advised of the status of such action, suit or proceeding and the defense thereof (including the provision of copies of all pleadings, motions and communications) and shall consider in good faith recommendations made by the other party with respect thereto. The applicable Indemnified Parties shall not agree to any settlement of a Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Indemnifying Parties shall not agree to any settlement of a Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the applicable Indemnified Parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
stockholders of Target after the Closing Date for the purposes specified in this Agreement (including acting as a purchaser representative under Regulation D of the Securities Act, if necessary) and executing on behalf of such stockholders the Escrow Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
(b)Additional Powers and Authority. After the Closing, in addition to the matters set forth inSection 16(a) above, the Representatives will have authority and power to act on behalf of the stockholders of Target with respect to the disposition, settlement or other handling of the Escrow Shares and any disputes, claims or other proceedings arising following the Closing and the execution and delivery of any certificates, certifications, representation letters, or other documents required to be delivered by Target or the stockholders of Target pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including, without limitation, the Escrow Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement.
(c)Authority and Reliance by Parent. Target’s stockholders will be bound by all actions taken and documents executed by the Representatives in their capacity as such hereunder and under the Escrow Agreement, and Parent will be entitled to rely on any action or decision of the Representatives. All actions and decisions of the Representatives in their capacities as such shall require the approval of a majority of the Representatives.
(d)Limitation of Liability and Indemnification. In performing the functions specified in this Agreement, the Representatives will not be liable to Target’s stockholders, Parent or Sub in the absence of willful misconduct on the part of the Representatives. Target’s stockholders will severally indemnify the Representatives and hold them harmless against any loss, claim or liability (including defense costs) incurred without willful misconduct on the part of the Representatives and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of their duties hereunder.
(e)Compensation and Reimbursement. The Representatives will not be entitled to receive any compensation from Parent, Sub, Target or Target’s stockholders in connection with this Agreement. Any out-of-pocket costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Representatives in connection with actions taken by the Representatives under the terms of this Agreement (including the hiring of legal counsel and the incurring of legal fees and costs) will be paid by the Target’s stockholders (on a pro rata basis based on the number of shares of Parent Stock received by each of them pursuant to this Agreement) to the Representatives.
(f)Replacement. If any individual serving as a Representative dies, becomes unable to perform the responsibilities hereunder or resigns, a substitute representative will be appointed by the former stockholders of Target representing a majority of the consideration received by such stockholders pursuant to Sections 1.2(f), 1.2(g) and 1.2(h). A Representative may resign as a Representative hereunder, effective upon a new Representative being appointed in writing. The new Representative will provide notice to the Parent of the occurrence of such event.
(g)Binding Nature of Election. The provisions of thisSection 16 are independent and severable, will constitute an irrevocable power of attorney, coupled with an interest and surviving death, granted by each stockholder of Target to the Representatives and will be binding upon the executors, heirs, legal representatives and successors of each stockholder of Target.
17. Expenses.All expenses incurred by Target or any stockholder of Target in connection with the preparation and execution of this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any expenses of finders, brokers, attorneys or the like, shall be borne by Target or the stockholders of Target, as the case may be. All expenses incurred by Parent and Sub shall be borne by Parent.
18. Certain Definitions.As used herein the following terms not otherwise defined shall have the following respective meanings:
“Average Trading Price” shall mean an amount equal to the average of the closing price of the Parent Stock as quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market for the fifteen (15) trading days immediately preceding (i) the Effective Date in the case of the Closing Shares and (ii) the satisfaction of the applicable Milestone in the case of the Milestone Shares.
“Indebtedness”: (a) All indebtedness for borrowed money or other obligations, commitments or liabilities, whether current or long-term, contingent or matured, secured or unsecured, (b) all indebtedness of the deferred purchase price of property or services represented by a note or security agreement, (c) all indebtedness created or
29
arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default may be limited to repossession or sale of such property), (d) all indebtedness secured by a purchase money mortgage or other lien to secure all or part to the purchase price of property subject to such mortgage or lien, (e) all obligations under leases that have been or must be, in accordance with GAAP, recorded as capital leases in respect of which Target is liable as lessee, (f) any liability in respect of banker’s acceptances or letters of credit, and (g) all indebtedness of Target, the stockholders of Target or any other Person that is guaranteed by Target or that Target has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which Target has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.
“Intellectual Property”: all patents, patent applications, supplemental protection certificates, patent disclosures and inventions (whether or not patentable and whether or not reduced to practice), trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, corporate names, logos, slogans and Internet domain names, together with all goodwill associated with each of the foregoing, copyrights and copyrightable works, registrations, applications and renewals for any of the foregoing and proprietary computer software, including but not limited to data, data bases and documentation
“Person”: any natural person, entity, or association, including without limitation any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, government (or agency or subdivision thereof), trust, joint venture, or proprietorship.
“Principal Stockholders”: Affiliates of J.P. Morgan Partners, New Enterprise Associates and Venrock Associates who hold shares of Target Capital Stock as of the date hereof as reflected on Schedule 3.5(a).
“Securities Act”: shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
“Target Capital Stock”: shall mean, collectively, shares of Target’s (i) common stock, $0.001 par value per share, (ii) Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, (iii) Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, (iii) Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, and (iv) Series D Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share.
“Tax”: any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts, franchise, estimated, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, excise, natural resources, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profit, environmental, customs, duties, real property, personal property, capital stock, intangibles, social security, unemployment, disability, payroll, license, employee, or other tax or levy, of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalties, or additions to tax in respect of the foregoing.
“Tax Return”: any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return, or other document (including any related or supporting estimates, elections, schedules, statements, or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment, or collection of any Tax or the administration of any laws, regulations, or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.
19. Miscellaneous Provisions.
19.1Amendments.This Agreement may be amended prior to Closing only by written instrument stating that it is an amendment of this Agreement executed by Parent, Sub and Target and approved by the Boards of Directors of Parent, Sub and Target (i) in any manner and at any time prior to the first to occur of (A) submission for approval of this Agreement to the stockholders of Target and (B) submission for approval of this Agreement to the stockholders of Parent, and (ii) after the earliest such submission for approval, to extend the Closing Date and termination date referred to in Section 14 or to make other amendments which, in the opinion of the respective counsel for Parent and Target, do not substantially alter the terms hereof. This Agreement may be amended after the Closing only by written instrument executed by Parent and the Representatives.
19.2Notices and Representatives.Unless otherwise provided, any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given as hereinafter described (i) if given by personal delivery, then such notice shall be deemed given upon such delivery, (ii) if given by telecopier, then such notice shall be deemed given upon receipt of confirmation of complete transmittal, (iii) if given by mail, then such notice shall be deemed given upon the earlier of (A) receipt of such notice by the recipient or (B) three days after such notice is deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, and (iv) if given by an internationally recognized overnight air courier, then such notice shall be deemed given one business day after delivery to such carrier. Any party and any representative designated below may, by notice to the others, change its address for receiving such
30
notices. Prior to the Closing Date, Target agrees to forward any notices addressed to any of the stockholders of Target to such stockholder(s) at the address of record reflected in the books and records of Target.
