Exhibit 10.14

 

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), is made as of April 22, 2025, by and among Retension Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and each of the investors listed on Schedule 1 hereto, each of which is referred to in this Agreement as an “Investor”, and each of the stockholders listed on Schedule 2 hereto, each of whom is referred to herein as a “Key Holder”.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, certain of the Investors (the “Existing Investors”) hold shares of Series A Preferred Stock and possess information rights, rights of first offer and other rights pursuant to that certain Investors’ Rights Agreement, dated November 21, 2023, by and among the Company and such Existing Investors (the “Prior Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the undersigned Existing Investors are holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Stock (as defined in the Prior Agreement) outstanding, and desire to amend and restate the Prior Agreement in its entirety and to accept the rights created pursuant to this Agreement in lieu of the rights granted to them under the Prior Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, certain of the Investors are parties to that certain Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement of even date herewith by and among the Company and such Investors (the “Purchase Agreement”), under which certain of the Company’s and such Investors’ obligations are conditioned upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the undersigned parties.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Existing Investors hereby agree that the Prior Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement, and the parties to this Agreement further agree as follows:

 

1. Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:

 

1.1 “Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person, including, without limitation, any general partner, managing member, officer, director or trustee of such Person, or any venture capital fund or other investment fund now or hereafter existing that is controlled by one (1) or more general partners, managing members or investment adviser of, or shares the same management company or investment adviser with, such Person.

 

1.2 “Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

1.3 “Certificate of Incorporation” means the Company’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and/or restated from time to time.

 

1.4 “Common Stock” means shares of common stock of the Company, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

1.5 “Competitor” means a Person engaged, directly or indirectly (including through any partnership, limited liability company, corporation, joint venture or similar arrangement (whether now existing or formed hereafter)), in business competitive to the Company (as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith). For the sake of clarity, an Investor that is a venture capital fund shall not be deemed to be a Competitor merely because it has a portfolio company that is a competitor to the Company.

 

 

 

 

1.6 “Damages” means any loss, damage, claim or liability (joint or several) to which a party hereto may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state law, insofar as such loss, damage, claim or liability (or any action in respect thereof) arises out of or is based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any registration statement of the Company, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) an 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 (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the indemnifying party (or any of its agents or Affiliates) of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities law, or any rule or regulation promulgated under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any state securities law.

 

1.7 “Derivative Securities” means any securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for (in each case, directly or indirectly), Common Stock, including options and warrants.

 

1.8 “DPA” means Section 721 of the Defense Production Act, as amended, including all implementing regulations thereof.

 

1.9 “DPA Triggering Rights” means (i) “control” (as defined in the DPA); (ii) access to any “material non-public technical information” (as defined in the DPA) in the possession of the Company; (iii) membership or observer rights on the Board of Directors or equivalent governing body of the Company or the right to nominate an individual to a position on the Board of Directors or equivalent governing body of the Company; (iv) any involvement, other than through the voting of shares, in substantive decision-making of the Company regarding (x) the use, development, acquisition or release of any Company “critical technology” (as defined in the DPA); (y) the use, development, acquisition, safekeeping, or release of “sensitive personal data” (as defined in the DPA) of U.S. citizens maintained or collected by the Company, or (z) the management, operation, manufacture, or supply of “covered investment critical infrastructure” (as defined in the DPA).

 

1.10 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

1.11 “Foreign Person” means either (i) a Person or government that is a “foreign person” within the meaning of the DPA or (ii) a Person through whose investment a “foreign person” within the meaning of the DPA would obtain any DPA Triggering Rights.

 

1.12 “GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as in effect from time to time.

 

1.13 “Holder” means any Investor or Key Holder.

 

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1.14 “Immediate Family Member” means a child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, life partner or similar statutorily-recognized domestic partner, sibling, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships of a natural person referred to herein.

 

1.15 “IPO” means the Company’s first underwritten public offering of its Common Stock under the Securities Act.

 

1.16 “Key Employee” means any executive-level employee (including division director and vice president-level positions) as well as any employee who, either alone or in concert with others, develops, invents, programs, or designs any Company Intellectual Property (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).

 

1.17 “Key Holder Registrable Securities” means the shares of Common Stock held by the Key Holders.

 

1.18 “New Securities” means, collectively, equity securities of the Company, whether or not currently authorized, as well as rights, options, or warrants to purchase such equity securities, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities.

