that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to debt securities of that series; and |
| ● | the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any default or event of default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
We may modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
| ● | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| ● | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security; |
| ● | reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities; |
| ● | reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
| ● | waive a default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| ● | make the principal of or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
| ● | make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of and interest on those debt securities and to institute a suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or |
| ● | waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. |
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or any interest on, any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
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Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of such series, and to maintain paying agencies and certain provisions relating to the treatment of funds held by paying agents). We will be so discharged upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, foreign government obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
| ● | we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants that may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
| ● | any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series, or covenant defeasance. |
The conditions include:
| ● | depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. dollars, foreign government obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and |
| ● | delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. |
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Covenant Defeasance and Events of Default. In the event we exercise our option to effect covenant defeasance with respect to any series of debt securities and the debt securities of that series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default, the amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations or foreign government obligations on deposit with the trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities of that series at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. In such a case, we would remain liable for those payments.
“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars:
| ● | direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; or |
| ● | obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of that government, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by that government which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof. |
Regarding the Trustee
The indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an event of default, the trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the indenture. During the existence of an event of default, the trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
The indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are incorporated by reference therein contain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become one of our creditors, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us or any of our affiliates; provided, however, that if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the indentures or in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended), it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
Regarding Payments and Paying Agents
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest payment.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agent designated by us, except that unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we indicate otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
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We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. We may issue warrants independently or together with any other securities we offer under a prospectus supplement. The warrants may be attached to or separate from the securities. We will issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement that we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The statements made in this section relating to the warrant agreement are summaries only. These summaries are not complete. When we issue warrants, we will provide the specific terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement in a prospectus supplement. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. For more detail, we refer you to the applicable warrant agreement itself, which we will file as an exhibit to, or incorporate by reference in, the registration statement.
Debt Warrants
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the debt warrants being offered, the warrant agreement relating to the debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing the debt warrants, including:
| ● | the title of the debt warrants; |
| ● | the aggregate number of the debt warrants; |
| ● | the price or prices at which the debt warrants will be issued; |
| ● | the currencies in which the debt warrants are being offered; |
| ● | the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the debt warrants, and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the debt warrants; |
| ● | the designation and terms of any related debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued, and the number of the debt warrants issued with each security; |
| ● | the date, if any, on and after which the debt warrants and the related debt securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant, and the price at which the principal amount of the debt securities may be purchased upon exercise; |
| ● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the debt warrants; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the debt warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire; |
| ● | the maximum or minimum number of the debt warrants that may be exercised at any time; |
| ● | the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents; |
| ● | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| ● | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
| ● | a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the debt warrants; and |
| ● | any other terms of the debt warrants and terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exercise of the debt warrants. |
Holders may exchange debt warrant certificates for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations, and may exercise debt warrants at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon the exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal, premium or interest on the securities purchasable upon the exercise of debt warrants.
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Equity Warrants
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the preferred stock warrants or common stock warrants being offered, the warrant agreement relating to the preferred stock warrants or common stock warrants and the warrant certificates representing the preferred stock warrants or common stock warrants, including:
| ● | the title of the warrants; |
| ● | the securities for which the warrants are exercisable; |
| ● | the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
| ● | the currencies in which the warrants are being offered; |
| ● | if applicable, the number of warrants issued with each share of preferred stock or share of common stock; |
| ● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related preferred stock or common stock will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire; |
| ● | the maximum or minimum number of warrants which may be exercised at any time; |
| ● | the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents; |
| ● | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| ● | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
| ● | a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to exercise of the warrants; and |
| ● | any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of equity warrants will not be entitled, by virtue of being such holders, to vote, consent, receive dividends, receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of our directors or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as stockholders.
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Except as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the exercise price payable and the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of each warrant will be subject to adjustment in certain events, including the issuance of a stock dividend to holders of common stock or preferred stock or a stock split, reverse stock split, combination, subdivision or reclassification of common stock or preferred stock. In lieu of adjusting the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of each warrant, we may elect to adjust the number of warrants. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, no adjustments in the number of shares purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be required until all cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% thereof. We may, at our option, reduce the exercise price at any time. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of warrants, but we will pay the cash value of any fractional shares otherwise issuable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, in case of any consolidation, merger, or sale or conveyance of our property as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the holder of each outstanding warrant will have the right to the kind and amount of shares of stock and other securities and property, including cash, receivable by a holder of the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock into which each warrant was exercisable immediately prior to the particular triggering event.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase for cash at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement the principal amount of debt securities or shares of preferred stock or common stock being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants are void.
Holders may exercise warrants as described in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the debt securities, shares of preferred stock or shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrant. If less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.
Governing Law
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and any warrant agreements will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
Outstanding Warrants
As of March 31, 2023, a total of 4,999,863 shares of Common Stock were issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants. See “Description of Capital Stock—Public Warrants” for additional details regarding our Public Warrants.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent, if any, will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
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General
We may issue rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, units and/or any of the other securities described in this prospectus. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, preferred stock, common stock, debt securities, warrants, units or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement will contain the material terms and conditions for each right. The accompanying prospectus supplement may add, update or change the terms and conditions of the rights as described in this prospectus.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms and conditions of the issue of rights being offered, the rights agreement relating to the rights and the rights certificates representing the rights, including, as applicable:
| ● | the title of the rights; |
| ● | the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| ● | the title, aggregate number or amount of underlying securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
| ● | the exercise price; |
| ● | the currencies in which the rights are being offered; |
| ● | the aggregate number of rights issued; |
| ● | whether the rights are transferable and the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right to exercise the rights will expire; |
| ● | the method by which holders of rights will be entitled to exercise; |
| ● | the conditions to the completion of the offering, if any; |
| ● | the withdrawal, termination and cancellation rights, if any; |
| ● | whether there are backstop or standby purchaser or purchases and the terms of their commitment, if any; |
| ● | whether stockholders are entitled to oversubscription rights, if any; and |
| ● | any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights, as applicable, including any provisions for modifying any of the |
| ● | terms of the rights. |
Exercise of Rights
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the principal amount of shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, units or other securities, as applicable, at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will be void.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights or subscription agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, units or other securities, as applicable, purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters, brokers or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The rights agent for any rights we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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General
We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants and/or rights in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. The statements made in this section relating to the unit agreement are summaries only. These summaries are not complete. When we issue units, we will provide the specific terms of the units and the applicable unit agreement in a prospectus supplement. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. For more detail, we refer you to the applicable unit agreement itself, which we will file as an exhibit to, or incorporate by reference in, the registration statement.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units being offered, including:
| ● | the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| ● | any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and |
| ● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units. |
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants,” “Description of Rights” and “Description of Depositary Shares” will apply to each unit and to any debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, depositary shares, warrants or rights included in each unit, respectively.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
We, the unit agents and any
of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate
for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.
See “Legal Ownership of Securities.”
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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may issue depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest of a share of a particular series of preferred stock, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will deposit with a depositary, referred to as the preferred stock depositary, shares of preferred stock of each series represented by depositary shares. We will enter into a deposit agreement with the preferred stock depositary and holders from time to time of the depositary receipts issued by the preferred stock depositary which evidence the depositary shares. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the holder’s fractional interest in the preferred stock, to all the rights and preferences of the series of the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares, including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights.
Immediately after we issue and deliver the preferred stock to a preferred stock depositary, we will cause the preferred stock depositary to issue the depositary receipts on our behalf. You may obtain copies of the applicable form of deposit agreement and depositary receipt from us upon request. The statements made in this section relating to the deposit agreement and the depositary receipts are summaries only. These summaries are not complete and we may modify any of the terms of the depositary shares described in this prospectus in a prospectus supplement. To the extent the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from this summary description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. For more detail, we refer you to the deposit agreement, which we will file as an exhibit to, or incorporate by reference in, the registration statement.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received relating to the preferred stock to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion to the number of the depositary receipts owned by the holders, subject to the obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the preferred stock depositary.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the preferred stock depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion to the number of the depositary receipts owned by the holders, unless the preferred stock depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution, in which case the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.