Address for notices to Parent or Sub:
| | |
| Pharmos Corporation |
| 99 Wood Avenue South, Suite 311 |
| Iselin, New Jersey 08830 |
| Attn: Chief Executive Officer |
| Fax: | (732) 452-9557 |
| Phone: | (732) 452-9556 |
| |
| with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
| |
| Adam Eilenberg, Esq. |
| Eilenberg & Krause LLP |
| 11 East 44th Street |
| New York, New York 10017 |
| Fax: | (212) 986-2399 |
| Phone: | (212) 986-9700 |
| | |
Address for notices to Target: |
| | |
| Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
| 820 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300 |
| Ewing, New Jersey 08628 |
| Attention: Chief Executive Officer |
| Fax: | (609) 771-8661 |
| Phone: | (609) 771-8660 |
| |
| with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
|
| John E. Stoddard III |
| Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP |
| 105 College Road East, Suite 300 |
| Princeton, New Jersey 08542 |
| Fax: | (609) 799-7000 |
| Phone: | (609) 716-6500 |
| | |
Addresses for notices to the Representatives: |
| | |
| Srinivas Akkaraju |
| c/o J.P. Morgan Partners |
| 50 California Street, 29th Floor |
| San Francisco, CA 94111 |
| Fax: | (415) 591-1205 |
| Phone: | (415) 591-1200 |
31
| | |
| Anthony B. Evnin |
| c/o Venrock Associates |
| 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Room 5508 |
| New York, NY 10112 |
| Fax: | (212) 649-5788 |
| Phone: | (212) 649-5791 |
| | |
| Charles W. Newhall III |
| c/o New Enterprise Associates |
| 1119 St. Paul Street |
| Baltimore, MD 21202 |
| Fax: | (410) 752-7721 |
| Phone: | (410) 244-0115 |
| | |
| Robert F. Johnston |
| 181 Cherry Valley Road |
| Princeton, NJ 08540 |
| Fax: | (609) 924- |
| Phone: | (609) 924-3131 |
| | |
| Jeff Calcagno |
| c/o Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
| 820 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300 |
| Ewing, NJ 08628 |
| Fax: | (609) 771-8661 |
| Phone: | (609) 771-8660 |
| | |
| with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: |
| |
| John E. Stoddard III |
| Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP |
| 105 College Road East, Suite 300 |
| Princeton, New Jersey 08542 |
| Fax: | (609) 799-7000 |
| Phone: | (609) 716-6500 |
19.3Assignment and Benefits of Agreement.This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors, but may not be assigned without the written consent of the other parties to this Agreement. Except as aforesaid, nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any person other than the parties hereto (and the Representatives after the Closing Date) any rights under or by reason of this Agreement. In the event that Parent shall sell substantially all of its assets or capital stock or merge, reorganize or consolidate with or into any other corporation (or engage in any other similar transaction), then appropriate provision shall be made with respect to Parent’s obligation to issue the Milestone Shares.
19.4Governing Law.This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and rights of the parties shall be governed by, the internal laws of the State of New York (without reference to principles of conflicts or choice of law that would cause the application of the internal laws of any other jurisdiction).
19.5Submission to Jurisdiction; Waivers.PARENT, SUB, TARGET AND THE STOCKHOLDERS OF TARGET (BY APPROVAL OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
32
HEREBY), FOR ITSELF AND ON BEHALF OF ITS SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND TRANSFEREES, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY:
(i) SUBMITS FOR ITSELF AND ITS PROPERTY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR FOR RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT IN RESPECT THEREOF, TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE GENERAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA LOCATED IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND APPELLATE COURTS FROM ANY THEREOF;
(ii) CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE BROUGHT IN SUCH COURTS, AND WAIVES ANY OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT OR THAT SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING WAS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT COURT AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM THE SAME;
(iii) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE EFFECTED BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL), POSTAGE PREPAID, AT ITS ADDRESS AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 19.2 HEREOF OR AT SUCH OTHER ADDRESS AS IT SHALL HAVE NOTIFIED EACH OF THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO IN THE MANNER PROVIDED IN SECTION 19.2 HEREOF;
(iv) AGREES THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW; AND
(v) WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM THEREIN.
19.6Counterparts.This Agreement may be executed by the parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
19.7Section Headings.The headings of sections or subsections are for reference only and shall not limit or control the meaning thereof.
19.8Public Statements or Releases.The parties hereto each agree that no party to this Agreement shall make, issue or release any public announcement, statement or acknowledgment of the existence of, or reveal the status of, the transactions provided for herein, without first obtaining the consent of the other party hereto. Nothing contained in this Section 19.8 shall prevent any party from making such public announcements as such party may consider necessary in order to satisfy such party’s legal or contractual obligations.
[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]
33
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as an instrument under seal as of the date and year first above written.
| | | |
| PARENT: |
| | |
| PHARMOS CORPORATION |
| |
| By: | /s/ Haim Aviv |
| |
|
| | Name: | Haim Aviv |
| | Title: | Chairman and CEO |
| | | |
| SUB: |
| | | |
| VELA ACQUISITION CORPORATION |
| |
| By: | /s/ Haim Aviv |
| |
|
| | Name: | Haim Aviv |
| | Title: | Chairman and CEO |
| | | |
| TARGET: |
| | | |
| VELA PHARMACEUTICALS INC. |
| |
| By: | /s/ Jeff Calcagno M.D. |
| |
|
| | Name: | Jeff Calcagno, M.D. |
| | Title: | Chief Business Officer and Chief Financial Officer |
34
Exhibit A to Merger Agreement
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
OF
VELA PHARMACEUTICALS INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
INTO
VELA ACQUISITION CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
|
|
Pursuant to Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware |
|
|
Vela Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Sub”), does hereby certify as follows:
FIRST : Each of the constituent corporations, Sub and Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Target”), is a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
SECOND : An Agreement and Plan of Merger dated March 14, 2006 (the “Merger Agreement”) among Pharmos Corporation, a Nevada corporation, Sub and Target, setting forth the terms and conditions of the merger of Target with and into Sub (the “Merger”), has been approved, adopted, certified, executed and acknowledged by each of the constituent corporations in accordance with the requirements of Section 251 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
THIRD : That the name of the surviving corporation of the merger is Vela Acquisition Corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”)
FOURTH : That the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be the same as the Certificate of Incorporation of Vela Acquisition Corporation as on file with the Delaware Secretary of State immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger.
FIFTH: That an executed copy of the Merger Agreement is on file at the principal place of business of the Surviving Corporation at the following address: 99 Wood Avenue South, Suite 311, Iselin, New Jersey 08830.
SIXTH : That a copy of the Merger Agreement will be furnished by the Surviving Corporation upon request and without cost to any stockholder of any constituent corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Vela Acquisition Corporation has caused this Certificate to be executed by its President and attested by its Secretary this [____] day of [______], 2006.
| | |
| VELA ACQUISITION CORPORATION a Delaware corporation |
| | |
| By: | |
| |
|
| | Name: |
| | Title: President
|
ATTEST: | | |
| | |
| | |
Name: | | |
Secretary | | |
2
Exhibit B to Merger Agreement
ESCROW AGREEMENT
This Escrow Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of [_______], 2006 (the “Closing Date”) by and among Pharmos Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“Parent”), Vela Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Sub”), Srinivas Akkaraju, Anthony B. Evnin, Charles W. Newhall III, Robert F. Johnston and Jeff Calcagno as representatives (collectively, the “Representatives”) of the former stockholders of Vela Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”), [______], [_____] and [_____] (collectively, the “Indemnifying Stockholders”) and [___________], as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Parent, Sub, and the Company are parties to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 14, 2006 (the “Merger Agreement”) pursuant to which the Company’s former stockholders have received or shall receive shares of common stock, par value $0.03 per share, of Parent (“Parent Stock”);
WHEREAS, in connection with the closing on the date hereof of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Closing”), Parent has deposited an aggregate of 1,725,000 shares of Parent Stock (the “Escrow Shares”) into escrow with Escrow Agent, to be held by Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Escrow Agreement and the Merger Agreement pending the occurrence of certain events set forth herein and therein;
WHEREAS, the Escrow Shares are being held to secure claims by Parent Indemnified Parties for Damages under Section 15 of the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Representatives have been appointed and are authorized to act on behalf of the Company’s former stockholders pursuant to Section 16 of the Merger Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Escrow Agent is willing to serve in such capacity on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the aforesaid premises and the mutual covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.Unless otherwise defined herein, each capitalized term used in this Agreement shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Merger Agreement.
2. Appointment of Escrow Agent.Each of Parent, Sub, the Indemnifying Stockholders and the Representatives hereby appoints and designates the Escrow Agent as the Escrow Agent for the purposes and upon the terms set forth herein, and the Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act as the Escrow Agent hereunder for the purposes and upon the terms set forth herein.
3. Parent to Act on behalf of Affiliates.After the Closing, each of the parties hereto agree that the Parent shall have authority to settle all claims under this Agreement or the Merger Agreement on behalf of the Sub, or any of the affiliates of Parent or Sub. Unless the context otherwise requires, any references to Parent contained herein shall be deemed to be references to Parent and Sub, and each of their affiliates.
