Exhibit 10.7
PRECISION BIOSCIENCES, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
This AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is entered into as of July 31, 2024, by and between Banc of California, a California state-chartered bank (“Bank”) and PRECISION BIOSCIENCES, INC. (“Borrower”).
RECITALS
Bank and Borrower hereby agree that the Prior Loan Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
AGREEMENT
The parties agree as follows:
(b) Term Loan.
(i) Subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Bank agrees to make one (1) loan to Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed Twenty-Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($22,500,000) (the “Term Loan”). The proceeds of the Term Loan shall be used (A) first, to refinance all outstanding Obligations owed by Borrower pursuant to the Prior Loan Agreement, and (B) second, if any
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proceeds remain after refinancing the aforementioned Obligations, for general working capital purposes and for capital expenditures.
(ii) Interest shall accrue from the date of the Term Loan at the rate specified in Section 2.3(a), and prior to the Term Loan Maturity Date shall be payable monthly beginning on the first day of the month next following such Term Loan, and continuing on the same day of each month thereafter through the Term Loan Maturity Date. On the Term Loan Maturity Date, all amounts outstanding in connection with the Term Loan and any other amounts owing under this Agreement shall be immediately due and payable. The Term Loan, once repaid, may not be reborrowed. Borrower may prepay the Term Loan without penalty or premium (except as set forth in Section 2.5 below).
(iii) Borrower hereby requests that Bank make the Term Loan on the Closing Date or as soon as practicable thereafter. To further document this request, Borrower shall notify Bank (which notice shall be irrevocable) by email (or, if permitted by Bank, through the use of an E-System) to be received no later than 3:30 p.m. Eastern time on the day on which the Term Loan is to be made. Such notice shall be given by a Loan Advance/Paydown Request Form in substantially the form of Exhibit C. The notice shall be signed by an Authorized Officer. Bank shall be entitled to rely on any notice given by a person whom Bank reasonably believes to be an Authorized Officer, and Borrower shall indemnify and hold Bank harmless for any damages, loss, costs and expenses suffered by Bank as a result of such reliance.
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Borrower represents and warrants as follows:
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Borrower covenants that, until payment in full of all outstanding Obligations, and for so long as Bank may have any commitment to make a Credit Extension hereunder, Borrower shall do all of the following:
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Borrower may deliver to Bank on an electronic basis any certificates, reports, requests, or information required pursuant to this Section 6.2, and Bank shall be entitled to rely on the
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information contained in the electronic files, provided that Bank in good faith believes that the files were delivered by, or on behalf of, a Responsible Officer. Borrower shall include a submission date on any certificates, statements, and reports to be delivered electronically.
Any submission by Borrower of a Compliance Certificate or other financial statement pursuant to this Section 6.2 or otherwise submitted to Bank shall be deemed to be a representation by Borrower that (i) as of the date of such Compliance Certificate, financial statement, or request, the information and calculations set forth therein are true, accurate and correct, (ii) as of the end of the compliance period set forth in such submission, Borrower is in complete compliance with all required covenants except as noted in such Compliance Certificate or financial statement, as applicable; (iii) as of the date of such submission, no Events of Default have occurred or are continuing; and (iv) all representations and warranties other than any representations or warranties that are made as of a specific date in Section 5 remain true and correct in all material respects as of the date of such submission except as noted in such Compliance Certificate, financial statement, or request, as applicable.
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6.10 Creation/Acquisition of Subsidiaries. In the event Borrower or any Subsidiary of Borrower creates or acquires any Subsidiary, Borrower or such Subsidiary shall promptly notify Bank of such creation or acquisition.
6.11 Further Assurances. At any time and from time to time Borrower shall execute and deliver such further instruments and take such further action as may reasonably be requested by Bank to effect the purposes of this Agreement.
Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any credit hereunder shall be available and until the outstanding Obligations are paid in full or for so long as Bank may have any commitment to make any Credit Extensions, Borrower will not do any of the following without Bank’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld:
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Any one or more of the following events shall constitute an Event of Default by Borrower under this Agreement:
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Bank may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered adversely to affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.
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Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices or demands by any party relating to this Agreement or any other agreement entered into in connection herewith shall be in writing and (except for financial statements and other reporting required pursuant to Section 6.2 of this Agreement, which shall be sent as directed in the monthly reporting forms provided by Bank) shall be personally delivered or sent by a recognized overnight delivery service, certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by electronic mail to Borrower or to Bank, as the case may be, at its addresses set forth below:
If to Borrower: PRECISION BIOSCIENCES, INC.