No distribution will be made relating to any depositary share that represents any preferred stock converted into other securities.
Withdrawal of Stock
Assuming we have not previously called for redemption or converted into other securities the related depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the preferred stock depositary, the holders will be entitled to delivery at that office of the number of whole or fractional shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. Holders of depositary receipts will be entitled to receive shares of the related preferred stock as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, but holders of the shares of preferred stock will no longer be entitled to receive depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will concurrently redeem the number of depositary shares representing shares of the preferred stock so redeemed, provided we have paid the applicable redemption price for the preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the corresponding proportion of the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable relating to the preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata or by any other equitable method determined by us.
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From and after the date fixed for redemption:
| ● | all dividends relating to the shares of preferred stock called for redemption will cease to accrue; |
| ● | the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding; and |
| ● | all rights of the holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares called for redemption will cease, except the right to receive any moneys payable upon the redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary receipts were entitled upon redemption and surrender to the preferred stock depositary. |
Any funds we deposit with the preferred stock depositary for redemption of depositary shares that the holders fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date the funds are deposited.
Voting of the Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts. Each record holder of these depositary receipts on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, will be entitled to instruct the preferred stock depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock represented by the holder’s depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will vote the amount of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action necessary to enable the preferred stock depositary to do so. The preferred stock depositary will abstain from voting the amount of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares for which it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will not be responsible for any failure to carry out any instruction to vote, or for the manner or effect of any vote made, as long as the action or non-action is in good faith and does not result from the preferred stock depositary’s negligence or willful misconduct.
Liquidation Preference
In the event that we voluntarily or involuntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up, the holders of each depositary receipt will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Conversion of Depositary Shares
The depositary shares will not be convertible into common stock or any of our other securities or property, unless we so specify in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of depositary shares.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
We may amend the form of depositary receipt and any provision of the deposit agreement at any time by agreement with the preferred stock depositary. However, any amendment that imposes or increases any fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of depositary receipts, other than taxes and other governmental charges, fees and other expenses payable by the holders as described below under “Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary,” or that otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary receipts, will not take effect as to outstanding depositary receipts until the expiration of 30 days after notice of the amendment has been mailed to the record holders of outstanding depositary receipts.
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When we direct the preferred stock depositary to do so, the preferred stock depositary will terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to the record holders of all depositary receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in the notice for termination. In addition, the preferred stock depositary may terminate the deposit agreement if at any time 45 days have passed since the preferred stock depositary has delivered to us a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary has not been appointed and accepted its appointment. If any depositary receipts remain outstanding after the date of termination, the preferred stock depositary thereafter will discontinue the transfer of depositary receipts, will suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders thereof, and will not give any further notices, other than the notice of termination, or perform any further acts under the deposit agreement, except as provided below and except that the preferred stock depositary will continue to collect dividends on the preferred stock and other distributions with respect to the preferred stock and will continue to deliver the preferred stock together with any dividends and distributions and the net proceeds of any sales of rights, preferences, privileges or other property, without liability for interest thereon, in exchange for any depositary receipts that are surrendered. At any time after the expiration of two years from the date of termination, the preferred stock depositary may sell the preferred stock then held by it at public or private sales, at such place or places and upon such terms as it deems proper and may thereafter hold the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any money or other property then held by it, without liability for interest thereon, for the pro rata benefit of the holders of depositary receipts that have not been surrendered.
In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:
| ● | all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or |
| ● | there has been a final distribution of the related preferred stock in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing the preferred stock. |
Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary
We will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the preferred stock depositary in connection with its performance of the deposit agreement, except for any taxes and other governmental charges and except as provided in the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary receipts will pay the fees and expenses of the preferred stock depositary for any duties requested by the holders to be performed which are outside those expressly provided for in the deposit agreement.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the preferred stock depositary. Any resignation or removal of the acting preferred stock depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor preferred stock depositary. We must appoint a successor preferred stock depositary within 45 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal.
Miscellaneous
The preferred stock depositary will make available for inspection to holders of depositary receipts any reports and communications the preferred stock depositary receives from us relating to the preferred stock.
We will not be liable, nor
will the preferred stock depositary be liable, if we are prevented from or delayed in, by law or any circumstances beyond our control,
performing our obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and the obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the
deposit agreement will be limited to performing our duties in good faith and without negligence or willful misconduct. We will not be
obligated, nor will the preferred stock depositary be obligated, to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding relating to any depositary
receipts, depositary shares or shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished
to us. We may rely, and the preferred stock depositary may rely, on written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided
by persons presenting shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other
persons we believe in good faith to be competent to give this information, and on documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and
signed by a proper party.
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We may issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary, warrant agent or other agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.
Book-Entry Holders
We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.
Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.
As a result, investors in a global security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not legal holders, of the securities.
Street Name Holders
We may terminate a global security 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 legal holders, of those securities.
Legal Holders
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee, agent or third party employed by us or a trustee or any agents, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.
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For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the legal holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that legal holder is required, under agreements with its participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the 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.
When we refer to “you” in this prospectus, we mean those who invest in the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect holders of those securities. When we refer to “your securities” in this prospectus, we mean the securities in which you will hold a direct or indirect interest.
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 legal 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.
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.
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Special Considerations for Global Securities
The rights of an indirect holder relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.
If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:
| ● | an investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations 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 we 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 a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; |
| ● | the depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way; |
| ● | the depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well; and |
| ● | financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries. |
Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated
In a few special situations described below, 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.
Unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, 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; |
| ● | 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 is terminated, only the depositary, and not we, the trustee, the agent or other third party, as applicable, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the direct holders of those securities.
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We may sell the securities 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 one or more underwriters or dealers (acting as principal or agent), 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, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) that will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| ● | the name or names of any agents or underwriters, brokers or dealers and the amount of shares underwritten or purchased by each of them, 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 or other 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 reallowed or paid to brokers or dealers; and |
| ● | any securities exchanges or markets on which such securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
We may designate agents who agree to use their reasonable efforts to solicit purchases of our securities for the period of their appointment or to sell our securities on a continuing basis. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay to the agent in the prospectus supplement.
If underwriters are used in the sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. 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. If a dealer is used in the sale of securities, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, we will set forth in the prospectus supplement the name of the dealer and the terms of the transaction.
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We may change from time to time any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or reallow or pay to brokers or dealers. We may use underwriters, dealers or agents with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter, dealer or agent, the nature of any such relationship.
We may sell securities directly to one or more purchasers without using underwriters or agents. Underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which they may be required to make with respect to these liabilities. Agents, underwriters, brokers and dealers, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
We may authorize underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities we may offer will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange or market, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in these securities, but the underwriters 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 overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment 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 these activities at any time.
Any underwriters that are qualified market makers on the Nasdaq Capital Market may engage in passive market making transactions in the common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market in accordance with Rule 103 of 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 securities. 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 (“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.
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an emphasis of matter paragraph relating to the Company’s need to raise additional financing to continue its products’ development for the foreseeable future as described in Note 1 to the financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the Resale Shares being offered under this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth or incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits to such registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits to such registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or an exhibit to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, please see the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.
The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing us at 2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102, Redwood City, CA 94065 or telephoning us at (650) 549-1400.
We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.jaspertherapeutics.com. You may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus or any prospectus supplement and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information and reports we file with it into this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, and information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below as of their respective dates of filing, which we have already filed with the SEC. Any report or information within any of the documents referred below that is furnished, but not filed, shall not be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023; |
| ● | the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 21, 2023; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2023, January 25, 2023, January 27, 2023, February 17, 2023 and April 14, 2023; and |
| ● | the description of our Common Stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-39138), filed with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on November 18, 2019, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, including the description of our Common Stock included as Exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023. |
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 such future filings 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 to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference 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.
You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. Documents incorporated by reference are also available from us, without charge. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address or phone number:
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102
Redwood City, CA 94065
Attn: President and Chief Executive Officer
(650) 549-1400
You also may access these filings on our Internet site at https://www.jaspertherapeutics.com/. Information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or any prospectus supplement, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only. This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
40
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 28, 2023
PROSPECTUS
Jasper Therapeutics,
Inc.