4. Deposit of Escrowed Shares.
(a) Escrow Fund.Parent has deposited with the Escrow Agent three stock certificates, each evidencing 575,000 shares of Parent Stock (an aggregate of 1,725,000 Escrow Shares), issued in the name of Escrow Agent or its nominee for the benefit of the Indemnifying Stockholders in accordance with their pro rata interests set forth onExhibit A. The Escrow Shares shall constitute an escrow fund (the “Escrow Fund”) with respect to claims for Damages by the Parent Indemnified Parties under the Merger Agreement. The Escrow Fund shall be held as a trust fund and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee process or any other judicial process of any creditor of any Indemnifying Stockholder or of any party hereto. The Escrow Agent agrees to accept delivery of the Escrow Fund and to hold the Escrow Shares in an escrow account (the “Escrow Account”), subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
(b)Voting of Escrow Shares. Each Indemnifying Stockholder shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to direct the Escrow Agent in writing as to the exercise of any voting rights pertaining to the Escrow Shares, and the Escrow Agent shall comply with any such written instructions. In the absence of written instructions from an Indemnifying Stockholder, the Escrow Agent shall not vote any of the Escrow Shares held for such Indemnifying Stockholder.
(c)Dividends, Etc.Parent and each of the Representatives agree among themselves, for the benefit of Parent and the Escrow Agent, that any securities or other property distributable in respect of or in exchange for any Escrow Shares as a result of a stock split or recapitalization shall not be distributed to the Indemnifying Stockholders, but rather shall be distributed to and held by the Escrow Agent in the Escrow Account. Ordinary cash dividends and dividends payable in shares of Parent Stock will be paid by Parent directly to the Indemnifying Stockholders in accordance with their pro rata interest in the Escrow Shares and not to the Escrow Agent. Unless and until the Escrow Agent shall actually receive such additional securities or other property, it may assume without inquiry that the Escrow Shares currently being held by it in the Escrow Account are all that the Escrow Agent is required to hold. At the time any Escrow Shares are required to be released from the Escrow Account to any person or entity (“Person”) pursuant to this Agreement, any securities or other property previously received by the Escrow Agent in respect of or in exchange for such Escrow Shares shall be released from the Escrow to such Person.
(d)Transferability. The interest of the Indemnifying Stockholders in the Escrow Shares shall not be assignable or transferable, other than by operation of law. Notice of any such assignment or transfer by operation of law shall be given to the Escrow Agent and the Parent, and no such assignment or transfer shall be valid until such notice is given.
5. Release Dates.Subject to Section 6 of this Agreement, (i) one-third of the Escrow Shares (the “First Shares”) shall be released to the Indemnifying Stockholders on the date which is six months after the Closing Date (the “Initial Release Date”), (ii) an additional one-third of the Escrow Shares (the “Second Shares”) shall be released to the Indemnifying Stockholders on the date which is twelve months after the Closing Date (the “Second Release Date”) and (iii) the remaining one-third of the Escrow Shares (the “Final Shares”) shall be released to the Indemnifying Stockholders on the date which is eighteen months after the Closing Date (the “Final Release Date” and, collectively with the First Release Date and the Second Release Date, the “Release Dates” and each singly a “Release Date”).
6. Administration of Escrow Account.Except as otherwise provided herein, the Escrow Agent shall administer the Escrow Account as follows:
(a) If, as of the Initial Release Date, the Escrow Agent has not received any Claim Notices (as hereinafter defined) pertaining to the Escrow Shares (or has received Claim Notices in aggregate amount less than the value of the First Shares as of the Initial Release Date), then the First Shares (or such portion thereof representing the excess of the value of the First Shares as of the Initial Release Date, over the aggregate amount of such Claim Notices) shall promptly (and in any event no later than 10 business days thereafter) be released and delivered to the Indemnifying Stockholders, in accordance with each Indemnifying Stockholder’s pro rata interest as set forth onExhibit A.
(b) If, as of the Second Release Date, the Escrow Agent has not received any Claim Notices pertaining to the Escrow Shares then held in escrow (or has received Claim Notices in aggregate amount less than the value of the Second Shares as of the Second Release Date), then the Second Shares (or such portion thereof representing the excess of the value of the Second Shares as of the Second Release Date, over the amount of such Claim Notices) shall promptly (and in any event no later than 10 business days thereafter) be released and delivered to the Indemnifying Stockholders, in accordance with each Indemnifying Stockholder’s pro rata interest as set forth onExhibitA.
(c) If, as of the Final Release Date, the Escrow Agent has not received any Claim Notices pertaining to the Escrow Shares then held in escrow (or has received Claim Notices in aggregate amount less than the value of the Final Shares as of the Final Release Date), then the Final Shares (or such portion thereof representing the excess of the value of the Final Shares as of the Final Release Date, over the amount of such Claim Notices) shall promptly (and in any event no later than 10 business days thereafter) be released and delivered to the
2
Indemnifying Stockholders, in accordance with each Indemnifying Stockholder’s pro rata interest as set forth onExhibitA.
(d) If, at any time prior to any of the respective Release Dates, Parent on its own behalf or on behalf of the Parent Indemnified Parties desires to make a claim for Damages against the Escrow Shares, then Parent shall, on or prior to a Release Date, deliver a written claim notice (a “Claim Notice”) to the Representatives and to the Escrow Agent. Such Claim Notice shall (i) state that Parent believes that it is entitled to all or any portion of the Escrow Shares; (ii) contain a brief description of the circumstances supporting such belief; and (iii) indicating the claimed amount of Damages and the number of Escrow Shares (valued as provided in Section 15.1(b) of the Merger Agreement) necessary to satisfy such indemnification claim (such shares, the “Damage Shares”). If the Representatives do not contest any portion of the claim described in a Claim Notice and all of such claim becomes an Uncontested Claim under Section 15.4(e) (i) of the Merger Agreement, Escrow Agent shall release the Damage Shares to Parent in satisfaction of such Uncontested Claim. If the Representatives contest all or any portion of a claim described in a Claim Notice and all or a portion of such claim becomes a Contested Claim under Section 15.4(e) (ii) of the Merger Agreement, Escrow Agent shall release Damage Shares that are the subject of a Claim Notice only after such Contested Claim has been resolved in accordance with Section 15.4(e) (ii) of the Merger Agreement.
(e) Anything to the contrary set forth herein notwithstanding, the Escrow Agent shall also release all or a portion of the Escrow Shares if the Escrow Agent receives joint written instructions executed by the Representatives, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, authorizing such release.
(f) Whenever the Escrow Agent shall release Escrow Shares from the Escrow Account for the account of the Indemnifying Stockholders, Escrow Agent shall instruct the transfer agent for Parent’s Common Stock to cancel such certificate and to divide the shares evidenced thereby in accordance with pro rata interests of the Indemnifying Stockholders as set forth onExhibit A hereto. Parent will take also such further actions that may be reasonably necessary to authorize the transfer agent to effectuate any such distribution of shares released from the Escrow Account to the Indemnifying Stockholders.
7. Escrow Agent Compensation.Except as hereinafter provided, the Escrow Agent shall be reimbursed for all actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred in performing the services required hereunder by Parent. The fees of the Escrow Agent and any replacement Escrow Agent shall be paid by Parent.
8. Limitation of Escrow Agent’s Liability.
(a) Except for Escrow Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, Escrow Agent shall not be responsible or liable in any manner whatsoever for the sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or validity of any instrument deposited with it, or any notice or demand given to it or for the form of execution of any such instrument, notice or demand or for the identification, authority or rights of any person executing, depositing or giving the same or for the terms and conditions of any instrument, pursuant to which the parties may act.
(b) Escrow Agent shall not have any duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and shall not incur any liability: (i) in acting upon any signature, notice, demand, request, waiver, consent, receipt or other paper or document reasonably believed by Escrow Agent to be genuine and Escrow Agent may assume that any person purporting to give it any notice on behalf of any party in accordance with the provisions hereof has been duly authorized to do so; or (ii) in otherwise acting or failing to act under this Agreement, except in the case of Escrow Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
(c)Escrow Agent shall not be bound by any modification, cancellation or rescission of this Agreement unless the same is in writing and signed by each of the other parties hereto and a copy thereof has been received by Escrow Agent.
(d) Escrow Agent has executed this Agreement for the sole purpose of agreeing to act as such in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(e) Subject to Section 7 hereof, Parent, on the one hand, and the Representatives, on the other hand, the parties hereto further agree to equally indemnify Escrow Agent from and against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities and expenses, including reasonable attorneys fees which may be asserted against it or to which it may be exposed or may incur by reason of its performance hereunder, except when such performance was grossly or willfully negligent.
