UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): August 18, 2022

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

305 Madison Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (646) 747-1000

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On August 18, 2022, Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into privately-negotiated agreements (the “Exchange Agreements”) with a limited number of existing holders (the “Exchange Participants”) of the Company’s 3.50% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”).

These holders are institutional “accredited investors” (within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) and/or “qualified institutional buyers” (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act).

The parties agreed to exchange (the “Exchange”) approximately $327.9 million aggregate principal amount of the Exchange Participants’ existing 2026 Notes for $222.0 million in cash and 9,358,269 shares of newly issued common stock, par value $0.001 per share (equivalent to $184.4 million at the Company’s closing stock price of $19.70 on August 18, 2022), for total consideration of $406.4 million.

The Exchange is expected to close on or around August 25, 2022, subject to customary closing conditions.

The foregoing description of the Exchange Agreements does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of the Exchange Agreements, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.01.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

As described above, the Company expects to issue 9,358,269 shares of common stock to the Exchange Participants as part of the consideration for the Exchange of 2026 Notes. The issuances of common stock will be made in private placements in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The Company is relying on this exemption from registration based in part on representations made by the Exchange Participants in the Exchange Agreements. The information set forth in Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On August 19, 2022, the Company issued a press release announcing the Exchange.

A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Date: August 19, 2022

Exhibit 10.1

Exchange Agreement

August 18, 2022

Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

3.50% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026

The undersigned investor (the “Investor”), for itself and on behalf of the beneficial owners listed on Exhibit A hereto (“Accounts”) for whom the Investor holds contractual and investment authority (each, including the Investor if it is a party exchanging Notes (as defined below), an “Exchanging Investor”), hereby agrees to exchange, with Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain 3.50% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026, CUSIP 45845P AC2 (the “Notes”) for the Exchange Consideration (as defined below), pursuant to this exchange agreement (this “Agreement” or the “Exchange Agreement”). The Investor understands that the exchange (the “Exchange”) is being made without registration of the offer or sale of the Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any securities laws of any state of the United States or of any other jurisdiction in a private placement pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and that each Exchanging Investor participating in the Exchange is required to be an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D under the Securities Act that is also a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act. Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Exchange Agreement have the respective meanings set forth in the Indenture for Senior Debt Securities (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of August 17, 2021, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 17, 2021 (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”)), between the Company and the Trustee.

1.            Exchange. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Investor hereby agrees to exchange for itself and on behalf of the Exchanging Investors, an aggregate principal amount of the Notes set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “Exchanged Notes”) for:

(a)            an amount of cash as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “Cash Payment”); and

(b)            a number of shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share as set forth on Exhibit A hereto (the “Shares” and together with the Cash Payment, the “Exchange Consideration”).

For the avoidance of doubt, no additional cash will be paid to any Exchanging Investor in respect of any accrued and unpaid interest on the Exchanged Notes.

The Investor agrees that it and any Exchanging Investor shall not deliver a Notice of Conversion with respect to any Exchanged Notes and the Investor and each Exchanging Investor shall hold the Exchanged Notes until the Closing (as defined below). In consideration for the performance of their obligations hereunder (including as described in the immediately preceding sentence), the Company agrees to deliver the Exchange Consideration on the Closing Date (as defined below) to each Exchanging Investor in exchange for its Exchanged Notes.

The Exchange shall occur in accordance with the procedures set forth in Exhibit B.1 hereto (the “Exchange Procedures”); provided that each of the Company and the Investor acknowledges that the payment or delivery of the Exchange Consideration to any Exchanging Investor may be delayed due to procedures and mechanics within the system of VStock Transfer, LLC (the “Transfer Agent”), The Depositary Trust Company (“DTC”), The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) (including the procedures and mechanics regarding the listing of the Shares on Nasdaq), the Trustee or other events beyond the Company’s control and that such a delay will not be a default under this Agreement so long as (i) the Company is using its reasonable best efforts to effect such delivery, or (ii) such delay arises due to a failure by Investor to deliver settlement instructions in accordance with Section 3(s); provided, further, that no payment or delivery of Exchange Consideration will be made until the Exchanged Notes have been properly submitted for exchange in accordance with the Exchange Procedures and no accrued interest will be payable by reason of any delay in making such delivery.