 

1.19 “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company, association or other entity.

 

1.20 “Preferred Director” means any director of the Company that the holders of record of a series of Preferred Stock are entitled to elect, exclusively and as a separate class, pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

1.21 “Preferred Stock” means, collectively, shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock.

 

1.22 “Qualified Public Offering” means the closing of the sale of shares of Common Stock to the public in a firm-commitment underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act resulting in at least $25,000,000 of proceeds, gross of underwriting commissions and expenses.

 

1.23 “Registrable Securities” means (i) the Common Stock issuable or issued upon conversion of the Preferred Stock; (ii) any Common Stock, or any Common Stock issued or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise of any other securities of the Company, acquired by the Investors after the date hereof; (iii) the Key Holder Registrable Securities, provided, however, that such Key Holder Registrable Securities shall not be deemed Registrable Securities and the Key Holders shall not be deemed Holders for the purposes of Sections 3.1, 4 and 6.6; and (iv) any Common Stock issued as (or issuable upon the conversion or exercise of any warrant, right, or other security that is issued as) a dividend or other distribution with respect to, or in exchange for or in replacement of, the shares referenced in clauses (i) and (ii) above; excluding in all cases, however, any Registrable Securities sold by a Person in a transaction in which the applicable rights under this Agreement are not assigned pursuant to Section 6.1.

 

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1.24 “Restricted Securities” means the securities of the Company required to be notated with the legend set forth in Section 2.1(b) hereof.

 

1.25 “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

1.26 “SEC Rule 144” means Rule 144 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Act.

 

1.27 “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

1.28 “Series A Preferred Stock” means shares of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

1.29 “Series B Preferred Stock” means shares of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

2. Restrictions on Transfer. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:

 

2.1 Restrictions on Transfer.

 

(a) Subject to the restrictions set forth in the Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement between the Company and the Key Holders, of even date herewith (the “ROFR Agreement”), each Holder agrees that it shall not sell, pledge, or otherwise transfer all or any portion of the shares of capital stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company now owned or hereafter acquired by it the Preferred Stock and/or the Registrable Securities held by the Holders shall not be sold, pledged, or otherwise transferred, and the Company shall not recognize and shall issue stop-transfer instructions to its transfer agent with respect to any such sale, pledge, or transfer, except upon the conditions specified in this Agreement, which conditions are intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act. A transferring Holder will cause any proposed purchaser, pledgee, or transferee of the Preferred Stock and the Registrable Securities held by such Holder to agree to take and hold such securities subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this Agreement.

 

(b) Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing (i) the Preferred Stock, (ii) the Common Stock, and (iii) any other securities issued in respect of the securities referenced in clauses (i) and (ii), upon any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, or similar event, shall (unless otherwise permitted by the provisions of Section 2.1(c)) be notated with a legend substantially in the following form:

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED. SUCH SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR A VALID EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SAID ACT.

 

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THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDER, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.

 

The Holders consent to the Company making a notation in its records and giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Restricted Securities in order to implement the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 2.1.

 

(c) The holder of such Restricted Securities, by acceptance of ownership thereof, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this Section 2. Before any proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of any Restricted Securities, unless there is in effect a registration statement under the Securities Act covering the proposed transaction, the Holder thereof shall give notice to the Company of such Holder ’s intention to effect such sale, pledge, or transfer, which is subject to the restrictions of the ROFR Agreement. Each such notice shall describe the manner and circumstances of the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer in sufficient detail and, if reasonably requested by the Company, shall be accompanied at such Holder’s expense by either (i) a written opinion of legal counsel who shall, and whose legal opinion shall, be reasonably satisfactory to the Company, addressed to the Company, to the effect that the proposed transaction may be effected without registration under the Securities Act; (ii) a “no action” letter from the SEC to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of such Restricted Securities without registration will not result in a recommendation by the staff of the SEC that action be taken with respect thereto; or (iii) any other evidence reasonably satisfactory to counsel to the Company to the effect that the proposed sale, pledge, or transfer of the Restricted Securities may be effected without registration under the Securities Act, whereupon the Holder of such Restricted Securities shall be entitled to sell, pledge, or transfer such Restricted Securities in accordance with the terms of the notice given by the Holder to the Company. The Company will not require such a legal opinion or “no action” letter (x) in any transaction in compliance with SEC Rule 144; or (y) in any transaction in which such Holder distributes Restricted Securities to an Affiliate of such Holder for no consideration; provided that each transferee agrees in writing to be subject to the terms of this Section 2.1. Each certificate, instrument, or book entry representing the Restricted Securities transferred as above provided shall be notated with, except if such transfer is made pursuant to SEC Rule 144, the appropriate restrictive legend set forth in Section 2.1(b), except that such certificate instrument, or book entry shall not be notated with such restrictive legend if, in the opinion of counsel for such Holder and the Company, such legend is not required in order to establish compliance with any provisions of the Securities Act.