3
9. Successor Escrow Agent.In the event the Escrow Agent becomes unavailable or unwilling to continue as escrow agent under this Agreement, the Escrow Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder by giving its written resignation to the parties to this Agreement. Such resignation shall take effect not less than 30 days after it is given to all parties hereto. Parent may appoint a successor Escrow Agent only with the consent of the Representatives (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). The Escrow Agent shall act in accordance with written instructions from Parent and the Representatives as to the transfer of the Escrow Fund to a successor escrow agent.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a)Notice.All notices hereunder shall be given in accordance with the notice provisions of the Merger Agreement. In addition, notices to Escrow Agent shall be addressed to it at:
In addition, notices to the Representatives shall be addressed to:
| | |
| Srinivas Akkaraju |
| c/o J.P. Morgan Partners |
| 50 California Street, 29th Floor |
| San Francisco, CA 94111 |
| Fax: | (415) 591-1205 |
| Phone: | (415) 591-1200 |
| |
| Anthony B. Evnin |
| c/o Venrock Associates |
| 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Room 5508 |
| New York, NY 10112 |
| Fax: | (212) 649-5788 |
| Phone: | (212) 649-5791 |
| |
| Charles W. Newhall III |
| c/o New Enterprise Associates |
| 1119 St. Paul Street |
| Baltimore, MD 21202 |
| Fax: | (410) 752-7721 |
| Phone: | (410) 244-0115 |
| |
| Robert F. Johnston |
| 181 Cherry Valley Road |
| Princeton, NJ 08540 |
| Fax: | (609) 924- |
| Phone: | (609) 924-3131 |
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| | |
| Jeff Calcagno |
| c/o Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc. |
| 820 Bear Tavern Road, Suite 300 |
| Ewing, NJ 08628 |
| Fax: | (609) 771-8661 |
| Phone: | (609) 771-8660 |
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
| | |
| John E. Stoddard III |
| Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP |
| 105 College Road East, Suite 300 |
| Princeton, New Jersey 08542 |
| Fax: | (609) 799-7000 |
| Phone: | (609) 716-6504 |
Notices to the Parent shall be addressed to:
| | |
| Pharmos Corporation |
| 99 Wood Avenue South, Suite 311 |
| Iselin, New Jersey 08830 |
| Attn: Chief Executive Officer |
| Fax: | (732) 452-9557 |
| Phone: | (732) 452-9556 |
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
| | |
| Adam Eilenberg, Esq. |
| Eilenberg & Krause LLP |
| 11 East 44th Street |
| New York, New York 10017 |
| Fax: | (212) 986-2399 |
| Phone: | (212) 986-9700 |
(b)Successors and Assigns.This Agreement shall be binding upon each of the parties hereto and each of their respective successors and assigns, if any. Except as provided in the next sentence, nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer, or shall be deemed to confer, any rights or remedies upon any person or entity other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of: the Representatives, the Indemnifying Stockholders, Parent, Escrow Agent and their respective successors and assigns, if any, of the foregoing.
(c)Amendments.This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented other than by means of a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf Parent, Sub, Escrow Agent, the Representatives and the Indemnifying Stockholders.
(d)Entire Agreement.This Agreement and the other agreements referred to herein set forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and understandings among or between any of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and thereof.
(e)Tax Reporting Information and Certification of Tax Identification Numbers.
(i) The parties hereto agree that, for tax reporting purposes, all dividends on or other income, if any, attributable to the Escrow Shares or any other amount held in escrow by the Escrow Agent pursuant
6
to this Agreement shall be allocable to the Indemnifying Stockholders in accordance with their respective pro rata interest set forth inExhibit A.
(ii) Parent agrees to, and the Representative agrees to cause each Indemnifying Stockholder to, provide the Escrow Agent with certified tax identification numbers for each of them by furnishing appropriate forms W-9 (or Forms W-8, in the case of non-U.S. persons) and other forms and documents that the Escrow Agent may reasonably request (collectively, “Tax Reporting Documentation”) to the Escrow Agent within 30 days after the date hereof. The parties hereto understand that, if such Tax Reporting Documentation is not so certified to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent may be required by the Internal Revenue Code, as it may be amended from time to time, to withhold a portion of any interest or other income earned on the investment of monies or other property held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
(f)Construction.
(i) For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires: the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include the masculine and feminine genders.
(ii) The parties hereto agree that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(iii) As used in this Agreement, the words “include” and “including,” and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(iv) This Agreement shall be construed pursuant to the laws of the State of New York in effect at the time of such construction without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.
(v) Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit or abridge the rights and obligations of Parent, Sub, the Company, the Representatives or the Indemnifying Stockholders under the Merger Agreement.
(g)Termination.This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest occurrence of any of the following events: (i) the written agreement of all parties hereto; or (ii) upon the delivery by Escrow Agent of all of the Escrow Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
(h)Incorporation.The preamble to this Agreement and all annexes, schedules and exhibits annexed hereto are incorporated herein by this reference as if set forth herein in their entirety.
(i)Severability.In the event any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not invalidate or render unenforceable any other provision of this Agreement and each and every other provision of this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect.
(j)Waiver of Breach.The waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach by any party.
(k)Section Headings. Section headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(l)Counterparts.This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts in which event all of said counterparts shall be deemed to constitute one original of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first above-written.
| | | | | | | |
PARENT | | REPRESENTATIVES | |
| | | |
Pharmos Corporation | | | |
By: | | | | |
|
| |
| |
Printed Name: | | Srinivas Akkaraju | |
Title: | | | |
| |
| |
| | Anthony B. Evnin | |
| | | |
| |
| |
| | Charles W. Newhall III | |
| | | |
| |
| |
| | Robert F. Johnston | |
| | | |
| |
| |
| | Jeff Calcagno | |
| | | |
SUB | | | |
| | ESCROW AGENT | |
Vela Acquisition Corp. | | [__________] | |
| | | |
By: | | | By: | | |
|
| | |
| |
Printed Name: | | Printed Name: | | |
| | |
| |
Title: | | Title: | | |
| | |
| |
| | | | | | | |
INDEMNIFYING STOCKHOLDERS | | | |
| | | |
[__________] | | | |
8
EXHIBIT A
LIST OF INDEMNIFYING STOCKHOLDERS
| | | | | |
Stockholder | | Escrowed Shares | | Stockholder’s Pro Rata Interest | |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
Total: | | | | 100.00% | |
| |
A-1
EXHIBIT C
TO MERGER AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Registration Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of[Closing Date], is made by and amongPHARMOS CORPORATION, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) and Srinivas Akkaraju, Anthony B. Evnin, Charles W. Newhall III, Robert F. Johnston and Jeff Calcagno (the “Representatives”), as representatives of (i) the stockholders (“Former Stockholders”) of Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Vela”) that become stockholders of the Company in accordance with the Merger Agreement (as hereinafter defined) and (ii) the participants (“Participants”) in Vela’s Acquisition Bonus Plan that become stockholders of the Company through the Merger; such Former Stockholders and Participants are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Stockholders”.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of March 14, 2006, by and among the Company, Vela Acquisition Corporation., a Delaware corporation, and Vela. For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below or elsewhere in this Agreement as referred to below:
“Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday in the State of New York.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
“Registrable Securities” shall mean, collectively, the Closing Shares issued to the Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement and, if hereafter issued under the Merger Agreement to the Stockholders, the Phase IIb Milestone Shares and the NDA Milestone Shares;provided,however, that with respect to any such shares of Parent Stock, such shares of Parent Stock shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (a) such shares of Parent Stock have been disposed of by the Stockholders thereof in a public distribution of securities effected pursuant to this Agreement, (b) such shares of Parent Stock become eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144(k) promulgated under the Securities Act (as hereinafter defined) or other provision of substantially similar effect, or (c) such shares of Parent Stock have ceased to be outstanding.
“Required Stockholders” shall mean, at the relevant time of reference thereto, those Stockholders holding, in the aggregate, fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and then held by all Stockholders.
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and in effect from time to time.
2. Registration and Sale.
(a)Mandatory Registration.