The closing of the Exchange (the “Closing”) shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on August 25, 2022 (the “Closing Date”), or at such other time and place as the Company and the Investor may mutually agree. On the Closing Date, subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent specified herein and the prior receipt by the Company from the Investor of the Exchanged Notes, the Company shall deliver the Shares to the DTC account and the Cash Payment by wire transfer to the account, in each case specified by the Investor for each relevant Exchanging Investor in Exhibit B.2. All questions as to the form of all documents and the validity and acceptance of the Exchanged Notes will be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Investor hereby, for itself and on behalf of its Accounts, (a) waives any and all other rights with respect to such Exchanged Notes and (b) releases and discharges the Company from any and all claims the undersigned and its Accounts may now have, or may have in the future, arising out of, or related to, such Exchanged Notes.

2.            Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Company. As of the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Company represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Exchanging Investors that, other than as disclosed in any reports, schedules, forms, proxy statements, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or timely filed notifications of late filings for any of the foregoing (all of the foregoing filed or furnished prior to the date hereof and all exhibits and appendices included therein and financial statements, notes and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, the “SEC Documents”):

(a)            The Company and each of its subsidiaries within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, (i) have a material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (ii) prevent or materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (iii) result in the delisting of shares of Common Stock from Nasdaq. The Company has the power, authority and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder, and to consummate the Exchange contemplated hereby; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of the Agreement and the consummation by it of the Exchange contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.

(b)            This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(c)            This Agreement and consummation of the Exchange will not (i) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq), in each case, applicable to the Company, except for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect..

(d)            When issued, delivered and paid for in the manner set forth in this Agreement, the Shares will (i) be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) be free and clear of any Liens (as defined in Section 3(c) below), option, equity or other adverse claim thereto, including claims or rights under any voting trust agreements, shareholder agreements or other agreements to which the Company is a party, and (iii) will not be subject to any preemptive, participation, rights of first refusal or other similar rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any to which the Company is a party (other than any such rights that will be waived prior to the Closing). Assuming the accuracy of the Investor’s and each Exchanging Investor’s representations and warranties hereunder, the Shares (a) will be issued in the Exchange in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and (b) when issued will be free of any restrictive legend and will not be subject to restrictions on transfer under Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act.

(e)            The execution of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby does not require the consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of, or filing with, any governmental authority, non-governmental regulatory authorities (including Nasdaq, other than the filing with Nasdaq of a Listing of Additional Shares notification (the “LAS”) which the Company will so file prior to the issuance of Shares on the Closing Date), except as may be required under any state or federal securities laws or that may be made or obtained after the Closing without penalty.

(f)            From January 1, 2022 to the date of this Agreement, the Company has timely filed all reports, schedules, forms, proxy statements, statements and other documents required to be filed by it with the SEC pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act or timely filed notifications of late filings for any of the foregoing. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder applicable to the SEC Documents.

(g)            Without the prior written consent of the Investor, the Company shall not disclose the name of the Investor or any Exchanging Investor in any filing or announcement, unless such disclosure is required by applicable law, rule, regulation or legal process based on advice of counsel.

(h)            There is no action, lawsuit, arbitration, claim or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the consummation of the Exchange contemplated in this Agreement or the performance of the Company of its obligations hereunder.

(i)            The Company agrees that it shall, upon request, use its reasonable efforts to execute and deliver any additional documents reasonably deemed by the Trustee or Transfer Agent to be reasonably necessary to complete the Exchange.