 

3. Information Rights.

 

3.1 Delivery of Financial Statements. The Company shall deliver or provide access to each Holder, provided that the Board of Directors has not reasonably determined that such Holder is a Competitor of the Company:

 

(a) as soon as practicable, but in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an unaudited (unless the Board of Directors determines otherwise) (i) balance sheet as of the end of such year, (ii) statements of income and of cash flows for such year, and (iii) statement of stockholders’ equity as of the end of such year;

 

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(b) as soon as practicable, but in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each of June 30 and December 31 of each year, an unaudited, (ii) statements of income and cash flows for such six month period and (ii) balance sheet and a statement of stockholders’ equity as of such six month period;

 

(c) Notwithstanding anything else in this Section 3.1 to the contrary, the Company may cease providing the information set forth in this Section 3.1 during the period starting with the date forty-five (45) days before the Company’s good-faith estimate of the date of filing of a registration statement if it reasonably concludes it must do so to comply with the SEC rules applicable to such registration statement and related offering; provided that the Company’s covenants under this Section 3.1 shall be reinstated at such time as the Company is no longer actively employing its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective.

 

3.2 Observer Rights.

 

(a) As long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding (as adjusted for stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends and the like), the Company shall invite a representative of Collage Venture Partners, LLC, a Florida limited liability company (the “Placement Agent”), initially Dexter Pearson, to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors in a nonvoting observer capacity and, in this respect, shall give such representative copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and other materials that it provides to the Board of Directors; provided, however, that such representative shall agree to hold in confidence all information so provided; and provided further, that the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude such representative from any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel, result in disclosure of trade secrets or highly confidential information, create a competitive harm or competitive disadvantage, or relates to subject matter in which the Placement Agent may have a conflict of interest, or if the Placement Agent or its representative is a Competitor.

 

(b) In the event that C.R. Sincock (“Mr. Sincock”) is not elected to the Board as the Series B Director (as defined in the Voting Agreement) and so long as Transhuman Capital, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Transhuman”) and CRS Capital, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (“CRS”), together with their Affiliates, own at least 1,000,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock purchased under the Purchase Agreement (as adjusted for stock splits, stock combinations, stock dividends and the like), the Company shall invite Mr. Sincock to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors in a nonvoting observer capacity and, in this respect, shall give such representative copies of all notices, minutes, consents, and other materials that it provides to the Board of Directors; provided, however, that such representative shall agree to hold in confidence all information so provided; and provided further, that the Company reserves the right to withhold any information and to exclude such representative from any meeting or portion thereof if access to such information or attendance at such meeting would be reasonably likely to adversely affect the attorney-client privilege between the Company and its counsel, result in disclosure of trade secrets or highly confidential information, create a competitive harm or competitive disadvantage, or relates to subject matter in which Transhuman or CRS may have a conflict of interest, or if Transhuman, CRS or their representative is a Competitor.

 

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3.3 Termination of Information and Observer Rights. The covenants set forth in Section 3.1 and Section 3.2, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the IPO, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon the closing of a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation, whichever event occurs first.

 

3.4 Confidentiality. Each Investor agrees that such Investor will keep confidential and will not disclose, divulge, or use for any purpose (other than to monitor or make decisions with respect to its investment in the Company) any confidential information obtained from the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (including notice of the Company’s intention to file a registration statement), unless such confidential information (a) is known or becomes known to the public in general (other than as a result of a breach of this Section 3.3 by such Investor),(b) is or has been independently developed or conceived by such Investor without use of the Company’s confidential information, or (c) is or has been made known or disclosed to such Investor by a third party without a breach of any obligation of confidentiality such third party may have to the Company; provided, however, that an Investor may disclose confidential information (i) to its attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other professionals to the extent reasonably necessary to obtain their services in connection with monitoring its investment in the Company; (ii) to any prospective purchaser of any Registrable Securities from such Investor, if such prospective purchaser agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 3.3; (iii) to any existing or prospective Affiliate, partner, member, stockholder, or wholly owned subsidiary of such Investor in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Investor informs such Person that such information is confidential and directs such Person to maintain the confidentiality of such information; or (iv) as may otherwise be required by law, regulation, rule, court order or subpoena, provided that such Investor promptly notifies the Company of such disclosure and takes reasonable steps to minimize the extent of any such required disclosure.