(i) Subject to the limitations set forth in this Section 2(a)(i) and in Sections 2(a)(ii) and (iii) and Section 7 below, the Company shall file, within seven days (the “Filing Date”) of the Effective Date, a registration statement on Form S-3 (or comparable or successor form) under the Securities Act, which shall be a “shelf registration” made pursuant to Rule 415 adopted pursuant to the Securities Act, and shall use its best efforts to cause all of the Registrable Securities to be registered for resale to the public thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, in the event the Commission notifies the Company that under the Securities Act it may only include the Closing Shares in the initial registration statement to be filed on the Filing Date, and not the Phase IIb Milestone Shares and the NDA Milestone Shares, the Company shall file, within seven days of the respective issuance dates of the Phase IIb Milestone Shares and the NDA Milestone Shares (if such Phase IIb Milestone Shares and NDA Milestone Shares are actually issued under the Merger Agreement), a registration statement on Form S-3 (or comparable or successor form) and shall use its best efforts to cause all the Phase IIb Milestone Shares and the NDA Milestone Shares to be
registered for resale to the public thereunder. If a separate registration statement for the Phase IIb Milestone Shares and the NDA Milestone Shares is required and the Company is not then eligible to use Form S-3, it will file the registration statement on Form S-1 or other available form and shall be required to make such filing no later than thirty (30) days after the issuance thereof.
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in Section 2(a)(i) above, the Company shall not be obligated to prepare or file any registration statement pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) hereof, or to prepare or file any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Stockholders agree that they shall not sell any Registrable Securities, at any time when the Company, in the good faith and reasonable judgment of its Board of Directors, and upon the advice of counsel, reasonably believes that the filing thereof at that time, or the offering or sale of Registrable Securities pursuant thereto, (a) would materially adversely affect a pending or proposed public offering of capital stock of the Company, or an acquisition, merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization or other transaction, or any negotiations, discussions or pending proposals with respect thereto, or (b) would require the disclosure of information that would have a material adverse effect on the Company, is likely to materially adversely affect the Company or any pending transaction or negotiations of the Company, or would constitute a violation of the Securities Act or any state or other applicable securities laws;provided,however, that the filing of a registration statement, or any supplement or amendment thereto, by the Company may be deferred pursuant to this Section 2(a)(ii), and the restrictions on the sale of Registrable Securities by the Stockholders shall be effective, only for the minimum period of time necessary under the circumstances, but not to exceed sixty (60) days and in any event no more than two deferrals shall be allowed in any twelve (12) month period. In the case of any such delay, the Company shall deliver to the Stockholders or the Representatives a written certificate of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer certifying that such delay is necessary in the good faith and reasonable judgment of the Company’s Board of Directors.
(iii) The Company shall be entitled to include in any registration statement filed or to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) above shares of the capital stock of the Company to be sold by the Company for its own account or for the account of any other stockholders of the Company except as and to the extent that, in the opinion of the managing underwriter (if such method of disposition shall be an underwritten public offering), such inclusion would adversely affect the marketing of the Registrable Securities to be sold.
(b)Piggyback Registration.
(i) If at any time or from time to time when any registration statement referred to in Section 2(a) is not effective, the Company shall determine to register any of its securities, for its own account or the account of any of its stockholders, other than a registration relating solely to employee share option plans or pursuant to an acquisition transaction on Form S-4, the Company will:
(A) provide to the Stockholders written notice thereof as soon as practicable prior to filing the registration statement; and
(B) include in such registration and in any underwriting involved therein, all of the Registrable Securities specified in a written request by the Stockholders made within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such written notice from the Company.
(ii) If the Registration is for a registered public offering involving an underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Stockholders as a part of the written notice given pursuant to this Section. In such event, the rights of the Stockholders hereunder shall include participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of the Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein. To the extent that a Stockholder proposes to distribute its securities through such underwriting, such Stockholder shall (together with the Company and any other securityholders of the Company distributing their securities through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, if the managing underwriter of such underwriting determines that marketing factors require a limitation of the number of shares to be offered in connection with such underwriting, the managing underwriter may limit the number of Registrable Securities to be included in the registration statement and underwriting (provided,however, that (a) the Registrable Securities shall not be excluded from such underwritten offering prior to any securities held by officers and directors of the Company or their affiliates, (b) the Registrable Securities shall be entitled to at least the same priority in an underwritten offering as any of the Company’s existing securityholders, and (c) the Company shall not enter into any agreement that would
2
provide any securityholder with priority in connection with an underwritten offering greater than the priority granted to the Stockholders hereunder). The Company shall so advise any of its other securityholders who are distributing their securities through such underwriting pursuant to their respective piggyback registration rights, and the number of shares of Registrable Securities and other securities that may be included in the registration and underwriting shall be allocated among the Stockholders and all other securityholders of the Company in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of Registrable Securities held by the Stockholders and such other securityholders at the time of the filing of the registration statement. If any Stockholder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, it may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company. Any Registrable Securities so excluded or withdrawn from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration statement.
(i) The Company shall not be required to give notice to the Stockholders in accordance with this Section 2(b) or include the Registrable Securities in any registration referred to in this Section 2(b) if the registration referred to in Section 2(a) hereof is effective.
(c)Eligibility for Form S-3. The Company represents and warrants that it currently meets all of the requirements for the use of Form S-3 for the registration of the sale by the Stockholders and any transferee who purchases the Registrable Securities, and the Company shall file all reports required to be filed by the Company with the Commission in a timely manner, and shall take such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such eligibility for the use of Form S-3.
3. Further Obligations of the Company. Whenever the Company is required to register Registrable Securities under this Agreement, it agrees that it shall also use its best efforts to do the following as expeditiously as commercially reasonable:
(a) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (or other applicable form, as determined by the Company) with respect to such Registrable Securities and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become and remain effective for a period of time required for the disposition of such Registrable Securities by the Stockholders thereof;provided,however, that such period shall not be longer than (i) the third anniversary of the Closing Date of the Merger in the case of the Closing Shares or (ii) the third anniversary of the respective issuance dates of the Phase IIb Milestone Shares and the NDA Milestone Shares, or, if less, the date on which the Registrable Securities may be sold under Rule 144(k) or any successor provision promulgated under the Securities Act having substantially similar effect, unless the Company otherwise agrees in its sole discretion;
(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for the applicable time period set forth in Section 3(a) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement in accordance with the sellers’ intended method of disposition set forth in such registration statement;
(c) furnish to each Stockholder offering Registrable Securities under such registration statement such number of copies of the registration statement and the prospectus included therein (including each preliminary prospectus) as such Stockholder may reasonably request;
(d) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as each Stockholder shall reasonably request unless an available exemption to such registration or qualification requirements is then available;provided that the Company shall not be obligated to register or qualify such Registrable Securities in any jurisdiction in which such registration or qualification would require the Company to qualify as a foreign corporation or file any general consent to service of process where it is not then so qualified or otherwise required to be qualified or has not theretofore so consented;
(e) timely file with the Commission such information as the Commission may prescribe under Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the public information requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act are satisfied with respect to the Company; and
(f) notify the Representatives promptly in writing (A) of any comments by the Commission with respect to such registration statement or prospectus, or any request by the Commission for the amending or
3
supplementing thereof or for additional information with respect thereto, (B) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement registering the Registrable Securities or their resale which is known to the Company or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose which are known to the Company and (C) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of such Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purposes;
(g) As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event, notify each Stockholder of the occurrence of any event of which the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in the registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and to use its best efforts to promptly prepare a supplement or amendment to the registration statement or other appropriate filing with the Commission to correct such untrue statement of omission, and to deliver a number of copies of such supplement or amendment to each Stockholder as such Stockholder may reasonably request; and
(h) If the offering is underwritten, at the request of a Stockholder, to furnish on the date that Registrable Securities are delivered to the underwriters for sale pursuant to such registration: (i) an opinion dated such date of counsel representing the Company for the purposes of such registration, addressed to the underwriters and to any Stockholder selling Registrable Securities in connection with such underwriting, stating that such registration statement has become effective under the Securities Act and that (A) to the best knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Securities Act and (B) the registration statement, the related prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereof comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act (except that such counsel need not express any opinion as to financial statements or other financial data contained therein) and (ii) a letter dated such date from the Company’s independent public accountants addressed to the underwriters and to such Stockholders, stating that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and that, in the opinion of such accountants, the financial statements of the Company included in the registration statement or the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act, and such letter shall additionally cover such other financial matters (including information as to the period ending no more than five (5) Business Days prior to the date of such letter) with respect to such registration as such underwriters may reasonably request.