(j)            The Company hereby agrees to publicly disclose on or before 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day after the date hereof, the exchange of the Exchanged Notes as contemplated by this Agreement in a press release or Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company hereby acknowledges and agrees that any such press release or Current Report on Form 8-K will disclose all confidential information (as described in the confirmatory wall-crossing email received by the Investor from the Placement Agent) communicated by the Company to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor in connection with the Exchange to the extent the Company believes, at its sole discretion, such confidential information constitutes material non-public information, if any, with respect to the Exchange or otherwise.

3.            Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the Investor. As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date (except as otherwise set forth below), the Investor hereby, for itself and on behalf of the Exchanging Investors, represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the Company that:

(a)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor is a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company or other entity, as the case may be, duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.

(b)            The Investor has all requisite corporate (or other applicable entity) power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement for itself and on behalf of the Exchanging Investors and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Investor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Investor and each Exchanging Investor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be subject to (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and (b) general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity. If the Investor is executing this Agreement on behalf of an Account, (i) the Investor has all requisite discretionary and contractual authority to enter into this Agreement on behalf of, and, bind, each Account, and (ii) Exhibit A attached to this Agreement contains a true, correct and complete list of (A) the name of each Account and (B) the principal amount of each Account’s Exchanged Notes, as applicable.

(c)            As of the date hereof and as of the Closing, each of the Exchanging Investors is the sole legal and beneficial owner of the Exchanged Notes set forth on Exhibit A attached to this Agreement. When the Exchanged Notes are exchanged, the Company will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, security interests, restrictions, charges, encumbrances or adverse claims, rights or proxies of any kind (“Liens”). None of the Exchanging Investors has, nor prior to the Closing, will have, in whole or in part, other than pledges or security interests that an Exchanging Investor may have created in favor of a prime broker under and in accordance with its prime brokerage agreement with such broker and other than the authority granted by the Exchanging Investors to the Investor, (x) assigned, transferred, hypothecated, pledged, exchanged, submitted for conversion pursuant to the Indenture or otherwise disposed of any of its Exchanged Notes (other than to the Company pursuant hereto), or (y) given any person or entity any transfer order, power of attorney or other authority of any nature whatsoever with respect to its Exchanged Notes.

(d)            The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Investor and compliance by the Investor and each Exchanging Investor with all provisions hereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Exchange, will not (i) require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency (except as may be required under the securities or “blue sky” laws of the various states), (ii) constitute a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or result in a default under, (x) the organizational documents of any of the Investor or any Exchanging Investor or (y) any material indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Investor or any of the Exchanging Investors is a party or by which such Investor or Exchanging Investor is bound, or (iii) violate or conflict with any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, decision, order or decree of any court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the Investor or any of the Exchanging Investors.

(e)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor will comply with all applicable laws and regulations in effect necessary for each Exchanging Investor to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and obtain any consent, approval or permission required for the transactions contemplated hereby and the laws and regulations of any jurisdiction to which the Investor and each such Exchanging Investor is subject, and the Company shall have no responsibility therefor.

(f)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor acknowledges that no person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation or warranty concerning the Company or the Exchange other than the information set forth herein in connection with the Investor’s and each Exchanging Investor’s examination of the Company and the terms of the Exchange and the Shares, and the Company does not take, and J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC (the “Placement Agent”) does not take any responsibility for, and neither the Company nor the Placement Agent can provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may provide to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor.

(g)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor has such knowledge, skill and experience in business, financial and investment matters so that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks with respect to the Exchange and an investment in the Shares. With the assistance of the Investor’s and each Exchanging Investor’s own professional advisors, to the extent that the Investor and such Exchanging Investor has deemed appropriate, each Exchanging Investor has made its own legal, tax, accounting and financial evaluation of the merits and risks of an investment in the Shares and the consequences of the Exchange and this Agreement and the Investor and each Exchanging Investor has made its own independent decision that the investment in the Shares is suitable and appropriate for the Investor and such Exchanging Investor. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor has considered the suitability of the Shares as an investment in light of the Investor and such Exchanging Investor’s circumstances and financial condition and is able to bear the risks associated with an investment in the Shares.