 

3.4 Limitation on Foreign Person Investors. Notwithstanding the covenants set forth in Section 3.1, the Company shall not provide any Investor that is a Foreign Person access to any “material non-public technical information” within the meaning of the DPA.

 

4. Rights to Future Stock Issuances.

 

4.1 Right of First Offer. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 4.1 and applicable securities laws, if the Company proposes to offer or sell any New Securities, the Company shall first offer such New Securities to the Investors. Each Investor shall be entitled to apportion the right of first offer hereby granted to it in such proportions as it deems appropriate, among (i) itself, (ii) its Affiliates and (iii) its beneficial interest holders, such as limited partners, members or any other Person having “beneficial ownership,” as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of such Investor (“Investor Beneficial Owners”); provided that each such Affiliate or Investor Beneficial Owner (x) is not a Competitor or FOIA Party, unless such party’s purchase of New Securities is otherwise consented to by the Board of Directors, (y) agrees to enter into this Agreement and each of the Voting Agreement and Right of First Refusal and Co-Sale Agreement of even date herewith among the Company, the Investors and the other parties named therein, as an “Investor” under each such agreement (provided that any Competitor or FOIA Party shall not be entitled to any rights as an Investor under Sections 3.1and 4.1 hereof), and (z) agrees to purchase at least such number of New Securities as are allocable hereunder to the Investor holding the fewest number of Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities.

 

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(a) The Company shall give notice (the “Offer Notice”) to each Investor, stating (i) its bona fide intention to offer such New Securities, (ii) the number of such New Securities to be offered, and (iii) the price and terms, if any, upon which it proposes to offer such New Securities.

 

(b) By notification to the Company within twenty (20) days after the Offer Notice is given, each Investor may elect to purchase or otherwise acquire, at the price and on the terms specified in the Offer Notice, up to that portion of such New Securities which equals the proportion that the Common Stock then held by such Investor (including all shares of Common Stock then issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held by such Investor) bears to the total Common Stock of the Company then outstanding (assuming full conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of all Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities. At the expiration of such twenty (20) day period, the Company shall promptly notify each Investor that elects to purchase or acquire all the shares available to it (each, a “Fully Exercising Investor”) of any other Investor’s failure to do likewise. During the ten (10) day period commencing after the Company has given such notice, each Fully Exercising Investor may, by giving notice to the Company, elect to purchase or acquire, in addition to the number of shares specified above, up to that portion of the New Securities for which Investors were entitled to subscribe but that were not subscribed for by the Investors which is equal to the proportion that the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by such Fully Exercising Investor bears to the Common Stock issued and held, or issuable (directly or indirectly) upon conversion and/or exercise, as applicable, of the Preferred Stock and any other Derivative Securities then held, by all Fully Exercising Investors who wish to purchase such unsubscribed shares. The closing of any sale pursuant to this Section 4.1(b) shall occur within the later of ninety (90) days of the date that the Offer Notice is given and the date of initial sale of New Securities pursuant to Section 4.1(c).

 

(c) If all New Securities referred to in the Offer Notice are not elected to be purchased or acquired as provided in Section 4.1(b), the Company may, during the ninety (90) day period following the expiration of the periods provided in Section 4.1(b), offer and sell the remaining unsubscribed portion of such New Securities to any Person or Persons at a price not less than, and upon terms no more favorable to the offeree than, those specified in the Offer Notice. If the Company does not enter into an agreement for the sale of the New Securities within such period, or if such agreement is not consummated within thirty (30) days of the execution thereof, the right provided hereunder shall be deemed to be revived and such New Securities shall not be offered unless first reoffered to the Investors in accordance with this Section 4.1.