4. Obligations of the Stockholders. In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities, the Stockholders shall have the following obligations:
(a) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement of the Registrable Securities of each Stockholder that such Stockholder shall furnish to the Company in writing such information regarding itself, the Registrable Securities held by it, and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable Securities held by it, as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration of such Registrable Securities, and such Stockholder shall execute such documents in connection with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5) days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the registration statement, the Company shall notify such Stockholder of the information the Company requires from such Stockholder (the “Requested Information”) if such Stockholder elects to have any of its Registrable Securities included in the registration statement. If, at least two (2) business days prior to the filing date, the Company has not received the Requested Information from a Stockholder, then the Company may file the registration statement without including the Registrable Securities of such Stockholder.
(b) The Stockholder, by such Stockholder’s acceptance of the Registrable Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any registration statement hereunder, unless such Stockholder has notified the Company in writing of such Stockholder’s election to exclude all of such Stockholder’s Registrable Securities from such registration statement.
(c) Each Stockholder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Sections 2(a)(ii), 3(f) or 3(g) above, such Stockholder will immediately discontinue disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities
4
until such copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Sections 2(a)(ii), 3(f) or 3(g) shall be furnished to such Stockholder.
(d) If the offering is underwritten, at the request of the managing underwriters, each Stockholder or his permitted assignee holding more than one percent (1%) of the Company’s voting securities shall agree not to sell or otherwise transfer or dispose of any Registrable Securities of the Company held by such Stockholder (other than those included in the registration) for a period specified by the underwriters not to exceed ninety (90) days following the effective date of the registration statement, provided that all officers and directors of the Company and holders of at least one percent (1%) of the Company’s voting securities enter into similar agreements. The obligations described in this Section 4(d) shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee share option plans or an acquisition transaction registered on Form S-4.
(e) Each Stockholder shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to expedite and facilitate the disposition by the Stockholder of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement.
5. Expenses. All expenses incurred by the Company in complying with its obligations under this Agreement shall be paid by the Company, except that the Company shall not be liable for any fees, discounts or commissions to any underwriter or any fees or disbursements of counsel for any Stockholder, in either case in respect of the Registrable Securities sold by any Stockholders.
6. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a)Indemnification by the Company. If any Registrable Securities are registered for resale under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Stockholder of such Registrable Securities and such Stockholder’s directors, officers, employees and agents, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, joint or several, to which such Stockholder or any such director, officer, employee or agent may become subject under the Securities Act or any other statute or at common law, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement of any material fact contained, on the effective date thereof, in any registration statement under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the Securities Act or any final prospectus contained therein (in each case as amended or supplemented, including without limitation, any update pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act), provided that such final prospectus was used to effect a sale by such Stockholder. (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or, with respect to any prospectus, necessary to make the statements therein in light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (iii) any violation by the Company of the Securities Act or state securities or blue sky laws applicable to the Company and relating to any action or inaction required of the Company in connection with such registration or qualification under such state securities or blue sky laws;provided,however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or any omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, final prospectus, or amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Stockholder specifically for use in such registration statement, prospectus, or amendment or supplement. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Stockholder or such director, officer, employee or agent.
(b)Stockholders’ Indemnification. In connection with any registration statement in which a Stockholder is participating, each such Stockholder will furnish to the Company such information as shall reasonably be requested by the Company for use in any such registration statement or prospectus and shall severally, and not jointly, indemnify, to the extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, employees and agents against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (under the Securities Act, at common law or otherwise), insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained on the effective date thereof in any registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act, or any final prospectus included therein (in each case as amended or supplemented, including without limitation, any update pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act), but only to the extent that such untrue statement of a material fact is contained in, or such material fact is omitted from, written information furnished by such Stockholder, specifically for use in such registration statement or prospectus;provided,however, that the obligations of such Stockholders hereunder shall be limited to an amount equal to the proceeds to each Stockholder of Registrable Securities sold in connection with such registration.
5
(c)Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof (an “Indemnification Notice”), but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party unless the indemnifying party is materially and adversely affected thereby. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 6(c) for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel at its expense unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party or (ii) the attorneys for the indemnifying party shall have concluded that there are defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party and such counsel reasonably concludes that it is therefore unable to represent the interests of both the indemnified and indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party may employ separate counsel). In no event shall the indemnifying party be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel separate from its own counsel.
(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution to joint liability under the Securities Act in any case in which either (i) any holder of Registrable Securities exercising rights under this Agreement, or any controlling person of any such holder, makes a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Section 6 but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 6 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Securities Act may be required on the part of any such selling holder or any such controlling person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 6; then, and in each such case, the Company and such holder will contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after contribution from others) in such proportion so that such holder is responsible for the portion represented by the percentage that the public offering price of its Registrable Securities offered by the registration statement bears to the public offering price of all securities offered by such registration statement, and the Company is responsible for the remaining portion; provided, however, that, in any such case, (A) no such holder will be required to contribute any amount in excess of the net proceeds received by such holder from the sale of such Registrable Securities offered by it pursuant to such registration statement; and (B) no person or entity guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person or entity who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
7. Restrictions on Dispositions of Parent Stock.
(a) For a period of six months commencing on the Effective Date (the “Initial Lock-up”) no Stockholder may (i) offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, transfer, pledge, assign, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition as effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise) by any Stockholder or any affiliate of any Stockholder or any person in privity with any Stockholder or any affiliate of any Stockholder) directly or indirectly any shares of Parent Stock or any options, warrants or other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such Parent Stock or (ii) engage in any transaction, whether or not with respect to any shares of Parent Stock or any interest therein, the intent or effect of which is to reduce the risk of owning such shares (including, by way of example and not limitation, engaging in put, call, short-sale, straddle or similar market transactions).
(b) Subject to applicable securities laws, commencing at the expiration of the Initial Lock-up, each Stockholder may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of up to one-third of such Stockholder’s Parent Stock without violating the provisions of Section 7(a) hereof.
(c) Subject to applicable securities laws, commencing six months after the expiration of the Initial Lock-up, each Stockholder may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of up to two-thirds of such Stockholder’s Parent Stock without violating the provisions of Section 7(a) hereof.
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(d) Subject to applicable securities laws, commencing twelve months after the expiration of the Initial Lock-up, each Stockholder may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or any of such Stockholder’s Parent Stock without violating the provisions of Section 7(a) hereof.
(e) In addition to applicable securities law requirements, all shares of Parent Stock subject to the provisions of this Section shall, until the expiration of the stated time periods, bear a legend substantially as follows:
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| “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THAT CERTAIN REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, DATED [________ ___,] 2006, BY AND AMONG THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, PHARMOS CORPORATION AND CERTAIN OTHER STOCKHOLDERS OF PHARMOS CORPORATION, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE INSPECTED BY THE HOLDER OF THE CERTIFICATE AT THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF PHARMOS CORPORATION OR FURNISHED BY PHARMOS CORPORATION TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE UPON WRITTEN REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE.” |
8. Miscellaneous.
(a)Notices. All notices and other communications pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing, either hand delivered or sent by certified or registered mail with charges prepaid or by commercial courier guaranteeing next business day delivery, or sent by telecopier, and shall be addressed:
(i) in the case of the Company, to the Company at its principal office set forth in the Merger Agreement; and
(ii) in the case of a Stockholder, to the address provided by such Stockholder to the Company.
Any notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been duly given or made and to have become effective (i) when delivered in hand to the party to which it was directed, (ii) if sent by telecopier and properly addressed in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(a), when received by the addressee, (iii) if sent by commercial courier guaranteeing next business day delivery, on the business day following the date of delivery to such courier, or (iv) if sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid, and properly addressed in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(a), (A) when received by the addressee, or (B) on the third business day following the day of dispatch thereof, whichever of (A) or (B) shall be the earlier.
(b)Assignment. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon each Stockholder and its, his or her heirs and successors. The Stockholders’ rights and obligations and each Stockholder’s rights and obligations under this Agreement may only be assigned or delegated if each Stockholder’s Registrable Securities are assigned to the same party to which the rights hereunder are assigned or delegated, and such assignment of Registrable Securities is not in violation of the Securities Act or any state securities laws as set forth in the written opinion of counsel to such Stockholder, reasonably satisfactory to the Company. The Company’s rights and obligations under this Agreement shall not be assigned or delegated.
(c)Amendment and Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and by the Required Stockholders. Any Stockholder may waive any of its, his or her rights under this Agreement (including, without limitation, such Stockholder’s right to cause any other Person to comply with such other Person’s obligations under this Agreement) only by an instrument in writing signed by such Stockholder;provided,however, that (i) any rights under this Agreement which inure to the benefit of any and all Stockholders (including, without limitation, the right of any and all Stockholders to cause any other Person to comply with such other Person’s obligations under this Agreement) may be waived on behalf of any and all Stockholders by an instrument in writing signed by the Required Stockholders. Any waiver, pursuant to this Subsection 9(c), of a breach of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach.