(h)            The Investor confirms that it and each Exchanging Investor is not relying on any communication (written or oral) of the Company, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates or representatives as investment advice or as a recommendation to acquire the Shares or the Cash Payment in the Exchange. It is understood that information provided by the Company, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates and representatives shall not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to participate in the Exchange, and that none of the Company, the Placement Agent or any of their respective affiliates or representatives is acting or has acted as an advisor to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor in deciding to participate in the Exchange.

(i)            The Investor confirms that the Company has not (i) given the Investor or any Exchanging Investor any guarantee, representation or warranty as to the potential success, return, effect or benefit (either legal, regulatory, tax, financial, accounting or otherwise) of an investment in the Shares or (ii) made any representation or warranty to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor regarding the legality of an investment in the Shares under applicable legal investment or similar laws or regulations. The Investor confirms that it and each Exchanging Investor is not relying and has not relied, upon any statement, advice (whether accounting, tax, financial legal or other), representation or warranty by the Company or any of its affiliates or representatives, including, without limitation, the Placement Agent, except for the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement, and that the Investor has made its own independent decision that the investment in the Shares is suitable and appropriate for the Investor and the Exchanging Investors.

(j)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor is familiar with the business and financial condition and operations of the Company and the Investor and each Exchanging Investor has had the opportunity to conduct its own investigation of the Company and the Shares. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor has had access to the SEC Documents and such other information concerning the Company and the Shares as it deems necessary to enable it to make an informed investment decision concerning the Exchange. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor has been offered the opportunity to ask such questions of the Company and its representatives and received answers thereto as it deems necessary to enable it to make an informed investment decision concerning the Exchange.

(k)            Each Exchanging Investor is an institutional “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act and a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Investor agrees to furnish any additional information regarding the Investor or any Exchanging Investor reasonably requested by the Company or any of its affiliates to assure compliance with applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws in connection with the Exchange.

(l)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor is not, and has not been during the consecutive three month period preceding the date hereof and, as of the Closing will not be, a director, officer or “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (an “Affiliate”) of the Company. The Investor and each Exchanging Holder has no ability, directly or indirectly, individually or together with any other person, to influence, direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any respect, nor has such Investor or Exchanging Holder in fact influenced, directed or caused the direction of the management or policies of the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any respect. The Investor and each Exchanging Holder has no agreement or other understanding, written or oral, direct or indirect, with the Company, any of its directors, officers or employees or any other stockholder of the Company with respect to its investment in, or any aspect of the business or management of, the Company. No contracts or understanding between or among the Company or any stockholders of the Company confer on the Investor or any Exchanging Holder the power to approve or disapprove any corporate action or to exercise any other similar power with respect to corporate affairs. To the Investor’s knowledge, no Exchanging Investor acquired any of the Notes, directly or indirectly, from an Affiliate of the Company.

(m)            Neither the Investor nor any Exchanging Investor is directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controlling or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company.

(n)            Each Exchanging Investor is acquiring the Shares solely for its own beneficial account, for investment purposes, and not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution of the Shares. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor understands that the offer and sale of the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and are being issued without registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, which exemption depends in part upon the investment intent of the Exchanging Investors and the accuracy of the other representations and warranties made by the Investor or behalf of the Exchanging Investors in this Agreement. The Investor and the Exchanging Investors understand that the Company is relying upon the representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement (and any supplemental information provided to the Company by the Investor or the Exchanging Investors) for the purpose of determining whether this transaction meets the requirements for such exemption(s) and to issue the Shares without legends as set forth herein.

(o)            The Investor acknowledges that the terms of the Exchange have been mutually negotiated between the Investor and the Company. The Investor was given a meaningful opportunity to negotiate the terms of the Exchange.