302 East Pettigrew Street
Dibrell Bldg., Suite A-100
Durham, NC 27701
Attn: Alex Kelly
E-Mail: [***]
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If to Bank: Banc of California
555 S. Mangum Street, Suite 1000
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Attn: Loan Operations Manager
E-Mail: loannotices@bancofcal.com
with a copy to: Banc of California
555 S. Mangum Street, Suite 1000
Durham, North Carolina 27701
Attn: Ryan Kelley
E-Mail: ryan.kelley@bancofcal.com
The parties hereto may change the address at which they are to receive notices hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given to the other.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Jurisdiction shall lie in the State of North Carolina. All disputes, controversies, claims, actions and similar proceedings arising with respect to Borrower’s account or any related agreement or transaction shall be brought in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina sitting in Durham County, North Carolina or the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, except as provided below with respect to arbitration of such matters. BANK AND BORROWER EACH ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ONE, BUT THAT IT MAY BE WAIVED. EACH OF THEM, AFTER CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT, WITH COUNSEL OF THEIR CHOICE, KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT ANY OF THEM MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY RELATED INSTRUMENT OR LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN), OR ACTION OF ANY OF THEM. THESE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY RESPECT OR RELINQUISHED BY BANK OR BORROWER, EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY EACH OF THEM. If the jury waiver set forth in this Section 11 is not enforceable, then any dispute, controversy, claim, action or similar proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated therein shall be settled by final and binding arbitration held in Durham County, North Carolina in accordance with the then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association by one arbitrator appointed in accordance with those rules. The arbitrator shall apply North Carolina law to the resolution of any dispute, without reference to rules of conflicts of law or rules of statutory arbitration. Judgment upon any award resulting from arbitration may be entered into and enforced by any state or federal court having jurisdiction thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the parties may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for preliminary or interim equitable relief, or to compel arbitration in accordance with this Section. The costs and expenses of the arbitration, including without limitation, the arbitrator’s fees and expert witness fees, and reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by the parties to
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the arbitration may be awarded to the prevailing party, in the discretion of the arbitrator, or may be apportioned between the parties in any manner deemed appropriate by the arbitrator. Unless and until the arbitrator decides that one party is to pay for all (or a share) of such costs and expenses, both parties shall share equally in the payment of the arbitrator’s fees as and when billed by the arbitrator.
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(b) In handling any confidential information, Bank shall exercise commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in confidence, in accordance with its customary procedures for handling confidential information, all written non-public information furnished to Bank on a confidential basis clearly identified at the time of delivery as such (“Confidential Information”) other than any such Confidential Information that becomes generally available to the public or becomes available to Bank from a source other than Borrower and that is not known to Bank to be subject to confidentiality obligations; provided, that Bank and its Affiliates shall have the right to disclose Confidential Information to: (i) such Person’s Affiliates; (ii) such Person or such Person’s Affiliates’ lenders, funding sources, or financing sources; (iii) such Person’s or such Person’s Affiliates’ directors, officers, trustees, partners, members, managers, employees, agents, advisors, representatives, attorneys, equity owners, professional consultants, portfolio management services and rating agencies; (iv) any successor or assign of Bank; (v) any Person to whom Bank offers to sell, assign or transfer any Credit Extension or any part thereof or any interest or participation therein; (vi) any Person that provides statistical analysis and/or information services to Bank or its
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Affiliates; and (vii) any Person (A) to the extent required by it by law, (B) as may be required in connection with the examination, audit, or similar investigation of Bank, (C) in response to any subpoena or other legal process or informal investigative demand, (D) in connection with any litigation, or (E) in connection with the actual or potential exercise or enforcement of any right or remedy under any Loan Document. The obligations of Bank and its Affiliates under this Section 12.8 shall supersede and replace any other confidentiality obligations agreed to by Bank or its Affiliates.
[Signatures appear on the following page.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the first date above written.
PRECISION BIOSCIENCES, INC.