Up to $75,000,000
Common Stock
We have entered into a Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement, dated November 10, 2022 (the “Sales Agreement”), with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“Cantor Fitzgerald”), relating to shares of our voting common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $75.0 million from time to time through or to Cantor Fitzgerald, acting as sales agent or principal.
Our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “JSPR.” On April 26, 2023, the closing price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market was $1.19 per share.
Sales of our Common Stock, if any, under this prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Cantor Fitzgerald is not required to sell any specific number or dollar amount of securities but will act as a sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Cantor Fitzgerald and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The compensation to Cantor Fitzgerald for sales of Common Stock sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement will be at a commission rate of 3.0% of the sales price per share sold under the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of Common Stock on our behalf, Cantor Fitzgerald will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Cantor Fitzgerald will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Cantor Fitzgerald with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
We are an “emerging growth company” as that term is used in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”) and, as such, we have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus and future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. See “Prospectus Summary – Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company”.
Investing in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a discussion of certain risks and uncertainties you should consider before investing in shares of our Common Stock.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus are truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2023
Table of Contents
Page | |
| ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | S-ii |
| PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | S-1 |
| THE OFFERING | S-3 |
| RISK FACTORS | S-5 |
| CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | S-7 |
| MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA | S-9 |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | S-10 |
| DILUTION | S-11 |
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | S-13 |
| LEGAL MATTERS | S-14 |
| EXPERTS | S-14 |
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | S-15 |
| INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE | S-15 |
S-i
This prospectus is part of a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. This prospectus describes the specific terms of this offering of shares of Common Stock and also adds to and updates information contained in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This prospectus relates only to an offering of up to $75.0 million of shares of our Common Stock through or to Cantor Fitzgerald. These sales, if any, will be made pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement entered into between us and Cantor Fitzgerald on November 10, 2022, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
We urge you to carefully read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein and the additional information in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” before buying any of the securities being offered under this prospectus. These documents contain information you should consider when making your investment decision. To the extent that any statement that we make in this prospectus is inconsistent with statements made in any documents incorporated by reference, the statements made in this prospectus will be deemed to modify or supersede those made in such documents incorporated by reference; however, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date and that is incorporated by reference herein, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and any free writing prospectus we may provide you. We have not, and Cantor Fitzgerald has not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and Cantor Fitzgerald is not, making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front cover of this prospectus or on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, as applicable. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, the securities described in this prospectus only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the securities in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the securities and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference into this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
In this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or required by the context, the terms “Jasper,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiary. General information about us can be found on our website at www.jaspertherapeutics.com. The information on our website is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for investment purposes. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered part of this or any other report filed with the SEC.
S-ii
This summary contains basic information about us and this offering. This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus. This summary is not complete and may not contain all of the information that may be important to you and that you should consider before deciding whether or not to invest in our securities. For a more complete understanding of Jasper and this offering, you should carefully read this prospectus, including the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, in its entirety. Investing in our securities involves risks that are described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors,” under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and in our other filings with the SEC.
The Company
We are a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to enabling cures through therapeutics targeting mast and hemopoietic stem cells. We are focused on the development and commercialization of safer and more effective therapeutic agents for diseases such as Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, Lower to Intermediate Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome and novel conditioning regimens for stem cell transplantation and ex-vivo gene therapy, a technique in which genetic manipulation of cells is performed outside of the body prior to transplantation.
Our drug development pipeline includes multiple product candidates designed to target mast and/or hematopoietic stem cells. Our lead product candidate, briquilimab (formerly known as JSP191), is in clinical development as a novel therapeutic antibody that targets mast and stem cells in various diseases and as a conditioning agent to clear hematopoietic stem cells from bone marrow in patients prior to undergoing allogeneic stem cell therapy or stem cell gene therapy. We are also developing engineered hematopoietic stem cells product candidates reprogrammed using mRNA delivery and gene editing that have a competitive advantage over endogenous hematopoietic stem cells because they may permit higher levels of engraftment without the need for toxic conditioning. We also plan to continue to expand our pipeline to include other novel mast and stem cell therapies based on immune modulation, graft engineering or cell and gene therapies. Our goal is to expand the use of therapeutic agents targeting mast and stem cells as well as to expand curative stem cell transplants and gene therapies for all patients, including children and the elderly.
The following chart summarizes the status and development plan for the product candidates in our pipeline. We own worldwide rights to each of our programs.
S-1
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as that term is defined in the JOBS Act. For as long as we continue to be an emerging growth company, we intend to take advantage of exemptions from various reporting requirements applicable to other public companies but not to “emerging growth companies,” including:
| ● | not being required to have our independent registered public accounting firm audit our internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended; |
| ● | permission to delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies; |
| ● | reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and Annual Reports on Form 10-K; and |
| ● | exemptions from the requirements of holding non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. |
Under the JOBS Act, we will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of:
| ● | the last day of the fiscal year during which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; |
| ● | the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of our initial public offering, or December 31, 2024; |
| ● | the date on which we have issued, during the previous three-year period, more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities; and |
| ● | the date on which we are deemed to be a “large accelerated filer” under the Exchange Act (i.e., the first day of the fiscal year after we have (1) more than $700.0 million in outstanding common equity held by our non-affiliates, measured each year on the last day of our second fiscal quarter, (2) been public for at least 12 months, and (3) are not eligible to be deemed a “smaller reporting company” because we do not meet the revenue test of the definition of “smaller reporting company”, which includes an initial determination that our annual revenues are more than $100.0 million for the most recently completed fiscal year). |
We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in this prospectus and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings with the SEC. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different from the information you receive from other public reporting companies.
Corporate Information
We were incorporated under the name “Amplitude Healthcare Acquisition Corporation” on August 13, 2019 as a Delaware corporation for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. On September 24, 2021, we consummated a business combination (the “Business Combination”) and changed our name to “Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.”
Our principal executive offices
are located at 2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102, Redwood City, CA 94065, and our telephone number is (650) 549-1400. Our website
address is www.jaspertherapeutics.com. Any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated
by reference into, nor is it in any way part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any decision
with respect to an investment in our securities. We are required to file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may obtain any of the documents filed by us with the SEC at no cost from the SEC’s website
at http://www.sec.gov.
S-2
Common Stock offered by us |
Up to an aggregate of $75,000,000 of shares of our Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement through or to Cantor Fitzgerald, as sales agent or principal. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-13 of this prospectus. |
| Common Stock to be outstanding immediately after this offering | Up to 172,408,383 shares (as more fully described in the notes following this table), assuming sales of 63,025,210 shares of our Common Stock in this offering at an assumed offering price of $1.19 per share, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April 26, 2023. The actual number of shares of Common Stock issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering. |
| Manner of offering | “At the market offering” made from time to time through or to Cantor Fitzgerald, as sales agent or principal. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-13 for additional detail. |
| Use of proceeds | We currently intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding research and development, clinical trials, vendor payables, potential regulatory submissions, hiring additional personnel and capital expenditures. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Use of Proceeds” beginning on page S-10 for additional detail. |
| Trading symbol | Our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “JSPR.” |
| Risk factors | Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in our securities. |
The number of shares of our Common Stock that will be outstanding immediately after this offering is based on 38,045,677 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022, and gives effect to: (i) the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 2,337,496 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement in January 2023, (ii) the issuance and sale of 69,000,000 shares of Common Stock in an underwritten public offering that closed on January 27, 2023 (the “Public Offering”), and (iii) the conversion of 911,022 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into 911,022 shares of Common Stock on January 31, 2023, but excludes:
| ● | 6,169,180 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under our equity incentive plans as of December 31, 2022, with a weighted-average exercise price of $2.25 per share; |
| ● | 2,617,445 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding under our equity incentive plans as of December 31, 2022, of which 1,308,106 shares subject to such restricted stock units vested on April 12, 2023; |
S-3
| ● | 4,999,863 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the outstanding public warrants (the “Public Warrants”) as of December 31, 2022, with an exercise price of $11.50 per share; |
| ● | up to 1,383,661 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2022, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year, and pursuant to which 1,521,827 shares of Common Stock were added to the reserve on January 1, 2023; |
| ● | up to 869,117 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2022, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year, and pursuant to which 380,456 shares of Common Stock were added to the reserve on January 1, 2023; and |
| ● | up to 1,295,672 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2022 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2022, of which 1,093,831 shares are subject to an option granted to Ronald Martell, our President and Chief Executive Officer, on February 2, 2023 as a result the closing of the Public Offering, per the terms of our employment agreement with Mr. Martell dated February 25, 2022. |
S-4
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should consider carefully the risks and uncertainties described below. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is on file with the SEC, and is incorporated herein by reference, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and future growth prospects could be seriously harmed. This could cause the market price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also carefully read the section below entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Risks Related to this Offering
We will have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds from this offering and may not use them effectively.