(p)            The Investor acknowledges that it and each Exchanging Investor had a sufficient amount of time to consider whether to participate in the Exchange and that neither the Company nor the Placement Agent has placed any pressure on the Investor or any Exchanging Investor to respond to the opportunity to participate in the Exchange. The Investor acknowledges that neither it nor any Exchanging Investor became aware of the Exchange through any form of general solicitation or advertising within the meaning of Rule 502 under the Securities Act or otherwise through a “public offering” under Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

(q)            The Investor acknowledges it and each Exchanging Investor understands that the Company intends to pay the Placement Agent a fee in respect of the Exchange.

(r)            The Investor will, upon request, execute and deliver, for itself and on behalf of any Exchanging Investor, any additional documents deemed by the Company and the Trustee or the Transfer Agent to be reasonably necessary to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(s)            No later than one (1) business day after the date hereof, the Investor agrees to deliver to the Company settlement instructions substantially in the form of Exhibit B.2 attached to this Agreement for each of the Exchanging Investors.

(t)            The Investor acknowledges and agrees that it and each Exchanging Investor has not disclosed, and will not disclose, to any third party any information regarding the Exchange, and has not transacted, and will not transact, in any securities of the Company, including, but not limited to, any hedging transactions, from the time the Investor was first contacted by the Company or the Placement Agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement until after the confidential information (as described in the confirmatory wall-crossing email received by the Investor from the Placement Agent) is made public.

(u)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor understands that the Company, the Placement Agent and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants and agrees that if any of the representations and warranties deemed to have been made by it or any of the Exchanging Investors are no longer accurate, the Investor shall promptly notify the Company and the Placement Agent prior to the Closing. The Investor understands that, unless the Investor notifies the Company in writing to the contrary before the Closing, each of the Investor’s and Exchanging Investors’ representations and warranties contained in this Agreement will be deemed to have been reaffirmed and confirmed as of the Closing. If the Investor is exchanging any Exchanged Notes and acquiring the Shares as a fiduciary or agent for one or more accounts (including for purposes of this Section 3(u), the Accounts which are Exchanging Investors), it represents that (i) it has sole investment discretion with respect to each such account, (ii) it has full power to make the foregoing representations, warranties and covenants on behalf of such account and (iii) it has contractual authority with respect to each such account.

(v)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor acknowledges and the Investor agrees that the Placement Agent has not acted as a financial advisor or fiduciary to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor and that the Placement Agent and its directors, officers, employees, representatives and controlling persons have no responsibility for making, and have not made, any independent investigation of the information contained herein or in the SEC Documents and make no representation or warranty to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor, express or implied, with respect to the Company, the Exchanged Notes or the Shares or the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information provided to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor or any other publicly available information, nor shall any of the foregoing persons be liable for any loss or damages of any kind resulting from the use of the information contained therein or otherwise supplied to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor.

(w)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor acknowledges and understands that as of the date of this Agreement and at the time of the Closing, the Company may be in possession of material non-public information not known to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor that may impact the value of the Notes, including the Exchanged Notes, and the Shares (“Information”) that the Company has not disclosed to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor acknowledges that they have not relied upon the non-disclosure of any such Information for purposes of making their decision to participate in the Exchange. The Investor and each Exchanging Investor understands, based on its experience, the disadvantage to which the Investor and each Exchanging Investor is subject due to the disparity of information between the Company, on the one hand, and the Investor and each Exchanging Investor, on the other hand. Notwithstanding this, the Investor and each Exchanging Investor has deemed it appropriate to participate in the Exchange. The Investor agrees that the Company and its directors, officers, employees, agents, stockholders and affiliates shall have no liability to the Investor or any Exchanging Investor or their respective beneficiaries whatsoever due to or in connection with the Company’s use or non-disclosure of the Information or otherwise as a result of the Exchange, and the Investor hereby irrevocably waives any claim that it or any Exchanging Investor might have based on the failure of the Company to disclose the Information.

(x)            The Investor and each Exchanging Investor understands that no federal, state, local or foreign agency has passed upon the merits or risks of an investment in the Shares or made any finding or determination concerning the fairness or advisability of this investment.

