Cooperation Agreement
On September 18, 2019, the Newtyn Parties and the Western Standard Parties (each such affiliated group, a “Shareholder Party”) entered into a cooperation agreement with the Issuer (the “Cooperation Agreement”), a copy of which is attached to this Schedule 13D asExhibit 99.1 and is incorporated in its entirety into this Item 4. In the Cooperation Agreement, the parties set out the binding terms and provisions of the agreement in principle described above and agreed to certain other terms and provisions, including:
Replacement Director. Each Shareholder Party has the right to replace its designated New Director with another qualified independent director, subject to conditions described in the Cooperation Agreement, including that such replacement director be approved by the Board’s nominating committee, and the designating Shareholder Party owns at least 2.5% of the Issuer’s then outstanding voting securities.
New Committee. The Board agreed to form a new committee (the “Strategy and Expense Committee”), which will consist of three (3) members, including the New Directors, to consider, among other matters, the Issuer’s current strategy and expenses and evaluate any requests for consideration or feedback, including from shareholders of the Issuer, with a focus on cost containment, continued NOL safeguarding and milestone payment, and shareholder distribution maximization.
Non-Disparagement. Each party agreed not to, directly or indirectly, in any capacity or manner communicate in a way that could reasonably be construed to be derogatory or critical of, or negative toward, the other parties or that maligns, harms, disparages, defames or damages the reputation or good name of the other parties.
Standstill. Each Shareholder Party agreed to comply, and cause its representatives to comply, with certain standstill obligations described in the Cooperation Agreement during its term, including, among others, (a) not to purchase Common Stock or any other securities of the Issuer and as a result become the holder of more than 20.0% of the Issuer’s then outstanding voting securities, and (b) not to sell Common Stock to a person that the Shareholder Party (i) knows has filed (or threatened to file) a proxy statement in opposition to the Issuer’s recommendations, nominees or proposals within a certain period of time prior the sale or (ii) has reasonable cause to believe intends to engage in a proxy campaign in opposition to the Issuer’s recommendations, nominees or proposals. The standstill obligations of the Shareholder Parties are subject to certain conditions and exceptions described in the Cooperation Agreement. Each Shareholder Party has agreed to the standstill restrictions from the date of the Cooperation Agreement until the termination of the Cooperation Agreement.
Termination. The Cooperation Agreement will be terminated as to a Shareholder Party upon the earliest to occur of (a) the Shareholder Party owns less than 2.5% of the Issuer’s then outstanding voting securities, (b) the New Director designated by the Shareholder Party is notre-nominated for election to the Board or is notre-elected at an annual meeting, (c) the Issuer’s breach of its obligations with respect to the Strategy and Expense Committee, and (d) the consummation of an Extraordinary Transaction (as defined in the Cooperation Agreement).
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