We currently intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding research and development, clinical trials, vendor payables, potential regulatory submissions, hiring additional personnel and capital expenditures, as further described in the section of this prospectus entitled “Use of Proceeds”. We will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds in the category of other working capital and general corporate purposes and investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering.
The precise amount and timing of the application of these proceeds will depend upon a number of factors, such as the timing and progress of our research and development efforts, our funding requirements and the availability and costs of other funds. As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses for the net proceeds to us from this offering. Depending on the outcome of our efforts and other unforeseen events, our plans and priorities may change and we may apply the net proceeds of this offering in different manners than we currently anticipate.
The failure by our management to apply these funds effectively could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in short-term, interest-bearing instruments. These investments may not yield a favorable return to our stockholders.
You may experience immediate and substantial dilution.
Because the prices per share at which shares of our Common Stock are sold in this offering may be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock, you may suffer immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the Common Stock you purchase in this offering. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices. If we sell shares in this offering at a price that is higher than the net tangible book value per share of our Common Stock, investors in this offering will experience dilution. The exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants, and the vesting of outstanding restricted stock units, may result in further dilution of your investment. See the section of this prospectus entitled “Dilution” for a more detailed illustration of the dilution you would incur if you participate in this offering.
The shares of Common Stock will be sold in “at the market” offerings, and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and number of shares sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their shares as a result of share sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
S-5
The actual number of shares we will issue under the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver placement notices to Cantor Fitzgerald at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The number of shares that are sold by Cantor Fitzgerald after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of the Common Stock during the sales period and limits we set with Cantor Fitzgerald.
You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings.
In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our Common Stock at prices that may not be the same as the price per share in this offering. We may sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is less than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock, in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share paid by investors in this offering.
Because there are no current plans to pay cash dividends on our Common Stock for the foreseeable future, you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell shares of our Common Stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
We may retain future earnings, if any, for future operations, expansion and debt repayment and have no current plans to pay any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any decision to declare and pay dividends as a public company in the future will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants of any existing and future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our Common Stock unless you sell your shares of our Common Stock for a price greater than that which you paid for it.
Sales of a significant number of shares of Common Stock in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our Common Stock.
Sales of a substantial number of shares in the public markets, or the perception that such sales could occur, could depress the market price of our Common Stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We have agreed, without the prior written consent of the Cantor Fitzgerald, and subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Sales Agreement, not to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock during the period beginning on the fifth trading day immediately prior to the delivery of any placement notice delivered by us to Cantor Fitzgerald and ending on the fifth trading day immediately following the final settlement date with respect to the shares sold pursuant to such notice. We have further agreed, subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Sales Agreement, not to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock in any other “at the market offering” or continuous equity transaction prior to the sixtieth day immediately following the termination of the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald. Therefore, it is possible that we could issue and sell additional shares of our Common Stock in the public markets. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our Common Stock would have on the market price of our Common Stock.
S-6
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, may constitute “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions (including the negative of any of the foregoing) may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.
Forward-looking statements in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may include, for example, but are not limited to, statements about:
| ● | our or our management team’s expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including those relating to the impact of the Business Combination on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; |
| ● | our ability to research, discover and develop additional product candidates; |
| ● | the success, cost and timing of our product development activities and clinical trials; |
| ● | the potential attributes and benefits of our product candidates; |
| ● | our ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approval for our product candidates; |
| ● | our ability to obtain funding for our operations; |
| ● | our projected financial information, anticipated growth rate and market opportunity; |
| ● | our ability to maintain the listing of our public securities on the Nasdaq Capital Market; |
| ● | our public securities’ potential liquidity and trading; |
| ● | our success in retaining or recruiting, or changes required in, officers, key employees or directors; |
| ● | our ability to grow and manage growth profitably; |
| ● | the implementation, market acceptance and success of our business model, developments and projections relating to our competitors and industry; |
| ● | our ability to obtain and maintain intellectual property protection and not infringe on the rights of others; |
| ● | our ability to identify, in-license or acquire additional technology; and |
| ● | our ability to maintain our existing license agreements and manufacturing arrangements. |
S-7
We caution you that the foregoing list may not contain all the forward-looking statements made in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023, as updated by our subsequent annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and elsewhere in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because of the risks and uncertainties related to them and to the risk factors. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise after the date of this prospectus, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Our forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers, dispositions, joint ventures, other strategic transactions or investments we may make or enter into.
In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of the statement is made, and while we believe such information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, such information may be limited or incomplete, and such statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information. These statements are inherently uncertain and investors are cautioned not to unduly rely upon these statements.
S-8
Certain information contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus relates to or is based on studies, publications, surveys, publicly available information, reports of governmental agencies and other data obtained from third-party sources and our own internal estimates and research. This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and you are cautioned not to give undue weight to these estimates. While we believe these third-party sources to be reliable as of the date of this prospectus or such document incorporated by reference, we have not independently verified the market and industry data contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus or the underlying assumptions relied on therein. Finally, while we believe our own internal research is reliable, such research has not been verified by any independent source. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are liable for the information provided in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of factors, including those described in the section of this prospectus titled “Risk Factors” and under similar headings in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by the independent parties and by us.
S-9
We may issue and sell shares of our Common Stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $75.0 million from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that, in the future, we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald as a source of financing. We currently intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for working capital and general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, funding research and development, clinical trials, vendor payables, potential regulatory submissions, hiring additional personnel and capital expenditures. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in other businesses, products and technologies that are complementary to our own, although we have no current plans, commitments or arrangements to do so.
The amounts of and timing
of our use of the net proceeds from the sale of securities under this prospectus will depend on a number of factors. 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. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. Pending application of the net proceeds
as described above, we may invest the proceeds in interest-bearing, investment-grade securities, certificates of deposit or government
securities.
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If you purchase our Common Stock in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of Common Stock and the net tangible book value per share of Common Stock immediately after this offering.
Our net tangible book value as of December 31, 2022 was approximately $36.0 million, or $0.95 per share of Common Stock. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing the net of total tangible assets less total liabilities, by the aggregate number of shares of our Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022.
Our pro forma net tangible book value as of December 31, 2022 was approximately $137.4 million, or $1.26 per share of Common Stock. Pro forma net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing the net of total tangible assets less total liabilities, by the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022, after giving effect to (i) the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 2,337,496 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement in January 2023 for net proceeds of approximately $4.5 million, after deducting sales commissions payable by us, and (ii) the issuance and sale of 69,000,000 shares of Common Stock in an underwritten public offering that closed on January 27, 2023 (the “Public Offering”) for net proceeds of approximately $96.9 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us.
After giving effect to: (i) the pro forma adjustments described in the preceding paragraph, and (ii) the sale of our Common Stock during the term of the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald in the aggregate amount of $75.0 million at an assumed offering price of $1.19 per share, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April 26, 2023, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of December 31, 2022 would have been approximately $137.4 million, or $1.26 per share of Common Stock. This represents an immediate decrease in the pro forma net tangible book value of $0.04 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $0.03 per share to new investors.