(y)            The operations of the Investor and each Exchanging Investor have been conducted in material compliance with the applicable rules and regulations administered or conducted by the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the applicable rules and regulations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and the applicable Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) rules in the Bank Secrecy Act. The Investor has performed due diligence necessary to reasonably determine that the Exchanging Investors are not named on the lists of denied parties or blocked persons administered by OFAC, resident in or organized under the laws of a country that is the subject of comprehensive economic sanctions and embargoes administered or conducted by OFAC (“Sanctions”), are not otherwise the subject of Sanctions and have not been found to be in violation or under suspicion of violating OFAC, FCPA or AML rules and regulations.

(z)            The Investor acknowledges that the Company may issue appropriate stop-transfer instructions to the Transfer Agent and may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its books and records to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Section 3.

(aa)         The Investor and each Exchanging Investor is a resident of the jurisdiction set forth on Exhibit B.2 attached to this Agreement.

4.            Conditions to Obligations of the Investor and the Company. The obligations of the Investor and the Exchanging Investors and of the Company under this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions precedent: (a) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 hereof (with respect to the Investor and Exchanging Investors) and of the Investor contained in Section 3 hereof (with respect to the Company) shall be true and correct as of the Closing in all respects with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made as of the Closing and (b) no provision of any applicable law or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction, award or decree of any governmental authority shall be in effect prohibiting or making illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.            Waiver, Amendment. Neither this Agreement nor any provisions hereof or thereof shall be modified, changed or discharged, except by an instrument in writing, signed by the Company and the Investor.

6.            Assignability. Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by either the Company or the Investor without the prior written consent of the other.

7.            Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

8.            Applicable Law. THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY THEREIN. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE INVESTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL COURT SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN RESPECT OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, AND IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS.

9.            Service of Process. Each of the Company and the Investor irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 12. Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of the Company or the Investor to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

10.            Notices. All notices and other communications to the Company provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally, sent by prepaid overnight courier (providing written proof of delivery) or sent by confirmed facsimile transmission or electronic mail and will be deemed given on the date so delivered (or, if such day is not a business day, on the first subsequent business day) to the following addresses, or in the case of the Investor, the address provided on Exhibit B.2 attached to this Agreement (or such other address as the Company or the Investor shall have specified by notice in writing to the other):

11.            Binding Effect. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the Company, the Investor and the Exchanging Investors and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Company and the Investor with respect to the subject matters hereof. This Agreement may be executed by one or more of the parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic means, including telecopy, email or otherwise), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.  Delivery of an executed signature page of this Agreement by facsimile or other transmission (e.g., “pdf” or “tif” format) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.

12.            Notification of Changes. After the date of this Agreement, each of the Company and the Investor hereby covenants and agrees to notify the other upon the occurrence of any event prior to the Closing of the Exchange pursuant to this Agreement that would cause any representation, warranty or covenant of the Company or the Investor, as the case may be, contained in this Agreement to be false or incorrect.

13.            Reliance by the Placement Agent. The Placement Agent may rely on each representation and warranty of the Company and the Investor made herein or pursuant to the terms hereof with the same force and effect as if such representation or warranty were made directly to the Placement Agent. The Placement Agent shall be a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement to the extent provided in this Section 13.

14.            Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement (in whole or in part) is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.

15.            Survival. The representations and warranties of the Company and the Investor contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Exchanging Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

16.            Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned (a) by mutual agreement of the Company and the Investor in writing or (b) by either the Company or the Investor if the conditions to such party’s obligations set forth herein have not been satisfied (unless waived by the party entitled to the benefit thereof), and the Closing has not occurred within ten (10) Business Days immediately following the date of this Agreement without liability of either the Company or the Investor or the Exchanging Investors, as the case may be; provided that neither the Company nor the Investor shall be released from liability hereunder if this Agreement is terminated and the transactions abandoned by reason of the failure of the Company or the Investor or any of the Exchanging Investors, as the case may be to have performed its obligations hereunder. Except as provided above, if this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not concluded as described above, this Agreement will become void and of no further force and effect.