 

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, in the event that the Board of Directors determines that time is of the essence in completing the issuance of any New Securities, the Company may proceed to issue such New Securities prior to sending the Offer Notice to the Investor as provided in Section 4.1(a) or expiration of the notice period specified in the Offer Notice, so long as provision is made in the proposed offer and sale of such New Securities that subsequent to the notice period specified in the Offer Notice the Company shall issue such additional New Securities to those Investors properly electing to purchase such New Securities pursuant to this Section 4, sufficient to satisfy the terms of this Section 4

 

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(e) The right of first offer in this Section 4.1 shall not be applicable to (i) Exempted Securities (as defined in the Certificate of Incorporation); (ii) shares of Common Stock issued in the IPO; and (iii) shares of Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

 

4.2 Termination. The covenants set forth in Section 4.1 shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the IPO or Qualified Public Offering, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon the closing of a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

4.3 Limitation on Foreign Person Investors. Notwithstanding the covenants set forth in Section 4.1, no Investor that is a Foreign Person shall be permitted to obtain greater than nine and nine-tenths percent (9.9%) of the outstanding voting shares of the Company.

 

5.Additional Covenants.

 

5.1 Employee Agreements. The Company will cause (i) each Person now or hereafter employed by it or by any subsidiary (or engaged by the Company or any subsidiary as a consultant/independent contractor) with access to confidential information and/or trade secrets to enter into a nondisclosure and proprietary rights assignment agreement. In addition, the Company shall not amend, modify, terminate, waive, or otherwise alter, in whole or in part, any of the above-referenced agreements or any restricted stock agreement between the Company and any employee, without the consent of the Board of Directors.

 

5.2 Stock Option Pool. Concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, the Company will reserve shares of its common stock representing 20% of its fully-diluted capital stock on a post-money basis for future issuances to directors, officers, employees and consultants.

 

5.3 Qualified Small Business Stock. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to refrain from taking any action that could reasonably be expected to cause the shares of Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, as well as any shares into which such shares are converted, within the meaning of Section 1202(f) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”), to fail to qualify as “qualified small business stock” as defined in Section 1202(c) of the Code; provided, however, that such requirement shall not be applicable if the Board of Directors determines, in its good-faith business judgment, that such qualification is inconsistent with the best interests of the Company. The Company shall submit to its stockholders (including the Investors) and to the Internal Revenue Service any reports that may be required under Section 1202(d)(1)(C) of the Code. In addition, within twenty (20) business days after any Investor’s written request therefor, the Company shall deliver to the Investors a checklist in substantially the same form as Annex 1. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of any such checklist, but in no event shall the Company be liable to the Investors or any other person for any damages arising from any errors or inaccuracies in such report or checklist, unless made by the Company in a manner either grossly negligent or fraudulent.

 

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5.4 Termination of Covenants. The covenants set forth in this Section 5, shall terminate and be of no further force or effect (i) immediately before the consummation of the Qualified Public Offering, (ii) when the Company first becomes subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 12(g) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or (iii) upon a Deemed Liquidation Event, as such term is defined in the Certificate of Incorporation, whichever event occurs first.

 

5.5. CFIUS and Foreign Person Limitations.

 

(a) Unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, the Company will not provide to any Foreign Person any DPA Triggering Rights. No Investor who is a Foreign Person shall be permitted to obtain any DPA Triggering Rights or a voting equity interest in the Company that exceeds nine and nine-tenths percent (9.9%) of the Company’s total voting securities pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Section 4 of this Agreement, or otherwise, including by way of any secondary transaction(s), without the approval of the Board of Directors.

 

(b) Each Investor covenants that it will notify the Company in advance of permitting any Foreign Person affiliated with Investor, whether affiliated as a limited partner or otherwise, to obtain through Investor any DPA Triggering Rights.

 

5.6 Waiver of Statutory Information Rights. Each Holder acknowledges and understands that, but for the waiver made herein, Holder would be entitled, upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, to inspect for any proper purpose, and to make copies and extracts from, the Company’s stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and records, and the books and records of subsidiaries of the Company, if any, under the circumstances and in the manner provided in Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (any and all such rights, and any and all such other rights of Holder as may be provided for in Section 220, the “Inspection Rights”). In light of the foregoing, until the first sale of Common Stock of the Company to the general public pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Holder hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives the Inspection Rights, whether such Inspection Rights would be exercised or pursued directly or indirectly pursuant to Section 220 or otherwise, and covenants and agrees never to directly or indirectly commence, voluntarily aid in any way, prosecute, assign, transfer, or cause to be commenced any claim, action, cause of action, or other proceeding to pursue or exercise the Inspection Rights. The foregoing waiver applies to the Inspection Rights of Holder in Holder’s capacity as a stockholder and shall not affect any rights of a director, in his or her capacity as such, under Section 220. The foregoing waiver shall not affect any other information and inspection rights such Investor may expressly have pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