(d)Governing Law; Headings. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of law provisions of such state. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
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(e)Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement 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.
(f)Entire Agreement. This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein and therein.
(g)Gender and Number. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used herein shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the plural form of names, defined terms, nouns and pronouns shall include the singular and vice-versa.
(h)Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SIGNATURE PAGE – PHARMOS
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Representatives have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
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| PHARMOS CORPORATION |
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
SIGNATURE PAGE – REPRESENTATIVES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Representatives have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
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| Srinivas Akkaraju |
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| Anthony B. Evnin |
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| Charles W. Newhall III |
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| Robert F. Johnston |
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| Jeff Calcagno |
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| Exhibit D to Merger Agreement |
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| [_________], 2006 |
Pharmos Corporation
99 Wood Avenue South, Suite 311
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
Gentlemen:
In accordance with an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of March 14, 2006, by and among Pharmos Corporation (the “Company”), Vela Acquisition Corporation, Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc., the undersigned Stockholder (the “Stockholder”) has acquired certain shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.03 per share (“Common Stock”).
I. Standstill.
In connection with the Stockholder’s acquisition of the Company’s Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Stockholder hereby agrees that, for a period of two (2) years from the date hereof, it will not, directly or indirectly (whether through or with an Affiliate (as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or as part of a Group (as defined Section 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act)), acquire or offer, make a proposal or agree to acquire (whether publicly or otherwise), in any manner, any material assets of the Company or its subsidiaries, or any securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company, or any direct or indirect rights or options or warrants to acquire any such securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such securities, whether or not such securities are so convertible, exercisable or exchangeable at the time of determination (“Voting Securities”) of the Company, except pursuant to the Merger Agreement or in connection with a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification or similar transaction. If the Stockholder or any of its Affiliates owns or acquires any Voting Securities in violation of this Letter Agreement, such Voting Securities shall immediately be disposed of to persons who are not Affiliates of the Stockholder;provided, however, that the Company may also pursue any other available remedy to which it may be entitled as a result of such violation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Stockholder may acquire additional equity securities of the Company including, without limitation, Voting Securities (i) upon the prior approval of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, or (ii) in connection with a direct issuance by the Company in an amount necessary to maintain its percentage equity interest in the Company or in such greater amount as may be agreed to by the Board.
II. Representations.
The Stockholder hereby represents that, based on information contained in the Parent Reports and the 2005 Parent Report (as such terms are defined in the Merger Agreement) and such other information provided by, and obtained through discussions with, the Company’s executive officers and directors, it has no present intention to:
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| a) | make or in any way propose or participate in any “solicitation” of “proxies” to vote (as such terms are defined in Rule 14a-1 under the Exchange Act), solicit any consent or communicate with or seek to advise or influence any individual, partnership (general or limited), joint venture, corporation, trust, estate, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or other entity and governmental body, government or other department or agency thereof (each a “Person”), other than the Company, with respect to the solicitation or voting of any Voting Stock of the Company in opposition to any matter that has been recommended by the Board or in favor of any matter that has been disapproved by the Board, or participate in any solicitation with respect to the election or removal of members of the Board except pursuant to this Agreement; |
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| b) | form, or be a member of, any Group with respect to the voting or acquisition of any Voting Securities of the Company or the acquisition of any assets of the Company; |
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| c) | grant any proxy or power of attorney with respect to any Voting Stock of the Company, deposit any Voting Stock of the Company into a voting trust, or subject any such Voting Stock to any arrangement or agreement with respect to the voting thereof; |
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| d) | seek election to or seek to place a representative on the Board (except as provided by the Merger Agreement), seek the removal of any member of the Board, or vote against the slate of directors nominated by the Board for election at the Company’s 2006 annual meeting of stockholders; |
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| e) | call or seek to have called any meeting of the stockholders of the Company other than in connection with the participation of the Stockholder’s representative as a as a director of the Company in calling, or seeking to have called, meetings of stockholders generally; |
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| f) | without the prior consent of the Board, (i) solicit, seek to effect, negotiate with or provide any information to any other party, or otherwise make any public announcement or proposal whatsoever, with respect to: (v) a merger or acquisition of the Company, (w) the sale of all or a substantial portion of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, (x) the liquidation of the Company, (y) a recapitalization of the Company or (z) any similar business transaction with respect to the Company; or (ii) take any action that might require any Person to make a public announcement with respect to any such matters; or |
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| g) | without the prior consent of the Board, instigate, encourage or assist, or enter into any discussions or arrangements with, any Person or Group to do any of the actions described in (a) through (f) above. |
The preceding representations are an expression of the Stockholder’s present intent with respect to the subject matter thereof, and the Stockholder expressly reserves the right to act after the date hereof in any manner that is not inconsistent with reasonable business practices and its interests as a stockholder of the Company.
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| | Very truly yours, |
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| | [Insert Name of Principal Stockholder] |
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Acknowledged and Agreed to: | | | |
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Pharmos Corporation | | | |
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APPENDIX B
March 14, 2006
The Board of Directors
Pharmos Corporation
99 Wood Avenue South, Suite 311
Iselin, NJ 08830
Members of the Board of Directors:
You have requested our opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Pharmos Corporation, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), of the consideration to be paid by the Company pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement”), dated as of March 10, 2006, by and among the Company, Vela Acquisition Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Sub”), and Vela Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Target”). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings used in the Agreement unless otherwise defined herein.
Pursuant to the Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, Target will, pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (as amended from time to time, the “the DGCL”), be merged with and into the Sub (the “Merger”), and the separate corporate existence of Target shall thereupon cease, in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL. Under the terms of the Agreement, at the Effective Time of the Merger, the Company will pay, or be contractually obligated to pay in the future, aggregate consideration of (i) 11,500,000 shares of common stock of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and US$5,000,000 in cash, (ii) an additional 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock upon successful completion of a Phase IIb clinical trial of the Target’s compound dextofisopam pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and (iii) an additional 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock upon filing of an NDA for dextofisopam pursuant to the terms of the Agreement (collectively, the “Merger Consideration”) in exchange for all outstanding securities of the Target and the conversion and cancellation of all outstanding debt of the Target. The terms and conditions of the Merger are set forth more fully in the Agreement.
The Agreement provides that the shareholders of the Target will be entitled to dissenters’ rights in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL. However, this opinion assumes that no shareholder of the Target will receive consideration in excess of his or her pro rata share of the Merger Consideration as contemplated under the Agreement.
RBC Capital Markets Corporation (“RBC”), as part of its investment banking services, is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements, and valuations for corporate and other purposes.
Tamir Fishman & Co. LTD. (“TF”), RBC’s strategic partner in Israel, performs various investment banking services, including mergers and acquisitions, underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for businesses, their securities and other purposes.
This fairness opinion was prepared by RBC and TF. The review and inquiry of such documents, materials and the performance of such acts as we deemed necessary or appropriate for providing this opinion, as described below, were made by RBC and/or TF. RBC and TF are acting as financial advisors to the Company in connection with the Merger. We will receive a fee for providing this opinion. The opinion fee is not contingent upon the consummation of the Merger. We are also entitled to an additional fee in the event of consummation of the Merger. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify us for certain liabilities arising out of our engagement. In the ordinary course of business, RBC may act as a market maker and broker in the publicly traded securities of the Company and receive customary compensation in connection therewith, and RBC and TF may also actively trade securities of the Company for its own account and the accounts of its customers, and, accordingly, may hold a long or short position in such securities. We are also currently in discussions with the Company concerning providing potential financing in the future.