17.            Taxation. The Investor acknowledges that, if an Exchanging Investor is a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes, either (i) the Company must be provided with a correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN,” generally a person’s social security or federal employer identification number) and certain other information on a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-9, or (ii) another basis for exemption from backup withholding must be established. The Investor further acknowledges that, if an Exchanging Investor is not a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the Company must be provided with a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, IRS Form W-8IMY (and all required attachments) or other applicable IRS Form W-8, attesting to that non-U.S. Exchanging Investor’s foreign status and certain other information, including information establishing an exemption from withholding under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Investor further acknowledges that any Exchanging Investor may be subject to 30% U.S. federal withholding or 24% U.S. federal backup withholding on certain payments made to such Exchanging Investor unless such Exchanging Investor properly establishes an exemption from, or a reduced rate of, such withholding or backup withholding. See Exhibit C for certain additional information. The Company and its agents shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any consideration payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts as are required to be deducted or withheld under applicable law. To the extent any such amounts are withheld and remitted to the appropriate taxing authority, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes as having been paid to the Exchanging Investor to whom such amounts otherwise would have been paid.

18.            Section and Other Headings. The section and other headings contained in Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and the Investor by signing in the space provided below for that purpose.

EXHIBIT A

Exchanging Investor Information

¹ Insert aggregate principal of Outstanding Notes to be exchanged.

² To include cash payable (including in respect of principal, accrued interest and fractional shares).

³ To include the number of shares of the Company’s common stock to be issued, if any.

EXHIBIT B.1

Exchange Procedures

NOTICE TO INVESTOR

These are the Exchange Procedures for the settlement of the exchange of 3.50% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026, CUSIP 45845P AC2 (the “Exchanged Notes”) of Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the Shares and Cash Payment to be issued as Exchange Consideration (as defined in and pursuant to the Exchange Agreement between you and the Company), which is expected to occur on or about August 25, 2022. To ensure timely settlement for the Exchange Consideration, please follow the instructions as set forth below.

These instructions supersede any prior instructions you received. Your failure to comply with these instructions may delay your receipt of the Exchange Consideration.

If you have any questions, please contact Yun Xie of J. Wood Capital Advisors LLC at (917) 727-9869.

To deliver Exchanged Notes:

You must direct the eligible DTC participant through which you hold a beneficial interest in the Notes on August 25, 2022, no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, to post a withdrawal request through DTC for the aggregate principal amount of Exchanged Notes set forth on Exhibit A of the Agreement to be exchanged for Exchange Consideration. It is important that this instruction be submitted and the one-sided DWAC withdrawal (not a deliver vs. payment or free delivery) is posted on August 25, 2022.

To receive Exchange Consideration:

You must direct the eligible DTC participant on August 25, 2022, no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, to post a deposit request through DTC via DWAC for the aggregate number of Shares to be received as set forth on Exhibit A of the Agreement.

VStock Transfer, LLC is the Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Shares.

You must provide valid wire instructions to the Company.

Closing: On August 25, 2022, after the Company receives your delivery instructions as set forth above and a withdrawal request in respect of the Exchanged Notes has been posted as specified above, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to Closing as set forth in the Exchange Agreement, the Company will deliver the Exchange Consideration in respect of the Exchanged Notes in accordance with the delivery instructions above.

EXHIBIT B.2

EXHIBIT C

Under U.S. federal income tax law, a holder who exchanges Notes for Shares or the Cash Payment generally must provide such holder’s correct TIN on a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 (available from the Company or at www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf) or otherwise establish a basis for exemption from backup withholding. A TIN is generally an individual holder’s social security number or a holder’s employer identification number. If the correct TIN is not provided, the holder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed under Section 6723 of the Code. In addition, certain payments made to holders may be subject to U.S. backup withholding (currently set at 24% of the payment). If a holder is required to provide a TIN but does not have a TIN, the holder should consult its tax advisor regarding how to obtain a TIN. Certain holders (including corporations and non-U.S. holders) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. U.S. backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

A non-U.S. holder (i) will be subject to 30% U.S. federal withholding on certain payments to such holder unless such holder establishes an exemption from, or a reduced rate of, such withholding, and (ii) must establish its status as an exempt recipient from backup withholding and can do so by submitting a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E, IRS Form W-8IMY (and all required attachments), or other applicable IRS Form W-8 (available from the Company or at www.irs.gov), signed, under penalties of perjury, attesting to such holder’s exempt foreign status. This form also may establish an exemption from withholding under Section 1471 through 1474 of the Code.

Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding how to complete the appropriate forms and to determine whether they are exempt from backup withholding or other withholding taxes.

Exhibit 99.1

Intercept Pharmaceuticals Announces Repurchase of Convertible Notes

MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY, AUG 19, 2022 -- Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICPT) (“Intercept”), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat progressive non-viral liver diseases, announced today that it has entered into privately negotiated agreements to repurchase $327.9 million of its secured convertible debt using a combination of cash and equity. The repurchase is expected to close promptly, subject to and following customary closing conditions.

This action is the most recent in a series of strategic financial moves undertaken by the Company over the past 12 months to improve its capital structure. This repurchase decreases Intercept’s total outstanding debt by 45% and will be accretive to existing shareholders by reducing its potential share dilution by 6.3 million shares. In addition, it will help enable the Company to focus on its strategic priorities of delivering continued growth of its PBC franchise, supporting its NDA resubmission and potential launch of obeticholic acid in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and advancing its pipeline.

The agreements were made for the Company’s 3.50% Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”) which had a principal amount of $500 million with 23.9 million underlying shares. In line with the target acceptance amount set out by Intercept at launch, the Company accepted for purchase an aggregate principal amount of $327.9 million for consideration of $222.0 million cash and 9.4 million shares. There were 15.7 million shares underlying the $327.9 million principal amount corresponding to a potential savings of 6.3 million shares of dilution. It is Intercept’s expectation that the shares delivered to investors will be used to cover investors’ existing hedge positions in respect of the 2026 Notes.

Net of this repurchase, the principal balance of the 2026 Notes has been reduced from $500.0 million to $172.1 million, and annual interest expense will be reduced by $11.5 million to $6.0 million. Following completion of these transactions, Intercept’s cash position will be in excess of $500.0 million with 39.4 million shares outstanding.

The shares of Intercept’s common stock being issued have not been, and will not be, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from (or in a transaction not subject to) registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy Intercept’s common stock, or any other securities, and will not constitute an offer, solicitation, or sale in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

About Intercept

Intercept is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics to treat progressive non-viral liver diseases, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). For more information, please visit www.interceptpharma.com or connect with the company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (“FLS”), including regarding:

- Closing of the transaction, and timing thereof.

- Intercept’s financial position, including cash position and interest expense.

- Shareholder dilution and savings in potential dilution related to convertible bonds and retirement of such bonds.

- Bondholder intentions and hedging and investment strategy, including use of Intercept shares to cover existing hedge positions.

- Accretion of value to shareholders.

- Intercept’s focus on strategic priorities, including growth of its PBC franchise, support of its NDA resubmission, potential launch of obeticholic acid in NASH, and pipeline development.

Important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the FLS, including:

- Intercept’s and the bondholders’ satisfaction of contractual terms, including representations and warranties and closing conditions.

- Intercept’s management of its business, including focus on strategic priorities, and financial and cash management.

- Performance of Intercept’s stock price, the value of Intercept’s convertible bonds, and whether bondholders seek to convert their bonds into stock.

- Bondholder behavior, including hedging and unwinding of hedges.

- The other factors regarding FLS and the other risks identified in Intercept’s periodic SEC filings, including our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Contact

For more information about Intercept, please contact:

For investors:
Nareg Sagherian, Executive Director, Global Investor Relations

Investors@interceptpharma.com

For media:
Karen Preble, Executive Director, Global Corporate Communications

Media@interceptpharma.com