By: /s/ Alex Kelly
Name: Alex Kelly
Title: Chief Financial Officer
BANC OF CALIFORNIA
By: /s/ Ryan Kelly
Name: Ryan Kelley
Title: Vice President
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EXHIBIT A
DEFINITIONS
“Accounts” means all presently existing and hereafter arising accounts, contract rights, payment intangibles and all other forms of obligations owing to Borrower arising out of the sale or lease of goods (including, without limitation, the licensing of software and other technology) or the rendering of services by Borrower and any and all credit insurance, guaranties, and other security therefor, as well as all merchandise returned to or reclaimed by Borrower and Borrower’s Books relating to any of the foregoing.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any Person that owns or controls directly or indirectly such Person, any Person that controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person, and each of such Person’s senior executive officers, directors, and general partners.
“Authorized Officer” means someone designated as such in the corporate resolution provided by Borrower to Bank in which this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder are authorized by Borrower’s board of directors. If Borrower provides subsequent corporate resolutions to Bank after the Closing Date, the individual(s) designated as “Authorized Officer(s)” in the most recently provided resolution shall be the only “Authorized Officers” for purposes of this Agreement.
“Bank Expenses” means all reasonable costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, whether generated by in-house or by outside counsel) incurred in connection with the preparation, negotiation, administration, and enforcement of the Loan Documents; reasonable Collateral audit fees; and Bank’s reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses (whether generated in-house or by outside counsel) incurred in amending, enforcing or defending the Loan Documents (including fees and expenses of appeal), incurred before, during and after an Insolvency Proceeding, whether or not suit is brought.
“Borrower’s Books” means all of Borrower’s books and records including: ledgers; records concerning Borrower’s assets or liabilities, the Collateral, business operations or financial condition; and all computer programs, or tape files, and the equipment, containing such information.
“Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks in the State of North Carolina are authorized or required to close.
“Cash” means unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.
“Cash Security Account” means Demand Deposit Account number [***], together with all proceeds and substitutions thereof, all interest paid thereon, and all other cash and non-cash proceeds of the foregoing.
“Change in Control” shall mean (a) a transaction (other than a bona fide equity financing or series of financings on terms and from investors reasonably acceptable to Bank) in which any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of a sufficient number of shares of all classes of stock then outstanding of Borrower ordinarily entitled to vote in the election of directors, empowering such “person” or “group” to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of Borrower, who did not have such power before such transaction; or (b) Borrower shall cease to own and control 100% of the equity interests in each of its Subsidiaries.
“Closing Date” means the date of this Agreement.
“Code” means the North Carolina Uniform Commercial Code as amended or supplemented from time to time.
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“Collateral” means the property described on Exhibit B attached hereto.
“Compliance Certificate” means a compliance certificate, in substantially the form of Exhibit D attached hereto, executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.
“Contingent Obligation” means, as applied to any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or otherwise, of that Person with respect to (i) any indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit or other obligation of another, including, without limitation, any such obligation directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made or discounted or sold with recourse by that Person, or in respect of which that Person is otherwise directly or indirectly liable; (ii) any obligations with respect to undrawn letters of credit, corporate credit cards or merchant services issued for the account of that Person; and (iii) all obligations arising under any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designated to protect a Person against fluctuation in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices; provided, however, that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determined amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by such Person in good faith; provided, however, that such amount shall not in any event exceed the maximum amount of the obligations under the guarantee or other support arrangement.
“Copyrights” means any and all copyright rights, copyright applications, copyright registrations and like protections in each work or authorship and derivative work thereof, whether published or unpublished and whether or not the same also constitutes a trade secret, now or hereafter existing, created, acquired or held.
“Credit Extension” means the Term Loan, or any other extension of credit, by Bank to or for the benefit of Borrower hereunder.
“Divide” means, with respect to any Person that is an entity, the dividing of such Person into two or more separate Persons, with the dividing Person either continuing or terminating its existence as part of such division, including as contemplated under Section 18-217 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act for limited liability companies formed under Delaware law, or any analogous action taken pursuant to any other statute with respect to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or other entity.
“Early Termination Fee” is defined in Section 2.5(b) hereof.
“Equipment” means all present and future machinery, equipment, tenant improvements, furniture, fixtures, vehicles, tools, parts and attachments in which Borrower has any interest.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.
“E-System” means any electronic system approved by Bank, including any Internet or extranet-based site, whether such electronic system is owned, operated or hosted by Bank, any of its Affiliates or any other Person, providing for access to data protected by passcodes or other security system, or otherwise used to facilitate communication between Borrower and Bank with respect to the Loan Documents.
