BioCheck. In June 2019, the Company entered into a one-year agreement primarily for the sublease of certain office and lab space with BioCheck Inc. (“BioCheck”) in the amount of $60,000 ($5,000 a month), which is classified as an operating lease. Transactions with BioCheck are considered to be related party transactions because the Company’s Chairman and CEO is also the Chairman of BioCheck. Transactions with ETP, parent of BioCheck, and a more than 5% shareholder of the Company, are also considered to be related party transactions because Dr. Wei-Wu He is also the chairman of ETP.
Because the Company required additional office space, in January 2020, the agreement was amended for annualized rents in the amount of $144,000 ($12,000 a month) with a stipulation that the new rent was retroactive to October 1, 2019. The lease expired on June 9, 2021 and was not renewed. During the six months ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized rent expense of $60,000 and $72,000, respectively.
March 2021 Underwritten Public Offering Transactions. On March 26, 2021, the Company closed an underwritten public offering of 15,853,658 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Offering”) at a price to the public of $2.05 per share. The gross proceeds to CASI from the Offering were $32.5 million before deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by CASI.
ETP Global Fund L.P. (“ETP Global”), whose founding and managing member is CASI's Chairman and CEO, purchased shares of common stock in the Offering at the public offering price and on the same terms as the other purchasers in the Offering. ETP Global, which is a current shareholder of CASI, purchased 3,000,000 shares at the public offering price of $2.05 per share for a total of $6.15 million.
18. Commitments
In conjunction with the Cleave agreement entered into during 2021 (see Note 2), the Company is responsible for certain milestone and royalty payments. As of June 30, 2021, 0 milestones have been achieved.
In conjunction with the BioInvent agreement entered into during 2020 (see Note 2), the Company is responsible for certain milestone and royalty payments. As of June 30, 2021, 0 milestones have been achieved.
In conjunction with the Black Belt agreement entered into during 2019 (see Note 2), the Company is responsible for certain milestone and royalty payments. In June, 2021, the Company achieved the First-Patient-In (FPI) in the Phase 1 dose escalation and expansion study of CID-103, and made $750,000 milestone payment with remaining 250,000 euros($305,000) accrued. As of June 30, 2021, 0 other milestones have been achieved.
In conjunction with the Pharmathen agreement entered into during 2019 (see Note 2), the Company is responsible for 1 remaining milestone payment. As of June 30, 2021, the remaining milestone has not been achieved.
In conjunction with the Laurus Labs agreement entered into during 2018, the Company is responsible for certain remaining milestone payments. As of June 30, 2021, the remaining milestones have not been met.
In November 2019, CASI Wuxi entered into a lease agreement for the right to use state-owned land in China for the construction of a manufacturing facility. On August 27, 2020, CASI Wuxi entered into a Construction Project Contract (the "Construction Contract") with China Electronic System Engineering No. 2 Construction Co., Ltd. ("China Engineering"). Pursuant to the Construction Contract, CASI Wuxi will pay a contract price of RMB 74,588,000 (equivalent to $10,923,000) to retain China Engineering to complete the phase 1 project of CASI Wuxi's research and development production base, consisting of construction and installation of a combined factory building, warehouse, guard house and public works. As of June 30, 2021, commission outstanding under the Construction Contract was RMB 66,688,000 ($10,320,000). The estimated completion date is October 2023.
In April 2021, CASI Wuxi entered into a Freeze dryer and filling line equipments production agreement with Shanghai Dong Fu Long Technology Limited Co. in the total amount of RMB15,500,000 (equivalent to $2,400,000). The company paid the deposit of RMB 4,650,000 ($720,000). As of June 30, 2021, the remaining RMB10,850,000 ($1,680,000) has not been paid. RMB4,650,000 ($720,000) will be due when CASI obtains quality acceptance approval , another RMB4,650,000 ($720,000) due when CASI obtains acceptance report (SAT report), and last RMB1,550,000 ($240,000) due when CASI receives guarantee from the bank.