The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
| Assumed public offering price per share of Common Stock | $ | 1.19 | ||||||
| Net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2022 | $ | 0.95 | ||||||
| Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to the issuance of an aggregate of 2,337,496 shares of our Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement in January 2023 and the issuance of an aggregate of 69,000,000 shares of our Common Stock in the Public Offering | $ | 0.31 | ||||||
| Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 2022 | $ | 1.26 | ||||||
| Decrease in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering | (0.04 | ) | ||||||
| Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering | $ | 1.22 | ||||||
| Increase in net tangible book value per share to investors participating in this offering | $ | 0.03 |
The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 63,025,210 shares of our Common Stock are sold during the term of the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald at a price of $1.19 per share, the last reported sale price of our Common Stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market on April 26, 2023, for aggregate net proceeds of approximately $72.4 million, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. The pro forma as adjusted information is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual price to the public, the actual number of shares sold and other terms of the offering determined at the time shares of our Common Stock are sold pursuant to this prospectus. The shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald are being sold from time to time at various prices.
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The above discussion and table are based on 38,045,677 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022, and give effect to: (i) the issuance and sale of an aggregate of 2,337,496 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement in January 2023, (ii) the issuance and sale of 69,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the Public Offering, and (iii) the conversion of 911,022 shares of Non-Voting Common Stock into 911,022 shares of Common Stock on January 31, 2023, but excludes:
| ● | 6,169,180 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under our equity incentive plans as of December 31, 2022, with an exercise price of $2.25 per share; |
| ● | 2,617,445 shares of our Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding under our equity incentive plans as of December 31, 2022, of which 1,308,106 shares subject to such restricted stock units vested on April 12, 2023; |
| ● | 4,999,863 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants as of December 31, 2022, with an exercise price of $11.50 per share; |
| ● | up to 1,383,661 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2022, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year, and pursuant to which 1,521,827 shares of Common Stock were added to the reserve on January 1, 2023; |
| ● | up to 869,117 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan as of December 31, 2022, which contains provisions that may increase its share reserve each year, and pursuant to which 380,456 shares of Common Stock were added to the reserve on January 1, 2023; and |
| ● | up to 1,295,672 shares of Common Stock available for future issuance under the Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2022 Inducement Equity Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2022, of which 1,093,831 shares are subject to an option granted to Ronald Martell, our President and Chief Executive Officer, on February 2, 2023 as a result the closing of the Public Offering, per the terms of our employment agreement with Mr. Martell dated February 25, 2022. |
To the extent that options or warrants are exercised, new options or other equity awards are issued under our equity incentive plans, or we issue additional shares of Common Stock or other equity or convertible debt securities in the future, there may be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. Moreover, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.
S-12
We have entered into the Sales Agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald. Pursuant to this prospectus, we may offer and sell shares of our Common Stock having an aggregate sales price of up to $75.0 million from time to time through or to Cantor Fitzgerald acting as sales agent or principal. A copy of the Sales Agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Upon delivery of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, Cantor Fitzgerald may sell shares of our Common Stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) promulgated under the Securities Act. We may instruct Cantor Fitzgerald not to sell Common Stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us from time to time. We or Cantor Fitzgerald may suspend the offering of Common Stock upon notice and subject to other conditions.
We will pay Cantor Fitzgerald commissions, in cash, for its service in acting as agent in the sale of our Common Stock. Cantor Fitzgerald will be entitled to compensation at a commission rate of 3.0% of the sales price per share sold under the Sales Agreement. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We have also agreed to reimburse Cantor Fitzgerald for certain specified expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their legal counsel in an amount not to exceed (a) $75,000 in connection with the execution of the Sales Agreement, (b) $15,000 per calendar quarter thereafter pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement, and (c) $15,000 for each program “refresh” (filing of a new registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement relating to the Common Stock and/or an amendment of the Sales Agreement) executed pursuant to the Sales Agreement. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Cantor Fitzgerald under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $450,000.
Settlement for sales of shares of our Common Stock will occur on the second business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Cantor Fitzgerald in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our Common Stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Cantor Fitzgerald may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
Cantor Fitzgerald will use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its sales and trading practices, to solicit offers to purchase the Common Stock under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sales Agreement. In connection with the sale of the Common Stock on our behalf, Cantor Fitzgerald will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Cantor Fitzgerald will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Cantor Fitzgerald against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The offering of shares of our Common Stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein. We and Cantor Fitzgerald may each terminate the Sales Agreement at any time upon ten days’ prior notice.
Cantor Fitzgerald and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. To the extent required by Regulation M, Cantor Fitzgerald will not engage in any market making activities involving our Common Stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus.
This prospectus may be made available in electronic format on a website maintained by Cantor Fitzgerald, and Cantor Fitzgerald may distribute this prospectus electronically.
S-13
The validity of the issuance of the Common Stock offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Paul Hastings LLP, Palo Alto, California. DLA Piper LLP (US), New York, New York is acting as counsel for Cantor Fitzgerald in connection with this offering.
The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an emphasis of matter paragraph relating to the Company’s need to raise additional financing to continue its products’ development for the foreseeable future as described in Note 1 to the financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities to be offered under this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth or incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits to such registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities offered by this prospectus, we refer you to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and the exhibits to such registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or an exhibit to the reports or other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, please see the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.
The SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing us at 2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102, Redwood City, CA 94065 or telephoning us at (650) 549-1400.
We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance with this law, file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC referred to above. We also maintain a website at www.jaspertherapeutics.com. You may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information and reports we file with it into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to these documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We are incorporating by reference the documents listed below as of their respective dates of filing, which we have already filed with the SEC. Any report or information within any of the documents referred below that is furnished, but not filed, shall not be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023; |
| ● | the information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K from our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 21, 2023; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 19, 2023, January 25, 2023, January 27, 2023, February 17, 2023 and April 14, 2023; and |
| ● | the description of our Common Stock set forth in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-39138), filed with the SEC under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act on November 18, 2019, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description, including the description of our Common Stock included as included as Exhibit 4.3 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023. |
S-15
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 such future filings 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 to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which is also incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference 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.
You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. Documents incorporated by reference are also available from us, without charge. You may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address or phone number:
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102
Redwood City, CA 94065
Attn: President and Chief Executive Officer
Phone: (650) 549-1400
You also may access these filings on our Internet site at https://www.jaspertherapeutics.com/. Information contained on or connected to our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and the inclusion of our website address in this prospectus is an inactive textual reference only. This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC. We have incorporated exhibits into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the exhibits carefully for provisions that may be important to you.
S-16
Up to $75,000,000
Common Stock
, 2023
S-17
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following table sets forth an estimate of the fees and expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the Registrant in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. All the amounts shown, except for the SEC registration fee, are estimates.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 22,938 | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses | * | |||
| Trustee fees and expenses | * | |||
| Blue sky fees and expenses (including legal fees) | * | |||
| FINRA filing fee (if applicable) | * | |||
| Printing and miscellaneous fees and expenses | * | |||
| Total | $ | * |
| * | These fees are calculated based on the type of securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly, cannot be estimated at this time. The amount of securities and number of offerings are indeterminable and the expenses 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 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) permits a corporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his or her duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase or redemption in violation of the DGCL or derived an improper personal benefit. The Registrant’s second amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) provides that no director of the Registrant shall be personally liable to it or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing such liability, except to the extent that the DGCL prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or a person serving at the request of the corporation for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he or she was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with such action, suit or proceeding or with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation permits the Registrant to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and other agents to the maximum extent permitted by the DGCL, and the Registrant’s second amended and restated bylaws (the “Amended and Restated Bylaws”) provide that the Registrant will indemnify its directors and officers and permit the Registrant to indemnify its employees and other agents, in each case to the extent not prohibited by the DGCL or any other applicable law.
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The Registrant has entered, and expects to continue to enter, into indemnification agreements with its directors and officers, that may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the DGCL. These agreements, among other things, require the Registrant to indemnify each director and officer to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, including indemnification of expenses such as attorneys’ fees, judgments, penalties, fines and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by the director or executive officer in any action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding by or in right of the Registrant, arising out of the person’s services as a director or executive officer. These indemnification agreements also require the Registrant to advance all expenses incurred by the directors and executive officers in investigating or defending any such action, suit or proceeding, subject to certain exceptions.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that the Registrant may purchase insurance on behalf of any person required or permitted to be indemnified to the extent permitted by the DGCL or any other applicable law. The Registrant has obtained insurance under which, subject to the limitations of the insurance policies, coverage is provided to the Registrant’s directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims related to various liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and to the Registrant with respect to payments that may be made by the Registrant to these directors and executive officers pursuant to the Registrant’s indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law.