“Event of Default” has the meaning assigned in Article 8.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect from time to time in the United States.
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“Indebtedness” means (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred purchase price of property or services, including without limitation reimbursement and other obligations with respect to surety bonds and letters of credit, (b) all obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (c) all capital lease obligations, and (d) all Contingent Obligations, including but not limited to any sublimit contained herein.
“Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person or entity under any provision of the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended, or under any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, including assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, extension generally with its creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other relief.
“Intellectual Property” means all of Borrower’s right, title, and interest in and to the following:
“Inventory” means all present and future inventory in which Borrower has any interest.
“Investment” means any beneficial ownership of (including stock, partnership or limited liability company interest or other securities) any Person, or any loan, advance or capital contribution to any Person.
“IRC” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations thereunder.
“Lien” means any mortgage, lien, deed of trust, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance.
“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this Agreement, any note or notes executed by Borrower, and any other document, instrument or agreement entered into in connection with this Agreement, all as amended or extended from time to time.
“Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the operations, business or financial condition of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) the ability of Borrower to repay the Obligations or otherwise perform its obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iii) Borrower’s interest in, or the value, perfection or priority of Bank’s security interest in the Collateral.
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“Obligations” means all debt, principal, interest, Bank Expenses and other amounts owed to Bank by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any other agreement, whether absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, including any interest that accrues after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding and including any debt, liability, or obligation owing from Borrower to others that Bank may have obtained by assignment or otherwise.
“Patents” means all patents, patent applications and like protections including without limitation improvements, divisions, continuations, renewals, reissues, extensions and continuations-in-part of the same.
“Periodic Payments” means all installments or similar recurring payments that Borrower may now or hereafter become obligated to pay to Bank pursuant to the terms and provisions of any instrument, or agreement now or hereafter in existence between Borrower and Bank.
“Permitted Liens” means the following:
(a) Any Liens existing on the Closing Date and disclosed in the Schedule (excluding Liens to be satisfied with the proceeds of the Credit Extensions) or arising under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or any other agreement in favor of Bank;
“Permitted Secured Indebtedness” means:
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“Permitted Transfer” means the conveyance, sale, lease, transfer or disposition by Borrower or any Subsidiary of:
“Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, firm, joint stock company, estate, entity or governmental agency.
“Prime Rate” means the variable rate of interest, per annum, most recently announced by Bank, as its “prime rate,” whether or not such announced rate is the lowest rate available from Bank.
“Prior Loan Agreement” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Responsible Officer” means each of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance and the Controller of Borrower, as well as any other officer or employee identified as an Authorized Officer in the corporate resolution delivered by Borrower to Bank in connection with this Agreement.
“Schedule” means the schedule of exceptions attached hereto and approved by Bank, if any.
“SOS Reports” means the official reports from the Secretaries of State of the state where Borrower’s chief executive office is located, the state of Borrower’s formation and other applicable federal, state or local government offices identifying all current security interests filed in the Collateral and Liens of record as of the date of such report.
“Subordinated Debt” means any debt incurred by Borrower that is subordinated in writing to the debt owing by Borrower to Bank on terms reasonably acceptable to Bank (and identified as being such by Borrower and Bank).
“Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership or limited liability company or joint venture in which (i) any general partnership interest or (ii) more than 50% of the stock, limited liability company interest or joint venture of which by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect the Board of Directors, managers or trustees of the entity, at the time as of which any determination is being made, is owned by Borrower, either directly or through an Affiliate.
“Term Loan Maturity Date” means June 30, 2027.
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“Trademarks” means any trademark and servicemark rights, whether registered or not, applications to register and registrations of the same and like protections, and the entire goodwill of the business of Borrower connected with and symbolized by such trademarks.
“Transfer” means convey, sell, lease, license, transfer, or otherwise dispose of.
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DEBTOR: PRECISION BIOSCIENCES, INC.
SECURED PARTY: BANC OF CALIFORNIA
EXHIBIT B
COLLATERAL DESCRIPTION ATTACHMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
All terms above have the meanings given to them in the North Carolina Uniform Commercial Code, as amended or supplemented from time to time, including revised Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code-Secured Transactions.
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EXHIBIT C
LOAN ADVANCE/PAYDOWN REQUEST FORM
[Please refer to New Borrower Kit]
EXHIBIT D
COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE
[Please refer to New Borrower Kit]
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