In connection with our review of the Merger, and in connection with the preparation of our opinion, we have undertaken such review and inquiries as we deemed necessary or appropriate under the circumstances, including the following: (i) we reviewed the financial terms of the Agreement dated as of March 10, 2006 (the “Execution
The Board of Directors Pharmos Corporation
March 14, 2006
Page 2 of 3
Copy”); (ii) we reviewed the audited financial statements of the Target as of and for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the unaudited financial statements of the Target for the year ended December 31, 2005; (iii) we reviewed and analyzed certain publicly available data with respect to the Company and the Target and certain other historical operating data relating to the Target made available to us from the internal records of the Target; (iv) we received and reviewed a financial forecast of dextophisopam on a stand-alone basis prepared by an independent third party and provided by the Target’s management; (v) we conducted discussions with members of the senior management of the Company with respect to the business prospects and financial outlook of the Target, on a stand alone and pro forma basis; (vi) we conducted discussions with members of the senior management of the Target with respect to the business prospects and financial outlook of the Target, on a stand alone and pro forma basis; (vii) we conducted discussions with SG Cowen & Co., LLC with respect to the financial statements, business prospects and financial outlook of the Target and the Company; (viii) we reviewed the historical market prices and trading volume of the Company’s publicly traded securities; (ix) we reviewed analysts estimates and commentary on the valuation of the Company’s publicly traded securities; and (x) we performed other studies and analyses as we deemed appropriate. We have not been provided with historical financial statements or other historical financial information of the Target for any period ending after December 31, 2005, and our opinion does not take into account any such financial statements or other financial information.
In arriving at our opinion, we performed the following analyses in addition to the review and inquiries referred to in the preceding paragraph: (i) we compared market valuations of selected comparable publicly-traded companies of the Target with the valuation implied by the Merger Consideration; (ii) we compared venture financing valuations of selected comparable private companies of the Target with the valuation implied by the Merger Consideration; (iii) we compared the implied valuation of the Target following its most recent venture financing round with the valuation implied by the Merger Consideration; (iv) we compared the initial consideration paid and total valuation implied, to the extent publicly available, of selected comparable precedent transactions with the valuation implied by the Merger Consideration; and (v) we prepared a discounted cash flow analysis using the projections provided by members of the senior management of the Company.
In arriving at our opinion, we did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor considered by us, but instead made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor.
Accordingly, we believe that our analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of our analyses, without considering all analyses, would create an incomplete view of the process underlying this opinion.
In rendering our opinion, we have assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the financial, legal, tax, operating, and other information provided to us by the Company and the Target (including, without limitation, the financial statements and related notes thereto of the Company and the Target), and have not assumed responsibility for independently verifying and have not independently verified such information. We have relied upon, without independent verification, the scientific due diligence evaluation of the Target by the Company. We have assumed that (a) the projections of the future financial performance of the Company and the Target have been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and good faith judgments of the Company and the Target, respectively, (b) all adjustments made by members of the senior management of the Company to the projections of the future financial performance of the Target were reasonable and based on the good faith judgments of such members of management, and (c) the Company and the Target will perform substantially in accordance with their respective financial forecasts. We express no opinion as to any aspect of the projections of future financial performance provided by the Company or the Target.
In rendering our opinion, we have not assumed any responsibility to perform, and have not performed, an independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the respective assets or liabilities of the Company or the Target. In addition, we have not assumed any obligation to conduct, and have not conducted, any physical inspection of the property or facilities of the Company or the Target. Additionally, we have not been asked and did not consider the possible effects of any litigation or other legal claims related to the Company or the Target. Our opinion relates to the Company and the Target as going concerns and, accordingly, we express no opinion regarding the liquidation value of the Company or the Target.
The Board of Directors Pharmos Corporation
March 14, 2006
Page 3 of 3
We have assumed, in all respects material to our analysis, that the representations and warranties of each party contained in the Agreement are true and correct, that each party will perform all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by it under the Agreement, and that all conditions to the consummation of the Merger will be satisfied without waiver thereof. We have assumed that (i) the executed version of the Agreement will not differ from and (ii) that nothing in the disclosure schedules or the exhibits will be inconsistent with, the Execution Copy, in each case, in any respect material to our opinion. In addition, we have relied upon the Company and the Target to advise us promptly if any information previously provided to us became inaccurate or was required to be updated during the period of our review.
Our opinion speaks only as of the date hereof, is based on the conditions as they exist and information which we have been supplied as of the date hereof, and is without regard to any market, economic, financial, legal, or other circumstances or event of any kind or nature which may exist or occur after such date. We have not undertaken to reaffirm or revise this opinion or otherwise comment upon any events occurring after the date hereof and do not have any obligation to update, revise or affirm this opinion.
Our advisory services and the opinion expressed herein are for the information and assistance of the Board of Directors of the Company in connection with its consideration of the Merger contemplated by the Agreement and such opinion does not constitute a recommendation as to how any holder of Common Stock should vote with respect to the Merger. Further, this letter should not be construed as creating any fiduciary duty on the part of RBC and TF to any shareholder of the Company. This opinion shall not be otherwise relied upon, published or otherwise used (in whole or in part), nor shall any public references to RBC and TF be made, without our prior written consent. If required by applicable law, the opinion may be included in any disclosure document filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, provided that this opinion is reproduced in full and any description of or reference to RBC and TF or summary of this opinion and related analyses in such filing is acceptable to us and our counsel.
Our opinion does not address the merits of the underlying decision by the Company to engage in the Merger, the structure or tax consequences of the Merger, or the relative merits of the Merger compared to any alternative business strategy or transactions in which the Company might engage.
Our opinion addresses solely the fairness of the Merger Consideration payable pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, from a financial point of view, to the Company as of the date hereof. Our opinion does not in any way address other terms or arrangements relating to the Merger or the Agreement, including without limitation, the financial or other terms of any voting or employment agreements or any break-up or termination fee. We are not expressing any opinion herein as to the prices at which the Common Stock has traded or may trade following the announcement of the Merger or at any time that any contingent portion of the Merger Consideration may be paid.
Based on our experience as investment bankers and subject to the foregoing, including the various assumptions and limitations set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Merger Consideration proposed to be paid by the Company in the Merger pursuant to the terms of the Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company.
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| Very truly yours, |
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| RBC CAPITAL MARKETS CORPORATION |
| TAMIR FISHMAN & CO. LTD. |
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-3 (Nos. 33-68762, 33-74638, 33-86720, 33-91918, 33-93466, 33-64289, 333-15165, 333-26155, 333-46818, 333-47359, 333-62909, 333-80813, 333-82046, 333-106344, 333-109946 and 333-110578) and Form S-8 (Nos. 333-38373, 333-64312, 333-96435, 333-92130, 333-97749 and 333-118784) of Pharmos Corporation of our report dated March 15, 2006 relating to the financial statements of Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc. as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 and the years then ended and the period from February 4, 1998 (inception) to December 31, 2005 included in this Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A of Pharmos Corporation.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Metro Park, New Jersey
June 29, 2006
PHARMOS CORPORATION
99 Wood Avenue South - Suite 311
Iselin, New Jersey 08830
(732) 452-9556
PROXY SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Special Meeting of Shareholders – ___________, 2006
The undersigned, as shareholder of Pharmos Corporation (the “Company”), hereby appoints Haim Aviv and Alan L. Rubino and each of them, with full power of substitution, the true and lawful proxies and attorneys in fact of the undersigned, to vote, as designated on the reverse side of this proxy card, the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, as fully and with the same effect as the undersigned might do if personally present, at the Special Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to be held at [______________] on ____________, 2006 at [__________________________], and any adjournments thereof on the following matters as set forth in the Proxy Statement and Notice dated ___________, 2006.
(To be Signed on Reverse Side)
x Please mark your votes as in this example.
The board of directors recommends a vote “FOR” the following items:
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1. Issuance of up to 19,500,000 shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition by the Company of Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc. | | FOR o | | AGAINST o | | ABSTAIN o |
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2. The grant of discretionary authority to the persons named as proxies to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies to approve the proposal to issue up to 19,500,000 shares of common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition by the Company of Vela Pharmaceuticals Inc.
| | FOR o | | AGAINST o | | ABSTAIN o |
3. In the discretion of such proxies upon all other matters which may properly come before the Special Meeting.
This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed herein by the undersigned shareholder. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted for the proposals listed above and, in the discretion of the proxies named, on such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting.
This proxy is revocable at any time, and the undersigned reserves the right to attend the Special Meeting and vote in person. The undersigned hereby revokes any proxy heretofore given in respect of the shares of the Company.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES THAT YOU FILL IN, SIGN AND DATE THE PROXY AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY BY MAIL IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE IS NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
CORRECT ADDRESS IF NECESSARY
Signature(s)
Date
Note: Please sign exactly as name(s) appear on your Stock Certificate. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If more than one name is shown, as in the case of joint tenancy, each party must sign. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by the president or other authorized officer.