 

6. Miscellaneous.

 

6.1 Successors and Assigns. The rights under this Agreement may be assigned (but only with all related obligations) by a Holder to a transferee of Registrable Securities that (i) is an Affiliate of a Holder; (ii) is a Holder’s Immediate Family Member or trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or one (1) or more of such Holder’s Immediate Family Members; or (iii) after such transfer, holds at least five percent (5%) shares of Registrable Securities (subject to appropriate adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, and other recapitalizations); provided, however, that (x) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such rights are being transferred; and (y) such transferee agrees in a written instrument delivered to the Company to be bound by and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Section 2.11. For the purposes of determining the number of shares of Registrable Securities held by a transferee, the holdings of a transferee (1) that is an Affiliate or stockholder of a Holder; (2) who is a Holder’s Immediate Family Member; or (3) that is a trust for the benefit of an individual Holder or such Holder’s Immediate Family Member shall be aggregated together and with those of the transferring Holder; provided further that all transferees who would not qualify individually for assignment of rights shall, have a single attorney-in-fact for the purpose of exercising any rights, receiving notices, or taking any action under this Agreement. The terms and conditions of this Agreement inure to the benefit of and are binding upon the respective successors and permitted assignees of the parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assignees any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

 

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6.2 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal law of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles that would result in the application of any law other than the law of the State of Delaware.

 

6.3 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Counterparts may be delivered via electronic mail (including pdf or any electronic signature complying with the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

6.4 Titles and Subtitles. The titles and subtitles used in this Agreement are for convenience only and are not to be considered in construing or interpreting this Agreement.

 

6.5 Notices.

 

(a) All notices and other communications given or made pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon the earlier of actual receipt or (i) personal delivery to the party to be notified; (ii) when sent, if sent by electronic mail during the recipient’s normal business hours, and if not sent during normal business hours, then on the recipient’s next business day; (iii) five (5) days after having been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; or (iv) one (1) business day after the business day of deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, freight prepaid, specifying next-day delivery, with written verification of receipt. All communications shall be sent to the respective parties at their addresses as set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, or (as to the Company) to the principal office of the Company and to the attention of the Chief Executive Officer or President, or in any case to such email address or address as subsequently modified by written notice given in accordance with this Section 6.5. If notice is given to the Company, a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) shall also be sent to DLA Piper LLP (US), 500 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004, Attention: Mitchell Marder, Senior Counsel and if notice is given to the Purchasers, a copy (which copy shall not constitute notice) shall also be given to Collage Venture Partners, LLC, 929 Alton Road, Suite 500, Miami Beach, FL 33139, Attention J. Dexter Pearson.

 

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(b) Consent to Electronic Notice. Each Investor and Key Holder consents to the delivery of any stockholder notice pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), as amended or superseded from time to time, by electronic transmission pursuant to Section 232 of the DGCL (or any successor thereto) at the electronic mail address set forth below such Investor’s or Key Holder’s name on the Schedules hereto, as updated from time to time by notice to the Company, or as on the books of the Company. To the extent that any notice given by means of electronic transmission is returned or undeliverable for any reason, the foregoing consent shall be deemed to have been revoked until a new or corrected electronic mail address has been provided, and such attempted electronic notice shall be ineffective and deemed to not have been given. Each Investor and Key Holder agrees to promptly notify the Company of any change in such stockholder’s electronic mail address, and that failure to do so shall not affect the foregoing.

 