At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving a director or officer of the Registrant regarding which indemnification is sought, nor is the Registrant aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
See also the undertakings set out in response to Item 17 herein.
| Item 16. | Exhibits |
| † | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference, if applicable. |
| * | Filed herewith. |
II-2
| Item 17. | Undertakings |
| (a) | 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;
(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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(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 (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(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 SEC 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 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 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.
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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, 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
(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, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 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) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933:
(i) the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be a part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
(ii) each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(8) 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 SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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 Redwood City, State of California, on April 28, 2023.
| JASPER THERAPEUTICS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Ronald Martell | |
| Ronald Martell | ||
| President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ronald Martell and Jeet Mahal, and each of them acting individually, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, with full powers 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 to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and generally to do all such things in their names and behalf in their capacities as officers and directors to enable Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of 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 for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming that all said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his or her substitutes or resubstitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Ronald Martell | President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Ronald Martell | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Jeet Mahal | Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Jeet Mahal | (Principal Accounting and Financial Officer) | |||
| /s/ William Lis | Chairperson of the Board | April 28, 2023 | ||
| William Lis | ||||
| /s/ Anna French, D.Phil. | Director | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Anna French, D.Phil. | ||||
| /s/ Vishal Kapoor | Director | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Vishal Kapoor | ||||
| /s/ Lawrence Klein, Ph.D. | Director | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Lawrence Klein, Ph.D. | ||||
| /s/ Christian W. Nolet | Director | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Christian W. Nolet | ||||
| /s/ Judith Shizuru, M.D., Ph.D. | Director | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Judith Shizuru, M.D., Ph.D. | ||||
| /s/ Kurt von Emster | Director | April 28, 2023 | ||
| Kurt von Emster |
II-5
Exhibit 4.3
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
INDENTURE
Dated as of [ ]
[ ]
Trustee
| TABLE OF CONTENTS | |||||
| Page | |||||
| ARTICLE I. | DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |||
| Section 1.1. | Definitions | 1 | |||
| Section 1.2. | Other Definitions | 4 | |||
| Section 1.3. | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 4 | |||
| Section 1.4. | Rules of Construction | 4 | |||
| ARTICLE II. | THE SECURITIES | 5 | |||
| Section 2.1. | Issuable in Series | 5 | |||
| Section 2.2. | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | 5 | |||
| Section 2.3. | Execution and Authentication | 6 | |||
| Section 2.4. | Registrar and Paying Agent | 7 | |||
| Section 2.5. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 8 | |||
| Section 2.6. | Securityholder Lists | 8 | |||
| Section 2.7. | Transfer and Exchange | 8 | |||
| Section 2.8. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 8 | |||
| Section 2.9. | Outstanding Securities | 9 | |||
| Section 2.10. | Treasury Securities | 9 | |||
| Section 2.11. | Temporary Securities | 9 | |||
| Section 2.12. | Cancellation | 10 | |||
| Section 2.13. | Defaulted Interest | 10 | |||
| Section 2.14. | Global Securities | 10 | |||
| Section 2.15. | CUSIP Numbers | 11 | |||
| ARTICLE III. | REDEMPTION | 11 | |||
| Section 3.1. | Notice to Trustee | 11 | |||
| Section 3.2. | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 11 | |||
| Section 3.3. | Notice of Redemption | 11 | |||
| Section 3.4. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 12 | |||
| Section 3.5. | Deposit of Redemption Price | 12 | |||
| Section 3.6. | Securities Redeemed in Part | 12 | |||
| ARTICLE IV. | COVENANTS | 12 | |||
| Section 4.1. | Payment of Principal and Interest | 12 | |||
| Section 4.2. | SEC Reports | 12 | |||
| Section 4.3. | Compliance Certificate | 13 | |||
| Section 4.4. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 13 | |||
| Section 4.5. | Corporate Existence | 13 | |||
| ARTICLE V. | SUCCESSORS | 13 | |||
| Section 5.1. | When Company May Merge, Etc | 13 | |||
| Section 5.2. | Successor Corporation Substituted | 14 | |||
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||||
| ARTICLE VI. | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 14 | |||
| Section 6.1. | Events of Default | 14 | |||
| Section 6.2. | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 15 | |||
| Section 6.3. | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 15 | |||
| Section 6.4. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 16 | |||
| Section 6.5. | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 16 | |||
| Section 6.6. | Application of Money Collected | 16 | |||
| Section 6.7. | Limitation on Suits | 17 | |||
| Section 6.8. | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest | 17 | |||
| Section 6.9. | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 17 | |||
| Section 6.10. | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 17 | |||
| Section 6.11. | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 17 | |||
| Section 6.12. | Control by Holders | 18 | |||
| Section 6.13. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 18 | |||
| Section 6.14. | Undertaking for Costs | 18 | |||
| ARTICLE VII. | TRUSTEE | 19 | |||
| Section 7.1. | Duties of Trustee | 19 | |||
| Section 7.2. | Rights of Trustee | 20 | |||
| Section 7.3. | Individual Rights of Trustee | 20 | |||
| Section 7.4. | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 20 | |||
| Section 7.5. | Notice of Defaults | 20 | |||
| Section 7.6. | Reports by Trustee to Holders | 21 | |||
| Section 7.7. | Compensation and Indemnity | 21 | |||
| Section 7.8. | Replacement of Trustee | 21 | |||
| Section 7.9. | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc | 22 | |||
| Section 7.10. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 22 | |||
| Section 7.11. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 22 | |||
| ARTICLE VIII. | SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE | 22 | |||
| Section 8.1. | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 22 | |||
| Section 8.2. | Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification | 23 | |||
| Section 8.3. | Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series | 24 | |||
| Section 8.4. | Covenant Defeasance | 25 | |||
| Section 8.5. | Repayment to Company | 25 | |||
| Section 8.6. | Reinstatement | 25 | |||
| ARTICLE IX. | AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 26 | |||
| Section 9.1. | Without Consent of Holders | 26 | |||
| Section 9.2. | With Consent of Holders | 26 | |||
| Section 9.3. | Limitations | 27 | |||
ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(continued)
| Page | |||||
| Section 9.4. | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 27 | |||
| Section 9.5. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 27 | |||
| Section 9.6. | Notation on or Exchange of Securities | 27 | |||
| Section 9.7. | Trustee Protected | 28 | |||
| ARTICLE X. | MISCELLANEOUS | 28 | |||
| Section 10.1. | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 28 | |||
| Section 10.2. | Notices | 28 | |||
| Section 10.3. | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 29 | |||
| Section 10.4. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 29 | |||
| Section 10.5. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 29 | |||
| Section 10.6. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 29 | |||
| Section 10.7. | Legal Holidays | 29 | |||
| Section 10.8. | No Recourse Against Others | 30 | |||
| Section 10.9. | Counterparts | 30 | |||
| Section 10.10. | Governing Laws | 30 | |||
| Section 10.11. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 30 | |||
| Section 10.12. | Successors | 30 | |||
| Section 10.13. | Severability | 30 | |||
| Section 10.14. | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc | 30 | |||
| Section 10.15. | Securities in a Foreign Currency or in Euros | 31 | |||
| Section 10.16. | Judgment Currency | 31 | |||
| Section 10.17 | Force Majeure | 31 | |||
| Section 10.18 | U.S.A. Patriot Act | 32 | |||
| ARTICLE XI. | SINKING FUNDS | 32 | |||
| Section 11.1. | Applicability of Article | 32 | |||
| Section 11.2. | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 32 | |||
| Section 11.3. | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 32 | |||
iii
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Indenture, dated as of [ ]
| § 310(a)(1) | 7.10 | |||
| (a)(2) | 7.10 | |||
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | |||
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | |||
| (a)(5) | 7.10 | |||
| (b) | 7.10 | |||
| § 311(a) | 7.11 | |||
| (b) | 7.11 | |||
| (c) | Not Applicable | |||
| § 312(a) | 2.6 | |||
| (b) | 10.3 | |||
| (c) | 10.3 | |||
| § 313(a) | 7.6 | |||
| (b)(1) | 7.6 | |||
| (a)(2) | 7.6 | |||
| (c)(1) | 7.6 | |||
| (d) | 7.6 | |||
| § 314(a) | 10.5 | |||
| (b) | Not Applicable | |||
| (c)(1) | 10.4 | |||
| (c)(2) | 10.4 | |||
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |||
| (d) | Not Applicable | |||
| (e) | 10.5 | |||
| (f) | Not Applicable | |||
| § 315(a) | 7.1 | |||
| (b) | 7.5 | |||
| (c) | 7.1 | |||
| (d) | 7.1 | |||
| (e) | 6.14 | |||
| § 316(a) | 2.10 | |||
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.12 | |||
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.13 | |||
| (b) | 6.8 | |||
| § 317(a)(1) | 6.3 | |||
| (a)(2) | 6.4 | |||
| (b) | 2.5 | |||
| § 318(a) | 10.1 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
iv
Indenture dated as of [ ] between Jasper Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), and [ ] (“Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1. Definitions.
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York, New York (or in connection with any payment, the place of payment) on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Capital Stock” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it and thereafter means the successor.
“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, at least one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
“Company Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chief Executive Officer, the President or an Executive Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
“continuing” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
1
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depositary for such Series by the Company, which Depositary shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.
“Euro” means the single currency of participating member states of the economic and monetary union as contemplated in the Treaty on European Union.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
“Foreign Government Obligations” means, with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
“GAAP” means accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest” with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
2
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
“Responsible Officer” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or interest is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
3
Section 1.2. Other Definitions.
| TERM |
DEFINED IN SECTION | |
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 | |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 | |
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 | |
| “Journal” | 10.15 | |
| “Judgment Currency” | 10.16 | |
| “Legal Holiday” | 10.7 | |
| “mandatory sinking fund payment” | 11.1 | |
| “Market Exchange Rate” | 10.15 | |
| “New York Banking Day” | 10.16 | |
| “optional sinking fund payment” | 11.1 | |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 | |
| “Required Currency” | 10.16 | |
| “Service Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “successor person” | 5.1 |
Section 1.3. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
Section 1.4. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or” is not exclusive;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; and
(e) provisions apply to successive events and transactions.
4
ARTICLE II.
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1. Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 2.2. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection 2.2.1 and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections 2.2.2 through 2.2.24) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate:
2.2.1. the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series) and ranking (including the terms of any subordination provisions) of the Series;
2.2.2. the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
2.2.3. any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
2.2.4. the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
2.2.5. the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
2.2.6. the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
2.2.7. if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
2.2.8. the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
2.2.9. the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
2.2.10. if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
5
2.2.11. the forms of the Securities of the Series and whether the Securities will be issuable as Global Securities;
2.2.12. if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.13. the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be Dollars or any Foreign Currency, including, but not limited to, the Euro, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency other than the Euro, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;
2.2.14. the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;
2.2.15. if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
2.2.16. the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
2.2.17. the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
2.2.18. any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
2.2.19. any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V hereof which applies to Securities of the Series;
2.2.20. any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series);
2.2.21. any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
2.2.22. the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of such Series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, the conversion or exchange period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such Series of Securities are redeemed; and
2.2.23. whether the Securities of such Series will be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if applicable, a description of the subordination terms thereof.
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above.
Section 2.3. Execution and Authentication.
An Officer shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual, facsimile or electronic signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
6
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.8.
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 10.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or executive vice presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served (“Service Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
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The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional service agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional service agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Service Agent” includes any additional service agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
Section 2.5. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy, reorganization or similar proceeding with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall serve as Paying Agent for the Securities.
Section 2.6. Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7. Transfer and Exchange.
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business 15 days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9. Outstanding Securities.
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section 2.10. Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11. Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
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Section 2.12. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act) and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.13. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix the record date and payment date. At least 10 days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14. Global Securities.
2.14.1. Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities.
2.14.2. Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of this Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of this Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depositary for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event or (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.14.2, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depositary, by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.
2.14.3. Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such a successor Depositary.”
2.14.4. Acts of Holders. The Depositary, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under this Indenture.
2.14.5. Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
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2.14.6. Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.14.5, the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 2.15. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
ARTICLE III.
REDEMPTION
Section 3.1. Notice to Trustee.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 30 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
Section 3.2. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed on a pro rata basis (or, in the case of Global Securities based on a method that most nearly approximates a pro rata selection as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate) unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange or depositary requirements. The Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.2.10, the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
Section 3.3. Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
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(d) if any Securities are being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date and upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original Security shall be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Security;
(e) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(g) the CUSIP number, if any; and
(h) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.
Section 3.4. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price. Unless otherwise set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate for the applicable Series of Securities, a notice of redemption pertaining to such Series may not be conditional. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
Section 3.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS
Section 4.1. Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.
Section 4.2. SEC Reports.
The Company shall, so long as any Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC (unless already publicly available through the SEC’s EDGAR Filing System) copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA § 314(a). All such reports, information or documents referred to in this Section 4.2 that the Company files with the SEC via the SEC’s EDGAR system shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee and transmitted to Holders at the time such reports, information or documents are filed via the EDGAR system (or any successor system).
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Section 4.3. Compliance Certificate.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his/her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge).
The Company will, so long as any of the Securities are outstanding, deliver to the Trustee, promptly upon becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.4. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.5. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and rights (charter and statutory); provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
ARTICLE V.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1. When Company May Merge, Etc.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to, any person (a “successor person”) unless:
(a) the Company is the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than the Company) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes the Company’s obligations on the Securities and under this Indenture; and
(b) immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction an Officers’ Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and any supplemental indenture hereto complies with this Indenture.
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Notwithstanding the above, any Subsidiary of the Company may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to the Company. Neither an Officers’ Certificate nor an Opinion of Counsel shall be required to be delivered in connection therewith.
Section 5.2. Successor Corporation Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.1, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company in the case of a sale, conveyance or other disposition (other than a lease) shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
ARTICLE VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1. Events of Default.
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or
(b) default in the payment of principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or
(c) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture or any Security (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
(d) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or
(e) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company,
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or
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(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.18.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 6.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(d) or (e)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that Series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that Series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 6.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of principal of any Security at the Maturity thereof, or
(c) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Security,
then, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and any overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or deemed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such Series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
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Section 6.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7.
Nothing contained in this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.5. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 6.6. Application of Money Collected.
Any money or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.7; and
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and
Third: To the Company.
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Section 6.7. Limitation on Suits.
No Holder of any Security of any Series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that Series;
(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.
Section 6.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
Section 6.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.8, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
Section 6.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
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Section 6.12. Control by Holders.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such Series; provided that:
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(c) subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.
The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series, by written notice to the Trustee and the Company, waive any past Default hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration). Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.14. Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
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ARTICLE VII.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.
(ii) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.
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Section 7.2. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document (whether in its original, electronic or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder without willful misconduct or negligence and in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.
Section 7.3. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.4. Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
Section 7.5. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
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Section 7.6. Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after May 15 in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.7. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any loss, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(d) or (e) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.
Section 7.8. Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
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(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
Section 7.9. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee, subject to Section 7.10.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE VIII.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.1), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) either:
(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
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(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(3) have been called for redemption or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or
(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.3, as applicable;
and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.7, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2 and 8.5 shall survive.
Section 8.2. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.1, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.3 or 8.4, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.3 or 8.4.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.3 or 8.4 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.3 or 8.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
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Section 8.3. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.
Unless this Section 8.3 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.2.20, to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any Series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and
(a) interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
(b) the provisions of Sections 2.4, 2.7, 2.8, 8.2, 8.3 and 8.5; and
(c) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(d) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;
(e) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(f) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the 91st day after such date;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(i) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
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Section 8.4. Covenant Defeasance.
Unless this Section 8.4 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.2.20 to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company may omit to comply with respect to the Securities of any Series with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, and 5.1 as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.20 (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to such Series under Section 6.1) and the occurrence of any event specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.18 and designated as an Event of Default shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) With reference to this Section 8.4, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.2(c)) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal of and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and such sinking fund payments are due;
(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;
(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;
(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
Section 8.5. Repayment to Company.