6.6 Amendments and Waivers. Any term of this Agreement may be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance, and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the written consent of the Company and the holders of a majority of the Preferred Stock then outstanding; provided that the Company may in its sole discretion waive compliance with Section 2.1(c) (and the Company’s failure to object promptly in writing after notification of a proposed assignment allegedly in violation of Section 2.1(c) shall be deemed to be a waiver); and provided further that any provision hereof may be waived by any waiving party on such party’s own behalf, without the consent of any other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) this Agreement may not be amended, modified or terminated and the observance of any term hereof may not be waived with respect to any Investor without the written consent of such Investor, unless such amendment, modification, termination, or waiver applies to all Investors in the same fashion and (b) Sections 3.1, Section 4 and any other section of this Agreement applicable to the Holders (including this clause (b) of this Section 6.6) may be amended, modified, terminated or waived without the written consent of the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities then outstanding and held by the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Schedule 1 hereto may be amended by the Company from time to time to add transferees of any Registrable Securities in compliance with the terms of this Agreement without the consent of the other parties; and Schedule 1 hereto may also be amended by the Company after the date of this Agreement without the consent of the other parties to add information regarding any additional Investor who becomes a party to this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.9. The Company shall give prompt notice of any amendment, or termination hereof or waiver hereunder to any party hereto that did not consent in writing to such amendment, modification, termination, or waiver. Any amendment, modification, termination, or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 6.6 shall be binding on all parties hereto, regardless of whether any such party has consented thereto. No waivers of or exceptions to any term, condition, or provision of this Agreement, in any one (1) or more instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such term, condition, or provision.

 

6.7 Severability. In case anyone (1) or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement is for any reason held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, and such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision shall be reformed and construed so that it will be valid, legal, and enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

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6.8 Aggregation of Stock; Apportionment. All shares of Registrable Securities held or acquired by Affiliates shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement and such Affiliated Persons may apportion such rights as among themselves in any manner they deem appropriate.

 

6.9 Additional Investors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if the Company issues additional shares of Preferred Stock after the date hereof, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, any purchaser of such shares of Preferred Stock may become a party to this Agreement by executing and delivering an additional counterpart signature page to this Agreement, and thereafter shall be deemed an “Investor” for all purposes hereunder. No action or consent by the Investors shall be required for such joinder to this Agreement by such additional Investor, so long as such additional Investor has agreed in writing to be bound by all of the obligations as an “Investor” hereunder.

 

6.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including any Schedules hereto) together with the other Transaction Documents (as defined in the Purchase Agreement), constitutes the full and entire understanding and agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any other written or oral agreement relating to the subject matter hereof existing between the parties is expressly canceled. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement shall be deemed amended and restated and superseded and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement, and shall be of no further force or effect.

 

6.11 Dispute Resolution. The parties (a) hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submit to the jurisdiction of the state courts of Delaware and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware for the purpose of any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement, (b) agree not to commence any suit, action or other proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement except in the state courts of Delaware or the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and (c) hereby waive, and agree not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise, in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be enforced in or by such court.

 

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL: EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER TRANSACTION DOCUMENTS, THE SECURITIES OR THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF OR THEREOF. THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL-ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS TRANSACTION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS. THIS SECTION HAS BEEN FULLY DISCUSSED BY EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THESE PROVISIONS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY EXCEPTIONS. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY FURTHER WARRANTS AND REPRESENTS THAT SUCH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT SUCH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

 

6.12 Delays or Omissions. No delay or omission to exercise any right, power, or remedy accruing to any party under this Agreement, upon any breach or default of any other party under this Agreement, shall impair any such right, power, or remedy of such nonbreaching or non-defaulting party, nor shall it be construed to be a waiver of or acquiescence to any such breach or default, or to any similar breach or default thereafter occurring, nor shall any waiver of any single breach or default be deemed a waiver of any other breach or default theretofore or thereafter occurring. All remedies, whether under this Agreement or by law or otherwise afforded to any party, shall be cumulative and not alternative

 

6.13 Effect on Prior Agreement. Upon the effectiveness of this Agreement, the Prior Agreement shall be deemed amended and restated and superseded and replaced in its entirety by this Agreement, and shall be of no further force or effect

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

  RETENSION PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.:
     
  By:                           
  Name: Eric Keller  
  Title: President

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

    KEY HOLDER:
  IF AN ENTITY:
     
   
  (Print Name of Entity)
   
  Signature:  
     
  Name:  
    (Print Name of Authorized Signatory)
     
  Title:  
     
  IF AN INDIVIDUAL:
     
  Signature:  
     
  Name:  
    (Print Name)

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

    INVESTOR:
  IF AN ENTITY:
   
   
    (Print Name of Entity)
     
  Signature:  
     
  Name:  
    (Print Name of Authorized Signatory)
     
  Title:  
     
  IF AN INDIVIDUAL:
     
  Signature:  
     
  Name:  
    (Print Name)

 

Signature Page to Amended and Restated Investors’ Rights Agreement