The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years. After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person.
Section 8.6. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money deposited with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.1 by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series and under the Securities of such Series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.1 until such time as the Trustee or the Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.1; provided, however, that if the Company has made any payment of principal of or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
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ARTICLE IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to comply with Article V;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to add guarantees with respect to Securities of any Series or secure Securities of any Series;
(e) to surrender any of the Company’s rights or powers under this Indenture;
(f) to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of Securities of any Series;
(g) to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary;
(h) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;
(i) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
(j) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; or
(k) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA.
Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
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Section 9.3. Limitations.
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
(a) reduce the principal amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;
(c) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(d) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(e) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(f) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;
(g) make any change in Sections 6.8, 6.13 or 9.3 (this sentence); or
(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security, provided that such redemption is made at the Company’s option.
Section 9.4. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.5. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
Until an amendment is set forth in a supplemental indenture or a waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date of the supplemental indenture or the date the waiver becomes effective.
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the second immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.
Section 9.6. Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
The Company or the Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
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Section 9.7. Trustee Protected.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 10.1. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
Section 10.2. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission, email or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:
|
if to the Company: |
||||
|
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. 2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102 Redwood City, CA 94065 Telephone: (650) 549-1400 Attention: Chief Executive Officer
With a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Paul Hastings LLP 1117 S. California Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 Telephone: (650) 320-1804 Attention: Jeffrey T. Hartlin, Esq. |
| if to the Trustee: | ||||||
| Attention: | ||||||
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be sent electronically or mailed by first-class mail to his, her or its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary. Failure to send a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
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If a notice or communication is sent or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company sends a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall send a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given to the Depositary for such Security (or its designee) pursuant to the customary procedures of such Depositary.
Section 10.3. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 10.4. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 10.5. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 10.6. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 10.7. Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
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Section 10.8. No Recourse Against Others.
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
Section 10.9. Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Unless otherwise provided herein or in any other Securities, the words “execute”, “execution”, “signed”, and “signature” and words of similar import used in or related to any document to be signed in connection with this Indenture, any Securities or any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including amendments, waivers, consents and other modifications) shall be deemed to include electronic signatures and the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as applicable, to the fullest extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act, and any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by such Trustee.
Section 10.10. Governing Laws.
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE, WITHOUT REGARD TO THE CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISIONS THEREOF.
Section 10.11. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 10.12. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 10.13. Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 10.14. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The Cross Reference Table and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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Section 10.15. Securities in a Foreign Currency or in Euros.
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including Euros), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 10.15, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of Euros, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the “Journal”). If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of Euros, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of Euros, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in New York City or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of Euros, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of Euros, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
Section 10.16. Judgment Currency.
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
Section 10.17. Force Majeure.
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services, it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable best efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances
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Section 10.18. U.S.A. Patriot Act.
The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
ARTICLE XI.
SINKING FUNDS
Section 11.1. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 11.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
Section 11.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Its: | |||
| [NAME OF TRUSTEE], as Trustee | |||
| By: | |||
| Name: | |||
| Its: | |||
Exhibit 5.1
| April 28, 2023 | 46931.00001 |
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
2200 Bridge Pkwy Suite #102
Redwood City, CA 94065
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Jasper Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing on the date hereof with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form S-3 (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 (i) a base prospectus (the “Prospectus”), which 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”), and (ii) a sales agreement prospectus (the “Sales Agreement Prospectus”), which relates to the issuance and sale of up to $75,000,000 of shares of the Company’s voting common stock (the “Sales Agreement Shares”) that may be issued and sold from time to time pursuant to that certain Controlled Equity Offering™ Sales Agreement, dated as of November 10, 2022, by and between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Sales Agreement”).
The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Sales Agreement Prospectus relate to the proposed issuance and sale from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the rules and regulations promulgated under the Act, of up to $250,000,000 of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) depositary shares representing shares of Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares”), (iv) one or more series of debt securities (collectively, the “Debt Securities”) to be issued pursuant to indentures to be entered into between the Company, as issuer, and a trustee (the “Trustee”), the form of which is filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement (each, an “Indenture”), (v) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares 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”), (vi) rights to purchase shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the “Rights”), (vii) units consisting of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants and/or Rights (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”), and (viii) the Sales Agreement Shares. The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights, Units and the Sales Agreement Shares 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, the Sales Agreement Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the issuance of the Securities.
Paul Hastings LLP I 1117 S. California Avenue I Palo Alto, California 94304
T: + 1.650.320.1800 I www.paulhastings.com
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
April 28, 2023
Page 2
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 competency, capacity and authority of all persons or entities (other than the Company) executing all agreements, instruments, corporate records, certificates and other documents submitted to 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 the 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 on and as of the date hereof, (viii) that there has not been and there will not be any change in the good standing status of the Company from that which was 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 Depositary Shares, any related deposit agreement and any depositary receipts issued pursuant thereto, the Warrants and any related Warrant Agreement, the Rights and any related rights agreement, the Units and any related Unit Agreement, and any purchase, underwriting, sales agreement 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 Depositary Shares, deposit agreements, depositary receipts, Warrants, Warrant Agreements, Rights, rights agreements, 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 and 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 Second Amended and Restated 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.
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.
April 28, 2023
Page 3
Other than with respect to the Sales Agreement Shares, 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 and any Prospectus Supplement, as applicable, 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, the Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement, as applicable; (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, the Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement, as applicable, or, in the case of Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Depositary Shares, Warrants, Rights 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, the Sales Agreement Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement, as applicable.
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 or amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation 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, (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, and (v) if such shares of Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action of the Company, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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April 28, 2023
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3. With respect to any Depositary Shares to be offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) a deposit agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the depositary named therein, (ii) the specific terms of the particular issuance of Depositary Shares have been duly established in accordance with such deposit agreement and applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (iii) the Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares has been duly authorized for issuance by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (iv) the Depositary Shares have been duly executed, authenticated, countersigned, issued and delivered against payment therefor, and the depositary has issued depositary receipts in connection therewith, all in accordance with such deposit agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, any applicable Documents and such corporate action, and (v) the shares of Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares have been validly issued and deposited with the depositary in accordance with the deposit agreement, such Depositary Shares will constitute binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
4. With respect to any series of Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Warrants) 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 and has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (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 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 any applicable purchase, underwriting, sales or similar agreement 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.
5. With respect to any Warrants to be offered by the Company 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.
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6. With respect to Rights to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) a rights agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the subscription agent named therein, (ii) the specific terms of the particular issuance of Rights have been duly established in accordance with such rights agreement and applicable law and authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company, (iii) the Rights have been duly executed, countersigned, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with such rights agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any applicable Prospectus Supplement, any applicable Documents and such corporate action, and (iv) the shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock relating to such Rights, as applicable, have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action of the Company and in accordance with the terms of the Rights and the rights agreement, such Rights will constitute binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.
7. With respect to any Units to be offered by the Company 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 and the counterparty named therein, (ii) the specific terms of the 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, countersigned, 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 (A) comprising the Units, (B) represented by the Depositary Shares comprising the Units, (C) underlying the Warrants comprising the Units and/or (D) relating to the Rights comprising the Units have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance and/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, and/or (c) the Depositary Shares comprising such Units have been duly executed, authenticated, countersigned, issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable deposit agreement, and/or (d) the Warrants comprising such Units have been duly executed, countersigned, issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement, and/or (e) the Rights comprising such Units have been duly executed, countersigned, issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable rights agreement, 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.
8. With respect to any Sales Agreement Shares to be offered by the Company pursuant to the Sales Agreement Prospectus, when the Sales Agreement Shares have been duly issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor (not less than the par value of the Sales Agreement Shares) as contemplated by the Sales Agreement and the Sales Agreement Prospectus, such Sales Agreement Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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 that 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 or the Sales Agreement.
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, with respect to any shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and, with respect to the Documents and the Sales Agreement, 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.
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 and the Sales Agreement 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 promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Paul Hastings LLP
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. of our report dated March 8, 2023 relating to the financial statements, which appears in Jasper Therapeutics, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Jose, California
April 28, 2023